A/N1: I'd like to thank Hazmot, Cayenta2, Acer-sigma and the rest for the support of this fic. I appreaciate your reviews. Thank you! And please continue to review!
Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate belong to MGM. The characters of Farscape belong to Jim Henson Productions.
Chapter 6
Tensions
The Odyssey was traveling in hyperspace towards Atlantis. Vala was spending mostly her time in the flight bay where the two interceptors and the Farscape shuttle were. She was continuing her study on the craft's technology while Cam was in his quarters or somewhere on the bridge.
Their relationship was a bit strained now as their argument in the SGC briefing room had not cooled yet, not to mention that the arguments they had later aboard the Odyssey did not make things any easier. And naturally when they arrived at Atlantis, they hardly were speaking to each other except when it was work related.
Dr. Rodney McKay, now second in command of Atlantis, greeted them in the briefing room. He listened carefully to the reason of their visit, and to say the least was just as baffled as General Landry had been. But his eyes lit up when he learnt of Vala and Cam's new toys – the three ships.
"Well, if you provide me with the address, we can have Atlantis' computers start the search immediately. As for the name of the planet – Arnesk, we can look for it in the database too. It will take some though so I'll send someone to show you to your quarters." – Rodney said.
"Thank you, Rodney." – Vala said while excusing herself out of the room.
Cam and Rodney exchanged looks. Actually, Cam could not recall any particular time when she had called McKay by his first name.
"What's going on between you two?" – Rodney asked Cam as they were now alone.
"Nothing, Doc." – Cam retorted and exited the room while Rodney shook his head. Cam had no intention of telling Rodney of how their relationship was going because it was going bad. Cam did not like the idea of being kept out of the loop and Vala wasn't making things easier.
The Odyssey had deposed the three crafts at Atlantis jumper bay where Rodney and some of the scientists started examining them with great curiosity. Vala had gone straight to her quarters while Cam spent the time wandering around the city with no particular destination. Atlantis was a huge city and yet they knew so little about it although, of course, McKay could argue otherwise.
The next morning, Vala was first to wake up. She had very curios dreams or visions, she was not sure. The moment she had fallen asleep her Morpheus had transported her aboard a very odd ship. It was all organic with little round robots with two lights above their head like mechanic bugs. They were snooping around the ship fixing whatever needed fixing. But Vala felt like she belonged to that place. She did not feel like a stranger there she felt like it was home. It was indeed a very odd sensation.
Vala left her quarters, and headed outside. The fresh morning air was helping a lot in cooling thoughts. She was still trying to figure out what went wrong between her and Cam. They had a little battle at the SGC but there she was right. It was only that Cam wasn't listening. And then aboard the Odyssey all hell broke loose. All frustration was let loose. They were indeed sailing into the unknown but Cam was thinking that she was acting under outside influence and that she was most certainly endangering his life and the lives of everyone else, and bla bla bla. She needed not to prove herself. She has already done that over and over again. She thought Cam knew this but obviously he didn't. Of course, she knew he was still blaming himself for the loss of SG-1 (the original).
And now they were going on some fool's quest to find about a project of the Alterrans never before seen or mentioned anywhere, which was connected to the loss of SG-1 following the instructions of an ancient God – Helios that spoke in a language older than the one of the Alterrans. I mean who wouldn't be worried when told that he had unleashed yet another evil problem into the universe. What can you want from us humans, curios beings?
Vala reached the edge of the platform, which could easily serve as landing pad for a battle cruiser. As she stood there she heard someone approaching. She turned around and saw Dr. Carson Beckett. She had read the reports regarding his existence and to say the least they were quite controversial.
"Morning, love." – Carson greeted in his usual fashion.
"Morning Dr. Beckett." – Vala responded.
"Carson will do, love." – Carson smiled.
"Carson, it is then." – Vala smiled back and turned again towards the sunrise.
"Is something troubling you?" – Carson asked looking at her. He could always sense when someone was not feeling at ease.
Vala sighed. Maybe, she should let all these bottled feelings go out. Maybe, she'll feel better so she did. Carson was a marvelous listener. He was gasping and exclaiming at exactly the right places. But he was also helping.
"Listen, love, sometimes it is difficult." – Carson said, sympathy streaming from his voice. "You know, when I first arrived here I was this little scared doctor. Well, I did volunteer for the mission though I was sure not many of us had any idea what we were getting ourselves into. I didn't like even sitting on the defense chairs, even though Rodney was insisting, I was afraid I would break something. And look at it; I accidentally activated a drone that could have shot down General O'Neil and Colonel Sheppard's helicopter. But with time, I started embracing all this because situations started to demand of me more and more. And people were dependant on what I do. And what we do is important. It will never be easy. It'll always be difficult even impossible but we'll overcome it together or fall together. It's our nature – never give up, never surrender."
