A/N1: Here is the next chapter. I'm sorry for the long delay but it has been crazily busy. The chapter is full of unexpected turns.

Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate belong to MGM. The characters of Farscape belong to Jim Henson Productions.


Chapter 7

The choice

'When you eliminate the impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the truth.' – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Paradise, usually, this one word describes it all. Gardens of flowers ranging from bright, yellow to shiny, piercing blue, magenta; meadows streaming with the aroma of honey; streams – some fast other slow but nicely murmuring, petting the ear sound of heavens – all this spread from ridge to ridge, as each of them covered in fresh, slightly dark green grass. Paradise – yes, indeed, one powerful word it is. Locating it is never easy but once you discovered it capture by it you become and forever stay you want to.

But not for Vala, Cam and SGA-1 who have come to this far place of beauty unseen to seek an unusual artifact – the Torch of Helios. Only Vala knows how it looks though she was not really sure if it is as real as in her vision. Well, Cam has seen it too, on the hand of Helios but a replica and the real thing are two entirely different things.

The three crafts were resting huddled up in the bushes of red, juicy raspberries at the foot of the grand statue while Vala was scouting their way ahead. Cam was resting against one of the big toes of the great god's statue. Major Vega and her team standing in a standard perimeter defense pattern were assimilating the beauty of the surrounding environment, some of them, strangely longing for few of the missions when they were stranded off-world with Dr. McKay, Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Beckett. But those days were now in the past. The team now had the chance working with the ex-SG-1 – Mitchell and Vala, which is always a privilege, at least for an SGC team.

Cam has succumbed, again, to memories. He never got out of that planet, really. Part of him stayed behind and never returned with the rest of him. SG-1, the best SGC has to offer – gone. Cam smiled as he thought of Colonel Sheppard, the now leader of the new SG-1, he has to live up to the reputation of the old one. But then again, Colonel Sheppard has a style of his own, which is different. And Cam hoped that he will do just fine. Thinking now of his career, if somehow they managed to undo what had happened, Cam realized that maybe, just maybe, he had reached his career's end. They had started pushing too much and maybe, again maybe next time they won't get so lucky.

Cam shook his head banishing those thoughts. Now, it was not the time to fall back on memories or plans for the future. All he cared now is to find what has happened and if possible to undo it. As Carter always, said everything is possible. He liked to believe her this one time.

"Cam!" – Vala called on the radio.

"What?"

"I think I found it."

"You think you found what?"

"The entrance to the down chambers where I hope we'll find what we came for." – Vala explained.

"You hope? I thought you knew what you were looking for – this torch thing."

"Well, yeah, but you never know."

Cam sighed deeply. As always they were looking for something they knew nothing of and every time it happened they always manage to get into trouble.

"I'm coming to get you." – Vala said.

"Right."

Vala came shortly after. Cam looked at her and gaped.

"What's that?" – He pointed at the dried, ugly flower remains on her clothes.

"What is what?" – She asked but then noticed it. "Oh, well, that's into the tunnel where we have to go."

"Cute." – Alicia exclaimed.

"Yeah, speak for yourself, major." – Terol said making Alison giggle.

"Shall we?" – Vala called on.

"Please, ladies first." – Cam gestured.

"Oh, such a gentleman." – Alicia winked at her team and took the lead behind Vala.

Cam only shook head. Being with a team of women, of course, someone would find stimulating but he was beginning to regret it. That was all McKay's fault – he assigned them.


They passed by the raspberry bushes, past the garden of yellow magenta flowers, and straight left, up the hill of fresh grass that gently wavered under the gust of the wind. They soon saw a path of sapphire colored crystals, polished and reflecting the light of the warm sun.

"The river of tears." – Vala informed as they passed by.

"It's beautiful." – Alison observed.

They passed it and turned eastwards toward the snowy edge of the closest mountain ridge. There at the foot of the mountain, they noticed an opening – a cave entrance. The entrance, which was like an arch, was adorned with sky blue lines like veins of water that while glittering on the sun light gave the impression that they are actually flowing.

"Don't tell me," – Cam inserted. "The mouth of the dragon flies?"

"Funny," – Vala smiled. "But no – it's the path of Athena."

"Oh!"

"Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, intelligence and witchcraft." – Alison recited.

"Witchcraft?" – Cam exclaimed. "So what, we should expect a bag of illusions and tricks?"

"Not exactly." – Vala replied, with a mysterious smile.

"Meaning?"

"You'll see." – Vala said and ventured the arch and in the next second vanishing out of sight. Cam and the others stopped bewildered as on the other side of the arch there was no sign of Vala. But they heard her voice nonetheless. "Come on."

Cam took a deep breath and ventured the arch. The sensation was an odd one. He had the distinct feeling he has crossed a membrane of thin, but deeply warm water, which heated his entire body, for a second, before cooling it off.

The sight inside was totally different though. It was like they've crossed into another realm. Before Cam's eyes, there was a lake of polished surface as though made of glass and the far end of it – a waterfall. But the water falling into the lake wasn't creating even a single ripple. It seemed impossible. The water touching the lake seemed to become at once part of the lake as though they were connected, as though they were one and the same flow just divided into two different shapes.

Vala smiled at them seeing their reaction. Curiously enough, she was impressed too but something was keeping her coolness. And before anyone could ask her anything, she stepped onto the surface of the lake and walked. This time, Cam was totally bewildered. He had seen wonders but this now was impossible. Vala stopped in the middle of the lake, turning around.

"Come on!" – She called.

"Are you crazy?" – Cam exclaimed. "It's a lake."

"Yes, it is." – Vala nodded. "But you can come."

"You want me to walk on the surface of a lake? Who do you think I am Jesus?"

"There's nothing to fear. Trust me!"

Cam looked at her deciding whether to follow. "Is there another way?" He asked finally.

"No, there isn't." – Vala shook her head. "Trust me, it's safe."

"For you maybe, God knows what capabilities you gained." – Cam was hesitant.

"I haven't been given the abilities to fly, Cam, or walk on water." – Vala chuckled. "You trust me, right?"

"Yes."

"Then come."

Still a bit unsure, Cam put one foot on the surface and his foot immediately sunk.

"Wow!" – Cam exclaimed removing his foot off the water. "You see?"

"Cam, do you trust me?" – Vala repeated, looking intently at him.

"Yes, I do."

"Then don't doubt the lake." – Vala said. "And follow me!"

Before Cam could do it, Alison Porter stepped onto the lake. For Cam's surprise she did not sink. No, she looked also a bit surprised but confident she reached Vala. Alicia, Dusty and Terol also followed without hesitation, which made the situation embarrassing for Cam. The women succeeded and he stood there like a buffoon – afraid, as you say, of his own shadow.

Cam clenched teeth, taking a deep breath, and stepped on. This time around, he did not sink. It was again a curios sensation. The surface seemed now solid enough to support his weight. But the sensation of standing on the surface was different from the one of crossing through the arch. He was actually feeling like being part of the lake itself. It was very odd indeed.

"Good, now come to me." – Vala called.

Cam's efforts were so far concentrated on stepping on the lake and now he had to walk. But he trusted Vala's judgment, making the first few steps. As he saw that nothing happened of the sort – sinking or drowning, he continued reassured.

Vala took lead again. She crossed the lake reaching the waterfall. There, she bent down, and crawled through the curtain of falling water. The others followed. Arriving on the other side, they were all wet as the thickness of the falling water curtain must have seemed thinner on the outside.

"Welcome to the realm of Ambrosia." – Vala announced.

The garden before their eyes was full of neat, elegant, small bushes and trees with orange-red fruits. Vala reached one of them, grabbed one and handed it over. The taste of the fruit had no description. It was melting into the mouth like ice-cream but it was juicy and delicious lifting the spirit.

Just, a few meters further, on a small, ornate table, there was a jug adorned with golden crystals as big as nuts. The jug was filled with a fluid, an orange-red one, just like the color of the fruits. Around the jug stood six glasses, as though the place knew how many of them were present.

Vala poured in saying: "Cheers."

The taste now was different. The drink was softer, a bit bitter than the fruits, but clearing the mind, making you see, notice the environment around you with new eyes, new vision of reality. As Cam drunk his glass, he started noticing things he hadn't noticed before. At first, he thought the drink had done something to him, ensnaring his perceptions perhaps but no, it wasn't. It simply opened his eyes. (Of course, it works only for those that believe or maybe not).

