A/N: Happy New Year! I hope it is exciting and full of laughter and mystery for all!
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:
Camille gave her report and then took her leave. She returned to Sharon who was surprised to see her. And at first glance everything was where it was supposed be and so Camille relaxed.
Everett had returned to Destiny. He discussed with Rush what happened on Earth. Rush asked him if he had told TJ of the cure. Everett then went to see TJ. He told her that Diablo had developed for real a cure and she obtained the phial and began studying it.
He stopped at the dome to check on Dr. Park who seemed happy but needed someone with her 24/7 and then at the brewery where Mr. Brody admitted the new distillation system.
Everett then visited the bridge. Rush and Chloe were there studying the power logs and the deletion points. They confirmed everything Diablo had told them. But the mystery of it had remained.
Camille returned home ahead of time to surprise her lover with a cooked meal. While looking around, she began to notice little things but ignored them. Sharon returned home and practically shoved out of the kitchen.
Camille continued looking around and the little things started to pile up and when she finally opened the safe she most of things that were not present. She found things that she sincerely she did not.
Sharon tries to explain but Camille gets the picture pretty quickly. She is heartbroken and nothing can change that.
The next day she returned to Destiny and confronted Diablo. He apologized and explained that his abilities are a curse sometimes.
And now:
Chapter 8
Colonel Samantha Carter has been recalled to Homeworld Command along with Dr. Daniel Jackson to assess the new situation on the ancient ship Destiny. She had been briefed on the development there so at the next check-in the two arrived there (occupying the bodies Lt. James and Prvt. Becker).
"Colonel, Dr. Jackson, welcome." Colonel Young greeted them.
"Colonel Young! " Samantha replied. "Thank you for having us."
"I trust you want to see the new guests." Colonel Young said.
"Actually, not right away," Samantha declined. "Homeworld Command wants me to check the status of the ship's repairs first. "
"Very well, " Colonel Young said. "Follow me!"
Everett took them on a tour of all the repairs that have been done to the ship. Diablo had fixed most problems but since they were awake they got on fixing some of the other problems. They had made significant progress.
The prolonged stay was welcomed by the crew as it gave the opportunity to visit Earth and be with their relatives. Lt. James and Prvt. Becker however on this visit were going to stay strictly in the vicinity of homeworld command as they did not occupy just anyone's bodies.
"This is very impressive, Colonel." Daniel observed when the tour ended.
"Yes, I agree." Samantha said. "I am curious. Your report said that this individual fixed the ship while still in FTL?"
"Yes, he and his friend did." Everett confirmed.
"From another dimension?"
"Yes,"
"How were they able to shift materials through?"
"Apparently, the one called Viz exists in several dimensions simultaneously allowing him to bridge them and import objects as well." Nicolas explained as he joined them.
"A natural ability?"
"It would seem so."
"But you are not sure?"
"We asked them for a demonstration and we got this." Nicholas replied and showed them on the screen the kino footage where broken objects from their dimension suddenly vanished and then reappeared again fixed. "Destiny's sensors are not advanced enough to pick up the things we need to fully confirm that. Mrs. Armstrong and I are working on that but it takes time."
"That's very impressive," Samantha said. "If we can harness this knowledge it would open for us many new possibilities. Merlin's device allows us to shift objects and even planets through the dimensions but we cannot bridge them to bring additional items with us and vice versa."
"Colonel, have you decided if they would stay onboard yet?" Daniel asked changing the subject a bit.
"The crew is on leave, Doctor Jackson, but once they return we will sit down and discuss this." Everett replied.
"Well, we are here to assess that too." Daniel said.
"Do you want to meet them?"
"Sure, where are they?"
"They are in the new brig they built." Nicholas answered. "It is very much like the one on Atlantis though slightly different."
"Lead the way,"
They ventured into the detention level. They arrived at the brig. Samantha noticed it was a square area with force field walls from top to bottom. But they were currently opaque.
"Is this normal?" She asked.
"Yes, privacy mode," Everett replied.
"You control this too?"
"They do too." Nicholas added.
"WHAT?" Samantha exclaimed baffled. But she noticed they found it perfectly normal. "So you have no way of knowing if they are there or not?"
"Actually, we do, Colonel." Nicholas said. "Internal sensors confirm they are in."
"Can they hear us while this is up?" Daniel asked.
"At its current power no," Nicholas replied.
The opaque effect vanished. Everett lifted it. They saw a man with his back turned to them in a meditative position. The other one was leaning against the wall apparently asleep.
"Diablo, it is time we talked." Everett said.
Diablo emerged from his meditation. He stood up and faced them. He took one look at Lt James and Prvt. Becker and smiled. His eyes moved between them and the other two.
"Colonel," He turned to Samantha who seemed startled. "And the other one, I would say civilian, not military, and gives the vibe of a nerd."
"That is a good guess." Samantha said.
"Not really, Colonel..." Diablo looked at Everett who just muttered it. "Carter. Your auras do not match those of Prvt Becker and Lt James. Colonel Young stands by your aside as equal ergo you are of similar or equal rank.
