Chapter 29
Heliopolis Base, ES-1
February 3rd, 1948
The group headed down the corridor, Samuel opening up not one, but five security doors along the way.
As the fifth door opened, Ernest was almost giddy. "It has to be something critical. Five doors so far, all locked with the same mechanism."
Catherine nodded. "If it's the power supply, I wonder what it'll be? Almost certainly not fission. Maybe fusion? Geothermal? A civilization this advanced, possibly … antimatter?"
Ernest shrugged. "Could be anything. We might not even have the theoretical concept of how it works. Whatever it is, the fuel supply must be extremely long-lasting and incredibly stable. Heliopolis has been abandoned for at least a century, probably much longer."
They reached another door, and Samuel sighed. "Tell me this is the last one."
One of the technicians spoke up. "The corridor is at least a mile long, if the map was properly scaled. We've been walking for about fifteen minutes, covering an average of-"
"Just give me a straight answer." Samuel snapped.
"It should be just through that door." The tech said simply.
"Good." Samuel slapped the pad, and the door slid open.
They poured into the room, looking around. It was empty except for a large, sophisticated-looking pedestal in the center.
Samuel blinked. "Isn't there supposed to be some big generator or something?
"Let me see." Ernest moved to the console, pulling out a notebook he had been using for ease of translation.
Minutes passed, then a quarter-hour, then half an hour. Finally, Ernest spoke. "I think … I think this is the power source. Let me test something." He pressed a button, and a large, roughly-cylindrical, crystalline object began rising up from the pedestal. It glowed yellow from within.
Samuel lunged forward, slamming the button again. The cylinder retracted, and the hole closed. "Everyone out of the room!" He ordered. Once everyone was out, he sealed the door before he wheeled on Ernest. "Nobody fucks with that thing until we get it checked out for radiation. You could have just killed us, Ernest!"
Ernest stood his ground, but nodded. "Perhaps I was a little … rash in opening the pedestal."
Samuel nodded before tapping his earpiece. "I need a Geiger counter brought down immediately. Recommend radiation protection and medical personnel; seven people exposed to possible radioactive source."
"Alright. We're waiting right here until they get down here and clear us."
Thankfully, the process didn't take long, and soon it was confirmed that the power core didn't put out any sort of radioactive energies.
With everyone cleared, the technicians returned to the control room, where they began going through the computers, trying to find out the specifics of the power source.
That proved to be difficult; they were still trying to understand the software architecture of these incredibly advanced machines. Plus, the system, according to the technicians, seemed, for all its sophistication, to be clunky and not user-friendly.
Ernest returned to the power room to begin a detailed analysis of the system. He began by analyzing the console, and there found some rather disturbing news.
"The power supply seems to be dependent on that crystalline cylinder, and if these readouts are accurate, it's only at one-third capacity." He explained to Catherine. "We can yank the dead one for study, but if we remove the live one … no power. No power means no shield. No shield means we get hammered by the superstorms."
"Can you get an estimate on how long we have?"
"Hang on." Ernest typed some buttons, and some words flared on the screen. "Fuck." He murmured. "It's all in their units of measure, but the number itself is pretty large."
"How large?"
"Six thousand, one hundred, seventeen. I think it's safe to say, given how old this place could be, it's either months or years. So we're not in much danger. I can't imagine what might happen that would drastically drain it."
Samuel, meanwhile, was making his routine report to his superiors. Clarke, Odell, and Sheridan listened intently as he recounted the events that had occurred.
"So we know there's a limit on this power crystal, this 'Potentia.'" He said into the earpiece. "If, somehow, we were to drain it, the base would be left utterly vulnerable."
Just then, one of the technicians came running up. "Captain Marcus, we found something you'll want to see."
"I'm kind of in the middle of something right now!" Samuel snapped. "What's so damn important?"
The tech grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "We found … someone."
Samuel blinked. "What?"
"In some kind of tube, like … suspended animation. The system says they're alive. We want to wake them up."
Samuel stared, speechless, then spoke. "Sirs, if you'll excuse me, a situation just came up. We may have a chance to talk to another alien."
