See-ya!
Lorne's team changed into regular Atlantis mission gear brought to them by the Jumper crew. The last part of their mission should not take long. It might even bring a little satisfaction to the whole set of deplorable circumstances.
"Webber, get everyone on board. It's time to go."
The sound of many footsteps on flagstone approached. Four Facilitators, five Protectors, and the Venerable crossed the courtyard. Lagging a few steps behind, Mede followed the group- his youthfulness long gone.
"May I say a quick goodbye?" Brother Mede asked of Lorne as he stepped to the forefront.
Lorne looked at Radek who nodded. "Quick, very quick."
Teyla and Ronon appeared first. Williams walked up to the Venerable who carried Sheppard's cube and placed a hand on top. He gave a simple thought command of "on".
Sheppard blinked into existence. "This isn't home," he stated flatly.
Lorne walked up to him. "No Sir, Brother Mede wanted to say goodbye."
The trio faced the brother.
With a big intake of air, Mede began. "Thank you Col. Shep…"
"John. After all you have done, you can call me John."
Mede gave an appreciative smile. "Thank you John for saving my life and reminding us of our need for vigilance." He gave the Venerable a quick sideways glance.
Sheppard stood before the brother fighting for every inch of sanity. The same fight was in the eyes of the others. He knew they were on the brink of losing the fight.
He accepted the thank you with a slight nod. Ronon and Teyla did the same.
"I think it's time to board. Colonel if you could…"
Once again, Sheppard nodded and blinked out of visible existence quietly. Marcin and Trece returned Teyla and Ronon. Everyone knew this would be over one way or another very soon.
Stackhouse with his team, the Venerable, Marcin, Trece, Zelenka and the rest of Lorne's team including Halling and the Athosians entered the rear hatch of the Jumper.
"See you soon Major!" Stackhouse called out as the door rose off the ground.
The Jumper lifted off the courtyard grounds and cloaked.
Lorne stood there with Mede and the two remaining Facilitators staring at nothing but hearing the soft whine of the engines as the ship flew away. He smirked, "Yeah real soon."
A voice roused him from his thoughts.
"The crier was dispatched about an hour ago, he should be well within his task," the High Abbot called across the courtyard as he approached.
"I guess it's time to put the fear of God or the Ancestors into Refra," replied Lorne.
"I think I'm going to enjoy this," stated the High Abbot. "I'm not sure what that says about me."
"You're human sir," said Mede quietly.
The High Abbot gave a small laugh. "I suppose you're right Brother Mede. By the way oh my dear brother, when all of this is finished, we must discuss your ordination."
"I would be honored sir." Mede stared at his feet as he responded.
Lorne clicked his radio. "We're ready Sir."
Major Lorne, the High Abbot and the two Facilitators with their vessels disappeared in a flash of light.
Mede stood by himself in the courtyard. For the first time in six and a half days (or was it seven?), he only had one responsibility. Time for him to get back to it.
-----------------
The High Abbot and the Facilitators stood on the bridge of the Daedalus soaking in the view. They had never seen their planet from orbit; it was beautiful. Their insignificance in the grand scheme of things came to mind as well.
"Well let's see if Hermoid has a lock yet. Some of the geological elements of the terrain and buildings are hampering the sensors, but we are positive that we can fulfill our end to the plan." Caldwell walked over to one of the consoles.
The High Abbot nodded absently still mesmerized by the sphere out the window.
"Col. Caldwell, I have all targets locked into the computer. Whenever you are ready," Hermoid's strange, tinny voice said over the comm.
"Let's go do this. Hermoid, proceed."
Caldwell stood with Lorne and the visitors. They beamed off the ship and directly into Refra's office.
For his part, Refra sat at his desk signing documents oblivious to his uninvited guests. That was until Caldwell cleared his throat.
Refra jumped in his seat and the pen flew out of his hand across the desk landing at Maj. Lorne's feet.
"Chancellor Refra, I would like to introduce Col. Sheppard's and my superior officer, Col. Steven Caldwell." Lorne smiled smugly and pointed to the colonel.
