Chapter 13
About an hour later, all of the Wraith that followed the Ancients were eliminated and the time travelers were standing around the Science Center with Moros, celebrating their victory.
"I don't know how we can properly thank you all. We thought we would have to abandon Earth but you all showed courage above all else. And you Kal El," he paused and bowed slightly to the alien, "We owe you an enormous debt, if it weren't for you, I can't imagine how many of our numbers may have been taken from us today. Thank you."
Clark smiled, "Of course. I will always protect Earth, no matter when it is."
"I hate to ask this but I feel I must, why were you sent to Earth? Where are your people?" Moros asked curiously.
"Well right now, they are probably alive and well on Krypton. But in my time, they unintentionally destroyed themselves. My biological parents were able to send me to Earth before the planet self destructed with the hopes I could help Earth from reaching a similar fate." Clark began to explain.
"Well I am terribly sorry. But I know they would be proud of all you are capable of." Moros again nodded. "We will do our best to omit these events from our history, in the hopes of maintaining the time line, but there are no guarantees we will be able to silence everyone."
"Thank you. And from where we came from it appears you did alright." Jackson responded before frowning, "Then again, maybe you didn't. There is this huge Vampire craze where we come from..."
"The important thing is Earth is once again safe." Carter concluded. They all nodded.
The Alterran scientists went back to work on finding a way to get SG-1 and their company back to their own time. Having explained some of Clark's physiology led to a few breakthroughs and the scientists felt it was only a matter of time before the time travelers were sent home. In the mean time, Clark spent a lot of time talking to Moros, both exchanging information about their respective alien cultures. Meanwhile, Sam and Daniel gave a more thorough explanation of the Atlantis mission as well as the Wraith to Chloe. Eventually, an Alterran scientist asked Moros for help with something leaving only SG-1, Clark, Chloe and the elephant in the room.
"So, your name is Clark?" Mitchell blurted out. His team mates looked at him strangely - apparently both annoyed and appreciative.
Clark had given it a lot of thought and boldly responded. "Yes. My name is Clark Kent." The group looked at him, Vala's eyes furrowed in thought as though trying to remember something.
"You're a reporter right? You wrote that story about Lex Luthor being in jail." Vala asked, appearing relieved. At this, the rest of SG-1 gave her an inquisitive 'how on Earth did you know that' look. "Oh, when we were reading that paper about Superman, I accidentally read the wrong article." She explained causing Daniel to look somewhat embarrassed and Chloe to start giggling.
"I'm sorry, it's just funny because usually the reveal of Superman is a lot more - intense." Chloe tried to explain.
"What she means is usually I know someone as Clark and they find out I'm Superman. It's unusual for someone to find out and not know who Clark is." Clark elaborates, confusing himself a little with the 3rd person.
The group all started laughing a little, more because of the awkwardness of the situation. Some mumbles like "who knew Vala would know?" and other incoherent remarks simply made the group laugh harder. They barely heard when Moros once again approached the group, a wide smile on his face.
"We have found a way to return you home. In precisely 23 minutes and 3.5 seconds, you will all go through the Stargate once more. Only this time, Kal El, you will need to wear this," Moros proceeded to hand Clark what appeared to be a bracelet, "it will negate the solar power innate to your anatomy that caused the event. It will also allow you to travel by Stargate in the future. Think of it as a small token of our gratitude in exchange for the incredibly gift you have give us."
The group sobered up and prepared to leave, saying their goodbyes to Moros. "It's been great meeting you Moros, and your people. Thank you." Clark shook the Ancient's hand.
"No, thank you Kal El. We'll always remember you." Moros responded.
"Well, Moros, it's been a blast, but I assume by the swoosh it's time to go." Mitchell waved.
"Indeed. It was most fascinating to meet your people." Teal'c stated with a slight bow. Jackson and Carter followed in suit.
"Good luck Moros, and I'll cya in a few thousand." Vala said with a slight wink to a now confused Moros. Both Jackson and Carter looked horrified by what she said, Carter's face practically screaming 'what have you done to the timeline!' but merely grabbed her two friends by the elbows and dragged them through the event horizon.
Oliver had been at the SGC for nearly a week and was starting to get painfully worried for Chloe and Clark. He was currently pacing his so called 'VIP' Quarters, his hand constantly on his cell phone prepared to recall Lois Lane from the vacation he forced her on and see what dirt she could dig. Alas, he promised the SGC a week and reluctantly he felt an obligation to hold that promise.
Unscheduled Wormhole Activation sounded in his quarters and he ran out, trying not to get his hopes up that it was his friends. What he saw in the gate room was well - not what he expected. Chloe and Clark led the group, laughing and smiling as though returning for a hike. They were followed by Teal'c and Mitchell, apparently in a heated discussion about sword wielding. They were followed by Sam, Vala, and Jackson arguing paradox.
"See, it's all the same! Except that green dude wasn't here when we left." Vala pointed shamelessly at Oliver making him slightly uncomfortable. Upon noticing Oliver in the gate room, Chloe ran up to him, pulling him into a big hug. Clark greeted his team mate with a hearty hand shake.
"What the hell happened to you guys?" Oliver asked seriously.
"Oh you know, time travel, beat the bad guy, hung out with some cool aliens. It was awesome!" Chloe explained with a never ending grin plastered on her face.
"It really was! Oh man I can't believe these guys do that for a living!" Clark emphasized. At this point Landry and O'Neill headed to greet the travelers, relieved to see them all return home without a scratch and apparently in good spirits.
