Welcome, welcome. Come one, come all...to the boringest (is that a word?) chapter in the story. It is an evil necessity though.Ugh! You've been warned!
Fifteen.
Lt Ford, Teyla and Sgt Bates followed Jotham single file down the prison corridor. The passed many empty cells, all looked like they hadn't been used for ages. Next came the sounds and smells of a stable. A dozen elephant-like creatures were being tended in a twenty by twenty barred cage. Up close, they appeared peaceful, munching their hay. They had the head and ears of an aardvark but the body of an African elephant.
"Since we abandoned the surface, the wildlife has dominion. These," Jotham swept his arm wide, "are how we travel up above, if the need arises. The bimtak produce a scent that the other creatures interpret as extremely aggressive. We are usually able to travel unhindered."
"Cool. That explains a lot," Ford responded politely. He watched Jotham closely, gauging him. He got no gut clenching bad vibes. So far, the man seemed like a gentle leader.
Jotham led them further down the corridor. The trio exchanged glances as the dirt under their feet graduated to steel mesh, the stone walls to smooth metal. Many twists and turns later, the corridor opened into an enormous cavern.
Assorted towers, tall and short, square and round, sprawled outward from the high opening in which Jotham paused the tour. Steam erupted from many places, thousands of pipes lined the walls leading upward through the rock, the light originated from various shaped halogen-looking lamps on the walls and shone from inside the towers. Steel I-beams, metal mesh walkways and thick cable supports littered the view.
Aidengasped at the sight of the underground city. It was like standing in the centraltower of Atlantis and looking over the south pier. He turned to Jotham, standing at his left. "Is this your city?"
"Indeed it is," Jotham squared his shoulders proudly. "We have lived here over ten thousand years." He watched the newcomers, the awe evident in their gaping expressions. He motioned to them, "Come, let us eat and get to know each other."
A A A A A A
They were brought to a plain room, similar to the Atlantis commisary. They sat in large over-stuffed arm chairs around a long rectangluar table, using less than half of it. The food was hot and delicious and plentiful. The trio was leary at first, but Lt Ford reasoned that if Jotham wanted them dead, he would've left them in the prison cell...besides, he was starving.
When the meal was completed, Jotham faced Lt Ford, dark eyes just watching him.
Aiden suppressed a building squirm. The old man's gaze had him pinned to his chair. He gave a half-smile, "What?"
"You seem young to be in command," he commented off-handedly.
Aiden sat a bit straighter, "Major Sheppard is actually our commander. When he is incapacitated, I am next in the chain." He paused, changing the subject, "So, how did all this," he indicated the complex, "happen?"
"A race of creatures known as the Wraith attacked our people over ten thousand years ago..."
Teyla interrupted, "We know of the Wraith. They have terrorized and harvested my people for centuries, as well."
Jotham looked thoughtful for a moment. "Then they are still out there."
Aiden noticed that Jotham didn't ask but stated, like he expected it but was hoping against the Wraith still existing. "Oh, yeah. We pretty much pissed them off on our first mission through the Stargate."
Jotham seemed to shake from his thoughts to continue, "After that first attack, those remaining began planning this city. My people survived many cullings before it was completed."
Aiden frowned, "Why haven't they scanned you? They seem to have some pretty awesome technology."
"Under the outermost soil is a natural occurring three foot layer of a dense stone. It is impenetrable to scans. Being natural to our planet, the Wraith don't think to question it or look deeper."
He exchanged impressed looks with Teyla and Sgt Bates. "Talk about hiding in plain sight," he laughed.
"You spoke of traveling through the Stargate, are you referring to the Atlantean's Gateway?"
Hepaused. Deciding not to delve too deeply into detail,Lt Fordresponded, "Yeah, our people have been using it for about eight years. We've been using the Atlantis gate for five months."
"So you work with the Atlaneans. Are they near a solution to the Wraith domination?"
Sgt Bates spoke up, "They were run out of the Pegasus galaxy…uh, this galaxy ten thousand years ago."
Aiden cut in to control the amount of information he wanted to share, "Some ascended to a higher plane of existence. The others returned to Earth, where we're from. I don't understand all of it but we are the second stage in their evolution."
Jotham's expression was that of someone who just lost their job, house and family all in one day. "Then it is up to us," he said quietly.
"Up to you what?" Aiden asked, leaning forward.
"Then you," he pointed to Teyla, "are not from this place, Earth?"
"No. I joined the fight against the Wraith when Major Sheppard visited my planet to exchange information."
The conversation was interrupted by a young man stepping up to Jotham. A smile spread across his face, dismissingthe boywith a quiet 'thank you'. He turned his beaming eyes to the three watching him, "Your friends are recovering. Would you like to visit them?"
Okay, I've fiddle with it enough. It's not going to get any better. But now it's over and I can get on with the story.
