I have had to split this final chapter into several parts, here is the latest.
Hope to be publishing more often now the new year is here, hope you have a good one!
Stargate Hastings
Chapter twenty-one: Part three
Aboard New Atlantis, Abydos system.
Larry taking control of the situation was something not unexpected by Janus, only the timing of his intervention. Janus was counting on him to do so at some point or his children to intervene at his behest, but it was too soon. For now he had no choice but to continue as he would have, and promptly gave a neural command, that would inform the three Tok'ra it was time for them to make their entrance. As the two Female and one Male Tok'ra entered from behind the Tau'ri/Ancient delegation. Janus said to the Gau'auld present. "You may recognise two of the Tok'ra representatives, they have both been hunted by the System-Lords whilst joined with their current Hosts; The other is only recently joined, and I suspect she would take pleasure in introducing herself".
Instead of introducing herself, Egeria only stared at Heru'ur in shock, and then at Ra with a cold fury. She had been watching proceedings from the room that was adjoined to this one, but it was his eyes that were his mother's. It was the object of her rage, that broke the silence. "You recognise Medura's child? That was the name of your host was it not, Egeria?". Ra asked her, knowing that this would wound her far more than the torture he had subjected her to.
When they had returned to retrieve Medura's son, Ra had been waiting for them. The woman and the Jaffa they had entrusted him to had not been present, and Ra had not mentioned them or the child. Egeria had believed or hoped that they had escaped, with Ra laying in wait in hope that they would have returned. He must have known that the knowledge of their capture would destroy her, why had he not revealed it to her? "Why did you not tell me husband? You must have known what it would do to me!". Egeria asked him in a very stern voice, that was made even more so by the booming voice of the Symbiote.
Ra with an evil grin on his face replied. "I had intended to wife, but a father does not intentionally harm his child!".
"You are not his father!". Egeria spat at her former husband.
"I raised him, I nurtured him and then I made him a God. He is more my son than he is yours now wife, I even chose the most loyal of my children to join with him; Heru'ur never did care for you, but then you were not his mother were you!". Ra stated with venomous intent.
Before Egeria could reply, Heru'ur spoke up. "Would you like to speak with him Shol'va?". He asked with an evil grin spread across his own face.
Egeria knew what was coming, but she still indicated that she did. Their son was still an infant when they had left him behind, and she knew Ra would have treated him well. It was the one thing she actually admired about Ra, he genuinely cared for children and not in some weird twisted way. Once they became adults he tended to lose interest in them, but until then they were treated better than even his joined children.
Heru'ur's head dropped, then rose again with a furious expression on his face. "My father told me all about you Shol'va, how dare you betray him!". He said with the hatred he felt for her, plain to hear.
Egeria was overflowing with rage, but she pushed it down before answering him. "He is not your father, your father was a good man, your mother loved him very much. You will not remember her of that I am certain, but you must not believe what Ra has told you Grendar".
"Silence Shol'va!". The host screamed at her. "Heru'ur has shown me all I need to know of you and the other Shol'va who followed you, even of the Jaffa that you lay with behind my father's back; His was a slow and painful death!".
Larry had heard enough of this cruelty. Maybe Ra was irredeemable, he thought to himself. Among the knowledge Larry had learned about the Gau'auld, was the effect a species named the Reetou had upon them. He sent a focused pulse of the frequency that harms them at Ra, and then turned to Heru'ur and said. "Every time you use her love for you to harm her, I will hurt him! If you love your father as you claim, you will hold your tongue; Do we understand each other?". To make his point, he intensified his attack on Ra, with his screams growing louder as he did so.
Janus was shocked by what he was witnessing. "Larry stop!". He shouted.
Larry smiled at him, then asked. "Manipulating your own family into murdering their kin, and it is this that you draw the line at Janus?".
"This is not like you old friend, why are you doing this?". Janus asked him, with real concern in his voice.
