Chapter Twenty Three – Revenge

Ronon rushed through the corridors of Askula, only briefly stopping to check that the junctions were clear of people. He had more important things to care about. Within five minutes he was reaching the ladder, the access point Sha and Teyla had taken earlier. Carefully, he glanced around the empty avenue where he emerged in the open. He saw a couple of Alphas a bit further down the street, occupied with Wraith soldiers. He took off in the opposite direction and moved toward the hangars a few blocks away. He kept a high pace, his breathing elevated almost to the point of panting as he finally reached the large area with the hangar bays which held the Hover crafts. As he rounded a corner he saw the man he'd so wanted to meet; couldn't wait to meet, in fact.

Stealthily he ran alongside the building, till he reached the other corner. He then quickly ran across the small open ground and ended up next to another large hangar. The military native leader walked robotically, like a man on a mission, toward the entrance of the third hangar in a row.

"Katan!" Ronon roared angrily as he set off toward him.

The Military Organizer cursed under his breath and reached for the P90 he'd found in the experimental bunker. However, he was too slow. Ronon reacted immediately, having had years of experience while being a runner, and even more experience recently during the countless times they'd been in trouble off world.

"What's going on?!" Another voice shouted sternly, just in time to see the M.O fall to the ground.

Ronon spared the Alpha team that had shown up beside him no more than a glance. "For Sheppard, even though he probably wouldn't agree," Ronon said in a low and dangerous voice. "But this is my way of retribution, the way you deserve."

The leading lieutenant of the newly arrived Alpha team stared at the Satedan who seemed to radiate satisfaction, yet a bitter sweet expression briefly came over his face, then sadness and resentment for the man before him as he walked over, past the lieutenant, and retrieved the battered P90 from his loose grip.

The Alpha team leader shuddered at the sight of the Military Organzier whose life was slowly being extinguished before him, yet he was unable to move, to go to the man, or call for help. He had been one of the Alphas standing next to Katan when he'd argued that John Sheppard must die on the planet for their own security. He'd heard the rage in Katan's voice, the anger at the defiance of the man who'd then been revealed to be his equal. A proud man who'd done nothing wrong, a man whose only intention had been to get back home.

As one of his men moved forward, the lieutenant reached out with his hand to stop him, they shared a serious look before he finally said in a grave voice, "Military Organizer Katan must die here, for planet security. As a casualty of a war he helped create, a war who took a turn for the ugly because of injustice and insecurity."

Ronon and the lieutenant shared a look, a look of understanding and mutual respect.

"It will end here," the lieutenant said seriously.

Ronon let out a deep breath as relief surged through his body. It was finally over.

OOOOOO

It was three days later, three days since the last Wraith had fallen and the military commander of Atlantis had been brought home, yet time seemed to have stopped. Everywhere Sha looked people were tired, worn, hurt and crying. The horror would take the civilization a long time to get over. However, unlike three days ago, the tears and cries were of joy. Everyone was helping one another on the streets. The military teams were aiding injured people the best they could as the paramedic units already had their hands full. People were still being found under the debris and rubble. Sha sighed and ran a hand through his thick blond hair, mindful of his healing head wound and silently wondered if this was the moment when peace had finally been brought upon them.

He heard footsteps drawing near his position where he stood, just outside what had once been the military command building, and turned his head to see Lani approaching from a slight distance.

He didn't realize how much he'd missed her.

Coming to a stop beside Sha, Lani raised her eyes to steal a cautions yet joyful glance at him. A bright smile appeared on her lips as he drew her near to him, his arms around her small shoulders.

"I can't believe this is happening," Lani mumbled in amazement. "I can't believe it's finally over."

Sha nodded as he let his eyes roam over the immediate area. "It is over, Lani," he said with finality. "It is over."

Lani nodded in agreement as he let his embrace sooth her worries away. She melted into him, his strong arms still around her and had to force herself to push him away slightly so that she had him at an arm's length, her hands on his shoulders. "I heard someone has been a bad patient," she said sternly, although her dazzling smile gave her away.

"I had matters to attend to," he said casually.

