First off, an apology from me. I've switched computers three times in the past year, I've lost this story twice, (after working on it and getting it finished. YES, FINISHED) my computer completely died and I lost it 100% gone. So needless to say, I was pissed about that, and I didn't want to write it up *again*. However, I wasn't entirely happy with the way I ended it the first time, so I think I'll be re-writing it again. I'm sorry for the length of time between updates, I know some of you are really wanting to know what's going on and probably have thought that I gave up on this. I haven't. Honestly! I never give up on writing my stories! Sometimes there are just really big gaps between sections. I really shouldn't even bother publishing them until they are done! Argh! If you are still loyal, I want to say thanks, cuz that means you are awesome. Now on to Chapter 11, and hopefully I will be able to bang this out again.
Oh. Also chapter 10 has been edited to contain some new content as well. Not much, just some editing and a few sentences here and there. The other thing going on is that I'm showing more of the secondary characters in the next few chapters, and introducing a few new ones. Thanks!
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Chapter 11
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It seemed to be that everything Todd had said about the virus that he had created was turning out to be true. The Wraith were falling off the map. The SGC couldn't have been more pleased with the threat being eradicated, even if it wasn't by their hands. They weren't losing manpower, and the enemy was dying. Todd and his group of Wraith disappeared about two weeks later. Teyla said she was feeling less and less of the Wraith presence in general and along with scans and random hops with the jumpers, and scans were stating that the Wraith did indeed seem to be gone.
Todd and his group were the biggest mystery though. Some think that he is hiding with his people somewhere, but Sheppard's theory was that he just wanted to be left alone like he said. They knew that their people were going to die if they kept on that track. He wasn't sure that they had seen the last of them, but he was fairly certain that they wouldn't be coming back with malignant intent.
The expedition as a whole wasn't as positive thinking. Most thought that it was a trick. Some Wraith had sacrificed themselves to make it look like their entire species was dying. In the beginning, most were inclined to agree, but as time wore on and reports from all across the galaxy came back, it did look like Todd was telling them the truth.
In the meantime, Eric, McKay and Issa were working, regardless of the Wraith status, to make sure that all their technology was up to date. With the Wraith gone, who knew what else might pop up. There could be a worse threat out there somewhere. One never knew.
Atlantis had never shined greater that it did with the people of Earth on her. There were two weapons platforms in orbit around New Lantea, the mainland population was growing under the protection of another ZPM grid. Issa knew how to pull the Ori into their ZPM's now, so that threat was also getting slimmer. There was a call from the SGC about letting the Atlantis base take the Tiamat and stretch her legs and explore a bit. Maybe they could find something else to occupy their time with if they just looked out another galaxy over.
Elizabeth authorized a new exploratory mission and the Tiamat went underway without much fuss. Teyla and Ronon both wanted to stay behind in the city this time around. Teyla wanted to concentrate more on Torren and Ronon wanted to help train some of the new recruits. He was getting a big kick out of it. There was talk about sending him through SERE training, just to see how he would do.
They were starting to follow the trail that was left by the machine that Daniel had found. One thing humans did was push the boundaries of exploration. As the Ancients were the founders of the human race, that meant that they explored too. With the Tiamat, they were able to go a few galaxies over in a day or so. They had explored out two galaxies looking for a place where Todd and his friends might set up shop. A new beginning in a new galaxy for the Wraith. If they came back, they had a few uncharted worlds mapped out for them. Helping the Wraith set up a new home was something most people thought that Sheppard was nuts for. However, John looked at is as if the Wraith could get out of their galaxy and start anew without any background history of them being space vampires, it would be better for them and if humans knew the Wraith were gone, then all the better for everyone.
On their return from their trip they were at the edge of the Pegasus Galaxy. They decided to skirt around the edges and see what was out there on the outer rim planets. They dropped out of accelerated hyperspace and found a signal that Sheppard immediately recognized.
"I'm pretty sure we need to look in to that." He said.
"Why is that?" McKay asked.
"It's Todd's signal." Sheppard said.
"Todd? What would he be doing out here? Seems kind of random." McKay asked.
"I've learned a great many things from him. One of them is to never assume he is doing anything randomly." Sheppard said.
They found the planet that where the signal was coming from and achieved low orbit around it. Sheppard clicked his radio to a frequency that he had contacted Todd on in the past.
