John and McKay walked down the hallway. Weir had given them the day off, seeing as they had just survived the impossible and been rescued by a biogenetic dragon from an avalanche in Genii territory. Rodney was still shaken about being forcefully ripped out of the ground and carried in the claws of a killing machine. Teyla, Ronon, and John were lucky enough to be placed on Chevron's back before taking off. John laughed at the memory of a screaming Rodney and a giant dragon rolling his eyes.
Weir almost had a heart attack when she saw Chevron for the first time. She still had to be reminded that it was just Havoc transformed. When he tried to get out of the Gate room, they had to open the door to the Jumper bay and then the roof doors to get him out. Chevron then proceeded to fly around the city and perch majestically on the spires. It doesn't make you look any more majestic however, when a puddlejumper flown by the clumsy Dr. Beckett makes you lose your balance. Carson must have screamed into his radio for a full ten minutes as Chevron chased his jumper down. Sheppard, McKay, and Ronon were roaring with laughter the whole time. Carson wet himself when Chevron caught the jumper, forced the back door down and stuck his head in. Rodney had never seen Carson so shaky around the jumpers before.
It took constant getting used to. They had found, not only a secret weapon designed by the Ancients, but the ultimate life form, a second super soldier, and a real life dragon. Rodney stopped using logic a long time ago. Havoc's evil side had been downloaded into the hologram room, so they could consult him when needed. Sometimes, they started to wonder if they were dreaming, seeing something wondrous and fake. But if everyone thought that, it couldn't be. Imaginations don't contemplate their own existence. That would be redundant.
Sheppard wiped his hand over the panel by the door and the portal hissed open. McKay was explaining to John the complexities of the Ancient database, like usual. And John wasn't listening, like usual.
"I've scoured every part of the Ancient database and it doesn't say one thing about any final weapons!"
"Well, Rodney, maybe you should look under something else…"
"Oh! What? Like… Apocalyptic Weapons perhaps? Or maybe…"
"I'm just saying, what the Ancients called it may have changed. Have you asked Havoc?"
"Yes! Neither Havoc nor his brother has any clue about where the weapons are or what they are…"
"What about that book thing Havoc had?"
"Nothing. The book is gone."
"Have you checked the library?"
"I would, but I can't get the damn ring platform to work! It needs a key or something."
Sheppard glared into Rodney's eyes.
"You will get the damn thing to work. You've pulled the impossible off before, and you can do it again… Ask Havoc… er… Chevron to open it for you…" He said. A bead of sweat rolled down Rodney's face. "You're not scared of him, are you…?"
"Me? No! …Well… I… uh…" Rodney stuttered. Sheppard smiled mischievously and steered McKay into a side doorway. He tapped his headset radio.
"Hey. Ronon… Are you there…?"
"Yeah… We're with Chevron on the north pier." He answered. Sheppard smiled wider.
"We're going on a field trip… stay there…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
McKay walked out of the door into the outside light. He was shaking and looking everywhere for a sign of the dragon. The sun hung high overhead and the waves crashed into the pier. He sighed in relief and turned to the door.
"Hey Sheppard! Looks like Chevron's not here…" He said, turning to the pier. He bumped right into the snarling face of the Chevron Dragon. Rodney froze as the dragon stared down at him, teeth glittering in the light. The mouth opened and a ball of light formed in the Dragon's throat. Energy crackled and swirled. Rodney yelped and fell backwards. Sheppard burst out laughing behind him. Ronon and Teyla walked around from behind Chevron, smiling. The giant mouth snapped shut. Chevron smiled in a dragon-like way and turned away. Chevron began walking to the edge of the pier. They watched him. He stuck his head in the water and jumped in. His shadow swan around the pier, while the team walked a shaking Rodney to a place they could sit. They watched the dragon playfully diving in and out of the water. Sheppard stared into the water, thinking. Teyla saw this and knew what question he wanted to ask. She reached out her mind to Chevron. He was surprised to see that she wanted to talk to him like this, but he opened his mind.
