AN:

Hello everyone,

So, I just got the editing done on the final few chapters and decided to post them all today so I could start on editing the next part of the series; Reminiscence - The Old, New & Unexpected. Hopefully, you all will enjoy the ending just as much as I did writing it.

I also wanted to thank all very much for your continued engagement and the wonderful reviews. They are always such a morale boost and inspiration to continue the series with enthusiasm.

This is the end of the Novella One. The next one will include the reinterpretation/rewrite of the episodes, The Ties That Bind, The Powers That Be, Beachhead and Ex Dues Machina.

Enjoy!


Chapter 19 - The Resolution

Isolation Area
Level 21
SGC

Vala was the first to wake up. She woke up with a shriek, gasping at first, and then fighting everyone who tried to calm her down or keep her from tearing away the leads to her monitors.

Jackson followed soon after, just like Vala, almost jackknifing out of the bed had it not been for the two nurses' quick reflexes.

While the medics surrounded them to calm them down to check their vitals and monitors, the Ancient device flared bright enough to make them all look away for a quick second before dying down completely, returning to a pitch-black colour of full shutdown mode.

Maybe it was burnt to cinders, Mitchell wasn't sure. He didn't really care, because that was the moment Sheppard started seizing on his bed, all his monitors going haywire screaming for help at anyone who would listen.

The bottom fell out of his world when he saw blood gushing out of Sheppard's nose to run down the sides of his twisting mouth.

Mitchell was aware of being pushed to a side as Lam and her staff swarmed around Sheppard, armed with syringes and shouted medical jargon. Soon, his view of the terrifying sight was cut off by the medics frantically at work.

The soothing tones of the nurses talking to Vala and Jackson barely registered. His entire focus was centred on the man whose monitors were panicking, trying to announce imminent disaster. All he could do was hope and pray that what he had come to believe was a second chance to fix some of his past mistakes, wouldn't end that day after everything.

Isolation Area
Level 21
SGC

A Day Later

The official debriefing took place in the isolation area because Lam insisted on keeping Vala and Jackson for observation for twenty-four hours. She had run all the tests she could think of under the sun, and had declared that they were both unaffected by their experience as far as the tests showed.

Physically at least.

Dr Goldstone, it seemed, may have acquired two more subscribers to his show.

There were a few more hours left until Lam checked them out, so Landry decided to take the time to talk to them there before he had to leave the mountain to go to Washington to brief the president in person.

Lam agreed because she could intervene if either of them showed any signs of distress or a delayed reaction.

Sheppard, however, was still out, sleeping peacefully, according to the monitors that surrounded him.

"So all this time he was there, watching the entire thing?" Vala asked, scooping up the last bit of her jello from a plastic cup, She was sitting cross-legged on her bed which was on the left corner.

"Yeah, remote viewing option or something," Mitchell said, back in his customary chair next to Sheppard's bed. He had it turned around so he could see Jackson, Vala, Teal'c and the General. "He could get in and out and swap POVs between the two of you."

"Never felt it," Vala said, her gaze falling on Sheppard's unmoving form. "Until the last moment before he kind of grabbed us, I think," she looked to Jackson for confirmation who just shrugged. "That was strange. But, I'm glad he did. I was not looking forward to catching fire a second time," she ended with a shudder.

"Yeah, that was bad," Jackson agreed, clutching at his blanket a little tighter.

"How are they going to manage travelling through Stargate often during the crusade, if their galaxy is so far away–"

"I suspect the Ori have the power to make a lot of things happen," Vala said softly, in answer to Mitchell's question.

"Still, for the Priors, I think we can assume it's a one-way trip," Jackson added. "If they are here to spread religion, they'll need to start setting up bases to travel from world to world."

"You think the Ancients here in our galaxy will continue to stop the Ori from using their power to attack us directly?" Landry, who was listening to the conversation standing at the foot of Jackson's bed, inquired. He was already in his dress blues, ready to leave as soon as he was done there.

"I hope so." Jackson shrugged and shook his head.

"So how do we fight these guys? And I mean the message as much as the men," Mitchell asked. "A lot of folks out there are going to buy what these guys are selling."

Teal'c, who was silently trading another unopened jello for the empty one with Vala, finally spoke. "Hopefully, by now, many have been educated about the ways of false gods. The hard lessons learned during those times must still be fresh in the minds of most."

"Yes," Vala nodded, opening her second dessert with the hurried movement of someone starving. "But we're not talking about humans with snakes in their heads with a slightly better understanding of technology–"

"See, their power isn't false," Jackson interjected. "The Priors are going to offer to people what will seem like proof of God."

"Proof of powerful beings is not proof of God, Dr Jackson." Landry lectured.

