Mystery Solved
Disclaimer: The characters of the Stargate Universe belong to MGM. The characters of the Four Orders are entirely my own.
AU/SGU/FO: A powerful being from another universe appears on the Destiny just as Eli's time had run out. Stranded on the ship he has to figure out how to go home and the best way is to help the crew of Destiny.
Season Six – 'Hidden Treasures'
Premise:
The crew of Destiny exited stasis only to discover two new passengers from another universe, which have spent their time fixing the ship. After some deliberations, they choose to keep them onboard as their newest allies.
Not long after, an Ancient seed ship nearly killed them all challenging their beliefs of everything they knew about the Ancients. So, they started exploring the reason for that.
Having tasked the SGC to assist, Diablo hopes for results but their lack of progress forces him to leave the ship and return to the Milky Way Galaxy to expedite matters.
A year later, he is back on Earth. Using a base of a race as old as the Ancients, he begins to fill in the gaps. Deciding not to reveal his newest resources just yet, he joins the SGC a year later. In the meantime, the crew of Destiny makes interesting and painful discoveries, and experiences the joy that comes with it.
On Earth, Diablo had to silence temporarily Colonel Carter as she had come close to some of his secrets but revealed to her that he had discovered the proper location of Clava Thessara Infinitas.
Chapter 6
Ginn and Greer stood guard most of the day but the other teams were now overdue. They pondered on what to do and then decided to go look for them.
"Maybe I should go alone. " Ginn suggested.
"Why, because you are the Avatar?"
"No, but perhaps someone should stay behind and man the ship."
"No, we stick together."
They followed the general direction of at least two of the other teams. They walked for hours before reaching a small gorge. The tracks led inside it so they ventured in. Walking for another ten minute revealed a chasm.
"May be they fell?" Ginn asked.
They approached carefully and peered in and around. Greer had to agree with Ginn's theory as it looked like the surface gave in. It was a god thing he brought his survival gear. He attached the rope to a close by rock.
"I will go first and then you can follow." He said and started descending. The light of his torch provided some meagre illumination but it was sufficient to see. The good thing was that the chasm was not very deep. He soon reached ground. Moving away from the rope, he scouted the immediate area. He noticed the tracks of several people. He signalled Ginn to come down.
"They went that way?" Ginn pointed.
"I believe so. They were unable to climb back up."
"Let's follow then." They made their way after the missing teams.
Again they walked for hours before hearing the sound of water. As they approached, they saw an underground waterfall. Its sound was deafening but it was a beautiful sight. It was also reassuring that there was water as the vegetation up had to get water from somewhere.
The tracks moved around the waterfall and proceeded deeper into this cavern system they had been following.
"Here." Ginn picked up a torch from the ground. "Someone must have left it behind."
Greer looked it up. It was still operational but just barely. So perhaps that is why it was left behind. They kept going. Greer tried not to imagine that this place housed hostiles as this would be a short existence for them. They did not have enough people.
Hopefully, nothing of the sort happened while they walked. Soon, they reached a fork in the cave. Greer scouted the different paths but not too far until he located the tracks. He returned for Ginn and they pressed on.
Several hours later, they were still walking. Greer figured by now it was night time but as they were underground it was impossible to tell.
"Wait," Ginn said. Her senses have caught something up ahead. "I think it is fire."
"You can smell it from here?"
"It is faint but yes."
"Right, let's proceed with caution, just in case."
They moved slower in the direction of the fire. Soon, they were able to see its silhouette. By the looks, it appeared to be their missing teams but they wanted to be sure. It never hurts to be cautious.
Greer approached slowly. Ginn was right behind him. They reached a rock overlooking the fire. And they were correct – it was the missing teams – all of them except Rush and Volker.
"It seems their fall was not very smooth." Greer observed.
"I will circle them around and give you an ok, and then we will join them."
"Agreed."
Ginn proceeded around the improvised camp. There was nothing to worry though. There was no one else there. But she found it sloppy that they have not put even one sentry. It is called common sense.
She signalled Grier and they appeared together. The people noticed them.
"Thank god."
"You could have posted at least one sentry, Corporal." Greer scolded him. He understood that the lack of experience is at play but he hoped for at least some sense.
"What happened to you?" Ginn asked.
They all recanted the way they had met. So, one of the teams first fell and the others kind of join them on the way. There were a few bruises but nothing serious.
"Alright," Ginn said. "We need to find a way back to the surface."
"We've been trying but without success." Dr. Park said. "This place goes on forever."
"It is a cave system, Dr. Park. Therefore it breaches the surface somewhere."
They rested and then left camp. Greer led the way with Ginn covering their rear. They walked for ten twelve hours before stopping for a short rest then continued.
Hours later, and as Ginn estimated at dawn, the cave made a wide turn and as it ended they came to a clearing overlooking a breathtaking sight.
"That's impossible." Ginn exclaimed.
The impossible sight was that of a city built with solid quartz. It almost looked like a natural formation but it was obvious it was not. At places, it was adorned with solid wooden material they thought came from the trees on the surface (and they were not wrong).
