Chapter 10.
First contact.
Daniel Jackson stopped, breaking through the dense, green and violet ferns.
For a moment it seemed to him, that he heard children's laughter in the distance. So he listen now... and when the sound was repeated, he frowned and moved on.
And yet it not seemed to him. Somewhere out there really was heard a children's laughter... or similar sound go some local animal, he added suddenly in his mind and he hesitated a bit.
He did not stop, however, carefully approaching to the sound source.
The vegetation finally gave way, revealing low, wide cascades of waterfall, falling leisurely to the large pond. Was surrounded on all sides rocks, forming a small canyon.
It was there, a group of children, which he heard, was laughing and squealing, when they sliding off on mats into the water.
The children seemed to be practically naked... as if he were able to see from his hiding place. Their skin was a different colors, and in some places glistened in the rays of suns. It enough to he may say, that they are not human children... although from this distance he was not able to see more details.
Intrigued his discovery, at first men even did not notice, that someone was watching him intently from the side. After a moment he realized, that one of the children was right next to him, looking at him with the same interest, with he observed a group of playing children.
He shuddered slightly, and slowly turned his head to the side.
The face, which he saw, could belonged to a six-year boy. He had a slightly bluish skin, and on the border of dark hair, Jackson saw something what looked like scales. The same swelling formed a pattern on the all body... also between the loins, where in place of the "male organs" was only slight bulge.
The child watched at him large, pale-violet eyes, that shone like pearls or opal. Reminded him completely black eyes of Asgard. The boy's nose was slightly expanded and relatively flat. The forehead adorned a small gibbosity, extend above the eyes, and on the sides of the head. Similar outgrowths were through the middle of the forehead, and on the line cheekbones.
But what most intrigued scientist, was on the child neck: the gills.
So, these humanoids had life underwater, he thought. Maybe that's why the stargate are in an underwater cave. The Ancients had put them there, to immediately be able swim into the depths of the ocean.
Now all became clear to him. It was there that they had to look for answers: in the water, where likely these creatures have their own settlement.
- Hello - he said finally a pleasant voice. - I'm Daniel - he added, pointing to himself.
But the boy did not answered, just looking at him intently with a grin on his face.
- Da-niel - repeated slowly scientist, again pointing to himself. - And you? - he added, pointing on the boy.
The child again ignored his words, clearly puzzled by this, what he had on his nose: glasses. Little one touched them carefully.
Jackson pulled them, showing to him.
- These are the glasses - he explained. - Gla-sses.
- Gla… sses - repeated boy the ordinary, childish voice, which did not differs overmuch from voices of humans children.
And then he began to watch the strange object, and looking at the forest through it.
- So, you can speak - said Daniel.
And suddenly he realized, that the children's squealing over a waterfall died away... and a whole group was around him, looking at him with the same attention like their little friend. Each of the children seemed to be in another age, but the oldest did not look more than twelve years.
It was a girl, with long, rust-colored hair with some bright highlights and alabaster skin. Her small breasts almost completely hidden by the scales, creating a sophisticated pattern on the body.
Each child had different pattern on the body, noted scientist. As if each of these beings had his own unique pattern on the body, like fingerprints in humans.
The children touch him, and watched from all sides, giggling, intrigued by stranger, but none of them did not say a word.
The walkie-talkie attached to his uniform creaked suddenly, causing, that children step back.
- Hey, Jackson... we go back - said Sheppard's voice from the device.
At this sound children's eyes opened wider, and clearly frightened, they escaped, jumping into the water from a rock.
- No, wait. That's nothing terrible - tried to explain Jackson, coming to the edge of the cliff, but it was too late.
He saw just as all seven dives, disappearing after a while in the depths of the pond.
- Jackson? Are you there? - repeated colonel.
Scientist turned on the device.
- ...Damn you, Sheppard... You scared them - he replied after a moment, irritated voice.
- Whom?
- The children.
- What children? - asked John.
- I came across a group of indigenous children, playing on a small waterfall - he explained. - I think it was a mistake to explore the island... This underwater species.
- Are you sure?... Carter also believes, that we should look under the water.
- They had gills, what suggesting, that a large part of life they spend under water - he added slowly, back towards the beach. - Therefore, I conclude, that this is why the gate are in an underwater cave... Maybe somewhere out there is their settlement. Maybe even the city... The whole planet can be full of them.
