Chapter 8 – The Departures
Teyla surveyed the stacks of clothing, contemplating changing her mind on the selection. She had chosen which clothes to take with her to Atlantis yesterday evening, but found herself reconsidering this morning.
It was foolish really, and she sighed at her over thinking that suggested anxiety.
She reached for the stack of tops and began to repack them back into her largest bag.
"Are you sure you do not need to take a gift?" Zabetha asked from where she had settled herself on the bedroom floor beside Ketra. Somehow, Zabetha made even sitting on the floor look elegant. Ketra was curled up beside her, chin on Zabetha's leg.
"I checked with John and he said it is not expected," Teyla confirmed, as she had already done twice this morning. "As I explained to you and Father over first meal," Teyla reminded her.
Zabetha just smiled though as she stroked one graceful hand along Ketra's back. "I am just making certain." Just a year ago Teyla knew that such a discussion might have initiated an argument between them, but much had changed.
"I have visited Atlantis before," Teyla reminded her. "Everything will be fine."
Zabetha glanced up from Ketra. "Of course it will."
Teyla frowned at her sister's tone. It implied that she was the one calming things.
"I have stayed in the city before and I know their procedures," Teyla repeated as she pushed the last of her clothing into the bag and worked the top closed. The interlinking button holes resisted her attempt to align them though, so she reached in and pressed down on the clothing inside and tugged harder on the bag's top edges.
"Not in the position of importance that you will have this time," Zabetha answered.
The bag was still resisting Teyla's attempts to close it. She reached further into it and adjusted items at the bottom to create more space. "I am used to being the focus of attention," she told her sister, now elbow deep in the bag. "I am used to facing difficulty," she shifted a shoe in the corner of the bag and tried again to close it.
The bag would not close.
"Si will be with me," she added to Zabetha, "and I am simply a Portal journey away from here or anywhere else." She reached back down into the bag again and crushed her socks and underwear further to the sides beneath her more carefully layered tops, trousers, and a jacket. "Everything will be fine," she stressed.
She pushed everything down again, but the top edges of the bag still would not align enough to secure the buttons closed. There was too much fabric inside.
"As long as no one in Atlantis requires a bag to be closed, you should, indeed, be fine," Zabetha commented as she stood up from the floor. "Here, let me assist you."
Teyla wanted to turn down the help, but she was fast running out of time and she needed everything inside the bag. "I should not have repacked it," she explained as Zabetha set her hands on the top of the bag and pushed her weight into it, which allowed Teyla to finally tug the bag's top edges together and secure the buttons easily. "Thank you."
"Is there anything else you need to take?" Zabetha asked turning to look round Teyla's bedroom. "When I visit Rhakshar's family with him, I like to take an ornament with me. It is something to have from home."
It was a common enough practice among their people, but one that Teyla did not indulge, but she understood her sister's kindness in the suggestion.
"I have everything I require," Teyla replied as she picked up her bag and set it on the floor beside her weapons and then folded her long coat over it. She then turned back to her smaller bag which held her more usual travelling items – toiletries, a knife, a few pieces of the most common Alliance physical currency, her two electronic pads, Ketra's favourite toy, and a small medical aid kit. She checked them all through with far more familiarity than having to pack so many pieces of clothing. Travelling between the Sythus, Training Facility, and Tjaru was never so difficult, as she had separate wardrobes of clothing in each. Perhaps she would need to build up one in Atlantis, considering that she would be spending so many days staying there now.
"I am going to miss you," Zabetha uttered as she settled back down on the floor.
"I shall miss you as well," Teyla replied as she checked the items in the small emergency medical kit. It included items for Ketra as much as for a human.
"I was speaking to Ketra," Zabetha replied, the smile clear in her voice, "but I, of course, will miss you too."
Teyla gave her sister a smile. "I believe you are missing your husband far more than you will us."
Zabetha blushed faintly, as she nearly always did when speaking about Rhakshar. "He will be returning in a few days." Rhakshar had left with his family after the Conference last night for a short stay on Xinda.
The two usually spent the majority of their time on Athos, as Zabetha's duties in assisting Father took preference, but occasionally Rhakshar visited his family alone.
"He was invited to visit with High Councillor Fovea," Zabetha supplied with clear pride.
"The Councillor gave an excellent speech at the Closing Ceremony yesterday," Teyla noted as she pulled out each of her toiletries to check on levels of moisturiser and hair cleanser. She had done all of this last night, but it did not hurt to do so again.
"It was excellent, though it's not what everyone's really talking about," Zabetha said.
Teyla glanced round at the tone Zabetha had used. "What do you mean?"
"The gossip mills are turning over Mistress Nigh attempting to seduce John," Zabetha smiled.
Teyla rolled her eyes. "I am sure people have far more interesting things to discuss following a major Intergalactic Conference." She rechecked her bag one last time and finally admitted she had everything she needed. She closed it securely and set it down by her other bag.
"The rumour is that you were ready to behead Mistress Nigh," Zabetha supplied, for some reason finding the subject amusing.
"She understands her mistake," Teyla summarised. Nigh would not be approaching John again, and Teyla hoped that the brief near altercation would have sent a clear message to the other females who had apparently all been fawning over John in Teyla's absence. She had arrived into the buffet room yesterday to see various females attempting to catch John's eye as he had been moving through the tight press of people.
