Chapter 2: the Chaos and the Harmony
While strolling the halls of Atlantis late one night, Nexus makes some surprising discoveries about some of the humans…
CLANG!
"Damn it!"
Nexus cringed, shoulders hunched against the sudden harsh twanging noise and shouting human voice that abused his ears. He had frozen mid-stride, causing his guards to mutter unhappily as they came to an abrupt stop. The wraith snarled quietly, irritated with the intrusion into his late night walk.
After his disastrous first meeting with the team of Lanteans, Nexus was determined to remain civil. His Commander had been very clear about no feeding, but he'd also stated that no harm should befall the humans. Lashing out at them mentally would surely violate his orders. He couldn't bear the thought of disappointing his Commander. Nexus felt begrudgingly grateful for the Athosian queen who had kept him in check.
He also needed to improve his stella-tenux and stay one step ahead of the humans. He could ill afford another humiliating episode. His mind wandered to Stella-nix…
CLASH! The shrill clamour jangled at his nerves.
"What the-? Oh, for crying out loud!" The voice carried clearly down the corridor.
A string of colourful curses followed, punctuated by the sounds of clanging and clashing. Clearly there would be no peace this evening.
Nexus closed his eyes and cast his mind out ahead of him and from out of the depths ghosted the hallway ahead, doors leading off to unexplored rooms on either side.
All of them empty, save for one.
"Goddammit! Did a monkey tune this thing, or what?"
Nexus walked towards the double doors at the end of the hall, intrigued despite recognising the voice of none other than his current least favourite Lantean.
Opening his eyes again, he watched as his guards entered the room ahead of him. He could feel their alertness give way to disinterest as they surveyed the hall and waved him in.
"Rogers and I will station ourselves at the door," the first guard informed the wraith, "but we'll be watching you."
The second guard looked at him warily. "And, uh - you might want to keep outta the doc's way."
"Very well," Nexus replied, feeling curious.
Leaving the guards at the entrance, Nexus moved through the shadows to gain a better vantage point. The solitary human at the other end of the room was absorbed in his task, banging away on the white keys of some type of noise contraption.
Tilting his head to one side, Nexus closed his eyes and once again conjured up his stella-tenux. Concentrating on the lone mind, the disturbingly familiar soli took shape. Burnt orange, large, swirling, sparking, never settling, always moving. Layers of light and faint popping sounds...
orange-concentrate-tune… copper-anger-incompetant… gold-harmony-listen-FOCUS…
Oh, yes. It was definitely Dr McKay. Until meeting the Scientist, Nexus had never encountered a solis that moved.
The chaotic, uncompromising mind that drove Nexus to distraction during the team meeting was now set on a task to improve the sounds incessantly wailing from the machine. The pulsing thoughts moving in whirling ellipses once again made it impossible to see the core of the man's mind.
The combination of the relentless solis and the noise machine were almost enough to drive Nexus back into the hall. Opening his eyes, he could see the Scientist fiddling with strings inside of the machine while prodding the protruding bars on the front.
"That's better," McKay muttered to himself. "If anyone messes with this now I'll flay them alive."
Nexus was getting used to Dr McKay's inventive threats of punishment. Initially surprised that the humans allowed such acts of violence, Nexus had since learned that the man was prone to exaggeration. Nonetheless, the wraith was amused by the doctor's macabre creativity.
McKay returned to his seat in front of the machine and positioned his hands above the bars. He studied some sheets of paper and rested one foot on some kind of pedal.
Nexus braced himself for more clamouring noise but what followed took him by surprise. Instantly it became clear that the human was playing an instrument and complying with the etchings on the paper.
Soft tones floated from the machine, dipping and rising to a steady rhythm. The notes and chords danced around one another, fascinating the young wraith officer.
So entranced watching the Scientist play, Nexus yelped when a voice rang in his ear.
"Hey, buddy," came a familiar drawl. "Didn't mean to startle you there."
"Colonel Sheppard." The wraith stifled the urge to groan in dismay.
"Didn't take you for a fan of classical music," mused the Colonel.