Vala had to agree with Carson. He was right. If you never search for an answer, you will never find it. On the way you will stumble and fall but you will always get up and carry on because you have to. Not for your sake but for the sake of all others.
"Thank you, Carson." – Vala said. "I feel much better now."
"I'm glad I could ease it a bit, love." – Carson said happily, a friendly smile on his face.
"Sunrise." – Vala pointed with her eyes then closing them said. "Bringer of hope."
"To all of us, to all of us." – Carson added, patting her on the back.
"You're a good man, Carson."
"I'd like to think so." – Carson noted. "I'd like to think so."
The sun there on the horizon rose and bestowed its light on Atlantis, the mechanic wonder of the ancient times but also the best hope of a galaxy. And although, the wraiths have been defeated, evil never sleeps and usually pops up when never expected. This was the destiny of all curios and exploring beings.
Vala with Carson returned inside of Atlantis. Carson headed towards med bay while Vala headed for the control room.
She entered into the office where Cam and Rodney already were.
"Good morning." – Vala greeted.
"Morning," – Cam replied rather cold. "McKay had just finished checking the database. The gate address doesn't match any of the known Pegasus addresses. So do you have any ideas what do we do now?"
"I think you know what." – Vala responded.
"Ah, yes, well, I can't plot a course since we have no point of reference." – Rodney said sadly.
"What of Arnesk?" – Vala asked.
"I found a reference in the Ancient database. The planet is apparently in the Milky Way." – Rodney said but Vala noticed that he was frowning.
"What is wrong?"
"Well, the coordinates provided for the planet's location can't be right." – Rodney replied, clearing exhibiting signs of confusion.
"Why not?"
"Well, it would be because these coordinates match the location of Dakara." – Rodney said. "And this would be impossible unless I've missed something."
"So we are back at square one, again." – Cam inserted with disappointment.
"Let me see." – Vala insisted. She looked at the data available. Rodney was right it was where Dakara was but not exactly. "The coordinates do not match." – Vala said.
"They do I checked." – Rodney objected.
"No, they don't." – Vala contradicted him. "You haven't taken into account the stellar adrift of thousands of years. And when you do you will see that it points to somewhere here." – Vala pointed on the map.
Rodney took a look at the point Vala was showing and frowned further. "Even if this is correct, there is nothing there but a void of space."
"There is where Arnesk is." – Vala said with confidence.
"How can you be so sure given that you didn't know its location before?" – Cam asked skeptically.
"It is perfectly obvious why." – Vala retorted. "Rodney miscalculated."
Rodney was rechecking Vala's claim. Few minutes later, sighing, he admitted she was right but was still certain that at that point there were no planets.
"Yeah, like the exact location of Arnesk, previously." – Vala smirked sarcastically at Cam's suggestion of how right Rodney was.
"Alright then, the gate address – where is it? Or should I say in which galaxy in the so little existing?"
"The gate address is here. The constellation configuration matches the Pegasus ones." – Vala said. "Have you physically tried to dial it?"
Rodney and Cam looked all taken aback because they actually hadn't tried it. Vala only nodded with almost satanic satisfaction at their failure to do even the most easier and logical thing. She exited the room and moved to the DHD.
"Excuse me, Sergeant." – Vala said pushing Chuck aside. She dialed quickly the address while looking at the database they had for the point of origin. The gate did not lock but Vala had found a way to pinpoint the point of origin from where they will have to dial the gate. "I know how to locate it" – Vala turned to Cam and Rodney.
"How?" – Rodney asked.
"I need the holographic chamber." – Vala said.
"Alright, this way." – Rodney shrugged and led the way.
They arrived at the holographic chamber. Rodney activated it. The map of the Pegasus appeared.
"It does accept voice commands?" – Vala inquired.
"Yes, it does." – Rodney nodded.
"Good." – Vala said satisfied, pushed Rodney aside and stepped before the console.
Cam and Rodney stood wondering what Vala had had in mind. Vala did not move or say anything for a long, long, agonizing time. She was looking at all the stars as though waiting for a sign. But then when the waiting became frustratingly long, she spoke.
"Vale nomene nol'ere himune Celere at'ter Helius."
Rodney stood baffled. He had believed Cam, later on when they spoke privately, that Vala had indeed spoken in a language possibly older than the Ancient one but until this very moment he couldn't quite believe it.