Of course, it would take a woman of such sexual aggression as Mistress Nigh to actually be so bold as to openly try to entice John in front of an entire room. Teyla had approached Nigh directly, realising only afterwards that she had essentially stalked up behind the woman. Nigh had left quickly enough, and Teyla had kept her eyes fixed on the woman, with her curvaceous backside and overly revealing clothing, until she had disappeared out of the room.
It was in fact very common in Political Marriages for potential lovers to make their offers, seeing an opportunity to associate themselves with important figures. And John was now one of the most newly famous members of the Alliance.
That he was so exceptionally handsome had only added to his regard by the many appreciative eyes that had been looking his way during the Conference. It had been typical that, with her being away on a mission, that those interested parties had started to circle John. But, with her return, and an example made of Nigh, Teyla was not overly concerned.
Besides, John had look quite intimidated by Nigh's approach and had clearly required saving, again. She would have to remember to tease him about that during her stay.
Though she had felt quite conflicted and somewhat wistful yesterday being back in John's presence, worrying about how things would be between them, she had woken this morning with a fresh perspective. A good night's sleep had done her wonders and she felt her more confident self. She had important work to see to in Atlantis for the Elite and Athos, and she had faith that she and John would cope with their new living arrangements.
All would be well. She was determined to ensure that it would be.
"The next time that John visits here when you are away, I will make sure to keep a close eye out for Mistress Nigh," Zabetha promised.
Teyla glanced at Zabetha with interest. "Do I detect some personal annoyance directed towards Mistress Nigh? Did she approach Rhakshar at some point?"
"He made sure she understood that he had no interest," Zabetha stated firmly.
"I have no doubt of that," Teyla smiled. "Rhakshar is devoted to you."
Zabetha smiled and her cheeks flushed again.
A light buzz echoed through the next room. "Someone is calling through," Teyla commented as she headed out of her bedroom and triggered awake her wall screen just inside her living space. The Governing Complex's announcer's voice spoke out immediately.
"Honoured Elite, a link is coming through with Elite level clearance," the voice reported.
"Thank you. Send it through to my screen," Teyla replied.
Teyla looked round to see that Zabetha was already heading towards her. "I shall see you downstairs when you are ready to leave," Zabetha uttered, touching Teyla's arm as she passed.
"I shall see you there," Teyla smiled and waited until Zabetha had left, and the door to her quarters had slid shut, before she triggered awake what was an Elite ears only frequency.
She tapped in her security code and Halling appeared on the screen. His Sythus quarters were slightly dark behind him and he looked up from a bag of his own that he had been packing while he waited to be put through to her. "Greetings, Teyla."
"Greetings, Halling," Teyla beamed, desperately relieved that he was making contact. Despite Oneakka's insistence that Halling was well, she had remained concerned at not hearing from Halling and had sent him another link message yesterday evening. "I am pleased to see you."
"And I you," he smiled back as he approached the camera so that his face filled more of the view. "I apologise for not having responded to your messages."
"As long as you are well," Teyla replied, though she thought she saw some tiredness around his eyes.
"I am," he confirmed. "I am glad I reached you before you departed Tjaru. I wanted to wish you well for your stay away."
"Thank you, Halling," she smiled as she moved back slightly to sit down on one sofa, knowing the screen's camera capture would follow her. "I hope you do not take offence that I invited Si to join me. Perhaps you could join me on my next visit to Atlantis."
"I am not offended, Teyla," Halling smiled. He did look tired. "I am about to leave to stay at the Facility and wanted to make sure you knew where I would be, and that Oneakka and I are available if you require us."
"Have you had enough of staying on the Sythus?"
"Indeed," he replied, but it sounded oddly hollow. "The repairs are going very well, but, with the additional structural work, we are estimating at least a further monthly rotation until she will be whole again."
Teyla had read the latest update on the additional upgrades being added to the Sythus, but it was good to hear it from Halling directly. "Who is replacing you on the Sythus?"
"Jobrill is due to arrive soon and she will see out the rest of the dock stay along with Nalla."
"Good," Teyla nodded. "Please send them both my regards."
"I shall."
Teyla studied her friend, unable to identify what it was that bothered her in his appearance, but her instincts told her that something was wrong.
"Is everything is alright, Halling?" She asked him directly, keeping her tone soft. She could not remember a day in which she had not known Halling. Though he was older and had left Athos to join the Elite training earlier than her, they had both been part of the same forest camp. He felt like family to her, and that connection and intimacy told her something was wrong.
"I am fine," he replied, which she knew wasn't true, though she could not say how. She felt a little bit of hurt though, to know that he was keeping something from her, but then he was allowed to have his own life and secrets. As was she.
"Oneakka and I have decided to work on the latest prophecy research together, and I look forward to being off ship for awhile," he added.
"This latest prophecy concerns you that much?" She enquired.
"It is a project," Halling replied, his smile clearly strained. "I am sorry not to have visited Athos while you are there and to have missed the Conference."
"Once I have returned from Atlantis, perhaps you can come and stay here. Charin would love to see you, and we could walk through the forest again, back to our old home."
He smiled. "I hope so," he answered.
Teyla frowned at the turn of phrase.
"The stay in the Facility should certainly fill my time. Oneakka has prepared another of his training programmes," Halling reported.