She found herself standing on the plane of his mind. A stargate sat in the distance, rolling plains stretching infinitely. Clouds rushed overhead at impossible speeds, the plains unusually quiet. She looked around.
"Can I help you?" An overhead voice spoke.
"Where are you…?"
"…Around… Is there something I can help you with? I'd like to get back to my day off…"
"It's about the Ancestor's weaponry that we are supposed to find…"
"Ah… Yes… I still don't see an application for these weapons yet. Why go looking for something if you can't use it…"
Teyla thought about this for a moment. Something else sprang up in her mind.
'If you are indeed ascended, can't you just wipe the Wraith from existence?" The voice laughed.
No, no, no, no…You see, I have ascended DNA… I am not truly ascended… If I was, I'd be dragged to the higher plane for meddling down here. My form is technically human, but I am this powerful because I am a hybrid. I have dragon DNA, Ascended DNA, and bioengineering fused to my human DNA. I am not ascended. I have the powers, but since I don't possess the infinite knowledge of the ascended, I wouldn't know what the hell to do to wipe a species from existence. Manipulating energy is pretty much all I know how to do so far…
"What about that library you created…"
"Ha! That little thing! That's not even one percent of the knowledge needed to bend the universal matter to your whim! I'd need to scour the database and the library fourteen thousand times and then find some more data to do that!
"Then the Wraith will never be completely destroyed…" Teyla said, despair lining her mental aura. An overhead cloud flashed lightning.
"I need to bide my time, but when I am no more, when the powers of a God are bent around my will, I will use it to make that dream a reality…"
"If you did that, the others would destroy you...!"
"Ha! They'd have to get in line…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chevron lay on the pier, eyes closed and head resting on the ground. His chest expanded and lowered in gentle breaths, his mind asleep. Sheppard and his friends lay on the side of the dragon, enjoying the sunlight. A tiny puff of smoke rolled out of the dragon's nostrils. McKay still looked over at the shining teeth every few seconds, but he was enjoying the time off. Sheppard had his hands behind his head, staring into the blue sky. He suddenly jumped up.
"C'mon. Weir gave us the day off and all we can do is sit around? Let's take a trip to the mainland." Teyla looked up at him.
"How are we to get there…? Will Dr. Weir let us borrow a jumper…?" Chevron suddenly lifted his head and yawned, a small tongue of fire brushing out. He blinked once and spun his massive head around to the humans.
"No need. We do not require a jumper…"
"What? The how are we going to get there?"
"You forget whose friend is a fire breathing creature of myth… hop on." He said, lowering his wings to reveal a spot on his back they could sit on. Sheppard eyed the dragon and looked up to the sky. Chevron twitched his wing impatiently. Sheppard smiled and walked foreword. Chevron got closer to the ground and let Ronon and Teyla hop on. Rodney shook his head.
"There is no way I am getting on…"
Sheppard looked around the wing. "C'mon Rodney! You're holding up the party!"
"Rodney, get on or I will carry you in my claws…"
McKay eyed the dragon's claws and stared at Chevron.
"You wouldn't…"
Chevron lashed out and grabbed Rodney, throwing him on his back. Before Rodney could do anything, Chevron leaned back on his hind legs and the pistons slammed downward, sending them high into the air. The wings flared open and the dragon took off to the east. Chevron bared his fangs and opened his mouth. A sphere of light opened up in his jaws and a beam of energy lashed out. The beam ripped a hyperspace window into the air. Sheppard and Ronon yelled something as the dragon shot into the disruption and disappeared.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The mountainous region on the north side of the mainland was offering a fantastic view of the range. White capped mountains and crystal clear air frequented the area. It was peaceful and quiet. A hyperspace window tore open the air and spat out a dragon and four yelling humans on his back. Chevron was laughing as Rodney and Sheppard were trying to breathe normally. Ronon was laughing and Teyla was staring back at the closing window. Chevron flew over the mountains. He dipped down and skimmed the top of a lake, sending walls of water to flank them and send a rainbow of crystals over them. He pulled up and flew high over an even bigger lake. Sheppard shook his head.