- We'll find out in only one way.
- I already back on the beach - said Daniel.
- OK. We wait on you - Sheppard answered and he hung up.
.
.
Zelenka frowned at the sight of the results, which showed up on his computer screen.
- It's not good - he muttered in Czech, then closed the laptop and went by the promenade to Woolsey office.
He knocked, although the door was open.
A balding man with glasses looked at him.
- We have a problem... A serious problem - scientist began with the threshold, and went inside. - I again set analysis all systems and ZPM... Unfortunately, it turned out, that our previous calculation was optimistic... I would even say, very optimistic.
- What's mean?
- Well, despite our efforts, we still usage a lot of power. However, the most disturbing is exhaustion of ZPM. Flight here had used much more energy, than at first we expected... So I'm afraid, that left us not more than 20 hours until completely exhausted ZPM... But I'd assumed, that power left for about 15 hours.
- And then we will be without shield - Richard muttered.
- Yes. Even if we hooked up all generators, we have gained only a few hours... We are in space. Except the radiation, are other factors acting on the shield, which increases exhaustion of power.
- So, this planet may be our only option if Colonel Sheppard's team will not find new ZPM.
It was more of a statement than a question on the part of men.
- I'm afraid so... You can say, that it's a miracle, that we got this far... Maybe Teyla is right, and someone watches over us - Radek said.
Woolsey smiled corner of his mouth.
- Once, I would consider it as nonsense - he admitted. - But after all these years in the "Stargate" project... well, let's say, that my view on these matters has been some changes.
- Not only your - said scientist. - Most of us have very different looks at the world today than it was a few years ago... I'll do a few analyzes of our systems and see if we can gain at least a some power.
- Well... And I will notify our team, that the matter is very urgent - Woolsey said and stood up from his chair to go along the promenade to the control center. - Connect me again with that planet.
Amelia Banks nodded her head, and began tapping out the address on the triangular keyboard of DHD.
Each time, at metal circle on the other end of the hall, ignite one of the symbols depicting various constellations from Pegasus galaxy.
.
.
John Sheppard touched a panel to closing jumper hatch, when at the gate behind them began to activate another chevrons.
The entire team looked back, but closing metal plate has obscured their view.
- Ours? - asked Samantha.
- Soon we will see - almost muttered John, and turn jumper communication system.
After a while, the gates were activated, and when the event horizon calmed down, taking the form of a sheet of water, from the speakers came the voice of the Atlantis commander.
- This's Atlantis... Are you hear me? - Woolsey said.
This time his voice does not interfere any crackling sound. The sound was clear and sharp.
- Yes... We're in a cave - said John. - We just had to search the area under water.
- In that case, I hope that you will find there what we most needed now.
- ZPM?
- Yes... Doctor Zelenka just informed me, that he once again conducted various analysis and checked all previous calculations. In his opinion, the ZPM have power for no more than 20 hours. Personally he advises to assumed, that even only on 15. Then we will lose the shield.
- Radek as usual panic - Rodney interjected. - It is normal for him.
- I hope you're right, Doctor McKay, but unfortunately I have to assumed in the current situation the worst option - replied Richard. - You have 10 hours to find the ZPM. If by this time you do not succeed, we begin evacuation on the planet... Is there a possibility taking more than one jumper?
- We do not have time to carefully look at the cave - Carter said. - Seemingly there is no here any devices... but perhaps they are just hidden or camouflaged. So, we do not know if here is any shaft, allows jumper fly on the outside... But the cave is enough large to accommodate in a straight line three jumpers... or crosswise... if we set them one by one.
- That's something. We could transport the heavier equipment in jumpers... All right. You check out what's out there, and we will work out a possible evacuation plan - said Woolsey. - Also I will send a team to more accurately searching the caves. Maybe they will find something.
- Just be careful - Sam said. - If someone really hid there devices, he did this for a reason. I had often troubles for such situations.
- Of course. I will order to keep utmost caution... And good luck - he said, then hung up.
- So, again we back to the game - almost muttered Sheppard, activate the jumper. - The next time, when I mention, that I miss such action... let someone shoot me - he said, when the machine raised slightly above the ground.
Carter smiled faintly amused.
- Do not worry. I still say the same thing - she said, patting him lightly on the shoulder.
- You're trying to make me feel better or finish off? - he asked with a hint of irony.
But she only smiled.
