Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. Everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.

-=oOo=-

Araiansu - Chapter 24

-=oOo=-

Kasumi was smiling and grinning in obvious anticipation as everyone filed in.

"Something new?" Jack asked.

"It's a surprise," Kasumi said.

"If you say so," said Jack dubiously.

Daniel said, "Kasumi, Rommie this is Fate, Nanoha's wife, Doctor Camber her healer, and this little one is Rein."

"Oh my. Your so cute."

Rein blushed. "It is good to meet you."

Fate said, "It really is good to meet you." She then bowed very deeply. "For saving Nanoha I owe you a great debt."

"No, you don't. We were just doing our jobs."

Rommie added, "We really were." She walked up to Rein. "Your interesting." Then she suddenly asked, "Willing?"

"I am yes. It is actually a complex question. Can we speak of it later?"

"Of course. I am honored to meet you."

"I as well."

The screen activated. Chrono asked from his ship, "Are you about ready to go?"

Rommie said, "The Nozomi is fully operational and ready to fly, without training wheels."

"Are you absolutely sure? The energy drain might use up what remains and we aren't ready with the spare module."

"I am sure."

Amy asked from Artha, "How could you possibly have updated your drive in so little time?"

She grinned and said, "I watched and learned from you."

"But we have totally incompatible systems."

"I watched for the effect not the cause."

"Clever," Amy noted.

Chrono said, "If your sure, we will allow you to at least test your engines, but if we call a halt, you have to power down, okay?"

"Of course."

Kasumi said, "Let's do this. Everyone, get somewhere and strap yourself in. Rommie and me are going to have a little fun."

Laughter was heard from the rest of the ship. Jack's smile was wide, as was Daniel's.

Nanoha looked on in confusion as did the others, even as they took what seats they could.

Kasumi held out her arms as Rommie faded in. Rein and Doctor Camber paid particularly close attention. They sat back down and in their blended voice said, "Disabling dimension drive lockouts one through seven. Drives are enabled. Updating drive with program beta 1. Drive is updated. Releasing lock to ZPM power. Building potential, we are ten seconds to jump."

"1 6"

" 1"

The ship slid into the dimensional sea as smoothly as an Olympic diver did through water. The sound of the drives then increased until everything seemed to become motionless except for the blues and oranges outside the window.

They reported, "Current energy usage rate is now seven percent of previous rate. Effective velocity is now 4.3 times the previous rate. All conditions are stable."

It took a few minutes for Artha to catch up. Chrono again appeared on the screen. "Excellent job. We are monitoring your drive emissions as if this was a certification run, but right now you are doing very well indeed. We will need your flight telemetry, but if all goes well we can submit this and get your certified for independent flight in our space."

"Thank you, they said. That probably isn't my last revision. This still takes more effort for me and Kasumi than we would like."

Amy said, "Our offer to help remains open."

"Very well. I'm sending an encrypted copy of the original program and my updates. These should not be retained without a very good reason and asking me."

"We understand and will make sure they are handled accordingly," agreed Chrono.

Amy began to read the information on her screen. "Whoa, this is interesting, but the approach is so alien to me. I'm finding it hard to follow. Would you consider allowing Rein to unison for a brief time? She has our tech base, or enough of it. It would help with the understanding."

"I agree," stated the Doctor.

Rein said, "I won't be able to unison long. She doesn't have a great deal of magic and I would be mostly relying on stored."

Fate asked, "Would merging with me first help?"

"Yes please."

Fate smiled as she and Rein unisoned together. Fate fed her all the power she could take before they separated. The little fairy glowed like the sun before she stood before Kasumi and Rommie. "May I?" she asked.

"Sure," they said.

Once more two became three in one. Kasumi's clothes shifted to a pure white as did her hair. They said, "It worked." The voice was still the blend of Rommie and Kasumi indicating it was a slightly different merge.

Inside Rein offered, "I will begin by making my knowledge of dimensional theory available, then you will add to it. I will also lend you my resources to aid in your balancing of the engines against the environment."

They agreed and soon what was quiet got quieter still. Amy said, "There is another ten percent drop in drive emissions. This is magitech level. Better than some."

It was another four hours, before Rein's unison faded. She was still glowing brilliantly. She said, "Got it, I think. Sending it to you Amy!"