Larry pointed to Ra who was still writhing in pain, then asked. "What he is feeling is nothing compared to what Egeria is feeling right now Janus, yet you are concerned for this one?".
"My concern is for you old friend, please do not do this?". Janus pleaded.
Larry looked to Egeria, then asked her. "The decision is yours my lady, it is you who he has wronged?".
Egeria thought about it for a moment, but the genuine concern that she saw on Grendar's face, made the decision for her. "Please release him". She said to Larry, then looked to her son. Medura was a part of her and always would be, that part would always see the man before her as her own.
Heru'ur's host did not speak, but he did seem to be grateful for her kindness if only for a moment. Ra who was recovering from his torture session, simply looked at Larry with hatred in his eyes. Jim started laughing to himself, but it slowly became real laughter and was accompanied with a slow clap. "Bravo! Bravo!". He said as if he had just watched a show in a concert hall. He then followed it up with. "Encore!". In the same fashion.
Larry looked at Jim, and then said. "James". Using the name he knew he hated, to convey his disappointment.
"What? This bastard ordered San'kha over there to do far worse than that to me!". He then looked at San'kha and asked. "Isn't that right brother?".
San'kha got the joke and replied. "Far worse Jeem! You took it better, I did not need more proof that he is not a God, but I am thankful that my eyes have been opened further brother!". The Free-Jaffa all showed agreement with San'kha.
Jim then said to Larry. "If your a bit squeamish about all that, you could just send us somewhere else?". He looked at Ra to see if he understood the challenge, then added. "Kraytos has got a few issues he would like to go over with you as well".
Janus then reminded him of what he had previously told them. "I have already stated that there will be no violence here today James, we should move on from this".
Jim laughed before asking Janus. "You still believe that you are in control here, don't you?".
If he was to answer that question Janus would only look like a fool, he was no fool. He knew that he had lost control of the situation, his friend's presence had made that perfectly clear. Jim's question was merely confirmation that there was no way back from this, no private conversation with his friend would clear this up now. He took a deep breath, then turned to Larry and asked. "I am ready to be judged once you are finished here old friend, I expect my family will be a part of the process?".
"You are not getting off that easy old friend. You will live among your family on earth, and you will explain to them everything you have done. They will be your judges Janus, not me". Larry then said to Richard and the other Hastings family members. "He really is a genius, I would suggest that you use his knowledge rather than kill him; That decision is your own of course".
Larry then turned back to Janus and said. "By all means proceed old friend". Before Janus could say anything, he added. "I will be making adjustments, but it is best if they hear what you had planned for them".
Janus had faith in his friend, only he had never seen him like this before. His friend was incapable of feeling emotions, but he did understand and could mimic them. He had always been disgusted by acts of cruelty, with his reasoning being that it had no logically positive outcome. As he learned more about organic beings and there motivations or more importantly emotions; He would always say that his original deduction was still correct, only he now pitied organic being's. When Janus had pointed out to Larry or just Crystal at that time, that pity and disgust were emotions; he had countered by saying, that they were intellectual choices.
His friend had learned so much in the time that Janus had been ascended, which did not surprise him, he had counted on him learning. Janus had believed Larry to be incorruptible, but had he underestimated what having absolute power could do to even him. He assumed he would soon find out, one way or the other. "Very well...". He was cut off by laughter, coming from Larry and James.
Larry stopped laughing instantly, then said to Jim who was also laughing at the joke. "We should not tease him Jim, but I did make you laugh". Rachael then started laughing, getting the joke from when they had first met him, and he had told them that he would learn humour. "Her too". Larry added in a deadpan manner. He then turned to the Gau'auld and said. "They have the technology to defeat you without any risk to themselves, instead they were going to start a war that would get countless killed". He turned back to Janus, then asked. "Is that not correct Janus?".
"That is an over-simplification old friend". Janus replied.
"But an accurate one?". Larry asked in reply.
