Saber's Edge Chapter One: A New Life

Hello, welcome to this new story that I am writing about Stargate Atlantis. It revolves around the entry of one Omlear "Lee" Nerid into the lives of the SGA crew. I hope you enjoy it and please let me know what you think.

I am Omlear Nerid, or Lee as I like to be called. I had always been the solitary type, even before I was taken aboard the Traveler ship with Larrin. I had spent my whole life on the planet Ganeth, and my childhood from the time I was seven years old surrounded by the kind, but distant Rakshuni priestesses. My only goal in life used to be to advance in rank and favor with the goddess Rakshun, but now I feel kind of resigned to the fact that I am now separated from all that I have ever known and among people who frankly couldn't give a damn about what I do; however, as much as I might miss my sisters and the Abbottess, I have no choice but to acknowledge that my exile was, all aspects considered, my own fault. I had always been one to tread the line between the Laws of Rakshun and my own judgment, but this time, I had definitely gone too far. The only thing I suppose I can be grateful for is that I am allowed to keep the weapons of my rank that I had spent the last twenty-eight years of my life struggling to earn. I was slightly depressed to think about the fact that the priesthood is all that I have known since I was seven. Now, at thirty-six, I am someplace in space, in an unfamiliar environment, and the only thing I can think about is that I really need to find something to do before I go stir crazy. Meditation worked for the first six hours, but going into my ninth hour of waiting, I am so desperate, I would gladly sift sand to alleviate my boredom.

Larrin:

I thought about what to do with my new little charity case. To the Travelers who saw her come onboard, Omlear Nerid was a distant and reserved woman. Tall, dark, and most decidedly dangerous. She had been in the order of Rakshun, a cult everyone knew was devoted to a bloodthirsty goddess who demanded the lives of men to appease her. They had all seen or heard how, in the middle of the night, she was escorted aboard the ship by me, clad in a habit that marked her as third in power, or terra, within the cult's hierarchy and carrying the saber and dagger of that office. As far as they were concerned, she was someone to not only avoid, but someone who was not to be trusted. I see her as an exile that needs to be protected and given a new sense of purpose. I had been commissioned by the Abbotess of the Order of Rakshun to spirit Lee off-world, as the thirty-six year old woman had apparently done something to earn the ire of the second-in- command of her cult. The Abbotess appeared to be fond of her third-in-command, as she had paid me good money from the cult's coffers to get Lee safely away from Ganeth.

"Omlear is a strong warrior, but her name and reputation have been dishonored. I have allowed her to keep the saber and dagger of her rank, but as soon as she leaves the planet, she is to be an exile. She cannot return, and you cannot allow her to dwell upon her life here. Distract her, teach her, use her, it does not concern me…all I care about is that Rakshuni terra Omlear Nerid is to be erased and replaced with a new identity and a new purpose under your command." The words of the Abottess had struck something within me and so I agreed to the deal, leaving the planet considerably wealthier than I had been when I arrived and with an additional crew member. The only problem that I could see was what to do with my new subordinate. Well, I suppose I could do that, I thought as I finalized what I would do with Lee as I made my way to where the exile was waiting.

Lee:

My thoughts were interrupted by Larrin's return. Well it is about time, I thought. I've been waiting in this room for over nine hours.

"I have decided to make you a member of my crew", declared Larrin, much to my surprise. "The Abbottess told me that you were a skilled warrior, and I could use someone like you as muscle for my negotiations and such. Plus, you are female, so you can go places that men like Silus and Nevik would not be welcome. So, what do you think?"

I was dumbstruck, and the only thing I could do was stare at the Commander.

"I need to know what you can do…", prompted Larrin.

"Well, due to my training as a priestess, I can read and write my language and the language of the Ancestors. I know the old stories and laws of my people, and I can fight hand-to-hand as well as with my saber and dagger. I can also tell a truth from a lie, and I know how to act as an escort because that was among my duties."

Larrin nodded with satisfaction. "That is an excellent start. I shall also see to it that you are trained to use a particle magnum, the standard energy weapon that I and my people use. You shall also require basic knowledge about my peoples' culture and the systems of the ship."

The only reply that I could muster to that statement was a bow in the style of my people back on Ganeth and reply in a weak voice "Yes Commander". As Larrin turned and activated the door's motion sensor to leave the room, she motioned for me to fall in behind her, a role that would soon become second nature to me in the next two years that I would be on her ship.

Thanks so much for reading this first chapter. Here is a little bit of info that might help you place the timing of this story: it occurs sometime after 2008 and the Travelers now have a home planet that is rebuilt. Larrin just chooses to run around in her ship for trading, getting supplies for her people on the planet, and Wraith scouting. In later chapters, I'll explain the nature of Omlear's fighting style, as I'm sure y'all were wondering about the dagger and saber thing.