"Sheppard to Todd." He spoke.
"Ahh. Hello again Sheppard old friend." Todd said. "I figured you'd be coming back this way."
"How did you know we were out here at all?" Sheppard asked.
"I have my ways." Todd said. "I see that you have a new ship."
"She's been around." Sheppard said.
Todd chuckled over the radio. "Do not worry, I will not tell anyone. Come down to the coordinates below. I guarantee you that I am alone. You can scan your planet. There are no shields, and no other life signs here. I have something to show you."
The radio went to static and Sheppard looked at McKay. He was already scanning the planet.
"It looks clean." McKay said. "But who knows if he has something that is interfering with our scans. "
"Get together the team." Sheppard said. "He didn't specify who was allowed down."
"Right." McKay said.
Five minutes later, they beamed down to coordinates about a mile away from where Todd told them to land.
"Rodney?" Sheppard asked.
"Already on it." McKay said scanning the area. "It looks clean so far. Just one life sign, that a way." McKay pointed.
"We go as planned." Sheppard said. While he missed Ronon and Teyla on missions like this, it was also a good thing they weren't here right now. They never were comfortable with Todd. He wasn't either, but it could make things more awkward. He had grabbed SGA-4, which was on the ship with them when they left to explore. Three of their team spread out, surrounding the area where Todd's life sign was coming from. McKay, Sheppard and the newest recruit for SGA-4 Sally McKennish, were walking in a direct path to Todd.
"I never imagined this would be what I was doing." Sally said.
"Most of us didn't." McKay replied. "It's different when you're theorizing everything at a desk on Earth."
"No kidding." Sally said. "The readings of this planet are amazing. It's fully habitable here, yet there are no people."
"There's a lot of that out in this galaxy. We've figured that over ten thousand years of feeding, most of the Wraith have wiped out entire populations of people." Sheppard said.
"We find a lot of runes." McKay added. "A lot of societies that were once thriving civilizations are just gone. Vanished."
"How sad." Sally said.
"It's one of the reasons my people want change." Todd's voice spoke from behind them. "We realized that the human race was too intelligent to treat as though they were merely food."
"I hate when you do that." McKay said. "Don't we have people out there so you can't sneak up on us?"
"They are very good." Todd said. "I'm just better at sneaking than they are."
Sheppard laughed. "So what now?"
"I was wondering if you've had time to think over my proposal." Todd said. "About how if we were to get rid of the last of my kind that disagreed with my way of life, if you would help us find a new home."
"We're already searching for one. I think we have a few prospects." Sheppard said.
"Good. I think we shall get along after all." Todd said. "I wish to show you something. There are many of these on planets all across this galaxy. It's where we learned how to create our kind."
"Why are you showing us?" McKay asked.
"So you will know how to destroy them." Todd replied. "There cannot be any born to those who created them outside of my group."
"Why?" Sheppard asked.
"Because when we breed, we are born with the memories of our family." Todd said. "To be specific, the family that created us. All of the children to our lines have been born. Those still sleeping need to be destroyed. It is simple to do. We simply deny them life support. The egg pods will never hatch. We have cleaned up most of the hatcheries we know of. However, we do not know all of the locations. There will still be Wraith scattered across the galaxy for a while. They should be hunted down. Our species cannot be allowed to survive as it used to."
"Thanks." McKay said. "I mean, we get to clean up your mess."
"No." Todd said. "We intend to leave several crews behind to assist you. If you are willing to work together."
"I'm sure we can figure something out." Sheppard said.
Over the next hour or so, they talked about how to destroy the hatcheries. Todd showed them a star map of the most likely ones they hadn't taken care of yet and they agreed that they would work together. They gave Todd the list of planets in the next galaxy over that looked habitable. In the end, the whole day was rather bizarre.
They beamed up to the ship and McKay and Sheppard headed to the armory to take off their equipment.
"Can you believe we're actually working with the Wraith?" Rodney asked. "It seems so strange. Almost wrong."
"It's a brave new world Rodney." Sheppard said. He seemed happy.
"If it were only that." Rodney said. "It's amazing how we see so much change. Life altering things! And then back on Earth, they're still fighting over a scratch of land and if gay marriage should be allowed. We think so small most of the time. It's all so closed minded."
The locker room cleared out around them and Sheppard closed the door.
