Author's Note:
This is the final version of this story. After many months of inactivity, and attempts to begin revisions, I have finally begun and I hope that this time I can see the entire thing through to the end. I have decided that the ten chapters I have written so far make up "Asteroids", the first part of a two part story. When I have completed the re-writes, I will either begin a sequel to "Asteroids" that will conclude the story I begun, or simply continue on from this story.
"Asteroids" takes place after the season one episode "Pain", but before "Subversion".
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and leave feedback on this story. I really appreciate it and the feedback has been extremely valuable in my revisions. And the positive feedback makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :P
I hope you enjoy this story :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Universe, or any other aspect of the Stargate franchise, or the characters and plot elements I will be using in this story. This is written purely for fun and advancing my writing skills, not to make money or infringe copyright. This disclaimer applies to all current and future chapters.
(Revised)
Previously on SGU...
"This is what Destiny intended from the moment it entered the star system," - Doctor Nicholas Rush.
"We are going to survive, we are going to make it home," – Colonel Everett Young.
"I'm telling you, the ship came here for a reason!" – Lieutenant Matthew Scott.
"This ship is powered by the stars themselves," – Doctor Nicholas Rush.
"He and Young are bumping heads, yes. Not sure which camp is the better choice," – Camille Wray.
"We just pretend nothing happened? We need to be ready for the next encounter. For the sake of the crew," – Colonel Everett Young.
"For the sake of the crew," – Doctor Nicholas Rush.
"Many of the power conduits have been badly damaged. And firing the ship's weapon system without either repairing them or isolating the damaged areas would be prohibitively dangerous," – Doctor Nicholas Rush.
"Doctor Rush has just confirmed that our current FTL jump will take us between galaxies," – Colonel Everett Young.
"Welcome to our new galaxy," – Chloe Armstrong.
Prologue
Destiny: Gate room.
Beeps and clicks echoed though the expansive space, as Eli Wallace pressed a couple of buttons on the rusty Ancient console in front of him, bringing up a schematic of the huge ring shaped structure that towered above him at the far end of the magnificent gate room.
It was close to midnight. Most of the crew that currently inhabited the star ship Destiny were asleep, leaving the cold metal corridors whisper quiet and pitch dark. The word "ancient" correctly described the ship; the alien race who built it millennia ago were also known by the humans of Earth as the Ancients.
And now, millions of years after its initial launch, Eli sat alone in the huge gate room, muttering to himself in his characteristically sarcastic tone.
"Damn it, Rush," he said. "Why do you have to be such a slave driver?"
Eli looked up from the console, staring forward at the Destiny's Stargate. It was a dark silvery gray colour, with nine white triangular chevrons placed evenly apart around the entire ring. A small white ball, known as the gate bearing, hung from the ceiling, just touching the top of the gate. Dozens of elaborate symbols covered the entire perimeter of the halo-like contraption.
Gate addresses, which were needed to form a wormhole to another Stargate, required seven of these symbols in order to dial another planet. The first six chevrons represented points in space, like the faces of a cube, while the seventh represented the point of origin. An eighth chevron was required in order to dial another galaxy, and up until a few months ago, the purpose of the mythical ninth chevron had been unknown.
Eli's mind drifted back a couple of months, to the day when he had first stepped through the Stargate, arriving in the pitch dark he was standing in now.
After the surprise attack on Icarus Base, instead of dialling the Stargate to Earth, Doctor Nicholas Rush had dialled the nine chevron address in order to escape, against Colonel Everett Young's orders. After I solved the power requirement issues, Eli thought as his ego expanded a little. The eighty-plus escapees came through the Stargate to the Ancient ship Destiny, which was travelling in a far corner of the universe, billions of light-years away from Earth.
Destiny was locked on an unknown course following a number of unmanned ships that were programmed to gather data and resources. These seeder ships then manufactured Stargates and deposited them on suitable worlds in their path.
The survivors of the Icarus attack were now stranded on the ship. Millions of year's worth of damage and neglect meant that the ship was unable to gather up enough power to dial the Stargate back to Earth.
"Eli?"a thick Scottish accent said, interlaced with static.
