John stared at Rodney, stooped over his laptop as he worked hard on the compression program he and Kimberly were trying to perfect in order to send one last, brief message back to the SGC, warning them about the Wraith threat. Gritting his teeth, he tamped down hard on the fear of losing Rodney that tried to bubble up. John wasn’t really afraid of much. Wasn’t even all that afraid of the Wraith as a whole, not after having fought them several times now and come out of each encounter alive. But that had been on their turf. This time was different. They were descending on their home and they were after their blood, and his people had nowhere to run. No way to fight back with any hope of survival.
So yes, John was afraid now. Afraid of losing the most precious thing life had ever given him. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair, scolding himself for entertaining such thoughts. He couldn’t afford the luxury of them, not for himself and definitely not for his mate. With a sigh, John stepped over to the coffee machine, poured Rodney another cup, and set a new pot to brew. He tried not to think how many he and his team had powered through already. Too many, he was sure, but he knew they needed to be as alert as possible.
Putting his hand on the back of Rodney’s neck, he squeezed lightly as he placed the man’s cup in front of him. Rodney leaned back into his touch, lifting his head to smile tiredly at John. “Thanks,” he murmured.
Leaning in, John pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “You’re welcome. Least I can do. How’s the program going?”
Rodney shrugged. “Oh, it’s done if we need it to be, but I think I can squeeze a bit more out of it. I figure the more information we can send back to Earth, the better. They need to know what’s coming, John.”
“Agreed. Try to get some sleep soon, though. You won’t do anyone any good if you’re dead on your feet.”
Rodney closed his eyes and stretched his arms over his head, dislodging John’s hold on him in the process. He groaned, blinking slowly as he tried to focus on John again. “I know. I will. What about you?”
John smiled wryly as he leaned against Rodney’s desk. “That was what I came to tell you. I’m taking a jumper out to see if I can gather some intel. Radek believes the Wraith will stop at a couple of planets before they make it here, probably in order to feed. Teyla and I’ll go to one of them. She has contacts she feels might know something, and she’d like to warn them of the culling if she can.”
Rodney frowned, eyes searching John’s. “Don’t do anything stupidly heroic, okay? Come home in one piece.”
John sighed, staring down at his feet. “Not coming home isn’t an option for me, Rodney,” he confessed as he met his mate’s gaze. It hadn’t been an option for a long time now, John thought.
Getting to his feet, Rodney wrapped his arms around John, holding him tight. John held him in his arms, relishing the intimate bond they had once more. He would do anything he could to keep it. Reluctantly, John let go, cupping Rodney’s neck. “I’ll be back before you know it, babe.”
Rodney narrowed his eyes briefly, then nodded. Resting his hands on John’s hips, he sighed, tilting his head. “I love you, you know?” he said quietly.
John’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “I know.” He bit his tongue to keep from adding more. Not because he didn’t feel the same, but because he knew Rodney, and he was waiting for it. Any second now, John thought.
“Who do you think you are? Han Solo?” Rodney groused under his breath, though John could tell both through the bond and the man’s eyes that he was more amused than upset.
John laughed, pressing his lips to Rodney’s forehead. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I love you, too, you idiot,” he said fondly, earning him a smile. The bond told him that Rodney was a little less tense now, so he’d done what he had hoped to do.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Alright, we have our city specs, tactical assessments, and mission reports all ready to go. What else?” Elizabeth asked the room at large.
Rodney was only half paying attention to the meeting, his mind preoccupied on other matters – only part of which was seeing whether he could make any further improvements on the compression algorithm. Another part was touching on his bond with John which had him frowning as he wondered why he was feeling annoyance coming through it. That, and he was marveling at the fact that even with John off world, he could feel him, vague as the sensation was. “Well, I’ve included a ton of data that we’ve been able to decipher from the Ancient database.”
Elizabeth gave him a peculiar look. What, didn’t she believe him? “Really?” she asked. Okay, apparently she doubted him. And wasn’t that annoying. “That is incredible,” she added.
Why yes, of course it was. He couldn’t quite suppress the smug look on his face as he replied, “Well, the algorithm I devised is extraordinarily efficient, yes.”
Carson huffed, glowering at his hands. “Oh, please.”