But for his and Cam's utter surprise, the holographic map shifted and displayed the galaxy in a different light. It showed a planet that obviously was not included in the available list of gate addresses. It bore the symbol, which was the point of origin they were looking for.
As said the map of the galaxy looked different. Rodney noticed that it was possibly displaying its state as it had been at least fifty or maybe sixty thousand years ago, long before the Ancients encountered the Wraith or even further back in time.
"This is where we have to go." – Vala pointed at the map.
"Great, McKay, let's dial the gate." – Cam exclaimed.
"Not so fast," – Vala stopped them. "That gate can not be reached from here."
"What?"
"We have to go by ship." – Vala replied all beaming.
"How can you know this?" – Cam asked frustrated.
"Well, this is what it says here." – Vala pointed on the map.
The symbols that were on the map were not Ancient as Rodney and Cam noticed so maybe Vala was saying the truth but as Rodney remarked they were not ancient Greek or otherwise either. They were in a totally unknown language making him wonder why the Ancients had done it in this way.
"We'll try it anyway." – Cam concluded.
"Be my guest." – Vala said, shrugging with total indifference but a careful observer would have said total mocking.
Of course, they dialed the gate but couldn't establish contact. They tried again and again and Cam was only seeing Vala's mocking face.
"Alright, we'll go by ship." – Cam sighed defeated.
"I'll have SGA-1 accompanying you." – Rodney said.
"Cool." – Cam exclaimed earning a smile on Vala's face, for he knew why she was so excited.
"Colonel Reynolds will transport you to the planet." – Rodney informed.
"We need our interceptors with us." – Vala inserted.
Cam and Rodney looked at her questioningly. Rodney, of course, threw a disappointed look. He was hoping to spend some more time studying these crafts.
"All of them or only the interceptors?" – Cam inquired.
"All of them, actually, yes, thank you, Cam." – Vala confirmed, staring happily at the sun.
"Might I ask why?" – Cam looked at her.
"We'll need them." – The answer was.
"That's a fine answer."
"Yes, it is." – Vala smiled and strode off.
Cam looked at Rodney but just shrugged. Lately Vala had these strange occurrences in her behavior that he could only associate with the happening on P1F-619. The curios part was that this event had no changed her physically. As they came on Atlantis, he had asked Rodney to make her a full medical examination but they did not discover any anomalies – no increased brain activity, physical strength or anything else, and yet she could speak a very old language, and act oddly at times. Cam sighed and got to his quarters to pack again.
After a while, he got to the gate room where they were to say goodbyes with Rodney and Atlantis and depart in the company of SGA-1. The team was lead now by Major Alicia Vega. Actually, Cam knew why Vala was so excited. It was because the entire team, the lead team of Atlantis, was made of women, although this shouldn't lower Cam's mood, on the contrary, it was brightening it up. But still it was odd. For years, the leaders of the teams were men, and now women. They conquered everything, everywhere.
"McKay, thank you again." – Cam said, shaking hands with the good doctor.
"You're welcome. If you have any problems, alerts us at once. We will assist in any way possible." – Rodney replied with a smile then turned to the ladies' team. "SGA-1, good luck, and make sure they come back safely."
"Sure, doc!" – Major Vega said, beaming at Rodney and a careful observer would say with more than just casual intent. Rodney, of course, ignored that look, as usual.
"Achilles, this is Mitchell, we are ready for transport." – Cam said.
"Roger that, Colonel."
USS Achilles was the new battle cruiser commissioned for the Atlantis expedition. It was captained by Colonel Reynolds. The Achilles was, like all the other ships, being retrofitted with the Asgard plasma beams and the latest improvement in shield technology, one of the last contributions of Colonel Carter. The shields were made specifically more resistant to wraith weapons.
Cam, Vala and SGA-1 were transported aboard the Achilles, which shortly after jumped to hyperspace. The voyage was not very long but at least it gave Vala the time to explain her plan to Cam and SGA-1.
"Ah, Cam, it's time you joined us." – Vala insinuated with growing sarcasm.
"I was having a lovely brunch." – Cam answered back exactly the same way.
SGA-1 team members looked at each other and giggled silently. The bunter between Cam and Vala was growing, and was becoming very interesting, as Alicia was suspecting it was going to end in one specific rectangular (although it doesn't need to be rectangular, it could well be a round one too) and very soft place (although that can't be certain either given their luck).
"Ahum," – Alicia intervened before they continued with the sweet insult business. "Vala, you're saying…"
"Yes, I'm sorry, Alicia." – Vala nodded. "I was saying it is good that ALL are here so I could explain to ALL, the plan."