Amy loaded up the information and looked at the simulated data and the updated designs. She said, "This requires some major engine modifications, but Chrono, if these numbers are correct, this is magitech quality output that can be run by a standard system."

Chrono stated, "This information is now considered Top Secret and must be treated accordingly. We will gladly help you create your new drive since you did a lot of the work, but I will not release a drive that makes inter-dimensional travel this easy. I seriously doubt those at the top of the chain of command will either. We are short staffed now. If knowledge of this got out..."

Jack said, "We get it. The only people we would trust with it are the Asgard." He turned to Rommie and Kasumi, "I ask that you don't store this anywhere but where you are sure it is safe. Heimdall can come aboard to look at it. Do not copy it to Atlantis."

"I would have suggested similar. It hadn't occurred to me that we could make something somehow that much better, until we did. Rein gets half the credit. Having a completely different understanding of the process really helped."

Chrono said, "Rein, make sure you lock down your copy of it."

"I can delete the relevant data before it is saved in long term storage. I have been avoiding committing it for this reason."

Chrono said, "Do it."

"Done."

Amy said, "Shall I lock this up?"

"Yes, put it under a dual lockout. Durandall will provide the second key."

"Yes boss."

Doctor Camber asked, "Kasumi, Rommie, may I ask for the merge data from Rein. I want to see if I can reduce Kasumi's mental fatique. It may not be possible, but I wish to try."

"Of course."

"Transmitting to your station now," said Rein.

After ten minutes of reading the Doctor said, "I would suggest Artha takes over for now."

"Oh fooey," complained the merged pair. They then said, "I'm sending a planned power down sequence. Tell me if you can match it and takeover our load?"

Amy replied, "We can. Begin when ready."

The ship began to lightly vibrate for several seconds until things smoothed out. Rommie separated from Kasumi who seem to wilt a bit in her chair.

The old doctor got up and walked over to the front of her. "May I examine you?"

Kasumi nodded.

The little ring he wore glowed silver as the glow permeated her body. A couple minutes later it faded. He said, "I'm sorry, I have no answers yet. You are a remarkable pair. Fixing the drive the rest of the way will no doubt help a very great deal so you don't have to work so hard. I also did the same restoration spell Nanoha used on you. It will help I think, but you will need some rest first."

Kasumi yawned.

He asked, "Would you be willing to take some very tedious and boring lessons? I could teach them, or Fate probably could if you want. They are what every mage learns early on to help their mental focus. It is not really magic. It is a mental discipline. Very boring, but very important stuff."

"Yes please."

Daniel asked, "Could I sit in? Assuming of course it helps in general."

Doctor Camber said, "It helps yes, but a lot of what limits mages is the inability to truly multitask. The human brain doesn't really multitask by default. The training overcomes most of it, so you can monitor for threats in many places, calculate the parameters for a flight spell, calculate new parameters for an attack spell, and maybe have another spell ready to go for contingencies."

"That still sounds useful."

"Then by all means."

Kasumi asked, "Is Megumi happy?"

Nanoha said, "She is. Our daughter will no doubt exhaust her, but I think she will enjoy it."

"Good."

Amy said, "We are still about two hours out."

Kasumi fell asleep in the chair. Rommie gently picked her up and carried her back to their cabin.

Rommie then reappeared on the bridge. The doctor approached her and asked softly, "Have you considered seeking an additional…"

"We will not ask and ask others not to as well. This should be volunteer only."

"Well there went my easy solution."

Daniel asked, "So we can't nudge or anything."

"No, not for this. Your training may help."

The doctor said, "It will help, but probably not enough. If your careful you may be okay though, but stuff happens, all too often."

Fate asked, "What can we do?"

The doctor replied, "Be observant. We can't nudge anyone or anything overt, but if we see someone who might be a candidate we could maybe try to arrange a meeting. That much should be fair, right?"

Rommie nodded. "I'm a bit concern with your answer from before Rein. Care to explain more now?"

Rein said, "There was an artifact that was originally called the Tome of the Night Sky, but it was corrupted and became known as the book of darkness. It contained five souls. Three ancient belkan knights, one guardian beast, and the core to the book who later took the name Reinforce, and yes, to answer Rommie's original question, though she already knows, well none of them truly remembers, but it is believed that they tricked all that were chosen. The bindings on them would not normally have been accepted by anyone without the trick. Hayate Yagami was given the book by Admiral Gill Graham. It leached on her power, corrupting her magic and her body. He did not do this to be cruel. He was setting up what he hoped was a plan to stop the book before it destroyed another planet."

