Ok here it is as promised. I hope it is not a let down but I visualized it quite this simply. One chapter left to go. No beta so I apologize for any mistakes or inconsistencies. Thanks again always for your patience and support!

Chapter 13-Battle

Sheppard looked out over the balcony. A week had passed since the last Wraith group had been converted. Sheppard had slept on and off for days as had many of his Guardians. The Pegasi made a quick recovery and they worked with the former Wraith leaders to train them in preparation.

"Well you really have done it now. You have a bona fide elf Army," Sheppard grinned as he turned toward O'Neill and shook his head. "I don't think we should tell them that," Sheppard said in reply.

O'Neill looked out over the field at all the former Wraith lined up. "Still, it's impressive."

Sheppard nodded. "I didn't think it would be so many. I hope there won't be any problems integrating them."

"They'll find their way. Todd and his team will help them. Besides that is problem number ninety-nine. We need to focus on problem number one."

Sheppard smiled. "Yeah. Right. After problem number one everything should be a piece of cake…I hope."

O'Neill nodded. "Word is the queens are pissed and know the game is afoot. There are scrambling to join forces. No word they have located us however."

"She is searching earnestly," Sheppard said quietly. "I guess it's time to let her find me. What are we dealing with the other queens?"

O'Neill shrugged. "They are severly depleted. I said they are scrambling to join forces but Todd from afar is such a good instigator. They are not getting along very well so it's bought us some time for us recharge again."

Sheppard snorted slightly. "You mean so I could sleep for a few days."

O'Neill shrugged as he looked sideways at Sheppard. "So we could all rest. It's been a little rough lately."

Sheppard nodded as he stepped back into the room. "So we are all set then. Teams are ready to deploy?"

"Yup," O'Neill said with a nod. "Decoy Arcadia all set too. Just waiting for your word."

O'Neill watch the younger pilot's jaw tighten slightly then Sheppard turned. His eyes were bright as he nodded slightly. "Let's go."

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Lorne looked back across at Ronon and Teyla from the pilot's seat. Teyla looked as calm as ever and appeared to be meditating. Ronon also had his eyes closed but there was a slight grin and Lorne could see his arm muscles tense occasionally, no doubt mentally practicing for the battle he long anticipated. The transport shuddered and the Satedan opened his eyes and grinned. Lorne returned the smile.

Won't be long now. Lorne recognized that as Sheppard's mind. The king had transmitted the thought from a different ship. "Cloaking and approaching target area. Hive ship currently engaged with Armentarian fleet," Lorne announced.

"I hope there is some left for us," Ronon said annoyed.

Teyla rolled her eyes then looked patiently at her friend. "I am sure we will be needed Ronon. You understand this is part of the ruse, to ensure the Wraith Queen assumes this is the Heir's world. It is the only way we can lure her here. Sheppard's plan offered the best chance of success with least loss of life or our people."

Ronan shrugged. Of course he didn't want anyone to lose their life but he was a warrior and he had been waiting for this battle. Anyone who died, including himself would do so honorably as he was sure this would be the last battle with the Wraith.

Lorne set the shuttle behind a ridge and several transports settled behind them. When the doors opened they could hear what sounded like fighting near the a castle they had rebuilt. Despite the transformation of Wraith they were still thousands both here on the decoy planet and in the battles in orbit above.

Lorne received mental confirmation from the other strike teams that they were positioned. He looked back toward Ronan and Teyla. "They are in position. Time to move."

Ronon looked just up over the ridge. The Wraith had no idea that they were completely surrounded. Sheppard was a strategic genius. He turned back toward his warriors and gave the signal. He hoped Sheppard was fairing well in his search for the Wraith Queen. He glanced over at Teyla, and if she was worried about Sheppard, it didn't show. She knew, that Sheppard had to play his part and there was nothing she could do to affect its outcome.

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O'Neill looked quietly over to Sheppard sitting next to Etienne. The king had insisted on piloting the craft himself. He heard quiet whispering and watched Todd and Tristan talking. Todd nodded his head at something Tristan had said then they were quiet. The plan was simple. They had received message of where this supposed Queen was, but Sheppard said it was a decoy, and he knew where she really was. Sheppard had "seen" her during the last great Wraith escape that almost made him a royal vegetable but the Wraith, or at least Todd and his former Wraith, had unscrambled his brain and Sheppard had managed to pinpoint the Queen of Queens and her plan. Now they were headed to the vampire lair. O'Neill smiled at the thought until he looked up and saw Sheppard staring at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What? That's what they are and quit reading my mind."

"It's hard to shut you out with you kinda projecting it out there for everyone," Sheppard drawled.

