Mystery Solved
Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate Universe belong to MGM. The characters of the Four Orders are entirely my own.
AU/SGU/FO: A powerful being from another universe appears on the Destiny just as Eli's time had run out. Stranded on the ship he has to figure out how to go home and the best way is to help the crew of Destiny.
Season Three – 'The envoy of the Gods'
Premise:
The crew of the Destiny had gotten into stasis as they planned to ride out the issues they had in the current galaxy. Stasis was to last 3 years until the Destiny reached the next galaxy (hopefully). It was supposed to be a dreamless state...
But it was anything but dreamless. The ship's AI had induced dreams for some but another being had other plans for them. It warned them that the universe is in danger and armed them with the knowledge they would need to survive the apocalypse.
Diablo and Viz had fixed their ship as best as they could and woke them up. Their reaction had been pretty as much as they had figured. But the discoveries they had made were invaluable not to mention they had allies they did not know they had. Once everything had been explained the crew of Destiny has an important decision to make...
Previously:
Diablo told his story in its entirety but keeping only for himself only the parts he still did not understand fully. He noticed the crew's mood and it was full of amazement but also with growing fear, which was to be expected.
When he finished, he excused himself to the brig as he thought it best that way. He would have been happy to answer their questions but springing something this big on any crew could take a turn in the wrong direction.
Colonel Young tried to restore order as the crew erupted with tons of questions and demands and began answering questions to the best of his abilities.
Meanwhile Diablo and Viz discussed his decision to leave and why. Diablo explained that it is for the good of the crew to leave Colonel Young deal with the problem for the moment. They still have things to share with them but only when they get a better understanding of them.
Colonel Young, Camille and Rush visit them in the brig. There Camille makes a move to establish herself as the dominant authority but Diablo quickly sees through her intentions.
He then makes a personal observation that her relationship with Sharon has come to an end and naturally Camille refused to believe it so she headed for the stones to prove him wrong and get the authority to get rid of him and his sidekick.
Meanwhile Diablo used his abilities on Colonel Young though not for long as Sgt. Greer appeared distressed of Camille's insistence to use the stones. As the Colonel and Dr. Rush left Diablo sensed they were observed, and invites the observer to speak.
And now:
Chapter 6
Chloe did not expect to be discovered but apparently she had underestimated the range of Diablo's abilities. She was not sure how to approach the subject. The being that showed her everything that she heard told today has asked her not to reveal his presence. Well, he did not say it but she sensed it implied it. Still she found it difficult to resist the temptation.
She had seen with her own eyes the sacrifices and the pain these two suffered to get their ship in shape. She also suspected Camille would do anything in her power to get rid of them. She like any other feared that which they can't control.
Chloe was certain that this brig can't hold Diablo and his sidekick. But they entered it voluntarily and she knew why. They wanted the crew to feel safe. And it was a very noble gesture if somewhat unnecessary given that they can leave it at any given moment.
She also knew how they came to this universe. But that is the part she sensed the one who showed her that did not want them to know yet. Keeping secrets is something that she learnt when she was much younger than now. He had told her she would remember everything in due time but when she woke up from stasis she remembered vividly everything. Apparently the being had expected that she would forget it all and then remember it at some point. But it has not worked that way.
So now, she wondered how to proceed. She understood well that these two believed firmly that they were here for a reason. But saving Destiny was only part of the equation. She wondered if they would stay if the reason had been fulfilled and now that she heard their conversation knew they would not.
But she held the key to that knowledge. And she intended to keep it. It was not a selfish decision. She heard them well. If the reason had been fulfilled then he would remember or someone else will tell him. She knew she was the one but was the reason truly fulfilled. By their conversation, she got the impression that this is not the case.
She approached but still has not decided what to say. She stood before them silently. She noticed Diablo's scanning look. She hoped he can't read her thoughts.
Diablo did indeed study her. But there was something odd about her and that surprised him though he did not show it. He could not see her aura. It stood hidden. And this was not something that happened to him often. His interest was definitely piqued.