Richard thought he should come to his ancestor's aid, but knew it would be a pointless exercise. He also had a feeling that he was the next target. He was not one to shy away from his responsibilities so he decided to deflect the attention onto himself. "Where is the man assigned to guard you James? I am certain you will have a good explanation for all of this also Joseph?". He knew all that Janus had promised them was probably no longer available, but he still needed to know what the earth had at its disposal. He would take the coming attack on his ego, from both his friend and Larry, whatever he was? The thing he could not understand was why Joseph seemed to be with them? James had a Gau'auld Symbiote inside him, so it would be expected that he would turn on them, but why would Joseph?
It was Larry who answered him. "He is explaining the different animals in the cartoons to the children, he was just as amazed by them as they were. Joseph here, is the only person with access to a repository of knowledge, that I have created for your people; It contains everything you will need to begin exploring and colonising the galaxy, and my daughters will also be joining you as consultants; They were born on earth, only a very different one to your own. My son is in orbit of your world now, he will be teaching your people how to operate the vessel he is aboard, and in time build space faring vessels of your own; That is if he believes that you can be trusted with this knowledge! I hope that answers any questions you may have?".
Richard was appeased by Larry's answer, but he still felt that his ancestor required his support, so he said. "Yes I believe Joseph will be able to give me any further details, but Janus has explained his reasons for doing this, with you yourself validating his claims". He paused for a moment before asking. "What as changed?".
"Do you play chess Mr. Hastings?". Larry asked him.
"My uncle would say poorly, but yes I play on occasion". He replied.
"Then you understand that all of the pieces must be in place, before checkmate can be achieved. Yes?". Larry asked in a patronising manner.
"Checkmate?". Richard asked, not quite understanding him fully.
Larry looked over to Jim, who smiled in return and then returned his attention to Richard. "Stalemate actually, but only a temporary one".
Janus was pleased by his descendants attempt at defending him, and hoped it would make his trial a less challenging one, but he knew that when the truth came out, there would be no defending his actions. Rachael or more Importantly her father would see to that, and Janus could not blame them.
Robert Parker had been silent the entire time, not once showing any reaction to what was going on around him. He worried Janus most of all, when he learned the truth he expected the punishment would be death or slavery whilst in confinement. Janus did not know which would be worse, losing his freedom would be bad but he would adapt to it, facing the others again would be far worse he decided. They would most certainly intervene and help him to ascend again, letting him die unpunished would be unthinkable to them.
"Stalemate?" Janus asked Larry.
"Yes, a stalemate old friend! But like I have just said, it will only be a temporary one". Larry then looked around the table at all of the people gathered, and said. "I am truly sorry, but war is inevitable. I have spent many years trying to find a different solution, to the situation that we find ourselves in; However, those routes all lead to chaos and suffering". He turned to the four Gau'auld present, and continued. "I considered simply removing you all from your Host's, but the human Hosts that retained your knowledge, would either assume your roles as God's or be driven insane by that knowledge". Larry then turned to the Tok'ra and said. "I decided very quickly, that the Tok'ra replacing the Gau'auld and assuming their identities, would also lead us down a path not best taken".
Egeria nodded her head in agreement, but Selmac was not as understanding. "May I ask how you came to that conclusion?" She did not seem insulted, more curious.
Egeria turned to Selmac and said. "There are small uprisings that happen all over the Gau'auld domain, maybe even right now. Some are sparked by a single incident, others grow over generations. If we were to assume those roles, we would also assume their crimes". She let Selmac think for a moment, then asked her. "Why are the Gau'auld still in power, if there are all of these rebellions?"
"Because they either fail or are simply one world of thousands". Selmac replied.
Egeria smiled at her child, who she knew probably had more life experience than herself, but was still so naive in her own way. "In order to stay in power, we would have to be as ruthless as the Gau'auld or we would be overthrown and tried for their crimes!". She told Selmac, then turned to Larry for confirmation of what she had just told her.
Larry nodded his head to Egeria and replied. "Indeed, if you did not show the same level of cruelty as the Gau'auld...". Larry turned to the free Jaffa, then continued. "It is certain that the Jaffa would not tolerate such weakness from their God?" Larry tilted his head to indicate that it was a question.