"I am not…" O'Neill started to say until he heard in unison from the others, "You are!"

O'Neill looked at Tristan and Todd. "Well they are vampires," he said to no one in particular. Todd shook his head in amusement. He took no offense to the vampire reference as O'Neill had explained it to him before. Humans seemed to enjoy bickering and labeling and then bicker about the labeling. He had a lot to learn about their mannerisms and habits. Wraith were single-minded in their pursuit of power, survival and feeding. They had brothers whom they trusted and Queens they served, but they did not play jokes on each other or dream of something beyond existing beyond the next battle. He sighed. Perhaps that would all change today. Sheppard had said nothing about finding the High Queen. He himself had never met her nor had he ever wanted to. It meant sure death to meet the High Queen except for today he hoped.

Sheppard stood and stretched. "She sent all her forces to our decoy. She thinks I am there at our decoy castle and she is getting ready to go there. Her forces are deployed along this perimeter protecting her as she makes preparations," he said as he brought up a tactical display.

"That's more than the 5 of us can handle," O'Neill said pointedly. He knew Sheppard had a plan but he wanted to hear it since they were outnumbered about 10 to 1.

"I disagree," Tristan said. "We can easily handle this number. "However, I am sure Your Majesty has a plan that will avoid this confrontation."

"Yes," Sheppard said bemused. "I landed us close to where she is but I am blocking our presence. She will be dead before anyone or anything even knows what happened. Etienne, please stay with the ship as we may need assistance for a quick get a way if it doesn't go well. The three of you follow me."

They made their way silently through the dense woods. It was raining and miserably cold but not enough to snow. It was dusk but they were able to move quickly despite the conditions. If anyone had doubts about a plan they knew nothing about, they did not say. Tristan scanned the area as they proceeded. Although each were shielding themselves, Sheppard added another layer. They should be able to sneak right up on them. Sheppard have a plan but it seemed too simplistic, but perhaps that would be unexpected. Their only role was to "watch my back" as Sheppard said.

They had been walking for nearly a mile when Sheppard suddenly stopped. Up ahead was a bridge that led to a platform with a ship. It was something between the size of a hive ship and dart. It was sleek and resembled less a Wraith ship and more Ancient. Tristan turned toward Sheppard who had projected that thought. Tristan nodded although he grew uneasy. What manner of deception had this been all these years!

Sheppard sent them visuals of where he wanted them positioned for back up. They would close in slowly and silently. Tristan settled into position behind Sheppard as they walked forward and wondered how the battle on the Aracdia decoy faired.

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"Ronan are you all right?!"

The Satedan looked toward his friend. He clutched his arm to hold off the bleeding but it was not very much. He grinned widely. "Yeah great! You?"

"I am unharmed," she said calmly as she shoved a dead Wraith away from her foot. "We should see how Lorne is doing. I am afraid he will be overrun by the group that broke off." She reached in her pocket and pulled out a bandage and began wrapping it around Ronan's arm. Her thoughts wandered to Sheppard then she caught herself when she saw Ronon looking at her.

"Don't worry," Ronan said, "I'm sure he is fine."

She finished tying the bandage. "I know he is. Let's go help Lorne."

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Sheppard watch the cloaked figures as they entered the platform just short of the bridge. He felt the presence of his friends around him but his focus was on the two figures as they conversed. Four guards surrounded them but that would be simple to overcome. Sheppard walked confidently across the bridge to greet them.

Tristan looked on and turned toward O'Neill. Could it be so simple? Sheppard would just walk up there and confront the Queen of all Queens? O'Neill looked quizzically back at Tristan then turned back to watch Sheppard as they approach quietly.

They were halfway up when suddenly the four Wraith guards caught site of them in the heavy rain. They began firing but Tristan and the others made quick work of them. Sheppard continued to walk toward his prey then stopped short of the platform. The Queen hissed at him but that did not bother Sheppard. It was the other figure that caught his attention.

He had expected the Queen but now looked into the dark eyes of a king of sorts. An Ancient not a Wraith and one that looked like someone he knew. The voice sent a chill down his spine.

"Well nephew so we are the end of our line in these worlds. I can sense your confusion. Your betrayal. Why did Evander not tell you about me? He told you to look for a Queen of Queens the one who made all, but he never told you about me. It was I who created the Wraith…my children. It took a while you see, an accident with a bug started it all, but you know about that. I can sense it running in your blood. You have as much Wraith in you as you do human and Ancient. Fascinating."

Sheppard said nothing as he tried to make sense of all of it and fit all the pieces together.