"Mrs. Armstrong," He tried again to elicit some reply from her but she remained speechless.
"What's wrong with her?" Viz asked noticing Diablo's interest in her. "Oh, I see. She's fascinated by you, again."
Diablo interrupted his investigation and looked at his sidekick for a moment then burst into laughter.
"What did I say?" Viz exclaimed defensively.
"Mrs. Armstrong's silence has nothing to do with my charms, you pervert." Diablo replied.
"Well humans are strange."
"All creatures are." Diablo said.
"No, humans are stranger than most."
"I trust when you figure it out, Mrs. Armstrong, you will come to visit again." Diablo said ignoring Viz's comment and raised his hand. The force field became opaque and they disappeared from her eyes.
Meanwhile, Everett reached the room where he held the communication stones. He found Camille pacing nervously before it and Lt. James keeping her company.
"Colonel," Lt. James saluted tensing up a bit.
"At ease, Lieutenant, " Everett said. "Leave us."
"Yes, sir,"
Everett opened the door and they got in but he did not open the case containing the stones yet.
"Camille, I know this has been a difficult day but…"
"We have to speak with Earth." She interrupted.
"Yes, we do but once you have calmed down." Everett said seriously. "I know he's managed somehow to get under your skin but this is not the reason for rash actions."
"This thing is a danger to all of us. And I am sorry you can't see that. We have to get rid of it."
"That thing, Camille, saved us."
"So he says,"
"Rush and Eli have already independently confirmed this. We would have drifted and wake up when probably the human civilization would have ceased to exist."
"Alright, he is right about one thing." Camille replied belligerently. "But he is still a danger to the crew."
"Camille, if he had wanted to harm us, he would have done it already. He could have easily shut down the life support and we would have all died in our sleep."
"That is not a reason to trust it."
"No, it is not but it is a start." Everett said. "Look, I know this is too much probably. But we have to give him the benefit of a doubt. He has earned that much."
"No, we don't."
"Camille, he has single handedly fixed most of the ship, provided comfort accommodations we could have only dreamt of."
"So he's buying our trust with treats, and you are buying it?"
Everett signed deeply. He knew it would not be that easy. "I get your point. I am not saying we trust him but we are giving him a chance…"
"Or maybe he boarded our ship and created all these problems, and now he's the only fixture for them."
"Alright, I will bite. To what end?"
"I do not know. Maybe he will sell us as slaves or worse."
"We are all under duress, Camille. But justice requires of us to treat all fairly."
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"Truthfully, I am terrified. He is the sort of being we have never met. You are right. There is some danger. The situation is somewhat volatile. But then again so was the situation two years ago.
You know when the shuttle returned with our people and we got a taste of what these super beings can do. I was horrified that they will return and snap us out of existence, and we would have never seen it coming. But they did not. And we are still here.
And then we met with the aliens that transformed Chloe. That experience was just as terrifying. And though I still believe that they were interested more in the ship than us, I still have nightmares about it.
However so far, all the aliens, we have met have been trying to gain something from us or simply wipe us out. This one is different. He and his sidekick spent the time, their own time, to fix the ship while still in FTL, even in Rush's book that is considered insane.
And while I agree that there may have been some personal survival involved they did not have to go to all this trouble to protect the ship, to repair it, to make clothes, dishes, grow food, and God knows what else just for the fun of it.
My God, Camille, I am still trying to picture how Diablo went inside the shield relay station (which is by the way smaller than he is) to remove debris while exposed to the sheer raw power of the ship. I get Goosebumps just thinking about it. I can't imagine the sheer willpower to do such a thing and on top of everything he knew the risk and did not care. All he cared in that moment was how to boost the shields.
I mean what kind of person does that – the one that wants to harm us or help us. What do you think?"
"I will admit there is truth in your words. I respect them. But you have to see this from a different angle."
"I do get your angle. You want to find a way to control him and you can see that this is probably never going to happen. And that scares you. If it will make you feel better, it scares me too.
