PART FOURTEEN: FINALLY, HE GETS IT

"Major, it's gone. The hive ship," Stackhouse's voice was filled with disbelief. "I saw it happen from here. But, sir, there are still four Darts up there. They're still coming—I don't know what they're thinking but...sir, I think they're going to try one last time to destroy Deucalion, even after witnessing that destruction. Speaking of which, Sir—what did that? I've not seen anything that powerful before, except on old footage of the New Mexico nuclear tests...."

Sheppard frowned, grabbing at the final bit of rock to pull it away from the wall. "That's their Weapon, Stackhouse," he answered without concentration. "And those four Wraith Darts won't survive it when...." He removed the last stone, and looked at the unobstructed wall for the first time, "....What the...?"

"Sir?" Stackhouse asked.

Sheppard's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the meaning of the images in front of him. The wall held a series of panels, depicting the way the Weapon worked. His eyes lit on the last panel in the bottommost corner and his breath caught.

"Sir, sir, I remember who Sydney Carton is," Dunne's excited young voice said over the radio. "We had to put our heads together, but he's the hero from...."

"The Tale of Two Cities," Sheppard finished, his voice soft, as the meaning of the last panel sank in. "The one who gave up his life to save....Oh my God." The major whipped around and ran for the entrance to the Great Eye, "Ford! Teyla, don't let it fire again!"

"Sir?" Ford was looking at his radio. "Why not?"

"There are still four more Darts," Lieutenant Che retorted, her hand over the sixth and final button. "We can take them all out with the final shot. I just have to time it right."

"Major Sheppard said not to fire it," Teyla said quietly, firmly. Che turned her head to look at the Athosian.

"But I have to. We can't let the Darts get away. If they do, they'll just go back and return with more ships. They'll—"

Ford grabbed her wrist, pulling it away from the button. "We're not firing it."

She glared at him, then twisted her wrist out of his grip and stood. "This is my city, not yours! And I will defend it!" Her hand raised to slam down on the sixth button as she turned back to the console.

The 9MM in her face stopped her mid-strike, Major Sheppard's eyes backing up the deadliness of the weapon in his hands. Because of the illusion of the Great Eye, none of the three people inside had seen him slide through the opening until he was right in front of them.

"You move, woman," he hissed, his voice the quality of death, "and you won't be able to defend a toaster." He nudged his radio as she backed up, her hands raised. "Stackhouse, Dunne...get those Jumpers in the air. You've got four bogies to take down. And be quick about it."

The hologram frowned, staring up at the images over Rodney's head. For his part, the doctor's pale blue eyes were open, but only barely. He watched the screens showing the four Wraith ships though half lidded eyes, without seeming interest.

"I don't understand," the hologram said suddenly, "why haven't they fired? Those four darts have been inside for long enough....They should have fired!"

"Rodney? Rodney, are you okay? Can you hear me?"

The doctor's parched lips gave a tiny smile. He knew that voice...what was it saying?

"John?"

"Hell yes, it's me, you asshole! Why didn't you tell us that thing would kill you? Sydney Carton? We were supposed to figure it out from that? You moronic, idiotic, stupid piece of—"

"John," he whispered, not really hearing the words Sheppard shouted at him as his eyes slid closed for the final time, but he could guess. He'd failed somehow. The last Wraith ships would finish the city, and they'd all be killed. "I'm...sorry," he pleaded, "I...tried....Wasn't...strong enough...."

"Rodney? No! Rodney! Don't you give up on me! We're coming to get you! Rodney! Damn it, hold on!"

TBC

A/N -- I wish I knew how to reply to the reviews! All I can say is, thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! It means so much to read them!