I was not the only one in the mess hall, however I was the only one in my bed clothing. Four officers looked up from a game of dominos as I walked in, and a couple continued to look out the window as we sped toward, wherever we�re going. I grabbed some coffee and headed toward a corner, clicking on a nearby lamp. The crew had voted that a part of the mess hall would sport comfy wing back chairs and have a cafe feel to it. Settling back into the pillow, I began my read.
I fell asleep on page five. I know that because I was suddenly being awoken rather rudely by my CI2, Dr. Reva Cramer, and my hand was firmly between pages five and six.
"I'm up," I said as my eyes popped open. "What's wrong now?"
"We have a few new techs that thought they could do a rewiring job when the computer techs were not online," she said as we walked down to the infirmary. "Well the computer guys were not happy to see a program completely wiped out. Chaos ensued."
"Grown men fighting. It never ends. What program was wiped out?" I asked as I slipped on decent shoes.
"A new multi-person, realistic 3-D rendering, game called [i]Promethean Icon[i]." She ended by rolling her eyes. I nodded and pulled back the privacy curtain.
"I hear there was a new game being developed on board," I said, snapping on gloves. I looked at the computer techs and frowned. I watched them squirm a bit and then smiled. "I only wish I had been able to play it. I bet it needed more blood and gore added for realism sake."
- - -
The battlefield is not the place to do experimental treatments. The patient, although he could be unconscious and totally relying on the doctors for treatment, would be horrified if they knew the doctor was thinking of sticking in wires and doing new drips. I felt like I was being subjected to watch and hear about some of these new techniques as it pertained to a cultural experiment.
Sitting around the table in the Prometheus boardroom was Teal'c, Sam, Colonel Pendergast and Cam. An officer from the war bridge walked in and took the available seat, rounding out the conference table.
"So the thing has blueprints and on it, they indicated that thing has sensors," Pentagast said at last.
"Yes sir," Sam said, spreading out a small version of the blue prints in front of her. "But since we do have the Asgard shield, it should protect us long enough to come up to the satellite and destroy it."
"We can't just start to destroy the satellite from our position," the officer said, looking around nervously. He probably never had been around so many superior officers at once. "If we just start shooting then the government could pinpoint our location and just start to fire. Didn't I read that this satellite has vaporized a colony?"
Cam nodded and Teal'c looked down at the folder beneath his hands. "Perhaps we can make use of the planes that are aboard the Prometheus."
"It would get us closer, draw attention further from the Prometheus," Cam said, looking excited. "It sounds like a win-win."
Pendergast was silent as he looked around the table. "It does sound like the best idea so far. Proceed. Have weapons at the ready incase something goes wrong, and a medic team in the hanger for when the crews come back. I don't think the Ori-inspired satellite will just let us take shots at it. Dismissed."
- - -
I thought that when you are about to die, your life would flash before your eyes. Maybe it was where I was standing and still moving, so my life had to compete with the sparking lights and small fires that were erupting around the ship. I was clearing out the computers memory and downloading it to a small device that I could carry - wherever I was ordered to go - and shouting orders to my small staff that had not evacuated yet.
"Doc..." Nurse Kille said, with worry in her voice.
"Go - what are you doing here? I will be there in a bit." I said as I grabbed two more files and shoved them into my bag.
"Ma'am there's not much time."
"And that"s why you need to get going. Maybe it had not fully occurred to you but that satellite operator out there is not going to wait for us to leave before he finishes blowing us up!" I was practically screaming over the sudden roar. I glanced at the computer and took the device out after it stopped blinking - the only thing I wanted to see blink at the moment.
I shoved Nurse Kille in front of me and put the bag on my back as we exited out of the infirmary. I heard another roar and glanced to see the security door close as a ball of fire came licking into the hall.
"Just in time, Doc," she said, turned her eyes to me in fear.
"I love to live life on the edge."
"You and Colonel Mitchell."
"Yes, well Mom says it's from Dad's side of the family," I said pushing her to the side as a small brigade ran the opposite way.
"Why would she say that?"