"Actually, he doesn't look alien. He looks human. Like an old man. We suspect Goa'uld, which is why we came to you before waking him up."
Samuel switched channels. "Epsilon Squad, meet me in the control center. We have a situation. Bring firepower."
Slade's voice came over the earpiece. "Yes, sir."
They assembled in the control center, and the tech led them to another corridor. They walked down it and finally reached a small chamber with several large tubes lining the walls. Most of them were empty, but one was occupied. Samuel looked at Slade and the others. "Weapons ready." He ordered, and suddenly twelve rifles were pointed at the chamber. He glanced over at the technician. "Okay. Deactivate it."
The chamber was deactivated, and the figure stirred, glancing around, looking very confused. Samuel stepped forward, holding out an earpiece and offering it to the individual, demonstrating with his own what to do.
The man took it and put it in. "I was wondering if I would ever be awoken. I see you are using the translators. Are you not Alteran or Lantean?"
"I don't know those terms." Samuel said. "Now, I have some very important questions for you. Are you Goa'uld?"
"What? No! I am a Lantean! My name is Oberon. I created this facility."
"You built this place?"
"Designed and built, yes, after fleeing Atlantis."
"Atlantis? As in … Atlantis?"
"You have heard of it?"
"It's a … myth, a legend. And you're saying it's real."
"Indeed. But I would not recommend traveling there, not unless your people are quite powerful. The Wraith … they are a formidable foe. For all our strength, even we were beaten back until all we held was Lantea. I left after my wife was killed, came here to build this place. Once that was done, I chose to enter stasis, to be awoken if my services were required again."
Samuel nodded. "I see."
Oberon nodded. "May I step out?"
Samuel nodded, motioning for the soldiers to lower their weapons.
As Oberon stepped forward, he stumbled, catching himself and taking a look at his hands.
"I need to see how long it has been. The chamber is not perfect. I must have been in there quite some time."
Samuel helped the old man to the nearby console, and Oberon began accessing the system. He gasped.
"Eleven thousand years. I must be … ancient. I fear I may not be long for this world. I might try to Ascend." He wasn't talking to anyone in particular, but seemed to be talking to himself.
"Perhaps we should get you to our medical facilities. And maybe you can help us. Tell us everything you can about this place, your technology, everything."
Oberon nodded. "Let us go, then."
Area 52, Earth
February 3rd, 1948
There had been expectations of an update, but when Samuel had said that they had found the still-alive architect of Heliopolis, it went into high gear. Dr. Sanderson and a full medical team were standing by. Anyone of import was being gathered or contacted. Cameras were ready to start filming.
Samuel, Slade, and Oberon came through first, the two Earth men supporting the "Lantean" between them. Sanderson took one look and spoke. "Get him on the gurney. Straight to the infirmary. I need to do a full medical workup. Only one camera in the infirmary. No crowding him. And no visitors until I've checked him out."
"You think it's that bad?" Samuel asked.
"This man is at least a hundred, if not older. I highly doubt he is in perfect health. I want to make sure we know what we're dealing with. I'll deliver a full report when I'm done."
Samuel nodded, and he and Slade helped Oberon onto the gurney, which was promptly wheeled off, Sanderson keeping pace.
Several hours later, Samuel, Ernest, Catherine, Dr. Langford, and practically the entire command structure of the Initiative stood outside the door to the infirmary.
Sanderson emerged, shaking his head. "He doesn't have long. His body is showing signs of massive organ failure. Eratic heartbeat, low lung capacity, renal failure, liver failure … the list goes on, but it's obvious that he is dying."
"How long?" Sheridan asked.
"Hard to say. Hours, days? No more than a week, on the outside. On the inside, he could honestly die any minute. But he's lucid, he's cogent, and I will allow two visitors at a time. You have up to half an hour; I want him to rest as much as possible."
"That man is a major intelligence coup for the Initiative about Heliopolis. We need all the time we can get to talk to him." Sheridan said.
"Half an hour for now." Sanderson said firmly. "After he gets a chance to rest, we will see about giving you more time. But as of now, he is my patient and I am exercising medical privilege. Half an hour. I suggest you make it count. You may not get another chance."