Rodney shot him a dirty look. Okay, so maybe he should have mentioned that it was a collaborative effort with Miko and Kimberly, but the program had initially been his baby. Surprisingly, Elizabeth defended him. “Well, it must be for all that data to fit into one point three seconds.”
Rodney straightened, grinning. “Point three seconds, actually,” he boasted.
She gaped at him. “We have a whole extra second to fill?”
“Hm, yes. Imagine that, a whole extra second,” he retorted, trying – and failing – to keep his snark to a minimum. Maybe John was right and he should get some sleep soon. His tongue always seemed to sharpen when he was sleep deprived.
Everyone stared at him for a moment. Elizabeth frowned down at the table, obviously considering something. When she looked up at him, she seemed hopeful. “Is it enough to include personal messages?”
Rodney blinked, contemplating. “Err, sure? Several hours of video, much more if it’s strictly audio.”
A smile spread her lips as she met everyone’s eyes. “I think it’d be wondrous for moral. Especially now.”
Kate and Carson both nodded in agreement. Evan and Ioan merely exchanged looks, while Ford seemed to be the most excited about the prospect. “I can finally tell my grandma what I’ve been up to all this time.”
Elizabeth suppressed a smile. “If your grandmother had security clearance, yes you could,” she gently admonished him. He grinned, abashed. “But for now you can tell her that you’re well, and that you miss her,” she added.
Rodney barely refrained from rolling his eyes. He had no idea why the lieutenant seemed to be less and less able to use his brain. It truly baffled him because when he’d first met the man, he had seemed such a bright guy, full of potential. Rodney had actually started to wonder whether it was possible for someone to have a complete breakdown without anyone really noticing. Sighing, he gathered his things. “This is all very charming, but I have work to do. Shouldn’t I, err…” He trailed off, glancing expectantly at Elizabeth.
“Yes, please do,” she said, nodding. Without waiting for any objections, Rodney got to his feet even as she turned to Ford. “Lieutenant, maybe you’d like to handle this? Give everyone a few minutes on camera to send a personal message to their loved ones.”
“I’d love to, ma’am.”
“Off you go,” she said, tapping the table, but Rodney was already headed to the stairs. As soon as he arrived at his lab, he called Miko, Kimberly, and Radek to him and had them go over ways – again – to maximize the energy output while minimizing the risk of overloading their systems in the hopes of expanding the window the gate would remain open. Every microsecond would count, especially with the likelihood of everyone on the expedition making a video. He wanted everyone to have the opportunity to say their goodbyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Evan and Ioan were going through their weapons manifest in order to try to supply the bolt holes John had insisted on after the Genii attack. They had worked hard between the three of them to find the best strategic positions, both for occurrences of invasion through the gate and aerial assaults.
Ioan sighed, pausing as he caught Ford out of the corner of his eye, carrying a small camera.
“What?” Evan asked quietly.
Ioan shook his head, turning to his brother. “Do you have any idea what to say?”
“No,” Evan admitted. “You?”
He shrugged. “I know what I would like to tell mom and dad, but… How can we, Ev? I mean… Earth doesn’t know about the soul bonds yet and after the whole Chaya thing I’m not so sure that that is information we should be sending.” At Evan’s shocked expression, he added quickly, “Don’t get me wrong, I think people have the right to know, but think about it Evan. I know that Chaya was an Ascended and all, but they’ve been making a lot of strides in the field of genetics lately. Do you really believe that there won’t be someone out there who would try to use the soul bond thing for their own gain?”
Evan seemed to consider that for a moment, then grimaced. “You’re right. It’d be different if we were in constant contact with Earth and we could ensure that the information would be handled responsibly – as much as that ever happens at any rate – but to just dump it on them and hope for the best?”
Ioan nodded, relieved his brother could see his concern. “Exactly. It’s too risky. Even with most of the natural ATA carriers here on Atlantis, there are still a few on Earth. And they know there are people who would get the full genome if given the ATA therapy. I know that they wouldn’t be able to utilize that yet, but how long do you think it’d be before that got sanctioned if this came out? How soon before the experiments’ll start? And if they get their hands on a bonded pair, how long before they hold one hostage in whatever way they deem necessary in order to force them to comply to someone’s wishes? We’d be putting people in danger. It isn’t like the IOA will have anyone’s back on that one, and General O’Neill can only do so much.”
