The walk to the courtroom, if it could be called that, took less time than Elizabeth remembered. Or maybe the fact it was without incident this time made it seem faster. Whatever the case, they reached it in a matter of minutes.
Unlike yesterday, the judges were already in place; the audience was also seated, and had grown some from the day before—Immarians crowded the benches and were packed in towards the back of the hall. She moved to take her seat, as they'd seemed to require the day before, but one of the guards grabbed her roughly by the arm, keeping her on her feet.
Her return stare must have spoken to him, because rather than reach back to strike, as she would have expected, he flinched for a moment, an uncertain expression crossing his face, and released her.
As she faced forward, Thorvir rose from his position at the bench. "Doctor Elizabeth Weir."
She turned, crossing her arms in front of her.
Thorvir set his jaw a moment, then took a breath and continued. "You have been charged with violating the Alteran laws of governance as they pertain to the inhabitation and leadership of an Alteran outpost—namely, the great city of Atlantis. You have broken these laws willingly, without remorse, and in known violation of the Alteran statutes governing all Alteran society, including those claiming inhabitance of Atlantis. Do you concede these violations?"
Elizabeth waited for a moment as the room quieted. Thorvir looked at her pointedly.
"I do not concede them," she replied tersely. "In fact, I deny them altogether."
The men on the panel frowned in disapprobation. Thorvir heaved a sigh. "Very well. You shall be allowed the chance to defend yourself, within reason, of the various charges."
As he took his seat, Elizabeth slowly took hers, contemplating making a risky move. Risky in the sense of being subject to more of their 'discipline.' She decided it was worth the gambit—or the pain, whichever came first.
"And the punishment?" She asked loudly, as the ministers passed a few pieces of paper between them. Sita had told her before, but she wanted to hear it from them.
Thorvir cast a glance at her, then Karon, who stood beside her desk. The young man crossed his arms, looking surprisingly cowed today. None of the fire, or violence, seemed present in him.
When the minister turned back to her, his face bore a little bit of irritation. At least that proved he was human.
"The penalty, if you are found guilty, is death by exile."
She heard a sharp intake of breath; it took her a moment to realize that she was the one who made the sound. The world around her suddenly seemed numb, and cold, and incredibly dark. As her senses swam back into focus, she realized that nobody else seemed the least bit disturbed by this revelation. Condemning someone to freeze to death was, apparently, common.
Common, and accepted. And unconcerned.
Thorvir's emotionless expression had returned. "Let's begin."
--/--
Rodney sighed in frustration as Ronon and Teyla stepped up onto the dais, studying the glowing wormhole as it rippled before them.
"This is a waste of time," Ronon said calmly, checking the setting on his gun. For once, Rodney was actually glad he did that.
Teyla said nothing, though she glanced concernedly over at Sheppard, who looked about as expressive as one of the Atlantis bubble lamps.
"I am sure Colonel Sheppard and Colonel Caldwell have a reason for asking the Genii for help," she said finally, when Sheppard failed to acknowledge her.
"If the Genii knew anything they'd have contacted us already. Ladon's smart enough to know how valuable Weir is and what he can get in return for that information," Ronon replied.
At the mention of Elizabeth's name Sheppard's expression flickered for a moment.
Teyla frowned, her eyes still on his face. "How is your finger, Rodney?"
"Painful," he replied automatically. "I can barely work, much less fire a P-90, so let's hope the Genii don't want to get into any firefights."
"You can't fire a P-90 anyway," Ronon said.
Rodney made a face at him. "As it just so happens I have spent many a sleepless night in the firing range, thank you very much."
"Doesn't count if you don't actually shoot at things."
"I'm getting there! I just need to start small and build up to the big stuff. You know, work out angles, that sort of thing."
The Satedan looked at him amusedly.
"Let's go," Sheppard said suddenly, ignoring their conversation. Caldwell was watching the group from the left side balcony, a stoic expression on his face. Sheppard didn't even bother to acknowledge him, just trudged forward through the gate. Ronon and Teyla exchanged concerned glances and followed him.
