Abbie was in the Atlantis control room, discussing things with her dad over the radio. She asked, "What are we going to do with all the Zamora locked away in our brig? I don't think I could give the order for them to be executed."
Mitchell sarcastically said back, "I don't know. It's not like we usually have aliens from other realities locked up in the SGC's basement. It's possible to put them all in stasis until we can come up with something better. We did find that Ancient statis outpost in the Pegasus Galaxy, about ten years ago. We at least know it would stay hidden. The Wraith never found it."
Abbie ran her fingers through her hair and put it into a ponytail. She drummed her fingers on a random console and said, "That could work. I'll get Rodney on it. How's mom?"
Mitchell sighed and said, "Your mom's fine, worrying about you. I have to go."
Abbie nodded to no one in particular and said softly, "Bye. I love you."
"I love you too, my little soldier."
Dacey met Shaun at his quarters. He was waiting for her and setting up a game of Euchre on the middle of his bed. Shaun was sitting on his pillows, so she could sit at the foot of the bed. She laughed and sat down. Dacey asked, "How'd you know?"
Shaun let out a chuckle and said, "We practically lived in each other's quarters when we were younger and you always begged for me to play Euchre with you. I always tried telling you it worked better with four people; like usual, you didn't listen and insisted on us just playing."
Dacey sat and picked up her five cards with her free hand. She laughed and said, "Pass."
Shaun picked it up and stuck it with his five cards and put one of his other ones down. He said, "Hearts."
Shaun smiled as Dacey put down a card.
They kept playing until they ran out of cards and the score cards showed Dacey had won. She said, "I win. Go figure. Do you even try?"
Shaun laughed and leaned back to rest against the wall. He said, "Yes. You are just very lucky. Hoyle would roll over in his grave if he saw how you played."
Dacey smirked before she threw her cards into the air and started laughing. Cards flew in every direction, landing randomly over the floor. Shaun chucked his cards too and pushed all the cards on the bed off. Dacey scooted over to the middle as Shaun did. She leaned her head against his shoulder and said, "I miss the mindless days on Atlantis, where all we did was conduct trade with the Athosians."
Shaun nodded and put his head on the top of hers. He said, "I know."
Shaun and Dacey shifted to where they were curled up on the bed together comfortably. The two curled up and ended up hugging each other on the bed and falling asleep like that.
Rodney walked into the medical bay. Jennifer stood by a computer, typing up a medical report for Ronon and Katie. Rodney went up to her and said, "I have something to show you."
Jennifer faced him and asked, "Well, can't it wait?"
Rodney took her hand and said, "No."
Dragging Jennifer behind him, Rodney headed for a certain balcony. They had to weave through multiple halls to reach the balcony. It was barely ever used by anybody and it was small but, Rodney had counted on that. He stopped in front of the door leading outside. Jennifer pursed her lips and asked, "Rodney, what is this about?"
Rodney said, "This is what you officially deserve for helping save Atlantis."
Jennifer sighed and said, "Okay."
Rodney beamed and tugged her out onto the balcony. A blanket was laid out on the balcony with a picnic basket on top. Plates were set out in meal fashion, so they could take out the food and eat. Between the china and silverware, a silver candle set. In the distance, Earth could be seen, like a sparkling jewel.
Jennifer gasped and said earnestly, "Rodney, it's beautiful. This is so sweet."
Jennifer used Rodney's arm to pull him down to kiss him briefly on the lips. Rodney could see how happy she was and he became happy too. He said, "Are you going to make me wait to eat, or what?"
Jennifer playfully shoved him and they both sat down, Jennifer looking out at Earth. Rodney reached into the basket and drew out a few sandwiches in baggies and potato ships, also in baggies. Jennifer laughed at the bagged food. Rodney said defensively, "What? You don't like the food or what?"
Jennifer put her hand over her mouth. Rodney pulled out a few more tubs full of random food. Jennifer replied, "No. I like the food, Rodney. It's just that in all the years we've been married, you still like to eat everything and anything."
Rodney frowned and Jennifer scooted over to sit next to him and she got out a few grapes from one container. Jennifer popped a few into her mouth. Thinking for a second, she held one in front of Rodney's face. He opened his mouth and Jennifer put it into in. Jennifer put the grape tub down and wrapped her arms around Rodney's torso. She smiled and laid her head on his shoulder.
Abbie was talking to the Zelenka clan. Anna was trying to help her father convince Abbie to keep the Arhgohnnians around. Anna seethed, "We should definitely keep them around. Obviously they are more advanced than us and we should study their technology."
Abbie put her head in her hands. She replied, "I can understand your desire to study the technology but, they are our allies and I can't force them to stay."
Anna threw her hands into the air and said, "Fine. Ask them to give me specs of pieces of tech. I can deal with that."
Abbie leaned back, "Actually, I already did. I thought you two and Rodney could reverse engineer some of it. Otherwise, the Arhgohnnian fleet is leaving soon. Since repairs are completed, they will also take the Zamora with them and lock them away in an Ancient outpost in the Pegasus Galaxy."
Anna dropped her hands and said, "You are really going to let me and dad reverse engineer?"
"Yes."
Anna smiled and said, "Thank you."
Abbie nodded as the two stood and went out of her office. The glass walls facing out didn't hide her reaction but, Abbie didn't really care. She slumped in her chair and covered her face with her hands. She stood up and started across the walkway to the control room and then the stairs leading to the rest of the city. She began walking away towards someplace to clear her head. She needed air.
Wen and Ahn were getting dressed in Wen's quarters. When they were fully dressed, Ahn went over and kissed Wen. She smiled beneath his lips and kept kissing him until her lungs were about to burst. Pulling away, Ahn reached up and traced her jawline with his thumb, making both their stomachs flutter.
Wen intertwined her fingers with one of his hands and pulled him out the door and down the hall.
Shaun woke up first and sat up. Dacey did after she woke and realized he was sitting. She sat up and groaned while she said, "I hate being burned, literally and metaphorically. "
Shaun gave her a lopsided smile and stood, stretching as he did. Dacey got up beside him and kicked a few cards, by her feet. Shaun looked down at her and said, "Dacey, I need to tell you something."
Dacey looked him in the eye, concerned something bad had happened. She asked, "What's wrong?"
Shaun shook his head and said, "Nothing. I wanted to tell you something for a few years but, I was scared of how you might react. I'm not scared anymore. I love you."
Dacey started to speak but, Shaun stopped her flow of words and train of thought by pressing his lips against hers firmly. He grabbed her neck and pulled her closer to him. Her eyes widened and she pulled back. An angry look spread over her face. Shaun started to say something but, she ran out of the room and down the hall. Shaun hung his head in defeat and shakily sighed. He looked up and headed out the door.
On one of the balconies, the largest one, Abbie stood looking at the stars. The door behind her opened and Dacey came out. She walked a ways away from Abbie and leaned against the rail. Next, Ahn and Wen had their arms around each other's waists and they approached the railing together. Shaun came next and her stood on the opposite end of the balcony from Dacey.
Shaun glanced over at Dacey, who gave him a glare. He dropped his gaze and then looked up at the stars. The entire team watched the stars and the planet Earth.
"Science fiction is an existential metaphor that allows us to tell stories about the human condition. Isaac Asimov once said, 'Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinded critics and philosophers of today, but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all.'"
- Douglas Anders, Stargate SG-1, Episode: 200 –
