Stargate Hastings

Chapter fifteen: You did not have the right

Stamford estate, earth.

"Where to begin?". Janus thought out loud. The origin of his plan would be a start but they need context. He thought. "Jack O'Neill". He was the man who made all this possible or at least his little experiment, concerning him did. He had been a part of his test run and a completely successful and undiscovered one it was.

Robert Parker replied. "Never heard of him but then I don't know many Irishmen. What about him?".

"Jack O'Neill was an American or he would have been. I suppose it is possible he could still be born but unlikely. He was an honourable man and among others was the architect of a golden age for humanity". Janus told them. He then realised that he could show them. "Larry would you please pull up images of Jack O'Neill and SG1 please?".

Larry did as asked and projected the images of four individuals, there were three others that were smaller and a little blurred, in the background. Richard pointed to the black man with a golden emblem on his forehead. "He is a Jaffa but the others are human. What world are they from, their clothes look like nothing I have seen before?". He asked a little confused. Janus had been talking about an Irishman, why would he show them humans from another world. Unless they could become allies but that does not answer, how he had been responsible for the Kinsey's betrayal.

"They were this worlds future and you yourselves never existed but I changed everything and I had good reasons too. Larry please show them the earth, after the war was ended between the freed slaves and the Jaffa?". Janus asked his creation.

"That is not funny Janus". Larry sounded pissed off. Something no one had heard from him before. They had seen him be offended but never angry.

"I was not trying to be funny Larry. I am trying to get a point across and quickly, now please show them what happened to the earth?". He asked with a little more tact this time.

"Very well". Larry said. Then he projected an image of rocks, that were floating in space. "This is the earth four hundred years from today's date, at least this was the earths fate".

"Was the earths fate. Are you telling us that you are from the future?". Robert Parker asked Janus.

"No I am from the past but I met one of your kind, who had used a device that I invented. To travel ten thousand years into her past and a hundred or so less than that, into yours. I had not even invented the time machine yet but she was, is an intriguing woman. Anyway I eventually built my time machine and travelled to earth, only I over shot by three hundred years and found this". He pointed to the images floating before them.

Then continued. "I went back and placed surveillance devices throughout the earths history, unseen but all seeing. It took me years to map out their history and they were so close but things beyond their control doomed them. The very people they had liberated from the Gau'auld turned on each other and when the earth could not stay out of it any longer. They went to war against the Jaffa because of their aggression.

They abandoned their greatest ally, to do what was right but it cost them the earth and the people that survived wanted only vengeance. They did not stop until the Jaffa were no more, they had bled with these people but not with the slaves. The slaves were pushed to one side and protected, they were all but strangers to them. They had concentrated on the Jaffa because of tactical reasons but it was the human slaves, that in turn finished the last of the earths, homeless nomadic people.

They were seen as vermin who had been allies with the Jaffa, many saw the gods has betrayed by the Jaffa, the ones who would punish them. They even still said prayers to the dead gods, while others hunted down the last of the Tok'ra. Do you understand why I could not let that happen?".

Robert stood up and walked over to Janus sat in his chair and struck him with the back of his hand. He was actually amazed more than shocked, he knew the man had some kind of protection because of what he had said earlier. He was not expecting him to turn green though. He made an impressed expression, then said. "If you do not deactivate the device you are wearing, then you can leave and stand up". It was not a request.

Janus had been proficient in many martial disciplines, he had been alive that long. He would get bored and learn another style but he was no fighter. He could role with the punches as old Jack O'Neill would say. So he deactivated the personal shield. He could not role with the head-butt that came his way, because Robert Parker had hold of his shoulders. He could not get away from the hand around his throat or him picking him up and slamming him on the desk either.

With a fury in his voice Robert Parker said. "Who do you think you are alien. To come to my world and decide that people are not going to exist any longer. What the Kinsey's did was nothing compared to what you have done, give me one reason I should not kill you now?".

Janus had blood streaming from his nose and could not speak for the mans hand squeezing the life out of him. "Only created life, not destroyed it". He managed to get out when Robert loosened his grip a little.

He Squeezed it again, as he said. "This had better be good because I am going to..." Janus reactivated his personal shield and Robert flew back away from him.

I will not be turning this shield off again whilst I am here, he thought to himself. They are exactly what he needed though, that he was certain of. "As I was trying to say. I did not wipe that history from existence, I cheated and kept a piece of that universe alive. She is sleeping now but she will be very important in the future. I found a way to change her future and give them a chance, a very small chance but a real chance to change their fate. Even more important his your purpose, my children. Because you are my children". Janus said to all three of them, including Larry.

