Chapter 11

Elizabeth looked around her at those assembled on the pier. Ideally she would have liked this to have been held in the gate room, but the almost thousand people that have gathered here would never have fit. In fact, there were only a few places in the entire Atlantis that would have fit this number of people, but most of them have not yet been cleared out after being closed for nearly ten millennia. The pier seemed the most logical alternative.

The entire pier was lit by the immense flood lights, yet the light was not harsh. In fact, shadows still played in corners and in a niche a single nest of those peculiar sea birds that looked like a cross between a penguin and a seagull was occupied by three chicks; adding to the intimacy of the pier.

The people assembled were divided into three distinct groups. There were the 269 humans from earth behind her and she made it 270. At the front of the 341 Athosians stood Teyla and between these two groups the 349 kids from planet M7G-677 were gathered with Keras as leader. Oh, there was also one Satedan mixed in somewhere, she mentally added. In the middle of the groups were three bowls containing bright blue glass beads and one brass-bound chest she had picked up from the Athosians earlier.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked over at Teyla, who smiled encouragingly. Then she looked at Keras. He seemed serious, but she knew she had his support. As she turned her head to look from Teyla to Keras, the single string of beads she still wore in her hair tapped lightly against her neck. She smiled slightly as she reflected that already the wearing of the beads were something of a status symbol. She and five other women already wore the string of beads at all times: she, Sitnalta, Anne, Jennifer and Laura wore them, as well as Teyla. These six women had formed a rather closed group over the years and those that doubted it only had to look at the string of beads each wore. In fact, Jeanne's remark on that subject earlier had given her the idea for the bright blue beads she had asked the kids to make.

Now she stepped forward and slowly went to stand in the middle with the beads and the chest. As she spoke she slowly turned to look at each group – each leader and each face she knew and loved.

"I thank you for coming here tonight," Elizabeth began, smiling. She was wearing a white dress that was a cross between Teyla's own blue ceremonial dress and her Ancient dress. "I know most of you wonder why I have called you here. Well, I'm not going to keep you in suspense any longer." Her eye caught Sitnalta's and the younger woman smiled. Elizabeth found her lips curling in an answering smile. Then the young woman turned her head to listen to something Rodney had to say and the string of beads in her light hair reflected the light. Elizabeth took that as a good omen.

She lifted her head and looked over the group of humans – which included Sitnalta and Duncan Beckett. Were they, as well as she, Elizabeth, still really human? "Many of us have made a long journey to get where we are today. Many of you have joined the Atlantis mission nearly six years ago, not knowing if you'll ever be able to get back to earth," she continued, slightly narrowing her eyes in emphasis. "Back then you already made the decision that the adventure of Atlantis was worth that sacrifice. Some of you joined the expedition in the following years and some of you only heard of it the day your loved ones told you they were going to leave earth for good. On that day all of you that joined Atlantis made a choice from which there is no return. And though I know in my heart none of you regret that choice, it is true that we are now part of a community that have all committed two distinct crimes against earth. First we stole one of the earth's greatest assets," she explained. She did not need a genius like Rodney to tell her they would all be in extreme trouble if earth ever found them and the city they stole. "And then we committed treason." She took a deep breath and slightly lifted her chin. "Like it or not: for the rest of our lives this will be our world."

Now she slowly turned around to include the kids and the Athosians. "In this new world we are not alone. Already we have made a number of enemies, including the Wraith; our common enemy. The sole fact that we are all living here on the same planet and that we are all gathered here tonight is proof enough that we recognize the need to fight this battle together," she sincerely told them, spreading her arms to include everyone on the pier. At the moment the city was empty: everyone was gathered on the pier. She knew it was a risk, but she had done her best to minimize the risk factor. Rodney, Chuck and a few other people were here with their tablets and all control room functions were routed through their computers. In the shadows on the pier were several puddle jumpers in easy reach and the city had been put into low alert. All this had been done for she had thought it imperative that everyone be included in this monumental decision tonight: together.

Slowly she lowered her arms and turned a full circle to look at everybody. She could almost feel the power of their expectation beating in the air. Some of those gathered here already knew what the speech was leading up to, but some did not. But by the time she had finished her speech she hoped to have convinced most to her side.

When she had finally turned to face those that had come from earth, she continued her speech. "We recognize the need to stand together, and yet we are divided. Look around you," she invited. "Even now many of you wear the flag of your country of origin on your arm." As she spoke she opened her hand so that everyone could see her American flag she had been holding. "We agree that we should fight this enemy together, and yet we are not one people." Now she turned towards the other two groups as well. "We are not one group, we are a group divided. We are American, Canadian, French, South African," she held out her hands toward those from Pegasus. "We are Athosian, Satedan and though Keras told me you had no name for yourself, you are a group of over three hundred that came here from the planer M7G-677 to join Atlantis."

