Ch68
The next morning, Jack made some calls from Hank's office before he joined SG1 in the briefing room. After a couple of hours of brainstorming, they planned, and they left for their daily works. Jack soon was in the gate room walking through the wormhole.
"General O'Neill, welcome to Atlantis," Doctor Weir said as the gate closed behind him
"Thanks. As much as I would like to hang around for a tour, I will have to rain check. I got some bad guys to take care before they reach our galaxy."
"We understand, General. We will wait for you for that tour," she smiled. The ceiling opened, and the ship he was to loan floated down.
"Thanks for the loan, Doctor."
"No problems, General" Major Shepard walked off the ship and saluted Jack.
"General, the ship is all yours."
"Did you fill the tank and cleaned the windows?" Jack grinned making Major Shepard and Dr. Weir laugh.
"Yes, sir. And it's well armed."
"Sweet! I'll better go the time's ticking."
"Yes, sir," Jack walked onto the ship and waited for them to dial Earth before he crossed over. The wormhole closed as he lowered the ship and opened the door to allow SG1 to join him inside.
"Let's go and kick some asses," Jack said smiling at Sam, who took a seat beside him.
"Yes, sir." She grinned, "Daniel we will need the address."
Daniel moved to the front while Sam opened the console to allow him to enter the address, at the same time Jack closed the back door and turned the ship on. Daniel finished, and they flew away.
"Daniel?" Jack asked as they came to empty space. "Where's the planet?"
"Supposedly, it's here," Daniel said pointing towards a point
"I hope you are right and we didn't fly here for nothing," Jack said as they flew to the point he marked. They saw a planet growing closer to them.
"Jack, see if you can pick up any energy readings," Sam told him. He made the hologram screen pop up showing the planet
"There," Sam said pointing to the screen
"Let's check it out," Jack said cloaking the ship. "Daniel, what's that?"
"I'll believe that's the city of the Gods on the plains of Celestis."
"And where do we find this Ark of you?"
"Head towards the forest and over the mountains," Daniel said, Jack flew to it, and they came to a large forest. "Specifics, Daniel?" Daniel took the letter out and read it again
"I have an idea, bring the screen again and search for metal underground."
"Metal?"
"Yes, the ark is partly made of metal."
"As the boss orders," Jack grinned. The screen changed from the image to red and yellow.
"There," Sam said pointing to the screen where a blue-green image came into view
"Got it!" He flew down close and landed the ship.
"Oki Doki, you go and search it. I'll stay behind and make sure we don't have uninvited guests" Jack said when the back-door open. "Keep in radio contact," he said to Sam.
"It got to be here somewhere," Daniel said as they walked closer to the area.
Teal'c walked around until he noticed something odd, stopping he moved the fern away.
"Colonel Carter, I have found something," Teal'c said.
"What is it, Teal'c?" Sam asked as he saw him crouch.
"It looks like old steps."
"This must be it! The letter mentions steps," Daniel pointed.
"Jack, we found the steps. We are going down" Sam radioed Jack.
"Excellent, be careful."
Slowly getting down, they found a cavern and looked around it for a couple of minutes.
"Found it!" Daniel called over walking to it.
He started lifting the rocks that half covered it. Teal'c and Ferretti rushed to help him while Sam held the lights in the best way she could to allow them to see what they were doing.
"Yes, this is it."
"Hey, guys? How long are you going to be there? Jack asked
"We found it, Jack," Daniel said over his radio
"Awesome, now move your asses up here. We've got company heading this way."
"On our way," Sam said.
Teal'c and Daniel lifted the box and carried out with Sam and Ferretti in front of them; Jack saw them pop from behind the fallen trees and running towards the ship carrying a box. Soon they were airborne and cloaked again, below them, a ground patrol was heading towards where they had been.
"Where to now, Daniel?"
"The city."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Your plan."
"Uncloak the ship, Jack."
"Why?"
"Trust me." Jack nodded
"Land over there," Daniel pointed.
"And now, what?" They noticed big double doors open and armed men walked out. They turned to Daniel.
"Open the back door, Jack. And we all walk out taking the box with us. Just let me do the talking."
"As always," Jack opened the back door. Among the armed men, there was one funny looking one holding a staff with a blue orb on top of it.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
"We seek the Ori. We want to talk to Doci, the one who speaks the words of the Ori. We brought this box for him," Daniel said
"Bring it!" He ordered. Teal'c and Ferretti picked the box up, and all of them followed the leader through the gate and down different hallways. "Wait here!"
"Daniel? Any ideas about, where are we?" Jack asked looking around the room seeing flames on the other side of glass wall.
"That's Ori," Daniel explained receiving funny looks from the team.
"Are you sure? That looks like fire to me," Ferretti said.
"Yes, I am."