"Oh, that will no doubt take up as much time as your research," Teyla smiled, but the comment felt too much like polite small talk, as John would put it.
"But, once you return," Halling said, "we must make time together."
"Definitely," she promised.
Halling nodded, his eyes lowering and then lifting again. "I have always thought of you as a sister, Teyla."
"You are family to me too, Halling," she smiled appreciating the affectionate words.
"I apologise that I have not made much time for us of late."
"It has only been a number of weeks, Halling. There is plenty of time."
He nodded. "Have you all you need for your stay in the Ancestral City?"
"Yes, I believe so," Teyla replied.
"If you need anything from us, contact us at the Facility," Halling repeated his offer, it apparently very important to him. She wondered then if he was nervous for her in leaving; after all Atlantis was technically in Wraith held space, though the Wraith had not attacked the city in some time.
"Everything will be fine, Halling," she reassured him. "They are very welcoming people."
"Yes, they appear to be, and I hear that the Conference went very well."
"It did. Father is very pleased." A light flashed on the side of the screen. "I am almost due to leave, Halling," she informed him.
"I will let you go and good luck with your stay."
"Give my regards to the others at the Facility, and please hug little Aki for me," she smiled.
"May the Ancestors walk with you, Teyla," Halling added, unusually.
"And with you, Halling. I shall see you soon."
He smiled and the link terminated.
She felt strangely alone as the screen darkened. She worried on her lip a little, wondering if she should contact Oneakka and ask him to watch over Halling. Though, it was an unnecessary thought, for Oneakka would anyway. If there was something wrong, Halling would tell her in his own time.
There was nothing else she could do for him and she had her own life events to deal with today. She headed back into her bedroom and Ketra sat sleepily by the waiting bags. Though Teyla had visited Atlantis before, it would be the first time Ketra had visited and hopefully she would be alright with John's people.
With one last glance around her quarters, feeling somewhat unwilling to leave, Teyla pulled on her coat, slid one sword - as permitted by agreement with Atlantis - into place against her back, one stunner into her holster, and looped the strap of the larger bag around her.
"Come on then, Ketra," Teyla smiled down to her friend, immensely glad that she had insisted on bringing Ketra with her to Atlantis. With many days a year to be spent in Atlantis going forward, Teyla did not like the idea of spending so much time away from her. Besides, Ketra felt like an ally and backup for her in the city.
She headed out of her quarters and made her way down through the Family area of the complex with nervous energy bubbling through her. As she headed down the staircase to the lobby that led out into the rest of the Complex, she could hear Father and Zabetha's voices, which were then added to by another.
As Teyla rounded the bend in the stairs, she smiled at Si' unexpected early arrival. She had assumed they would meet at the Portal as they usually did when leaving Athos together, but here he was, and she felt unexpectedly grateful.
"Honoured Daughter," Father greeted her with unnecessary formality, though perhaps it was for Si' benefit.
Teyla stepped down off the bottom step and headed towards Father, only to see that Charin and Elkaska were also waiting for her.
"Everyone is here," Teyla noted as she reached them, looking around at the smiling faces. She so frequently arrived and departed Athos now that it was usually only Father or Zabetha who saw her off.
"It is an important day," Father intoned, "and we will all see you on your way."
"Thank you," Teyla replied and felt a bubble of emotion rising in her throat. She worked quickly to suppress it, covering it by looking down to check that Ketra was with her. Ketra was busy receiving attention from Si, who she had not seen in many weeks. Si had been enjoying his leisure time with his lady friends in Tjaru and he looked well rested for it.
"We should depart now, so that you reach the Portal on time," Father stated and moved to lead the way out into the main Governing Complex.
They all followed, Si falling into step beside her, Zabetha, Elkaska and Charin following behind, all talking cheerfully.
"I am grateful for your joining me in Atlantis, Si," Teyla told her friend. She noted that he had kept to the agreement and wore only the minimum of weaponry – that could be seen. She had to wonder if he carried more out of sight, but chose not to ask.
"I am looking forward to it," Si replied.
She regarded him closely. "No doubt it is the promise of sparring sessions with those of the Earth military that has you most interested."
Si inclined his head in agreement.
She nodded and focused forward, Ketra having moved ahead, walking along with Father. Ketra looked alert, no doubt sensing something different was happening.
"Everything will be fine," Teyla reiterated out loud again.
"Did you receive the latest advice from the Facility?" Si asked in his deep voice.
"Yes," Teyla confirmed. "If we can negotiate with Atlantis, it could be the most significant advancement in a generation."
"I agree," Si nodded. "I joined some of the Conference days while you and Oneakka were on mission," Si informed her.
She hadn't known that. "You pulled yourself away from your ladies to do so?" She asked, teasing him.
"It was difficult," Si replied with a smile. "I spoke with a few from Atlantis."
"Their official representatives?"
"General O'Neill was one."
She suspected Si had wanted to assess those with power in Atlantis ahead of this visit. "And?"
"He reminded me somewhat of Sheppard," Si informed her, glancing at her with a smile.
She was well aware now that her closest friends among the Elite knew of her former relationship with John and there were occasions now when they seemed to reference it subtly.
"Capable yet informal," Si explained further.
"I do not believe that all of Atlantis and Earth military are the same," Teyla noted. "General O'Neill is quite unique, according to John."