"What a wild ride!" Sheppard said, tapping Chevron on the head. Chevron opened his mouth to say something, when he stopped, eyes widened. "What is it?"
"Shit!" The dragon swore, suddenly trying to get to the ground. "Something's wrong… I can't maintain my form!"
"What?"
"I'm turning human again! I've got to land, NOW!"
"The mutation's wearing off? How?"
A golden aura surrounded Chevron. It flickered and died. He was clenching his teeth, trying to hold onto his form. Blood welled up and flowed out of his mouth, raining droplets on the ground. Just when they thought he could win, a disc of white light exploded into being in front of him and passed over him. The humans fell through the air towards the ground, a now human Havoc falling with them, dressed in his black coat and the Chevron Sword on his back. Havoc blinked and tried to fly. His wings were gone. Not just invisible, but 100 percent gone. He looked down at the falling, screaming humans. Havoc snarled and slammed a hand into his coat. He pulled out the tiny Stargate.
They're gonna hit the ground in thirty seconds… I can only work with this stupid thing… What to do…? Havoc thought. He stared into the tiny Gate. If I could stop time around them, their momentum would disappear and when it wore off, if they were only a few feet off the ground, they would be gently dropped onto the ground… but can I make it do something so specific… Havoc heard the humans scream again. Havoc blinked. New strength streamed through him. He hefted the device like a shuriken.
Here goes everything! Havoc whipped the device at them. He lifted an open palm and shot a small lightning bolt at them. It was sucked into the Gate. Havoc sneered. He didn't know why, but he yelled something.
"ZERO HOUR!"
The tiny Gate was in the center of the tiny group of humans. It was spinning and beginning to glow. All their eyes were on this tiny piece of technology. Havoc watched as the humans fell towards the ground, the light tracing their path. Havoc was holding his breath. The humans were still screaming. Just when Havoc thought he should try to spawn wings again, a blue sphere of light exploded out and started to slow the humans. They were drawing closer to the ground. Havoc covered his eyes. Rodney fainted. Ronon stared at the ground, wide eyed. Sheppard blinked. Teyla yelled something. Something clicked. The humans froze three feet from the ground on the rocky shore of the lake. Havoc looked down at the humans and saw that they were completely fine. He cheered enthusiastically until he realized the ground would impale him. He stared into the tree line, eyes daring the trees to bring his death.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Down on the ground Sheppard jumped awake. He was lying on the ground, heart racing. He blinked twice and looked up into the sky and saw the ascended man falling to the planet like a meteor. He reached for a radio, but then remembered that Havoc didn't have one. He was still trying to believe he had just ridden a dragon through the sky, let alone that he had fallen from the sky and the dragon became man once more. John leapt up onto his feet and kicked Rodney in the side. Rodney's eyes slowly opened and he blinked. His eye grew wide and he screamed. Sheppard booted him in the side again. Rodney gasped and looked around.
"Wha… What? We're… I'M ALIVE!" Rodney yelled smiling in jubilant surprise. John grabbed his arm and dragged him to his feet. Sheppard grabbed his head and jerked it up to see Havoc. Ronon groaned and got up behind them. "Hey… What's Havoc doing up there…?"John groaned and pushed him aside. Up in the sky, they saw Havoc trying to slow his descent by shooting energy. It didn't work. He was weakened by the sudden DNA transition. A stream of blood arched behind him. Havoc was twisting and turning. Up in the sky, Havoc stared at them. Information scrolled across his vision.
Distance of humans from the point of expected impact…500 meters. Terminal speed attained. Resounding shockwave distance… 610 meters. Terminal distance… Humans in the kill zone. Recommend abort in code with the programming interface 00127463… opening hyperspace window in t-minus ten and counting…
"What the hell is going on…? Programming codes… 00127… hyperspace window…? What is this?" Havoc asked himself, as he pulled out the sword. He stared at it intently. His body wasn't obeying him, making movements with the sword against his will. Was his suppressed programming beginning to emerge in the face of death? He didn't take it literally when he found out. Maybe the ancients had invaded his mind and implanted a computerized helper… which may explain why he could siphon the Shadow Havoc into a com pad. He didn't know, but if he had enough energy to open a window, he definitely didn't have enough to clear the planet. He would die, but maybe saving four lives.