Once more she took a deep breath, for now came the part that would either gain Atlantis a new community or that would break this tentative group up forever. When she exhaled she lifted her chin even more, but narrowed her eyes. Her eyes fell on Keras and the serious young man smiled at her. She smiled back.

"Tonight we are gathered to make that one final choice: are we one community or just a group of people who happen to live together? Perhaps it would be easy to believe we can continue as we have, yet before we make the final decision, there is one last fact that needs to be considered," she told them and determinedly turned towards the humans from earth. "The news have already spread that a great many of us women are pregnant. But of those of you who are expectant parents, for how few of you is it really easy to know of which nation your child will be? The children expected in this group will have mixed parents. Already the boundaries of the countries we originated in have been broken down beyond repair. So why not take the final step and break that last bond? Tonight all of us have the choice to no longer be of separate nations," she now turned to include the Athosians and the kids again, "but one strong community here on this planet. Tonight everyone that has the courage to make that step will truly be a citizen of Atlantis: will be an Atlantean!" she ended her speech. On that note she turned towards the two groups from the Pegasus galaxy. Part of the speech was to be done by Teyla and Keras and they had carefully written the script for the night in hopes to lead everyone to make the right decision.

On cue, but with such dignity that had Elizabeth not known to expect it she would have thought it was an impulsive action, Teyla and Keras stepped forward. Teyla was dressed in her blue ceremonial gown and Elizabeth had to agree it really resembled her own outfit. Well, that had been the plan, hadn't it?

"I am Teyla Emmagan, leader of the Athosian people," she began. "On the same day that you stepped through the Stargate and came here from earth, we Athosians left Athos and stepped through the gate as well. In many ways we have been as much a part of the awakened Atlantis as had those that had come from earth." Slightly the golden woman inclined her head. "We have spoken among ourselves and we of the Athosian people would be honoured to call ourselves Atlanteans. As we are of the last of a people we would like to keep that name alive. Therefore I propose the name of the mainland to be Athosia and we will be the Atlanteans who live on that land."

Without a moment's delay Keras lifted his head and spoke; looking at Elizabeth as Teyla had done, but addressing everyone. "I am Keras. On the eve of the day I was to make the ritual sacrifice that would end my life, these Atlanteans came to our world. They were a group of people who had just recently arrived here in this galaxy and they had problems of their own. Yet they took the time to help us and it is due to them that we no longer have to make that sacrifice," he explained to those gathered on the pier. Elizabeth was just happy he had been willing to skip over the part where Rodney had stolen their ZPM and had intended to leave them unprotected. "We, too, have spoken among ourselves and we, too, would be honoured to be called Atlanteans."

Keras' speech ended and Elizabeth turned towards those from earth. Of those gathered only Sitnalta had known fully what the night would entail: she had not even told John all of it, for she had felt everyone needed to make the choice on their own. Sitnalta she had told for in a very real sense Sitnalta was already Atlantean – the only true Atlantean perhaps.

Except that Elizabeth considered herself to be Atlantean as well. Earth had betrayed her six months ago when they had told her she had to stay on Atlantis because she was not welcome on earth with the heavy amount of nanites inside her. Now she spoke one final time.

"I have made my decision long ago," she declared and tossed her badge in the chest. Then she held her breath and waited.

The first to step forward was John and her heart actually fluttered. She had been anxious about his reaction in the infirmary about finding out she was pregnant, but when he had put his arms around her and declared to everyone he was going to be a dad she had fallen in love all over again.

"Well," he drawled while looking at her, but speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. His eyes smiled at her. "I've made my choice back on earth the day I had agreed to steal the city," he declared. With a single motion he ripped off his flag and tossed it in the chest. As he turned to leave he suddenly stopped and turned slightly to look back at her again. Then he reached inside his top and pulled out his dog-tags. "Though these have some sentimental value, I guess they do not tell the truth anymore," he said with a cocky grin. "Here it says I am Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard of the United Stated of America Air Force." He lifted the tags over his head and held them over the chest where his badge already waited. "That's not really me anymore, is it?" he said and dropped the tags. Then he leaned over and quickly kissed Elizabeth on the lips, breaking the solemn mood and the spell that had seemed to keep everyone silent for the past ten minutes. Elizabeth wanted to throttle him, for she had hoped to introduce the subject of the blue beads with the first person the throw in his badge, but now he had spoiled the moment – and she loved him for it.

Just then Rodney surprised her by stepping forward, clutching his tablet. "Well, I guess I've made my choice as well," he said. "But what's with the beads?" he asked and waved with his finger in the direction of the bowls. Elizabeth had the urge to kiss him for that opening.

She leaned over and picked up one of the bowls. "Until anyone comes up with a different idea, this will be your new passport," she explained. "Everyone that is willing to be Atlantean will wear one of these."

"Oh," he said and took one. "A good enough idea, I guess," he said and turned as if to leave. John put his hand on the scientist's shoulder.

"Rodney, aren't you forgetting something?" he asked. The other man looked at him, perplexed. Then realization hit him.

