Trials of Faith – Chapter 10
Progress.
Ronan charged into the observation room with Astra on his heels. He ran to the window and stared down. Sheppard and Elizabeth were on the side whilst Carson worked furiously to get Teyla's heart started up again. Mckay was in the corner of the observation room, he nodded at Ronan before glancing at the pretty – filthy – girl standing behind him.
'How did-?' Ronan began.
'Don't know.' Mckay answered, his eyes glued on Teyla and Carson. The defibrillator had come out to play again. John stepped closer, his eyes searching Teyla again, willing her to breathe.
Carson yelled for them to clear and he shocked her. She arched and fell. No pulse.
'Isn't there anything you can do?' Rodney snapped at the newcomer. She stared at him wide eyed.
'And what I could I do for her? I have no medical training, I have nothing to offer in this situation!' Astra turned to look at Carson pumping his hands up and down on Teyla's chest.
'You're suppose to be all power-having!' Rodney yelled.
'Mckay.' Ronan warned. 'There's nothing she can do.'
'Well-' Rodney bretahed. 'Fine. Great start.' He snapped, putting his hands on the glass as he stared down.
Thunk. Electricity shot through her, she arched and fell. She had a pulse.
'Right, let's get this sorted.' Carson said to the medical team, hurrying back to finish the job on her chest.
John breathed heavily; Ronan could see it from here. He looked ill. Elizabeth stroked his arm indicating for him to leave. He was reluctant to do so. Elizabeth whispered something in his ear and he looked up at the Observation room. Astra took a step back, not liking the dark look he cast her.
'This is Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Elizabeth Weir?' She asked.
Ronan nodded, turning away from the scene below.
Astra didn't like it. Sheppard hadn't appeared happy at all. Understandable, since his friend was on the brink of death, but that look told her all she wanted to know. He blamed her. Teyla was on deaths door because of her. If the Wraith hadn't attacked Tolas looking for her, Teyla would not be on that table, fighting to breathe. She stayed close to Ronan.
The man in the corner cleared his throat; he folded his arms and looked at Ronan expectantly.
Ronan rolled his eyes and turned to Astra. 'This is Mckay, he's a scientist.'
'Eloquently put Ronan, thank you.' Rodney slumped, before walking forward and offering his hand. She was disgustingly filthy, but she was also pretty and apparently powerful. So if he could not piss her off today, that would be a good start.
Astra looked at his hand, not understanding what he was doing.
'You shake it.' He said. 'It's a greeting where I come from.'
Astra watched his hand.
'It is not moving.' She said.
Ronan smiled and Mckay withdrew his hand. 'That's not what I meant.'
Astra tried her best. 'Well, I am Astra.' She thrust her hand out and shook it. Rodney stared before using his own hand to link with hers and then shaking it slower.
'Astra – mh, nice, it's Ancient, means 'stars.' Very fitting.' He released her grip and wiped his hand on his trousers. She smiled warmly, glancing at Ronan.
'You are a Scientist?' She asked.
'Yes, yes I am. I see to it that Atlantis is in working order and because of my extensive knowledge on all thing science and Ancient; I have been able to modify a lot of the technology to suit our needs. Also, I am an essential team member because of that extensive knowledge and am known for saving everyone from extreme peril at the very last minute.' He smiled proudly.
Astra blinked.
'He's good at fixing stuff.' Ronan translated. Clearly Astra was not ready to deal with Mckay babble just yet. Mckay gave him an exasperated look.
'So…this would be our little Saviour.' A male voice said from the doorway.
The group turned to see Sheppard and Weir standing in the doorway. Weir walked forward, offering her hand. Astra took it and shook gently, glancing at Mckay with a slight air of pride.
'Welcome to Atlantis. I'm Doctor Weir.' She smiled.
'I am Astra.' She liked this woman. She was warm, commanding, a person she could trust. 'Please, is Teyla Emmagan going to heal?'
Weir glanced down. 'Carson is the best; I believe that she'll pull through.'
Astra smiled, nodding. 'Do you know of the situation, Doctor Weir?'
