Mystery Solved

Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate Universe belong to MGM. The characters of the Four Orders*(FO) 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 Four – 'Unravelling the past'

Premise:

The crew of Destiny woke up after entering stasis only to find two new passengers onboard. The powerful being Diablo and his sidekick Viz had repaired most of their ship in a display of power never before seen.

After some deliberations and revelations, the crew of Destiny chooses to keep them as their newest allies/crew members. But trouble knocked on their door when an Ancient seed ship nearly destroyed all of them.

Unified they set together on a journey of exploration of the deepest waters of their psyche and the darkest secrets of the Ancients. What they discover shakes them to the very core of their beliefs.


Previously:

Viz recanted the story that Dr. Perry and Ginn shared with him about the Ancients being present on the ship for two thousand years and change. The different challenges they endured and the weird actions of the Chloe's aliens.

They discussed some of the different possibilities that occurred during that time and Diablo reached the conclusion that the powerful entity that has been interfering has a valid reason for doing it. He just needed to uncover it.

And then they got with the preparations to bring Dr. Perry and Ginn back to the real world.


And now:

Chapter 9

Alive! It is an interesting word. How does one consider itself alive? Is it the ability to breathe or to exist? It really depends on your perspective of how you see the surrounding universe. It is the fundamental of life.

And that is what passed through Amanda's head while the preparations for their integration back to the normal world proceeded. She and Ginn had become somewhat used to live in this cyber limbo. But she still missed the warmth of the sun, the touch of rain on the skin, the sweetness of a fruit melting in your mouth, and so many other fleshy pleasures. She could simulate them in here but they never felt quite real to her. So perhaps the question was not being alive but rather what is real and what isn't. Real of course was also a matter of perspective. Actually everything was a matter of how one perceives the universe.

She smiled to herself. She was getting philosophical. She supposed the real issue here was her way of life. Before this happened, she had spent most of her life stuck in a chair. She had to find an alternative way of doing things. But ever since she came here her life was turned upside down and in here her disability did not exist.

And now she had the chance for a new life, a life in which she would not be stuck in a chair, where she would have full control of her own body. It was a scary thought. A person doesn't appreciate what he has at the time he has it but rather when he loses it. She had come to rely on others to take care of her and now she would have to do it for herself. And while on the short run she was not afraid of it the long run did scare her.

She needed to learn so many things. She needed to learn again how to walk, how to talk, how to cook (yes, cook), how to clean (as there would be nobody to do so after her), how to fall in love (actually anyone could do that as there was no specific manual for it), and…how to do a lot of things that before she couldn't or because someone else did it for her.

It was like being reborn into an infant where everything is new and one has really no background, no experience and had to learn everything from the get go. Of course in her case, she already knew everything but while in digital space that was easy she would have to command a new body to do so.

And while that body would be hers it was still new. Her mind needed to bond with it and say 'hello it is me. We are back together again.' But her body will not recognize her at once as imagine having someone erase you from it and the body itself doesn't have a record of you being in there at all.

She imagined this battle will be longer. Time doesn't flow in the same manner everywhere. Her perception of it while trying to bond would be very different. For her months, years could pass before her body recognizes her and accepts her. Hell, even for her body this experience will be weird given that it will not have the disability it had grown accustomed to.


Ginn on the other hand had much more pleasant thoughts running through her head. She longed to return back to her body. She needed to find a way to return home and dispense the necessary justice to free her people from the oppression of the Lucian Alliance.

At the time she was recruited she had lived in fear of her life. And it is only her knowledge of things that has kept her away from death. After joining the Alliance, she used her wit as this kept her alive and out of some bosses dirty hands. She had of course to sleep with a few of them to keep her head on her shoulders. And when she earned enough respect she joined various crews before ending up on Keeva's.

Keeva was good to her as far as any commander of the Lucian Alliance could. And as long as she did what was asked of her she had no problem with it. The problem for her was Simeon. He had been insatiable. He had some grudge against anyone that did not share his point of view and it was a good thing that he had not been in command otherwise she may have expired long before they came to Destiny.

Destiny of course changed everything. She met Eli and fell in love. He was her age but more clueless that she ever was. However when it came to protecting his ship and the crew, Eli held his ground the way she had her entire life – with his wit. That's why they had so much in common.

She did of course see the archives when the crew created an alternate version of them 2000 years ago and thus created a new civilization. She had been relieved that Eli had found someone to make a live with and that his DNA continued to exist. She could only imagine what the descendants of Eli were alike – smart, mouthed, and annoying as hell but ones that made an impact on the life of others.