Not knowing how to respond, instead Nexus inquired, "what is the name of his noise machine?"
"It's a piano," he replied.
"I confess I have not heard of such a machine," Nexus admitted.
"It's an Earth thing. McKay got it shipped over on the Daedalus," the Colonel explained. Looking conspiratorially at the wraith, he lowered his voice and added, "I heard he threw an epic tantrum
until Landry caved".
Nexus was unfamiliar with the nature of a 'tantrum' or a 'Landry', but he didn't want to disclose further shortcomings in his knowledge of Earth.
The Colonel and the wraith stood side by side in silence, listening to the resounding richness of the tune.
"He's brilliant, isn't he?" the Colonel murmured.
"The arrangement of the harmonics is pleasing, yes," agreed the wraith. The Colonel shot him a strange look.
Puzzling over the Colonel's expression, Nexus almost missed a faint sensation tugging on his mind. Concentrating on the feeling, he closed his eyes in time to see the Scientist's solis begin to transform. The prior frenetic movement and jumble of competing pulses of McKay's mind had changed.
As he continued to play, his thoughts settled into a gently shifting coral cloud.
hush-perfection-harmony-listen-light-glow-peace-shhhhh...
The new amber aura grew in intensity, pulling at the wraith's own solis.
"How is this possible?" he gasped, eyes flying open.
"How's what possible?" The Colonel turned his full attention to the wraith.
Not realising he'd spoken out loud, Nexus concluded that, unfortunately, an explanation was necessary. As reluctant as he was to share knowledge of his people, he was surprised to find that he did want to continue conversing with Colonel Sheppard. At the other end of the hall, the music had ceased, replaced by the sounds of the Scientist's grumbling as he amended his etchings.
Nexus related the strangeness of the Scientist's solis transforming and then calling to his own mind. Staring into the resulting baffled expression on the human's face, Nexus tried his best to clarify something that all wraith took for granted.
"You are aware that wraith communicate using mind-speak, yes? Good. The mind-feel of a wraith is referred to as their solis. All wraith can sense the minds around them but only a few can 'see' them, so to speak. While each soli has a distinct shape and feel, most appear to me as white stars in a night sky."
"Oh-kay."
"Until I came to Atlantis, I did not realise that humans also have soli. And your Dr McKay happens to possess a most distinctive one at that."
The Colonel cocked an eyebrow. "Why am I not surprised?"
"I do not know why this does not surprise you, Colonel Sheppard."
"No, I wasn't- wait," the man frowned. "Are you telling me you've been reading his mind? Didn't I tell you not to do that? Didn't Todd?"
"Yes, you both did," he said quickly, inclining his head. "While I can read the thoughts of humans, I am aware that it is prohibited here. Sweeping for soli simply allows me to know where people are. That is all."
"And..." Sheppard prompted.
Offhand subconsciously fingering his empty collar, the wraith stammered, The act of 'sweeping' refers to locating minds in the abstract of my stella-tenux. 'Scanning' a mind allows me to ascertain the most basic emotions present. Something that humans can also glean but do so by examining such things as tone of voice, facial expressions and gestures."
"Right."
"Colonel Sheppard," Nexus looked resolutely into the eyes of his Commander's named brother. "I have not attempted to read anyone's thoughts. You have my word."
An uneasy silence stretched out between them.
Eager to recover their former rapport, Nexus went on, his words coming out in a rush. "It seems that is not the only thing I have learned. Some human soli are actually coloured. Dr McKay's is many variations of orange and it never stops moving. Moving! Layers and pulses of ideas all compete and fire at one another. It's so chaotic, I cannot see the core of his mind at all. He would be exceedingly hard to read."
The Colonel just stared at him.
"But then it changed! From the moment he played the piano machine, his solis changes. It slows down and settles. I have never seen anything like it." The wraith couldn't hide his reverence. "He glows."
The wraith waited. His offhand trailed down his coat to where the clasp nested in his pocket.
"So," the Colonel began. "McKay glows, eh?" The wraith nodded earnestly.
When Dr McKay began his song once more, Nexus and Sheppard turned their attention back towards the small stage.