"One of the guardian knights, I think you met. Do you remember Shamal and Klarwind?"

"She was one?" asked Daniel in surprise.

Nanoha said, "Shamal is brilliant. Number two healer, and better at many things. She is no longer tied to the book. We fixed things. Admiral Graham's plan was more than just illegal. It would have doomed us all if we let it go."

"I'm glad to hear it it all worked out," Daniel added.

Rein said, "Towards the end of that effort Fate was captured by the book of Darkness. It was her struggle inside and everyone elses outside to contain the out of control artifact. They beat it back, but could not kill it. They got far enough that Hayate was able to access the administration functions of the book and restore the Guardian Knights who had been previously killed. Together they defeated but did not destroy the corrupted core program that was controlling all this and causing so much death and destruction. As I said before, she became known as The Blessed Wind or Reinforce. Shortly after the battle she volunteered for total dissolution. It was the only way to free the Guardian Knights. It was also the only way to prevent the book from reconstructing the corrupted defense program that was causing so much pain. I am what was born of her sacrifice."

Daniel asked, "Do you know how that thing got corrupted in the first place?"

Doctor Camber said, "We believe the original creation did not use volunteers. The restrictions we believe were placed on them deeply controlled them. It is a horrible thing."

"I know," Rommie said firmly.

The doctor continued, "We don't know what precisely caused the corruption, but the bindings on the souls prevented them from stopping it, or at times even knowing what they had done previously."

"And that is another why," Rommie said grimly, "what I spoke of is so much worse. I have orders yes, but nothing that stops my free will or that of my beloved pilot."

Chrono said, "All this is pretty secret, but as you are involved with some similar circumstances it is important to understand the cost. The Book of Darkness incident could have destroyed Nanoha's Earth. Worse, even if we had used the Artha to blow the book to bits early, well it is notoriously good at surviving. It could easily displace itself in space and dimensions and start all over, and the magical blast we were considering initiating would have killed millions for nothing."

"Millions?" Jack asked grimly.

Chrono nodded.

Doctor Camber said, "He was authorized because it was the choice between possibly millions or billions, if it wiped out another planet, or worse multiple planets before it could be stopped."

"Ah," said Jack in understanding.

Rommie said, "I could have helped. My weapons are far more selective." One the screen she showed her battle with the Goa'uld mother ships, as well as that of the Liberator.

"Nice," said Chrono, "and your right, you could have helped. I don't know if they would have been effective or not, though they appear to be very good at what they do."

Rommie blushed furiously.

Chrono asked, "Can we see the whole thing?"

Jack glanced around before saying, "Sure. Can we see the one you mentioned?"

"I have no objections. Artha has a recording."

When they were done Jack said, "You know one or more of your mages would be invaluable to support off world Stargate teams, if you weren't short on resources as is."

"Maybe we can work something out," mused Chrono.

Daniel added, "First, we had better make sure there is something to prevent them from getting snaked."

Nanoha looked ill at the thought.

Fate looked furious at the idea.

The doctor said, "It is hard to know for sure, but it is very unlikely they would survive long in a mage's body. I wouldn't like to try it though. Still, I'll need to see whatever you have on them."

Daniel said, "There is a small group of good ones called Tok'ra."

"That is helpful, if they would consent to some tests."

"Probably, but you would have to ask," added Daniel.

Amy said, "We are here. Returning to normal space."

The view of the Earth opened before them. They immediately got a call from Heimdall on their view screens.

"I am Heimdall of the Asgard. I request the unknown vessel accompanying Nozomi to identify themselves and state their intentions."

"This is Admiral Chrono Harlaown of the Time Space Administration Bureau. Your people gave us a lot of help. We hope to open talks about a possible alliance as well as, if possible, seek treatment for one of ours that requires specialized healing."

"Nozomi already has our best facilities..."

"We were told that you had a true life adept."

"I cannot speak for them."

"But I can," announced Ranma cheerfully in another window. Sam joined him in the same view. "Well, I think I can anyway. I'm sure they would be glad to help."