"You're lucky I had Colonel Sheppard to see too, otherwise you'd be strapped to that medical bed still today," she threatened lightly.

Sha couldn't help but chuckle at her stern façade. "Has someone told you that your bedside manner might leave a lot to be desired?" he teased.

Lani's golden eyes sparkled as she locked them on his. "Seriously, Sha, I care too much about you for what's considered healthy. In a way you and John Sheppard are like each other. Getting into scrapes, doing heroics…" she trailed off. "The point is, you're injured and don't you try and deny it. You should be resting and recuperating, not standing here and watching this mess," she finished, heatedly waving at the destruction in front of them.

"Are you done?" Sha asked carefully. "I feel fine, and…" he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender at her disbelief, "…before you say anything, I know I don't have a medical degree, but I've only been talking the whole morning, coordinating things on the radio and, as far as I know, talking is done with the mouth which has nothing to do with any injuries of mine."

She slapped him playfully on the chest, earning a grimace as she hit the bruised side of his ribcage. "Why you little…," she began teasingly, her nose crinkling as she broke into a grin.

"There will be changes of course, in every direction and in every lead," Sha said seriously, steering the conversation back again, his eyes narrowing as the sun began to set before them. "I had a brief session with the leader of the government, he let me know that he's pleased with the actions taken. The Triple group is now exposed and we will be of no use as agents anymore."

"It doesn't matter anymore; our purpose was to bring order to chaos, good out of bad and to diffuse tense situations. Our people have been reunited, Sha. We are not needed as such anymore. I can once again return to full duties as Chief Medical Examiner at Section One and I don't have to look over my shoulder anymore, worried about the resistance or the Military Organizer," she said happily before her voice took on a teasing undertone. "Because I don't have to worry about you, do I?"

Sha turned to face her with a frown.

"Military Organizer Sha Rodin," she added amusedly as he straightened.

"You think so?" he said innocently before he shook his head. "No, Chief Medical Examiner Lani Nadim, you have nothing to worry about. I'm not the type to bring in people and try to pry information from them or frame them for something they haven't done."

"What do you think Meren is up to?" she asked suddenly, as they watched the man in question walk onto the podium that had been temporarily placed at the end of the market street.

"I think that he and chancellor Tam are aiming for the truth," Sha said seriously, as they watched people filling the square before them from every direction.

"Anything important going on here?" A direct voice called from behind them, causing both Sha and Lani to jump and detangle themselves from their hold of each other.

Major Lorne and Rackie shared a smile as they walked up to them.

"That's what we intend to find out," Sha said.

"So, Lani, I thought your presence was required at the hospital?" Rackie began teasingly.

She made a face as she turned to him. "I was on my way," she said cryptically. "What are you doing here by the way? Have you bribed my nurses again?"

Rackie laughed softly, ignoring her remark, his eyes twinkling at the pair before him and his black curls bumping as he shook his head. "You see?" he asked Lorne and then shrugged. "They are just friends."

Evan smiled cautiously, knowing full well what others in the Atlantis Expedition must think of his and Jennifer Keller's friendship. It wouldn't do for the military SIC to be friends with the fairly new Chief Medical Officer. He sighed deeply as he put his hands above the P90 hanging loosely from his TAC vest.

"I don't know, Rackie, don't read too much into it," he said with faint amusement.

"Major Lorne, any news on Colonel Sheppard?" Lani asked anxiously. She had been coerced into leaving him and Atlantis behind, her presence needed on her own world.

"Keller has him under the knife," Evan said with a grimace. "However, she was optimistic as to his chances of survival," he went on. "I'm not ready to take on his job just yet."

Lani watched Colonel Sheppard's second in command, wearing a thin smile on her lips. He'd said the last part lightly but she knew his relief was great at the news. Major Lorne was a good man, the best Sheppard could have by his side and Lorne seemed to be more than happy with that. She only hoped that Sha would be as gifted when it came to the SIC he had to choose.

"So," Sha said softly, looking directly at her. "How was Atlantis?"

"Beautiful," she whispered as she glanced at him before turning her full attention ahead of her, to the chancellor. "I only regret Askula can't be restored."