This was not going well. Not at all. The longer it took, the more Rodney felt there was a distinct possibility Elizabeth would never be found.
"No," he muttered, in contradiction to himself. He rarely contradicted himself, but in this case, he just couldn't agree with the rational conclusion. There were still too many variables to consider. Like Sheppard, like Elizabeth—like Rodney himself.
Elizabeth wouldn't give up on him. She hadn't given up on him. He wouldn't give up on her.
He took a breath and followed his teammates through the wormhole.
--/--
Elizabeth lowered her head into her hands for a moment, taking a breath as the room around her quieted. When the shouting had tapered off into a dull murmur, she raised her head again. "Again, I am not arguing I don't understand the rules established by your Testament. What I am trying to explain is that we are unfamiliar with the Testament or any form of law established by the Ancients that bears resemblance to it. Nothing we have found, in Atlantis or on other worlds seeded by the Alterans, designates a specific code of laws for governing people. Especially not in the manner of Immaria!"
The courtroom broke out into shouting once more; Thorvir pounded a tome on the top of the desk, silencing both the other members of the panel and the audience.
"Please! Or you will be asked to leave!" His final words seemed to throw some restraint into the observers, who immediately quieted.
"Doctor Weir," he asked wearily, "do you deny that you have adapted Alteran technologies and customs?"
"Technologies, yes. We utilize Ancient equipment at all times. But customs, no. We are unaware of any Ancient customs we have specifically adopted in our time in Atlantis."
"But you have offered protection and sanctuary to the lesser races of this galaxy on Atlantis in the style of the Alterans?"
Elizabeth frowned. "If we have had the ability and they were in danger, yes. But that's not…"
"Have you controlled or manipulated any races through Atlantis?"
The leader of Geldar flashed through her mind. "Once, but that was…"
"Have you provided supplies, medical aid, governance, leadership or support to any of the races in this galaxy?"
"Yes. Why wouldn't we, if they were in…"
"Have you engaged in conflict with the Wraith in protection of Atlantis?"
"Yes."
"And do you possess the bloodline of the Alterans? Are you, Doctor Elizabeth Weir, a descendant of the 'Ancients', as you call them?"
She sighed. "No."
Thorvir's eyes narrowed. "Then what right, under anyone's law, do you have to defend your actions as anything other than usurping Alteran power and creating your own definition of their laws?"
"We have much a right as anyone else," Elizabeth responded firmly. "The Ancients left no rules that we have found dictating who should come into possession of any of their cities, their equipment, or their information. For people willing to learn, the rules and laws they created were open to interpretation. Whether directly descended or not, anyone who stumbled upon what they left behind has a right to study, understand, or use it."
"And use it to govern, support, guide, or protect others, I suppose?"
"Well, yes, if it is needed."
"Even if it forces those you are governing or supporting to adhere to your ways, to your judgments—even if those judgments contradict their ways?"
She narrowed her eyes, a distinct feeling as to where this was headed. "Within reason."
Thorvir studied her for a moment. "And what kind of reason would that be?"
"That they would not be treated unjustly."
"And how do you define what is just?"
Elizabeth frowned, hesitating for a moment. She knew she was right, but there were so many things under her watch that had, at times, gone wrong—the Genii opposition, the Hoffan plague, Michael. Things she would never have thought she could have condoned when she lived on Earth.
Thorvir sensed her hesitation. "Allow me to answer. Your definitions are based on your culture's judgments of what makes the lives of people better, of what is developed to protect them and secure their future happiness. At times, it may come at the expense of the lives of others, but that is the necessary price to pay to ensure your own people are safe and well."
She blinked. "I suppose that is one way to define them."
"Of course it is." For the first time that afternoon, the Guild leader smiled. "That is how we define our governance as well. But we have a stronger support for the claims of our ways and laws."
"Really."
"Allow me to call upon the wisdom of our Elders." A gasp went through the audience, followed by a reverential silence. Thorvir sat back, and the lights in the room dimmed. A shadowy image flickered in the space between her desk and the bench; eventually it solidified into a shape of a person—a man, wearing Ancient clothing and with a kindly expression on his face.
