Retaliation of the Wraith
Chapter 6
Author: Lorrie Ellis
Email: lorrieannhotmail
Summary : This story takes place after the team returns from Jordonia and a confrontation with the Wraith. (Sequel to The Jordonian Ritual)
Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Stargate: Atlantis". The characters belong to MGM, The Sci-Fi channel, etc. but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
Elizabeth thought seriously before she turned to Peter. "Lower the shield."
"You're sure?" He asked.
"Lower the shield." She repeated.
Peter lowered the shield just as Sgt. Stackhouse got his team, along with Sgt. Bates' team in position. A figure of light stepped through the gate and down the ramp.
"Hold your position." Sgt. Stackhouse commanded.
"Take me to John Shepherd." The being requested.
Elizabeth approached the mysterious figure. "Hi. I'm Dr. Elizabeth Weir
and . . ."
"Yes, I know who you are." The being replied. "It is nice to finally meet you and I will talk with you at length soon, but please understand, right now it is urgent that I see John Shepherd."
"I can't just take you to Major Shepherd. We don't even know who you are." She replied.
A smile could be seen on the being's face. "Yes, I understand your need to protect John Shepherd. He is very special, afterall." The being's glow intensified. "Please, you must trust me. I am here to help you, all of you." He moved his arm in a gesture around the room and suddenly the teams lowered their weapons and Dr. Weir's expression softened.
"Yes. Yes, I understand." She stared at the being, not being able to take her eyes from it. "Please, follow me."
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"Doc, I'm fine. I need to get out of here." John said, as he fought against both Carson and Rodney who were trying to keep him in bed.
"What's so all fired important, lad?" Carson asked.
Suddenly, the chamber filled with light. All three men were drawn to the being that had just penetrated the wall and was now standing in front of them. "I do not mean to frighten you and I mean you no harm, but I must speak with John Shepherd."
John looked at Carson and then at Rodney. "I . . . I . . .I'm John Shepherd." He stammered.
The being smiled. "I know." He stepped closer to the bed where John was sitting. "Doctor, if you'll allow me a moment with your patient and then we will be heading to the 'Jumper Bay' I believe you call it."
"Uh, yes, uh, what is it exactly that you want with the Major?"
"First, to completely heal him." The being swept his hand across John's body and all inklings of pain disappeared. "Secondly, I need his help, as do you, to fight the Wraith mothership that is quickly approaching this world."
John sat in astonishment at how quickly he had been healed. "What do you need me for?" He asked.
"I am not of human form any longer and although I know how to make Atlantis work, there are things that I cannot control that you will be able to, and of course, with both of us working together, the technology of Atlantis will work much more efficiently."
"But why me?" John asked.
"I cannot tell you too much or I would be breaking an oath, but let's just say that your Ancient gene is nearly 100."
Rodney's eyes widened, as did Carson's. "You mean he's an Ancient?" Rodney asked.
The being shook his head. "Not exactly, but his line is nearly 100 pure Ancient. Dating back to his great-great-grandparents, the Ancient gene has been present on both sides of his familytree with the exception of two instances."
"What instances?" John asked.
"We must hurry to the Jumper Bay if we're going to take out the Wraith in time." The being replied, ignoring John's question.
Rodney and Carson watched as John and the being exited the chamber, their mouths still agape. "He's nearly 100 Ancient? That certainly explains his ease with the technology here." Carson stated.
Dr. Weir was still waiting outside of the chamber when John and the being opened the door. "Major! It's good to see you up and about." She greeted.
John smiled and paused in front of his CO. "It's good to be up and about." He continued to follow the being towards the Jumpers.
Rodney practically leaped from the chamber, landing right in front of Dr. Weir. "Did you know that the Major is almost 100 Ancient? That explains how he's able to control pretty much anything and everything that he touches here and . . ."
"McKay, you're rambling." Elizabeth said firmly.
"Sorry." He replied respectfully.
"It is amazing though to know that at least one of us is nearly 100 Ancient." Carson said as he and Rodney started towards the Jumper Bay.
Elizabeth lagged behind. "Yeah, amazing. It's amazing exactly how much more trouble John will be able to get himself into." She continued to ponder the idea that he was nearly 100 Ancient. "That would mean that both sets of his great-great-grandparents had the Ancient gene, as did his great-grandparents, his grandparents and his parents. I wonder where the line dropped . . . and why?"
Suddenly as if her question was heard, the being appeared before her, smiling. "You question too much, Dr. Weir."
"What?" She asked, somewhat startled.
"Accept him for who he is, not what he is. I cannot tell you much, but I can tell you that your destinies are intertwined throughout the ages."
Elizabeth's eyebrows lifted. "What? Mine and John's destinies are intertwined?" She laughed. "That's a bit hard to swallow. We're too different."
"Not as different as you might think." The being replied and disappeared.
Back in the Jumper Bay, Major Shepherd had already buckled in at the controls of Jumper One and had given orders for Jumpers Two through Twenty to fire up. The being suddenly appeared in the co-pilot seat of Jumper One.
"There you are." John said. "So, what's the plan? How are these small Jumpers going to mount an attack against a Wraith mothership?"
"You know very much about these 'Jumpers', but I believe there are still a few secrets that you do not know."
"Such as?" John asked.
The being smiled. "They can grow."
John knitted his eyebrows. "What do you mean grow?"
"Not as you or I would grow. Have you not noticed the grooves on the outside?"