"He spoke frankly, I admired that," Si replied.
"Well, you would," Teyla smiled at him.
"My impression from the General is that Earth's military is eager for negotiation and trade," Si added more usefully.
"I agree," Teyla replied. "It is Colonel Sumner that we need to be somewhat cautious of during our stay."
"I remember him," Si smiled, no doubt recalling the particular occasion when the Colonel, having been exposed to the sleeping drug by Iketani, had passed out at Si' feet.
"Best not to mention that event to him," Teyla suggested.
Si didn't answer, but they were finally arriving at the main lobby and exit out of the Complex. Father, at the lead, stopped in his customary place just inside the lobby and turned to her.
Teyla stepped up to him, setting her bag down, and reached for his shoulders and touched her forehead to his.
"May the Ancestors walk by your side on this momentous day," Father said softly to her as they parted foreheads.
Teyla smiled at him, surprised to see very clear emotion in his expression. His eyes looked almost wet.
She frowned at the sight. She had said so many goodbyes with him, often when she was going to battle and might never return, and yet today he looked more openly emotional than before.
"I will only be there seven days, Father," she reminded him, keeping her hands on his shoulders. "And Colonel Carter has granted me daily link contact through the Portal."
He nodded, but those facts did not seem to lessen his emotion. "I look forward to hearing of your adventures in Atlantis," he smiled. "Please give my highest regards to John, Colonel Carter, and to General O'Neill."
"I will," she assured him, squeezing his shoulders before releasing him.
Zabetha was next forward and then Elkaska and Charin, all of them touching their foreheads to hers as if she were leaving for a great battle.
She picked up her bag, adjusted the other bag's strap around her, and, with Ketra and Si at her side, she walked out through the Complex's main door, waving once more back to her family. They all waved back, all smiles and strange unshed tears in their eyes.
Teyla frowned as she looked ahead to the busy streets of Tjaru ahead of her. "They behave as if I am leaving to war and not to return."
"They never expected you to marry, Teyla," Si intoned from her right, while Ketra walked on her left. "It is a big event for them."
"Surely my wedding day, or the Family First Meal, would be more likely an event for such emotion," Teyla replied, though caught herself looking back over her shoulder as they turned out of view of the Governing Complex. A strange new feeling of nervousness stirred in her belly at leaving her family – she had not felt that feeling in a long time.
"It is new for them," Si suggested.
"I suppose so," Teyla considered.
They fell into companionable silence as they walked through Tjaru, those nodding and smiling to her having no idea where she was headed. It was a momentous day, not even so much for her as an individual, but perhaps more so for the history books of the Alliance's future.
As they headed through the Gateway out of the city, Ketra's warm snout touched against her hand and Teyla smiled down at her friend, stroking Ketra's head and closest ear.
As they walked down the road to the Portal, Teyla spotted the uniform of John's Honour Guard ahead. Vakalis and Shemu were waiting to meet her before she reached the Portal, as planned. So before she reached them, Teyla glanced at Si beside her once more.
"Have you heard from Saoka?" She jumped right into the subject, since she had her own, relatively short, history with Saoka, and she knew that recent revelations about their mutual friend had wounded Si.
"He has attempted to contact me several times," Si supplied, but nothing more.
"You have not spoken with him since you and Oneakka confronted him about the stolen tech moving through his stations?"
"No," Si replied with a weight to his voice that provided the rest of his answer; he had no intention in speaking with Saoka
Teyla did not add anything else, knowing that her silence in turn supplied him with her opinion on the matter. The two men had been close for a long time, and she hoped Si would finally respond to Saoka's attempts at contact.
The personal conversation, short and concise as it always was with her friend, was over and well timed to reach Vakalis and Shemu.
Both guards inclined their heads as she and Si approached, and Vakalis turned and fell into step with them as they continued walking, Shemu following behind.
"Honoured Elite," Vakalis greeted them.
"Lead Vakalis," Teyla greeted him in turn. "Your report?"
"All is well. There is no new intell following the unrest on the Genii homeworld," Vakalis reported. Teyla had tasked John's Honour Guard to work proactively as well as reactively. She had instructed them to watch for any intell regarding the Genii in particular, since John had been targeted by Kolya, and there was the potential of some retaliation from General Maloo. However, nothing had happened so far, but the Genii clearly had a growing problem in their surface cities. According to sources, including Seeal, Kolya was behind most of the unrest by sections of the Genii populace, but there was nothing so far that might be an obvious threat to John.
"Anything regards Commander Kolya?" She asked.
"Nothing new, at all," Vakalis reported the unhappy, but not unexpected, update. "Though my sources report that the Genii do appear to still be trying to locate him out beyond the border, but they have no confirmed details."
Teyla nodded. "Mistress Nigh?" She moved onto the next subject.
"Nothing concerning following yesterday," Vakalis supplied without pause. "There's nothing evident in her history or current affiliations that is immediately worrying. Though, her connections through the Alliance are so complex that it is near impossible to unpick. Her interests have always appeared to be personal rather than political."
Teyla agreed with his assessment from her own knowledge of the woman and her further research last night using Elite access to Division and Enforcement sources.
"Anything else?" Teyla asked. They had reached the point to turn off the road towards the Portal, so Teyla paused, the others with her.
