Chapter 20 - Hunting for a ZPM
Pegasus galaxy, unknown planet,
Illyria looked around the medieval looking planet. Unimpressed she calmly walked passed the others and stopped near the alpha male.
John looked at the blue demon disguised in her human form. "You know where to go?" he asked her.
"I do not. The Key only gave me the address where the ZPM could be found. Not its location on this primitive planet." Illyria replied.
"Guess it's off to find the locals and see if they know more." The Major replied.
"I doubt these primitive would know of the power of the device." Illyria told him.
"Yeah well people on this level of technological development will likely have worshipped the Ancients. The Ancients must have given them a Zed PM because they trusted them. I doubt they even know what the device is and what it is capable off doing. It is unlikely they will just hand the device over to us." McKay told them.
Illyria glanced at the male before saying "They will not have a choice. My guide requires it so they will hand it over, or die." She stated coldly.
"Or we will just persuade them without the use of violence and force." Teyla told the demon while glaring at it.
"We'll try it Teyla's way. We're not here to hurt or threaten anyone. These people could be new allies against the Wraith." John told them.
"What use could these pitiful primitives possibly have to offer us?" Illyria asked him.
"Food." McKay replied.
"We could establish trade negotiation to obtain food." John said ignoring McKay.
"Pitiful. It would be far more efficient to enslave them and make them give you the food they then produce for you." Illyria told them.
"Don't you mean for us?" McKay asked.
"I am beyond your species simple need to feed." Illyria told them.
"You don't eat? How do you keep-" McKay started asking but was interrupted by Sheppard.
"McKay, shut up. Illyria we're not going to enslave a planet full of people. We're peaceful explorers." Sheppard told her.
"Peaceful explorers who ended up awakening a species that is killing a lot of people nowadays." Illyria told him before walking past the alpha male following a road.
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Milky Way galaxy, Anubis's base,
"You think some little demon snake is going to take over my mind? Let me fill you in slayers dumb-ass. We already have a demon inside us. One that is far stronger then some weak little snake." Buffy quipped and was rewarded with intense pain from Anubis's ribbon device.
Buffy gritted her teeth again refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream. She felt her head being pushed down and her hair being swept aside to her exposed neck was seen by the snake. Buffy struggled against the hold of the two Jaffa holding her shackled arms. Buffy felt a pain on the back of her neck before she felt something enter her.
Buffy struggled again fighting against her restraints and restrainers. Feeling something evil within her she let lose her demon essence that was the slayer. She would not be controlled by this little snake with an inflated view of itself. Buffy didn't hear the scream of pain and rage come out of her mouth. She was lost inside herself focusing all her strength and power and using it against the invader in her body. She could feel the snake's pain which satisfied both her and the slayer essence which was burning the snake out of her system.
Then something weird happened and Buffy forgot what she was doing for a few seconds seeing the slayer essence had somehow mutated the Goa'uld into its own personal instrument. Then Buffy was forced to watch as a darkness deep inside her took over control of her body, while she did nothing to stop it.
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Milky Way galaxy, Earth, Cleveland,
A red light diminished and Faith looked up to see Willow, Giles, Xander and two slayers she recognized as Kennedy and Vi standing in the large room she knew as the research room. Books were laid out all over the table.
"So where did you disappear too?" Xander asked her.
"A spell preformed by Anubis's newly recruited witches brought both me and B. to him." Faith replied.
"Buffy? Why didn't you tell me on the phone she was at the mountain too? I could have teleported you both here instead of two separate teleportation's." Willow told Faith.
"B. opened a portal to the mountain, we were both racing towards it but Jaffa were coming. Last thing I saw before the momentum carried me through the portal was Buffy dodging weapons fire." Faith told them.
"I see...well if Buffy can open portals now she must have closed the portal to Earth down when her position was in danger and relocated then opened a portal back to Atlantis." Giles told everyone.
"But we don't know for sure. I could do a quick locator spell to see where she is." Willow suggested.