Prvt Becker is a cook who should be currently in the kitchen but he's obviously on leave. His body is currently starring with intense curiosity but controlled desire. If I had to venture a guess, Colonel, I would say either a librarian or an archaeologist."
Samantha and Daniel were actually very impressed. They did not get the part of the auras but the rest was spot on.
"Auras?" Samantha decided to explore.
"Every person, object, planet, or whatever has an aura. If you prefer you could call it a halo."
"And how can you see them?"
"Every species with their own abilities, Colonel,"
"Can we see them?" Daniel asked.
"It is possible if you are aligned with the universe or when you have evolved sufficiently." Diablo replied.
"You mean when we ascend?" Daniel asked.
Diablo immediately frowned. "Colonel Young,"
"Yes,"
"What is it with your kind and that kind of ascension? That is something I can truly not understand."
"Ascension is the highest level of evolution. When one sheds his burdens and fear and transforms his body into a state of pure energy and seeks..."
"Enlightenment," Diablo finished.
"Yes,"
"Is your entire species this backwards or is it just these two?"
"Backwards?" Daniel flared up.
"There are many forms of enlightenment, my dear boy. And for one to abandon his current form so he can pursue something he can easily achieve in his current form is to say the least idiotic and pointless."
"I am sorry, Dr. Jackson, but Diablo has a different view on evolution than us." Nicholas said.
"Obviously," Daniel said. He did not like that description.
The way he took the criticism however intrigued Diablo. "Oh, well, that explains it."
"What explains what?" Viz asked joining the conversation.
"So that is why you are so passionate about it, Dr. Jackson, you have already been in that form. Tell me, did you reach your enlightenment?"
"Yes, I did." Daniel retorted.
"Oh, I see. It has been so great that you are back in your own form." Diablo replied caustically.
"You have never been in it so what would you know about it?"
"Daniel,"
"A lot more than you, Doctor," Diablo replied. "Tell me when you were ascended did you see the form of the sun the way you see it now or did you see something different? Did you see a ball of gas or a game of particles?"
"The sun looks the same."
"So he did not see it?" Viz concluded.
"No, he did not bother to look. When you used your power in any way, how did it make you feel?"
"I did not feel it. It is part of me. It felt normal like walking and breathing."
Diablo laughed and shook head. "You achieved ascension with the help of another ascended being didn't you?"
"Yes, how can you know that?"
Diablo continued to laugh. "You circumvented nature, Dr. Jackson. If you had achieved ascension that way your kind strives for on your own, then you would have felt your abilities at every single turn. Walking as you say, it still makes you feel your body and that is something that humans take with them no matter their form. You know so little of your own kind.
Your body changes form yes but so does your DNA. And it is written in the humans' DNA to feel everything. Call it a muscle memory. I know your body transformed but so did your muscles and they remember what it is to walk, to drink, to eat, to think, to hit, to love, to fall, to endure, to feel pain, and they translate that into your new state.
Since you circumvented nature however you do not feel anything. You have assumed the form of the one who helped you, emulating it to the nth degree. This time it is your reflective cells (the ones in your brain) that take over. They are one responsible for us when we smile because we emulate those in front of us. Laughter, cry and all these little emotions that we share with the rest come from them.
To be honest, Dr. Jackson, I feel a great deal of pity for you. You had the chance to shift forms but instead of being yourself you were someone else's idea of what you could be. If the chance presents itself again with the help of some of those, then choose not to."
"But then he will die." Samantha said.
"Colonel Carter, are you by any chance a scientist as well?"
"Yes, astrophysicist,"
"Ah, I could have sworn you are not. What is the question that drives science forwards, Colonel?"
"What if?"
"And that question doesn't apply in this situation because?"
"Well...um..."
"That's what I thought. Are you so stuck up that you can't consider another possibility? Is your experience and knowledge so narrow that you think that there are only two options die or ascend their way?" Diablo said. "Dr. Jackson, what is the number of the human being?"
"Three,"
"Try again,"
"Twenty three,"
"Do you know why?"
"The human mind sees truth in all things with this number."
"Yes but why?"
"Three represents the cycle of life – birth, life and death."
"And two?"
"Right or wrong, left of right,"
"Close," Diablo nodded approvingly. "Colonel Carter! When you stand how many sides do you see? The human eye sees 90 degrees from left to right and forwards, three sides. But humans identify everything with two sides – left and right, up and down, forwards and backwards, hot and cold, love and hate, and so on. That's why humans see truth in all things when they find these parameters.
In space that has been something of a problem as there is no up and down, no left and no right, no general direction. But how did they do it? Humans will always find an anchor and they will call it the beginning, the start point.
If you were walking on your ship on the downside of its wings you will consider yourself upside down however if you lock your eyes onto the hull then up becomes down and everyone else you see will be upside down.
My point being humans always find a way. If we were so stuck up to think that there only two options then we would exist in a two dimensional space."
Daniel had to admit that he has a point. "But if I choose not to then what?"