A look of sadness swept over Evan’s face. Ioan stepped over to his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder. Evan met his eyes with a sad smile. “I was just thinking how happy it would make them to know about Mac. And Kimberly for that matter.”
“I know, Ev. We can’t tell them, though. Back home, the regulations still stand and it would open up a can of worms they don’t need to be dealing with on top of everything else.”
Evan huffed a laugh. “When did you become so wise, huh?”
Ioan grinned. “Guess I take after my big brother that way,” he quipped.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Hello, Da. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to be in touch before now. Things have been a mite… hectic these past few months.” Mac grinned sheepishly into the camera, running his fingers through his hair. “The mission I’m on has been a challenge at times, but it’s been grand on the whole. I’ve made a lot of new friends, some of whom I hope one day you’ll get to meet.”
And wasn’t that the understatement of the century, Mac thought. He dearly wished he could tell his father about Evan, but he understood why they had all been ordered to keep mum about the soul bonds. He wondered fleetingly whether his parents would have been soulmates, too. He remembered all too well how much they had loved each other. How much it had hurt his dad when mum had passed away.
He shook his head, smiling. “Sorry, Da. I’m maudlin’ I guess. I miss you a lot. I wish I could tell you all the exciting things we’re discovering every day it seems. Maybe some day. Anyway, I hope you’re doing alright and that you’re watching after yourself. You’ll have to tell me about any new exhibits at the museum next time, okay? Love you.”
He glanced away and cleared his throat a couple of times. Right. That had been much more difficult than he had thought. Still, he hoped it would help his father, at least. Turning to Lieutenant Ford, he nodded. “Thanks, Lieutenant. I think… I think that’ll be it for me,” he murmured.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He liked Teyla, John reminded himself firmly as he swung the ship back toward the planet. She was a great friend, a worthy ally, and she had one of the biggest hearts he knew. Still, he was more than a little irked that she kept insisting on going back for her friend and his family, they would be cutting it close as it was just to get to the gate. He certainly understood her desire to save them, but that hadn’t been part of the mission and trying to swing back to rescue them would put them and everyone on Atlantis at risk. Well, more risk. They had to make it back to the city to warn them of what was coming. This wasn’t just three Hive ships, it was damn near an entire armada. He had no idea what kind of defense they might be able to mount against that kind of attack, but without the intel the answer to that would be nil.
“Sorry, Teyla, but there isn’t time,” he ground out as he pushed the jumper as fast as it would go. The HUD told him it wasn’t helping much, the Wraith were right on his heels, heading for the planet for what looked to be the biggest culling he’d ever seen. “Dial the gate as soon as we’re in range, we’re only going to get one shot at this.”
“Major, if we could just-” she protested.
John jerked his head around to face her. “Look, I get it, Teyla. I wish we could help them. Hell, I wish we could save everybody in the galaxy, but we can’t. You pick the battles that you know you can win and this isn’t one of them.”
Teyla glared at him, her displeasure painfully obvious to John. Still, she nodded curtly and began the dialing sequence. Before she was finished, however, the gate activated and she gasped. “I have heard of the Wraith dialing in to prevent the people of using it as a means of escape during a culling. They will keep the gate busy for hours, major.”
Dammit, John thought, taking a deep, steadying breath. He tried to push reassurance through the bond, not wanting Rodney to worry more than he likely already was. If the man wasn’t keeping himself too busy to really think about the fact John wasn’t on the city. He could feel the exhaustion coming from the other man and he wished he were home so he could make the scientist get some much needed rest.
With a sigh, John changed course, heading to the place Teyla had told her friend to go. “Looks like we have time,” he muttered, earning him a grateful look. He just hoped they would all make it through the culling for this risk to have been worth it.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Rodney frowned, staring at the camera he had set up on his desk. He wished John were here to do this with him. Downing his coffee, he sighed, scowling at it. What cup was he on now? He’d lost count. Putting it down, he checked the settings one last time before hitting record and taking his seat – and proceeded to babble. His mind was going in continuous circles and several times he found himself talking without being really conscious of what he was saying. As soon as he realized that he had let something slip he shouldn’t have, he would rally himself – or try to, at least – and force himself back on subject.
The entire time, he held onto the bond with John, worried for his mate who was hours late for check in. At least he knew he was still alive and unharmed. For now.