The garden was full of life, life that wasn't detectable at first glance. Little trochilos were humming back and forth around the bushes and flowers; slugs, snails and other small beings of the same family happily moving around on the ground.

Life in this place was a wonder, a wonder with no description – a simple beauty. And for a moment, just one moment, they forgot all. It was a perfect moment, one that stays with you forever.

Vala looked up first. She sighed deeply, already missing this place but they had to continue, to go on. She called them. "It's time to go." Reluctantly, she turned her back on the garden of Ambrosia and led the group out by the sand path leading north-east.


The path swirled and zigzagged, passing bridges of tall pending, heavy branches of green, yellow and red leaves, crossing small streams of fuzzy, cool water, sandy riverbanks, and murmuring springs. As they were passing, they came upon the first statue.

Cam looked at it. It strangely resembled a creature of the fairy tails. It had pointy ears, stretched face, and long nose, little, but emerald green eyes, and dark hair. It was odd as statues are not made in full color usually.

"What's that an elf?" – Cam instinctively asked.

"Yes, it must be." – Alison agreed.

"It's called a dark elf." – Alicia intervened.

"He's part of the guardians of this place." – Vala informed.

"Oh, great," – Cam remarked sarcastically, shaking his head. "What's next a dragon?"

"Could be." – Alicia giggled.

"Very funny." – Cam retorted.

They passed the statue of the guardian and continued their journey. Ten minutes later, they encountered their first obstacle – a precipice. It was separating their part of the land but unfortunately it did not seem that there was a bridge. Cam picked a little stone and threw it down the precipice. As he did not hear it hit, Cam swallowed. It was a long way down.

"Now what?" – He asked turning to Vala but truthfully she had no idea, as she shook her head saying: 'I don't know'.

"Well, you should." – Cam said. "You're the one that brought us here."

"True but this doesn't mean that I know everything about this place." – Vala countered.

"Great." – Cam snorted. "So any suggestions? Anyone?"

"Well," – Alicia said hesitantly, and looked down but then smiled. "There is a way."

"Really?"

"Yes," – She confirmed happily. "We just need our ropes."

"And?"

"And we climb down."

"What?" – Cam exclaimed. "Can't we just throw them on the other side thus creating a bridge?"

"This would be a good way Colonel if there's something to hold the ropes." – Alicia said pointing at the other side where indeed no trees or rock formations were where they could attach the ropes.

"Good point." – Cam admitted as he looked.

"Just a few hundred feet down, I see a crevice inside the rock." – Alicia informed. "We'll reach it and from there we'll go up."

"Back up till here?"

"No," – Alicia smiled. "We'll pass on the other side because down there the distance isn't that great as far as I can see."

And she was right. The width of the precipice was greater where they stood while further down the two land sides were closer. Climbing down proved to be far more difficult than it seemed.

As they reached hundred feet, Alison lost her stability and fell down dragging Cam and Terol. Vala, who was last, managed somehow to hold them until Alicia climbed up to stabilize the group but the damage was already done. Alison was unconscious with possibly a broken arm, and she was the doctor of the group. Cam and Terol had few bruises from the fall but hopefully nothing too serious.

Somehow the group managed to reach the crevice Alicia had spotted. There they attended to Alison's broken arm. But the difficult part was yet to begin – the crossing on the other side. Alicia, of course, had an idea. She attached one of the ropes to the rock ledge while the other was tied to a screwdriver that Alicia was going to fire from her gun. Hopefully, it will manage to pierce the rock on the other side and just as much hopefully keep the rope strained while she passes on the other side.

Alicia readied her improvised crampon, aimed and fired. The screwdriver pierced the rock, and miracle, the rope was stretched tight.

"Alright, I go first." – Alicia announced.

"Good luck!" – Vala said.

Alicia grabbed a handle, moved to the edge of the crevice, hung on the rope and started making her way. She was advancing slowly because she feared the rope might not hold if she were to go faster. After twenty exhausting minutes of crossing, she stepped on the other side. She then took a second rope and attached to more prominent jut then detached the rope off the screwdriver and added it to the jut. After that, she threw the first rope to Terol who attached it next to the other rope thus creating a rope bridge. Dusty and Vala passed next.

