Chapter 1

"What in the hell?" Gen. O'neill thought to himself. Why the hell is a girl, in a wheelchair no less, doing sitting right outside our fence this morning? How did she get here? What does she want?

She was just sitting there with her hands visible, relaxed, but in a position to show she is not a physical threat. There was a pad of paper in her lap and a standard sharpie in her hand. She seemed to be unaware of all the forces marshalling themselves against her in the event she was a threat after all. On second thought, she must be aware of some aspect of it given how clearly she is 'shouting' Not A Threat with her body language and actions. She was a young woman, maybe 30, with short brown hair, fairly plump, wearing very dark Wrap around sunglasses that entirely covered her eyes. She was wearing a long green skirt and a black long sleeved t-shirt under a dark green fleece vest.

Slowly and carefully she started to write in large letters on the paper. After a moment she turned it around to show the well hidden camera directly what it said. "So do any of you know why I apparently need to be here?" On a new page she began, "I am no threat, you are welcome to inspect as needed" "My name is Alianora"

With a nod from O'neill soldiers began streaming out, all well armed, to surround her. She was working on a new page, "I can't speak, and I need the crutches to walk, please inspect then return/replace them." The soldiers began to inspect her with a variety of detection devices then she slowly got out of the chair, balancing by holding the armrests then the crutches to allow them to inspect the chair itself. "Does anyone here sign?" she awkwardly signed while bracing herself with her elbows.

Hours later in the conference room:

'Oy, interrogation by notes…This is getting ridiculous'. I held up my hand and wrote "I will swear that this will harm no-one, barring perhaps a mild headache, but I can significantly improve communications. Do I have permission?"

"To do what?" The only person who had introduced himself asked. He said his name was General Jack O'neill, and he is clearly the Man In Charge.

"It is difficult to explain, and many do not believe even after I explain."

"We'll take our chances. We have plenty of experience with the weird and unexplained."

"I can project my words telepathically, but only with permission. I will need to touch your hand to 'feel' your permission first." I wrote.

"Telepathy again?" Said O'neill. 'Again?' I thought.

"I'll do it sir", said a friendly looking elegant blond female officer. "My name is Samantha Carter."

"Hold on. You swear that this is your words only, not anything else? No bits of personality, no side effects?" The man in charge said.

"You have my word. I can only speak to you as long as I have permission, which you can easily revoke. Technically I can force communication in an emergency, however it is painful for both parties and Very draining. I give you my word I will only act in that way in an emergency situation where doing so will save lives." This note took longer to both write and read, and he shared it with Samantha. With a raised eyebrow, he left the choice to her.

"Yes sir." turning to face me, "You have my permission" and held out her hand.

I grasped her hand in mine. She had a very pleasant feel. Everyone in the room had good vibes for the most part. There was a lot of curiosity, a bit of consternation, and some wariness, but everyone had the feel of a person confident in their place in the world.

"Can you hear me now?"

"Very clearly, yes."

"So, starting from the beginning, who are you and why and how are you here?" Said O'neil, starting to sound a little snippy.

"As I said My name is Alianora, and I don't know why I am here. As for how, I took a bus as far as that would take me, and then came the rest of the way on my own steam." As I sent these words to Carter, she relayed them to the others in the room.

"How? The bus stop is miles from here, and, no offense, you don't seem like your typical hiker"

"No, but I have wheels, will travel. I am persistent. I am rather tired, hungry, and thirsty, but this is more important, though a glass of water would be much appreciated" O'neill nodded to one of the men at the end of the table who poured from a carafe behind him and handed the water to me. "Thanks" I both sent and signed, then I drank it gratefully. I handed the glass back carefully, "I know you want to run my prints."

O'neill shrugged. "Of course" and with another nod, someone took the glass off to do just that.

"I am here because I have felt a growing need to come here, and I could tell it was time. I realize it will probably sound crazy to you, but I have been dreaming persistently about some manner of beautiful city rising out of the ocean and calling to me. I have no idea what it means, or how that relates to here, but I felt the need to come here now, like the dream was singing to me. I have had reason to pay more attention to that sort of stimulus than I would ever have thought possible before everything happened. I used to be as skeptical as you could possibly want, then everything changed."

