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PJ

Ascension (Part 12):

Rush had been awake for only a few hours, and already he didn't like how things were being run. He had programmed Destiny to wake him up first, but somehow that code was overridden and he was no where near the first to wakeup. All the major players onboard the ship, even Camile were awake and wandering around Destiny days, possibly even weeks before Rush even opened his eyes. This confused him a little but that was nothing compared to his reaction when he saw Eli, alive and well and running around Destiny like nothing had happened. It was impossible. He needed to find the answer.

The first thing he did was check the stasis pods. To his shock, the pod that was leftover was never repaired. Rush didn't understand what had happened. Everyone was accounted for, no one had died and Eli never went into stasis. How could he still be alive after three years? The first person Rush approached Colonel Young. "We need to talk, in private."

"About what?" Young asked as he didn't seem very interested in keeping company with Rush.

"About Eli." Rush answered. "His stasis pod was never repaired."

"I know." Young replied.

"You know?" Rush repeated. "And you're not worried about it?"

"Nope." Young answered rather casually.

'And why not?" Rush demanded.

"Cause Eli told me." Young replied. "Eli and I talked about it at great length when I woke up and I am more than satisfied with his explanation."

"And what was his explanation?" Rush asked.

"And ruin the surprise?" Young said as he flashed a coy grin. "I don't think so, Rush."

"What is going on?" Rush asked as he didn't like being kept in the dark about anything.

"Eli doesn't want you to hear it from anyone else but him." Young answered. "He respects you enough to want to tell you this to your face."

Rush paused for a moment. "How do we know he's telling the truth? Shouldn't we confine him to quarters until…"

"That will not be necessary." Young interrupted. "I've already confirmed Eli's story through very sound and respectable sources on Earth."

Rush paused for a moment as he realize that Young wasn't going to budge on the issue one bit. "And you are sure about this? Who are these sources?"

"Colonel Telford confirmed his story with me." Young answered, "As did many others including scientists like Samantha Carter and Rodney McKay. Is that good enough for you?"

While Rush didn't appreciate Young's reluctance to spill the beans, he could understand why he believed what he had been told. There was no way all these people would cover up for Eli so Rush had to accept whatever Eli had to tell him was true. Rather than put things off and settle back in, Rush went looking for Eli to get the answers he was desperate to find. He found Eli on the bridge, navigating the ship and helping out with everyone else who was there. Rush walked up to Eli and put a hand on his shoulder. "I hear you wanted to speak with me."

"Yes." Eli confirmed. "Let's talk in private."

Rush followed as Eli led them to a room where they could speak in private, and Rush was the first to speak. "What the hell happened, Eli?"

"To be honest, I have you to thank for that." Eli answered.

"What the hell do you mean?" Rush asked, very confused.

Eli reached into his pocket and pulled out a disc. He handed it over to Rush. "I apologize for taking this from your room, but I remember you saying something about it so…"

Rush took the disc from Eli and looked at it. It was the one of the Stargate videos that Daniel Jackson had made to train people on what to expect when becoming a member of the SGC. He looked back at Eli. "Is this my disc that talks about ascension?"

"Yes." Eli answered.

Rush paused for a moment. "Are you trying to tell me that you ascended?"

"I did." Eli answered.

"I don't believe it." Rush said as he looked back down at the disc. He had taken the disc and kept it for him to study. The idea of ascension appealed to Rush because as an ascended being, he could one day be able to visit his wife. He really didn't believe what he was hearing but smiled. "You're trying to tell me that you've been living with the ancients for the last three years?"

"Well, I came back here to check on you guys to make sure everything was all right." Eli answered. "And I did visit Earth a few times too."

"You did?" Rush said as he then remembered what Young had said to him earlier about Earth sources confirming his story. "This is amazing! You ascended!"

"And now I'm back." Eli said with a smile.

"Why didn't you stay?" Rush asked.

"It's not my fault." Eli replied. "The ancients are still a little untrusting after their few experiences with Dr. Jackson."

"He really buggered things up there for us, didn't he?" Rush said. He remembered reading the briefings that Dr. Jackson has filed about his time with the ascended ancients.

"You have no idea." Eli confirmed.

Rush took a seat to realize what he was being told. Ascension was an option. "This is brilliant. We can.."

"Whoa, don't get too excited there." Eli said as he also sat down. "Right now some of the ancients are not too happy with you."

Rush looked back at Eli. "What did I do?" Eli then began to explain to Rush about the knowledge he gained while he was with the ancients. How he now knew about everything that went on with the Destiny, even secrets like how Young left Rush on the planet to die. Rush was finally beginning to believe Eli as he revealed secrets he never told anyone about. "This is pretty deep." Rush said as he began to understand what was going on around Destiny without his knowledge.

"You have no idea." Eli said again as he made sure the door was closed. "When I said I knew everything, I also mean I know what you did to the last stasis pod."

"You do?" Rush asked, even though he knew it was probably true.

"Yes." Eli said as he walked closer. "I know you sabotaged the last stasis pod and the only thing I don't know is why. Were you that afraid of me to the point that you wanted me dead?"

"No." Rush answered. "You were never the intended target."

"Then who…" Eli paused for a moment. "Colonel Young?"

Rush didn't answer, but nodded to confirm the young man's guess.

"It all makes so much sense now." Eli said as he wandered around the room. "You were hoping Young would volunteer to stay out here and die out of some manly military sense of duty. Kind of like the Captain going down with the ship."

"You have to believe me Eli," Rush said as he tried to explain. "I never wanted you to die."

Eli paused for a moment and then back down. "I believe you. I also think that's the real reason why I ascended."

"What do you mean?" Rush asked.

"They've been watching us." Eli answered. "They still are."

"I see." Rush replied as he tried to process everything. "What are you going to tell Colonel Young about the stasis pod?"

"Right now… nothing." Eli answered. "I don't see how telling him anything about the stasis pod will do any good right about now."

"Thank you." Rush said as he tried to seem grateful.

"My silence comes at a price." Eli then explained. "If you want me to keep this detail to myself, you have to promise to stop trying to overthrow Young and work with him."

"All right." Rush conceded. He was aware of what little choice he had so there was no point fighting him over it, especially considering the new clout Eli had with the ancients on his side.

"Regardless if we reach Destiny's final destination or go back home to earth, we'll never reach either if we keep fighting one another." Eli said. "We need to work together, and then maybe we might be able to prove to the ancients that we are worthy of their trust and their company."

Rush smiled as he understood what Eli was saying. "You've gained great knowledge since we last talked Eli. I'm genuinely happy to see you again. You have no idea how bad I would have felt if you never came back."

"I know." Eli said as he opened the door. "Just try to keep your plotting to yourself from now on. They're watching us, and judging us and humanity by the decisions we make."

Eli left the room and closed the door behind him. Rush looked down at the compact disc and realized what implications they held. Ascension was truly within his grasp, but according to Eli it was very far away considering his current standing with many enlightened beings. Rush paused for a moment and then stood to leave. Just as he reached the door he turned back to the empty room and paused. "I'm sorry." he said to the empty room. "And thank you for helping Eli."

As Rush closed the door behind him and walked down the corridor, Marrec stood there with a smile of satisfaction on his face. He was invisible to everyone on board his ship, but he knew Rush was talking to him. "You're welcome." he whispered just moments before returning to his own plane of existence.