Nexus could see the Scientist sway to the cadence of the song, the muscles moving across his back, his head nodding in time to the rhythm. The wraith felt as though he too was bathed in the warm rapture of the human's complete contentment. He could imagine himself being swept away by the music and the ephemeral glow of McKay.
Blissfully lost in the peaceful expanse of sound-
CLANG!
The dissonant chord and accompanying "Damn it!" destroyed the tranquil moment.
"Wake up! That was your cue!" McKay whined. He snapped his fingers. "Come on. Hurry up. We'll go from four bars back."
"Sorry, Rodney," sighed a familiar voice.
The wraith snapped his head to the left. That woman! How did I miss her again?
He hissed out loud, earning himself a look of alarm from the Colonel.
"I was caught up in your song, Rodney. It's simply sublime!" The woman looked uncertain. "Are you sure you want me to do this?"
"Don't be stupid," Rodney waved his hand dismissively. Expression softening slightly, he added, "sublime, eh? Look, you're the only person in Atlantis with decent pitch and I need your voice. Now, hop to it."
The woman smiled and approached the instrument.
Nexus squeezed his eyes closed and plunged himself into the inky black stella-tenux. Where is she? Why can't I sense her?
There! A flicker of light, barely a whisper of thought had appeared. Her fragile pale star hovered to his left. She had been completely eclipsed by the Scientist's turbulent orange solis.
Nexus felt sorry for her. That poor, poor human. She is barely discernible in the darkness.
Opening his eyes he was met by the Colonel's questioning look, his right hand hovering over his weapon.
Nexus schooled his expression to one of calm indifference and watched the woman fussing with her music papers. McKay began to play, shooting her a pointed look when he reached her cue.
The wraith knew there was no point engaging his mind just to watch her tiny star drown in a sea of orange.
But then, she sang.
And Nexus found himself moving, feet carrying him forward as if entranced. He was vaguely aware of the Colonel trailing behind him. The woman's voice lifted and soared over the powerful notes of the melody, elevating the song beyond anything he had ever heard.
Without thinking, his eyes drifted shut, his stella-tenux waiting to greet him.
A tiny twinkle, a benign light materialised once more, glimmering while she sang. It seemed to vibrate and waver as her voice echoed through the hall. Then, stranger still, her solis was somehow multiplying as she went on. Two stars - four - eight - sixteen - more and more pinpricks of brilliant light.
Nexus had never seen anything like it before. How can such an insignificant human produce a solis such as this? She is but a stella-nix…?
Refusing to accept another unique mind signature, he opened his eyes to will the inexplicable sparks away. But his mind would not allow it. His eyes may have been watching the humans, but his mind still beheld the two impossible soli.
The man, intent on his music, was curled protectively over the instrument while his solis flamed and amber glow around him.
And the woman. Raising her voice in song, totally unaware of her veil of thousands of tiny stars.
As singer and musician harmonised, the tiny sparks appeared to gravitate towards the man, swirling around him in a flurry. The Scientist's amber glow responded by illuminating the blissful expression on the woman's face.
The hypnotic interaction of their soli pulled at him, summoning his own mind.
Nexus may have wanted to remain in the shadows but his own solis, propelled by a magnetic euphoria, spilled from his mind. He could only look on in wonder as a filum reached out to the humans. He delighted in the sight of the violet thread responding to the call of the soli, surging forth as the song reached its crescendo.
But before it could make contact, the song abruptly ended. His filum whipped away as the Scientist's glow faded and the woman's stars winked out.
His solis slammed back into his head with incredible force. Nexus erupted in a painful roar, prompting Sheppard to reach for his weapon. He could hear his guards closing in, requesting instruction from the Colonel.
McKay whirled around. "What the hell are you doing here? You can't just slink around in the shadows spying on people!"
"'S'alright, Rodney. I got this," Sheppard called, weapon in hand. McKay only huffed in reply.
"Forgive me," Nexus gasped out, his feeding hand pressed to his temple. He held out his offhand, palm facing up in a gesture of peace.
"Are you okay?" The woman approached him cautiously.
"I- I-... It- it-" he just couldn't catch his breath.
