A/N: Chapter 8 Beta'd by Angw and Trickster's Queen of War

Cameron zipped up the jacket he'd been given. He was tired, but the adrenaline was still rushing. They'd finished a quick meeting with Elizabeth, then they'd prepared to go back to Earth. Cameron would've preferred to have more time to spend learning the Athosian arts, since John had claimed he was going to need them.

He was shocked when Teyla walked up to the group, carrying a backpack and having several of the sticks clipped to her belt. He glanced around finding John needling his way towards him. Cameron saved him the last few steps.

"Teyla's going with you." John said, at Cameron's bewildered expression.

"But why?" Cameron asked. "Don't you need her here?"

"Yeah, I do." John replied. "But you need her more. She can help you learn what you need to."

"Look, I appreciate the effort, but I'll be fine."

"Colonel Mitchell." Teyla's quiet voice caused both men to turn. "I do not wish to leave, but John is correct." She crossed the space and engulfed John in a hug. "Be safe."

Cameron stepped back to give them some space.

John returned the hug, pausing to kiss her once. "The same goes for you. I don't want to hear you were pushing up daisies while you were away." He flashed her a roguish grin, his voice filled with light sarcasm.

Teyla stepped away and turned to Cameron. "I am ready."

He nodded. "Thanks."

The Stargate opened with it's typical splendor. Cameron sent his IDC, then tapped his radio. "This is Colonel Mitchell, requesting permission to come back home."

General Landry's gruff voice filled the tiny speaker in his ear. "It's about time Colonel. Where have you been?"
"I'll explain once we're through, we're coming from Atlantis."

"How... never mind... come through immediately."

"We're bring two guests."

"Very well."

Cameron glanced back at his group and then stepped through the gate. He emerged on the other side to the usual site, airmen with weapons aimed at them. He waited for everyone to come through and the gate to shut down before stepping down to the bottom of the ramp.

Landry walked through the right side door, at his usual brisk pace. "Well, I can't say I'm glad to see her again."

Vala tried to look shocked, but failed miserably. "Nice to see you too General."

Landry turned to Teyla. "And you must be Teyla Emmagen. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Cameron thought he heard Vala mention something about Landry being pleased to meet any impressionable young girl. He turned his head and silently told her to shut up.

Then Landry walked up to Jack. The two men shared a brief handshake. "Jack, enjoying yourself."

"Why yes I am." Jack replied. "More so than you would imagine."

"I only wish circumstances weren't so trying." Landry said, finally getting down to business.

Cameron turned to face him. "Let me guess, there are Priors here on Earth."

"Yes, and they're gaining power. Have our guests checked in the infirmary before reporting for a debriefing... all of you." Landry waved his hands to encompass the entire group.

Cameron shrugged then led the group to the infirmary.

XXX

Cameron waited as Doctor Lam extensively checked Teyla. He figured it was his responsibility to wait, seeing as how John had entrusted him with her. He yawned, still wanting to get some sleep eventually.

Finally Doctor Lam finished. Cameron walked over. "She clear to go?"

"Yes Colonel she is." Lam shook her head then walked over to one of nurses. "She can't leave the base until we run her blood work through the lab, but I see no reason to keep her here."
"Good, show time." Cameron said. He motioned for Teyla to follow him. "Let's go see Landry."

Teyla slid off the bed and followed him. "It is different from Atlantis." She said as they entered the elevator.

"Yeah. It's kinda lame actually." Cameron hit the button that would bring them to Landry's office. "Down here anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"We're underground. This place, besides being called Stargate Command is also called Cheyenne Mountain."

"Why is your Stargate here?"

"For security reasons. We don't want the people of Earth to know exactly how close we've come to being annihilated."

"In this case, ignorance is better?" Teyla wasn't convinced.

"Not sure if it's best either." Cameron said as the door open. He stepped out into the narrow hall. "It's not my decision to make."

He walked into the briefing room, sitting at the end of table. General Landry was at the other end. Jack, Sam, and Teal'c were sitting on one side. Daniel, Vala, and finally Teyla were on the other. He had to admit, this was about as crowded as he'd ever seen this table get.

Cameron knew it was his cue to tell the story of what had happened. He started with the Jaffa ambush on the planet and all the way to what happened on Atlantis. He probably would've finished quicker, if Jack and Vala hadn't insisted on making comments most of the time.

"The Ori somehow got Priors onto Earth." Landry said. "We have confirmations of two different ones. One is in the France, the other in Jerusalem. So far, we can't touch them."

"Have they done anything besides what Priors normally do?" Cameron asked.

"No. So far they've been quiet. Too quiet. And they haven't mentioned anything about the Stargate either."

"If they expose us then who knows what could happen." Daniel said.

"We need to go to Langara." Cameron said.

"Why Langara?" Sam asked.

"It's where I can find a sword that should be of some help against the Priors."

Landry regarded him skeptically. "And how did you come across this."

"For lack of a better word a vision. I talked with Colonel Sheppard about it, since it concerned the Order of Time."

"I hate thinking about that file. Time travel, marriage..." He looked away as Teyla glared at him. "... and the defeat of the wraith. I need SG-1 in the field, not going on a treasure hunt."

"And you will have SG-1 in the field." Jack said, grinning smugly. "Just not the SG-1 led by Mitchell."

"I'll take Vala and Teyla with me." Cameron finished. "Hopefully we'll be back quickly."

Landry pressed his hand to his forehead. "Great. Alright Mitchell, you have a go. Find what you need, then get back here. Jack... take SG-1 and go to France. Dismissed."

Cameron shook his head to clear the fatigue, a bit shocked at how easy it had been to convince Landry. He stood up and walked to where Teyla and Vala were standing, confused as to what to do.

"Follow me." He said.

"Are we really going to that boring place?" Vala pouted.

