The Chosen One
AliZoe
AliZoe © 2014
Prologue
The Ominous Seed
Atlantis, the great city of the people who created the magnificent and majestic Stargates. They roamed from planet to planet in the Pegasus Galaxy, leaving behind a seed of their people to grow and develop, entrusting one of their beloved Stargates with the settlements. To many of their seedlings, they were the great ancestors.
Today was one of those days that I was anticipating. I was finally old enough to see the third settlement begin rebuilding their home on what seemed like a foreboding planet. This planet was some considerable distance from Atlantis, almost on the other side of the galaxy. The first settlement lived on for fifty years without any reports of abnormality. Disappearances erupted without warning until there was none left. The Council at that time deduced that there was some kind of toxin on the planet that killed them.
The second settlement ended the same way, except there were no toxins on the celestial body to be found. It was all mysterious but fascinating to me. We werenʼt intimidated by the challenge. We were attempting for the third time to settle this planet despite the inauspiciousness of the last two endeavors.
The ride to the planet seemed to go by so fast due to my excitement. It looked so beautiful from this view, I could hardly contain myself. The Stargate lay dormant just out of orbit of the planet. My parents accompanied me to one of the shuttles along with a group of other settlers. Once we reached the surface, I quickly ran to the opening of the vessel. "Be careful, my dear," my father warned with a smile. He knew about my apprehension. I looked back at him and nodded my head in obedience.
Once the door opened, I peeked outside to look around. The beautiful trees were tall and green with beautiful pearly, white bark. Seeing no danger, we all exited the craft. We walked a ways into the trees until we found another clearing. I knew this was where we would plant the seeds to the people who would live here. I watched as the ceremony began.
I found myself distracted by some rustling in the trees. I turned and walked a little bit closer to the sound. The noise moved and I saw more foliage being pushed out of place. Being headstrong, I chased after it until I ran into another clearing. I ran through the bushes into the open field where the yellowed grass reached my waist in length. I found a man there a distance ahead with his back towards me. His skin was pale and he had a large black tattoo on his bare back. It resembled sword like wings as it stretched across most of his back. His hair was long and black and was pulled into a straight half ponytail. I was caught off guard as he stood there motionless. "Are you from the second settlement?" I asked timidly.
There was no response. Apparitions began appearing all around me in circles, going too fast for me to make out what they were. My ten year old self began to whimper and shake out of fear. "Please sir! Help me! Iʼm scared!"
He turned his head slightly in my direction, without showing his face. What sounded like a loud growl, he roared, "RUN!" I flinched at the outburst and immediately ran back the way I came. The ghost-like images ceased to follow me as I found my parents and the others again. The ceremony was almost over. My mother quickly came over to me and embraced me.
"Where were you? I was worried sick!"
"I saw something and got scared! Iʼm sorry!" I cried into my mother's shoulder.
"Itʼs alright, my dear. Shhh...everythingʼs going to be fine. Stay with me and finish watching. Youʼre safe now. Nothing is going to happen to you." I nodded my head and clutched onto the hem of her shirt. She glanced up at my father in worry. He inclined his head with a frown, ignoring her. I turned and watched the establishment of the third settlement in awe, almost forgetting completely what I had just experienced.