The door opened, and they turned towards it, the moment the man entered the room Daniel figured it was the Doci.
"Why are you here?" He asked looking at them before checking the box.
"To show you this," Daniel said as he crouched down
"Stop! I know who you are, Daniel Jackson." The others were shocked
"How do you know me?" Daniel said stepping around the box.
"The Ori knows all. Knows that the crate you are carrying is the Ark of Truth. We've been looking for it for many generations." He looked at Jack. "You! You are Alteran!"
"Daniel?" Jack whispered.
"He means Ancient."
"Hey! I'm not that old thank you very much!" Sam and Ferretti tried not to laugh, and Daniel rolled his eyes.
"Ancient as you've got the ancient gene."
"Oh!"
"So, what?" Jack asked
"All Alteran must die."
"Hey! It's not my fault that my ancestors were ancients," using the distraction that Daniel and Jack were creating, Sam crouched and pressed the buttons.
"What are you doing Samantha Carter?" Sam looked up to see Doci looking at her
"Now!" Sam yelled
Jack pushed Daniel out of the way, and Sam tilted the box opening the lid. They all saw a bright yellow light coming from out of the box and into the Doci face. They saw the orb of his staff glowed and then, the ark closed itself. There was a loud noise, and something started happening to the fire.
"Let's get out of here," Jack said. The Doci started talking in ancient as he looks around, "Daniel talk to him."
Teal'c and Ferretti picked up the box and ran out of the room, Daniel grabbed Doci's arm and pulled him out the door. The moment they stepped out, they noticed a lot of confused priors and soldiers walking around.
"Get out of here; this place is going to blow!" Jack yelled at them.
They all ran out away as Jack, and the others ran onto the ship. From the air, he could see how many transport rings were activated and the city crumbled as a loud scream came from the city. Fireballs head towards the fire, and two twisted around and got towards the air before they disappeared.
"Daniel, was that the ancients?"
"Yes, it was, Jack. The Ori lost all the power, and now the Ancients are, apparently, locked in mortal combat."
"Ok, so now what?" He asked the Doci collapsed on the floor before he started talking in ancient again.
"What did he say?" Sam asked
"He's dying; he has been the Doci for hundreds of years. Now, the Ancients are going to help him ascend."
"That is good news," Jack said
"Yes, he is thanking us for showing him the truth," they saw a bright light coming from the Doci before he turned into a white ball of energy that disappeared out of the ship.
"I guess we can go home now?" Jack asked, and the team nodded. He flew towards the gate and stopped close to it. "Did we come through that?" Jack said when he saw the size of the gate
"Indeed, we did," Teal'c said
"Man, that gate needs a lot of power," Sam said
"Yeah, thankfully we are not paying that bill," Jack said as he dialed earth. A couple of minutes later, they were back at the briefing room o the SGC.
"Jack, SG1 how did it go?"
"Another mission accomplished, Hank," Jack said
"Sir, did we have any power problems when we dialed out?"
"Yes, we received a boost from the ZPM. We don't know who turned it in time to get the extra power." Jack and Sam exchanged a glance.
"You don't think?" Sam trailed.
"Who knows, Sam," Daniel said
"What are you talking about?" Landry asked
"Let's say that someone is watching over us," Jack said as there was a bright light that soon took human form.
"Doci," Daniel said.
"My name is Cian; it means ancient."
"You speak English now!" Jack said
"Yes, now I can."
"Cian? That's an ancient Irish name," Daniel said
"Yes, it is. The ancients allowed me to come down for this only time to in appreciation for showing me the truth. Now all the planet and Priors are free of the Ori control. And that's all thanks to you."
"You are welcome," Sam said.
"There is one thing I learned while I ascended," he turned to Jack
"You are my family. Your eighteenth time great grandmother, is my sister Orlaith."
"Does her name have a meaning?" Sam asked
"Yes, Golden Princess, she had a long golden hair."
"Have you seen your sister?" Jack asked
"Yes, she is happy that I know the truth. We've got so much to talk about."
"I bet you do. It's been hundreds of years since you both saw each other, you sure got a lot to catch up," Jack said
"Indeed, we have, I must go now."
"Drop by anytime," Jack said, and Cian smiled
"One day, Jack. You are a good man and leader. You are making your ancestors proud of their legacy."
"Thanks," they watch him turn into a ball of white light that disappeared through the ceiling.
"Wow, Jack! What are the odds of saving someone from your family who is hundreds of years old? You didn't even know you were related!"
"I don't know, Daniel. What I do know is that we should get out of here and go to O'Malley's to celebrate."
"Before you leave," Landry stopped them. "Jack, can you take the ship to the garage?"
"Sure thing!" After that, Landry watched amusedly how SG1 and Jack went into different directions before he returned to his office.