John. Rodney suddenly sat up straighter as the thought suddenly hit him that he wanted John to meet his sister. He and Jeannie had been at odds for years, ever since she gave up her potential future in favor of marrying whatshisface – Kaleb, his brain supplied unhelpfully – though he had to admit that that was mostly due to himself. Scrubbing his face, he groaned. God, he had been so stupid!
His thoughts whirled, jumping from one to the next in rapid fire fashion as it always did when things suddenly became clear to him. Jeannie was his sister. That meant that she would also have the genome, or at least that the gene therapy would work. What if Kaleb had it, too, and he was her soulmate? What right did Rodney have to hold that against her? None, that’s what. And now he was in another galaxy and he would never be able to tell her how sorry he was for all the angry things he had said to her. He would never be able to tell her about John, or about the whole concept of a soul bond. She would find it so fascinating, too. He was sure of that.
Clearing his throat, he stared at the camera. “Jeannie… my sister. Okay, Ford, if you edit out everything else, please, keep this and make sure it gets through? Thanks.” Taking a deep breath, he smiled tentatively. “Hey, Jeannie. I’m sorry I’m not there in person to tell you this, but… Well, I’m sorry. For everything. I know I haven’t been the best brother in the world, and I definitely haven’t been the brother you deserve but I just wanted you to know that I love you. And I wish that we could have the chance to start over again. I hope that you and Kaleb are happy, and that little Madison – well, not so little anymore, I suppose, it’s been a few years hasn’t it? – anyway, that she’s doing well. Give her a hug from her Uncle Mer, if you would.” He tried not to cringe at the use of his nickname. He hated the name Meredith, but his family had always refused to call him by his middle name. He figured that using it now was the least he could do. An olive branch, so to speak, since he normally would lay into anyone who called him Mer or Meredith.
Turning the camera off, he muttered under his breath. “And Ford had better keep his mouth shut about it if he knows what’s good for him. At least not too many people will actually see this.” He shuddered at the thought of anyone on Atlantis getting it into their heads to start using his first name.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“You ready, Dr. Smyth?” Lieutenant Ford asked after he was done setting up.
Kimberly ran her fingers through her hair and tugged at her shirt to even out the wrinkles some. She wasn’t sure she was ready, but she knew she had to try. Had to offer her family some sort of closure, if she could. Taking a deep breath, she nodded.
Lieutenant Ford gave her a reassuring smile. “Okay, go for it.”
“Mom. Dad. Just wanted to let you know I’m doing alright, and that I love and miss you guys so much. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch, but work’s… well, it’s been a bit of a bear. Don’t get me wrong, it’s challenging and exciting and I’m learning new things nearly every day, but… it can be a bit much at times.”
She smiled down at her hands briefly. “I wish I could tell you everything that’s been going on, but there just isn’t time. We only get a few minutes each, so I’ll try to be succinct. I’ve met some amazing people here, mom. I wish you could meet some of them. I think… I think you’d like them a lot, too.” She bit her lip to keep from saying more than she should. “Anyway, I’m almost out of time. Hopefully you two are doing well, and I’ll try to get in touch again soon. Love you, so much.”
“That it?” Ford asked, pausing the recording when she looked up at him.
“Actually… I was wondering whether I could have another minute? I’d like to get a message to a close friend of mine, too, if that’s okay?” She knew she couldn’t convey everything that she would have wished, but maybe if he saw…
“Sure thing.” He hit record again and nodded.
“This message is for Dr. Jackson. Hey, Daniel. It’s me. Just a quick hello from you know where. I’m… doing great, actually. I wish you were here so you could see some of the wonders for yourself. You’d love it here. There’s so much to discover. Anyway, I just.. I needed to let you know that everything will be okay. For you, I mean. Remember what we talked about before we left? More than ever, I have faith in that now and I need for you to have it, too.”
There. That would have to do. Any more and she would be saying too much, but she knew Daniel well enough to know that he would get the underlying message. To not give up on Jack. That they were meant to be together, even if he might never know they were soulmates.
Ford gave her a weird look. “I’m not sure about this, Doc.”