The Ancient tilted his head as he unsuccessfully tried to read the thoughts of Sheppard. His white long hair glistened in the rain. "Evander thought he killed me after he also thought he killed my Queen, but before she nearly died, she restored me, then I her. I created daughters so then it was just a matter of genetics to keep the line growing and I had the formula to create more diversity. I created all of them, then my daughters created more and they exacted vengeance and dominion over these worlds.

Sheppard grinned. What else could he do? The hubris of the Ancients was complete. He did not believe Evander would have kept this from him. Evander simply did not know his evil twin had survived, but what Sheppard did know was that his "uncle' was lying.

Sheppard tilted his head to match that of "Scelus," he said as he probed the Ancients mind. "I thought you had died dear uncle and your wife and child banished."

The Ancient straightened and looked uncomfortable. Sheppard smirked. "Yeah I know. It's disconcerting having your brain invaded…I know what that is like but yes, it is fascinating how Wrath, human and Ancient come together in me." Sheppard walked slowly toward the Ancient. "I perfected it you see—getting in your mind. You don't even know it. Not like your daughters. They like to let you know they are in your head…so crude. But let me tell you what I do know. Did you forget about your wife and child? Evander had spared them but it wasn't him that banished them was it? You did. You shoved them away to carry on your experiments. You abandoned them before Evander thought he had killed you. He was trying to find them and help them because he knew what you were doing." Sheppard had easily read back in Scelus's memories.

Scelus, looked taken aback for a moment then recovered. "You don't know anything you abomination! Evander didn't understand what I was doing. How was what he did to you any different than what I did?"

Sheppard was not going to argue, and it wouldn't make a difference anyway. Sheppard was here for a single purpose.

Scelus looked at his kin. Evander's heir looked at him coldly. There was no emotion from the human ancestor…no anger, no hatred, no pity, nothing.

Sheppard studied him a moment. He didn't feel anything for him, his Queen or his human feeding daughters and sons. He knew what needed to be done and Todd had ensured a choice had been given. "It won't do you any good to put up a fight. I could put you in the dungeon without a trial or maybe with a trial. I actually have one you know, but that could take forever and we know the outcome."

He was now face to face with Scelus. "You have brought misery to millions for thousands of years for no reason at all. Rest assured we have saved many of your so called children. They chose to become human like us. So don't think me a cold bastard who doesn't care about life."

Scelus clutched his dagger, but found his hand could not move. He stared at Sheppard's eyes. Water dripped down the king's nose and chin. "No, you can't kill me…you can't do anything to me and neither can the Queen of Queens," Sheppard rasped. He turned and summoned the Queen to him. Her body moved unwilling toward him like a marionette. She hissed and tried to resist but found she could not.

He felt her trying to assault his mind and he staggered a moment but felt Tristan, Todd and O'Neill behind him pushing back mentally against the Queen.

Sheppard looked her in the eyes then turned to Scelus. "You had everything. You had a family and a life. You threw it all away you crazy greedy bastard. Now you will have nothing."

Scelus watched in horror as Sheppard placed his hand on the Queen's head and closed his eyes. He felt Sheppard connect to her then him. "No!" he managed to shout. "No don't do this! You can't have my children!"

Sheppard opened his eyes momentarily and looked at Scelus' horrified face. "I don't want them," Sheppard growled. He closed his eyes again and Scelus froze. He saw Sheppard's mind connect to the Queen and then reach out to every Queen and every remaining Wraith across the Galaxy. This was not possible. He tried to attack him mentally but it was useless. Sheppard's mind was like a tentacle reaching out and choking whatever it caught hold of. Evander! Scelus snarled as he reached up to his head as he felt Sheppard again reach in deep. Then he could see what Evander's heir would do. Simple. It was too simple!

Tristan watched mesmerized with the others. Sheppard was in complete control. He did not know exactly what he was doing except that now the Ancient Scelus whom he had thought long dead, was frozen in horror along with the Queen. His head began to hurt slightly. He looked at O'Neill who was holding his head and grimacing. He heard a grunt to his left and turned just as Todd staggered and reached out to steady himself. Sheppard had pushed them away from his mind to protect them.

Sheppard felt every single Wraith. Their lifeforce stood out as he connected through the Queen. Finally he connected to Scelus. He reached out further to make sure he had all of them. "Good-bye," he whispered to them all. Then through the Queen he commanded, "Expiros!"

Tristan watched Scelus and the Queen drop as he felt a surge of energy around him. Then he saw Sheppard drop to the ground.

Todd was there in an instant first, followed by Tristan. "Sheppard!" Tristan said has he felt for a pulse. "He is alive!"

O'Neill sighed in relief. "These two are not," Tristan said quietly, "Let's get back to the ship and we can tend to him there."

