ORLIN'S RECOVERY
Oma had been made aware of Orlin's predicament through her connection with Daniel.
In some strange way, although Daniel was no longer an ascended being, Oma remained aware of his comings and goings. This was likely because she had been the one to help him ascend in the first place. As such, she retained an almost spiritual connection with him. Truth be told, she was very disappointed when Daniel had foresworn ascension in favor of returning to his friends. She'd been hoping he would be a strong ally in her quest to change the policies of the Supreme Council. All of that aside, she really liked Daniel.
Oma had been aware of Orlin's participation in the SGC's plague research nearly a year ago and had been kept abreast of the situation since then. She was shamed by the man's willingness to sacrifice himself for the humans while the rest of her kind sat safely on the sidelines. At the time, she was absorbed by her struggle with Anubis. Yet even then she'd shared her feelings of displeasure with the Council over their failure to step forward and help thwart the Ori plot.
In contrast to Oma's disgust with her leaders' actions, she was impressed with the way the humans had taken responsibility for Orlin's care once he was incapacitated. This action had confirmed her belief in the inherent goodness of these people. Her observations reinforced her determination to persuade the Ancients of the need for action to defend the current inhabitants of the Milky Way.
Indeed, information she provided had begun to change their minds. Her first indication of this was when Allie and Kai had been sent to help her break the stalemate with Anubis. With other ascended Ancients tipping the balance, Anubis had been vanquished, permanently returned to a completely pre-ascension state. Although he continued to exist, he was now simply a Gou'ald, somewhat worse for wear, and deprived forever of the Ancient knowledge and abilities.
OoOoOo
Oma had gone along with Daniel on SG1's trip to Rockwood Sanitarium before the O'Neill wedding. She had listened, along with Allie and Kai, to the efforts of SG1 as they pleaded with Orlin to help Samantha. She'd felt an instant kinship with this young man who in his Ancient form had seen fit to incur the wrath of the Supreme by attempting to aid a less advanced race on Velona. She could so relate!
Oma found a new cause in the boy Orlin. She appealed to the Supreme on his behalf, arguing vehemently that he'd redeemed himself by the selfless act that had thwarted the Ori design on Earth. After all, she reasoned, hadn't he suffered more than enough? From her point of view, Orlin had made a noble sacrifice in an attempt to save a world most of her people had abandoned.
The Council was not easily convinced on this point. After all, Orlin, much like Oma, had a very inconvenient way of ignoring the rules and making them crazy! In the end the Supreme Council agreed that Oma could once more offer Orlin ascension but only as the child he had chosen to be. For some reason they thought this might make him more controllable.
The Council's ruling was a harbinger of the overall changes that were coming. Oma marveled at the unexpected mercy shown by the usually unbending executive body. Not one to question a positive outcome, she took it at face value and set about her task.
Orlin, who'd never known Oma during his time as an ascended Ancient, found himself listening to a soothing, mother-like voice, in the midst of the frightening and lonely circumstance of the hospital. Something of that voice was strangely familiar and as time went on, the tortured Ancient soul, began to slowly recover his bearings and memories. Oma made sure that as she healed his mind, she also taught him to cheek the mood altering pills that the well meaning physicians fed him on a daily basis.
OoOoOo
Dr. Chakotay Gordon was beginning to notice gradual, but marked improvement in his young patient. After nearly twelve months of civil commitment, the boy known to him as Orlin Carter was more alert, less sedated and appeared to be making significant progress in his ability to relate to staff and other patients. Dr. Gordon, in consultation with military officials was considering a release to a less restrictive facility. In what would prove to be Dr. Gordon's final interview with his star patient, he was amazed by Orlin's presence of mind, self awareness and spiritually centered presentation.
"Orlin, how are you doing today".
"I'm well, Dr. Gordon. And you, how are you today?"
"Good, thanks Orlin. How have you been keeping busy since we last met?"
"Actually, I've been doing a lot of reading. I've been out of contact for so long. I feel like I'm just waking up."
