Small songbirds flitted high in the arching blue sky. They danced along wind currents as they soared high over the land, completely oblivious to what the legged ones were up to. The tiny flock ignored the oddly clad strangers entering a rustic house in the center of a village for those birds only had eyes for their nests. Upon crossing the forest line, the wind current abruptly changed, carrying the songbirds just far enough north to allow them to catch a glimpse of a rather large man with dreadlocks falling back into a hole with a wild curse. The birds were able to get back on course just in time to avoid the enraged words flooding up into the atmosphere from said hole.
The songbirds' journey came to an end in the western part of the forest. They chirped happily as they entered the same tree and landed on their respective branches. The songbirds settled in their nests, ignoring the voices of the lovebirds on the ground below. The Ancient girl and the Wraith were lying in the soft grass, staring absentmindedly at the clouds above. The girl knew that she should probably contact one of the team members, but she had no interest in ruining the moment. Besides, they'd probably kill Darius on site. They didn't know him like she did.
"What have you been doing all this time, Darius?" she asked in a carefree voice.
"Exactly what you told me to do a few thousand years ago: evolve."
Androida smiled. "So how's that been going for you?"
He rolled over and took her in his arms. "Exactly like you said it should. I feel . . ."
"Yes?"
"I feel less like a Wraith and more like an Ancient. I just feel more—"
"Mentally evolved."
"Exactly."
They shared their second love's true kiss since she'd woken up.
"I can hear it in your voice," she began breathlessly. "It has less of that phlegmy echo than before. You sound more—"
"Like one of your own people."
The tone of his voice made Androida ashamed of her words. She loved him no matter how he sounded or how he looked. "Darius, I—"
He put one finger on her lips. "It's okay. I knew what you meant . . . and I agree."
She gave him a confused look. "I don't—"
He sighed and shifted his weight. "I'm ashamed of my own people now. I understand that we're parasites and I understand why people hate us, but I don't understand why people worship us."
Androida sat up. "Worship?"
Darius sat up, too. "Yes. There is a village not too far from here. They consider me a god," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You? A god? How did that happen?"
He shrugged. "After I had overcome my need to feed on humans I felt the need to repay the villagers for the loved ones I had taken from them. So when an epidemic broke out among the children I fed off countless animals in a very short time before heading into the village under the cover of darkness. I went to every sick child and gave it enough energy to destroy the virus. Despite all my precautions to not be seen, several villagers spotted me and a few children woke up in the middle of my 'miracle working'. Since then they have prayed to me for petty little things. I would think that after a thousand years of me only helping the young they would stop asking me to save their elderly family members."
She smiled at him. "I always knew you were a softie."
"You were the only one."
Slowly, Androida rested her back on Darius's chest. "So let's check the list of things needed for ascension. Do you only kill when you absolutely have to?"
"Yes."
"Do you help all things living whenever you can?"
"Yes."
"Finally, do feel the pressing need to fly higher than the sky itself?"
"Not only do I feel the need, but I feel the right."
She laughed. "If it weren't for how you look I'd think you were a true-born Ancient."
Darius was about to reply when a crackle entered the air between he and Androida. The sound of the name Sheppard had deemed her with soon followed. She couldn't help but let out a curse as she scrambled to find the source of the sound amidst the pockets of her vest.
"What is it?" she demanded as soon as the temporarily missing walkie-talkie was recovered.
"We're getting out of here," Sheppard's voice crackled back in reply.
"How come?"
"There's a Wraith nearby."
Androida was silent as she exchanged a meaningful look with Darius. "How—how do you know?"
"Some village's got a shrine to it. I'll explain more when we get back to Atlantis. Just get to the gate now."
She quickly agreed before shoving the piece of Earth technology back into a vest pocket. "Darius . . . as much as I don't want to do this, I have to go back."
"Why? We could just ascend right now . . . so we could be together again."
"No, I have some loose ends to tie up in Atlantis. In two days I'll be back. Then we'll ascend together. Don't worry, I'll pretend I'm still 'Amnesia Emily'."
Gently, he placed his hand on her face. "Fine, but you better come back."
"Or you'll do what?"
"Steal a ship again just like I did before when I saved you from falling."
"Come to think of it . . . that would be pretty fun, but no. I WILL be back." She paused to kiss him. "See you soon, Darius."
"Not soon enough."
With that, "Emily" took off for the Stargate.