Chapter 1
It had been a few weeks since Elizabeth Weir had been off world with Major Sheppard but this was an opportunity she couldn't resist. After going steadily through the Ancients extensive database of gate addresses the MALP had uncovered something very interesting, to her anyway. The gate was located inside a large structure constructed with the same materials as Atlantis, its' walls seemed to be covered in Ancient symbols which intrigued her further. She had ordered an immediate expedition to include herself and a few others to help translate the ancient text. This was their opportunity to learn more about the Ancient's way of life, their civilisation on other planets and, as Rodney kept reminding her, the opportunity to find another ZPM.
The telemetry had shown the immediate vicinity to be dark, what little light there was had been seeping through the structure from its entrance. This all changed as soon as they arrived through the gate. Just like those first few minutes on Atlantis everything seemed to power itself up at their presence and that of the ATA gene. There was an eerie stillness but she pushed it to the back of her mind, she expected it after almost ten thousand years of dereliction. What she didn't expect was what was found behind one of the pillars.
A girl, no older than sixteen, with light brown curly hair, covered in a large blanket. As Elizabeth bent down to take a closer look the girls eyes began to flicker. She was obviously stirring from her sleep, probably provoked by the intensity of the light which now filled the room. Major Sheppard had been keeping a close eye on the situation and Pulled Elizabeth away.
"John, she's just a child. What can she do?" she said shocked by his reaction to the girls waking.
"We don't know that's the point." At this the girl's eyes opened completely. Rubbing the sleep from the corners of her eyes and squirming from beneath the blanket she spoke. "Aymenya."
Rodney suddenly took an interest in the situation. "That was Ancient, she spoke Ancient"
"Yes Rodney we gathered that." was the snide remark from John. "Are you going to tell us what it means?" But the answer that followed wasn't from who he expected.
"Mother," Elizabeth sighed. "Aymenya means mother." John looked at Rodney as he nodded his head in confirmation. "I wonder if she speaks English." Elizabeth was in awe of the frail girl now trying to make her way to her feet without stumbling.
"And if I do?" came the reply, almost yawning as she said it.
The three gazed at each other in amazement, they had come here looking for information and a ZPM but instead had found a girl who could speak both Ancient and English. Their job had just become a little easier. After some very awkward moments of silence Elizabeth thought it best to introduce themselves. "I'm sorry," she said "I'm – we're – being rude. I'm Elizabeth Weir, this," she pointed at John. "Is Major John Sheppard and-" she was interrupted.
"I am Dr Rodney McKay, nice to meet you!" He held out his hand for her to shake it but the girl stared from his hand, to him to Elizabeth as if to say 'What do I do with that?'
"I'm Aylanna." Elizabeth, anticipating Rodney's urgency to ask a multitude of questions, took Aylanna's hand in hers and guided her into the better light.
It was now apparent that the girl was malnourished, frail and shivering. Underneath their military uniforms they couldn't feel the cold breeze that ran through the building but Aylanna was only wearing a cotton tunic and pants. John had noticed the concern for the girl on Elizabeth's face and proceeded to bring the blanket to wrap around Aylanna's shoulders. When this was done Elizabeth saw it fit to ask her a few questions.
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you call me mother?" The girl rushed apologetically to get her words out.
"I'm sorry … I didn't mean to, it's just" she welled up and John stepped in.
"It's just what?" He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder accompanied by his charming smile.
"It's just… you look so much like her and I've… I've… I've been dreaming about her a lot lately. I miss her so much and I guess I just thought you might be her. But you can't be."
Elizabeth was shocked and she looked at John in confusion. She had to find out more. "Why's that?" There was a long silence and just as she decided she'd pushed it too far Aylanna spoke.
"She died about eight years ago… And before you ask, she was trying to protect me from the Wraith" she sighed, looked down at her feet and shuffled a little. "My father died just before that trying to save us both. I've been alone ever since." Aylanna's eyes looked distant, obviously remembering her family as seconds later she wore an infectious smile that lit up her face. She continued. "I'd been running away, avoiding the Wraith for seven years until a year ago I found this place. They haven't found me yet."
