Thank you very much for your reviews. I hope I can stay on track and handle the project. If things get muddled please let me know. I fear that maybe my ambition is greater than my patience to do it right! This whole fic was just my thoughts on a way to explain why Sheppard's gene is unique, and other little ideas. Forgive the mixing of metaphors, and well any other mistakes.

Chapter Four-Luke, meet Yoda

Sheppard looked at the old man across from him. Well not exactly Yoda, but he had that kind of feel to him. The old man was just staring at him, but said nothing. I can play that game too, Sheppard thought. Sheppard studied the old man. He was of a small stature at least compared to the other Ilarians, and had short white hair. He had to be at least in his seventies, but who knew. He looked beguilingly weak, but Sheppard sensed some real power. The eyes were piercing blue, almost faded to white. That was weird. Was the guy blind? He really could not tell for sure but he started to get the sense he was. Good job John, stare down the blind guy. Maybe he doesn't even know you're here.

Suddenly the man spoke and Sheppard almost jumped. "I know who you are son of Evander. Yes I am blind with my eyes, but my mind shows me everything."

Sheppard raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Hell what should he say? "Your mind is interesting, foreign," the old man continued. You conceal your true thoughts very well to others because they cannot read your mind, but I will teach you to conceal your thoughts to others who might read your mind," the old man continued.

"Like the Wraith."

"Yes, especially them."

Cool. He hated the experience of them hacking his brain. It hurt like hell to resist them.

"I will also teach you to unlock the potential that is in your blood. You will become very powerful John Sheppard once you learn how to utilize all the information that will be transferred to you. Although not fully an Ancient as you call them, you will be able to do much of what they could do. It will take time, months, years no one knows. It will be important for you to guard this knowledge, however. To hide it under that carefree demeanor you show everyone. If the Wraith or those that would help them, know what you can do or know, they will hunt you just as they did your Ancestor Evander."

Sheppard fought the urge to squirm in his chair. He did not like the feel of this at all.

"Although you are human, it will be obvious to Wraith that you are a descendant of the Ancestors. Evander made it so that through the generations, the specific gene that you carry from him, would not be diluted as it has for many others from your world." How did he know that? But he was in fact getting tired of Wraith smelling him and therefore having to come before their damn queens because they knew he was different. What was it with them and smelling? How they hell can defiance smell differently than anger anyway. He lost himself a moment in his thoughts.

The old man looked at him curiously. "You have experienced this before?"

Sheppard nodded. "Something about the way I smell."

Sophistides grinned. He had never met a Wraith, in fact none in thousands of years from his world had met one thankfully. But he had learned through the archives of such a thing. Evander had written of such encounters.

The old man stood up. "The trial of the Heir, is not easy Sheppard."

"The what?" Sheppard vaguely remembered something about a trial.

"I term it a trial because the transfer of information is difficult. You have had experience with the Wraith in your mind have you not."

"Yes sir. It wasn't pleasant."

Sophistides looked at him almost sympathetically. "This will be worse."

Damn. Had to be hard didn't it? "Will I end up a vegetable?"

Sophistides looked confused then grinned as he nodded in understanding. "I see what you mean. It is possible that you will lose your cognitive abilities. Evander mentions this risk, however, this information is in a form meant only for you. Your genetic make-up should lessen this risk, but your mind is human so there is always the possibility."

"It hurt when the Wraith were in my head."

"Yes. It would be uncomfortable for me to be in your head even when I gently probe as I have."

So that was what that tingly feeling was. He heard the old man tell him in his head. I am Sophistides.

"It will likely not be pleasant. Evander makes it clear that his heir be given a choice. This should not be forced because of both the danger and the repercussions afterwards."

"Yeah yeah I know. It's my choice, but if we want to obtain information that could help us defeat the Wraith, then it is not really a choice. Anyway, I want to go through with it."

"I thought you might. There is not much training to provide you since I do not know the complete experience. Evander mentions that you will have all the knowledge that he had of the Ancients in terms of technology, plans but also that of what he could gather from the Wraith."

"Nice," Sheppard muttered as he nodded approvingly.

"It is the acquisition of the Wrath knowledge that will prove the most challenging."

"Of course there 's always a catch," Sheppard said wryly. After this I am going on vacation.

"I will show you how to steel your mind against that, as well as show you strategies to try to incorporate all that will be transferred to you. Later, we will try to train you on how to access that information and use it."

"How long for the first part?"

"Two days. On the third is when the transfer should occur. We will discuss the ceremony as well."

