PART ONE

The Ancestors had predicted their arrival although they were later than expected. As they wandered the ruins, all that was left of a once great and proud civilisation, they were unaware that they were being watched.

'There's nothing here,' Colonel John Sheppard told McKay as he crouched down to tie his bootlace. 'We should get back.'

'I don't understand it,' Rodney shook the scanner, trying to make it show him what he wanted to see. 'When we first scanned the planet there was definitely a power source here, now it's gone completely.'

'Perhaps your equipment is faulty, Dr McKay,' Teyla suggested, peering over his shoulder. 'Colonel Sheppard is right, we should go back. It is risky to spend too much time on a planet that holds nothing of interest.'

'Pack it up Rodney, we're heading out of here in five minutes,' John told him decisively. 'I want to get back to the Stargate before we lose the light.'

Moving silently to avoid detection, the watcher followed them back to the great ring. It had been a great shock to see it erupt abruptly into life, but the watcher knew that this was just the first step and prepared for what was to come. Now that time had arrived and as the ring burst once more into life, the watcher followed the strangers through the circle of standing water.

As the 'gate shut down behind them, John's team were faced with a row of weapons aimed in their direction.

'What the…' John snapped, unable to understand at first until Teyla drew his attention to what had caused the alert. 'Who are you and where the hell did you come from?' John turned to the figure that was standing a few feet behind them, gazing nervously around the room.

'I am Laranne,' the stranger's voice shook as she spoke. 'I bring to you the Key of Life.' She held out the box she was carrying, offering it to John who drew away from her and pulled out his own gun.

'Put the box down slowly,' John told her, gripping the gun tighter when she did not do so.

'John,' Teyla laid a hand on his arm, moving between him and the girl. 'I do not believe we are in danger. My name is Teyla,' she smiled at the newcomer. 'You appear unwell.'

'I am a little tired,' the girl admitted, not prepared to tell a lie but unwilling to appear weak.

Dr Beckett was already making his way toward them, Laranne watching his arrival warily before offering him the box. Nervously Carson took the offering, nearly dropping it when it abruptly opened to reveal a ZPM lying within.

'Er…thank you. Rodney, you'd better take this,' Carson thrust the box into McKay's reluctant hands.

'Why me? It might blow up – there's got to be something wrong with it otherwise we would have detected it. Besides, you're the one she gave it to.'

'Just take the damn' thing,' John told him as he kept his eyes on the group in front of the 'gate. 'What's going on Beckett?'

'We need to get her to the infirmary,' Carson responded tersely. 'It's standard procedure for all new arrivals to be checked out in the infirmary,' he added to Laranne when she hesitated.

'You are a healer?' Laranne questioned cautiously.

'I'm a doctor,' Carson replied.

'Yes, he is a healer,' Teyla added. 'This is Dr Beckett.'

'Then I must go with you,' Laranne agreed, allowing Carson to lead her away, followed closely by Teyla and Sheppard.

Once they had left, Elizabeth turned to Dr McKay. 'Rodney, I want you and Dr Zelenka to check out that ZPM.' McKay looked suspiciously at the box he was holding. 'I'm inclined to agree with Teyla, that Laranne has brought this in good faith, but it is possible that she is being used by someone else. Let me know as soon as you've got anything.'

'But…but…' Rodney tried to protest, receiving only a glance that told him it was useless to argue, turning instead to seek Dr Zelenka, his mind already running over the myriad of tests they would have to carry out and what the new ZPM could mean for the City.

'How is she?' Elizabeth asked as she arrived in the infirmary. Dr Beckett looked up and came over to speak to her.

'She passed out as soon as we got her here,' Carson told Elizabeth. 'She's suffering from exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition which can all soon be put right.'

'Is there anything we need to worry about?' Elizabeth asked him.

'I don't think so, but there are some unusual brainwave patterns that I'd like to investigate further.'

'When can I speak to her?'