"Men and women of…this world, I feel the need to say," Chancellor Tam began. "I feel I have the right to say such a thing after the tragedy we've all been through."

A murmur spread through the crowd before him.

"What has happened here and what was resolved here earlier today will be remembered in the history books. It will also rewrite a chapter of our own past. I feel that I speak for everyone here when I say that we now stay united, that we all have a common goal for the future."

"He seems to be a gifted speaker," Lorne remarked.

Rackie nodded. "That he is, but even he has had his doubts. I think they have cleared now."

"I know that most of the members of the Atlantis Expedition that played a large role in our salvation have returned to the brilliant sister city of Askula but I would like to thank them anyway. If it hadn't been for their cooperation we wouldn't be standing here today," Tam said truthfully.

There was a cheer among the people and the Chancellor smiled.

"We've had enough of secrets, enough of war, it has come to an end and what lies ahead of us is for us to discuss, because we decide our future."

"He certainly doesn't leave anything out today," Rackie remarked amusedly.

The four of them watch from distance as Meren Kal took a cautious step forward till he stood just beside the chancellor.

"I feel that an apology to the people is in order," the renowned scientist admitted seriously. "I know it will not undo any damage that's already been done but it can prevent history from repeating itself," the scientist said, then spotted some of the young tribespeople in the crowd before him. "But in some cases, as some have pointed out, history is important and may hold the key to the future."

Lani and Sha glanced at each other and smiled warmly. It was true; the prophecy would be discussed for a very long time to come.

"Major Lorne," Rackie said with a faint tease and made a mock salute to the man standing next to him. "We're so glad you appeared on our doorstep. But it would have been good if you'd taken Atlantis with you and descended upon us like the true sky people."

Evan laughed and shook his head. "So arriving in a jumper isn't enough for you?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes as he saw Jumper Two head off with Major Teldy and a team of marines in bound for Atlantis.

"It's truly amazing to imagine that a city as large as Askula, or Atlantis for that matter, is able to fly," Rackie mused delightedly. "They're constructed so long ago and still after so many years they are not completely gone."

"No, Atlantis is pretty much up to par," Lorne returned. "However, there have been times when we've been in doubt of our survival out here."

"How did you find her?" Lani said finding herself amazed and lost in her own world of tales spoken to her by Dadan when she was young.

Evan shook his head sadly as if the question took him back in time. "It's a long story, Lani, and I'm sure you'll be told about it someday," he said then changed subject. "A lot of work remains to be done here. We've discussed the matter and a contingent of marines will be staying here for a while, as many as we can spare. Doctor McKay will be staying behind for a few days; to him Askula is like finding a hidden treasure, apparently," Evan finished in amusement.

Lani smiled, her nose crinkling. "I think we've all learned a lot this last couple of days, more than we could have hoped for. Unfortunately we've seen more than we wanted too and lost a fair amount of good people. However, if it weren't for you…" she trailed off gratefully.

It was Lorne's time to smile. "We're happy to help. We've met a fair amount of people and you're among the nicest," he let on wryly.

Sha laughed. "Then I wouldn't want to meet the rest of the galaxy," he said.

"Oh, but you will, MO Rodin," Lorne returned slyly. "I remember hearing about similar expeditions through the Stargate as we've taken. In cooperation with us, of course."

Lani slapped Sha playfully on the shoulder. "What? You're going to make the galaxy unsafe now?"

"Well, I must do something exhilarating between all those tons of paperwork that awaits me," the new military leader smiled.

She harrumphed. "We'll I'm going to be busy scanning the entire population in search for the ATA gene," Lani filled in. "The chance must be close to zero given the fact that the so-called sky people emigrated from our lovely planet, but I'll give it a try."

"There is going to be someone. There must be, considering the fact that the man who set up our power distribution system got his mind overloaded by information from the ascended. How else could he have gotten that unless he was compatible?" Sha reasoned.

"He had no children," Lani returned. "So even if he had the ATA gene, he didn't have a heir."

Lorne chuckled at them. "Good luck," he said amusedly.

OOOOOO

To be continued

/Thank you guys for your comments on the previous chapter ;)