"Great." – Cam exclaimed. "Now we can…"
"Ah, colonel, we are working and that tends to work better when there are no hormones flying around." – Alicia cut him off with a smile. "Please Vala, continue."
Cam was to answer back at this interruption but clearly he was completely ignored. It became clear he was now in girls' territory and it was best to be patiently quiet.
"Thank you, Alicia." – Vala smiled throwing at Cam a victorious and devious look. "The planet, we are going to have a different gate than the rest of the gate system. This gate is bigger and the interceptors (and even the shuttle) can go through much like the puddle jumpers. I hear you ask why with the crafts. The answer is because the gate on the other side is located into a tunnel system. So if we were to go by foot, we would certainly perish, as it will be hanging high above the ground."
"Why we didn't simply take puddle jumpers?" – Cam couldn't resist asking.
"We didn't take them because when reach our destination we'll have to maneuver inside a series of tunnels and this would require speed and maneuverability, which unfortunately are not a common trait of the puddle jumpers. That's why."
"I see."
"Vala, how did you know all this?" – Alicia asked and the question was well placed.
"That's a good question." – Cam turned expectedly at Vala.
Vala looked down and said quietly. "I had a vision."
"What?" – Cam exclaimed loudly, looking concerned and baffled at the same time.
"I had a vision." – Vala repeated.
"When?"
"It was after I spoke with Helios."
"And you didn't mention it because?"
"There was no need." – Vala lied but then looked up and said. "I didn't want to concern you or bother you much."
"Oh!" – Cam wasn't sure how to reply to this sentence but it was certain he did not like it.
"Besides, it's not going to be easy. These tunnels are very narrow. And we'll have to fly in close formation. One mistake and we are dust. I wanted to tell you…"
"At the last possible moment?" – Cam shot angrily. "Vala, you could have mentioned that earlier so we could be better prepared! Do you have any idea how this works on the psyche? Mentioning it in the last possible moment?" – Cam had now raised his voice, he was indeed angry.
"Well, I know." – Vala said. "But I wasn't sure that the Ancients would have left the traces in their database. We may have come for nothing to Atlantis."
"You've done nothing wrong, Vala." – Alicia intervened on her behalf.
"Nothing wrong?" – Cam exclaimed, his fury climbing.
"Well, Vala couldn't have possibly anticipated all the outcomes, Colonel." – Alicia heated up. "She had to consider a point where this quest might have not happened. We can't always know if something is going to be there after a few thousand or million years so she chose not to tell. There is nothing wrong with this. Besides, given your attitude towards her lately it is a wonder she has not slapped you or killed you yet. I would have."
Cam blinked. He was baffled. Major Vega was lecturing him how to behave with a woman, and it was baffling. They were before a possibly dangerous, futile mission and he was been lectured about his behavior and attitude towards Vala, and maybe women as a whole. Human nature is so curios at times, Cam thought.
"Excuse me?" – Cam said finally.
Alicia did not bother to answer though she did give him a look that was clear saying "you heard me".
Cam was about to say the something he had in mind but Alicia decided best to interrupt him anyway.
"So girls, as you can see – he's about to pull rank, which of course is perfectly and quite normally predictable in all men, therefore, gals, we're leaving the dear colonel, at least I am." – Alicia then stood up, and left the room. Her team followed her as did Vala.
"What the…?" – Cam exclaimed. "Women!" – Cam sighed, pulled a chair and sank in it.
Cam imposed himself an exile, actually far away from the 'women' team. But he had to break the exile as Colonel Reynolds called him to the bridge. They had jumped out of hyperspace.
"Colonel Mitchell, we've arrived." – Reynolds said as Cam entered the bridge.
Cam looked out. They were in orbit of a planet the size of the moon. It did not look there was any life on the planet.
"The atmosphere has elevated levels of toxics." – Reynolds informed.
"I gather." – Cam said. "Have you detected anything down there?"
"No, there are no power sources, no buildings, no nothing. It is a waste land."
"That's not entirely true." – Vala inserted as she entered too the bridge. "There is a chasm near the forth meridian where the gate is."
"Sergeant, scan the indicated area." – Reynolds ordered.
"Yes, sir." – Sergeant Mattison scanned immediately. After two minutes Mattison informed. "I'm detecting a cave system. It is quite extensive, sir, and possibly very large and wide but there are no power sources down."
"There is no need for power sources. The gate has enough power to take us where we have to go." – Vala said. "Colonel Mitchell, it is time to go."
"How are we going to split?" – Cam inquired.
"I'm going to take Alicia with me in one of the interceptors. You're going to take Dusty with you, Captain Terol and Alison in the last interceptor."
