Start Chapter 26
"Doctor Jackson?" she asked from the doorway.
"Yes come in," he called from the balcony despite not knowing who it was.
"It is good to see you again Daniel I'm glad you made it out of the Ori galaxy safely," Morgan entered slowly onto the balcony where he was admiring the view.
"Thanks for the help there," he didn't really know how to react to her presence, she had sacrificed herself so that the Ori could be defeated. They stood there for a moment admiring the view in silence. "Did you know he would help you?"
"No and neither did Oma if you were wondering."
"Oma is free again?"
"Yes and continuing with her old ways already," John added walking onto the balcony drinks in hand with Jack following closely behind.
"Sheppard what do we call you?"
"Anything you like although I would ask that you don't refer to me by my former rank."
"Ok Homer what are the drinks for?"
"We wish to celebrate you for defending the people of galaxies you have done everything we could have hoped for and now I shall join you in this fight and end it," Sheppard said raising his glass.
"To the Tauri," Morgan said raising her glass.
"To humanity," Daniel added.
"To peace," Jack said finally raising his glass.
"To peace," they all echoed clinking their glasses together.
"Sheppard you wanted to discuss something about when I was ascended?"
"Yes I apologize for not helping you had I known that Oma would ascend someone during that time I might not have left my home plane," he took a sip of the champagne resting against the balcony as everyone admired the city as night.
"What you were doing your own thing and it wouldn't have mattered I still would have interfered."
"It worked out for the best in the end,"
"Yes but I wish it had not cost so many of your people's lives."
"Well you're here now Sheppard,"
"Do either of you have any questions for me?"
"You mean we can just ask?"
"Yes I will be happy to answer them you are the ones who will need to explain it to your leaders who will explain it to the rest of your people."
"Yeah I don't know about that we aren't exactly telling everyone about the program."
"You will need to after this is over," John and Morgan shared a knowing look as they watched some of the rooms lights activate.
"Why?"
"Don't worry I will be there to secure a safe painless transition."
"What happened between you and the ancients?" Daniel asked them quietly as O'Neill continued to take in the sights of the city.
"I interfered in the affairs of lowers they disagreed and at that time they were new to ascension and felt that they could do anything however they weren't nearly as powerful as I was. I was eventually forced to kill some of them and after that conflict our current arrangement was negotiated."
Morgan looked solemn she hadn't been there for the conflict but she remembered what it had done to the ancients who had survived.
"Sheppard what exactly are you planning?" O'Neill asked turning and facing the room as he heard someone at the door.
"Wipe out the wraith and return this city to its former glory," Sheppard said stepping inside and went to open the door.
"Sounds nice," he said as Sheppard walked back out onto the balcony.
"General," Sam said as she walked out onto the balcony.
"Carter how's Atlantis doing?"
"Good Rodney's still working on getting his hands on every system he can."
"Don't worry neither he nor Atlantis are in any danger," John said smiling as he established a mental connection with lanti.
"I wasn't he's quite fascinated by her by the way."
"Yes he is," Sheppard said smiling.
"Daniel come I have something you might want to see," Sheppard said as he headed into the room with Morgan. Daniel followed them out leaving Sam and Jack on the balcony.
"Well it sounds like I'm going to be out of the job soon,"
"Oh really?"
"Well it appears home world security is about to become obsolete and with the paperwork I have to do for the security of one planet I'm certainly not going to do it for an entire galaxy."
"So you're going to retire again?"
"That's the plan finish up with these and then straight onto blissful retirement," he smiled out into the city.
"Going fishing?"
"Of course Carter care to join us?"
"Us?"
"Me, Daniel and Teal'c,"
She smiled, "Have you put fish in the lake yet?"
"No, I hardly ever get to head up there."
"Any other plans for retirement?"
"One or two," he smiled at her.
"Oh like what?"
"I think I'll wait until I'm retired before finalizing anything and speaking of retirement I think I will retire for the night."
"I'll see you tomorrow General," she finished off her glass and turned to head back inside.
"Goodnight Sam,'
"Goodnight Jack,"
***
"What is this place?" Daniel asked as they entered a cavernous room.
"My personal study," John replied indicating the books on the walls.
"It's normally heavily restricted I have only been in here once or twice myself," Morgan said heading over to the staircase to the second floor.
"I'm giving you total and complete access to the first two floors the third floor will remain completely sealed off," he followed Morgan up the staircase to the second story.
"Do not take it personally no one has ever been allowed onto the third floor," Morgan added standing next to a portrait of the first Ancient to ascend.
"The information contained in those archives is not for those as young as you."
nodded looking up to the third floor which seemed to contain a much greater amount of dust than the other two. Morgan walked next to him, "This is a great honor he only trusted a few of us to use the first floor."
"If you're ascended can't you see what's there?"
"No he shields certain areas and people from us."
"So what do you think is up there?"
"I believe its records from detailing his creation and some of the deeds he has done which now haunt him."
"Then why do you keep them here? Who are they for?"Daniel asked intrigued by those books.
"I have to keep them somewhere and I have a certain fondness for this place." He headed over to the nearest set of books and grabbed one heading over to a nearby chair. "Enjoy Doctor Jackson."
"You're not staying?"
"No I have other business to attend to however someone will come and collect you shortly before the next session," he stood in the door waiting for Morgan to leave.
"Good luck Doctor Jackson," she said departing from the room.
"Enjoy Daniel," the door shut with a thud behind John as he headed back towards the center of the city.
***
They sat down on a balcony on the edge of the north pier, "How have things been since I left?"
"Not well I hoped to avoid any interference but I was exiled," she leaned over the balcony as a wave crashed into the city a few feet below.
"I'm sorry if I had known that the Ori were going to be alerted to the Milky Way I would have dealt with them," his eyes darted to the corner where Lanti appeared joining them.
"Think nothing of it my exile is effectively over and you're finishing most of what needs to be fixed at this point."
He smiled at her, "Thanks but I have so much to do still Sateda and of course setting up a government.
"You intend to attempt to do both?" she breathed in the salty air missing Atlantis's original homeworld.
"I need to give back some of what this galaxy lost which won't be easy but I think I can get it through and as for the terra populus well they need to take their place as leaders." Lanti moved over and sat on John's shoulder her usual place able to whisper into his ear should she need to and able to look at others easily.
"You think they are ready?"
"Yes they had the guidance of the Asgard, Nox, and of course your own limited guidance," he got up and moved towards the door.
"I will of course also be helping them regardless of what the Alterans think," Lanti added as John and her moved inside.
***
"How have you been Lanti?"
"Well enough John I have been dark for most it and I hid from them when ZPM's were activated the Asurans were quite persistent in seeking me out the Alterans less so," Numbers flashed across her.
"What are you doing?"
"Charging up the inertial dampeners and using automated repair facilities to repair some of the remaining damaged sections of the city."
"Eager to return home?"
"Yes especially since I'm now allowed to have full power again."
"I've been thinking you've been on your own for a long time and didn't destroy anything," she looked up at him her eyes filled with excitement. "Perhaps you're ready for the responsibility of handling Atlantis's more advanced weapons."
She beamed having waited for the opportunity to do so since she was first brought online, "Thank you John I won't disappoint you."
"I assume you're familiar with the access code?"
Her image disappeared giving him the answer.
End Chapter 26