"There have been further threats from the Ancestor Worshipper groups," Vakalis reported.
It was not unexpected. Athos had been the recent focus of the more extreme Ancestor Worshippers who believed that those from Earth had stolen Atlantis from the inhabitants of this galaxy. Their threats had begun even before the Alliance had begun communicating with Atlantis. The threats usually involved demands for Atlantis to be reclaimed by force.
"Do they specifically threaten Major Sheppard?" She asked.
"Yes," Vakalis confirmed. "Enforcement are already acting on the previous batch and there have been several arrests this morning."
Teyla nodded. "Keep watch," she instructed. "If anything needs passing to me, contact the Facility, or, if they are unavailable, via my Father. Elite warriors Oneakka and Halling will be at your disposal at the Training Facility should you need them for anything."
"Yes, Honoured Elite,"
"Good, thank you," Teyla told him. "Tell all the Honour Guard of my appreciation for their continuing good work looking after my husband during his visits here."
"We are here to serve, Honoured Elite," Vakalis replied. "We will be stationed by the Portal and ready for deployment if retreat to Athos is required during your stay away."
Teyla nodded. If something were to happen to Atlantis, she knew Athos, or anywhere in the Alliance, was a possible retreat position through the Portal. And from anywhere in the Alliance, the Honour Guard could be called to her side to protect John. She hoped it would never be necessary, but one had to be prepared for attack at any time.
"Please give our regards to Major Sheppard," Vakalis added.
"I will tell him," Teyla smiled at that, pleased, as she had hoped, that the Honour Guard had been a good match for John. He needed people around him that he could trust to do their work, but with whom he could also maintain some informality, and she had chosen those to match. She was very pleased with her choices, and knew that they were working far more than John realised.
"Honoured Elite," Vakalis nodded and pulled back, allowing her and Si to continue on towards the Portal.
The guards stationed at the Portal were already stood ready for their approach, but it was Si who headed to the dialling device. Teyla waited as the Portal awoke, the inner ring's light turning. She looked down to Ketra at her side, the dragon looking back up to her with curious eyes.
"We are going to Atlantis, Ketra," Teyla told her softly as the Portal flashed and the water-like life of the Portal burst forth and snapped back. "We are going to stay with John."
Ketra tilted her head, recognising John's name, and her skin, reflective of her mood, brightened to glowing silver.
00000
Halling was aware that he had packed far more than usual from his quarters in the Sythus. Normally he would pack a single bag for a stay in the Facility, for his small quarters there had clothes and the basic requirements for a stay. However, he'd now filled three bags with a large mix of clothing, personal items, two of his most favoured Athosian wood carved statues, and several books.
In an attempt to keep at bay the depressed and anxious feelings, he had recently begun reading some of his favourite Athosian stories and myths. He'd found the stories soothed him, perhaps as they so often had the voice of his grandmother as he read the words. She had been taken by the Wraith when he had been young, but he could still remember her voice when she had told him the old stories.
Perhaps it also helped that most of the stories involved the Ancestors arriving to save a hero or to stop a great destruction; Halling knew it was most unlikely that the Ancestors would return to save him from the possible deadly fate ahead of him, but the part of him that still lived in childhood memories told by his grandmother naively hoped.
It would not happen though, for the Ancestors had not saved all the colleagues and family members he had lost over the many years of his life. No Elite believed in the Ancestors' power; it was almost foolish to suggest otherwise considering the vast numbers of their dead and the fact that it had been their own hands, along with the Military, that had forged the safe space of Alliance territory.
As he stared out at the bare ground of the Facility's moon passing by below the transport craft, he wondered if he even believed any of those old stories anymore. He'd seen so much death, so much pain and suffering, how could he still, after all this time, indulge in the old stories of Athos that told of the Ancestors' power? The Elite warrior that he was, and further confirmed by the information supplied by those in Atlantis from Earth, knew that the Ancestors had simply been a race of humans. They had made wonderful advances and had brought life to lifeless worlds, but they had simply been people who had made mistakes just like any others. They had fought the Wraith but had essentially lost, so the last of them had retreated forever to Earth.
Why then did he still hope that perhaps the old stories were more accurate somehow; that the Ancestors would indeed save him and this galaxy when the fateful moment Sitayi had predicted arrived? Or, if he were to meet his end, would they be waiting for him to lead him into the blessing life beyond?
The brown landscape shifted angle outside and he recognised that the transport was fast approaching the Training Facility's hidden entrance. Halling looked away from the view and considered his three piled bags.
He knew Oneakka would notice.
That deep hollow place in Halling's chest threatened to overwhelm him again at the thought of what might soon be the last of his days. Oneakka was working so hard to help, to find a way to stop what Sitayi had foreseen.
If he was to die, Sitayi had foretold that it would lead to only more death. An ancient enemy that was secretly preparing would devour the galaxy, killing all life, and everyone would fall. And he would be the first to die.
So, if he could stop it, if he could find out how to save himself, then perhaps he could help save them all from the foretold possible future of destruction.
Except, Halling had found nothing to even hint at a new enemy. There were no clues as to when his fateful day might arrive.
Perhaps that was another reason why he was seeking enlightenment in the old stories – to see if perhaps they held some form of message. Any clue would be useful to help stop the terrible possible future and to stop his mind and emotions from constantly flowing and swamping him.