"So I am taking Farscape?"
"Yes, you are more familiar with it."
"Meet you in the hangar." – Cam said leaving the bridge. He headed for his quarters to pick up his affects. Then he headed to hangar deck where the interceptors and the shuttle were.
On his way a thought came to his mind. How were they going to dial the gate?
"Vala." – He called as he entered the hangar.
"Yes, Colonel." – Vala replied coldly.
"How are we going to dial the gate?"
"One of the 302s is going to come with us. When we are down, the pilot, in hazmat suit, is going to physically dial the gate and here we go." – Vala explained.
"Seems you thought of everything."
"Mostly."
"Good."
They got into the crafts and started preliminary flight checks. As everything checked out they headed out of the Achilles. A 302 was accompanying them. Then they breached the atmosphere.
"Follow me!" – Vala called as they emerged near the surface.
Her interceptor dived and the others followed. They flew very low passing by ridges and sharp rocks until they reached a cave opening. Vala's interceptor entered. She had then put on the craft's lights. They were going further down the tunnel until they reached a large opening.
As they arrived, all gaped. Positioned onto the ground was the biggest land gate they had ever seen. It was at least forty meters high and just as wider. The DHD was different from the rest. It was positioned on a flat rock pedestal. The symbols were at least half meter big. There were also two obelisks of four meters height positioned equally at the sides of the gate.
Vala and the rest landed near the DHD. Sergeant Mattison, who had come with them, got out of his craft, and headed to the DHD. He started entering the gate address. Each dialed symbol illuminated not on the gate but on the obelisks, as the gate was without symbols. As Mattison was about to enter the last symbol, Vala interrupted him. "STOP!"
Mattison removed his hand from the DHD looking questioningly at her. But Vala did not reply. She stepped before the DHD, touched gently the symbol and shouted, looking at the closest obelisk, "Dignio Celere."
The obelisk, in this moment, flared up with white blinding light. The other obelisk became all red like molted iron. The two lights connected and seventh symbol appeared on the gate then the event horizon of the wormhole appeared with a roar.
"We are done." – Vala said, heading for her craft. "Thank you, sergeant."
"Don't mention it, and good luck!" – Mattison wished.
Vala's interceptor took off. However before entering she said on the communicator. "The tunnels are very narrow so as we reappear on the other side, fly very close to me. I know it will be very challenging and dangerous but it is the only way. We'll have to be at maximum speed so keep up. Anytime, we make a turn, we make it together. We can't afford any mistakes. Any questions?"
"How close to each other do you want us to fly?" – Cam asked.
"We, the two interceptors, will fly just nine or ten feet away from each other, and you have to be between us but just slightly behind."
"So like a Y?"
"Yes."
"A thought for the turns," – Cam interjected. "When you make one, inform us."
"Agreed."
"Then by all means, let's kick some…tunnels!" – Cam exclaimed.
"Sure, Farscape One." – Vala saluted with a smile.
Her interceptor ventured the event horizon and soon disappeared. The other interceptor followed and Cam went through a second later.
They reappeared on the other side. Each had to admit that this venturing of the gate felt a bit different. The gate on the other side was placed as part of the tunnel, which as Vala had predicted was indeed very narrow. There was place for them just as much the width of the configuration set by Vala.
There was also something very peculiar and interesting about the tunnel. It looked like it was made of polished and shining ice. The crafts took position and darted off down the tunnel. The tunnel's turns were so many and unexpected that the three craft pilots had to utilize all their skills. With the increase of speed it seemed that the tunnel is fluctuating and even moving like fire hose filled with water and twisting out of control.
The chase of turns and twists of the tunnel continued for one good hour. The pilots were getting tired though they had to remain vigilant and concentrated if they did not want to turn into dust at the next juncture. Hopefully, the tunnel became straighter and wider until finally they emerged into the open.
The sight before their eyes could only be explained as paradise, and paradise of the Gods. As far as the eye could see, from horizon to horizon, they were in a kingdom of snowy, fluffy towers of white clouds bathed by golden, bright and warm sunlight, and below them the gardens of paradise: flowers of all kinds of shapes and sizes, trees – some big, other small of all worlds, running and jumping streams, torrents and rivers, oceans of sapphire blue, clear mirror lakes and frosted mountains' tops and peaks. Everywhere, there was a sense of joy, calamity and tranquility.
And in the middle of this paradise, as giant of all times stood the enormous statue of Helios, the God of the Sun, the God of Nature. He was standing astride with his golden crown atop his head, his eyes sparkling like emerald stars, with white, clean robes; he was holding the torch of everlasting fire.
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