'Yes, but not as much as I'd like to know.' Weir offered her a seat. Astra sat. 'We know the basics.'
'Then you know as much as I.' Astra informed.
Weir seemed slightly put out, she wanted to ask her so much, but judging from her appearance she needed a damn good bath and a set of clean clothes.
'Astra, would you meet with me later to talk over some things. We have some guests I believe that you know, they are very eager to see you again.' Weir stood. 'Maybe John could show you to a room-?'
'I'll do it.' Ronan stepped forward. He had sensed the Colonel's attitude and decided that leaving him alone with her while he was in such a mood was not wise. John remained silent, watching the new comer, expressionless.
'Alright Ronan.' Weir was surprised, as was Rodney. This was usually the sort of thing John did, Ronan never offered, ever. He wasn't exactly Social Secretary. 'He'll find you some clean clothes, some food, and maybe if you would like to rest-?'
'If I am to stay here, your minds must be put to ease. I will not rest.' Astra informed. 'Thank you for your offer of clothes.' She glanced down at herself knowing that she must look terrible. 'I appreciate it.' She grinned sheepishly.
Weir smiled again and looked at Ronan.
'Come on.' He led her out of the room. Astra paused slightly as she went past Sheppard. He did not look at her.
Weir noticed this. 'John?'
He walked to the glass window and took a seat, saying nothing.
Weir glanced at Rodney who shared the same look of concern.
Ronan had not lingered in the room with her but waited outside while Astra cleaned and changed. He could hear her moving in side, humming some tune he did not know. Perhaps he was listening too hard. He leant against the wall opposite her door and began to occupy himself with other things – checking his hands, playing with his hands, fidgeting with his hands – anything to distract him from listening too closely.
Ronan almost hurt his neck from looking up so quickly when her door opened. He raised his eyebrows in surprise stepping forward.
'Will I do?' She asked, presenting herself.
Astra had come out of the room sparkling compared to the way that she had entered it. Clean fair skin, shiny blonde hair, combed and tied back into a long pony tail. She had dressed her self in a blank tank top and blue combat trousers with black boots. She had been pretty before, but without the mud and blood, she was beautiful. Ronan stared at her for a moment before straying to her eyes – a crystal blue. Definitely alien. They shined unnaturally, studying him, looking him up and down while he did the same to her.
'Not bad.' He grunted, turning from her and walking down the corridor.
'Well I'm so glad that I can please you.' She joked, his reaction much of what she had expected.
'Weir's waiting in the meeting room with the rest of the team. You're gonna get grilled.' Ronan gave her a sidelong glance.
'Yes.' She said simply. 'You will be there?' She asked hopefully.
'Yeah.' Ronan smiled slightly, keeping it to himself.
'And Colonel Sheppard will be there also.' It was not a question, it was a statement of a fact that she was not looking forward to.
Ronan could hear the tension in her voice. He did not know what would happen, but he felt sure that he would be there to stop it.
When they wandered into the oddly shaped room, six people stood from their places around the oddly shaped table. The first Astra saw was Weir, who once again welcomed her with a warm smile. Rodney sat next to her, and a few seats away sat Sheppard, sitting alone. He had not stood.
'I hope you found everything alright?' She asked.
'I did, thank you for allowing me a moment to freshen up.' Astra replied, in the same polite manner. Weir nodded.
'I believe you know these gentle men?' She extended an arm to four people dressed differently from the rest, sitting across from them.
Astra smiled widely, hurrying forward to take the hands of the closest person. Councilman Jardus smiled in the same joyous manner.
'Councilmen!' She exclaimed. 'It is wonderful to see you again!'
Jardus, Yeda, Deener and Krastan smiled with relief and hope, seeing her putting them at ease.
Jardus squeezed her hands. 'When Doctor Weir informed us of the situation on Medda, we feared the worse. But here you are! Safe!'
Astra nodded. 'Safe. Yes.' She paused. 'And here you are, so few…' The smiled faded from her face.
'I am afraid that the Wraith has taken the rest of the Council, but many people still remain on Tolas! It was a large city; there were many places to hide.' He sounded hearty.