Elizabeth watched in astonishment as the man looked about the room, fixing her with a piercing blue stare. What she was looking at was a hologram very similar to the ones in the holo-room used to access the Ancient Database.
"The ways of Immaria are important," the man started, raising a hand gently. "They are the future of our race and all races among our stars. They are the ways to peace and tranquility. For those who abide by the laws established in the Testament, protection and peace will come to you. Though others may question your judgment, always remember that these rules have been established to protect and secure your future happiness. At times, that happiness may come at the expense of the lives of others, but that is the necessary price to pay to ensure your people are safe and well."
The hologram faded and the lights brightened. Elizabeth stared blankly at the area where the hologram had been, overwhelmed by the message of the Ancient she'd just seen and the unchallenged awe the people of this culture appeared to have for it. Beatific looks graced the faces of most of the audience members; even a few of the judges seemed caught up in the reverence.
Thorvir turned back to her. "So you see, Doctor Weir, our culture's history does not differ much from yours, only that our ways of living are different."
Elizabeth gathered herself, fixing Thorvir with a determined stare. "Whatever you might believe, my people would never willingly execute someone who had not honestly endangered their lives or the lives of anyone else. And if they had posed a danger, our policies, with the exception of a few extraordinary circumstances, are to avoid needless death at all costs. Now, I won't deny that we have used our authority, and in some cases our superiority, to guide and influence the lives of others. But never, in the entire time we have held Atlantis, have we used that authority without concern for the lives of innocents. Whether we are descended from Ancients or not, the basic, fundamental principle of protecting human life has been the cornerstone of our culture. I don't believe the principles of the Alterans differed much in that regard. Can you honestly say your people, whatever their influences, act the same?"
The justices at the bench shifted a little. Thorvir himself sat back in his chair, frowning. Most of the looks of wonderment had faded from the faces of the audience members, who addressed this question with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.
"Our people believe in protecting those who are innocent," Karon said suddenly, turning towards her. "But innocence is defined by many things, and your people, Doctor Weir, I would not describe as such."
"Why? Because we didn't afford you the opportunity to do as you would in the city? Because we forced you to leave sooner than you wished?"
"We are not as backward as that, Doctor. Affronts like that are slight, but would not constitute a violation of the laws of the Elders."
"Then why am I here? The only thing your people were denied on Atlantis was the ability to roam the city freely. Nothing else was kept from you. So can you tell me truthfully that the simple fact that we were there, inhabiting it, is the reason for all of this?"
She narrowed her eyes, rising from the desk. "Why don't you at least be honest about what's going on here? This has nothing to do with your 'Alteran laws'—and everything to do with the fact that you disliked being told what to do by a woman, and that has overshadowed any other kind of 'justice' you seeks to find? Isn't that the real issue here? That whatever lessons the Ancients left for you to learn, they've evolved into a system of prejudice and bias that doesn't honor their rules, but abuses them?"
The blow came swiftly, much more swiftly than she anticipated. A sharp strike from the left, tumbling her over the chair behind her and knocking her backwards into the crowd. Karon's arms reached out for her as she fell; surprisingly, the look on his face was one of surprise and dismay, not anger.
There was a sharp crack, and she realized, as the lights in the room dimmed once more, that she'd struck her head on the floor. Faces faded in and out of focus, murmurs came and went. One face stood out above the rest, drawing closer but yet fading away, until it blinked out of existence entirely.
--/--
The underground world of the Genii still felt strange for Teyla. For most of her life, she had lived with the simple belief that the Genii were a peaceful, farming people, not dissimilar from her own. A century long trade relationship had developed between their tribes, the only changes being younger friendly faces replacing the older ones.
Until the people of Atlantis had come, with their technical devices and often stubborn curiosity, revealing a world Teyla had never suspected or imagined could be real. It was then the Genii suddenly became enemies—dangerous ones, with agendas far more sinister than she would have dreamed possible from the kindly people she had known. At times, though she was always grateful to know the truth, she wished things were no so different from what they had been before.