She smiled at him, waving off his concern. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant. Dr. Jackson has full clearance when it comes to the expedition. I haven’t given up any state secrets.” She might have skirted the line when it came to the order Dr. Weir had given with regards to the soul bond information, but she hadn’t crossed that, either.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
John stared out of the window, feeling sick to his stomach as they watched the culling unfold. He was not good at just sitting by and doing nothing, but it would be worse than suicidal to even attempt to take on the Wraith. But to be forced to sit idly by and watch hundreds and hundreds of people being swept up as so much fodder, it went against everything he believed in. “This is hard to sit and watch,” he admitted.
“There’s nothing we can do.” Teyla’s voice sounded dead. When he glanced at her, he was shocked at the drawn expression on her face. This was not the Teyla he had grown to respect and admire.
“We could do a lot,” he corrected. “It’d just be the last thing we ever do.”
She turned her head with a look of confused disbelief. “We are vastly outnumbered and the gate is still inaccessible. But if we save Orin and his family we will have done something.” Her voice was on the verge of tears, and for once, John knew how she felt.
He nodded firmly, swallowing hard. “Something,” he agreed. If only he could be sure it would be enough. Forcing his eyes forward again, he was determined to at least witness the passing of a people.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Teyla’s heart was breaking. So much death. So much loss. The need to act was great, but she knew all too well the futility of action in this instance. She had joined the people from Earth because she truly believed they were the best hope in defeating the Wraith. She had every intention to do everything within her power to save her people. To save all people in Pegasus if she could. To her mind, it was the duty of every person alive to stand up against the Wraith, even if the only way to do so was to try to save the last of a civilization.
She had had reason for disappointment and disapproval before with these people she had come to know and love as family. They were far from perfect, not that she herself could claim to be either. Still, when Ford suggested they steal the ZPM from the children on M7G-677 in order to briefly gain the shield for the city. And earlier, when John refused to come to the aid of her father’s friend until they had no choice but to remain on the planet. These were the times where she could not understand them.
A sudden bright, white beam slammed into the ground in the middle of the village, the impact of it shook the jumper. They both stared at it, shocked. “What is that?” John asked uneasily.
She shook her head. “I have never seen such a thing.” Leaning forward slightly, she could not see where it originated from, which meant it was likely coming from one of the Hive ships. She had never heard of anything like this, had no concept of what it might mean. Though as she continued to watch, she began to wonder if this was what the Wraith had used to scorch Athos. There was a strange aura forming at the site of impact that she could not explain.
John jumped up, a look of determination on his face. “I’ll go check it out.”
Panic seized her. Swiveling in her seat, she grabbed John’s sleeve. “You may be discovered!” she cautioned. For all that she had begged him to help before, him risking his life needlessly now was not what she had wished for. She shook her head. “Major,” she pleaded.
John sighed, pointing at the beam. “I just want to see… whatever ‘it’ is,” he tried to assure her, though she felt he was not succeeding. “You just… stay here until Orin and his family show up.”
With one reproving look, John grabbed his P90, hit the door opener, and headed out leaving Teyla behind to her thoughts. Saying a quick prayer, she resumed scouting through the window in hope of spotting Orin. She hoped very much that they would make it to safety. She owed it to her father’s memory.
How much time went by without a sign of life, Teyla wasn’t sure. She was beginning to fear for Major Sheppard’s life, and she tried very hard not to think on Orin’s fate. They just had to be alright, or else it would be on her. In order to keep from going out of her mind, she set about gathering supplies, aware that any survivors were likely to need First Aid. She had just pulled down the kit and put it on the bench in the rear compartment when a sudden noise alerted her. She looked up, her breath catching in her throat as her heart attempted to beat its way out of her chest.
Wraith!
Her eyes flitted to the bench opposite her where her gun lay. The Wraith drone had stopped, apparently sensing her presence. Holding her breath, she prayed he would move on, that the cloak would hold even though the jumper was open and she would be in plain view if it didn’t. There were mere feet between them and she very much doubted she would be fast enough to reach her weapon in time to prevent it shooting her if it spotted her.
Seconds ticked by and Teyla tried to control her heartbeat. Finally, finally the drone turned away and she was able to breathe freely again. Her legs were shaking so badly that she had to sit down or risk falling over. Perhaps Major Sheppard had been right. They were putting themselves at risk being here. When would this nightmare end, she wondered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
John ran as fast as he could toward the spot he had parked the jumper. There had been one too many close calls as far as he was concerned and he wanted off this planet, stat. Stark relief flooded him when he saw Teyla pop up out of thin air, helping him find his way. “It’s pretty ugly out there,” he murmured. When he stepped up the ramp, he slowed his stride, taking in the people in the rear compartment with a frown. “Is this Orin’s family?”