"We do not have time. The end of this world is at stake. We must find a way to stop it before we look for Buffy." Giles told her.
"Buffy is in trouble Giles. I know it. She needs our help." Faith told the man.
"Buffy hasn't needed us for years now Faith. She can take care of herself." Xander interjected.
Faith stared at him not believing what she was hearing when Kennedy said "Saving Buffy isn't on the apocalypse scale. Saving this planet from the thing that killed Amanda is."
"Don't worry Faith. Power is coming to her." A new voice then said and Faith looked at the source finding Dana.
"What do you mean?" Faith asked.
"Buffy will be safe. Her powers watch over her." Dana replied.
"You know we had a talk about you being cryptic." Faith told her.
"Green and darkness. One is pure the other is very old and the source of the slayers." Dana told Faith.
"As fascinating as is it is not to talk about her highness the slayer. We do have an apocalypse to tend to." Kennedy told them.
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Pegasus galaxy, medieval planet,
"Alina…I know I've" McKay start to talk then grabs a book, turning to woman beside him "said this before but…uh…Thank you so much for letting us in here…for helping us through the material" he walks into the room where the others sit with a load of books…and stuff "Its been utterly fascinating."
Illyria looks up at the two studying them both for a few seconds then looks back down at the book she was reading.
"I'm happy to do it Doctor. I'm sorry this information is so scattered. I'm afraid we are working on so many projects at once, referencing material tends to get misplaced." Alina apologizes before they put the books down.
"Of course" McKay says then picks up a book "look at that." Illyria stands up and walks over to him studying the book.
"I will" Illyria says talking the book out of his hands and walking off back to her seat.
Ford and Teyla laugh at the baffled expression on his face.
"That's not what I meant. Give that back!" McKay said as he attempted to get the book back from Illyria who moved the book she his hands grasped air and showed her eyes flashing icy blue. "Or you can keep it. Whatever you want." McKay babbled nervously.
Teyla and Ford laughed louder earning then a glare from McKay "Can we go back to work now?!" McKay told them.
"I just don't see how running through history books is gonna…gonna find us our ZPM." Ford asked.
"It not important for you to know. You just to do what your alpha tells you to do." Illyria tells him.
"Major, she's doing it again." Ford whined.
"Shut up and research Ford. And don't distract him Illyria." Sheppard tells them.
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Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis,
"Do they have any idea where the ZPM could be?" Weir asked.
"No according to the legend…an ancient from Atlantis came through the Stargate and entrusted a sect of Sudarian priests with a…" McKay said using hand quotes ""Rare treasure" or potentia they called it. This Atlantian told them to keep it hidden from the wraith at all costs" Illyria looks annoyed and Sheppard a mixture of bored and annoyance "…now the Sudarian people worshipped the ancients and considered the potentia…they're most sacred artifact. Now predictably they did exactly what the ancient requested."
"The Potentia being…" Weir asked.
"The ZPM." John says with a small smile.
"So they wouldn't have used it." Weir asked.
"I highly doubt that given their technological level." Illyria told them. "One of the books I read said they only brought it out at holidays very important to them. I doubt they would know how to use it or if it is something that could be used."
McKay gives her an evil look saying you-stole-my-line. Illyria looked merely bored at him.
"If they didn't know how to use it…chances are its still completely full…" Weir told them.
"The bad news however…is that after 10000 years of Wraith culling Sudarian society is essentially extinct. The planets inhabitants are only…renaissance level of development but…with the help of some of our gear I really think we'll make some headway." McKay quickly told Weir.
"Alright I'm sold, Major take your team back to Dagan and bring back that ZPM for us." Weir told him.
"I fail to see why we wasted time convincing her if we were already told a ZPM was on the planet by the Key and that we will need the ZPM soon. This is a military matter. My guide told me that is your jurisdiction, not hers." The blue demon told John as she watched him pack his arms and supplies.