Or it could just be that there was nothing he, or anyone, could do to save him.
He could be living his last days.
As an Elite warrior, he had spent his entire adult life facing death at the hands of a Wraith or from severe injury, and he'd faced each with honour and readiness. But this, this prophecy had affected him so unexpectedly.
Instead of the Wraith, he was now fighting his own inner demons.
Some were ravenous for his strength and will, and others whispered feelings of defeat and surrender.
And another part of him, well, it suggested that perhaps this was his fate and to accept it.
Of course Oneakka would never agree with such thoughts, so Halling had not shared them.
He had considered speaking with Teyla, but he had shamefully instead avoided speaking with her. He knew that she, like Oneakka, would drop everything to help him, but she had far more important work to focus upon. Her marriage and the military ties it was creating could be what might save life in the future and he would not jeopardise that.
Or was he simply too self-focused now to ask for more help?
He wished that the day would just arrive so that he could face it, and not dwell in fearful thoughts and recurring nightmares of inaction and failure.
Outside the transport's transparent sides, Halling watched as the Recruit pilot lowered them down into the large ravine that held the hidden entrance to the Facility. The pilot slid the transport deeper into the deep rift in the moon's surface and into one of the small docking ports set in one wall of the crevasse.
As the door of the transport opened, Halling lifted his bags out and set them down on the docking port's floor. The busy chatter and footsteps of the Facility surrounded him with welcome distraction and familiarity. He was glad that he'd done this, that he'd agreed with Oneakka's suggestion to return here for awhile. The Facility was one of the few places in the galaxy where Halling felt safe.
He thanked the Recruit pilot as he looped one bag's handle around his back and then another around his shoulders. Picking up the last bag, he turned from the transport and headed into the Facility's clean light corridor.
It was just past midday meal so the Recruits were still on break from studies and many were heading out to training runs out by the Portal. Halling recognised most of the faces around him, though he could not put names to the many Recruits. He had seen most of them grow up through his visits here over the years, and what were young infants and children were now strong and learning Recruits.
It seemed so long ago that he had been equally young and inexperienced. Some days it felt as if no time had passed, and on others he felt the years pressing upon him through old wounds and creaking joints. He had lived a long life for an Elite warrior, and such a life of near constant battle and sparring had its affect on the even the healthiest of bodies. Not for the first time did he consider retirement, perhaps to work here or to return to living on Athos.
If he survived the coming prophesied moment, he promised himself to honestly consider the matter.
He reached the first of the many interconnecting lobbies and headed towards one of the large display panels and computer terminals. He'd promised Oneakka that he would message him as soon as he arrived, though he suspected Oneakka would have an alert out for his personal beacon signal entering the Facility. Nevertheless, he tapped in a quick message to Oneakka's personal link and closed the message. He glanced briefly over the large display of latest alerts and information.
He frowned at a new entry.
Amduat was out of contact. It wasn't all that unusual for the sentry sensor station to lose contact due to the vast distance to that side of the border. There were enough stellar phenomena out there for the link system to struggle on a good day. But, considering Halling had been carefully watching anything to do with the border and-
"Halling!" Massa's voice rang out from across the lobby.
Halling turned to see Massa lifting a dark hand to draw his attention. Smiling at the welcome distraction, Halling headed towards him.
Today, Massa's smiling face felt particularly relevant. Only last year Massa had not looked as he was today – he had been a broken man, his love lost, his unborn babe killed with her, and his own life had looked as it were about to fade away with his grief. He had then almost lost his life fighting Iketani, but he'd gained his vengeance and had healed from severe injury. The signs of that injury were noticeable on his bare forearm just visible under the rolled up sleeve of his shirt. The injury had taken Massa out of battle, but he had become a highly respected teacher here in short time. He had also taken on raising young Aki, Iketani' abandoned baby, as his own.
Looking at Massa now, it was hard to see any sign of the broken man that he had been not that long ago.
It gave Halling a sense of hope for himself.
"Greetings, Massa," Halling called to him as he approached.
"Halling," Massa grinned and stepped forward, initiating a half hug around Halling's bags. "You want help?"
"They are not heavy. I decided to bring some books and extra clothes," found himself excusing the full bags.
"I'm so glad you're here," Massa grinned, which surprised Halling slightly.
"It is good to see you too, Massa," Halling replied as they headed out of the lobby together, though he was slightly surprised at the overly exuberant greeting.
"It is always good to see you, Halling, but someone else has to be around to witness what's going on with Oneakka."
Halling frowned. "Oneakka?"
Oneakka had promised not to tell anyone else about the truth behind the prophecy they were investigating, that Halling's life was linked to what was to come. Was it that Oneakka was obsessing about the research and the others had noticed? Halling had not wanted Oneakka to be drawn into despair by telling him about Sitayi' prediction. He had seen how affected Oneakka had been by Massa's grief, and how he had turned into a one man missile seeking to find everything that Iketani had touched and poisoned. Oneakka hadn't used Iketani' name since the moment they had learnt of her betrayal. Things affected Oneakka far more than he would ever admit, but then considering what had happened to his people...
"What has happened with Oneakka? Is he not well?" Halling probed. Had something happened since yesterday?
Massa snorted. "That is not quite the word for it. It's just wasted on just me watching it. It's so entertaining."