"I'm not saying it is," Jackson replied. "But that's how it's going to appear to most."

"Look, just because we know there are some beings on a higher plane of existence than ourselves does not mean there's not an order of being higher than them," Mitchell added reasonably. All this despairing talk wasn't helping his mood. "At least I reckon that's what my Grandma would say."

"And the universe is supposedly infinite," Vala, catching on, winked at Jackson.

"Which in my book makes it impossible to know everything," Landry nodded. "I mean, somewhere in there, you gotta fill in the blanks with a little faith," Landry flashed a smile at Mitchell then. "I had a grandma too."

"So, business as usual, sir?" Mitchell stood from his chair as it was clear Laundry was about to leave.

"Let 'em bring it. We'll use our strengths against their weaknesses. That's a pretty good strategy for any kind of business you're in." he said before turning to Jackson and Vala. "I'm glad you two are okay." Then he turned to the silently sleeping figure on the bed beside Mitchell. "And hopefully, he wakes up okay too."

"No reason he shouldn't," Lam came in to check her patient. "Not according to his vitals or the brain wave patterns. They are almost back to normal now," she smiled after a quick check on the numbers on his monitors. "The Colonel should be waking up at least by tomorrow, barring any complications."

That was good enough for Landry. He nodded and left the area to catch his ride to DC. Mitchell sat back on his chair and stretched his legs.

"So…" Vala stretched the word, grinning at Mitchell in a way that immediately put him on his guard.

Mitchell frowned, looking to Teal'c for help. The Jaffa stared back sombrely. "Yes?"

"You like him," she said, jerking her chin at Sheppard. "I mean, he's very pretty. Don't you think, Jackson?"

Jackson sighed. "Vala, just go back to sleep."

"Oh, don't be like that," she scolded him before turning to Mitchell again. "You want help asking him out?" she asked excitedly.

Mitchell bared his teeth. "I can manage asking a guy out by myself, thank you."

"You sure?"

"Very. You mind your own affairs, and I'll mind mine. That way neither of us has a reason to kill the other." Mitchell said, grabbing a laptop from Sheppard's bedside table. That way, he could finish writing his report and ignore Vala's unwanted suggestions at the same time.

He heard her huffing and turning her attention to Teal'c. "So, muscles, would you like to learn the exciting process of how the women in Ver Ager dye their lingerie?"

In the Sky

A Few Days Later

The F-302 flew like the lightning bird that she was, cutting through the atmosphere and the occasional cloud. The cockpit and her controls were as familiar and comfortable as if they were his physical extensions.

Mitchell hadn't realised how much he had missed this feeling of being in the sky again, with the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins... this incomparable feeling of freedom.

Now, if he could only spot the other bird he knew was on his tail, his feeling of triumph would be complete.

"Yeah, man. This is good!" He shouted. "What a rush!"

"Yeah." General O'Neill, who was warming his co-pilot seat, sounded bored. Couldn't the man at least look around a little to see if he could spot the other damned fighter?

"I don't know why I didn't get back on the horse sooner," he said to O'Neill. "Except I really didn't think you could take a couple of these things for a joy ride."

"Now, see, that's one of the great things about being a general," O'Neill replied. "You pretty much get to do whatever you want."

I bet. Mitchell thought. I wanna be a General when I grow up. Then he remembered all the meetings and briefings they both complained about and nixed the idea in a flash.

"I suppose after you've saved the world seven or eight times…"

"Who's counting, huh?" He could just about hear the man's smirk.

"Teal'c." There was a calculating silence from the back. Mitchell grinned to himself. "Actually, he mentions it quite often."

"So, Mitchell, I hear you haven't picked out your team yet," O'Neill changed the subject. There was a tiny little apologetic note in his words.

"I'm hoping I won't have to, sir," Mitchell said. "Why? Did General Landry say something about it, sir?"

"He did."

"Are you going to tell me, sir?" Mitchell had to ask after a long, drawn-out moment.

"He said you're going to be fine, Mitchell." O'Neill sounded confident of the fact.

"Thank you, sir."

His moment of pride dissolved when a sudden hail erupted from his comms.

"Watch your left."

He barely had time to bank right as the other F-302 that's been eluding him until then, made a rapid descent from above and made a fast pass on his left. It continued on its mad dive, hitting afterburners in its wake in a mocking wave to Mitchell.

Sheppard was flying true to his goddamn call sign just like he always had.

"You mind if I kick in the afterburners, sir?" He felt it polite to warn the General.

"Oh, please," O'Neill said cheerfully. "I believe you have a ghost to catch…"

"Damn right, sir."

The End. (Of Novella One;))