"See Arrow, I told you Time Travel's no big deal." O'Neill said while patting Oliver on the back. Oliver did his best job of giving the general an evil glare while wearing glasses. O'Neill got the point and walked towards his old team to greet them. "So how was it?" O'Neill asked, his eyes revealing a sense of longing for the adventure inherent to being apart of SG-1.
"Well, with the exception of Vala possibly completely altering history I'd say it all went well." Daniel responded.
"Oh, Daniel, you always have to be such a drama queen." Vala piped in non chalantly. Meanwhile, Landry observed, happy to see everyone where the belonged, and relieved to know he wouldn't be responsible for the disappearance of the world's greatest superhero.
"It's been WHAT?" Landry heard over the rest of the room. All eyes turned to Chloe who reiterated, "he says we've been gone for a week." Clark looked to Oliver concerned.
"Relax. I convinced Lois you had mono and to go on vacation for a week. And Supergirl was more than willing to answer John Jones' call and cover for you - don't ask me how he did it, he won't tell me. As far as the world - and Lois - is concerned, Superman took a much deserved vacation." Oliver informed his two worried friends. Clark visibly sighed in relief.
"So, anyone up for dinner?" Mitchell asked the crowd. SG-1 all smiled and replied positively while Clark and Chloe sadly declined, realizing it was time to return to reality. They gave their goodbyes and promised to see one another again.
"Besides, now that you have that Super Bracelet, you can come through the Stargate whenever!" Vala pointed out bluntly.
"Yeah, that's true, but I think I may wait at least a few days." Clark responded group chuckled and went their separate ways. Once they were in Oliver's private jet heading back to Metropolis and fully out of uniform, Oliver finally asked "So what happened?"
Chloe and Clark looked at him and smiled before Chloe started, "You're never going to believe this but..." and the two told their friend their tale.
"So you saved the world?" Oliver reiterated.
"Well, yeah." Clark replied modestly.
"Oh Clark, stop being so modest. Yes, he saved the world - again." Chloe explained.
"Some things will never change." Oliver replied, shaking his head. "I guess it's time to return to normal." The three laughed at the statement and fell into familiar conversation.
Epilogue - 6 months later
Daniel was nervous - after six months of relative calm, Chloe had given him a call. Apparently, Clark was ready for a second go through the gate.
To say Landry was reluctant to allow it was an understatement. His first reaction was simply to laugh, 'You've got to be kidding me! There's no way...' but Chloe with a little help from her friends helped persuade him. So here they all were, waiting around the conference room for Chloe and Clark to show up.
"So why does he want to go through the gate again?" Mitchell asked.
"Apparently, he feels some sort of connection to the artifact and is curious where it came from." Carter did her best to explain. Mitchell nodded and the group fell once again into an uncomfortable silence.
That silence was interrupted by a hearty laugh coming from the hall. The noise nearly made Mitchell and Carter stand up at attention but they managed to resist. The two friends walked in and greeted SG-1 as though they had never left.
"You sure you guys are up for this?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah, I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Clark responded to which all of SG-1 cringed and Chloe smacked him on the arm. "I mean we have that bracelet thing - everything should be fine, right?"
"Well, according to all of my simulations it should it's just - we just want you to be absolutely sure after our adventure last time." Carter confirmed.
"I'm sure. For some reason - this feels like something I need to do." Clark nodded in confirmation.
"Alright team, let's do this!" Mitchell stated attempting to exude something like confidence.
This time, Clark closed his eyes when he crossed the event horizon, clutching onto the bracelet like a life vest. When he opened his eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the rest of the group as well as the boring planet he became acquainted with through pictures.
"You know, I never thought I'd actually be excited to be see this place." Vala exclaimed. All of SG-1 except for Daniel seemed to agree with the statement and the group trekked on to the kryptonian monument. When they finally arrived, the group took a step back to give Clark his privacy.
Clark began reading the previously untranslatable Kryptonian. "Huh." He kept saying, as though gaining a further understanding of what was going on.
"What is it Clark?" Chloe asked her friend.
"Well, after meeting me, Moros sent out a scout ship to the planet I told him was Krypton. While the Kryptonians were 'fascinating' to the Ancients, the Ancients were more interested in Ascending than becoming a galactic super power. They learned all about Krypton, including the language, and told the Kryptonians the tale of a Superman coming to Earth. Eventually, the last of the Ancients' ascended but before that they made this memorial to commemorate their eventual demise - as well as a way to get in contact with any Kryptonians who might survive." Clark explained the Chloe as well as the approaching SG-1.
"Full Circle." Jackson muttered under his breath.
"Bless you?" Chloe questioned.
"Full Circle," Daniel began more clearly, "The small cube Clark had that cued in Thor - it was specifically for him. Moros must have realized the self fulfilling prophecy and created the cube - sort of like the note General Hammond left himself."
"I'm sorry Daniel, what are you talking about?" Vala interrupted.
"Alright, if we hadn't come across this monument and noticed the Superman symbol, we never would have connected it to Clark, and we never would have attempted to bring him to the graveyard planet. In which case, the Wraith would have overrun the Earth 10,000 years ago and we wouldn't exist. Hence, we had to find this monument and the cube and Clark had to go back in time - or else none of us would be here." The group seemed to understand this explanation and accept it - for now.
Clark continued to circle the monument continuing to read the story of the relationship between the Ancients and the Kryptonians. "Huh, they don't go into details about our battle with the Wraith just to say the Kryptonians came to their aid at a critical time. It's exactly how Thor described it." After a few minutes, Clark had finished reading the monument. "I think I did what I needed to do. We should probably get back to Earth before Landry has a melt down."
The group laughed and headed back to the Stargate, the suns setting behind them. Their adventure was finally over - for now anyways.
The End