'I'll let you know when she wakes up and you can talk to her for a short time, but you'll have to leave anything else until she's had time to recover.'

'Dr Beckett, I think she's waking up now,' John called from where he was standing, keeping a watchful eye on the patient. Within moments, Laranne was sitting upright, tugging at the IV line in her arm having already dislodged the other wires attached to her. Finding the IV line too difficult to move, she leapt off the bed and backed away, keeping the bed between herself and John while looking around her nervously.

'Laranne, it's alright, we won't harm you,' Teyla spoke calmly and soothingly. 'We want to help you.'

'He would not take the Key,' Laranne hissed, pointing at John. 'He is not to be trusted.'

'I'm sorry about that,' John tried to make amends. 'You just took me by surprise.' He moved forward, hand extended in apology, but this only caused Laranne to wrench violently once more at the IV line, this time succeeding in freeing herself, ignoring the blood leaking out from where the line had been, her body tense.

'John, back off now,' Elizabeth said sharply. 'Carson, you'd better try to calm her down. Everyone else, out.'

'Laranne,' Carson spoke nervously as soon as the room was clear, then repeated her name more firmly. 'Laranne, I want you to calm down and let me help you.'

Laranne looked at him doubtfully for a few moments, then Carson could see her relax a little and made no protest as he helped her back on to the bed and begin to patch her up, explaining everything as he did so.

'Do you think you could talk to Dr Weir for a few minutes? She's our leader here,' Carson asked as he finished what he was doing.

'Dr Weir is also a healer?' Laranne asked curiously.

'No. Where we come from doctor can also mean you're very knowledgeable about a particular subject.'

'I see. It sounds complicated.'

'I suppose it is.' Carson was relieved that his patient seemed to be more relaxed. 'Will you see Dr Weir?'

'I will,' she bit her lip hesitantly. 'Will I have to see that other one?'

'Colonel Sheppard? Not if you don't want to. What about Teyla?' Laranne nodded acceptance of this and watched as they entered the room while John tried to argue his way past Carson.

'How are you feeling?' Elizabeth asked.

'Dr Beckett tells me I will recover quickly,' Laranne replied, studying Elizabeth carefully and liking what she saw.

'Can you tell us about yourself?'

'I am the last of my people and the last of The Chosen,' Laranne told her. 'Three summers ago the remainder of my kinsfolk were no longer able to stay and departed. My purpose was to await the arrival of the strangers from another world and to pass on the Key of Life as ordained by the forefathers.'

'You have been alone for so long?' Teyla said, full of sympathy for her.

'You arrived later than we thought. We knew you would come when the first of the kinsfolk departed,' Laranne continued. 'I planted the crops and harvested them but this summer there were no rains so the harvest failed and the rivers dried up.'

'Didn't you think about following your people?' Elizabeth asked.

'I was of The Chosen. My only task was to protect the Key until you came, how could I abandon my duty, my life's work?'

'I understand,' Teyla acknowledged. 'Where did your people go? Can we help you find them?'

'I was The Chosen. The Chosen are different from the others and cannot follow where they have gone. I have known I would be separated from my people forever since the day of first departure.'

'I'm sorry but that's going to have to do for now,' Carson stepped in, checking Laranne's pulse and readings as he did so. 'Laranne needs to get some rest, you'll have to come back tomorrow.'

'Is there something wrong?' Carson asked once the others had left, watching as Laranne hugged her blanket closer to her. 'Aren't you warm enough?'

'It is a little cooler here than I am used to,' Laranne admitted reluctantly. It was not in the nature of her people to complain about such a small matter, particularly to a healer, but it also went against everything she had been taught to tell a lie.

'Why didn't you say something before? Here,' Carson grabbed another couple of blankets, wrapping one around Laranne and laying the other over her. 'Is that better? If you need anything else just ask, there's always someone on duty who'll be able to help. Now, you need to get some rest.'

To be continued…

The Stargate, Atlantis, the characters, stories and anything else that is seen in the show belong to the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author