You are right. We do not know him. And that takes time. And yes, the easier and the safest way would be to space him. But we can use him because he needs us."
"And when that backfires?"
"It is not the first time we have made such alliances. It is not going to be the last."
"I will still voice my protest to the IOA and home world command. And besides, as you indicated he has been on the ship as long as we have been. It doesn't seem that he needs us at all."
"On the surface, it may look this way. But he did not go through all this trouble just to make it comfortable for himself."
"Alright, I will keep an open mind about this. I am still against it but I will keep an open mind."
Everett was relieved momentarily. He knew she has not given up yet but it was a beginning. "Alright, we will make contact with Earth, tomorrow, on cooler heads. Agreed?"
"Fine,"
Camille headed directly to the brig and found it opaque. She could not see anything. She flared up. She knew it. This thing can't be trusted.
"Is there a particulate reason, Mrs. Wray, you have decided to interrupt my rest?"
She heard Diablo's voice from inside the force field who then resumed its transparency.
"I wanted to make sure you are still in."
"Oh, I am touched at your concern."
"No, you are not."
"I know that you are pissed at me and that it has nothing to do with my abilities."
"That's not true. I thought you are a danger the moment you came and…"
"Yes, that is the interesting part." Diablo said and stood up. "I observed you during the time I spoke to your crew. And I don't think your hostility has anything to do with me."
"Really? You think you know me?"
"It is not about knowing you, Mrs. Wray. It is about what I observed. When I came atop the stairs and spoke with Colonel Young, you have not yet looked at me. And yet, you were trembling like you have endured something traumatizing.
And then when you started listening you stood attentive. It was like you were waiting for something. And then when you heard about certain part of my abilities you started trembling again.
Now, I can only assume that whatever you experienced while in stasis is directly responsible for your behavior now.
Also the moment I tackled you about your aura and relationship with your girlfriend, you trembled again but this time not in fear. Oh, no, that was anger. So I can assume that whatever Destiny showed you must have been quite disturbing.
And now you are projecting your powerlessness on me. I know that while on Earth you will use your vile to sully me in front of your superiors but I also know that you will change your tune when you confront your lover.
Now if you do not mind, I will return to my rest." Diablo said and the force field became opaque again and he vanished from her eyes.
Camille's nostrils had not flared down. She was positively pissed. 'He's wrong.' But deep down she had to admit reluctantly that he was right. Her fear was different. She feared that the silhouette she saw in that star forest was him. She had seen what it had done to Lt. Johansen. And she feared it had returned to torment them further. And she got confirmation when it started insinuating that Sharon has moved on or cheated on her. She can't believe anything it says.
The next day, she had barely slept. She kept turning in her bed. Still she pretended with Colonel Young that everything is fine. He used the stone first and the person that appeared told her that they have to wait. Then Colonel Young returned.
"Now what?"
"We wait for an hour or two for them to make the necessary arrangements and we jump in."
"Good," She said. "How's the crew handling our guests?"
"They still have a lot of questions but so far rather calmly. We are slowly returning to our routines. I imagine when we have settled they would want a face-to-face with our guests."
Two hours later, they used the stones. They ended up in an airman and airwoman. They were taken to homeworld command where the brass of the IOA had come as well.
"Colonel Young, it is good to hear from you." General Landry greeted them.
"Where is General O'Neill?" Everett asked. He did not want to sound offensive but rather surprised not seeing him here.
"General O'Neill is on a sensitive mission." General Landry replied. "Mrs. Wray,"
"We have one of hell of a debriefing to give." Camille said piquing everyone's interest.
"Yes, I figured you do." General Landry agreed. "You arrived one year earlier."
"That's just the tip of the iceberg." Everett said. "Camille,"
"You want me to tell the story?"
"Yes, it is only fair."
"Alright," Camille said. She had to bury the hatchet with Everett but she did not intend to give any quarters to Diablo, and so she dove in…
To be continued...
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Lordheaven