I created this universe and infinite more of them just like this one, only a little different. I only had a part in creating this one but there is a universe where your family succeeded in their goal to free the slaves of America and give them land of their own. In some it was a complete success in others a disaster but you must understand, all possibilities happen and do not happen. There is a universe where I did not deactivate my shield and you simply would not deal with me any longer. Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?". He had tried to keep it simple.

Richard asked. "How can you know about other universes, I am not even sure I believe the time travel but let us say I do. How can you know about the other universes, have you been to them?".

"No but some former friends of mine invented a device, that allows travel between those universes and using that, I was able to determine that her universe is still there and when Dr Elizabeth Weir returns to it, she will take a genetic message from Egeria for her universes Tok'ra but that will be for nothing if you do not complete the mission I have for you". Declared Janus.

"I would like to speak with this Elizabeth Weir, if she is sleeping then wake her up and we will hear this from her". Richard stated.

"That is not possible at this time but I have a world that is safe from the Gau'auld. On this planet is a replica of the city in which she rests and I want you to send the Abydonians there. Once there, they will be taught how to use the technology of that city but they will need some of your family to go there with them. Christopher Bishop will love it, Heliopolis is nothing in comparison to Atlantis". The word Atlantis should peak their interest, Janus thought.

"Atlantis!". Both of the men exclaimed.

"Yes Atlantis! The fabled lost city, except it is not on earth or even in this galaxy".

Robert then asked. "If you are alien, then why do you look human? We have reason to believe that humans evolved here on earth".

"Around two million years ago, there was a great plague that almost wiped my race from existence. If we had not found a way to cure that plague, even life on this world would not exist now. The Gau'auld Symbiote's were both the cause and the cure to that plague. When my people first arrived in this galaxy, millions of years even before that. They built a device that seeded this galaxy, with the building blocks, that would rapidly evolve into sentient species. Many forms of life evolved, in many shapes and sizes.

My people eventually went to war with one of those species but were forced to join forces with them. Another species through no fault of their own, started to rise in this galaxy and slowly grow in strength. Because of their war with each other, my race who were known as the Ancients and another race named the Furling's. Did not realise the threat until well over half of the different species of this galaxy, had already been made completely extinct.

Another race had conquered the Nox and in their cruelty, awakened something in the once peaceful race. They created an imbalance in their brains and after centuries of war a cure was found and weaponised. The Nox are now the most advanced species to ever exist. Not technologically, as far as I know my people hold that title still but on a spiritual level, they are unequalled. After the plague my people reseeded this galaxy with life again, except this time they only seeded this world with their kind. The worlds that were untouched by the plague, were left to continue as before.

There are other humans in this galaxy, that did not evolve on this world but those worlds are few. Almost all life was wiped out and my people moved on to another galaxy. That is where Atlantis is currently situated and there are more humans there that have been abandoned by my race. The enemy that dominates those humans, are far worse than the Gau'auld and eventually they will find this galaxy. Even if it takes them another ten thousand years, they will eventually find earth.

If you can change the Gau'auld, not all of them are beyond redemption but many are and it is those that you must go to war with. You must use this summit that the Asgard have arranged, to sew the seeds of this change and declare war only on those that are beyond redemption. Your first two targets will be at that summit but you must challenge only one of them. The others hate him enough, that if you challenge him and make it clear it is only him, that you are challenging. Then it may be possible for those seeds to grow".

"Are you claiming that your species, are actually gods?" Richard asked Janus.

"No far from it. Although in there current form, they are about as close as you can get. No and that God of yours that you can not disprove, he very well may exist but not as your people believe him or it to be. My people believe the universe to be infinite but if that is so, then it must be forever growing. The multiverse itself is the different decisions of whatever consciousness is creating it, as if they are doing it by trial and error.

My people have theorised this and believe that when the universe finds the perfect configuration, all will be merged into the perfect one and none of the others will exist but they also believe an amount of years there is no number for, will pass before that happens. Essentially creating a heaven of sorts, across the entire cosmos but it is only a theory. As unprovable as your God, is unable to be disproved".

Robert spoke next. "Say we believe this and we take on this crusade of yours. We are years away from being able to challenge them, unless you are going to share this technology of yours?". He asked.

Janus knew he had them. They had been preparing for so long now, they just wanted to get started. "The world where the replica city is situated, is also home to a fleet of vessels. Your first off-world colony should be placed there, with a large portion of that colony made up of my descendants. Only you and a very small percentage of people, who are not of our line, can actually operate this technology. The crews can be made up of those, not blessed with the gene required to use the technology but all command level crew members, must have it.