"And what have you learned in your reading, son?"
"Most of what I have read in your news articles is focused on wars and death. I find that very sad, Doctor. It is difficult to find any positive information about your world in the generic reading materials you have provided."
"'My world'" Gordon questioned. "What do you mean, Orlin? This is your world too, isn't it?"
"You know that it is not, Doctor."
"So you're remembering. That's good," the psychiatrist offered in a less than convincing tone.
"I believe that it is. However, I do not believe you concur."
"So tell me exactly what it is you are remembering?"
"That I do not belong here. That despite some of your deceptions, your people have been kind to me over the past year and I want to continue to help you."
"What are you going to do Orlin?"
"This…."
With a slight smile, Orlin limply fell to the floor. Dr. Gordon ran to him and called a Code Blue, requesting immediate emergency medical assistance. Before the first responders could arrive, Chakotay Gordon witnessed a wonder beyond anything he'd been prepared for by his Native American tradition. The boy he'd known as Orlin faded before his eyes as an ethereal wisp of energy made its way from underneath his abandoned hospital issue clothing. The glowing apparition circled the room, wound its way around the doctor and exited quietly, right through a solid wall. Dr. Gordon was impressed by the air of calm well being that surrounded him as he turned to the medical responders and attempted to explain what had happened.
OoOoOo
Orlin, in his newly ascended state was once again privy to the knowledge of the Ancients. The newly ascended being was overwhelmed by memories that assailed him in rapid fire succession. He found himself adrift in recollections of his life including the changes and losses that had both befallen him and been chosen by him over the past few years.
He followed his advocate, Oma, to the planet Kheb, where he was offered a place among the protectors of the Innocent. Oma had been placed in charge of his long term recovery and reintegration to the society of ascended Ancients. In turn, she'd recruited her daughter, Elizabeth, to share with Orlin the pure perspective of the Innocent. Despite his current physical age, Orlin in his ascended state had never actually been an Innocent, nor had contact with them. Oma hoped that this contact would speed the boy's overall healing.
Orlin was immediately protective of Elizabeth, in some ways assuming the role of big brother. For her part, Elizabeth became a self appointed tour guide, bringing Orlin around Kheb, introducing him to both the Innocent themselves as well as the surroundings and the culture that made this place so special. One of the first stops "on the tour" was the collection of residences, low lying one story buildings of simple, aesthetic construction, similar in many ways to smaller versions of the temple Daniel Jackson had originally found on Kheb. Surrounding the residences were small, neat gardens of sculpted bushes and brightly flowering plants. As Orlin and Elizabeth walked through the gardens they met many of the Innocent, ranging in age from four to twelve years of age, all engaged in clearing flower beds and happily working the earth.
"Working the ground is important to us, Orlin. It reminds us of the simplicity of life at the very core. Being so close to basic creation helps us recall that we are not completely in control of our own existence. Sometimes, the Supreme seem to have forgotten that,
"I've noticed. Elizabeth, I've always been told of the Innocent and of your unique perception of our existence. I'd almost thought you were a myth. I've never met any of our children. Why is that?"
"I'll tell you what I know of it Orlin, but remember that much of our history has been lost through the ages," Elizabeth began as they sat down side by side at the end of a garden path.
"As you know, when the plague initially spread through Ancient society in the Milky Way, many of us died, others fled to Pegasus or other galaxies and many of us, like you and I learned to ascend or were helped to do so. My mother, Oma, brought me with her when she ascended. At first all of us who ascended stayed together, the children remaining with their parents and traveling through the galaxy in family groups. Soon it became clear to everyone that those of us who ascended prior to the onset of puberty were destined to remain in our pre-ascension physical forms. Because of this twist of fate, in addition to the gifts of ascension, the younger the child, the more pure wisdom and untarnished goodness they seemed to possess.