I forgot that Nurse Kille - of all people - did not know. "Because she is - there is a free spot there, get it - she knows her kids," I said as the door to the now full escape pod closed behind her. I caught an astonished look just before it locked.
I turned on my heels and headed across the hall to the other pod. Throwing in my bag and two med bags that had been left in the hall, I turned one last look around to my home in space for the past 2 years. I lifted the receiver on the wall. "The infirmary is clear."
"I sure hope so; your infirmary is taking on air, Doctor," Col. Pentagast said back to me. I heard the sadness in the somber tones of his voice. "Take care, Doctor. Take care of our crew."
"Aye, aye sir," I said, putting the receiver back and leaping into the pod as another fireball raced down a nearby hall. Two seconds later we were thrusted into the dark abyss of space. In two more minutes I watched my beloved commander and vessel be targeted and hit by another beam of light from the satellite just as it broke apart and spewed the once whole ship into different directions as it was torn apart.
I was not the only one with wet eyes as we hurled toward the ground. I can also safely say I was not the only one ready to rip apart the people who took out home away from us.
- - -
Thankfully our landing could be compared to a soft touchdown by an experienced pilot. The four others who were in the pod also were relieved to see terra forma beneath our feet. Two other pods were being evacuated as we walked toward the building that was across the field where we landed.
"Anyone hurt?" I called as we passed the pods. Pairs of eyes looked at me and shook their heads. I met up with two attendants who were going down a checklist of medical supplies they each had.
As we formed a larger group and we walked into the surrounding trees for the building, glad for the cover and coolness. Two Prometheus-personnel men held open the door as we filtered into what looked like a gym room. I imagined Cam thinking it needed basketball hoops and it would be perfect. Our allied on Tegalus were handing our blankets and offering meals. I found a room where my CI2 and staff had already designated as a makeshift infirmary and dropped off my bags of supplies. I had the strange urge for pita bread and salad.
Joining a few other personnel who were in search of food, I wondered if there were any other transmissions from Teal'c and Cam who had gone out to lead the flying fleet who were attacking the satellite. Soon I found myself chatting with one of our hosts and was getting caught up on some of the newest developments.
Daniel and Kane had not been heard from, and one report was that they were alive, but held captive. The way the man said it, it sounded like he had lost any hope of hearing from them again. I was pondering when I found myself in front of a large table full of food. What kind of food I don't know, but it was food, and began picking at things that looked recognizable.
"So are you going to give all that to the sick and wounded or starving children in Africa?" I whipped around so fast that half my plate landed on the chest that was now in front of me. "You got Tide with that?"
I think it was a mutual reaction as we crushed each other. Cam's smile was beginning to give him lines around his eyes I noticed as I pulled back. "I will not bother asking. I'm just so glad you are ok!"
"Ya, and just a small scrap," he said, pulling up his already bandaged arm. "Let's get you some more food. I don't think you want to eat it off me."
I scrunched up my nose. "That would be awkward."
"Ya, a bit," he agreed. He pulled me in another hug and smiled down at me. "Big sis, I would do anything right about now - even that."
"Thanks, I'll pass."
- - -
Daniel and Kane were alive - I told Sam she should not be surprised, the amount of times Daniel has died, and he had to be alive. Spends more time in the infirmary too. After some careful negotiation tactics, we finally got some resolve - we got Daniel out and a truce of sorts to let those who did not want to follow the Ori could leave (unharmed) to another planet. All in all it was generous, and out of desperation because my little brother and a big Jaffa were ready to tear the Ori-made satellite to bits. Tiny bits.
So after more skirmish and a few dead leaders and soldiers, we finally started back home. The people who rejected the Ori went to another planet, while we went back to the SGC. I sat in my - again - make shift office, thinking about the last whirlwind adventure we had come back from. Cam had tried to talk to me, but I told him really now was not a good time.
A few days later, after the memorial service for Pendergast, I sat in the dark for a while, wondering what my next assignment would be, knowing that nothing would be the Prometheus. I fingered the last all crew picture we had taken before Prometheus had flown 7 months ago. The loss of my ship and commander was the biggest hit from the Ori yet, I thought as I wiped a tear away.
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