"Hey, gals, how do you plan of sending Alison?" – Cam asked.

"I'll make it." – Alison said rather bravely.

"Yeah, right, with that broken arm, I don't think so." – Cam remarked, pondering how they could do it. But Alicia had already an idea though a bit risky.

"Colonel, we'll use the other two ropes. One, we will place at mid height and one top height."

Cam nodded. "Throw them."

Cam caught the ropes and set them up.

"Captain Terol will go first then Alison and I'll come last." – Cam said.

"Good."

Captain Terol crossed quickly. Now was Alison's turn. She stepped carefully on the rope, holding with one hand on the mid rope, and started advancing. Step by step, she was nearing the others. Almost at the end of the crossing, the grounds around trembled and Alison lost balance, and fell. At the last moment, she got a grip of the rope. Vala and Alicia immediately moved to her and pulled her up.

Unfortunately, the trembles had not stopped. And as Cam was preparing to pass, a large rock fragment fell from above tearing the ropes.

"Damn!" – Cam exclaimed.

"Cam, are you alright?" – Vala called concerned.

"I'm fine." – Cam calmed her. "But the ropes are gone and there is no way I can reach you unless I jump."

"What? No!" – Vala shouted.

"Well, there is no other way." – Cam observed.

"We'll find another way."

"There is no other way, Vala."

"Are you crazy?" – Vala exclaimed. "Do you want to kill yourself?"

"She's right Colonel." – Alicia said. "The distance is too great for a jump attempt. You won't make it."

"I agree unless you're Superman, which you're not." – Terol added.

"So what should I do in the meantime?" – Cam asked angrily.

"We'll find a way to get you here." – Alicia said. "But for now, I'm afraid you'll have to sit tight, Colonel."

"He could try to climb back up." – Terol suggested.

"Without ropes, it will be suicide." – Alicia remarked, shaking her head. "Colonel, move further into the crevice. It should protect you from any other falling rocks. We'll find a way to get you across."

"Great." – Cam sighed. "Very well, keep radio contact."

"We will, every ten minutes." – Alicia reassured.

"I'm sorry, Cam." – Vala said.

"It's alright, I guess." – Cam sighed defeated. "Just find the damn torch and come to get me."

Cam moved as much as he could into the crevice and sat. The women on the other side sighed. They had to go on. Captain Terol helped Alison while Vala took lead, Alicia and Dusty were last.

Soon, they left the unfortunate rocks heading steadily south-east, passing by islands of bushes of raspberries and cranberries (that looked delicious). Here and there, there were small trees with golden and silver leaves.


An hour later, their path steepened, leading them down into a gorge of straight, narrowed, sharp rocky walls. The path widened soon enough till they reached an open space. There awaited them a most curious and somewhat disturbing sight.

There was something familiar though. The place looked like Stone Hedge. Enormous black rock blocks were put into a wide circle. In the middle of the circle there were four stones, and bridged between them stood a lonely rock chest. The group saw men, women, fairy tale beasts, animals, birds, trees and even a waterfall all around the four stones.

Alicia approached with caution but when she reached for the first man she realized he wasn't real. Well, he was but he was a solid statue, tapping on his shoulder confirmed it. Actually, they were all statues just like the first they've encountered though these statues seemed to have captured different positions, so to speak. It was as though these people and animals were caught in the middle of doing something else. Or maybe they were trying to cross the gorge pass the stone hedge just like Alicia and her team.

"We should proceed with caution." – Alicia advised. "Vala, do you have any insights?"

"None." – Vala replied, eyeing the poor people, beasts and birds.

"Can we cross this by another path?" – Terol asked.

"No, I'm afraid not." – Vala shook her head.

Alicia was sure to proceed but something caught her eye. It was the 'positions' of the all these creatures. She noticed a distinctive pattern. It seemed as though some of the people were looking for something. And it was not a way to cross the gorge. It was something inside the stone hedge.

"Wait!" – She commanded. "Stay where you are."

"Why?" – Dusty asked.

"We are missing something here." – Alicia answered. "These people, here, were looking for something. See, they were not trying to find a way across. Instead, they were obviously trying to reach the middle."

