Thanks for the reviews guys! It makes me very happy! There was a little confusion so to clarify, about a week passes between chapters one and two. Sorry, I should have made that more clear. Thanks for the support!
Chapter Three: Said Too Much
Ree'an once again stood on one of the many balconies of Atlantis. She stared out at the ceaseless waves and the crystal sparkle of sunlight on water. She still could not get used to seeing so much of it in one place. It was like something from a fairy tale, or a dream. Her mind wandered back over what had happened to her in the past week. In just a few short days she had left her own world behind to come to this one. Yet she had no regrets; at least here she had friends again. And maybe in time, they would be like a new family.
Her thoughts drifted to her own family. It had been so long since they had all been together that the memory was fleeting and distant. But she could still see it; like a picture into her past. She remembered her father best. His stories and songs had taught her morality and compassion for all things. He always seemed at peace, no matter what was happening in the outside world. Almost unconsciously, she began to hum a childhood tune. Her humming grew louder, until finally, as if stirred on by the memories of her lost family, she broke into song.
Her soft voice echoed and danced around the many spires of the city. It filled the air with a sound that it had long been wanting. She sang one of her favorites: an old one about the silver city, aggressed by a raging storm. The melody rose and fell in mighty crescendos, like waves crashing against rocky shores.
In the sudden silence when she finished, a footstep resounded behind her. She whirled and saw Dr. Beckett standing in the doorway. She felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment and avoided his eyes by looking at the floor instead. To her surprise, her eyes were met by two golden globes. A small green lizard stared at her in curiosity as he swayed slightly on his hind legs.
"That was beautiful," Beckett commented. "It's long since I've heard a sweet voice like your's. Jamie liked it too."
"Thank you," she mumbled in reply. She was unused to such praise.
"It's Ancient isn't it? The language of your Ancestors?"
"Yes. My father taught it to me when I was a child."
"He taught you well. Ya needn't be so shy about it."
Jamie chose this moment to paw at her leg for attention. Automatically, she picked him up and gently scratched his eye ridges. The little creature closed his eyes and crooned with pleasure. His presents was a comfort and Ree'an felt herself relaxing.
Carson smiled. "He certainly seems comfortable with you. I've never seen 'im take to someone so fast."
"I like animals," she replied, as if that explained the lizard's affection. "I used to have a pet cales. I took him hunting with me all the time."
"What happened to him?"
She sighed. "He died...last year." Somehow the death of her beloved pet was easier to take. After all, he had lived a full live; unlike her family.
He nodded sympathetically. "I had a dog in my youth. Could never have ask for a better companion. But he took sick one day and passed away. Life can be so fleeting sometimes." After a moments thought, he endeavored to change the subject. "I here you're gonna get flying lessons."
Ree'an brightened up considerably. "Yes!" she said with excitement. "As soon as Major Sheppard gets back, he promised to teach me."
"Better you than me, lass," he told her with a small chuckle.
Ree'an frowned. "I thought your job was to care for people...you can fly too?"
He sighed. "Only when I half to. Dr. Weir decided that everyone with the ATA gene should be able to fly the jumpers in an emergency. Since there are so few of us, I couldn't say no."
"I see," she said uncertainly. "Only certain people can fly them?"
"That's right."
She cocked her head in confusion. "Why?"
'Oh dear,' he thought. 'How am I ever going to explain this one?'
X X X
Sheppard and his team had been waiting for nearly half an hour when people started to emerge from the houses and make their way to the fields and gardens. Like the guard, they were dark haired and tan. They wore long light garbs of white or other pale colors. Most of the men had small round caps, while the women had kerchiefs to keep their hair under control. It reminded John distinctly of his time served in Afghanistan. This did not make him feel very comfortable.
The team rose and Sheppard smiled warmly at them, but those that noticed just stared suspiciously at them and kept going. Then the guard returned and looked them over, as if he hadn't really seem them before. "Alright, strangers," he said. "Follow me."
"Where are we going?" Sheppard asked without moving.
The man gave a long suffering sigh. "To see our leader."
"Oh." He immediately lightened up. "Lead the way then."
They walked through the dusty and disorganized streets and passed houses that looked ready to collapse at any second. Stone ditches channeled water to the fields from somewhere in the center of town. The place had every indication of once being great, but had long since fallen into ruin and disrepair. Sheppard was sure that the Wraith had something to do with that.
