EPILOGUE

Hammond, sitting behind his desk, looked pleased enough. He listened to the report and then closed the folder in front of him, “well I’m just glad Cassandra is safe Major, Doctor.”

Doctor Frazier did not look so happy, “that’s a relative term.”

Sam had to say it again, “Janet I know how you feel but you knew this was going to happen one day.”

Janet was not satisfied, “Samantha you’ve been playing that same tune since they spilled the beans. How could she run off and.. and….”

The General was not really sure what to say about that little part of this episode, “under the circumstances Doctor. I mean what else can we do? Have you considered that just maybe Cassie and Little Jack are well off with each other?”

Then George thought about who Little Jack realy was and decided otherwise, “well everyone is safe at least.”

That much was true and Sam was thankful. There was only one remaining nagging issue, “we still don’t know who was behind all this. I mean it’s obvious Benedict was just a hired thug.”

“He’ll turn up Major. Then we‘ll find out,” replied the General. “Till then it’s not our problem any more.” That made Hammond think, “speaking of which. Where is Colonel O’Niell? I would have expected him to be making this report.”

Sam shifted in her seat, hesitated, then finally answered, “um, he’s in the gate room sir. He’s showing our two, um, guests what it was they wanted to see.”

Hammond shook his head, “I’m not sure that was such a good idea.”

“Well sir,” Sam could only say, “under the circumstances. I mean they’ve both got security clearances and this looks like the only way to keep this Mulder guy from going off half cocked.”

After a deep breath, and a look towards the open door, the briefing room, and to the gate room beyond, Hammond regretfully admitted, “if you think so Major.”

________________________


The words were not there. Mulder stepped up on the metal ramp that led to the giant ring. He marveled at the shimmering blue pool of light that formed in the circle. Fox looked back to Skully who seemed equally impressed. His face was that of a little boy on Christmas morning. He stepped even closer to the light. It was everything he had been looking for his entire life!

Jack was not so impressed as he followed the FBI agent up the ramp. With hands in pockets he stood next to Mulder and watched the Agent examine the event horizon of the wormhole, “neat isn’t it?”

Once again Mulder found himself speechless. “I.. I can’t think of anything to say.”

With a shrug, “that’s ok Agent Mulder. When you get back, tell us all about it.”

 “Think about it,” Mulder said as he poked the light that looked like a pool of water, “another planet, alien life forms. The answers to the universe are through this thing.” His face was unusually expressive, “we can finally answer the one and only question. Why?”

Jack patted him on the back and left his hand resting on Mulder’s shoulder, “well, let me know when you get back.” Jack pushed him through. The wormhole had already disconnected as Jack reached the bottom of the ramp.

Skully was still in a bit of shock but, now, she felt a twinge of concern, “where did you guys send him? He can get back? Right?”

Daniel adjusted his glasses and nodded, “oh we sent him to where he always wanted to go.”

Jack sat down at the bottom of the ramp, “Zeta Reticuli.”

Skully was speechless and mainly because, now, she was not sure how she was ever going to tolerate Mulder when he got back. He was on enough of a high horse when he had no proof. Now he had all he would ever need! She crossed her arms and looked down. With a heavy sigh, and half hoping to hear a certain answer, she asked, “he can get back, right?”

 “Um,” Daniel stumbled with his words, “yeah.” He looked to Jack and they both nodded to each other. Daniel added, “we briefed him on the dial home device.”

Jack smiled, “yeah, I’m sure he can get back just fine. Not a problem. Easy as pie. He’ll be back.” As Jack got up and walked towards the hall he turned and added, “eventually.”

______________________________

The golden sun was rising over the tall fields of alien grass. Everything here was so golden! As Mulder strolled down the tiles he wondered if he had not just walked through the Gates of Saint Peter! He stopped and fell to his knees and just took it all in! An alien planet! It was mystical! It was grand!

The rustling in the tall grass came to his attention. Something was approaching him. Mulder gasped, wondering, was he about to meet the Grays? The Nords? Maybe even, dare he ask, God? 

 When they appeared the first thing he noted was how short they were. Elves? Gnomes? They looked like little people dressed in funny hats and robes. They quickly surrounded Mulder and were going on and on with their high pitched chatter. Was this the answer to the universe? As the ceaseless chatter kept going Mulder discovered that he no longer cared. The answer to the universe seemed to be annoying. He asked the one question he now needed to know, “can anybody tell me how to get back to the Stargate?”

This question set off a rumble that grew into a song. Soon that grew into dancing as the short people started forming lines and doing the rumba while they sang, “just follow the, follow the, follow the, follow the, follow the yellow brick road!”

The End