Major Simi: Wow, you're fast. In the words of Teal'c of the Free Jaffa: Indeed.
Jojobevco: I'm not sure. Each chapter will cover more than one episode, namely big reveals that get sent to Stargate Command. Do the Vs stand a chance? You'll see (muahahahaha!)
V fans rejoice! Thank you for staying with me this far, and a big thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorite, or put this fic on their alerts list. The next few chapters will explore the Sirian/Goa'uld rivalry and just how far back it goes.
I've transferred to MSU and take fifteen hours a week, so updates may slow down. Then again, maybe not. If I don't have V Season 2 by the time I've posted the chapter containing Red Sky, I'll have to stop for the time being.
When May woke up, something was wrong. A few of her books had fallen onto the floor, and her clear crystal was vibrating. Once the shaking stopped and Mom left to get Tyler (there was something wrong with him) May grabbed a notebook, her Asgard-altered cell phone (upgraded by Loki in exchange for a Rubik's cube), a notebook and a pencil, and went downstairs to watch TV.
The earthquake was caused by a spaceship with a vaguely reptilian shape, like a cobra's head with its hood flared. The bottom turned into a screen and what appeared to be a human female started speaking. Of course being raised in Cheyenne Mountain, May was all too aware that nothing was as it seemed. The ring flashed in agreement.
"Don't be frightened. We mean no harm. Please accept our apologies. We're truly anguished by the turmoil our arrival has caused. This is a momentous day. Until now we believed we were the only intelligent life in the universe. We're overjoyed to find that we're not alone. My name is Anna, and I am the leader of my people. We're delighted to meet you. But we need your help. We're far from home and require a mineral which is common and abundant on earth in order to sustain ourselves. In exchange, we'd be willing to share some of our technological advances with you. Technology that will help enrich your lives in all areas. After we've replenished ourselves and shared with you what we can, we will leave you, hopefully better than we found you. We look forward to meeting our new friends. There will be more communication with your world's leaders in the hours to come. Until then, we are of peace, always."
May's eyes narrowed as her intuition flared. She flipped open her cell phone and dialed the first number in her contacts list, "Daniel? I smell a rat."
"You have my complete and undivided attention." Daniel replied as Vala slipped into his office and shoved a chair under the doorknob. A quick headcount confirmed all current members of SG-1 were present. Stargate Command was in chaos; for all their technology they hadn't seen this coming.
"Is everybody there?" May asked while Daniel put her on speaker phone.
"We're here," Cameron huffed, having bolted straight from his room when he heard there was a spaceship over NYC. Over the girl he'd come to think of as an adopted niece.
"Did you watch that thing on TV?"
"Yes we have, and nobody knows how we didn't see this coming." Sam replied, unnerved by the whole thing.
"I don't believe a word Anna said."
"You think she's lying." Vala guessed, absently scratching Delta's head. The lizard had arrived for a visit the previous night and curled up in May's empty room. A strange gurgling wail was heard an hour later when it became clear her favorite human wasn't there.
"She said they thought they were the only intelligent life in the universe until they found us. Uncle Teal'c, weren't the Goa'uld spread throughout the galaxy?"
"That is correct LittleWarrior. There are few worlds that have never heard of or encountered the Goa'uld."
"They'd have to be pretty isolated or in a different galaxy." Sam added, ignoring Delta's angry hiss.
"Then she says in exchange for water and a common Earth mineral they're willing to share their technology with us. Anytime we're given technology from other civilizations, like the Tok'ra, there are unpleasant side-effects. And then she says they're of peace. I doubt it."
"Maybe I'm just playing Devil's Advocate, but how do you know they aren't of peace?" Vala asked, giving the phone a curious look.
May's answer was sarcastic, "Oh let's see, the Goa'uld, the Replicators, and the Ori. What should I do guys?"
Looks were exchanged.
"She could gather intel and send it to us." Cameron suggested quietly.
"How? If they can travel through space they could probably hack a laptop." Daniel protested; he did not want his cousin in harm's way. Again.
"Uh, Daniel? The Asgard altered my laptop and phone. They're high-efficiency, untraceable, and can't be hacked.
"Can you gather information?" Sam asked, ignoring Daniel waving his free hand around in an unmistakable 'no' motion.
"Yeah."
"Do it. Gather as much information as you can and send it to us. We'll verify what we can."
"Can I talk to Daniel now?"
Daniel turned off the speaker.
"Daniel?"
"I'm here. Be careful alright? If you don't feel comfortable we'll beam out and bring you home."