"It's just easier that way." John replied with a sigh.
"Why is that? It slows our effectiveness down and undermines your authority in a military matter." Illyria said not getting it.
"It's just easier knowing she's on my side rather then doing this without her approval." John replied.
"The female does like it when you include her in your decisions." Illyria told him "She also likes to have you for herself." She added while studying the Major's reaction.
"What?" Sheppard asked a bit thrown, then recovering adding "I doubt that. Last I heard was she was involved with someone back on Earth."
"I am not wrong. I can sense emotions. She likes you, a lot." Illyria told the Major. Then added "I feel relieved to not feel these same emotions for the female from you. I would not have you hurt my guide. That has been done enough." Illyria told him.
"How would you know that about Buffy? Did she tell you?" John asked.
"She did not need to. The shell memories I am in knows this. She may not have met the slayer personally but she knew a lot about her from her ex and former sort of friend. Even my previous guide had told her something about my guide." Illyria told him.
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Pegasus galaxy, somewhere dark and underground,
A boy is on the ground…two men are standing around. A man with a scar of a bullet exit wound helps the boy up.
Another man walked up to the man with the bullet wound scar "Does it still pain you Kolya?" he asked.
"Leave us." Kolya ordered and the two guys leave "what do you have for me, Bob?"
"The Atlantians have returned to Dagan." Bob reported.
"You're sure?" Kolya asked.
"Oh yes, our operative just checked in, it's only been 12 hours since they left. They must be getting close to it." Bob told Kolya.
"Do we have any idea what "it" is yet?" Kolya asked.
"We know a little more. Many off world spies have been keeping a close eye on the Atlantian teams from a far. This is the first planet we've managed to get this close to them. They're looking for an Atlantian era power source." Bob told him.
"Is chief Kalan sending a team?" Kolya asked.
"Net yet. His priorities are else where. Even if he was he would never send you." Bob replied.
"The last things the Atlantians need is more power. Get me on that planet…with or without his blessing. "Kolya told Bob.
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Milky Way galaxy, Anubis's base,
Anubis stared at the power struggle his Goa'uld seemed to be having with this slayer. For a moment he feared the slayers earlier words were true. That the demon essence already inside her would not be defeated by a Goa'uld. Then the struggle seemed to end and a laughter that sent chills up his Jaffa's bones emitted from the small blond figure.
"Arise and bow before your God." Anubis told the what he assumed to be his Goa'uld in charge.
"God!?" the word was spat out of the slayers mouth in disgust. "You are no God. I despise Gods. You aren't worthy enough to be despised by me." An dark and eerie voice told him and Anubis stepped back in shock as the blonde lifted her head to look at him, her eyes as black as he was.
"You dare insult your God!" Anubis tried again.
The blond little slayer laughed again and without much effort of her arms the two scared Jaffa flew across the room against the wall unconscious. Next the blond removed her restraints without much ease. "You pitiful snakes think to challenge my power? I am more then you could ever imagine." The dark voice told Anubis.
"Fire on her. Kill her. Kill the heretic." He told his Jaffa who then snapped to attention and fired at the blond woman.
Slayer essence Buffy moved so fast Anubis lost sight of her until he saw her standing victorious over his now dead Jaffa "Pathetic" the dark voice told him.
Anubis raised his ribbon device preparing it to fire at the slayer but he never got that far as the Buffy with black eyes suddenly stood in front of him smirked and jumped into him.
Pain ripped through Anubis and he felt something tearing him apart from the inside out. Just when he thought he couldn't take anymore the pain stopped and the blond slayer with black eyes stood in front of him again. "Weak." Buffy's dark voice told him right before Anubis darkness seemed to light up.
"Feel my power, the power of a true demon god." The dark angry voice was the last Anubis heard as he exploded.
Buffy could feel power engulf her and a darkness she felt approach earlier retreat.