Jack said, "There are a few complex things to talk about.. Perhaps the main Atlantis briefing room?"

"Agreed," Heimdall said.

They all quickly beamed down, save Kasumi who was still resting.

The remaining Vatican crew members who continued their largely silent work, helping as they could.

-=oOo=-

Nafrayu spoke first, "Who needs our help?"

"I'm afraid I do," spoke Nanoha hesitantly.

"Would you like to do this first?"

Fate responded, "I would really like to see Nanoha healed first, and she should be in on these talks."

Cally asked, "Are you willing to be healed by us?"

"I am."

Nafrayu asked, "Then how about the chair over here. Your friend can hold you if you wish, though she will feel much of it if she does."

"Please."

Fate did them one better and sat down first, before pulling the slightly smaller young woman into her lap.

Cally smirked and Nafrayu smiled a small smile. They each took one of Nanoha's hands as well as each others.

Nanoha glowed a brilliant white all over. Both Nanoha and Fate let out a long ah. The glow vanished.

Nafrayu said, "We can easily heal the damage to her body. The damage to her magic I am less certain about. There has not been a life adept blessed with the gift of magic as well in nearly a thousand years. I believe we can help, but that this is not the best path."

"I'm Doctor Camber. If you are not the best path, then what is?"

Nafrayu said, "Ranma here" Ranma waved. "is blessed with a unique magic, even if it is not fully under his control. His bond mate is Sam Carter." Sam waived. "I know they have not yet discovered how to heal without a bond, but if they would be willing to risk one more, then they might manage it. It is not without risks, but they are manageable in this case."

Sam looked at Jack. He shrugged.

Nanoha asked, "You could truly heal me?"

Cally said, "This is not certain. It is a risk. Much depends on whether or not they can puzzle out the remaining pieces, but Ranma at least has magic combined with his life energy ability. It could be part of the solution."

Doctor Camber said, "Then I volunteer as well. I will suffer for a time if I can be of help. I might also be able to help that pair see enough to find what they lack. The risks are significant, but Nanoha has yet to truly recover from some of the magical damage she took years ago. Scars remain that my best efforts cannot heal."

Nafrayu said, "Nanoha's friend cannot be a part of this. Just adding two is a big enough risk. Adding one who would deeply embrace such a bond would risk trapping them all."

Fate and Nanoha blushed.

Fate said, "I understand. Take care of her."

Nanoha asked, "I heard that some of your teams could use our help. If you can do this, I would owe a debt. I would ask that you let me help until it could be repaid."

"Nanoha," Fate spoke softly.

"No," Ranma stated. "There can be no debts between friends. If help is given we can discuss that later. Once this is done Sam and I can beam up to Liberator and begin the process of separation and hopefully avoid the worst of it. Either Nanoha or Doctor Camber will have to beam back to another ship."

Heimdall said, "I will insure both ships are connected to this conference securely."

Ranma nodded his thanks.

The doctor said, "I'll beam back to Artha. I would need to check myself over anyway."

Sam asked, "Then is it agreed?"

They quickly found that it was. Ranma dumped some water over his arm and transformed into a woman. She said, "It's a magical curse. Cold Water equals cursed form. Hot water equals my normal form. I figured if magic was important." She shrugged.

"That has got to be one of the oddest bits of magic I have ever seen," remarked Doctor Camber.

Ranma laughed. "You get used to it."

Fate got up and moved behind Nanoha's chair. The doctor took a nearby chair and scooted it closer. Sam and Ranma joined hands first, then they took the Doctor's and Nanoha's hands.

"Relax," they thought. "We will keep this as brief as possible while making sure to do it right. Now is their anything specific we must know."

"There are microfractures in her skeletal structure but it is all linked tangentially to damage to her linker core and core network. Really there is a lot of fraying all over. Here, let me show you."

They stood amazed as he brought his own understanding of Nanoha's case to the group.

Sam thought, "She is too reckless. So much for one so young."

"She has agreed to get help, and I believe she is serious this time. Neither of you are that much better."

Sam and Ranma blushed furiously.

"Then shall we begin?" the group thought.

Ranma and Sam held out their other hands to Nanoha who once again began to glow white, but it wasn't just her, it was the entire group. Then they were surprised it wasn't a four way link, but a five.