"Go on"

"Since I know you started to pull my info long before I came inside, you should have most of the hard facts by now, and I know there is a fairly extensive file on me floating around the alphabet agencies. Several years ago, I was abducted"

"Lemme guess, by aliens?" A very cynical expression had appeared on O'neill's face.

"No. Actually it was by a desperate and sadistic doctor or medical researcher of some sort." O'neill's face twitched like he was suppressing a smile. " He had a daughter with a terminal illness and he was desperate. There has been a lot of research into the concept of laying on hands type healing, but it has never been publicly proven. Apparently this man thought I had the Potential to become one. As I said, he was desperate. He thought he had figured out how to stimulate latent Talents in otherwise normal folks. Turns out he was right. I was held for nearly two years in his lab. I REALLY don't like to discuss that time. I have Very clear memories of it, and it…"

"Put it this way, the key was the combination of sensory deprivation and isolation, long term, mixed with pain stimulation add a dash of insane chemicals and with enough trials and some luck, you end up with someone like me. When you examine the files you will undoubtedly take from my computer, you will see my personal file. As I said, I really don't like to remember most of this. Anyway, apart from almost killing me, he managed to 'awaken' my 'gifts' and I was able to help his daughter. That is the only reason he let me go. I was delivered to a hospital and they kept me alive so I could begin to heal." It was odd 'speaking' to one person and hear her say my words in her voice. Slow too, but it sure as hell beat writing it all down.

"Somehow he managed to link my healing skill to electricity, to the point where if you 'plug me in' as it were, I can use that energy to heal others. And before you ask, we don't know why I apparently can't heal myself.

"We?"

"Yeah, we. I was unconscious for nearly a year after my rescue. I was severely injured. There is a full report in my file" Another nod sent a man scurrying to get the files. "Once I began to stabilize and got out of the ICU, people started to notice some weird things. No matter what type of monitor it was that was put on me, the batteries failed. Anyone who came into my room with a cell phone, ran out of charge. Also people near me began to feel better or heal faster than expected. You know how things like that can take on a life of their own? People began to react; first skeptically, then religiously for a while, which was causing a real problem for the hospital. There was a hospital administrator who was one of the ones involved in my case from the very beginning who was very sick. She used to just sit with me at times, as she had retired to an advisory position to deal with her illness, and she felt sorry for me. No one knew me, as they hadn't identified me yet. One day while she was holding my hand, half of the hospital lost power. After that her cancer, which had been terminal, was gone. So when the religious fervor meant the hospital's day to day functions were being disrupted, she volunteered to take legal custody of me and take me to her home on tribal land where we could be out of the way and control access more effectively. She felt she owed me a life debt, and this would be a way to pay it back. I was still unconscious for all of this time, and for a significant time after." The man who went for the files came back with folders for everyone.

"May I have more water while you look at the files?" This time Carter went to pour water for both of herself and for me. "Thank you"

I sat and drank as they read my file. It was crystal clear when they got to the pictures of the 'rescue' and the state I was in. Several began to look quite green.

"As you can see, I have ample reason to not invite those memories into my head without a Very Good reason. Anyway, Elina, the administrator, took me to her home in Wyoming, on the Cheyenne and Arapaho land. However, people still wanted to touch me or pray at me or whatever. And some of the people who were helping to take care of me weren't entirely healthy themselves. While working around me, they got better. On the other hand, they were having horrible issues with electricity and blackouts. At some point they tried an experiment. They put an extension cord in my hands and had someone who needed help approach me. I Healed him. And the next three people. Moreover, As I Healed them, someone noticed that some of the lacerations on my arm improved as they watched. So we moved to an abandoned building and turned it into a retreat/compound for wellness. Some medical professionals looking for another way to work, away from the sterile white walls and regimentation, joined in. People weren't asked to pay more than they could afford, and if they could not afford anything at all, they were asked to contribute time and work to care for the guests. I will go into more detail another time, but I was, though unconscious, still making a difference, and getting better myself. You can see from the pictures how much better my current state is than how I started. About eleven months in, I finally regained consciousness. With conscious awareness, I am better able to direct my skills, and with learning, I am more able to understand what will be most effective. Now I require far less energy to achieve the same goals. As well, I began, out of frustration if nothing else, to be able to communicate this way, and that improved over time. I don't know what more I may learn or become capable of, some of us think that the healing is a form of telekinesis and I might be able to develop that further in time."

