A/N: Chapter 17 Beta'd by Angw and Trickster's Queen of War.

John stepped through the gate with a renewed sense of direction, he knew what he had to do. The wraith were coming. He didn't know how or when, he just knew they needed to be ready. He was halfway to Elizabeth's office when Rodney and Zelenka shoved past him and he followed them in. "Let me guess, you've detected wraith ships coming our way."

"How could you possibly know that?" Rodney asked, astonished.

"I saw the future, shoved my sword through a wraith's head, specifically the one we encountered on the planet with the order of time outpost."

"What about the old man John?" Elizabeth asked. "Wasn't he trying to help you?"

"Yeah. The wraith implied he'd been in control the whole time. He said that the only reason he helped me was to discover the truth behind Atlantis, but I'm not so sure."

"You think it was a recent switch?" Rodney asked.

"Yeah, very recent. I think after we made our visit to that hive ship..."

"... the wraith found our location and took the old man." Rodney finished John's sentence.

"In all likelihood, the old man is dead and the wraith are coming."

"Yes, that's just what we were getting at." Zelenka pushed his glasses up. "We've detected at least forty hive ships on a direct course for Atlantis. They'll be here in 48 hours."

"Rodney, did you find anything about the wraith device we saw."

Rodney got a smug look on his face. "Actually I did. The device gives off a strong EM signature when it's inactive, a result of all that power being wasted. We could easily detect it with a jumper's sensors."

"So we fly in close, board it, and activate the device." John almost laughed at the complexity of that simple statement.

"You'd need one hell of a team to perform that mission Colonel." Colonel Caldwell stepped into Elizabeth's office. "I assume you were going to tell me eventually Doctor McKay."

Rodney rolled his eyes. "Of course Colonel. It just so happens that Elizabeth is much closer to the control room."

"Do we have a plan B?"

"We use the drones." John said. "We've got a full arsenal of them. Should be enough to blow up a large amount of that fleet, if not the whole thing."

"I think we should still prepare for a possible evacuation." Elizabeth said. "We have no idea how many wraith ships are also on their way behind the main force. We've seen this tactic before. They won't be fooled by our supposed destruction."

"No." John admitted. "They won't. It's time to fight. I'll take a team to find which ship has the device in it."

"But you're needed here to run the chair!"

"Give someone the gene and get them ready. I have to go with the strike team. If I don't, they'll die."

"How can you possibly know that?" Rodney asked incredulous.

"It's part of watching the future happen. I saw the wraith pour through our open stargate and into Earth. I saw General O'Neill dead." John started to choke up. "Do I need to go on?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm the only one who can pilot a jumper through that fleet anyway."

"The Daedalus will have to stay under the shield." Caldwell said. "It won't stand a chance against that wraith fleet."

"Alright John." Elizabeth admitted, her voice sounded defeated. "I wish I didn't feel like I'm sending you off to your death again."

"You're not." John said, his voice low. "Once the device is on, we destroy every ship but that one. It should put the entire wraith fleet to sleep. At the very least, they'll break off their attack."

"Who are you taking with you?"
"Teyla, Ford, I'm hoping Ronon will be back soon, Major Lauren and Cadman."

"That's it?" Rodney asked.

"A small force has a much better chance of success. Not to mention, we can't fit many more in the jumper."

Elizabeth looked at her watch. "I'll call your team to a briefing in a few hours. In the meantime, try to get some rest. Dismissed."

John left her office, knowing he'd just forced Elizabeth into something she didn't want to do. He glanced at the stargate nervously, he wondered if Ronon would return. He couldn't help but feel that Ronon would be needed if they were to succeed on this crazy mission.

XXX

He was halfway back to his quarters when he found himself stopping by the chair room. He wasn't sure why he'd come this way. He decided that he should talk to the city. He sat in the chair and instantly felt the city connect with him.

Hello again, Colonel Sheppard. How did your trials go?

"I think the old man was captured by the wraith. The super wraith… Eli… was using the old man to find out if Atlantis had survived. I think that only happened after I'd finished the first trial."

I suppose it makes sense. The old man had survived by keeping himself hidden. He exposed himself by trying to train you, yet I know he succeeded in what he wanted to do.

"Which is what?"

I am the last surviving legacy of the ancients. I pass this legacy on to you. The order of time will live on in you. I will always be here, but only you can use the past for knowledge and the future for foresight.

"How am I to do that?"

In time you will discover how to actually witness the past. I believe the future is best left on its own.

"Yeah, I think so too. I need to ask a favor."

What is it apprentice?

"You know the wraith are coming. You know that I'm going to try and find, and activate the device that will put them all to sleep. I need you to control the drones."

But this has never been done. I am not allowed to wield the drones.

"Then at least help whoever is trying use them. I'm going to be flying amongst the fleet. You'll be able to see my jumper and my target. I need you to help the drones fly true. Can I count on you?"

The city was silent for a moment. Yes. I give you my word apprentice. I have slept for far too long. Atlantis has finally awakened from its million year old slumber and together, we'll finish the legacy the ancients wanted to be passed on.