Elizabeth had been so captivated by the story that she hadn't noticed Rodney and the others frantically working around them. John had manoeuvred himself to stand beside her. They both knew she wouldn't be safe here for much longer and she looked in no condition to be running away again. They gazed at each other in an 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking?' way. It was Elizabeth who asked.
"Aylanna, would you like to come and stay with us on Atlantis?"
"The city of the Ancients?"
"Yes" Elizabeth nodded "We live there now. How'd you know..?"
"I've heard stories from my mother. She said it was always a happy and safe place for the Ancients until the Wraith. Will I be safe there?"
"Safer than you are here," John butted in. "I'm afraid we've pissed off the Wraith and they're searching for us."
"Atlantis has defence systems," Elizabeth explained, "That can hold them off. If you stay here you're at risk." Aylanna nodded, she didn't need much convincing.
Rodney walked over looking very frustrated. "You say you've been here for a year now."
"Yes." Aylanna was confused by Rodney and his question. "Why?"
"Do you know of any energy device which could be here?"
"Yes, there is one that generates the shield around this building. Two of the crystals do not glow anymore but I think the others are still ok."
"Others?" Rodney looked like a kid in a candy store.
"Yes, there are two more." Aylanna looked at Rodney like 'shouldn't that be obvious'
"Can you show me where?" Aylanna nodded and started walking.
John, Rodney and Elizabeth all followed her down the twisting corridors. They came to a large room that was identical to the power room in Atlantis. Surely enough there were two working ZPMs in the console in the middle. Rodney removed them carefully and placed the in the two containers at his feet. When this was done Aylanna guided them back through the corridors to the gate room.
The scientists had managed to translate only a small portion of the text so Elizabeth and Rodney joined them in their efforts whilst John stood with Aylanna. After some awkward silence she started up a conversation. "So why are you not helping?" she gave him an inquisitive look.
"I'm more of a numbers man. Give me an algebraic equation any day but letters and language. It's just too confusing." Hearing the jokiness of his tone she smirked.
"If they wanted to know what it says why didn't they just ask?" Rodney's ears perked up and as he turned to face them his face was lit up like a Christmas tree.
"You… You… You know what it says?"
"I've been here a year, what did you think I was doing all that time? Sleeping?" John laughed. He found Aylanna's tone towards Rodney amusing. "Admittedly it took me a week to do the whole room and write it down but-" Rodney had a thing for interrupting.
"You wrote it down?"
"Yes Rodney I wrote it down!" she took a deep breath. "And do you have to repeat everything I say it's getting annoying!" At that point John knew that he and this girl were going to get on like a house on fire. Rodney was stuck for words and John knew that, for Rodney, this was a very odd occurrence.
Aylanna unfolded the blanket wrapped around her, inside was sewn a pocket which was bursting with a kin of parchment. She flashed it at Rodney and then said "I'll give it to you later, there's something wrong!" Elizabeth, who had been listening intently, whipped around. She could see the panic in Aylanna's face and knew it could only be one thing. 'Wraith!' She knew what to do. "Rodney, dial Atlantis and get the rest of you out of here!" He looked a little shocked and confused. "Now Rodney, that's an order!" and he eventually started dialling.
The event horizon lit the now dimming room with a blue light; the scientists packed up their things and headed out. Rodney had just stepped through with his precious ZPMs when Aylanna froze. "They're inside," she looked to John and Elizabeth. "They know I'm here."
"If they're close we can't get through the gate without them following or getting the address to Atlantis." Elizabeth sounded panicked. John went into military mode, pushing Elizabeth and Aylanna as far back from the door a possible.
"How many?" he whispered. Aylanna closed her eyes, focused and try to sense them. A few seconds later came her reply.
"No more than three, two have stunners. They are alone on this planet so no more will come. They're hungry, ravenous even." Now Elizabeth and John were worried. "I'm sorry. I had a feeling this would happen as soon as the shield went down." They were confused but the sadness in her eyes spoke volumes to them.
The familiar footsteps grew ever closer and Johns hand firmly gripped his P90 in anticipation. Elizabeth had a 9mm but knew it wouldn't hold off two Wraith. The three were silent waiting in the shadows of the room waiting for their enemy to turn the corner.