"Got it," Sheppard said cheerfully. He had two days to enjoy himself before he either completely lost his mind or had it so damn packed with information that Rodney would be bugging him all the time to try to get at it. "When do we start?"

"Right now."

Sheppard felt that tingly feeling again and heard Sophistides in his mind. I will show you how to block me out Sheppard.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Teyla looked at Sheppard from across the room. He looked fatigued and uninterested. He barely touched his food. She would not call him on it here in public, but made a note to ask him later. He looked up and saw her staring at him. In a split second he put his mask on and looked at her challenging with a half grin. She smiled back then looked away to pay attention to Rodney who was chattering about some archives he found about Atlantis and Earth. When she looked back, Sheppard was appearing to be interested in what Rodney was saying. After a few minutes he stood and excused himself then left. No one else seemed to notice anything unusual, but she had.

He knew she would come. She would find a way to ask him what was on his mind. He did not want to tell her. What could he tell her? Hey some old guy was in my head today and went places I did not want to go. Images of Dex or what was left of him flashed before him and he grimaced. His heart began to race and he picked up the pace to his quarters. Dammit. That was all put away nice and neat. He knew that was a lie that he tried to believe. The images of his friends dead. Those images brought on more images of just not his friends but of children he had seen dead. He cursed under his breath as he entered his quarters. Sophistides had been relentless and Sheppard had been powerless to stop him.

The old man apologized later, but the damage was done. The bastard went too far! What was in his mind was his own. It did not help for him to hear that during the transference, the signature memory of the Wraith would attack these weaknesses. He lay on his bed and soon fell asleep completely clothed.

Teyla chimed his door but there was no answer. She moved to ring again, but the door slid silently open. "Colonel, "she whispered. "John are you awake?" She stepped in quietly and spotted him on the bed. He was restless, tossing and turning. She hesitated. Unsure what to do, felt guilty but entranced by this rare vulnerability. She heard him muttering. "Pull up Dex, pull up! They have a lock!" She wanted to help him but knew that she was intruding. She looked at him sadly. These demons he never spoke of, that he held so well in check behind his optimism and good nature. She stepped back out of the room ashamed. "Good night John", she whispered.

Sheppard knew he was dreaming but could not wake up. He kept seeing the bodies piled high. He could hear the sound of his chopper as it whooshed close to mountains as they tried to avoid being hit by a rocket fired from some grenade launcher below. Then he saw the child with beautiful blue eyes open and dead. He sat up in bed with a start and breathing heavy. Oh God, he muttered quietly. The child. The one he had befriended just days before. He lay back down and tried to fall back asleep. It was no use. He had already slept restlessly for five hours so getting back to sleep would be hard. After an hour he got up and took a shower. He saw that his uniform was hanging in the armoire. Hmm. Wonder if there if there is a lion or witch in there?

He went out to his balcony for some fresh morning air. The ocean was not that far off. A few miles, but the breeze was amazing and he breathed in deeply. Everything was so quiet. It really was beautiful here. He saw movement below and heard a strangely familiar sound. Could it really be? He sped out of his room and hurried outside. Hot damn! Horses! Well, mostly horses. They were a bit bigger and had blue eyes, but they were definitely horses. He went to the stable and looked for anyone that might be in charge. He saw a tall man talking to some younger men. The man looked up and eyed Sheppard suspiciously. "Who are you?" He asked gruffly.

"Uh, Lt Col John Sheppard. I...uh just heard the horses here. Wanted to see what it was. I use to ride with my grandfather."

"My lord," the man said suddenly "I did not realize it was you. I am sorry." He whispered something to the other men who rushed off. The gentleman approached Sheppard and bowed slightly. "I am sorry my lord. Please how may I help you?"

Sheppard felt embarrassed. He hated this my lord crap. "I uh..like I said. I just heard horses. I can't believe that there are any here in this galaxy. It has been a long time since I have ridden. Years really."

The gentleman smiled. "My name is Eileron. I am the chief stabler. I keep the king's horses as you call them. We call them equinari."

"What king?"

"Well you my lord. We have kept equinari for the king for 10,000 years."

That's dedication, Sheppard thought.

"Wow" Sheppard said. "Can I ride them?" He could not help it. He knew he sounded like a kid but he didn't care. Hell. His brain would probably be fried tomorrow so he might as well enjoy today."

"Yes sir. I will have Zorthos saddled immediately."

"Um okay." Zorthos was not a friendly sounding name.

Eileron was matter of fact but he was thrilled. His family had kept the equinari for generations. He had heard of this man taking the dagger of the Armentarii and he knew in his heart, despite that transfer not yet occurring, that this was the heir of Evander. "Zorthos can be ridden by no other but the king. He is wild to all others. Would you like to meet him first as we prepare him?"