"I have." McKay piped up. "And I wondered what they were for."
"They allow the pods, or Jumpers as you call them to interlock and become one large ship." He looked at the control panel in front of him. "You have named this one well. Jumper One is the control pod."
John was barely able to contain his excitement. "So, how does it work? What do we do?"
"This button." The being pointed at a button on the console. "Each pilot has one and must push it at the same time, and then the pods will do the rest."
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"Where is John Shepherd of Earth?" Vexnos demanded.
"We have not been able to locate him. I have explained already that the beacon has been incapacitated." Tramock replied.
Vexnos slammed her fist on the table. "Then we will search every inhabitable planet and moon until we find him."
"What you ask is not possible Vexnos. We should cut our losses and wait until the others can join forces with us."
"Tramock, we are this close to finding the habitat of those from Earth." She held her forefinger and thumb close together. "We are this close to avenging Viton's death, or have you forgotten your brother?"
Tramock passed the controls to another Wraith and suddenly faced Vexnos. "I have not forgotten my brother, nor have I taken leave of my senses. It is not a good strategic move to remain here in this galaxy. We have no idea what weapons John Shepherd and the others may have. We are . . ."
"We are the Wraith! And we are indestructible!" She finished.
"As a race, yes. As individuals, no. The death of your two sisters and my brother have proven that and all was at the hand of John Shepherd. He has means of killing Wraith."
Vexnos stared angrily at Tramock. "What if your words are true? What then? We just leave here and allow them to run amuck all over the galaxies?"
"No. That is not at all what I am saying."
------
The whole population of Atlantis stood in awe as the Jumpers connected themselves like Lego building blocks until an enormous ship was formed. It hovered over the city like a looming cloud. Only one piece remained . . . the ship of John Shepherd. He took his position in the center front of the huge craft and was jolted slightly as the Jumper locked into place.
"What about weapons?" John asked the being.
"They are all at your disposal. The cannons on each ship will fire individually, or you can channel their power into the center and emit fire from there with a greater impact."
"Woo-hoo!!" The Major yelled across the radio. "So, Dr. Weir, do we have a go?"
She nodded. "Go kick some Wraith butt Major, just make sure you come back in one piece."
"Roger that." John replied and took the controls.
"You may want to cloak the ship until we are closer to the Wraith. They'll never see you coming and by the time they do see you, it will be too late." The being stated before disappearing.
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Vexnos and Tramock were arguing when the Wraith at the controls called out to them. "There are odd signs on the panel."
"What odd signs?" Vexnos asked as she and Tramock approached. "What is that?" She asked Tramock.
"I don't know, but we had better be prepared for anything."
Just as the words left Tramock's mouth, the Atlantis ship appeared in front of them, every bit as large, if not larger than the Wraith ship. "Shield status?" He shouted.
"Shields up!" A voice replied.
"Defenses!" Tramcok shouted.
"Defenses ready!"
"This is Major John Shepherd of Earth." John announced over the radio. "I understand that you've been looking for me."
"Fire at will!" Vexnos commanded.
The Wraith ship opened fire on the Atlantis ship, its shots bouncing off of Atlantis' hull as though it were impenetrable.
"It's no good Vexnos. We cannot break down their shield."
"Is that all you've got?" John asked across the radio again. "My turn." He smiled and gave the command to open fire. The individual cannons on the Jumpers fired away at the Wraith ship.
"We've taken at least three direct hits. Our shields are badly damaged." Tramock reported. "We must retreat."
"NO!" Vexnos shouted as she stood closer to the window on the bridge.
John noticed her and propelled the ship until he was positioned directly across from her. "Well, well, well. I'm guessing that you're the Wraith that's been looking for me."
"You are going to die John Shepherd of Earth!" She hissed.
"Yes I'm sure I am," John said sincerely. ". . . but not today. " With that, he pushed the button to direct the cannon power from all of the Jumper's to one central location and fired at the bridge of the Wraith mothership.
Before impact, John propelled the ship backwards, away from the impending blast. "Are you crazy?" McKay asked. "We'll never get far enough away. The percussion alone will shatter the ship and . . ."
"And you worry too much." John replied. "I know what I'm doing."
The Wraith ship took a direct impact to the bridge. Screams could be heard over the radio as the crew of the Atlantis watched the Wraith ship burst into flames. Just before the ship disintegrated, John distinctly heard Vexons' voice. "The others will come, John Shepherd of Earth. I have made certain of it."
John maintained the hover for a few seconds longer and then announced to the crew. "Let's go home."
As John held the ship over the city, his voice sounded again over the radio. "Disengage on my mark. 3-2-1-Mark." As each pilot hit their respective buttons, the Jumpers disconnected and became twenty separate Jumpers again. "Let's put away our toys, guys." John beamed, bringing Jumper One gently into its docking bay.
Elizabeth and Dr. Beckett were both waiting on the platform as they watched the Jumpers land. "Major Shepherd, debriefing for you and your team in ten minutes, my office." Elizabeth radioed.
"Roger that." John replied.
"Well, looks like things are finally back to normal." Rodney commented as he, Teyla and Ford climbed out of the Jumper.
"You coming, Major?" Ford asked, looking back.
"In a minute." John climbed from the Jumper and as he started down the ramp, looked over his shoulder just in time to see the Ancient being smile at him before disappearing.
"Thanks." John whispered and hurried to catch up with his team.
THE END