Oberon smiled as Ernest and Samuel entered the room. "Greetings." The old man said warmly.
Ernest smiled back. "Greetings. Oberon, right?"
A nod.
"I can't believe we have the opportunity to meet you. We discovered Heliopolis three years ago, and I always wanted to meet someone who had been here. To meet the architect … it's a dream come true. I have so many questions. The pedestal in the meeting room, what is it? Can you give me the key to deciphering it? What else is here? What were your people like?"
"Ernest, slow down. If you overwhelm him, I will have you escorted out." Sanderson warned.
Oberon held up a hand. "Heliopolis? That must be a different word for it. We called it the Embassy of Four. The pedestal is a … record of events. Many philosophical discussions, logs of various meetings. The key … it would take too long to explain. The database may contain the translation key. There is much here. Weapons systems, the shield, the Potentia, various other mechanisms. It would take much time to explain everything, and your doctor has said I do not have long."
The remaining discussion time went by quickly, and soon the two men were informed it was time to leave. Oberon assured them he would be happy to talk further after he rested.
Catherine smiled at the men as they left the infirmary. "It still seems unreal. The architect. The man who built Heliopolis. I want a turn talking to him."
"And you'll get it." Samuel promised.
The next week was a blur of activity. Oberon revealed several key bits of information about Heliopolis and even the location of an Alteran (his people's original name) base in Antarctica. This alone sparked a huge discussion. They had to get that base, find a way to power it.
Oberon also showed them a map of the Stargate network including many worlds the Goa'uld likely did not know about. These were mainly outposts which might contain important technology, like the Potentia.
Eight days after being awoken, Oberon was growing weaker by the hour, barely able to move or speak. Sanderson had put the kibosh on any further major discussion with him, limiting visits to five minutes.
Sanderson was sitting by the bedside, spending a few minutes with the ancient alien.
"I have a request." He started slowly.
Oberon nodded. "Ask." He said softly.
"Your body … after you are gone, I would like to study it."
Oberon smirked. "If indeed there is a body left. I may yet attempt to Ascend."
"Ascend?"
"To reach a higher plane of existence, to transform into a being of pure energy."
"That's possible?"
"For my people, at least."
A few hours later, Oberon seemed to become unresponsive, virtually comatose. Sanderson voiced his opinion that the alien be allowed to die peacefully when the subject of trying to resuscitate him came up. So they waited, wondering how much longer it would be.
Sanderson had allowed a camera in, on the off-chance that somehow Oberon was "Ascending." It was this that allowed them to capture the first glow from Oberon's form as the alien seemed to stop breathing. They watched as, slowly but surely, the body disappeared, transforming into a glowing presence that began to move through the facility. Sanderson grabbed an earpiece. "All personnel, you might see something weird. Do not, repeat DO NOT, engage; it's a friendly. Repeat, it's friendly, do not engage."
Several people were soon following the figure as he moved towards the gateroom. Once there, the Stargate activated and the glowing being glided through.
Samuel spoke. "You want to tell me what happened to our dying alien?"
Sanderson smiled. "That Ascension trick he mentioned? Looks like he pulled it off."
Life went on. They had learned much from Oberon about Heliopolis, from its defenses to other secrets. Ernest had been relentlessly trying to navigate the database for any translation key for the pedestal. Samuel and the others possessed of the ability to operate certain of the technologies had been practicing, both flying the Gateships and operating the defenses of Heliopolis. It seemed those were controlled by a special chair in another concealed chamber. The main weapons seemed to be strange, self-propelled drones. Oberon had explained they were quite powerful.
The big thing on Earth was justifying the expedition to Antarctica to secure the Alteran outpost there. The expedition would need a suitable excuse for its existence, something that wouldn't make the Soviets or other powers too curious. Ideas would have to be developed soon; it was considered top priority to acquire the facility. It would provide Earth with critical defensive abilities, more information about the Alterans, and other valuable things.
In the meantime, they would begin exploring the worlds Oberon had shown them. He had only shown them a handful, but said they were the main outposts, locations of interest.