Todd lifted Sheppard up over his shoulders and they quickly trekked back to the Scabuer. "Lie him here," Tristan ordered, "Etienne return to Aracadia!"

"Is he alright?" O'Neill asked.

"I do not know. He is breathing normally and his heart beat is steady. His mind is just…quiet."

O'Neill hoped that is all it was. "How do we know it's finished. What did he do?"

Todd sat with his head back against the seat. He did not think it would have been possible, but he was certain all the Wraith were dead. He could not explain why, but he knew Sheppard had killed them. "The Queen of Queens communicates mentally to all other Queens and they in turn to their Wraith. I believe Sheppard simply ordered them to die. I don't know how he had the power to do this, but that is what I believe happened."

O'Neill looked down at Sheppard who simply appeared to be sleeping. "Get hold of Lorne on Arcadia then we'll know."

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"What happened?" Ronan said confused. His arm was still raised as he readied to fire at a Wraith who had been standing in front of him.

Teyla looked back at the Satedan. "I do not know. The Wraith in front of me just dropped as well."

Ronan reached down and felt for a pulse. "He's dead."

Teyla looked all around her suddenly realizing what happened. "John did it!" Ronan stood and followed her gaze. What other explanation could there be? Ronan remembered what Sheppard had done when he had been attacked and nearly died. With a thought he had killed those men and now thousands of Wraith lay dead. He thought of his family and his friends then raised his hand up in the air and cried out in victory.

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"His mind is intact but I do not know when he will wake." Sauriko stepped back away from Sheppard who lay quietly in his bed. He had not stirred since the return trip two days ago. Tristan had explained the events that had happened. Word had soon begun to spread across the galaxy that the Wraith were all dead. The story they put out was that the Atlanteans had spread a deadly virus that killed all of them.

O'Neill led "clean up duty" as he called it along with the Lorne and Ronan.

"We will watch over him but he will rest quietly and will wake when he is ready."

"No," Teyla said firmly, "I shall watch over him. There is much for you all to do. This galaxy is different now without the Wraith and he will need you to help him set things in order. I do not know when he will wake but I will be here when he does."

They looked at each other a moment then bowed before they quietly left.

Teyla sat on the bed next to Sheppard and grabbed his hand. "I am here John, waiting for you."

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Sheppard opened his eyes slowly. He had a dream the Wraith were all dead. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked himself.

"Four days," a quiet voice answered him. He turned quickly to his left and smiled. "Teyla. Why are you here? Did I almost die?"

She laughed and grabbed his hand. "No John. You did not. Don't you remember?" She helped him sit up. "The Wraith are gone."

Sheppard closed his eyes and searched his memories. "I can't remember except Scelus wasn't dead but he is now and so is the Queen of all the Queens. You said all the Wraith are gone. How…how?"

His memory returned at that moment. He remembered exactly how it happened at what it felt like when thousands of lives just ceased to exist. She watched his stricken face and he looked up at her. "Teyla…I." His eyes watered. "I felt them…all at once. I killed them all." He thought he had been prepared but knowing what he had to do then feeling it were two different things.

She sat next to him and he let her embrace him. His shoulders shook slightly as she knew he was shedding tears. "You did what you had to do. You saved millions and millions across the galaxy John. But only you have the burden of knowing what that moment was like. I'm sorry you had to do that on your own. You tried to save them…Todd is proof but you did what you had to do."

She pushed him away and held his cheek in her hand. "We are free John. Free to live our lives because of you."

He looked at her. "You don't know what I have become Teyla. I was…" without mercy he wanted to say but she did not let him finish.

"You were magnificent. You showed more mercy and compassion than anyone would have. I do know who you are John. Since the beginning I have known you. Nothing has changed. You have abilities that have been thrust upon you and with those gifts you have given the people of this galaxy the chance to live a life and grow as your own galaxy has done." She intercepted a tear before it fell down his cheek. He did not see his own heart only the darkness.

He smiled back at her. He was going to have to come to terms what he did to the Queen and the Wraith but Teyla was right. What other choice did he have? It was a simple plan that solidified in his mind after he the last Wraith rescue. If he connected to the Queen, he could connect to all of them. Encountering Scelus was unexpected and the Ancients pain and anger had made the experience worse.

"Would you still want to marry me…after all of this…after what I have done."

She smiled as she lay on his chest and could feel his heart beat. She closed her eyes content. " I have been waiting a long time John Sheppard to marry you. When you are ready I will be as well"

He squeezed her with his arm and held her closer. He took a shuddering breath in as he released the emotions of the last few days including relief, out all at once. She would help him recover. He needed time. They all did, but one thing was going to stay true. "My uncles are going to love another party."