At the center of the city was the source of water; probably the only source for miles. It was a small bubbling pool, about this size of a Stargate, that fed the ditches in every direction. Behind the spring was easily the largest building of all. Built of the same stone as the outside wall, it was a sizable domed structure rather like a temple. Like the rest, it looked like it had once been great, with intricate carvings and decorative paintings. Now the columns were crumbling, the paint chipping and fading, and the age old runes impossible to decipher.
Their guide marched right up to the entrance and called inside. "Gulah! There are strangers here!"
"Strangers?" came a voice from inside. "Where are they from?"
"I do not know."
An irritated grumbling echoed from inside. "Well show them in."
The guard led them inside. It took several moments for their eyes to adjust to the sudden dim light. Then they looked around in amazement. The inside was much better preserved and the walls were covered in intricate carvings and colorful designs.
"That's Ancient," McKay said in surprise. He pulled a sensor from his pocket and checked it. "I'm definitely getting some power readings too."
Sheppard jabbed him in the arm causing him to turn. An old, official looking man was staring at him in disapproval. His hair was long and dirty white and he wore robes of bright red and blue. Two younger men stood on either side of him while he himself sat in a small cushioned seat.
"You know of the Ancestors?" he asked. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
There was no getting around it, so Sheppard decided to come clean. "Yes. As a matter of fact we do."
His eyes narrowed even further until they were mere slits. Then he waved a hand at the guard who had brought them. "You are dismissed. Return to your duties." The man bowed and departed. The old leader, Gulah, turned back to them. "Tell me. How much do you know about the Ancestors."
Wary of giving the man too much information too soon, Sheppard was quiet for a minute. "We know quite a bit," he answered vaguely. "Once we become friends, we might be able to teach you some things."
Gulah leaned closer, still staring intently. "Is that so. How did you get here, strangers?"
"We have names you know," John interrupted. "Don't you think we should be introduced first?"
"Very well. I am Gulah, leader of my people."
"I'm very pleased to meet you. I'm Major John Sheppard, this Dr. McKay, Teyla and Lt. Ford."
The man seem less than interested in the introductions and immediately returned the discussion to it's previous subject. "Now. How did you get here and where do you come from."
"We came through the Stargate." Gulah frowned without understanding so John tried again. "Big, black ring thing out in the desert." He gestured in the general direction they had come.
That got his attention. "The ring of the Ancestors!" he said in alarm.
"Yeah, if that's what you call it."
Gulah leaned over to one of his attendants and whispered covertly into his ear. Sheppard watched them with concern until the man left quickly out a side door. "Where's he going in such a hurry."
"I have sent him to get us some food," was the curt reply. John didn't believe him for a second, but there wasn't much he could do about it. "You still have not told me where exactly you are from."
John was getting more and more suspicious and decided not to give the man anymore information than necessary. He had a feeling he'd already said too much. "Oh, you know. From a planet far, far away."
Gulah was not amused. "Perhaps we should continue this discussion when you are in a more helpful mood."
"Maybe," Sheppard agreed. He was only too glad for a change of subject.
"In the mean time, I shall show you our modest city." He rose and gestured for them to lead the way outside. McKay grumbled about wanting to stay and examine the temple, but otherwise no one objected.
As soon as they stepped outside, they were aggressed by close to thirty men armed with spears and curved swords. The team raised their guns automatically, but held their fire. Despite their vastly superior weapons they were severely outnumbered. No one wanted to fight unless absolutely necessary, so both groups stood frozen in a temporary stalemate.
"What is the meaning of this!" Sheppard asked in anger.
"We only wanted to be your friends!" Teyla added in an attempt to help.
"Knowledge of the Ancestors is forbidden!" Gulah proclaimed, ignoring the team's protests. "We will not tolerate these blasphemers to defile our good city and its people!" The people roared their approval, and moved forward. Sheppard fired a few warning shots of the heads of the crowd. Surprised and afraid, they backed off a little.
Sheppard took the opportunity to issue a warning: "We'll only fight if we have too, but many of you would die. Now I don't want that, and neither do you. You do not want to make an enemy of us."
"Lies!" Gulah cried. "Do not listen to the traitors! They only seek to deceive and corrupt you!"
Spurred into action again, the mob rushed forward again. This time they came so fast and with such ferocity that the team had little chance to fight back. They tried anyway, but only succeeded in giving themselves bruises. In no time, they were bereft of their weapons and supplies and bustled off to the back of the temple. There, they were thrown down steep, narrow stairs and into a dank cellar.
"You're making a big mistake!" Sheppard shouted. Their captors just glared down at them and slammed the door shut. Alone in the suffocating dark, the team's only consolation was that is was cooler inside than out. Minutes passed by slowly, as if even time itself had forgotten them.