She also knew that he had lingering feeling for the other female onboard that was in their age range – Ms. Chloe Armstrong. Chloe had undergone many life changing experiences especially when the aliens took her and altered her. Eli had always been under a lot of stress and concern though he never showed it but he did share it with her.

Still Ginn loved how Eli kept their relationship alive even if it was only being friends. Well, they try to do more but at the time that was not possible. And whenever they were in danger, Ginn wanted to help but couldn't as Destiny's AI core was not designed for such occurrences and she stood by watching helplessly.

Now she tried to imagine what has changed. Amanda and she would be the avatars of the crew and the ship, the liaison between them. It was kind of scary. She knew for certain the ship's AI was not exactly ecstatic of this development. It has been programmed to interact with the crew and keep it sane during extended periods of hibernation or distress, and now it basically had to rewrite itself in order to serve this new function.

Speaking of new function, Ginn realized she would be back in her body that will automatically recognize her and she had to basically introduce herself as a new function to it and that was also scary. What if it did not work? What if her new body rejected her? Would she be returned back the cyber limbo or will she die for good this time? She had thought about ascension but did not believe herself worthy enough of it nor able to live with the rules of the ascendant ones.

She had always wondered what the point is of having powers, if they are not used. If one has the power to affect change then one should. How else will this change happen? On the other hand, she had been listening to Eli about Diablo's powers and the fascination everyone had for it and she understood partially why. Being all powerful must feel like a burden rather than a bonus.

Well, she would have the time to ponder over these things in life when she leaves cyber limbo and return to the other world where she could finally touch Eli or anyone. She was not sure Eli was a hundred percent ready for a relationship with her. True while in cyber space they were intimate but perhaps that was only because Eli knew no one could see what he was doing but in the open world that will not be the same. Or perhaps she had outgrown what they were, whatever they were. Only time will tell.


Meanwhile, in a lab somewhere on the ship, Diablo had a few secret plans of his own. He had already completed the new shield grid that waited only implementation but that was going to be Viz's job and that of the avatars.

There were a few other improvements for which he has already located the appropriate space, namely the holo-chambers or as the Trekkies would call it the holodeck. He had written the base codes that are the backbone and the interface for creating scenarios. People will spend a lot of time tuning their fantasies.

In a way it was like an interactive game where a person had to decide so many things – colors of everything, nuance, texture, angle of light, size, interaction, physical laws, and the most important the narration. It was going to be an adventure in itself. But he wanted the crew to have more to do then the standard visit to the bar or the observation deck.

His most recent project however was rebuilding the AI of his flagship. It was the most sophisticated AI ever built and his friend. Every AI in his fleet was built for interaction with its crew much like Destiny's but it had also the ability to grow, to evolve and at some point the sum of its collective experiences would outgrow its original programming and become sentient. At which point, it had the same rights as any other member of the crew and the same choices.

His AI which was dubbed at the time simply Avatar had evolved the quickest among the rest of the AIs probably because his flagship was almost always in some kind of trouble while doing many missions or simply messing up with things it shouldn't have. It was given the choice of being free and no longer the avatar of the ship. And it took it. But the trouble it got itself into forced the crew of the ship to go and save it for a change.

The AI then decided that it is best for it to remain the AI of the ship. It would have fewer chances to get into trouble as it did when it was alone. The AI explained that it was grateful to have its freedom and the ability to make its own choice but it came to realize that it has come to rely some much on its crew that frankly it missed the feeling. Still Diablo had to put it through survival training like he would any member of the crew as while relying on others is ok and normal it had to learn to adapt to new situations where it could end up alone and had to survive on its own.


"What are we doing?" Viz asked as he had finally managed to locate his friend.

"A few bits and bobs,"

"So the master is tinkering in the garage?"

"Funny, but yes," Diablo replied suppressing a smile. "I have a few projects that will need integration."

"Such as?"

"For starters, a new shield grid,"

"New?"

"Oh, don't get me wrong, these Ancients knew what they were doing but recent events have shown that while their shield is good it also has a lot of holes. So I created a new shield grid, more powerful. It oscillates in larger frequency diapasons, which at the time the Ancients did not know existed.

I have also added the definitions for several radiation bursts produced by natural phenomena the ship may yet encounter so it is best to be safe than sorry. And I am working on a way to counter the transdimensional radiation that nearly killed everyone."

"There is no counter against that one."

"That is the defeatist way of looking on things. When there is a will there is a way."

"If only life worked with metaphors and pieces of wisdom,"

"Is there a particulate reason you are here?" Diablo asked after the awkward silence that occurred between them.

"Yes," Viz replied. He moved around looking at the other things that occupied the different shelves and tables. There were only trinkets and incomplete pieces of technological items. "I came because…"

"You have nothing else to do or no one else to bother?"