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Pegasus galaxy, Dagan,
"They call themselves the quindozum, a brotherhood of fifteen monks whose sole occupation was to keep the potentia or ZPM safe." Alina says then starts to hand out sheets "The brotherhood of the fifteen consisted of a master handler. Fiver protectors and nine stone carriers. They're greatest fear was that the entire brotherhood might one day be culled by the Wraith, which would result in the ZPM going missing forever.
"Missing yes. But it would not fall into enemy hands." Teyla said to Alina.
"They were entrusted with the ZPM" Alina continued as another came up to them and listened "they're hope was one day the Atlantians would return to reclaim it and reward the Sudarian people for completing their task.
"So they left hints…clues should the brotherhood be destroyed." McKay said to them.
"Still the brotherhood was destroyed and even your people are unable to find the ZPM because they can't decipher their brotherhoods clues." Illyria told John adding a few comments on how dumb these humans were.
"That's right. The priests created nine stone markers. That when united are suppose to reveal the final resting place of the quindozums protected treasure. So far we've only found three." Alina tells them and passes one to Teyla. "The etchings on the rocks involve many lines and dots. We think it's a map."
"Ummm…amazing." McKay says and Illyria in Fred form rolls her eyes.
"It is actually. This looks like an ancient numbering system." Sheppard said looking at it.
"That's what we thought. From what we can tell the numbers three, six and seven." Alina told him.
"Excellent work. I mean seriously I am very impressed here" McKay says grinning at her, she smiles.
"That's very kind of you doctor." Alina replies and Sheppard all but rolls eyes at the two.
"Where did you find them?" McKay asks.
"This building used to be their monastery actually. We pieced together some of the information we found here and tracked down the number six and seven stones. We found the number three stone on an unrelated dig just last week." Alina tells him.
"There were probably buried in a pattern of some sort." Sheppard mumbles.
Illyria looks at him then takes one the stones, studies it. "Get me a map." She orders.
When a map was produced Illyria looks at Alina "mark where you found the stones." She orders.
"We found the seventh stone here." She says and marks the place "the sixth stone here and most recently we stumbled on the third stone here."
"You have no idea how lucky a find that was." McKay says as he caught up with Illyria who began drawing across the map.
"I see it." Alina says grinning.
Confused Teyla starts "uh…Illyria I'm not sure…"
"Do not doubt my work Athosian." Illyria told her rather then explaining anything to her.
McKay took pity or maybe he just want to let everyone know he knew more then the others "They're buried in a grid. Look we couldn't have done this without the number three stone. That along with the seventh stone give us two diagonally imposed corners. From that you can extrapolate exactly how big the grid is and exactly where the stones should be."
"Alright. Split up. Two teams. Let's start digging." Sheppard tells them.
"I do not dig. It is beneath me." Illyria told him.
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Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis,
"I don't know what happened, it just stopped working. I got some of the functionality back. It still isn't doing everything it used to." Aaron says then drinks some coffee.
Zelenka pops his head out from under console taps on laptop. "Yes well…maybe if people stop insisting on having food a liquid in such close proximity to the 10,000 year old equipment." He complains.
"Hey. We're very careful." Aaron says and puts down the cup "we're not the problem here."
"Ah yes…aha" Zelenka says and gets up to walk over to get something; Aaron touches the laptop to look…the big Atlantian screen flashes "What did you touch?" Zelenka asked him immediately.
"Nothing. I didn't touch anything." Aaron replies.
Zelenka Says something in Croatian and taps buttons on the laptop "then why is it-…" he starts to ask then stops and walks over to big screen "what is this?" he asks.
Later,
"I didn't know we had deep space sensors." Weir told Zelenka.
"Yes well…no one did. From what I can tell they've been running silently in background along with our other primary systems." Zelenka told her.
"In the background?" Weir asked.
"Yes." Zelenka replied.
"So why this sudden leap to the foreground?" Weir asked.
"Excellent question." Zelenka tells her.
"We don't have an answer for that yet, do we?" Weir replies.