Halling was starting to feel confused.
"I know you and Si said they argue, but I hadn't realised," Massa continued.
"Who are arguing?" Halling asked, feeling as if Massa had started in the middle of a conversation rather than the beginning.
"Oneakka and Seeal," Massa supplied the missing piece of information.
Now Halling understood. "Yes, they argue constantly."
He'd had to endure far too much of it on the Sythus. Though he had developed some respect for Seeal and was personally grateful for her part in saving him from the hands of the Queen on the Glisi world, he did not quite take to her overly bold manner. That she and Oneakka argued about everything, whinging and pestering each other into angry spats, had been nothing but a headache to be around.
Though the two had some respect of each other following the dramatic events of the last months, Halling was somewhat surprised that Oneakka appeared to be continuing his childish bickering with her here.
"She has no fear of him at all," Massa reported and Halling nodded.
"She is overly bold and can be somewhat disrespectful to him."
"He's no better," Massa responded. "And with her beauty and cleverness added into the mix, he doesn't know what to do about it."
That gave Halling pause. Beauty and cleverness? He could appreciate that Seeal was a tall and strong woman, but he'd not considered her attractive. That she was highly intelligent was obvious, perhaps too obvious with all the arguing. But such things hardly were a problem for Oneakka.
"What do you mean?" Halling asked Massa as they turned into the main corridor towards the Elite habitation sector of the Facility.
"He's smitten and he hates it," Massa exaggerated each word, clearly enjoying the subject.
Halling blinked at his friend and stopped walking. "Smitten?!" Halling repeated the word in complete disbelief. "Oneakka?"
"It's so entertaining," Massa nodded. "He's so annoyed that I can tell and he just won't admit it for a second."
"Perhaps because it is not true," Halling pointed out. "Oneakka is not the type to become 'smitten' for anyone. He's admitted for years that he doesn't believe in such feelings."
"We both know life doesn't care if you believe in things or not. A female arrives into your life out of nowhere and steals your heart without your say," Massa stated, grief catching his voice slightly.
Halling could understand that Massa believed what he said, but this was Oneakka.
"Massa, you have always been inclined towards things of a romantic nature, are you certain you are not seeing things? I have had to listen to their arguing and bickering, sometimes over the most simplistic things-"
"I've never heard anyone talk to him the way she does," Massa interrupted.
"Given her history and personality, it is not overly surprising, but that does not mean that there is more than just simple antagonism between them."
Massa shook his head. "You'll see what I mean."
Halling frowned at what Massa seemed to think would be the outcome. "Perhaps," he agreed to dismiss the subject and they carried on moving through the Facility. "How are matters here?"
"Much the same, though the main subject of most discussions remains the new contract with Atlantis," Massa reported.
"Understandable," Halling agreed.
He hoped that Teyla's arrival in Atlantis would go well. If he had told her of Sitayi' prophesy he was almost certain that she would have cancelled her trip to Atlantis, and that would be unwise for the contract and would be unlikely to make any difference in what was to come. Sitayi had stated he would be alone in the fateful place of darkness sometime soon, so the time would come with or without Teyla's involvement. She had enough to focus on and he had seen the touches of strain to her expression during their discussion over link.
She had a great weight upon her and he was not going to add more to her burden. He already felt guilty at having shared the burden with Oneakka, but Oneakka had more time and free focus to assist. Teyla's involvement with Atlantis could be vital for all their futures.
He may have to explain that reasoning to her one day, but, for now, he was pleased that her decision to enter into a Political Marriage had yielded such potential benefits.
"...I will bring him by later," Massa was saying, speaking of baby Aki, as Halling spied the door to his quarters ahead. It had been some time since he had stayed in the Facility.
"I am looking forward to seeing young Aki," Halling told Massa.
"He is growing by the hour, let alone over days," Massa smiled.
"In the blink of an eye, he will be a man, Massa," Halling noted as they reached his quarters, and he scanned his wrist's identity implant over the door sensor. The door slid open and the smell of an unused space floated to him.
He stepped inside the single room, inhaling the faint fragrance of the last incense he had burnt in here during his last stay. It had been some months ago now.
He moved across the room and set his bags down on the top of the lightly dusty blanket that covered his wide bed. The room was half the size of his quarters on the Sythus, but they remained far larger than the Recruits' and visitors' quarters in the Facility. Over his bed hung the decorative wall hanging that had hung over each of his beds since his days in the forest camp. It was one of the handful of personal items he had been able to bring with him to begin his training here as a child. It was so long ago now, but it also felt far more recent than he knew it was.
The years had slipped away to training and so many battles.
"Oneakka sent me his training schedule for us," Massa continued as Halling opened one of his bags and pulled out his favourite Athosian statue. "If I'm reading it correctly, he intends to kill us before any Wraith have a chance."
Halling had to smile at that as he wiped a layer of dust away from the table beside his bed and set the statue on the surface. "He sent it to me as well," Halling replied.
"I hate it when he gets bored off mission," Massa mutters. "And the Recruits are always more on edge when he's here."
"It is good for them," Halling remarked as he turned back. "Besides, it is nice to have the few of us here at the same time."
Massa nodded. "It is a shame Si and Emmagan couldn't be here."