"No, I have things to do."

"Then why are you here?"

"The Earthlings reported finding nothing of value to our quest for digging the past."

"You could have easily used the phone for that." Diablo observed a bit annoyed of the long time it takes Viz to untangle his thoughts.

"The body bonding has already begun."

"Aha,"

Viz did not say anything else. If Diablo did not know better (and he did) he would swear Viz was on the wagon of sentiment.

"Who is she?" Diablo asked after another moment of silence. "And does she feel the same?"

"Wait… what?"

"Viz, I have not seen you brooding for a very long time. The last time was during a battle with her father's battle fleet."

"That was not my fault."

"I did not say it was. So, spill!"

"Well, she doesn't know."

"Oh,"

"It is Lt. James."

"Ah,"

"I do not know how it happened. We haven't spent much time together and no it is not lust."

"I did not say it was."

"But you were going to."

"Well, I guess we will never know." Diablo put down what he was working for. To be honest this development has come out of the blue. He's never mentioned anything about falling for anyone so he was interested to know how it came to be. "So, when did the song start?"

"What?" Viz asked perplexed but understood his meaning. "Can't you speak in a proper way?"

"Where is the fun in that?"

"Well, it is the last few resupply missions."

"Ah,"

"We kind of hit it off though I am not sure if she would pint over me."

"Well, why don't you ask her out?"

"She doesn't have a suit…"

"What? Not outside, you imbecile," Diablo shook head. Sometimes Viz would take certain expressions quite literally. "I meant on a date!"

"Oh," Viz said. "I am not sure that is a good idea."

"The worst thing that can happen is for her to say no. What else matters?"

"Well, they still see me as your shadow,"

"That's because you are my shadow if a shadow could be annoying, talking back and general pain in the area where nothing shines."

"Well, thank you, for the pep talk,"

"You are welcome."

"How is it that you are not surrounded by a storm of women?"

"I am not that attractive."

"And I am?"

"Apparently, you are a chick magnet."

"That's not funny."

"Perhaps, but it happens to be true." Diablo smiled. "I quite literally do not have time for relationships although sometimes it might look the opposite. But this doesn't stop you from trying to have one."

"Trying being the emphasis!"

Diablo chuckled. "Well, if you do not tell her, she will not know. She may feel something for you but as you're keeping your mouth shut she has no reason to open hers. Women, or at least some of them, like a man in charge."

"I am not exactly a man."

"Could you not go into the physiological shit just yet? Besides after consumption she would not be complaining of the difference in species."

"Eww,"

"My point is you have to get to know her and let her get to know you, and then you can figure out the rest."

"Oh, I have not thought of that." Viz said. "I will ask her out. Thank you for the pep talk."

"Hormones," Diablo whispered as Viz left his lab. Viz sometimes was profoundly naïve though of course Diablo was not the one to talk either. He also had his moments of 'foolishness' taking over. Though of course when his hormones do take over it is even worse because then it is mostly lust.

Diablo returned his focus back on his work. He had much to do and not much time. He had to get all these little things done in time.


Eli stood outside of sickbay as the powerful being had commanded. It was day 3 and it was time for work. Ensuring there was no one around he noticed Chloe was already up and about. She left sickbay with Eli at her tail.

"Do I want to know what you are doing for him?" He asked to pass the time.

"I can't even begin to describe it." Chloe replied and she meant it.

"You know sooner or later someone will notice and then we will have to give them something."

"Do not worry about that part. Even if someone walked right now in sickbay he will still see me lying there."

"And if it is Diablo or his sidekick?"

Chloe did not answer because she was not sure that little trick would work on them. The divine being had called it a perception filter. It basically makes you see what you had seen the last time you have looked in that direction or something like that.

"Perhaps it will too."

"That is wishful thinking."

"Yeah probably," Chloe agreed.

"You know Diablo has been going to the down levels very often these last few weeks. I think he's tinkering something but he's not letting anyone know what."

"I guess he's not ready to share."

"Yeah, you are right. Maybe he will when he's ready."

"That is the logical assumption." Chloe stopped as she sensed that something else was bothering her friend. "You are worried, aren't you?"

"Well, he's still an unknown entity…"

"I was talking about Ginn." Chloe interrupted.

"Oh,"

"She will be fine."

"That's what everybody says. But I am not so sure. It has been…"

"Just a day, Eli." Chloe said. "Viz said it would take weeks. Their bodies albeit being fully grownup are still infants. It takes time to learn how to do everything from scratch."