"Yep, and like it or not, you're going with me." Cameron opened the elevator. "First off, we're all going to get some much needed sleep."

Teyla shook her head. "Hopefully we will find what we need on Langarra."

"That's the plan." Cameron led the two women down the hall to the guest quarters. He pointed to the right room. "That's your room Teyla, Vala you get the same one you did last time."

Vala walked off to her room, mentioning something about horribly decorated military rooms. He escorted Teyla to her room. Her backpack had been dropped off earlier by one of the airmen. She quickly went about unpacking.

"You need anything, just call." Cameron said, pointing to his radio.

"Thank you Colonel Mitchell." Teyla replied.

Cameron walked out of her room, noticing the guards on either side of Vala's door. He allowed himself to laugh but continued on to his own room. He was halfway there when he bumped into Jack, already geared up.

"Do me a favor Mitchell, say hi to Jonas while your there." Jack said.

"Will do sir." Cameron replied. "Want me to bring him back?"
"Why not, I'm sure he'll want to get shot at by aliens more than he wants to stay in politics on that planet."

Cameron laughed. "I'll tell him."

"And Mitchell." Jack's voice was serious. "Hurry, we need something to use against them."

"I plan on it. Keep my team safe." Cameron turned.

"Your team?" Jack asked, the sarcasm dripping from his voice.

XXX

Cameron was blissfully asleep in seconds after crawling into bed. He was hoping for the normal dreamless kind. However, he wasn't surprised when he found himself standing in a ghostly and abandoned gate room in the SGC.

Standing just beyond the event horizon of the Stargate was the old man. Cameron stepped forward. The old man seemed haggard, even worse for wear than normal. It confused him. This guy was ascended, so shouldn't he look however he wanted to.

"I'm old." The old man said.

Cameron nodded. "But your an ancient, it shouldn't matter.

"For them it does, I have interfered for too long. Such was my destiny when I set John Sheppard's, and yours, in motion."

"You said I'd find your sword on Langarra."

"Kelowna." The old man corrected.

"So it's on that part of Langarra?"

"The planet has been united."

"Partial Goa'uld invasion... interesting file."

The old man paused. "Find my sword. It will lead you to the next step."

"And what's that?"

"Unlocking your true power."

Cameron squinted. "What will that be?"

"The power to see time, the abilities of an ancient, just like John Sheppard. Use them to defeat the Ori and bring the universe back as it once was."

Cameron watched as the old man withered. "Are you dying?"

"It is far too late for that. This will be my last command Cameron Mitchell. Learn from Teyla Emmagen, learn from John Sheppard, but above all, trust those around you." The old man dissipated into nothingness.

Cameron felt awareness sweep into him. It was awe inspiring and yet shocking all at once. He heard the voice one last time before the world blackened.

This is my gift to you.

XXX

Cameron awoke to find himself floating a few inches above his own bed. He shook his head to clear it and instantly fell back onto it. He groaned with pain, but rolled over. Idly wondering why he had been floating he glanced at his clock. It said he'd been asleep for nearly six hours. It was good enough.

He changed into fresh clothes. He walked down to the mess hall. Teyla and Vala were already there, exchanging comments about the low quality food. While Vala was being sarcastic, Cameron suddenly had reason to be jealous of the Atlantis expedition. They ate better than the SGC personnel did!

He collected a tray full of food and sat down with the two women, taking a seat next to Teyla. He forked some into his mouth. "So, sleep well?"

"As well as can be expected." Vala said, obviously complaining. "Those beds are so firm it's annoying... maybe it works for you military men but it doesn't work for a woman of my stature."

Cameron suppressed a laugh.

"They are understandably of poor quality." Teyla said. "This is not a city, but a military base. John explained the difference some time ago. Although I believe he was referring to his time in
'Antarctica.'" She pronounced the last word strangely, not knowing exactly what she was talking about.

"They get the job done." Cameron finished. He laughed. He was taking two strangers to a place he didn't even know. Maybe he should have kept Teal'c with him.

"What is funny Colonel Mitchell?" Teyla asked.

"Having sexual fantasies about a certain young doctor in this base?" Vala suggested, a hint of mockery in her tone.

"WHAT?" Cameron tried not to let his utter shock penetrate his voice.

"Come on, the way you look at her... though she is fairly attractive for someone of this world." Vala mocked.

"We're done with this conversation." Cameron said, in a note of finality. He finished the last bits of his food. "Let's go."

He lead the two women down to armory. Vala pouted about uncomfortable equipment. They'd never let her carry a gun. As it was, he wasn't giving her anything more than a pistol. Teyla on the other hand expertly loaded a P90 and its clips.

He cast Vala a glare. She was messing with the pistol holster, trying to get it into a position that would be comfortable. He cleared his throat loudly, causing both Vala and Teyla to look at him. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Anytime now." He said to Vala.

She huffed, but didn't complain, shoving the pistol into it's holster and leaving the flak vest slack around her unzipped jacket.

Once they were out of the armory, the group headed for the gate room. General Landry caught up with them once they got there. His face was pale, worse than usual. Cameron could only guess something had gone wrong.

"The Prior in Jerusalem has managed to amass a sizable following. They made their first demonstration today, burning a building full of unbelievers. The Israeli army wasn't able to do anything."

"Forcefield?" Cameron asked.

"Yes, you have twenty-four hours Colonel." Landry glanced at Vala and Teyla. "And keep your eye on those two."

"Both of them?" Cameron asked, a hint of sarcasm returning to his voice.

"Colonel Sheppard would never forgive you, and you have to be careful around Malduran." Landry cracked a smile before disappearing around the corner.

Cameron glanced at his new teammates. "Let's go."

A/N: No major cliffhanger... too bad... I'll have to work on it for next time.