After a decent pause, the tandem monologue continued, "I must say, you are taking this much better than I would have expected. In my experience with the military, limited though it may be, military folks are usually really into the 'if I can measure it and see it' and really have no patience for 'mystic gobbledygook' and other nasty terms that have been thrown at me. Then again, you may just be planning a padded room for me, I can't tell"

O'neill actually laughed at that. "Lemme put it this way, all of this, if true, doesn't rate more than a 5 out of 10 on our wierd-o-meter. So are we supposed to just take your word for it?

"I would be happy to demonstrate, or rather demonstrate further, as I think the telepathy part is amply proven at the moment." there were a few grins at that. "By the way, I can broadcast to more than one, but I need permissions to do that, that way Carter here won't have to repeat every word I say. Anyway in terms of a demonstration, does anyone have a scratch or cut? Sprained ankle?"

"I got a papercut on this file" One of the men at the far end of the table said, a little nervously.

"For a little thing like that, I don't need electricity anymore. If you would like me to fix it, I can. Come here." After looking to O'neill for permission, he approached. "I am going to put my hand over the cut. You may feel heat or a tingle, and it will flash brightly for a moment." I did as I had relayed to Carter. For a moment the cut seemed to radiate a little bit of light, and the cut was completely gone.

"That tickled" the soldier said.

"I am happy to help any who need it, and I can tell if someone is sick too. It's a combination of seeing it and feeling it from people. Different types of illness and injury are perceived differently"

"Speaking of seeing, why did you choose that direction to face your signs?" This time it was Carter who asked.

"Ah, that. I could tell you had a camera or sensor of some type there. I can see energy currents. It can be very overwhelming. It also makes it very difficult for me to perceive color correctly as there are so many overlays of information now that are all perceived in something like color, and I can't separate them anymore. Hence the glasses. We have not been able to determine what he did to my eyes, but I now see very differently than I used to. As you see in the file, my eyelids had been sealed shut, apparently with superglue, around some unknown liquid. If you will dim the lights significantly, I can show you. Otherwise, artificial light, fluorescent in particular is really uncomfortable for me." The man whose cut I fixed turned off most of the lights. I took off my glasses. There were some of the normal exclamations of surprise, but not as many as normal. I am really starting to get curious about these people in particular, not just why here and now. My eyes are creepy. Ask anyone. They are all black. The entire eyeball is black. "As far as anyone can tell, the structure is completely different from standard human as I no longer have iris or pupil, nor does it match any known creature. No one knows what that means for me or the future, but my eyes are decidedly odd" I put my glasses back on and the lights came back up to normal.

"Would you mind if we had our medical section take a look at you? We have some tools that others don't." O'neil asked.

"I don't mind, as long as I won't end up a lab rat again. I will NOT let that happen again."

"I understand. Only with your permission. The doc will want to run several scans, maybe draw some blood. Anything else, and he'll ask first, and he will take no for an answer. We need to bring the doc in anyway to test this healing thing. It may help that like us, he is used to the weird."

"That sounds like a plan. So what are you going to do with me? If nothing else, may I please have something to eat soon? I traveled about 12 miles on foot, so to speak, today, most of it hills, and I am exhausted and starving."

"Honestly, I'm not sure. For now, we will leave a guard on you and get you some food and some rest. We can meet with the doc after dinner. Jamison, get her a tray from the mess, then you and Smith stay with her. There is a washroom through that door there," he pointed to the back of the room " and Jamison will be back with food shortly. Feel free to nap on the couch while we figure out accommodations for you."

"Thank you very much. One thing, please don't startle me awake by touching me. I …..I react badly. Please make a noise and call my name." I turned to Smith "I don't know how to read rank from a uniform, but may I have permission to address you directly?" Samantha was still relaying my comments.