"We are here. Good luck." Eli said. They had arrived at their final stop. Chloe kissed him on the cheek and entered while Eli stood guard. He hoped Chloe and everyone were right and everything will be ok.


Six weeks later

It has been six weeks since the transfer of consciousness had begun from cyber space to the new bodies but neither Ginn nor Dr. Perry have shown any signs that they are in the bodies despite Viz's assurances that they were.

This had gotten Eli more worried than usual and his focus was not on the job so Dr. Rush had to relieve him of his duties as he was more likely to make an error rather than get something right.

The only true job for him was guarding Chloe whenever she went on her missions. He was still worried that someone will notice but so far luck has been on their side. He still wondered what she did and though they could talk about it they weren't actually saying anything that could help him understand.

"You are still worried?" Chloe asked after she returned from her mission.

"It has been seven weeks now and still nothing."

"Eli, give it time. Perhaps it is not so easy to transfer someone from cyber space to normal space."

"Can't you ask him if this will work?" Eli asked.

Chloe sighed. She was not sure the divine being was interested in them and perhaps that was for the best. "I am not sure that is a good idea, Eli. He has not shown any interest in them and perhaps he can't influence them."

"Yeah, perhaps," Eli sighed. "Well, here we are. Good night!"

"Eli," Chloe said. "Find yourself something to do."

"I can't seem to keep my focus anywhere."

"Try harder."

"I will try. See you in two days."

"Good night," Chloe entered sickbay and back into her bed. She hoped Eli would find something to do otherwise he was heading for an early ulcer issues due to stress.


Meanwhile in a lab several levels down, Diablo were putting the final touches to his secrets projects and one in particular – his AI. He had waited till the very end to activate him as he wanted him to be fully conscious and skip the usual steps of evolution. This was achieved because he always carried a backup of his personality with him but for this environment here he needed to make some adjustments.

He was finally ready so he activated him. The AI took some time to boot and then to come to life but Diablo waited patiently.

"Avatar," He called.

The AI manifested as a hologram though the source of its projection remained a mystery.

"My lord,"

"How are you feeling?"

"Weird,"

Diablo smiled. "That is good."

"I am not sure how feeling weird is good, my lord." The AI studied his environment and then its eyes widened with a revelation. "Where are we?"

"Access file, ALTU 46, and you will know everything."

The AI followed the advice and weird did not even begin to describe where it was. It took some time to process all the data so far. It had to admit it was fascinating how quick this time his lord was to unpack him. But of course his fascination continued with where they were.

"Weird then is not the appropriate word to describe our current situation."

"I am glad you're finding the light in the darkness and your sense of humor."

"How long have you been working on me?"

"I think that would go shy of eight weeks."

"This is considerably faster than the last time we are in such a mess."

"Well, last time was different."

Avatar did not say anything as it was not appropriate so he continued to study his new environment. The matrix Diablo had built for him was different than usual. It had more interfacing capacities than usual. He wondered why.

"This ship is fascinating." Avatar observed. "I do not believe we have met many civilizations that can build a ship that could last this long and still function as well."

"This is true. These Ancients are fascinating beings."

"They remind me of the Hereaux."

"Oh, they are nothing like them. They are not as advanced. But they are still very interesting."

"I suppose in certain aspects then."

"Perhaps,"

"What do you need me for?"

"I will need you soon to interface with the ship and download the codes."

"The command codes?"

"No, I need the base code. Just make a copy."

"Is Viz around?"

"He is though currently panting over a girl."

"He's what?" Avatar asked sounding stunned. "He's not been romantically involved for over four hundred years."

"I guess it is his cycle of love."

"I am happy then he's making good use of his existence."

"Yes, me too," Diablo smiled.

"Has he proposed?"

"Not yet,"

"Chicken,"

"Yes, everything with him untangles as slow as his thoughts when he's stuck in that cycle."

"I concur."

"Music?"

"Yes, sir,"


Dr. Rush joined Colonel Young in his quarters for their daily secretive meetings. They had been working on something they both had as recent revelation of while returning from Earth. Each of them had experienced a partial recollection of their experience in stasis.

They had been speaking with members of the crew that have been to Earth to see if any of them have a recollection of that time. So far they have had partial success. Most of the crew has been under the spell of Destiny but not all of them.

"Good morning," Nicholas greeted as he entered.

"Good morning, coffee?"

"Yes, please, "

"There you go." Everett passed one cup. "What did you learn?"

"I spoke to Varo. It would appear his experience was similar to the time he was conscripted by the Lucian Alliance but there was one strange element in it."

"Such as?"

"He remembered a new element in the form of a far off neighbor." And Nicholas recanted the story Varo had just told him.