'It'll also take many years to rebuild.' Sheppard commented, fiddling with a pen on the table.
'With the help you have given us, and with our own people's expertise, we will find our way.' Krastan insisted.
The group sat, Astra taking her place by Jardus and Ronan seated next to her. John narrowed his eyes.
'Lady,' Yeda said, gaining her attention. 'I am sorry to hear about Borus.' Astra looked to the floor for a moment, putting on a brave smile and nodding. 'He was a good man and he will be sorely missed.'
'Thank you, Yeda.' She said quietly. 'And please, call me Astra.'
The group of Tolasians smiled and nodded.
Deener spoke. 'This is your true name?'
'No, but it was given to me by Borus. The girl before Astra no longer exists.' It was said kindly, but with a strength that certainty knew.
There was a short pause as old friends regarded each other with knowing smiles. Weir glanced at Rodney and Sheppard with a half smile before getting to work.
'Well, where to begin?' Elizabeth leant forward in her chair.
'The start is always an excellent place.' Rodney said, slightly condescendingly. Weir gave a small glare out of the corner of her eye. 'No, really. ' He said quickly, casting her a nervous grin.
'A wise suggestion Doctor Mckay.' Astra smiled. 'The beginning of my new life.' She stated leaning forward. 'The Wraith had come to my planet to cull their human herd, one of their usual stops to feed. They came in darts and collected people before moving on. I was one such person.'
It had been cold she remembered, dark and gloomy. They had huddled in a small room. A cell. They waited for them to come and take them, to wrap them in cocoons to be fed upon. To sit in this room meant that life was over. Astra could sense it in their fear, their total loss of hope. She saw it in their face and how they held onto their loved ones. Twenty altogether in this room, there would be more like it close by.
Astra looked at the people she would be spending her last moments with and bit back tears, knowing that her Mother would have told her to be strong. Some were alone like her, others in small groups. They would die together. But her eyes fell on a man standing by the doorway, as though he were waiting for them to come and take him, no one else dared venture so close to the door. He was tall and broad, middle-aged, his face full of silent sorrow.
'It was Borus.' Astra said. 'He had been taken as well. He had lost his family only two weeks before and then travelled to my planet in hope of starting over. When the Wraith came, he did not even run.' She glanced at Mckay as he rolled his eyes, knowing that he would have ran for all he was worth if their positions had been reversed.
The Wraith came. Two with masks and one without. Their leader wore a black coat, the ghostly white hair flowing around its shoulders. Its eyes were in the cell before its body, it stretched a hand out of sight toward the side of the door, and the webbed bars snapped back. The people cowered. Borus stood in its path. The Wraith glided in, towering over the human defying to fear him. He snarled.
Borus narrowed his eyes.
The Wraith leant forward, smelling him. Then its eyes flickered over his shoulder, resting on the young girl sitting directly behind him. Her star blue eyes widened as she realised they were looking at her, but she did not draw back in fear.
Astra was not afraid of these creatures, if anything she was more intrigued by them. She kept this thought to herself. She hated them. They had taken her own family from her years before. But truly, she was not afraid. She could feel their menace consume the room, had felt them approaching before she even saw them. She raised her eyebrow at him.
'Bring them both.' It rasped, the guards stepped in; already knowing who he had meant was to be taken.
People screamed and moved out of their way. Borus did not struggle, he walked with them. Astra stood and walked also.
She left the people in that room, crying, calling her true name and wishing her well in the afterlife. People she knew.
'I do not know if any of my people had survived, I never returned home.' Astra shed no tears at these memories. She had seen them so often. 'The Wraith took us to a large chamber where there sat a female with flaming red hair.'
The masked Wraith forced both of them on their knees and stood behind each of them, the maskless Wraith growling at the female before turning and leaving. She watched them, flicking her head between them. Graceful, haunting, she rose and came toward them. Her voice like a thousand lost souls crying in the dark.
'You are in mourning; you walked here freely giving no resistance.' She trailed a long talon down Borus's face. He did not look away. He did not react in any manner. The Wraith paused, gliding to Astra.