From the beginning, the Innocent, as they began to call us, were a small number among the Ancient people. Many of the younger children didn't survive ascension and so many had already perished from the plague. The elders soon noticed that the remaining children were often not in full control of their extraordinary gifts. At the very least, we tended to be much more impulsive in the use of these gifts than were our adult counterparts. One particular episode which ended in tragedy pushed the Supreme Council to institute special protections for us.
The story is told of two of the youngest Innocent, playing with the mortal children of the planet Kallana. In their enthusiasm to beat the others in a race towards a goal, they pictured the goal, a bridge over the river, in their minds. In their mind's eye they saw their friends, the Kallanan children, being pushed away from the bridge, unable to cross. Indeed that is what happened, but in a fashion our children had never intended. The young Kallanans were literally thrown from the bridge and into the raging waters as they tried to cross. The Innocent were unable to save them and absorbed the guilt of their deaths.
From then on, the Supreme wanted to be sure that our powers were closely supervised, never again to result in such a terrible situation. Partly it was for our protection but also to avoid any interference with less advanced beings. Eventually, the Supreme began to hide our existence, initially from our allies and finally from later ascended Ancients."
At this point in their discussion, Orlin and Elizabeth were met by Oma who'd come to continue the process of Orlin's briefing. It wouldn't be long before Orlin would be presented to the Supreme as a candidate for reunification.
In preparation for this meeting – actually an evaluation of sorts – Oma and Elizabeth had spent a significant amount of time briefing their new friend on the Ori threat as well as what had happened in the battle over P3Y-229. As part of that discussion, Oma had described the Camelot battle as the turning point in Ancient policy, a place where at last, their people had taken a stand against a deadly enemy bent on destroying all they held dear. As a result of their intervention, the bulk of the earth alliance fleet had been salvaged along with one Samantha Carter who was literally pried from the clutches of the Doci, the chief Prior.
At the mention of Samantha, young Orlin's eyes grew wide and his breathing quickened, "That must be why Sam came to me for help. I remember only bits and pieces of that visit. I was on so many of those drugs. I remember I couldn't help her. I didn't even understand what she was asking. What has happened to her, Oma?" He asked excitedly.
"Much has happened to Samantha Carter since your time at the SGC, Orlin. At the time she was abducted by the Ori, before we were able to extricate her, she was genetically altered in an attempt to convert her to the service of the Ori as a prior. The attempt failed; however, we believe she has been left with strong telekinetic abilities which are deeply troubling to her."
"She must be very afraid. There is no way that she would understand how to deal with those powers. We must find a way to help her," Orlin said with more than a little concern and edge to his voice.
"You are right, Orlin," replied Elizabeth, "with regard to her growing abilities, Samantha is much like one of the Innocent, needing a great deal of care and training to safely use her gifts. Without our intervention, she may well cause terrible damage to herself or others she loves."
"We can't allow that to happen. We will help her, right?"
"She means a great deal to you, doesn't she?" Oma questioned knowingly.
"She does. I am in love with her and have been since the first day I saw her on Velona. What's more I believe she returns my feelings."
"A great deal has changed, Orlin. I do not wish for you to be broken-hearted. But you must know before we go any further that Samantha has married."
"Married? Really, I had no idea. Is she happy, Oma?"
"From what I remember of such things, she loves her husband very much. But happy, no, I believe she is too worried over the changes she is undergoing and the threat they pose to her life."
"Then, as I said we have to help her," young Orlin replied with the innocence of youth.
"I'm afraid we can take no action until Samantha seeks us out of her own accord. To do otherwise would simply cause more damage."
"But she came to me….weeks ago."
"She still does not understand all that this involves, but she will and then we can be of help."
Author's Note: I'm enjoying writing Backstory and plan to continue. Many thanks to all who are reading and reviewing! You are a big source of encouragement! I have several more chapters that I am looking forward to writing. After all I am trying to summarize about 14 years of a marriage plus intergalactic intrigue. What can I say?
Enjoy and if you can review, please do. If you've been reading and haven't reviewed before, please let me know how I can make the story more interesting for you. If I don't hear from you, I end up thinking no one is out there!