“No,” Teyla admitted.
John shot her an incredulous look. What did she think this was? They weren’t a lifeboat taking on passengers from the Titanic, for Christ’s sake.
Unable to meet his eyes, she glanced at one of the men before forcing herself to face John. “They have not seen Orin since before the culling began.”
John sighed, hating to be the one to tell his friend there was little hope of them having made it. “The village is pretty much wiped out.” Right. It was time. Long past time, as far as he was concerned. Stepping into the cockpit, he picked up the binoculars, hoping for some sort of sign. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the gate wink out. “The gate just shut off,” he said, unable to hide his relief. “We should be able to dial up and get out of here before the Wraith can do anything about it,” he said, dropping into his seat and preparing to leave.
Teyla stepped up to him hesitantly. “Please, Major, give Orin more time.”
Was she kidding? Who knew whether they would get another shot at getting out of here and she wanted to wait? “If he were able to get here he would be here by now,” he argued. “We gotta get back.”
Teyla’s face hardened. “Then go,” she said, turning away from him to grab her gun. “I will stay and search in daylight. You can return for me later.”
What? No way! Why was she being so damn stubborn about this? Surely she knew she wouldn’t stand a chance out there on her own. She was good, but she had no hope against an enemy like this. “You can’t do that,” he reasoned.
“I consider Orin family, Major!” she snapped. “I’m sorry if you do not understand what that means.”
He ground his teeth. “Oh, I understand it, Teyla, but that’s not the point!”
“With, or without you, I am staying,” she insisted.
“You won’t make it.”
She sighed. “Then I ask that you stay as well. Just a little longer,” she pleaded. “Allow something good to come of this.”
Counting to ten, he tried to keep his cool as he weighed his options. Cursing himself, he closed his eyes. Oh, but he was going to get it from Rodney, especially if this turned out to be a mistake. “Fine. I’ll give him a little more time.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rodney met John in the jumper bay, wrapping his arms around him the second he was off the ramp. “I should be so mad at you right now,” he murmured.
John huffed. “You have no idea.”
Lifting his head, he glanced at the slew of people trodding out of the jumper ahead of Teyla. “You brought back strays?” he said sotto voce. “Was that really the best idea, considering?”
“Rodney,” John groaned, shaking his head.
Poking John’s chest, he scowled. “Seriously. What took you so long? You were supposed to be back hours ago.”
When John explained what had happened, how they had ended up stuck on the planet and then waited for any survivors that happened their way, Rodney’s insides turned to ice. “You promised, John. You promised you wouldn’t do anything stupidly heroic,” he accused.
Holding up his hands, John shook his head. “Baby, I didn’t have a choice. The Wraith gated in before we could dial out. They kept the gate busy all night. I promise, we left as soon as we safely could. Well, almost as soon as, since we waited for Orin and his family.”
Rodney grumbled under his breath, too tired to really put his back into an argument with his mate. He walked alongside John to Elizabeth’s office. God, but he wanted their bed, but not without John there. He had tried to nap earlier and his mind had conjured up horrifying image after horrifying image without John there to hold him. To keep him safe. So instead of heading to their quarters, he filled John in on what had been going on. “There’s still room left for you to send a message, if you want.”
John’s mouth tightened, his posture stiffened, and the bond seemed to dull. Rodney frowned. “What? What is that about?”
“Nothing, Rodney. Not something to worry about now, at any rate,” John said, sighing.
He huffed. “Elizabeth took care of the messages for the people we… lost. She left Colonel Sumner’s family for you, though. We thought that you might want to do that one yourself.”
John nodded. “Yeah. I guess that wouldn’t be a bad idea. Thanks.”
Rodney patted his arm awkwardly. “Ford’s waiting for you in the conference room. As soon as you’re done, we’re going to send the data burst to Earth.”
John paused on the stairs and tilted his head. “You think they’ll get the message?” he asked quietly.
Rodney considered it for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. I doubt it’ll do us any good, but at least Earth can start to mount a defense. That’s worth something, right?” It had to, or else what had been the point of it all.
“Yeah,” John agreed in a whisper as he took Rodney’s hand. “That’s worth something.”
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