'I smell no fear on you. But what I do sense is that you are not of this world, nor any other we have encountered.' She clamped her hand under Astra's chin. Astra stared into the black pits willing her to obey. She would not. 'Where do you come from?'
Astra frowned. She spoke nonsense. The planet she had culled was her home, she had lived there for her entire life, she had been born there.
'Rise.' The Wraith rasped, her voice echoing throughout the room.
Astra felt a strange sensation. The Wraith was some how trying to control her, to force her to stand, to force her to speak.
'No.' She said.
The Wraith looked momentarily surprised. 'You will rise.' She lifted her hand trying to draw her up. Astra fought with everything she had and she did not rise.
'Where do you come from?' The Wraith repeated.
'The world you have destroyed.' Astra spat.
'No!' It yelled. 'You are not one of them – not human.' It paused. 'I can taste it in the air.' She glared down at her. 'I can see it in your eyes.'
Borus looked at her side-on. He could see her eyes, unusually bright. Could see the defiance in her expression. He grinned.
The Wraith backhanded him and sent him flying.
'No!' Astra yelled, quickly jumping to her feet and kicking the female back . The two Wraith behind grabbed both her arms and hauled her to her knees once more.
The female growled. 'Stronger than a human. Faster.' She advanced. 'From where do you come?' It screamed.
'Far from here.' A voice said over her shoulder.
A Wraith in a long purple coat approached her. He had a greenish tinge to his skin, not the blue most Wraith had. He had been off of the ship, out of the gloom and into the light too many times.
'You dare interrupt me?' The female snarled. The other Wraith approached with a pad in his hand. He cast the girl a wary look. Astra frowned.
'I have information on our guest.' He stopped in front of her.
'He told her that they had found a tablet in one of their cullings, on a planet on the other side of our galaxy.' Astra informed, the rapt attention of the room unchanging, except for the rhythm of Sheppard's pen being tapped onto the table. 'It had been hidden in an Ancient Facility which they had discovered. It told them of my people who had been brought to this galaxy by the Ancients when my people had no hope of defeating an enemy in their own home. It told them that I was…special.' Astra paused, uncomfortable with the use of the term.
'You are indeed special Astra, there can be no argument of that.' Yeda encouraged. Astra smiled weakly.
'We'll see about that.' Sheppard looked up at her, ignoring the glares he received form the rest of the room.
She in turn ignored the comment and continued.
'The Wraith believed that I was a threat, that I had the power inside of me to hurt them. Of course, Borus had been listening intently to the Wraith Scientist, and he made decision.'
The Wraith guards fell to the ground, releasing Astra. Borus pulled two long daggers which he had concealed in his boots out from their backs. He flung one at the female, it sliced through her hand as she used it as a shield. In one quick motion he used the other to swipe it across her face, and then kicked her into the scientist. Both fell to the floor. Borus grabbed Astra and ran from the room.
They fled down the corridors, Borus pulling on her arm, almost tugging it out of the socket. He knew the Wraith ship so well, he knew exactly where to go and when to hide. They sped onto a large platform which held the Wraith darts and he let go of her arm.
'I am Borus.' He said, looking at her expectantly. She said nothing, only gaped. 'You are what I have been searching for and I must take you to safety. I will explain later. Wait here.' He clambered up one of the darts and sat in the cockpit. Astra watched as the Wraith alarms screamed throughout the ship. Borus raised the dart and collected her with the beam, speeding out of the ship and heading to the nearest gate.