"For what reason?"

"I don't know, yet." – Alicia replied. "But there is definitely a pattern here."

"I agree." – Vala nodded while observing the statues. "We've encountered something similar while we were looking for the Holly Grail."

"Yes, I've read the mission report." – Alicia said. "But I don't think the situation here is the same. The mission refers to people frozen in a time dilation field while here there is nothing of the kind."

"Well, as I said it is something similar."

"But different nonetheless."

Alicia moved in a slow circle around the perimeter of the statues. She was trying to figure this one out. But Vala was right about one thing – there was something familiar about this. It was not the similarity with the Holly Grail mission though but something else.

She continued to circle looking for something that would give her a sign. Suddenly, Dusty jumped up pointing at something.

"What?" – Alicia asked at once.

"There," – Dusty pointed to the very middle where something was glittering. "It is a crystal or a diamond."

And she moved towards it.

"No, stay put." – Alicia shouted but it was too late. The moment Dusty tried to touch the glittering diamond underneath the chest in the middle she befell the same fate as the rest. She was turned at once into a statue just as she was bending to get it.

"NO!" – The others cried but there was nothing they could do.

"No one moves or approaches the circle." – Alicia commanded. "Damn it, Dusty!"

"What will we do now?" – Alison cried in panic.

"Silence!" – Alicia's voice thundered. "Remain cool. We'll figure it out but with cries we accomplish nothing."


Alicia finally understood part of the picture. It took a member of her team but she hoped it won't be permanently. The situation here was like a puzzle. If you get all the pieces right you win the prize, which she suspected had something to do with the torch.

As she came to think of it, Vala had said that they were on the path of Athena – wisdom, intelligence and witchcraft. Witchcraft, they encountered when they entered; thirst for knowledge in the garden of Ambrosia; intelligence while they crossed the precipice and it was time for wisdom.

Wisdom – she thought but as she came to think of it they weren't wise. Cam had shown disrespect for the guardian and was now stuck in the precipice. Dusty had shown curiosity and well greed (where there is fine line between them) for the diamond and now she was petrified. They weren't wise in their choices but which choice will be the right one although all could seem as coincidence but Alicia did not believe in it.

It was obvious to her that Vala knew only how the torch looked like, which was an invaluable advantage and yet, she knew not where it was. The universe is harmony, as her father always said, and he was damn right. When you have left, the universe has the right – a balance – a perfect balance.

Alicia made a slow circle around the stone hedge. There was definitely a pattern, the one that contained the answer to this mystery. As she has learnt in her life – the simplest explanation is usually the right one. When you make something simple, people usually assume it's very difficult. So, what was the answer here?

All the people were trying to reach and take the diamond of the chest – all – well not all as Alicia observed. There was one that wasn't in the direction of the stone. He was standing before a block in the second inner circle. The block looked almost identical to the others but as Alicia saw it wasn't. There was a slight difference. It had a sign on it – the symbol of life or creation she wasn't that good at these things.

She pondered for a moment then started looking more closely at the blocks. Maybe there were other symbols. And luck was on her side – there were. On a block, diagonally opposite of that one, she saw the symbol for balance, on another again diagonally; she saw the symbol for death, then the symbol for knowledge. There were also four more symbols each representing possibly – wisdom, intelligence, witchcraft and infinity. All these symbols were basic symbols that could be found in many cultures all around the galaxy, and on Earth.

All symbols were placed in order, diagonally of each other thus forming a perfect rhomb and in the middle of the rhomb stood the four stones with the chest between them. To all hunters, the logical choice for the treasure would be the chest in the middle. But only for that man, the choice was a black block with the symbol of life. Why – Alicia asked herself – why?

And then an epiphany struck Alicia. The man was going after the torch or the way to the torch. He had passed the virtue tests of intelligence, knowledge, witchcraft but failed on wisdom, or maybe he passed only on intelligence as he had reached this place via the precipice, witchcraft when passing on the lake, knowledge as possibly he had solved the riddle but obviously not wisdom because he was as stiff as the others. Alicia wondered where he did wrong.