"Just how closed minded are you Rodney?" John asked.
Rodney snorted. "I'd think you of all people should know the answer to that Colonel." He said.
"Really?" Sheppard was right up behind him now, and Rodney jumped slightly. He didn't realize he was that close to him.
"Yeah." Rodney said taking a step forward. "I mean, you see how I interact every day."
"I do. Yes." John said taking a step towards him again. "And yet, I can't help but think that there must be something in your head that's preventing you from doing this."
"Doing what?" Rodney asked taking a step back towards the lockers confused.
It was all the incentive John needed. He closed the gap between them, grabbed Rodney by the jacket and kissed him.
"Christ, do I have to spell it out for you?" John questioned.
Rodney finally got the hint and kissed back. After gulping down some air, he spoke, "I didn't know. Ok. I knew. I didn't think it was reciprocated. I mean. Wow. Really?"
"Really. Now shut up." John said and kissed him to distraction.
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"So I noticed that Rodney was disabling the video logs in the locker room on the Tiamat while they were gone on their whole 'find the Wraith a new home' mission, and while we were here researching better ways to rotate the shield. So I dug further. Of course, I have backup programs in place in case someone tries to delete something for security purposes. Dad is smart but he didn't get to all of my programs. It automatically makes a copy and sends it to me when someone tampers with video feed or tries to delete something. Look at what I found." Issa said to Arik as they sat in her quarters watching the laptop and Issa played the video of John cornering Rodney and kissing him.
"Oh my god." Arik said. "It's about time."
"It continues but I had to stop it as I don't want to really think about my dad's doing it on the locker room floor." Issa said. "What's really amusing is watching the camera in the hallway while all this is going on inside of there. SGA-4 went on the same mission to the planet. They had already put their equipment away, and they met up with SGA-5 and wanted to do some war games. Well…"
"In order to do war games, you have to have equipment." Arik finished the thought.
"This is where it gets good." Issa said. She chuckled and hit play.
The two SGA teams were pounding on the locker room door. They were talking to each other, and finally they clicked their radios on. Issa tapped at the keyboard and two monitors came up. One of them had Sheppard and McKay scrambling, getting their clothes hastily back on and the other had the SGA teams pounding on the doors.
"What the heck did they say?" Arik asked.
"That's what I thought, so I tapped into the audio files of the radio chatter." Issa said smirking. "Here we go."
A voice came through the speakers. "Sir? What's going on. The door seems to be locked." Issa smiled as Sheppard buttoned his shirt and tapped his radio in his ear. "It is." He said. "McKay and I are trapped in here. He's working on the locks right now." The SGA teams outside the bunker looked at each other. Cadman was amongst them. She raised an eyebrow. "Let me know if you need me to blow anything up." Rodney hastily put in his radio and was also putting on his shoes. "No. That's ok. I've almost got it." He said. He looked down and realized his socks weren't on his feet. He stuffed his socks in his pockets and he looked at John to make sure he was dressed. They walked out of the locker room together and the SGA teams quietly let them pass. As soon as they left, Cadman burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" someone asked her. "McKay wasn't wearing socks." She said between breaths.
The video file went dark and Arik and Issa laughed together.
"They're so helpless." Issa said. "it's sweet."
"I can't believe Cadman noticed." Arik said.
"She was in Rodney's head for a while. Literally. Wraith beaming tech gone bad. Two minds one body. She knows more about him than anyone on this base should." Issa said. She flopped on the couch in her quarters. Arik sat down more gracefully.
"I'm glad for them. I hope it won't cause any trouble." Arik said. "I know your world is not so serene on such matters."
"Yeah." Issa said frowning. "The military is a bitch. Even with DADT appealed now, it's still going to be hard on soldiers that are openly gay."
"I think it will work out." Arik said. "They're here most of the time after all, and here is home. We aren't as judgmental."
"No. We aren't." Issa said. She curled up next to him and snuggled on the couch. "I think we're making a trip to Earth soon."
"Really?" Arik asked.
"Yeah. Rodney said he has some leave time coming up and we've been talking about me meeting the family." Issa said.
"Do you think we can be separated that long?" Arik asked.
"I don't want to be. I was hoping you'd come with us." Issa said.
"Oh." Arik said. "I'd like that." He leaned over her and kissed her gently. "I'd like that very much."
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End Chapter 11
++TBC++
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