'He was a skilled Warrior and had much experience with the Wraith. He had defected from an army with his family many years ago, but the Wraith still managed to destroy everything he held dear.' Astra paused, remembering his face. 'He took me straight to the planet that the Scientist had spoken of. He recognised it because he had been sent there once on a mission. He would not tell me much. They had translated Ancient Runes telling them the story of my people and left only with that story. The Ancient Facility would not allow them to enter, and so they were unable to find anything more.' Astra glanced at Weir who was listening intently. 'I saw for myself what was written, I could not believe my eyes. My mother and father had both said that I was gifted with a wonderful past. They had lied to me; they died early and never had the chance to explain.' She twiddled with her fingers. Ronan watched them, then looked at her eyes, full of sadness. 'I knew they would search. They would look for me, and nothing would stand in their way. I told Borus to take me back to them, that way people would not die. But he did not. He kept me on that planet close to a month. By the time he took me to an inhabited planet, I learnt that the Wraith had already killed hundreds of thousands.' She paused. 'Borus said that the only thing I could do now was to fight in their memory, and until I knew how to fight them, that I should run. That was almost six months ago.' She leant back in her chair. 'We ran from world to world, some were destroyed and some were not. Tolas was the only planet that I had stayed on for close to three weeks, my longest stay.' She smiled slightly at the Councilmen, Jardus grinned with pride. John glared. 'When the Wraith came, Borus took me to Medda. Hid me in the caves. Hours later, he went to get some food for us. He did not return.' She choked, took a moment and continued. 'The Wraith had come quickly, I waited for him, but Teyla arrived-' John looked up at this. '-she told me that she was a friend and that we must leave. I believed her.'
Astra stopped, watching the room. These memories were painful, but right now, what these people thought of her would determine her future.
'Well, that was a very full account.' Rodney shifted in his seat. 'How did you deflect the sensors from reading your life sign? Our sensors were completely in the dark about your whereabouts.'
Astra paused. 'I do not know.'
'Oh really?' John sat up in his chair, taking the pen fully into his tight fist.
'It was not intentional. I merely ran to find a place to clear my head; the balcony I found had a view of the setting sun. It was peaceful. I did not mean to cause trouble.' She shook her head at Doctor Weir who nodded in understanding.
'Don't suppose that's something you've said to the Tolasians yet?' John growled. 'Or the Athosians? Or any of the other worlds which were completely annihilated because of your non-existent power?'
'John-' Elizabeth breathed, knowing that he was hurting but she hadn't expected him to be so angry at her. At the end of the day, the Wraith were responsible for all of it.
'Oh come on Elizabeth! She doesn't even have these damn powers, millions of people have died, and she hasn't even had the guts to turn around and tell the survivors that she's sorry!'
'That's enough Colonel!' Weir joined John in standing.
'No Doctor Weir, the Colonel is correct.' The Tolasians gaped at her. 'I have not apologised to any of the worlds for the pain I have caused them.'
'You see?' John extended a frustrated hand at the young woman watching him with patience.
'I did not apologise because I did not believe that they would want me to.' John was about to yell something when she cut him off. 'Please Colonel, tell me what I would say to all of those people, to a city of twenty thousand reduced to three hundred, to a Mother cradling the body of a lifeless child, willing it to breathe and live and play and grow.' She fixed him with an icy stare, her voice commanding and confident. She had already thought this through. 'I did not apologise because words are a useless weapon to fight such devastation and grief.'
John fixed her with an angry glare of his own, his brown eyes burning with a passionate understanding. 'It would be a good place to start.' He breathed.
Weir and Rodney looked between them uncomfortably while the Council members looked angry and frightened all at he same time.
'Besides, has running actually done you any good yet? Have you even tried to access those abilities to make sure that all of those deaths counted for something?' John snarled loudly, still standing, pointing the pen at her.
'I have made a little progress.' She answered calmly.
All of them turned to her in surprise.
'What kind of progress?' John asked firmly.
Her bright blue eyes flashed almost mischievously, and John felt the pen being tugged from his hand, saw it fly across the room, and land in her open palm.
'That kind of progress.'
They gaped.
John, without taking his eyes from the pen in her hand, turned to Rodney slightly, mouth open.
'Rodney. What was it you said about telekinesis being impossible?' He asked slowly.
Rodney stared, mouth imitating a goldfish. 'Did I say that?'
John nodded slowly as Rodney climbed over the table and approached the centre of the room. He stuck his hand out and waved it up and down across the path that the pen had flown.
Astra raised an eyebrow.
Rodney gaped. 'Just checking.'