Somehow, Emily managed to fall asleep that night. She had spent hours punching the strong metal walls. Her fist throbbed and bled in its wrapping, leaving dark red spots all around the white material. But pain didn't stop her exhausted body from drifting off into the realm of dreams . . . and lost memories.
Emily was lying on soft grass. The dark of night surrounded her as she gazed at the pinpoints of light above her. Slowly, she draped her arm over someone's torso. She turned her head to the person's ear to say something.
"I can't believe you came," she murmured with a soft smile.
"I said that I'd never leave you," a masculine voice replied.
"True, but still."
"You didn't trust me did you?"
"I had my doubts. I'm just glad I was wrong."
He let out a humorless laugh. "You would have been a spot on the ground if it wasn't for me."
"Yes, I know how proud you are that you got your pilot's license."
He turned over and took her tightly in his arms. "I missed you."
"Me too."
He kissed her softly. "Just think. We can stay here, together forever."
She shook her head slowly and with great sadness. "No. I have to go home and so do you. They'll be looking for us."
"We don't have to."
"Yes we do. I don't want search parties scouring the area."
He stroked her soft, shimmering brown hair with a soft smile. "I can dream can't I?"
"Yes. All we have at the moment is dreams, but we'll have so much more once you're ready."
"And I cannot wait for that day."
Emily kissed him softly. "I can't either, but until then we have to go our separate ways."
"Not now. We haven't been here for long."
She shook her head. "We have to. They'll be searching for us."
"So let them come. I just want to be here with you and the stars."
She laughed softly. "You've always been a hopeless romantic."
"And you're not?"
"I'm more into practicality. Well I was before I met you."
"I love you."
Emily slowly opened her eyes to see her room in Atlantis. Warmth was permeating through her. Slowly, she began to realize what that warmth was. She remembered something, but it wasn't all there.
"P4X-579," she muttered.
Emily sprung up suddenly. P4X-579. It was all there. Everything on the edges of her memory was there. She felt it. She knew it. Quickly, Emily threw on the first pieces of clothing she saw and sprinted out of her room. She had to talk to Rodney.
"There is no way your going off world," Rodney remarked sharply as he zoomed around a puddle jumper.
"And why would that be?" Emily demanded.
"Well for one, you threw someone over a ledge."
"Other than that."
"I think that's a good enough reason."
Emily looked him right in the eyes. "Do you have any idea what could be on P4X-579? I know something's there, something big. This could be the key to it all."
There was a stretch of intense silence during which their eyes combated. One waited for the other to give in this test of wills. Rodney was the first one to break.
"Okay, I'll talk to Elizabeth and see if you can come with us to P4X-579."
Emily smiled widely. "Thank you, Rodney." With that, she walked out of the room.
"Therefore, I'm not sure if that's the best thing to do right now," Dr. Weir explained slowly to Emily.
The Ancient girl glared back at Weir with menace in her eyes. "Very diplomatic approach. Unfortunately for you, diplomacy doesn't work on me. It doesn't seem like you understand what could be on that planet."
"Emily, I've taken everything into careful consideration. I'm sure John and his team can handle whatever they find."
Emily slammed her fist on the desk as she stood up. "They won't have any idea what to look for. This key could be a big as Atlantis or as tiny as a nanite. I'm the only person in this entire city who has even te slightest chance of finding it!"
"There's no need for anger -"
"Yes there is. For all either of us knows, I could remember everything the second I step onto that world, the second I touch a tree, the moment I walk into a village. I need to step on the soil. I need to breathe the air. Don't you see that?"
"I know that, but it would take a lot to convince me that you're mentally sound enough to go off world."
Emily sighed as she sat back down in the seat opposite of Dr. Weir. "I can't believe I'm actually going to say this. I'll go see the psychologist. If she clears me, will you let me go?"
The leader of the city mulled this over before giving the nod of approval.
Emily smiled. "Do you think she's busy now?"
"Head down. I'll contact her."
Emily nodded before walking calmly out of Weir's office with her heart racing. She was so close. All she needed was to get by the shrink. She could practically taste freedom from the city walls.