"I'll be careful Daniel. I love you."
"Love you too." They hung up.
Three weeks later:
In three weeks the following information had been sent to SGC: the number of motherships and their current locations, effect on the host cities' economies, and what they could do in their Healing Centers.
Tyler's friend Brandon had gotten three tickets to the Mothership, so May tagged along, mentally running though how she was supposed to behave the whole way there. If they got caught her excuse would be either: (1) it's Tyler's fault ("Hey!"), (2) she was curious, or (3) play the Daniel card.
Neither the outside nor the inside of the shuttle impressed the half-Ilvar, and honestly she thought it was too slow. Tyler was in his own little world, meaning May could analyze him. Since her arrival home, her adoptive brother had been . . . off. And not just because Dad had left. He said he'd been sick on and off since the flu outbreak four years ago . . . the Ori plague. Even with the vaccine, sometimes he couldn't get out of bed.
The inside of the Mothership impressed her less than the shuttle had. May observed everything she could see with a critical eye, noting strategic places to hide.
"Hello."
May turned and saw a blonde V, who looked about their age.
"Welcome to the New York Mothership. My name is Lisa."
Tyler (predictably) was smitten, amusing May. But when the goofy smile appeared on his face, she snorted. When one of the Vs showed how they manipulated gravity, Lisa showed up again.
"Oh, dude, that V girl is coming over here. Be cool." Brandon whispered.
Oh he's lost that battle boy. May thought, moving to Tyler's left so she could see better.
"Having a good time?" Lisa asked.
"Uh, great time." Tyler said, while Brandon just laughed nervously.
No. Can we go home now? May thought.
"Good. Have you heard about our new Peace Ambassador Program?"
"Peace Ambassador Program?" Tyler repeated.
"Broken record." May hissed under her breath.
"Yeah, you sign up, hang out with Vs, learn about our culture. And you act as V Ambassadors in your own communities. You even get a uniform."
May almost said something. Almost, but restrained herself just in time.
Brandon complained, "It says you have to be eighteen to join. We're only seventeen."
Not me losers.
"You can still join, you just need your parent's signatures." Lisa explained, glancing at May, "How about you?"
"Not today." She replied, evading the age question.
"Yeah that's kind of a tough sell right now. Our parents don't even know we're here."
Mine will.
"That's too bad. I just got assigned to the New York Chapter. We could've spent some time together."
Tyler looked upset.
I sense deceit coming on.
When they got home, May sent Daniel a text on her cell: Send me my copy of Chariot of the Gods. I need it ASAP.
The book arrived via Odyssey a few days later, in exchange for information about the inside of the mothership, the Peace Ambassador Program, and Tyler's possible V girlfriend. Chariot of the Gods was placed on her bookshelf to be revealed later. She spent the rest of the day on the couch, rereading Marked.
Tyler actually came home that afternoon . . . with Lisa. May turned a page and ignored them unless they spoke to her directly.
"May? There's somebody I'd like you to meet." Tyler said, looking nervous.
May glanced up, somewhere between neutral and bored.
"May this is Lisa. Lisa, this is my sister."
"Nice to meet you."
May just nodded and went back to her book, before shutting it, going upstairs and turning in early due to a headache. She didn't hear when Erica came very close to chewing Tyler out. When Tyler put the rest of his clothes on and tiptoed past May's room (because if he woke her up she'd murder him), Lisa followed, looking curiously at the closed door.
Upon her return to the ship, Lisa approached Anna and said, "Tyler's the one. We should use him."
"You're doing an excellent job. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you Mother."
May woke up later then she wanted the next morning with a full-blown migraine. Her mom was already gone, and Tyler knocked on the door and said he was going to see his councilor. Her answering curses were muffled by the covers. Burrowing into them and hiding from the sunlight, she asked the ring, "Why's my head hurt so bad?"
It was her grandmother who replied, thankfully out loud, "Your telepathy. Give it a few hours and you will become accustomed to it. By tomorrow morning, you can play around with it."
Grabbing her phone, May hammered out a text message to Daniel, To SG-1: Gaining telepathy, will not get up for a while.
Across town Tyler was talking (whining) to Dr Stevens, "I can't talk to my mom anymore. I tried telling her about this girl I met; she wouldn't give me two seconds. She doesn't trust me, she just keeps on telling me, 'Stay away from the Vs.'"
"And you don't know how to tell her the Vs are important to you?"
"She doesn't wanna hear it. I joined the Peace Ambassadors," he continued, pulling the jacket from his backpack, "If my mom knew she'd go ballistic. She thinks the Vs are evil."