A swirling, purple mass ripped open in the air below him. Lightning arched and twisted, trying to escape, but self imploding from their own power. A swirling black center sucked in air and the occasional tree. It thundered, demanding to swallow him whole. Havoc swallowed as he fell towards it, hands automatically sheathing the sword on their own. Havoc glanced at his hands. As he fell into the darkness, he noticed something about his fingers. They were normal but they were changed on the outline. Same with his arm.
They were glowing…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sheppard watched as the torrent of energy sucked in on itself. The hyperspace window closed with a resounding thunderclap. Sheppard and Rodney winced. Ronon looked down at Teyla. She was still unconscious. Ronon shook her shoulder, not getting a response.
"She's out like a light, Sheppard." He said, getting up. He looked around. "Where are we…?"
It looked like they were somewhere in the northern woods. The lake seen from the sky was about a football field away through dense trees. They were on the edge of a clearing, maybe a few miles north of any Athosian camping party. Sheppard did have his radio, so maybe they could call for a jumper. This day just got better and better.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Weir sat in her office, preparing the next report to send back through the Gate to Earth. She decided not to tell the SGC about Havoc or the final weapons. Havoc was right when he spoke in the mess hall. Maybe humanity wasn't ready for the final weapons. A panic would be the least of their problems then. And who knows what the SGC would demand when they found out a being like Havoc or Rekhyt were walking around. Landry was a good man, but the presidential board was full of snakes, who only wanted the Gate to themselves and extra cash.
Weir ran a hand through her hair and sighed. The glass from Havoc's previous entries was being repaired by Rekhyt and he was talking to Zelenka outside the office. Rekhyt had stressed the fact that any decision Weir made, they would go with 100 percent. Good or bad. She looked out the window at the busy Gate technicians running about. And she knew Chevron had taken the team to the mainland. The sensors saw his take-off. His blip on the screen was the size of an orange, so a secretive field trip was out of the question.
She felt a gentle pressure on the bottom of her leg and looked down. The tiny wolf pup Havoc had rescued was standing on her shoe, front legs on her pant leg, eyes staring up at her. She smiled. The pup wagged his tail. Chevron had asked her to keep watch over him for little bit. Teyla had made a small leather collar for him and Havoc had burned a name into the side of it. "Jack" was burned in slim letters on the fabric. Weir didn't question the naming, but she did feel it had something to do with Jack O'Neill on Earth. She questioned the fact that they let an animal from another planet come into Atlantis, let alone it being an Artic wolf. Havoc did say he'd keep it from the mainstream areas, but the only animals that a military base could have were experimental. She had struck up a deal with Carson, though, to keep Havoc happy. It seemed like since Havoc came here, the rules and regulations had been crumpled up and thrown out the window. Maybe she let this one slide because of her own favorite pet she had to leave behind…
Elizabeth was jerked to reality by a knock at the door. The tired leader looked up from her desk. Zelenka was standing in the doorway, computer pad in his hand. Weir shook her head.
"Sorry, but we've gotten a radio transmission from the mainland. Sheppard is requesting a jumper be sent to the last known coordinates of his radio signal."
"Why does he need a jumper…? Didn't Chevron go along, too? Last time I checked fairy tale logic, dragons can fly, Zelenka." She said. The wolf pup crawled behind her foot and growled around her ankle at the scientist.
Zelenka sighed. "All he said was that Teyla needed medical attention and Havoc had disappeared…" Weir groaned and rubbed her forehead. She really didn't need this right now. If she understood the little hint John had made, Havoc was human again and something had gotten royally screwed up. Zelenka stood in the doorway uncomfortably, eyes watching the small ball of white fur lying under Weir's desk, staring back.