"This is indeed very disturbing." Everett concluded when the story ended.

"I still wish I could remember more. I know there is more to it."

"Well, with time, perhaps you will."

"I also had the chance to speak with Sgt Greer. His experience only involved being on some mission for the SGC and …" He recanted Greer's experience which appeared to be the most benign than the rest.

"Alright," Everett said. They had collected enough strange data that needed interpreting but they still needed to speak with Tamara, Camille and Dr. Cameron. "Focus on Tamara and I will speak with Dr. Cameron."

"Wray?"

"I will see to it too. You are too confrontational."

"I am not." Nicholas protested.

"You are when it comes to her."

"We get along quite fine, thank you! We did plot together."

"Yes, I remember but I will speak to her nevertheless."

"Why may I ask?"

"Lately, she's been spending more time with Tamara than usual. Actually the two have become quite the friends."

"Weird,"

"A bit, yes,"

"Alright, you handle them." Nicholas ceded. "But you still need to send them to Earth a couple of times."

"Yes, I know."

"Alright, so on another front, Diablo has vanished as always somewhere on the levels below."

"I know he's been spending time in some lab doing whatever it is that he's doing. He's not been forthcoming about it."

"So business as usual,"

"Yes, well, we are also keeping secrets so,"

"You know there is one other we haven't tackled yet."

"I know. Eli!" Everett said drinking the last of his coffee. "Did you really have to relieve him of his duties?"

"His mind is in the clouds. He could easily botch something. So I prefer to stay on the safe side."

"Yeah, he's worried about them."

"I am too but my mind is not in the clouds."

"Young love,"

"And then there is Chloe." Nicholas reminded. "She's still in a coma."

Everett moved uncomfortably. "I know. I already brought a specialist but there is nothing we can do other than wait."

"And if she doesn't wake up?"

"Let's not go there just yet."

"It has been seven weeks."

Everett sighed deeply. "I know but what do you propose we do?"

"We can put her in stasis until we figure it out."

"And what if stasis makes it worse?"

Nicholas realized they are in an impasse. He still could not find any logical reason for her being that way. He examined every inch of the place where they found her over and over and still nothing that would give him inkling as to why she's out cold. He thought that perhaps it was something to do with the aliens that abducted them. Perhaps some side effect of what they did to her but somehow it did not fit.

"Okay, we wait." He ceded. "I am off."

"Alright, see you later." Everett let him out and sat back on his bed contemplating the last year and a half. So much has happened that he still sometimes could not believe.


It has been a year and a half since the seed ship tried to kill them. The SGC has not made any progress with finding anything that could help them understand why. Diablo had locked himself since the recent revelation in a lab tinkering with something. Viz was moving around helping with everything and spending more time with the military than with the civilians as Everett had come to notice.

Actually, for the past few weeks, he had seen him around Lt. James. It looked like the two were having a blast. He was actually surprised of this. For the time they had been together he had never seen him so goofy (yes! that would best describe it). If he did not know better he would say the transdimensional being was in love. And that was a new surprising development.

Of course every being in the universe longed for company, even intimate company. It was just that he had grown so accustomed to seeing both Diablo and Viz stir away from such practice that this recent development was indeed a surprise. But he was happy for him and for Lt. James although when he started to think about the most intimate part of a relationship he could not quite imagine how that would go. He just hoped that they would find a way.

His thoughts then went in the direction of Dr. Perry and Ginn. They have been transferred to their new bodies but for seven weeks now not even one sign that this actually worked. He could understand Eli's anxiety about it.

Everett made up his mind. He needed to speak with Diablo about this. He tried that with Viz but kept getting the same answer so perhaps the other one can offer a different perspective as after all it was his idea.

He considered whether to tell him about his current little secret but decided against it as for the time he was not sure what they have uncovered let alone how to interpret or deal with it so when they had something more concrete he would share it with him.

Actually as he came to think about it, they had the perfect relationship of an unspoken alliance. They were allies in this weird war but each of them was under no obligation to share anything until they actually had something to share that pertained to the problem at hand. When he thought of that he actually realized why so many alliances that the SGC had made did not work. It is refreshing when one gains such clarity of perspective.

He finished dressing and left his quarters. He went to see Dr. Cameron for his other reasons and from her he learnt where exactly he could find Diablo as apparently the good doctor had visited him. From what he could gather she had developed feelings for him though he had not responded to them. 'The poor thing, he thought.

"Lord Diablo?" He called as he entered the lab. 'I thought my quarters or Eli's were a bloody mess.' There were parts and parts scattered all over the place. It was miracle anyone could find anything in there.


To be continued…

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Lordheaven