"Not as of yet…no." Zelenka tells her.
"Ok well keep me in the loop." Weir replies.
Zelenka lets out a small laugh "you are the loop"
"Isn't that a nice thing to say? Hmm…" Weir tells him and they keep walking a little in silence, she looks at him "You're more than welcome to keep walking with me…but if there's something that you needed to do…" she suggests.
Zelenka stops walking "yes. Yes…" he says and Weir walks on.
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Pegasus galaxy, Dagan,
"Do you think they'll fine it?" Bob asks his companions Erik and Kolya while walking with them on a road.
"Many people from many worlds have come to find the lost treasure of the Quindozum." Erik replies.
"Do you think they will find it?" Kolya asked him.
"I do not know." Erik tells him.
"We will wait for them to find the treasure; we'll take it by force. Your men are not to act until I give word understood?" Kolya replies.
"Absolutely" Erik replies.
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Pegasus galaxy, Dagan, forest
"That should make us…right I think" McKay tell the others before heading off.
"Can you believe the progress we've made Suneera…how many years have we been searching for these stones" Alina starts to say when the other girl, Suneera, drops her equipment "what's wrong?" she asks her.
"We should not be helping them Alina." Suneera tells her.
"They are helping us as much as we are helping them." Alina replies.
"They will take the potentia if they find it. You must see that." Suneera tells her.
"They have come to us from the great city of Atlantis. It is for them that the brotherhood of the fifteen have kept it hidden." Alina tells Suneera.
"I do not trust them Alina." Suneera informs her.
"If you would rather head back to your village than help us. I will not stop you." Alina tells her before following McKay.
"She is up to something John." Illyria said her eyes on Suneera.
"I'll keep an eye on her." Sheppard replies.
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Pegasus galaxy, Dagan, monastery, evening,
Illyria watches as Alina walks over with bread towards McKay. "It's a layout. Of the Sudarian villages. The walls of this monastery have protected it for 10000 years." She hears Alina tell McKay.
"Hmm…it's ah Beautiful" McKay replies.
Alina nods "It is." She then looks at him. "And yet my eyes are drawn elsewhere."
"Hmm…" McKay says and looks back at wall, then passed to a spot over his shoulder she may be looking sees nothing turns back, sorta whispered "elsewhere?"
Alina gives him a small smile "I'd like to restore it one day. But I'm afraid of damaging it. Perhaps you could help me, doctor?"
"Really…you have to start calling me Rodney" McKay says and goes to sit.
Alina Follows and puts the bread down "very well" she says and McKay yawns "I don't bore you do I?"
"No, its not you. No… suddenly I feel so tired." McKay tells her.
"You're a scientist. Are you not used to this by now?" Alina asks him.
"Ah but my kind of science. Is the good kind of science… the kind you can do sitting on a chair or…lying on a couch." McKay replies.
"What was it like? Growing up in the city of the ancestors Rodney." Alina asks.
"Sorry?" McKay asks confused, Illyria who had been eavesdropping on the conversation quickly got up and just as Alina clarifies with "Atlantis" she places a hand on McKay's mouth keeping him from talking.
"Rodney, go to bed." Illyria orders.
"Uh." McKay looks confused over at the two females. "Ok, then goodnight." He said making a quick exit. As he heads past Sheppard, ford and Teyla he says "I'm heading to bed."
"Ah which bed might that be?" Sheppard asks him.
"Hmm…" McKay says pondering the comment then stops after a minute "what?" he asked confused.
"Think the leader might have a little crush on you…doctor." Ford tells him, then added "I would think Illyria like you too or something but she's well you know." Ford tells him.
McKay looks over at Alina and Illyria "she does?" he asks.
"It is very clear to us all." Teyla tell him "Except the Illyria part. I really cannot figure her out."
"It is??" McKay asks astonished.
"To everyone but you apparently." Sheppard tells him.
"Well should I have um…I mean…are you sure about this." McKay asked.