Maybe the order she is thinking of isn't the correct one otherwise this man won't be frozen like the others. 'Yeah, I'm possibly very wrong,' Alicia thought. 'But there is something here, I can feel it'.

The order of the symbols reminded Alicia of the symbol of infinity – anything is possible with the infinite possibilities. So, what was the simplest explanation? Most of the people were going for the treasure in the chest. One was going for the block but he possibly passed by the chest or answered wrongly or made the wrong choice – yes that was it – the wrong choice.

Vala was observing Alicia very carefully. She did not interrupt her search. She also had suspicions of what had happened here. It appeared to be a test zone where all qualities are tested and judged. And then she saw Alicia who stepped before the symbol of infinity, and understood it at once. They will have to make a choice. That choice won't be a pleasant one – Vala was certain of that but they'll have to make it anyway so Vala stepped before the symbol of witchcraft.


Alison and Terol were observing their friends with curiosity but had no idea what they were doing exactly. They were still shocked of the sudden petrifaction of their friend and colleague – Dusty. As they saw Alicia move towards the one of the blocks their hearts stopped. They feared the same fate will befall their leader but nothing happened then Vala moved to another stone. They both appeared to be waiting.

And Alison understood what. They were waiting for them to pick a stone but which one. Terol had noticed that Vala and Alicia were standing each before a stone with a symbol and guess that they would have to do the same.

"Which one would you pick, Alison?" – Terol asked.

"I don't know." – The terrified Alison replied. "Alicia?"

"You must choose on your own." – Alicia replied.

"Very comforting, boss." – Terol retorted.

"I know but this is what it is all about – a choice."

"The choice, we must all make." – Vala added. "We have to figure it out on our own."

"Great, this is even more less than helpful." – Terol exclaimed.

"Yeah," – Alison agreed. "You two have figured it out already."

"Alright," – Terol said. "When we must make a bad call, we must."

And she picked the symbol of death. Alison, terrified, knew not what to do. She calmed her breathing and tried to think clear. Alicia stood before infinity, Vala before witchcraft, and Terol before death (no surprise there). And in this very moment she wondered why Vala had waited for Alicia to move first?

And then it came to her like a thunderbolt revelation. When standing before the symbol of infinity, one acknowledges that anything is possible, which would include witchcraft or simply magic. When one stands before the symbol of death, one acknowledges that the path of death is simply part of life, part of the harmony, so the only thing that remained is what you gain when you reach this revelation – and it is wisdom. So, Alison stepped bravely before the symbol of wisdom.

What followed bears no description as the sensation of the experience can not be described. But the women saw a figure of light coming out of the block containing the symbol of creation and asking the question.

"What would you chose – the lives of your friends turned into stone for the torch of Helios or your death? You may choose only one. Which one would it be is up to you. But choose wisely."

The women stood still not answering. They were thinking over these words. They presented a bad worse situation where the prize was no prize at all. And Alison answered first.

"I choose death for myself!"

Terol looked surprised at Alison. She was the doctor – the one that has sworn an oath to life and yet, she was the one that chose death. Terol was a soldier and the concept of death is a constant companion. But they had to choose between their lives and the lives of their colleagues in exchange of achieving the mission. 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one,' Terol of thought of Star Trek's Spock words but came to realize that the opposite was much more valid and way more important so she made her choice.

"Death, I chose death for myself!"

Alicia and Vala were also going to make the right choice but were hesitating. But a question visited both their heads – were the lives of their friends worth less than the single artifact of Helios that could or could not help them – and the answer was simple.

"Death!" – Vala said.

"We shall not exchange the lives of our friends for the promise of an artifact we know nothing about; an artifact that may or may not be useful to us. But even if it was useful we will not trade it for them, for friendship is worth much more. No, we choose Death for us all!" – Alicia said last.

"Accepting death means that you are worthy of creation. Accepting infinity means that you grasp possibilities, which is the scope of universe itself. You may not grasp it entirely but this is how every journey begins. It begins with the first step – seeking of knowledge, continues with life and death, and enriches you with wisdom. You possess what needed is to fight the evil awaken. You chose wisely."

The figure then vanished. A thunder hit the ground. Darkness befell before their eyes. And the life slipped away from theirs bodies, as death took Alicia, Vala, Alison and Terol.


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