"Speak of the Devil..." Eli muttered, rolling his eyes, as he picked up the black, military issue radio from the console.
"Eli, its Doctor Rush. How is-"
"Look Rush, I'm working as fast as I can! The Destiny's systems aren't exactly forthcoming when it comes to information about the Ancients biggest technological breakthrough," Eli said into the radio, frustration and exhaustion taking over.
"We just crossed the empty void between galaxies," Rush replied with annoyance in his voice. "The ship barely made it across, and the severe lack of power could have caused some serious damage."
"But we just recharged at a star-,"
"The power levels are still not at one hundred percent due to the damage the ship has sustained,"Rush stated matter-of-factly, reminding Eli of the tough times they had been through recently. "We need to make sure the gate can draw enough power to function, otherwise we will be unable to gather resources in order to survive."
"I know, I know..." Eli rubbed his eyes, trying to keep them open.
"Well then stop bloody complaining and get on with your work!"Rush yelled suddenly.
He's losing it again. Eli shrugged, a sign of resignation, and looked back down at the console. He pressed a couple of buttons, the console beeping in response. After a few moments, Doctor Rush changed his tone, as if he had calmed down a little. But really he is just masking his irritation, Eli thought to himself.
"Okay, Eli; work for another thirty minutes, then get some sleep."
"Thanks," Eli smiled, his spirits raised. "You should get some sleep as well, you know."
There was silence for a moment.
"I have work to do here in the control interface room."
Eli frowned; he sometimes forgot how much work Rush actually did, and how little sleep he got in return.
Most of the crew hated Rush for one reason or another; he was the one who had dialled the ninth chevron in the first place to satisfy his own curiosity. While the Machiavellian scientist had stranded them in a far corner of the universe, without him they would not have survived this long. Rush's knowledge of the Ancients was unmatched, and despite his problems with Colonel Young and the rest of the crew, they needed him, whether they liked it or not.
"Okay, but don't blame me when you collapse again," Eli said sarcastically. "I'll let you know if I find anything important."
"Thank you, Eli," Rush replied with a slight note of irritation.
Despite Eli's complaining, Rush was right; the Stargate was a miraculous piece of technology, and they needed to find out as much about it, as well as the Destiny, as possible if they were ever going to make it home.
Even the idea of the Stargate was mind-boggling at best; a round circle that could transport you to another planet via an interstellar wormhole? Despite it being several months since Rush had first knocked on his door, that idea still blew Eli's mind.
Eli's thoughts returned to the task at hand, and pressed a couple more buttons. Back to work, he thought with a reluctant sigh.
Or not.
The immense groan of the Destiny's engines was heard throughout the narrow corridors of the ship, and suddenly Eli's console lit up with data. The ship had dropped out of faster-than-light travel, or FTL, and had detected a Stargate on a planet nearby.
Eli's mind instantly filled with thoughts of exciting new alien planets. The Destiny had finished a mammoth journey between galaxies just a few days ago, and Eli was dying to see what wonders this new galaxy held. Maybe this one won't be filled with annoying blue aliens, disgusting worm-like creatures and the prospect of certain death every five minutes, Eli thought hopefully.
Boom.
There was suddenly a loud crash. Eli was thrown to the floor violently before he could interpret any of the data. He yelled, pain shooting up his arm as he stared up at the magnificent Stargate. Oh crap.
The chevrons on the gate lit up a brilliant white, and the entire ring began to spin clockwise. The gate stopped moving after a few seconds and the ball-like bearing lit up, locking the first symbol of the gate address. Then the entire gate began rotating again in the opposite direction, and the process was repeated for the second symbol.
Eli picked himself clumsily off the floor. His mind was racing; what the hell is going on? Are we under attack again? His stomach plummeted, as a deep fear spread throughout his body. He began to sweat. How could they have found us again? Eli fished inside his pockets for the radio, and held down the 'transmit' button.
"Uh, Rush? Colonel Young? Anyone on this channel?" He yelled into the radio, his eyes growing wider with shock as he looked at the data on the console.
There was more turbulence; Eli was nearly knocked down again, but he supported himself on the Ancient console. Sparks flew all over the gate room, as the Stargate continued to spin.
"We've got a problem!"