"That depends on you. Do you believe in yourself or don't you? The last time it did not work for you because you did not believe in yourself. Instead you chose to believe in the one before you and reached only what you could understand. You did not open yourself to the universe you opened yourself to what these beings look in your eyes. They are not you."
Everett had to admit the power that streamed from Diablo was incredible. His knowledge surpassed theirs. And he admitted he was right. They did look up at the achievement of the Ancients trying to emulate it but could not reach beyond that.
Everett felt that the others began to understand that too. He could see it in their eyes. The respect they had now for him had grown.
"And congratulations, Doctor," Diablo said after a while seeing what his words have achieved. It had brought a smile to him.
"For what?" Daniel asked perplexed.
"You achieved your first enlightenment and it did not involve ascension to a higher plane of existence."
"It is more of a revelation."
"Which is the same thing," Diablo corrected him.
Daniel truly has not thought of it that way. But Diablo had put a new perspective on it. He chose to ascend so he can explore it and study it, and to escape death. But he did not truly and full heartily choose to ascend. And he did indeed take the form of the ascended Ancients. But was there really another possibility? Could he have transformed into something different? He guessed he would find out when the possibility presents itself (and if it does he would chose differently).
"Now, shall we return to why you are really here?" Diablo said.
"Diablo," Nicholas spoke. He wanted to see the auras again. "Can we? Can see them again if only for a moment?"
Diablo looked at him for a long time then sighed. "Very well, Dr. Rush,"
"See what?"
"Auras, Dr. Jackson." Nicolas replied.
Diablo closed his eyes and calmed his breathing. He crossed his arms and continued breathing, and when they started to wonder he opened his eyes. But the brown had vanished. It was replaced by the state of pure energy. And they gaped.
And for a moment each of them saw each other's auras. It looked like the halo from the religious icons but it was more in the form of an energy rainbow that seemed to tremble or flicker.
"That...that...was...amazing." Daniel exclaimed. "How did you do that?"
"I aligned you temporarily with the universe, Dr. Jackson." Diablo answered. His eyes had returned to normal.
This experience has been transforming for Samantha. She had met powerful beings before but not quite as powerful as this one. Lt. Johansen had shown her the CAT scan she had done on Diablo. And she noticed his brain operated at all times at 25% capacity. It was just two point five to five times higher than the usual human brain activity. And yet the power display of this being outmatched that of the ascended Ancients.
She began to wonder if they did not get it wrong after all. The Ancients have set the base parameters by which they guided themselves. But were these parameters true for the human race? The Asgard had also set parameters and they tried to follow them. But was this all they could achieve? Or was there something more?
Still she composed herself because they have come to do a job. The level of power she had witnessed was not that disturbing as Camille Wray had pointed out. But he did confirm doing all the repairs and Everett and Nicholas had briefed her on the raw power that passed through the shield relay station, and she staggered to hear that he exposed himself willing to that.
She learnt from the other one, Viz, that Diablo had suffered multiple wounds and that his blood still adorned the corridors but he had recovered pretty quickly which suggested high regenerative abilities. She went to these corridors and saw the blood herself. She attempted to collect a sample but failed. Viz explained that can happen only with Diablo's approval. She asked what that meant and learnt that even though the blood had left his body it still belonged to it which was impossible in her understanding of the physical universe. She did ask Diablo why he had not allowed them to clean the blood and he replied 'you never know when it would become useful again.'
She saw him them doing some incredible things and confirmed her original thought. He was extremely powerful. She also learnt that his powers were going to only grow even more. She had also some trouble with the concept of another universe despite the logical explanation. She could not reconcile how their universes were so alike and yet so different. She thought of that as a parallel universe but he disagreed with her again. Still she was entitled to her own opinion.
She wondered though based on her experience what to recommend. On one hand, Camille Wray was right to be worried. He was more powerful than anything they had dealt with but on the other hand he was just a normal being with feelings and thoughts, fears and hopes. He was very opinionated, very annoying when he wanted, stubborn and downright offensive but all in all a normal being.
She decided to recommend that he remains onboard as he would definitely be an asset to the mission for as long as he chooses to be with them. However she thought it prudent they impose certain rules on him too as he was going to be part of a team and it is never good when one takes unilateral actions.
She also felt that he was keeping things from them. She sensed that when he told the story and she wanted to hear it from him. She imagined that there could be many reasons for that. And then there was the issue with Dr. Perry and Ginn for whom he had built bodies, well grown but still. She had trouble with the digital DNA part mostly because they have not discovered that yet.
"If you could truly see the guts of your computer, Colonel, you will have an entirely different opinion and appreciation about it." Diablo had said when she had come to discuss it.
"Tron, he defends the users." Eli exclaimed out of place. Diablo looked at him but smiled. He had no idea how true that statement was.
"What?" Samantha had said.
"Never mind," Nicholas interrupted. "It is one of Eli's many useless references. This is the real world."
Samantha looked at Diablo and got the impression he found Eli's comment rather true. And it made her wonder. Still, her analysis of the situation onboard was complete. She and Dr. Jackson could return now home and report it.
To be continued...
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Lordheaven