"Well? Spit it out!" barked Rodney. "You know you're kinda proving me right about the old limited intelligence thing."
"Rodney!" the woman exclaimed, chastising the Scientist.
"Stella-nix--"
"Hey!" she protested, scolding the wraith.
"Stella-what?" Rodney "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Nexus snarled in frustration. Why does everything need to be explained in words with these humans?
"Come on, stella-nex," she said, not unkindly. "What happened?"
"Okay, enough with the Stellas!" John announced, holstering his gun. The guards took their cue to lower their P90s.
Nexus took a deep breath. "It was the song."
Rodney looked skeptical. "The song?"
"Are you saying that the song upset you?" The woman teased. "You? The Death Star?"
Hands firmly planted on hips, Rodney muttered to Sheppard, "since when does the wraith know Star Wars?"
"It was also your... solis," Nexus added warily. The woman looked thoughful.
"Excuse me?" asked the Scientist.
"Apparently your solis was showing, McKay," Sheppard taunted.
"My what?!" Rodney squawked.
"I believe he's talking about your mind?" the woman queried. Nexus inclined his head in approval.
Sheppard smirked. "Apparently yours is rather… 'special'."
"Special?" Rodney eyed the wraith, uncertainly. "Well, of course it's special. I'm not surprised."
Nexus examined the woman. He contemplated explaining the nature of her solis and the way her stars had danced. But for reasons he couldn't understand, he did not want to share this information while the Colonel or the Scientist were present.
"Sing it again," the wraith demanded, trying to regain some sense of authority in his voice.
"And why would we do that exactly?" Rodney challenged.
"Play. Sing. Again," he commanded.
"Did you like it?" The woman asked softy, staring up at him.
Nexus lost himself for a moment, trying to identify the colour of her pale eyes. Willow-clear-sage pallens-viridis-?
"Nexus?" Sheppard prompted. "The nice lady asked you a question."
"It was… most… satisfactory." Noticing her disappointment, he added, "and… somewhat... captivating, stella-nix."
The resulting smile lit up her face and for just a moment Nexus thought he saw those stars again.
"Too bad, I'm afraid," interrupted McKay. "We can't possibly perform to an audience yet. The song
isn't ready."
"Of course it is ready. It was entirely without fault," the wraith countered.
The Scientist puffed out his chest and practically preened. "It may seem perfect but you're hardly a discerning critic. Now, out! Out, out, out!"
Ignoring the indignant growl, the Scientist headed back towards the piano, snapping his fingers for the woman to follow. She mouthed the word "sorry" before taking up her position. Nexus whirled around and strode angrily past his guards, charging towards the door. The music started up again, taunting him.
Sheppard and his guards followed, keeping pace with the wraith. "Why don't I join you on your walk back to your quarters?"
Nexus sighed. "Very well." The wraith, the Colonel and the guards continued down the hall.
Interrupting the wraith's reticence, the Colonel mused, "So… Death Star, eh?" Nexus bared teeth in a silent snarl.
Trying again, Sheppard asked, "so, what colour's my, um, solis then?"
"It is red," the wraith grumbled.
"Sith? Yeesh." The Colonel shuddered.
The wraith curled his lip and growled.
"For Pete's sake," lamented Shappard. "You need to lighten up a bit, buddy."
Peering at the Colonel from the corner of his eye, Nexus admitted that, yet again, he didn't understand the reference to 'sith' or why he should care for the sake of Pete.
"It is your lucky day." Sheppard grinned. "I can educate you on all things Star Wars."
"You warred with the stars, Sheppard?" The wraith couldn't help but be impressed.
"No," John replied. "But my buddy did."
"And this 'buddy' would be Pete?" Nexus inquired.
"Who? No," John shook his head in confusion. "Guy by the name of Luke. Luke Skywalker."
NOTES:
"Sith. Yeesh." - Sheppard is referring to the fact that only the Sith (the bad guys in Star Wars) had red lightsabers. Jedi didn't use red lightsabers because most were made with synthetic red crystals, and their creation was mostly possible using Dark Side of the Force.