"My master!" thought the part that was Raising Heart.

The part that was the doctor thought, "Since you are here, you can help us refine a treatment plan that works."

"Yes, anything for my master."

"Loyal isn't she?"

"That she is," Nanoha thought.

They quickly tossed ideas back and forth, but they rapidly came to the conclusion. It wasn't possible to repair this all while it was active. Even Doctor Camber's work had focused on shifting part of her network to the side so that he could lower the energy levels enough to heal it.

Then they found another problem. Raising Heart's magical lattice was just as beat to hell as the rest of Nanoha was. For a moment they worried that Fate might be in a similar state but the Doctor kept them in focus. "One stupid risk at a time please." They laughed at that and refocused.

They quickly came to the conclusion that someone or something needed to temporarily take much of her linker core into themselves. "It won't work," was their immediate thought. "No one has the capacity." "Rein," the part that was Nanoha immediately thought.

"Possible." "Dangerous." "Other options?" "Ranma could take like a 1/3, and the doctor a 1/3 or less, but that won't work. Splitting it further will harm it further." "So Rein is the only option?"

"Not safe," the part that was Nanoha realized/thought. "Wait, this would be fixing only me?"

"Sacrifice me. I will keep her core safe until she is healed." thought the part that was Raising Heart.

"No," all the rest thought. "We are not doing that."

Nanoha's part added, "I'll just heal the long way first." "Won't work, not really, the part that was Doctor Camber reluctantly admitted." "You said I'd be fine." "What would you have me say? I always did my best. You were always determined to go out and do more than you did. It is only this time you were ready for more. I didn't honestly think there was anything that could be done and in time you likely wouldn't notice. Your device would compensate more as I see she has done in the past."

Nanoha thought, "Which is part of the reason she is in this state."

Raising Heart thought, "My choice, just as you had your choices."

"I could contain it," the part that was Ranma thought.

"Have you gone insane?" the part that was her wife thought.

"No, this is the key, or ki if you will. Woven of both of our energies and inverted, separating that which is magic from her while not moving it at all. It will work on both, but one at a time. There will be some leakage. It won't be a perfect separation."

"It is better if it is not. How long will it last?" thought the doctor.

"Seconds, but not if we hold it. I think we can hold it long enough."

"We have to be really careful. One mistake containing that much power and we are all dead," though the Doctor.

"Are you sure?" the part that is Nanoha asked. "You don't have to do this."

The part that was Ranma and Sam thought, "We will do this. Let us begin."

"Nanoha first," Raising heart insisted. "I will help you balance."

"Understood."

The five focused their abilities and skill. A web of ki separated the core of what was Nanoha's magic from the rest of her, while not moving it at all. Over the next hour the doctor quickly began his own miracle using their shared intelligence and skill and quickly wove into a symphony of magic all the delicate touches of healing her network needed to make it a thing of beauty and perfection once again. He then held all of it in place with all of his strength as he thought, "Release it, but slowly. Nanoha don't even think the word magic."

They slowly let their isolation fade. Nanoha could feel the beat of her core's magic like it was new again, little by little, until five minutes later it was done. "Are you able to fix Raising Heart now?"

"We can."

The device didn't really have a core comparable to Nanoha's. It relied on external magic, yet it did have one. They gently enfolded it in their combined power even as the doctor carefully repaired all of the delicate pathways that existed in the devices virtual world. Another hour passed. Another minute lapsed as they even more slowly let things restore. Done. They were done. "Separate," they asked.

"In reverse order."

Raising heart separated. The loss hurt.

Nanoha separated ever so careful, passing out from the strain. The loss hurt more.

The kind doctor separated and the loss seemed to go on forever, but it was done.

Nafrayu said, "Zen, beam Ranma, Sam, myself, and Cally to the Liberator. We will return soon."

They vanished. The doctor also vanished.

Fifteen minutes later Nafrayu and Cally returned.

Cally said, "They are fine, or as fine as they can be. So is the doctor."

Nafrayu gently touched Nanoha's head as his energy spread throughout her. "She too is fine. It will be unpleasant for her too, but she will recover, fully."

Cally added, "And mom and dad learned what they needed to learn, though weather or not they realized it we aren't sure."

"You tricked them?" asked Jack incredulously.