"I'm a Sergeant, so is Jamison, and you have my permission." As before he offered me his hand and I grasped it."

"Thank you sergeant Smith"

"You're welcome. Will you need any help with the washroom? I can call for female personnel if you do."

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you though." I hobbled my way over using crutches and the braces I always wear.

Just as I came back into the room, Sgt. Jamison came in with a tray. Everyone but Smith had left. I turned to Smith and asked him to ask Jamison for permission to address him directly, which he granted. "Thank you for bringing me some food. I am starving!" I sent with a smile. "I think I'm even hungry enough to brave Army food" That got a laugh from them both.

"We're Air Force, so it's not that bad." I started eating while he was responding, or rather I started inhaling my food. "You're right. Not bad at all."

"There's no way you actually tasted any of that" Jamison quipped with a laugh. "Do you need any more?"

"Not right now, but if I could have more later I think I would like that. I think I ought to take a nap or at least rest for now. If I fall asleep for real, please, don't touch me awake. Make a noise or call my name. I don't want to hurt someone because I am still hair triggered. It is literally better to throw water on me that to touch me awake"

Though they both sort of smirked at the idea that I could hurt them, Jamison said "Don't worry, we understand." His eyes showed that he meant what he said. There was some old sadness lurking there "You have been through hell by anyone's definition. It says a lot about you that you are still willing to face the world and do what you can to help others."

"Thanks. It wasn't much over two years ago, and I was unconscious for the first year. I still have some very dark moments. If I zone out badly, which hasn't happened in a while, but I really don't like medical facilities, for obvious reasons, anyway, if I zone badly, there are smelling salts in my kit, wherever it is. Also, wafting chocolate or mint under my nose works too. DON'T use coffee. Please. The mad scientist always had coffee and a cigarette. The combo is still one of my triggers."

"I'll let people know. Enjoy your nap." I think I was asleep even before I was flat. I didn't even notice Jamison put the blanket over me.

"So what do you think?" O'neil addressed the rest of the room. The interviewers from the conference room were now sitting, lounging, and pacing around O'neill's office.

"She is formidable. Her heart must be that of a warrior to have survived those wounds." Teal'c said with his typical stoic demeanor. "If she is capable of what she claims, she would be extremely valuable"

"I can't wait to see if she can do all she claims. There are numerous instances throughout history of individuals with special Talents, and given our experiences with myth and legend, I think we need to at least give this some credence. Jackson added.

"I am more concerned with the 'rising city'. I know what I thought of when she said that, and add to that the 'dream singing to her' and you know how people with the Ancient's gene describe interacting with the city. Do you think it's possible that the city is calling her from the pegasus galaxy?" Carter interjected. "I think she needs to stay here until we have more answers, or at least fewer questions. Also that will allow us some time to do some more research on this retreat in Wyoming."

"I already have people on that" O'neill replied. "I also have folks making inquiries with every possible agency who had a hand in this. I don't like the fact that her mad scientist was never caught and might be trying this again with other people. And that kind of getaway usually requires significant backing."

"The fact that they could alter the structure of her eyes really concerns me. That is a significant physical alteration which points to a far more sophisticated medical knowledge base than we have access to, or alien technology."

"Yeah, it makes it seem like they used her as a two-for-one guinea pig." O'neill replied. He pulled up the camera in the room and saw she was sleeping deeply on the couch. He rewound the tape to the time when his party left the room and played it for the team.

"There is something about her that inspires trust and tenderness, that almost broken but still standing or rooting for the underdog quality. I have never seen Jamison warm to someone that fast, have you?" Jackson asked

"Do you think she is manipulating him?" Teal'c asked.

"No, I think she is just incredibly vulnerable and still putting on a strong face. It doesn't hurt that she looks like she needs protecting. Also Jamison has been in unfriendly custody and knows all about what it can do to you, even without torture. That's why I assigned him. You heard her, she still has triggers. There is no doubt she struggles with PTSD. Anyone would in her circumstances. The question is whether he broke her or just bent her. Jamison is there as much to protect her as to defend us. I think we should see the doc in the morning and let her sleep for now. She looks like she needs it."