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. "Sure." Sheppard walked with Eileron to the end of the stable. Sheppard loved the smell of a well kept stable. His grandfather had raised some quarter horses and Sheppard would help him care for them and train them. He loved riding although he did not do much since his grandfather had died. He smiled thinking about those long rides with his grandfather out to the fishing hole. A snort broke his reverie.

Sheppard gaped at the horse staring at him. He was black with the same blue eyes as the others. Nostrils flared as a muzzle approached to sniff him. He heard the long deep breaths as the horse smelled him. It tossed its head and nickered as it pawed the ground. Maybe it was part Wraith? There was the smelling thing again.

Eileron smiled. "Zorthos has waited for some time for you."

"Well how does he know that me is well me?

"The lord Evander loved two things most other than his Queen and son of course, and that was flying and riding. He was able to manipulate the genes of his stable so that one horse would carry a particular signature passed down through the generations meant only for his line."

Sheppard gently rubbed the soft muzzle. "Yeah he seemed to do that a lot. Why horses? You are more technically advanced than that."

"The King had many war plans and many ways for defense. The horses were meant as part of the plan for defense of our world given a land invasion. Most of the other worlds outside our kingdom were not as advanced."

Some groomsmen had led Zorthos out of the stable. They looked scared as the monster bared its teeth. Don't let them know that you are scared John, he could hear his grandfather tell him.

The horse walked up to him and nudged him so hard he stepped back a couple of steps. It did not take long for them to saddle the horse and Sheppard was on board. The horse pranced in anticipation but waited. "Well Eileron, I'll see you later. If I am not back in an hour then send a search party out for me," he said lightheartedly, but he did not know whether he could handle this beast.

"Do you wish to have an escort?"

"No. Do I need one? I don't plan on going far."

"No sir. The palace grounds are quite extensive."

Sheppard turned the horse around and began walking out. "Okay then. I will be back in one hour."

Zorthos trotted out the stable and Sheppard was surprised at how easy it was to get back into riding mode. He felt his bad dreams fade away and put in the back of his mind the lesson to take place with Yoda later that day.

People stopped to stare as he made his way out of the complex. He smiled at them, but the only gawked at him. The horse was rather intimidating looking. Once in the open he let loose on the reins and Zorthos did what he was born to do and what his ancestors had died hoping to do. He ran as fast as he could for a mile instinctively making his way to the ocean. Zorthos slowed and began an impatient walk along the water until Sheppard pulled him to a stop and looked across the ocean. It was not much different than the one where Atlantis lay or from Earth. Oceans smelled the same in either galaxy. He wished he had his surfboard or a boat to fish or sail or something. He stayed there for nearly 15 minutes just staring at the ocean. Finally he gave in to duty. "Come on boy…time for me to get tortured by Yoda."

The fisherman watched the man on the black horse. The figure was imposing as he sat tall on the tall horse. He watched the man and horse stare out across the water unmoving for quite some time. The fisherman smiled. The warrior king of legend had returned. He had heard rumors from those that had witnessed this one remove the dagger. It was this one, since none had ridden the black beast. But now the old man saw the figure with his own eyes. The statue of a man and his dark horse suddenly became alive again and turned around. They slowly walked passed him and intense eyes greeted him. He would have been afraid had it not been for the warm smile. The man nodded briefly then clicked and the black horse cantered away smoothly.

oOoOoOoOo

"You let him go alone?!" Saphides shouted at Eileron.

"He insisted! What was I supposed to say? He knew how to ride and seemed to have no difficulty handling the horse."

Saphides was about to say something again when he heard a snort behind him. Sheppard was smiling down at them somewhat amused. He dismounted and patted the horse as a groomsman led him away to cool off.

"Something wrong?" He asked innocently of the two men.

"No sir, I was just concerned that you had gone alone."

Sheppard shrugged. "It's not his fault. Besides, I have gone alone to far scarier places believe me."

"Yes sir. I apologize Eileron." Saphides said turning to the gentleman. The taller man smiled. "No worries my friend. Now I must see to the horse. How was he my lord?"

Sheppard grinned. "Perfect. Had a little trouble holding him back though, "he said looking down at his hands that were slightly raw, "Next time need to wear gloves."

"I will have Samsus ensure you have the necessary equipment," Saphides said leading Sheppard out of the stable. "You have just enough time to shower, change and eat breakfast before Sophistides wants to meet you.

Sheppard was not looking forward to that.