"And how do you see them?" Valerie asked, starting to feel tired again. He's your last client. Once he's gone you can take a nap.
"The world's broken. They're fixing it. All we do is get in their way. They've got these Healing Centers, the things they can do . . ."
Okay, now I'm up. "Have you been down there, to the Healing Centers?"
"No not yet. Why?"
"I just, I've been tempted myself to check them out. I hear you have to wait months though."
"Well if you really want to go I might be able to help. I kinda know someone."
"That's really sweet of you Tyler. I might actually take you up on that."
"I hear they're curing blindness, helping handicapped people walk and all these, great things, and, my mom will never know because, she won't even talk to one. I shouldn't even care. I'm gonna be eighteen in a month, and then I won't have to deal with any of this."
"Your mom doesn't stop being your mom because you're eighteen."
"I feel like she stopped being my mom a long time ago."
Observing via jacket onboard the Mothership, Lisa almost said something but paused when she heard the next question, "How's your sister?"
Tyler looked concerned, "She went to bed early last night and she wasn't up when I left. Normally she's up before anyone, like a week ago, her first night back? She was wired the next morning, and she hadn't had sugar or caffeine or anything. It was scary."
"I thought it might take longer, but I believe Tyler's ready."
"Good. Bring him up to the ship. Tell him I want to meet him. But first, why didn't you tell me about the sister last night?"
"I wasn't sure it was important," Lisa began after a short pause, "Tyler introduced us last night, but she went to bed soon after that. I'll ask him more when I bring him here."
Tyler had checked on May after his appointment, just to make sure she was up. Her bed hadn't been made and her pajamas were on the floor, but her robe was missing and the bathroom door was closed. Not wanting to bother her, he left a note on the kitchen counter and headed to the Peace Ambassador Center, answering his phone on the way out. It was Lisa, and her mother wanted to meet him
Oh man.
"Tyler!" Lisa greeted as he stepped off the shuttle
The smile on Tyler's face vanished, but he followed her anyway. Lisa asked, "How is your sister? She went to bed rather early last night."
Tyler let out his breath in a whoosh, "I don't think she's feeling well. I went home to check on her and she was taking a shower, so it must not be too bad."
Deciding she and Tyler's sister weren't close enough yet, she didn't suggest the Healing Center. "What does she think of us?"
He thought for a second, "Well, she seems kinda neutral. She doesn't really like the Vs, but she doesn't really hate them either. Am I in trouble with your mom?"
"Why would you be in trouble?"
"I don't know. When you called and said she wanted to meet me, if it was my mom I'd be in trouble."
"Mine's not like that."
"You Vs are so much more evolved than we are." Tyler commented with a grin, before he noticed someone standing a short distance away. "Oh my god. That's Anna. Do you know her?"
"Yeah. That's my mom."
Tyler looked shocked.
"C'mon."
"Lisa's told me all about you." Anna said as the three of them walked past her executive suite.
"She uh, didn't tell me a lot about you." Tyler stuttered. He was talking to the V High Commander! "But I already knew a lot about you."
Anna smiled. "I'd like to take some time to get to know Tyler."
"Is that alright with you?" Lisa asked.
"Sure."
"Don't worry, she doesn't bite."
Some of the tension left him.
"See you later."
It was later that evening when the migraine went away. May devoured a sandwich and practically inhaled a glass of milk before going back upstairs and meditating. Having no idea what she was supposed to do, she simply opened her mind . . . and the migraine was back.
May fiercely shut it off, and evened her breathing out. Hesitantly, she tried again, this time actually getting something.
No need for regrets for the mistakes made yesterday.
. . . What?
The past is gone. No looming fate. No uncontrollable destiny. No hunger, no sickness, no fear, no death. Nothing ahead, nothing behind. Just stillness. Light, warmth. The pain you felt, the pain you may have caused others, it's behind you. No looking back, no fear of what will come. Just the pulse of time, invigorating, soothing. Bask in my light. Take comfort knowing I am here. You will never be alone.
May blinked shook it off, before getting sucked into a vision:
She flew above the Mothership and into the sky, past every planet in the solar system (including Pluto), and continued to shoot forward between stars until she saw the purpose of the vision. And it filled her with horror.
Emerging from a dying planet was an armada of ships the same shape as the ones over major world cities, but with slight differences. These were ships of war, hundreds of them, and they were heading for Earth.
I'm proud of this chapter, which I wrote in about six days. Readers and loyal reviewers, should Adria's return take place before or after Red Sky?