"There she is!"

The shout was unnecessary, but Sheppard didn't even scowl at McKay for yelling in his ear. He was too busy concentrating on everything else.

The scene on the ground below the Jumpers was absolute chaos. The rescue team was there, with signs of some kind of serious battle to judge from the look of things, but they weren't fighting now, and there was some kind of really bright light that was almost blinding to look at – even through the filters of the Jumper's view screen.

"What the world is that?"

This was from Beckett, who had jumped up from his seat at McKay's shout and had come to look for himself. The doctor had been antsy and impatient – from worry, Sheppard knew – and now that they were in the right spot he was obviously anxious to get to Colonel Mitchell and make sure she was okay.

"Some kind of the light…"

Before they could say anything else, the eagles that had been diving towards the scene in front of them suddenly veered off, banking sharply away from the light, and the two Jumpers had to veer as well to avoid them.

"What the-"

"Colonel Sheppard?"

Sheppard keyed his radio.

"Just hover for now, Sergeant," he said, answering the unasked question. "Until we know what's going on, we don't want to make things worse…"

"Aye, aye, Sir."

"Why do Marines talk like that?" McKay asked, shaking his head. "There isn't even a body of water anywhere-"

"Shut up, Rodney," Beckett interrupted, his eyes glued to the scene below them. "What's going on down there?"

OOOOOOOOO

It could have been a disaster. The eagles were swooping so quickly that there was no way the intended targets could have moved – even if they hadn't been staring up at the sky in shock at the sudden appearance of the huge birds and odd air ships.

Kale, however, was quick to call them off. That was the advantage of a mental connection, because while he told them not to attack, they could also tell that the Light One wasn't completely positive that all was well and things were in control. Which meant that the birds would wait to attack until their leader told them otherwise – or until they saw something that forced the issue. These Light Ones were no more eager for a battle than the Shasari were, but they'd fight for their allies – and fiercely.

Teal'c was the one who spoke first, despite his wounds.

"Who are you?"

It was odd speaking to a disembodied light, but he'd done weirder things in his life, and was in no condition to hesitate, really.

The light fluctuated a little, as if considering the question.

"I am."

"That was good enough for Moses," Mitchell said, limping painfully into the middle of the scattered felines, wolves and Atlanteans to join the others. She was worried about Teal'c, but there was no time to ask about his wounds. Hopefully his symbiote was already working on them. "But we're going to need something a bit more specific…"

"What are you?" Ronon Dex asked, moving to stand between Mitchell and the light. A protective move that she appreciated just then – considering just how much she hurt.

"I just am," the voice said. "I have no name. I have no need of one."

"What are you?" Ronon asked, again.

"I protect the Shasari. They are my people."

Melony bit down on the comment she was going to make (they don't look like you), and went for one a little less antagonistic. Things were calming down, now, and she wanted to keep it that way if she could.

"We came in peace," she told him. "This is all a misunderstanding."

"Yes. My people are not accustomed to strangers. Especially war-like ones. Some of them handled things poorly."

Which was hopefully a comment directed at Hu, who had just arrived on the scene – in his human form. There were twin gashes running the length of his chest and belly, but they had already stopped bleeding, and were apparently healing themselves.

Melony looked at the felines around her, and then at the wolf that was Kale, who had moved over to stand close to her as well.

"We'll go."

"The question remains, Colonel Mitchell…" the voice said. "Who and what are you? And who are your allies? They are not like you, and feel similar to my people."

Kale transformed himself into his human form – and now he looked so much like Hu – aside from the wounds – that the two could have been twins.

"I am Kale. Of the Light Ones."

"You are a Shasari!"

"No."

"But the two are related, obviously," Melony said. "Perhaps somewhere far back in your history you were one people…"

"The others are dead," the light said. "They destroyed themselves."

Melony looked at Kale.

"We saw pictures – drawings – of cats in the city of your ancestors, remember?"

He frowned, his pale eyes uncertain.

"Yes. But we do not have any stories of-"

"Stories get lost over time," Teal'c said. "They-"

"You are injured," the voice interrupted, as if just realizing it. Which he might have. "I can heal my people – and the humans, but I dare not attempt to do such with the likes of you and Colonel Mitchell. There is something about you I do not understand. Call your healer down from the skies…"

Melony frowned, looking up at the Jumpers that were hovering.

"What?"

"Doctor Beckett is in the Jumper," Ronon explained. He looked over at the light. "Although I don't know how it knew…"

"The thoughts of these are open to me," the voice said. "As are the thoughts of my own people. I know about you, now, Colonel Mitchell, and understand now why you were unwilling to discuss yourself with my secondary."

"What?" she repeated, numbly.

Either was going into shock and had absolutely no idea what was going on around her, or… well, no matter what, she didn't have a clue.

He can probably read the minds of Kale and the other Light Ones, Talon said. The symbiote was the reason Melony hadn't fallen on her face, and he was also far more lucid at that particular moment than his host was, so he was able to grasp things quicker. Which might mean he knows as much about us as Kale and the others do

"As goddess of your people you would want to keep them safe," the light continued. "Much in the same manner that I have kept my people isolated."

"I'm not-"

Just let it stand, Hot Shot, Talon interrupted. Have someone call down the Jumpers. I think we're done fighting for the day