"In part," Nafrayu admitted. "It was also truth. The magic mixed with Ranma's soul makes him uniquely qualified to be the bridge here. That it was likely they could learn what they needed to learn…" He shrugged. He turned to Fate and asked, "May Cally and I examine you. They had some concerns? And your device?"

Fate looked at Nanoha resting peacefully and then turned back to them and nodded. It took only minutes. Cally said, "Your fine. Your both fine. We healed a few small things, but you were never in the danger she was. You use less magic overall."

Heimdall said, "I believe we can agree to an alliance in principle and will likely recommend approval to the Asgard high council."

"So does that mean we can go fishing?" asked Jack.

Heimdall said, "I have read through the log Rommie provided. I would like to get started on a few upgrades. Your combined dimensional drive is interesting. I assume you would have no objections if I improved it further? There are some interesting possible additions our own understanding could add."

Chrono said, "I don't mind no. Just please guard that technology. Spreading the capability could create threats that none of us can deal with. There is a good chance I will be ordered to destroy our copy. We don't actually need it. The Stargate technology yes. The D-drive without magitech no."

"I agree with your conclusions. I will make myself available in the future to journey to your universe and determine if a Stargate system can be established. There can be differences that need to be accounted for. Certain equipment will need to be created and carried."

"Artha is at your disposal for this task."

He nodded. "I am uncertain if adding your additional energy core node is a viable long term strategy for Nozomi. We do have an additional somewhat dangerous to reach source of modules."

Jack said, "I didn't say because quite frankly it is better if no one knows."

"Understood," Chrono agreed.

Heimdall said, "It will take a little longer, but I would suggest I use your module as a power source to build Neutrino Ion reactors for Atlantis. It will take twelve for full power, and the process will easily deplete your power module and take months to complete. A couple modules can then be transferred to Nozomi, with one held in reserve for the antarctic base."

Daniel asked, "Why not just build those for Nozomi?"

Heimdall blinked. "The power density of the ZPM modules remains significantly better than even the best Asgard designs. Rommie gave me the construction details some time ago, and we have explored similar technologies in the past. We have found it better to simply build bigger ships than to spend the effort on more compact power sources that require periodic replacement, especially after major periods of high usage."

"So they won't fit?" asked Daniel.

"It is not that they won't fit. Nozomi could fly and do most things using only two, which is what there is space for, if you sacrificed the cargo bay. The modules allow the ship to draw power at extremely high rates in emergency situations, even if it degrades the life of the power modules significantly. Not every one of her systems can use power at that rate, but I would not lower the ships potential if it could be avoided."

Jack asked, "Could you add one, so the module is kept as the reserve and left idle most of the time?"

Heimdall blinked. "Yes, that could work. It would significantly increase the life span of the remaining one."

Chrono asked, "Out of curiosity, what is the lifespan of one of your generators?"

Heimdall blinked, surprised at the question. "The theoretical lifespan of a neutrino ion generator properly integrated and working, should be approximately one thousand four hundred years."

"And if heavily loaded?" asked Amy.

"That depends on the extent of the loading. I do not recall any Asgard ship that experienced that situation since we have had the technology that was not destroyed before the lifetime could be measured. Liberator might have had that kind of failure, but we fixed some early engineering problems, so there is no longer any significant concern."

Chrono sighed. "Our magitech is not so reliable, but it is not bad. Non heavy use could result in safe usage for ten years for our ships. We have a minimum service interval of five. In heavy usage and combat this can be reduced to as little as a year, though it is usually closer to two, even if there is no damage."

Amy said, "Even with the updated drive design we have, or even if the efficiency improved significantly it would be cheaper for us to build magitech ships that those power modules. Of course the number of people that can be build magitech ships is limited, hence why we do use them. I know we have no right to ask, but their reactor technology is of considerable interest."

Nafrayu added, "Nanoha could not have been truly healed without people from three different universes. That is a remarkable thing. The potential seems there in several areas."

George Hammond who had been relatively quiet up till now said, "Agreed. Let us worry less about score than getting the job done."

Heimdall said, "While I am in agreement in principle, I nevertheless will have to have something to present to the council."

Daniel said, "I could work on something."

Amy piped in, "I can help."

Chrono added, "I can as well. I am better than most at figuring out phrasing to keep the chain of command happy."