"Send the jumper with medical supplies to Sheppard. We need to find out exactly what happened." She said. She got up and walked over to the door. Zelenka moved aside. She turned and looked at the wolf expectantly. Jack got up, shook himself and ran after her. She reached down and picked him up. Weir stroked his ears and placed him in Zelenka's arms. He and the pup looked at her curiously as she walked away. Elizabeth looked over her shoulder. "Give him to Carson. He'll know what to do… I've got to go ask around…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Weir strolled into the empty hologram room. Dust had started to collect on the floor, whisking up and sending trails at her footsteps. The doors behind her hissed closed. The dim lights eased on. It was in here that the Ancients left behind a holographic aide. It was originally used to teach children about the Atlantian systems. Three months ago, they learned that the hologram was being overshadowed by an Ascended woman, who was banished for trying to help them. The original hologram was still here and this is where they downloaded Havoc's Shadow self. She thought that he may have some answers. All of Havoc's evil repressed and shoved in a small computer may haven't of been a smart idea, but they really didn't have a choice. Either that, or put him in the Ancient database, which was a huge security breach.
Elizabeth walked up to the small platform on the floor and tapped a button on the pedestal in front of her. The lights dimmed and a flurry of sparks formed into a young woman wearing flowing white robes. She gazed intently at Elizabeth.
"What is your request?"
"I need to speak with the other program."
The woman showed a minute shadow of displacement and smiled warmer. "I am the only responsive program in this computer hologram pad. Please restate your intention."
"I think she means me, lady…"
The hologram woman spontaneously combusted in holographic fire. She disappeared, although the flames remained. A shadowy figure appeared in the fire and stepped out. Weir blinked. Shadow Havoc was now ten feet tall, standing over her easily. His clothing consisted of a long black and torn cloak, tons of golden chains wrapped around his torso. His sleeves were ripped at the ends and the torn edges waved in an invisible wind. His eyes were black, with red pupils; scar on his face a shinning white. He had a folded pair of angel wings on his back. He stared down at her.
"The mutation wore off…"
"And how exactly do you know that…?" Shadow jerked a thumb at his wings.
"Because I shouldn't have these…"
"So, if you sprouted wings that surely should mean Havoc's in trouble…?" She asked sarcastically. A voice spoke beside her.
"That would be logical, Elizabeth…"
Rekhyt stood beside her, making her jump. Havoc's brother walked up to the hologram and looked back at her. "It doesn't matter that he's not physically inside Havoc's head. He's affected just as Havoc is. He's going through the same physical and mental mutation as Havoc, only in reverse."
Weir looked at the angel wings. She thought to herself.
"I thought the mutation was only changing him into a dragon…" Rekhyt sighed.
"So did I," He said, "but I then realized more of his DNA was changing. Why do you think he sprouted dragon wings and angel wings when he went to rescue Sheppard and his team?" Weir remained silent. "He was at a middle point. Think… if his evil side is taking on the properties of an angel…"
Weir thought. If the Shadow Havoc was beginning to retain good qualities that meant…
"Oh my God…" She whispered, comprehension dawning on her. If Havoc was losing his purity, he was turning darker, more evil. Taking more chances and showing a lack of compassion. "What does this mean…?"
"It means that we've got to get this thing back in Havoc's brain before the Ancients get to him…"
"What will happen then…?" Weir asked as if she didn't know the answer. Rekhyt smiled nervously. He whispered one word before he turned to the door and left the Shadow Havoc and Elizabeth standing in the lonely room.
"Armageddon…" The door hissed shut. Before Weir could do anything. An alarm blared and Zelenka came bursting through the door. Shadow Havoc watched him curiously and put his hands behind his back. Zelenka stared up at the Shadow Havoc glaring down at him. He turned to Weir, keeping a paranoid eye on the shadow being.
"Long range sensors… they picked up Wraith… lots of 'em…"
"What! How many?"
"Fifteen hives… maybe ten cruisers…" Zelenka looked like he was going to pee himself. Shadow Havoc frowned at him and stared into the ceiling as if he could see millions of light years away, to confirm this for himself. Weir looked shaken.
"How far away are they…?"
At their current speed, they'll be here inside a week…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The download thingy is screwed up so I had to use the X's instead of the ruler... thingy... whatever...