Chapter Sixteen

"It was a peaceful day," Kiki began quietly, her eyes closing as she thought of the events that had led her to this place with these people. "Just like any other really, me and Papa had just arrived home from the market." Another long pause, she took a moment to listen to the sounds in her immediate environment and had a vague idea where everyone else was. Beckett was the closest to her, after sitting down next to the bed and Teyla was sitting with Sheppard, she imagine he would be paying great attention to what she had to hear.

--

"Mother will be angry," Kiki said, as she and her father walked hand in hand to their home. "We promised to be back earlier than this."

"Do not fear your mother Kiki," her father replied gently, he was a soft-spoken man and she loved him dearly. He turned right, guiding her with him. "I am sure she will understand and forgive us. Besides, I know how to work with your mother." She sensed a smileon the old man's face, one slowly appearing on her own.

"I did so enjoy this day Papa, swimming in the stream was refreshing and the climate is so warm." This would surely be a day that Kiki never forgot, spending time from her studies to spend quality time with her father was one of her favourite pastimes. Recently, they had started spending more time together to give her mother some space to herself for she was expecting Kiki's brother or sister.

Most children Kiki knew had been envious when their mother's had given birth to a new child, for fear that they would be rejected or forgotten in light of the new arrivals. Kiki never thought this way from the moment her mother and father gave her the joyful news. For she knew that her father and mother loved her dearly and they would never abandon her, for they would love them both as equally and Kiki enjoyed the prospect of having a little brother or sister to help raise and look after.

"I too enjoyed this day," Papa replied, enveloping her in a one armed hug as they walked.

There was a distant whine, Kiki heard it first and stopped. Straightening up and looking in the direction of her father. Papa was glad that his daughter could not see the look on his face. For the look was one of anguish and fear.

--

Sheppard sat up straighter in his seat and leaned forward, more intrigued. "The Wraith?" Kiki looked over to him, lowered her head and nodded. "My father grabbed my hand tighter and we ran towards the noise, the closer we got the more terrified I was. I kept asking my father what the sound was but he refused to say anything. Until we arrived home."

--

Another ship passed overhead, people ran in all directions and there was clearly an epidemic of mass panic. "Papa," Kiki said as they reached the house in which they had resided for many years. "Tell me, is it the Wraith?"

Papa looked up at the Wraith dart, the noise was eerie and bright beams absorbed many people at a time. He looked up in time to see his pregnant wife also taken as she made her way over to them. "Quickly," he said, snapping up his daughter's hand and running into the house, slamming the door. Drowning out the noise, but only by a fraction.

"Papa I do not understand what is happening," Kiki said, tears streaming down her face. It couldn't have been the Wraith, from the stories and tales she had being told they would not encounter them for many years. "Please tell me." Papa furiously turned over a table, moving a panel and slipping something out and looked at it, regret surging through his veins at what he must do. Looking at the tablet, he glanced back to Kiki and walked over to her.

"Kiki, what I am about to say is very important." Kiki tilted her chin up, ready and willing for what her father had to tell her. "You must listen carefully and obey my instructions."

Despite how terrified she was and how numbing the fear she felt was, Kiki nodded slowly. "Yes Papa."

--

"He explained to me how he had found the device in the temple of Tiros," Kiki said, a few tears running down her face at the memory but both Teyla and Beckett had taken a hand in their own. Their strength gave her the strength to carry on with her story. "That it was a shield of some kind and that it had taken him many years to figure out how it worked, until one day I was unfortunate enough to get my hands on it. It had a mental component, so if I thought about taking it off, it slipped off. It was how it worked when I was a child and my father scolded me harshly and told me to remove it."

"And you had no idea who made it?" Sheppard asked.

"We presumed Tiros or one of the Ancestors had left it in their passing. My father believes that it was destiny that I was able to work it. He then took me to the great eye, that is what you call the stargate."

--

Papa had the tablet still in his possession and used this time to give his daughter one more hug, one last farewell before he sent her off. "Kiki," he said pulling her closer. "I love you dearly my daughter and I know this request I ask of you is a dangerous one but you must seek help and spread word of the Wraith."

"I do not understand why you cannot come with me Papa," Kiki said holding onto him for dear life. Another Wraith ship passed overhead, the sound terrifying and overloading her senses.

"This will protect you, but only you alone."

"No Papa, I do not wish to go. I wish to stay here and fight."

"Young Kiki, you cannot." Papa was tearful, looking upwards to the Wraith ship that was gaining distance on them, the beam brightening as it hurled towards them. He pulled back and slapped the shield onto Kiki's chest and stepped back. "I love you daughter never forget that." With his parting words, he pushed Kiki through the stargate before being taken by the light.

--

The tears were streaming freely down her face, all three of them wore sympathetic looks and Sheppard shifted in his seat slightly as she recalled those final moments. Kiki let out a small sob as she tried to regain her composure and took a deep breath.

"It's okay," Beckett said climbing up on the bed next to her and putting an arm round her shoulders. "Just take your time, no one's rushing you."

Kiki nodded slowly and closed her eyes, the memory of her father's final words painful and a tinge of sadness tugged at her heart. "I landed the other side of the eye and it was green," she answered beginning. "I had never felt so alone and the land was quiet. I wandered along the terrain, using a stick as guidance for areas that I deemed were unsafe and I my father instructed me to find the inhabitants of the planet but I soon…"

"You soon realised that no one lived there," Teyla finished for her sadly. To this, Kiki nodded and dabbed at her eyes with a piece of material Beckett had handed her.

"I tried my best to return to the gate but it was not an easy task. Something drew me to a large structure."

"The temple?" Sheppard asked.

"It was the one where I encountered Doctor McKay and Lieutenant Ford, I heard voices and they spoke of searching for something and I feared that had come for me."

"So you attacked them," Teyla replied.

"We know the rest of the story from there. Thank you," Sheppard said standing up, he didn't want to have to put the kid through anymore heartache that was necessary. Kiki nodded and mustered a smile, still upset with having to recall all the terrible things that had happened. What burnt her most was the memory of her father and the loneliness she had felt. Teyla reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind Kiki's ear, stroking gently.

"I am sorry you had to go through all that Kiki," Teyla said softly. "Your father had the best intentions and only thought ofothers'survival."

"I know," Kiki said quietly, feeling her own regret. "But what of my people? Did they survive?"

Beckett had a daunted look on his face, as did Sheppard and Teyla asthey slid off the bed and left the infirmary in silence.