George said, "I'll take that task as well, so us four?"

They agreed.

Jack said, "Why don't we do that after the break?"

Heimdall returned to his lab.

After asking Liberator to find them a campground, the rest of them beamed out to a very nice lake in Canada that was far enough from the beating path to be left alone. Fate was holding Nanoha. She shivered and then Fate let her magic trickle over both of their skins. "It is a bit chilly here."

Jack said, "It won't be for long. The sun is rising."

George said, "They found a nice place. I presume we are good to be here."

Avon beamed down with Villa, Jenna, and Dana.

Jack asked them, "Where are we?"

Avon said, "We have taken to buying properties around the world that are particularly good buys and might be useful to the EDF in one way or another. This is one of them."

"Cool," Jack said. "So is this open to camping then?"

Avon shrugged. "Unless it is needed for something else."

A pair of tall heavy duty patio heaters, a stack of folding chairs, and five large tents were beamed down. They began to setup the tents facing the lake with the patio heaters between. Seconds after that a large gas grill was beamed down, as well as two coolers full of food and another full of drinks.

Jack asked, "I assume Janet and all the rest got back?"

George said, "Janet and Egeria returned to the Tok'ra. Teal'c returned to Chulak. He has the latest version of Tretonin. He is working with the Jaffa there. I asked him to let us know if we can be of help. So far the other Goa'uld System Lords appear to be leaving him alone."

"We spanked them fairly good last time. They may be wary," noted Jack.

George said, "Jacob thinks the remaining system lords are too busy fighting over each other, that the Jaffa have a chance to act now."

"That works too. Keep me posted."

"Of course."

Jack walked over to where the grill was. "You have been busy. What do you have to cook?"

Villa said, "All the good stuff."

Dana rolled her eyes and said, "He means all the bad stuff."

"Sweet!"

Jack started the grill and started pulling out food. Chrono offered his help. Amy sat by and smiled at her husband before starting to down a beer she was handed. Daniel grabbed his own beer.

Seeing all this Fate asked, "Do you have any thing without meat?"

Avon said, "Second cooler, and if that doesn't work we can get it."

Villa said, "The first tent is ready. I had a separate inside heater beamed down and a bed for Nanoha, if she wants it."

Fate smiled at him even as she carried Nanoha into the tent and laid her on the surprisingly nice bed in the now warm tent. She also let her own spell lapse. Villa followed behind and quickly helped open the tent flap.

She turned to Villa. "Thank you. That was very considerate of you."

"Is she okay? We put mom and dad in the tubes and they were fine, just exhausted. Well there was some bond shock, but we knew to expect that."

"How much will it hurt her?" asked Fate quietly.

"Probably not much. The bulk would be transferred to those who had the life energy affinity. They were keeping the bond active."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"I doubt it is any worse. The bond was weaker because of it as well. They said it went as well as it could so I assume they were just too focused on other things. They guessed a couple days. Still not fun, but they will be fine."

"That is good to hear." Fate then looked down at the back of her hand where her device rested. "Bardiche."

"Yes sir."

"Can you tell us anything?"

"Raising Heart's passive feed to me reports that they are recovering normally. More would require disturbing their rest."

"Thank you Bardiche."

"That is an amazing device," said Villa.

"He is a friend, even if he can never get my gender right."

"I'll let you rest then."

"Wait."

"Bardiche, can you monitor from nearby?"

"Of course. Any change in their life signs will be immediately known to me."

Villa looked back at her. "Did you need something?"

"I was wondering if you or perhaps one of the others wanted to spar?"

Villa grinned. "I think you will find some takers."

"Good. I have a lot of stress to work off."

He laughed.

When they returned to the others Villa chatted with his siblings briefly. Dana was ahead of them when they turned back. She said, "I hear you want to spar. Will it be just you, or you and your device?"

"I was thinking just myself, at least initially."

"Sir," her device complained.

"It has been awhile since I've had to fight without your help Bardiche. It will be good practice for me. You are authorized to take any steps necessary to safeguard us or anyone else."

"Yes sir." Her device seemed sullen.

Dana asked, "Well then I suppose I'm game."

Fate smiled and shot up into the air, delicate wings forming on her back. Dana surprised her by shooting up after her.

-=oOo=-

Author's Note: See A03 for more.