Halling moved back to his bags, feeling guilty again about not sharing Sitayi' warning with Teyla. "They have more than enough to focus on in Atlantis," Halling uttered, "undertaking Oneakka's schedule as well would be too much," he added.
"Emmagan is the only one who can keep up with him. Speaking of the troublemaker," Massa muttered.
"What?" Oneakka's voice arrived and Halling turned to see his friend step into view in the still open door into the room with Massa stood in the doorway. Clearly Massa had been anticipating Oneakka's arrival.
"We're discussing your training schedule," Massa supplied. "We think it could be better."
Halling felt another smile cross his face. He should have come back here sooner. "Do not encourage him, Massa."
"I can make it harder," Oneakka volunteered. "I was holding back for you, since you can barely keep your eyes open in the evenings," he told Massa.
"If you ever have children, I will make sure to hound you every evening," Massa promised.
Oneakka shook his head with a frown, and Halling knew the look implied a complete dismissal of even the chance of his being a father. Oneakka instead fixed his intense assessing gaze on Halling.
"It is good to see you, Oneakka," Halling greeted him politely, ignoring the worried assessment. "Jobrill and Teyla send their regards to you both."
Oneakka nodded, his visual inspection presumably complete. "I'd have met you sooner, but I've just come from an emergency meeting."
The atmosphere changed immediately, and both Halling and Massa turned towards him.
"I didn't see that announcement," Massa queried.
"It was impromptu between a few of us near Edfu's office when the news came in," Oneakka supplied, crossing his large pale arms. "The report is on its way out. The Cruiser attacks on the border near the former Nest System have changed tactics."
Halling felt a faint sense of relief to hear the news was about Wraith and not some unknown new enemy.
"Yesterday there was a break in the attacks along the border," Oneakka reported. "Then an hour ago the Cruisers all attacked at once at various points along the border, challenging the Fleet."
Halling took that in. It wasn't all that new tactics, but it suggested that the small attacks were not going to end as soon as hoped.
"What are their strike targets?" Massa asked.
"They're taking out the new sensor platforms going up," Oneakka answered. "The Fleet have deployed defence lines around the satellites, but we've lost three new sensor points already."
"How many Cruisers?" Halling asked.
"The Fleet have been able to identify fifteen so far."
"Causalities?" Massa asked next.
"Only a few fighters, but there were some technicians working on one of the sensor platforms when one Cruiser attacked," Oneakka supplied. "There's also a few sensor echoes that suggest a larger hyperspace window on the furthest edge of the Fleet's sensor reach beyond the border."
"A Hive," Massa stated the most obvious answer.
Oneakka nodded. "Seifer is on the Ballista, coordinating with the Hastos Son. The assumption is that it is the Hive that escaped the Nest System battle."
Halling agreed with that likely assessment.
"Fleet resources?" Massa queried.
"The Fleet are having to stretch further along the border in all directions, which creates obvious problems. They are inflicting more damage than taking, but the consensus is for the Military Council to start pushing out the border again in that region."
"Answer their attack with an offensive," Massa pondered. "I imagine all have agreed so far."
"There are some voices that suggest this is what the Wraith want," Oneakka supplied.
"When do the Military Council sit?" Halling asked.
"In two hours," Oneakka supplied, "but the Councillors are all being briefed en route. The decision will likely be quick."
"We expect expansion?" Massa asked.
"Even if the Wraith are attempting to trick us to attack further out," Oneakka answered, "we cannot hold the border in open space as it is out from the Nest System. There are two solar systems not far out beyond the current border in that area – Emmagan and I cleaned up several Wraith in one of them yesterday." Halling considered the bruise across the left side of Oneakka's forehead from that event. It was wider but far paler than yesterday and the scratches were barely discernible. He had always been a fast healer.
Oneakka had recovered from unbelievable injuries and grief in the past – he would survive Halling's demise.
"We should hear by this evening. The Fleet Commanders are already in consensus to push the border out," Oneakka concluded.
"What's the latest situation with Amduat?" Massa asked.
Oneakka's eyes shifted to Halling, and Halling knew what his friend was worrying over. As Amduat was in a vacant and distant part of both the Alliance and the galaxy as a whole, it was just the type of place some previously unseen enemy might appear. Halling held his friend's gaze, all his attention focused on the answer.
"Station 1641, the closest to Amduat, has sent out one of its sensor scout bots to work as a carry point between the two stations to extend link range," Oneakka reported. "Its most likely just interstellar inference, but the silence continues."
"When will the scout bot be close enough for link communication with Amduat?" Halling asked, knowing the distances involved out to Amduat, even from its neighbouring station, meant that it would take some time to hear anything.
"Maybe in the next few hours," Oneakka winced. "It depends on navigating an asteroid band and whether there is any link interference. Edfu will tell me the instant he hears something."
Halling nodded.
It meant more waiting though.
"Amduat loses contact all the time," Massa said, a faint frown indicating that he'd picked up that they had extra concerns on the subject. "There was that power outage a few years ago; they were out of contact for over a week before a ship reached them."
"Are we sending a ship?" Halling asked.
"There are two border patrol ships already heading there, but the closest is days away even by hyperspace," Oneakka replied.
There was nothing else to be done but wait.
Yet, it felt as if events were suddenly moving now and the nervous fear at the bottom of Halling's stomach stirred.
0000
TBC