"Thanks." John sat up. "Someday we're going to have to give you a name." He said this to no one in particular, but he knew the city heard him. He walked from the chair room and to his quarters.

He stepped silently into the room, spotting Teyla on the balcony. She was leaning heavily against the railing. He slid his arms around her from behind and rested his chin against the top of her head. "You okay?" He asked.

"I could feel the wraith as he attacked you." Teyla said quietly. "For several long minutes, I watched helplessly. I wanted to go to your side. I fear he will attack again."

"Don't worry, I think he's dead."

"No, he is not." Teyla said sternly. "You stopped him for a brief while, but he will not be killed so easily."

"He's contacting you telepathically?" John asked, concerned.

"He is trying." Teyla admitted. "I'm not sure how long I can hold him back. He is especially strong."

John squeezed her briefly. "I know you can beat him."

"I thank you for your confidence." Teyla nestled herself into his arms.

XXX

A few hours later John found himself standing at the head of the briefing room. He fidgeted uncomfortably, this was normally Elizabeth's spot. Behind him the display screen show the sensor image of the wraith hive ships.

Teyla and Aiden were on one side of the table. Major Lauren and Lieutenant Cadman were sitting on the other side. John leaned against the head of the table. He shook his head. "Our mission during the assault will be to find a device on one of the hive ships that has the ability to put the wraith into hibernation. We'll be flying a cloaked jumper into the..."

The stargate activated. John raced out of the briefing room and down into the control room. He glanced at the gate technician charged with watching for an IDC. There was none. He then turned to the other gate technician.

The technician was listening to someone on the other line of the radio. He turned to John. "We're receiving a radio transmission."

John took the technician's headset. "Give me that." He placed it over his head. "This is Colonel John Sheppard."

"Sheppard." John never would've thought he'd have been happier to hear Ronon's gruff voice. "Can I come through?"

John motioned for the technician to deactivate the shield. "Come on through Ronon, you're just in time."

"Time for what?" Ronon asked.

"The wraith are coming to Atlantis. We need you. Now come on through, the shield's down."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because you know Teyla would never forgive me if I did."

Ronon didn't reply but stepped through the gate a moment later.

John handed the headset back to the technician as the gate shut down. He then motioned for Ronon to follow him back into the briefing room. He assumed his former spot at the head of the room. Ronon sat in the center of the back of the briefing room.

"For Ronon's sake I'll reiterate everything that we all know." John said, looking everyone in the room in the eye. "The wraith are sending a massive fleet to deal with us, they'll be here in less than forty hours. We know of a device that will allow us to put them to sleep."

"How do we know this?" Ronon asked.

"Long story, just trust me."

Ronon nodded. "Alright, but after it's done, you're explaining to me."

"Rodney says that the jumper can detect the specific EM signature it gives off. We'll fly cloaked into the middle of the wraith fleet and find the ship with it. From there, we'll board the ship through the Dart bay and activate the device."

"What if it doesn't work?" Cadman asked.

"Then someone in the city unleashes the drones on the fleet. The city itself will be helping to aim the drones so it should be easy. We've got enough to wipe out this fleet. You five are coming with me to try and activate the device. Rodney's provided me with directions on how to activate it."

"This was in the ancient database, right?" Aiden asked.

"Yeah, or so Rodney says. Some of it's gotta be made up, some of it isn't. Teyla has instructions too. That's in case it requires some type of genetic code. Teyla's wraith DNA should allow her to use it if I can't."

"What kind of time frame are we looking at?" Major Lauren asked.

"We're boarding a hive ship. We're hoping most of the wraith will be in darts, but we're going to have to fight our way down to here." John hit the space bar on his laptop, changing the display to show a diagram of the wraith ship. "From the fighter bay, we head down this side passage." He ran his finger along a route displayed in red. "We then take this shaft down to the lowest level. There should be a stairwell of some kind. From there, it's a short walk to the room that should have the device in it."

He glanced around the table. They all understood the risk, but they also understood the benefits. He would've done the mission himself, if he knew he could have any hope of success. He knew he couldn't do this alone. He needed each and every one of the people in this room. They were the best.

XXX

At the edge of the system, fifty five wraith hive ships dropped out of hyperspace. They were followed by innumerable numbers of cruisers. The wraith fleet lumbered past the wreckage of the ancient defense cannon.

On the bridge of the largest hive ship, Eli stood alone. He had a score to settle. The wound on his head was mostly healed, but he would still bear the scars until long after his next feeding. He planned on feeding on all those John Sheppard cared about first, making him watch. Then he would finally feed on John Sheppard.

It was how it had been with the order of time; it was how it had been with the ancients on Atlantis; it was how it would be with the people on Atlantis now. The wraith had existed far longer than humans. They would not be defeated, the fleet lumbered slowly forward.

A/N: Cliffhangers abound. Hope everyone's enjoying it, send me some encouragement, I'm fighting writer's block right now.