"Pretty sure about Alina, I don't know about Illyria. I think she's more looking out for you because it is something Buffy would do…" the Major trailed off.
"What should I do?" McKay asked ignoring the Buffy part.
Sheppard raises an eyebrow "You don't know what to do?" he asks.
"I know what to do eventually. I mean what should I do now? Should I say something tonight?" McKay asks.
"I don't think you want to get in the middle of that tonight." Sheppard said watching the two women.
"Oh…right. Right… Good answer. Good night." McKay says to them.
Meanwhile,
"You are best to stop your advances on our doctor. He is not to be pumped by you for information." Illyria told the other woman.
Alina glared at Illyria "I will do whatever I want to do. And I was not pumping him for information."
"Do not lie to me pathetic human. I know you are trying to form an emotional connection with McKay so you can get information about the city from us. You expect us to reward you when we find the ZPM and you want to learn all you can about Atlantis so you'll know what to ask for, from us." Illyria tells her.
"You know what. I think you're jealous that he likes me and not you." Alina told Illyria then took a fearsome step backwards as the eyes Illyria froze over for a few seconds before turning back to normal.
"I am not jealous, I am above such thing human. And stop asking McKay about Atlantis." Illyria told the woman.
"Alright ladies, stop the fighting. Alina why don't you head to bed while I talk to Illyria here.
"Fine" Alina said glaring at Illyria before heading off.
"What was that about?" Sheppard asked Illyria.
"I am merely doing what is needed to make this mission a success. The woman wanted to know about Atlantis. McKay would have told her the truth because he likes her. The truth would lead her to betray us in the end." Illyria told him.
"How do you figure that. No never mind, I don't want to know. Buffy trusts you so I guess I'll just take you word for it. But please stop trying to pick a fight with Alina." He told the demon.
"Fine." Illyria said after a while.
"Ok, now maybe you should get some sleep too." He tells her.
"I do not require sleep. I am a-"
"above such things. Should have known. You don't need to eat too, so. Fine you go and get the other stones. Shouldn't be too hard for a God King such as yourself." Sheppard tells her.
"This task is beneath me, however we will require the stones in order to find the ZPM which my guide will need. I will get them." Illyria tells him.
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Pegasus galaxy, Dagan, morning.
Illyria walks in ignoring everyone looks at her as she dumps 8 centerpieces on the table before walking over to the old map.
Alina yelps in shock as Illyria suddenly punches her hand through the map. "The map, she destroyed the map. How could you!?" Alina cried out.
Ignoring the woman Illyria pulls out the ninth stone and tosses it on the table along with the other. "I have collected all stones and found the entrance to the Brotherhood's secret place." She informs the others while only looking at Sheppard.
"Nice work Illyria." Sheppard complimented her.
"I have also determined that there are three men watching you as I easily lost them." She added.
"What did they look like." Sheppard asked.
"Human." Illyria replied. "I suspect the girl I warned you about is working with them. I do not know why but based on what Buffy has told me I believe these men to be Genii and the girl Suneera to be a spy for them."
A loud crash cam from the door and three men Illyria identified as the men watching them came in guns pointed at them.
"Kolya" Sheppard spat the word as he had his gun pointed at the man.
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Milky Way galaxy, Earth, Africa,
Buffy felt dizzy but forced herself to look around seeing dead trees and plants around her. The black night sky filled with stars above her she began walking noticing how unusually quiet it was for a forest or jungle…definitely some sort of jungle. Buffy decided. 'Great, now only to figure out if it's a jungle on Earth, the planet Atlantis is on or some other planet. I don't even know if this planet is in the Pegasus galaxy, Milky Way galaxy or some other galaxy.' Buffy thought to herself.
Buffy stopped feeling something tugging on her slayer senses. It wasn't anything evil just something familiar, but she had no idea what it was, just that I was somewhere straight ahead.
"Here goes something I'll probably regret later." Buffy said to herself before continuing walking into its direction.
Review please.