Refra stammered an incoherent response.
"Yes well, I can't say it's a pleasure either," responded Caldwell.
Finally Refra choked out a very raspy, "Guards." He cleared his throat and tried again. This time he successfully yelled, "Guards!"
A signal in Caldwell's and Lorne's ears brought smirks to their faces.
"Oh there's no one out there Chancellor. Go ahead check," invited Caldwell smoothly.
Refra moved towards the door and opened it. No one was in the hall. He stepped out a little farther. No one was anywhere close.
"All your people, including those at the Stargate with their little pop guns, are at a small clearing I think you're familiar with."
Another communication came from the ship. Caldwell nodded to Lorne as the Aeble appeared on Refra's desk.
Caldwell went over and picked it up. "Thank you Hermoid."
Caldwell looked at Refra daring the man to challenge him. Refra's reaction was a vacuous gape that should have scraped his chin on the floor.
"Maj. Lorne here you go. Now get our people back."
Lorne acknowledge him with a smile and nod. "Jumper 2 uncloak and prepare to receive me."
Apparently Refra had had enough, he bolted.
Caldwell chuckled into his comm, "Hermoid."
Refra reappeared behind his desk and slammed face first into his office wall. It shook with the impact. He bounced off the wall and dropped to the floor.
"Thank you again Hermoid. Please send Maj. Lorne to the Jumper."
Lorne saluted and said, "See you at home Sir." He then disappeared.
Caldwell walked over to the dazed Chancellor and squatted down next to him. "I believe we have a few things to discuss. The High Abbot and these Protectors would like a word with you in front of a few hundred of your closest friends and constituents."
The abbot smiled and said, "Oh yes my dear brother, I concur."
Caldwell stood up and helped the loopy Chancellor to his feet.
"Hermoid, it's time for us to enter stage center."
--------------------
Lorne reappeared in the back of the Jumper.
"Venerable, please tell me this is what we need."
The abbot took the seven pronged scepter and studied it. He smiled, "Yes it is. Its set-up is very close to the Caen, so I should be able, with the help of the texts, to return your colleagues."
"Good to hear." Lorne looked to the front of the Jumper. "Webber, it's time to go home."
"Yes Sir."
The Jumper approached the empty Stargate. With a broad grin Lorne ordered, "Stackhouse dial it up."
--------------------
The Kool-aid was choking him. He reminded himself that he had to stay put. He had to stay put. He had to stay put.
The energy surrounding him changed and the red drained away.
Without warning, he was plunged naked into the arctic tempest that is a wormhole. His mind was released out into the immenseness of the Universe and it was devastating. He was sentience searching for sentience and finding it- and more.
His thread snapped.
He screamed.
Two other minds were with him and also screaming as they rode the temporal curl. He did not know which scared him more, the ride or the fact Ronon was shrieking along with him and Teyla.
They were already glorified data and could not be broken down any farther. It left them exposed to the raw power carrying them. It terrified them, fascinated them and shredded them. They flew past super novas, civilizations, black holes, anomalies unknown and more Wraith ships than they could count. The stimuli overwhelmed them and tore away at what little sanity they had left. Their minds touching a piece of everything that was in cosmic spitting distance of the wormhole.
Just as quickly as it fell away, the Kool-aid returned threatening to drown him in its finiteness.
He had to stay put, so he counted. He knew the exact count of a Jumper returning from the Stargate and ascending into the Jumper bay. 32. The Jumper would be too confining. He needed open space. He needed to wait.
5
Sit Ubu, sit.
11
He had to wait until 32.
18
Stay.
25
Oh God, he couldn't…
He rematerialized in the back of the Jumper to the stricken faces of the occupants with their hands clamped tightly over their ears. It was crowded and he could not help but touch others. It added to the melee in his nonexistent brain.
He had to make it stop.
The hatch was lowering, but way too slow.
With a loud, guttural howl, he hurled everything he was, is and ever going to be at the lowering ramp.
------------------
A/N: Now they are home. The end. Ok just kidding. Smooth sailing from here. Demented giggle.