The vehicle moved forward slowly to easily slip through the force field at the end of underwater cave. Now surrounded them endless waters full of creatures about more or less exotic shapes.
- OK, see what we have within the sensor - added colonel and on the screen showed a computer map of the area. - Several rock formations... And the many dots, as I think, that are some creatures... But lack of any energy source.
- Increase the range of sensors - urged him Rodney.
- I know - he said, if a bit annoyed, glancing at him meaningfully.
The image on the windshield changed, revealing a much larger area. Almost at the other end, among of irregular rock formation, appeared suddenly red, pulsating light.
- There it is!... Some eight kilometers in front of us - said McKay, checking the readings on his tablet connected to the jumper control panel.
- It seems, that we swim in the right direction - Teyla said calmly.
- I hope so - said colonel.
- Energy readings are different from those for the ZPM, but I think we can consider it as a good sign that there is anything at all - said Rodney, looking up from his laptop.
- We'll find out on the spot - said Sheppard, and he increased slightly engine power.
Somewhere in the distance flowed a large shoal of slender fish, delicately shimmering colors of the rainbow. They nimbly get past a large, horned jellyfish, moving sluggishly toward the surface, and they swim up to the rock slope. Overgrown it a pale-green colony of sea anemone. Like jellyfish, they also shone from away a pale light.
And then, one by one, anemones began to catch the fish, wrapped them numerous tentacles, then calmly hid their long arm.
- I'd better not swim up to them - Rodney muttered.
- Not necessarily - Daniel said calmly. - They can react only on the creatures of a certain size... More surprises me bioluminescence of all creatures. On Earth, this phenomenon occurs mainly in deep-sea creatures, but here it seems to be common.
- Just like with them? - Dex asked, peering through the front porthole somewhere in down.
The others turned in that direction.
Below, on the left side, emerged some shapes, very gently shimmering in colors of the rainbow. They were a few dozen meters from the vehicle, but even so it was obvious, that there are several times larger than the jumper.
They moved slowly, heading in the direction of the surface, and revealing more and more details of his appearance... and abundance.
- They looks like... sea dragons - Samantha finally said with disbelief.
- Like what? - asked John.
- Glaucus atlanticus... Blue Sea Dragon - Rodney said. - Venomous sea snail species present in the temperate and tropical waters... It's just that on Earth they have about 3 centimeters long, not 30 meters.
- May be this climate more suits them - the colonel snorted, looking at one of these creatures flowing just next to them.
Six legs of creatures resembling wings, between which numerous, different lengths "fingers", were transparent membranes. The same was from the smallest rear legs along the long tail of the animal, narrowing more and more.
The one with big, black eyes, placed at the end of tentacles, looked at them, and his blue, slightly shiny pupil, expanded strongly.
And then creature emitted a long, calmly sound. The others began accompany to him.
- How singing humpback whale - Daniel said, delighted.
- Maybe only slightly lower tone - Sam answered and she held her hand, pointing into the distance. - There are probably a young... This herd had of at least twenty individuals.
- They migrate... like earthly species...
Jackson paused. Someone's small hands suddenly appeared at the top of the window, and after a while a little face peered inside. It was the same boy, whose scientist met in the forest. Big eyes watched on them intently for a moment, and then child suddenly smiled widely at the sight of a man, showing his white, sharply teeth and waved his hand.
Daniel returned the gesture.
- This is one of those children, of which you spoke, Doctor Jackson? - Teyla asked.
- Yes...
Again he did not finish. The boy pushed suddenly from the hull of jumper and speeding suddenly, flowing toward the group of the creatures.
- He is fast, a little crumb - said Sheppard.
- I hope that his people will be able to help us - Carter added. - That they know anything about the Ancients.
- I would prefer, that they know where we can find the ZPM.
- From readings of that energy source, can be concluded, that there is something about the high-tech, so the chance exists - said McKay.
John looked at him, raising a little his eyebrows.
- Since you're such an optimist? - he almost snorted.
- Sometimes it happens to me - cut off peacefully scientist.
- It's rather like a miracle - Ronon sneered at the back.
McKay opened his mouth to say something, but his attention was caught a few shapes that quickly moved in their direction. But they were not creatures, which still flowed around them. It was something much smaller, even from jumper... and then a whole group quickly realized what it was.
Just a few meters in front of them stopped a group of humanoid creatures - adult version of a child, who they had seen a few minutes ago.