This is a safety measure, to ensure that others with less honourable intentions. Can never use the technology for their own nefarious ends. At the summit, you will give this Gau'auld System Lord one year to begin changing his ways. He will not and then you will set an example of him but when you eventually take him down. Your forces will be made up of a combined effort, between the Jaffa that are willing to fight for their freedom and slaves that will give them the inspiration for their rebellion. Those two factions must bleed together and see each other as brothers and sisters, in their quest for freedom.

The Gau'auld are the true monsters but it is the Jaffa that have always punished the human slaves. They must become like kin or they will destroy one another, when they finally gain their freedom. San'kha and the Abydonians, are the key to all of this. Even though he was one of the Jaffa that would punish them, the Abydonians through their relationship with him. Have recognised the truth of the Jaffa's greater enslavement.

I do not have the knowledge of when I was one of these ascended beings but I did make a record of what I did while ascended and that record is on this plane of existence. What I was forced to do to our family, is the only thing I regret and you must reach out to them. If you do not, then the failsafe for our technology will be rendered useless. They all have that gene and must be bought into the fold. When I manipulated them into betraying their kin, I also gave them hope that they would be forgiven one day and is the only reason, that they still follow the traditions of our family. They are not evil, they just had a purpose". Janus hoped they would understand. Even more than that, he hoped the Kinsey's would forgive them.

To Richard Hastings, what they were being told made sense. He could never understand why the Kinsey's did what they did. Everything was set, a millennia of planning and scheming ruined for greed. His family committed atrocities because of that act and not out of any noble sense of righteousness. No, they did it for revenge, years of a noble quest and they resorted to becoming that which they hated. The Kinsey's had betrayed them but that did not give them the right to almost wipe them out.

It was a stain on his family that could never be removed and the reason they had not done the same again, now that the leverage they had on them was removed. This time they simply destroyed their image but that could be fixed and the family made whole once more. "I will reach out to the Kinsey's but there will be a condition that must be met or we will not fix your peoples mistakes". He warned Janus.

"What would that condition be?" Janus asked.

"For your crimes when all is done. If we are successful in our crusade, at that time you will answer for your crimes and will spend the rest of your days in confinement. Even if those days are without end. Do you agree to our terms?". Richard asked him.

This was not completely unexpected by Janus. He knew that the higher beings were powerless to punish him but he was not trying to avoid his eventual punishment anyway. He was planning on submitting himself to their judgement, when his mission was completed but it was only right that he be punished by his own kind and these were his kind, literally. "I give you my word, that I will submit to any punishment you see fit but I would like to apologise for one other thing. It was me who warned you about the bullet you jumped in front of, I hope you can forgive me?". Janus asked Richard.

He had almost given the whole game away but he needed Richard Hastings to return and search for the Stargate. He also needed James Elden, to be very much alive. Others may have been able to do what he did but it was the connection he had with Rachael Hawthorn, that was the reason he had been able to not become a monster himself. When all was done, he very much doubted that he would spend much time in confinement. Not when he revealed the true extent of his meddling and Rachael Hawthorn found out the truth. Nobody will able to stop her killing him and she will be completely within her rights, to do so.

Richard Hastings had a smile spread across his face, as he replied. "Sir, that is the first thing you have told me, that I will be eternally grateful for. I should not feel too guilty about that anyway, the Tok'ra have healed my injuries and when my muscles have regained their strength. I intend to be on the frontlines, where a true leader should be".

"What did you just say?". Robert Parker asked him.

"Did I not tell you uncle? I am sorry but as you know, a Hastings on active duty can not be the head of the family. I am afraid you will have to keep the seat warm until I retire or your grandson takes your place". He revealed to his uncle.

Robert Parker, then punched his fist in the air. "I knew you were not going to just die on me boy, your father would be so proud. I never liked being in charge but at least I have got Joseph now and I would have given my life to see you walk again Richard, so I suppose I can live with the responsibility". He said with a big grin.

"I told you I would get you to stop referring to me, as my Lord". Richard said to his dear old uncle.

"I don't know why you are happy about it, you are the only one that I will insist call me that".

"I will still be Lord Hastings uncle but I would be honoured to call you my Lord".

"So you should be". Robert Parker replied.

Larry then said. "I got that one but it was not funny".

They spent the next hour going over the new strategy and discussing their first target. Soon the war would commence, only it would not be a campaign to make the rich richer but truly one with a noble purpose. Hopefully it would stop the wars between men and usher in a golden age for humanity. As far as the Hastings clan were concerned, that was the true goal. For the earth to be at peace and all men not only created equal but be given the equal opportunity, to be the best that they can be.