Ro'nac answered him. "There are enough Jaffa that believe the Gau'auld are false gods, if it became known that all of them were weak, they would see that as an opportunity..." Ro'nac glared at Cronus as he continued. "...and they would kill all Gau'auld that they could find!". He spat at him! After witnessing Ra be humbled by Larry, Ro'nac's confidence had grown considerably.
A maniacal laughter came from Cronus, followed by. "You believe you have the power to destroy us Shol'va! We are Gau'auld, your masters; Even this one understands that your kind must be kept on a leash or he would allow them their war". He turned to the Hastings family and Janus, then added. "You are not the progenitor race, you are human slaves given knowledge beyond your understanding. Nothing more". He said dismissively.
Janus almost laughed but instead replied. "No, you are quite wrong about that; However, even if that were true, it is not us that you have to worry about any longer!". Making a gesture towards Larry in admission of his own helplessness, before adding. "Believe me when I say, that you would have at least stood a small chance against us; You would have lost of course, but the Gau'auld's defeat is certain now!".
"Defeat?". Larry asked Janus. Before Janus could reply, Larry said. "I intend to alter the Gau'auld Janus, not defeat them. The war I spoke of, will be a civil war between those who are willing to change, and those who will not!". Larry spoke the last words directly to Cronus, who did not fail to oblige him.
"We are God's, none of us will bow down to you like slaves!". Cronus screamed at him.
Larry looked to the two Asgard then raised his right hand, before returning his attention to Cronus. "No Cronus, you are a worm". A flash of light suddenly enveloped Cronus, with the Symbiote that was truly the one who went by that name, appearing in Larry's raised right hand. "The only part you will play in this war, is as a demonstration. My Lord!".
Cronus's host, who had fallen unconscious upon the removal of the parasite. Was scooped up into the arms of Magni, who Larry then asked. "Could you please place him in stasis? He will require help with readjusting to his new reality". When Magni nodded his head to indicate that he would, Larry transported them away.
Whilst still holding Cronus in his grasp, Larry began to speak to all gathered. "In a reality not too dissimilar to this one, a few decades from now. This one punished his First-Prime for losing a battle that was unwinnable, starting a chain of events that would eventually lead to the downfall of the entire Gau'auld empire". Although Larry was speaking English, and the measurements of time used in that language; The city's translation device converted them for all to understand.
An image of a dark skinned Jaffa marked as being of Apophis's ranks, suddenly appeared and began rotating above the centre of the massive table. "He has the look of my father!". Ro'nac spoke out loud. He then asked Larry. "I believe that I was the First-Prime that you spoke of. Are you saying that this is my son?".
A look of sadness crossed over Larry's face, before he replied. "In another reality he will be your son". Larry then smiled, before adding. "I have found that time likes to get it's own way, it is possible that he will still be born. His given name was Teal'c, and I would be honoured to tell you all about him". Beside the image of Teal'c, another Jaffa appeared.
Kaar kept looking from the second Jaffa, to Bra'tac and back again. The other Jaffa upon realising why he was doing this, all burst out laughing. Kaar then said to Bra'tac. "You look better as an old man".
One of the Jaffa subordinate to Bra'tac, forgot himself and said. "Do not listen to him Master Bra'tac. This Jaffa is far too pretty to be you". Making the other Jaffa laugh even harder.
Bra'tac was not offended by the laughter or the joke at his expense, he was more interested in what was being revealed to them. "Who is this, and why are you showing us this?" Bra'tac asked Larry.
Larry who still held Cronus in his grasp, replied. "Upon Ro'nac's death at the hands of this one, his wife fled into the domain of Apophis with their son Teal'c; There young Teal'c came to your attention Master Bra'tac". Larry turned to Apophis, and said. "You also, as you can see he became your First-Prime!".
To be continued. Hopefully soon!