The Genii escort guided them along rough, darkened pathways which led through the cave systems that sheltered their underground city. Despite the loss of many of their people from culling, the Genii continued to maintain their false peasant front. Most of the advanced races in this galaxy knew of the Genii's double identity, but it seemed important to their people to keep the lesser informed races unaware of their true natures.
They emerged into a large cavern lit by artificial lights, where a magnificent waterfall poured down into an underground lake. In the distance, portions of the city nestled neatly between the natural cave pillars which peppered the landscape.
A group of military trainees were performing hand-to-hand combat exercises on a platform built into an open area of the cave. Teyla paused as a young instructress shouted commands, the larger recruits cowing under her fierce stare.
She raised her head as they went past, examining the newcomers. When she took in Teyla her pretty face darkened, eyes narrowing. She was impossible not to recognize, though she had changed in the time since Teyla saw her last.
Sora.
She watched them pass for mere moments, then turned back to her group of trainees, flicking her red-gold curls, much longer now, over her shoulder. Though Teyla was heartened she had remained with Ladon, and not followed Kolya, it was obvious the young woman held no love for her or the other members of Atlantis. Elizabeth had been more than fair in her treatment of Sora, but the young Genii would never forget the unfortunate loss of her father, Tyrus, or the role Teyla had played in his death.
The rest of her party did not seem to notice Sora, or if they did, they did not care. Ronon possessed little knowledge of her; Rodney, little interest, but she suspected John would have at least offered Teyla an amused look at the young woman's presence.
Lightheartedness was not his concern at present, however. He passed through the Genii halls with little or no interest in their construction, or their people. From the last time Teyla had spoken with him, his spirit seemed to have dropped. She did not doubt he continued to blame himself, but he appeared to be losing hope in the outcome of the situation as well.
If so, Ronon's earlier fears might not be entirely unfounded.
The Genii guards led them into a well-lit, though small, control room with machines haphazardly connected throughout. A small desk was angled into one corner, where papers and a communication device lay.
"Commander Radim will be with you shortly," one of the Genii officers remarked, before leaving.
Rodney began to pace, immediately making a circuit of the room to observe the Genii's technologies. Ronon watched him uninterestedly, at least it seemed that way, though Teyla knew he was observing a great deal more than might appear.
John did not move, just remained standing where he was, one hand tapping slowly across the top of his P-90. Teyla watched him worriedly, uncertain of what to say.
Ladon appeared from a door to the left, striding in casually with a friendly grin, which faded as he took in the group before him. It spoke well of Ladon's character and abilities, that he was able to immediately ascertain when something was wrong.
"Colonel Sheppard, Teyla, Doctor McKay…Ronon," he said carefully, folding hands in front of him. "What brings you to our homeworld?"
"We need you to help us find someone," John replied, in a tone that defied contradiction.
Ladon studied him, eyes focused observantly on his face. After a moment his expression grew concerned. "You've lost Doctor Weir."
The tranquility of the room suddenly exploded into chaos as whatever restraint John had been forcing upon himself shattered; Ladon was pinned to the desk, struggling against John's unbreakable grip. Genii, armed with their small pistols, flooded the room as Teyla, Ronon, and even Rodney raised their weapons, circling their leader defensively.
Teyla glanced at Ronon, who looked primed for a fight, though his head was angled worriedly in Sheppard's general direction.
"Where the hell is she, Radim?" she heard John snarl. When Ladon didn't immediately respond there was a large crack, and the desk he was pinned to shifted violently.
The Genii soldiers released whatever safety devices were on their weapons, tiny clicks signaling the situation had gone from precautionary to tactical.
"WHERE IS SHE?!" John repeated, as his three teammates closed in around him, away from the approaching Genii. Rodney attempted to keep his P-90 steady in his injured hand, a wide-eyed expression on his face.
"Remind me, if we survive this, to thank Colonel Caldwell for the brilliant recommendation of face-to-face negotiation," he whimpered, as the Genii forced them even further into retreat.