"Oh, yes, of course," he said and first plucked off his Canadian flag and then his dog-tags, dropping them into the chest unceremoniously. Then he went to back to the crowd to stand next to Sitnalta. John, too, took a bead and went back to his place. By now Teyla and Keras had joined Elizabeth in the centre and each held a bowl of beads.

"Everyone that wishes to be Atlantean can take one of these," Teyla repeated Elizabeth's earlier statement. For another moment the crowd stood frozen. Then, one by one and later in groups, people stepped forward to receive a bead and, in the case of those from earth who still wore their flags and dog-tags, dropped those into the chest. Ten minutes later the ceremony was finished and the bowls empty except for the three beads that would go to Elizabeth, Teyla and Keras each. Elizabeth turned around and as though sensing her movement so did the other two.

"Thank you, my friends," she said as she reached into her bowl and took the last bead. She held out her hand towards Teyla and the other woman took the bead from her. In turn Keras hand his bead to Elizabeth and Teyla handed hers to him. In the Athosian tradition they pressed their heads together as they took the bead from the other. This part had not been scripted, but it seemed like a natural step. Perhaps a bit over the top, but necessary.

Then they turned to leave and Elizabeth suddenly thought of something. "Keras," she said, turning back towards the young man. "Seeing as you used to be a rather young population, I suspect you know much about raising kids?" she asked. He nodded and she smiled. "Good, because we're going to need some help in the city in a few months' time. We're expecting about a hundred and sixteen kids to be born within about two months of each other."

He grinned at her. "When you said you were expecting a lot af babies I thought you were talking about a dozen or so," he exclaimed. "How did this happen?"

She sighed. "I really have no idea," she admitted.

#####

The meeting had broken up about an hour ago and everyone had returned to their tasks. As it was late most have gone to bed, but John, Elizabeth, Rodney and Sitnalta, along with Teyla and Ronon (who had also been at the ceremony) had made a final round of the control room and environs. The night shift was already at the controls above the Stargate. For once there had been no incoming calls, no attacking Wraith and no internal threat that could have interrupted the meeting. In fact, everything was quiet on Atlantis.

So now the six friends had retired for the night. In John and Elizabeth's room there was an air of excitement. Elizabeth was ecstatic about how well the meeting had gone and John self was happy that everyone had taken a blue bead. Even one person refusing to become an Atlantean would have broken her heart. But then again, John thought to himself with a grin as he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, that had been one of the reasons why he had shot and evicted Kavanagh back on earth. Man, that had felt good.

Still grinning he returned to the main room to find Elizabeth seated cross-legged on the bed. When she saw him come in, she dropped the strand of beads in her hair and he saw she had added the blue bead to the end of that strand. As she sat there he thought he had never seen someone as beautiful in his life.

"Come here," she said and patted the bed next to her. Happily he strolled over, expecting something nice from her. Instead, the moment he sat down she turned his head around for him and scooted up to sit behind him. Then he felt her hands in his hair and he suddenly understood her intentions.

"Oh, no you don't!" he exclaimed and started to get up. But before he could do so she pushed down on his head – hard enough that he sat back down.

"Sit still," she commanded him. He sighed and did as se had told him to. He figured he could always get rid of the braid she was putting in his hair to attach the bead to. He had thought to wear the bead around his wrist, but it seemed as if she had other plans.

"I can't wear that in my hair," he complained. "On you it looks really sexy. On me it will look..."

"Just as wonderful," she finished for him. He realised she had finished and he turned around to look at her. He picked up the strand hanging next to his ear and looked at it. The bead had been attached to the end of some black cord that she had braided into his hair. Now the damn thing hung to just above his shoulder. Dropping the bead, he looked over at her to tell her he wasn't planning on wearing it. Then he saw her expression. On her face was that same look she had given him in the infirmary before Jennifer had told them she was pregnant. Mentally he sighed as he realised he had lost this fight. When she looked at him that way with those big blue eyes filled with hope he just couldn't do anything to break her heart. He had done that too often in the past, but now he had promised himself he would do everything he can not to break her heart ever again.

Then she suddenly leaned over and kissed him. Her expression was one of utter female victory. Well, he might not be able to break her heart, he decided, but he definitely could make love to her.

With a grin he suddenly reached over and pulled her on top of him. As she fell he kissed her – deeper this time. She kissed back and his hands went around her ribs to the single tie that held her dress toghether at the back. As he pulled at the ends he grinned at her.

"I think you're going to need a couple more of these dresses," he told her. She frowned at him.

"Why?" she wanted to know.

"Well, you are the leader of almost a thousand Atlanteans, you know. You're going to have to dress the part," he said as her dress came loose.

"Somehow I don't think that's the real reason for getting more of these," she smiled.

Just then her dress fell open and John had to agree, that was another tempting reason. Then all thoughts fled as she leaned over once more to kiss him.