On the quartz's walls there numerous scratches that were indented into them. Moving back from the walls, they noticed a pattern. It resembled some kind of marking or pictures or perhaps an alphabet.
This was a momentous find in the depths of this lush green planet. But they had to find a way up so they can report it otherwise they would have eternity to decipher it. While the teams began looking for other such markings, Greer and Ginn focused their efforts on finding a way up.
Viz joined the crew that was going back to the green planet. He wanted to ensure they do not miss anything while searching for Rush's team. They followed the path they had recorded for where Rush had entered the atmosphere as the previous team had done but this time in an opposite direction of the previous survey.
They flew for hours however thanks to the advanced sensors they were able to see further than they would have with Destiny's shuttles. Soon after, the new array detected a change of the green canopy.
"It is thinning out." Varo announced.
"Good," Viz spoke. He understood the reason they did not find them before. It was unconceivable for anyone to push landing through the thick canopy of branches. So, it stood to reason that they have sought a place with fewer branches so they can land.
Soon they spotted a suitable place. They did not land but determined that Rush's team had definitively been there. They had moved on.
"Colonel Young," Viz called Destiny. "We found their first landing site."
"They are not there?" Young asked.
"No, they moved on. I imagine they found somewhere better. We are continuing the search."
"Ok, keep me apprised."
They continued flying. It was not as long as the time Rush's team took as this shuttle was also faster. Soon, the sight of green forest thinned enough and they could see vast valleys and plains.
"Sir, I am picking up the shuttle." Varo reported. "It is twelve clicks ahead."
"Excellent, try and contact them"
Varo then said. "They are taking off."
"Follow them."
They increased speed and soon they could see the shuttle with their own eyes.
"Contact them."
"Dr. Rush, please, come in." Varo called.
There was some static before the noise shifted to Rush's surprised voice. "Varro?"
"Yes, look on your left,"
There was a pause and then lots of wowing coming mostly from Dr. Volker.
"What is that?" Rush asked.
"I suppose you could call it Shuttle 3. We will come up with a name later. " Viz explained.
"How?"
"I built two. The other one is looking for Ginn's team."
"Yeah, about that, we found Ginn and her team. They were on some weird crystal lake."
"WHAT?" Varo exclaimed.
"All of them?" Viz asked.
"No, only Eli is missing."
"Damn, he must have been transported to another planet." Viz sighed. "Let me inform, Colonel Young. " He switched the communication node and made the information available to Destiny and received a message 'understood'. "Is the shuttle with them?"
"No, it was only them."
"Good," So, at least, Eli would have the means to travel. "Where are you going?"
"Look down and be amazed."
Viz and his crew looked down and stood in awe. It was the ruins of a city. It was quite sizeable. It had everything – streets, boulevards, avenues, houses – big and small, something that could qualify as squares with fountains, office buildings (as they were taller than the rest), and green space (parks, etc).
In the middle of this city, there was a large circle with no buildings but a single obelix made of solid crystal that sparkled on the sun. The monument seemed to erupt from the deep underground.
"Rush, let's go down the chasm." Viz proposed.
They dived in. The sight that came into view was even more breathtaking. The city expanded downwards with structures of wood and crystal, and some kind of local stone.
"Land down there."
The shuttles touched down on a square near the Obelix. The crews came out.
"Where are the others?" Varo asked.
"Actually, we lost contact with them." Dr. Volker replied and told them everything.
Viz climbed up some stairs and noticed that the view changed. Below there were more structures and there he saw the missing teams moving through along some carved walls.
"Found them."
"That's quick." Rush said and joined him. "Hey." He shouted to attract the people's attention.
The crews reunited. Lots of explaining went on until everyone was up to speed. Then they contacted Destiny and informed Young of the marvellous find.
"Have you located Eli?" Ginn asked. She was very worried about him.
"No, not yet," Young replied. "The other shuttle has two more planets to check.
"Let's hope he is not on a moon." Viz said. He has been thinking again about the transference pad.
"You said nothing about moons. Each of these planets could have hundreds of those."
"I know. I am just sharing a dread and I hope I am wrong."
"We all hope that, right now."
"Everett," Rush called. "We will need the help of an expert for the city. We will need Dr. Jackson."
"I will see what I can about that. I have to contact them anyway."
Eli had continued to check the different pink crystals. They were like books but with images that filled your head and showed you different aspects of the beings that lived there. Sadly, he was unable to see them clearly. For some reason, they were the only thing that was blurred.
He learnt quite a lot about this place. The next set of crystals that he found took him to other cities and if he had to guess they were not on the same planet as this one. That was logically visible from the different stars at night and the moons that surrounded them.
He still needed to find a way to return to the surface but not only on his own. He needed to take the shuttle with him too. Somehow when he touched the surface he was transported here but not the rest of the crew.
"Yeah, I can answer that." Mystery appeared again.
"Where are they?"
Mystery showed him a couple of green leaves instead and the wrench Ginn threw to check the solidity of the surface.
"Where did you find those?"
"They were near your shuttle. I would say Destiny had sent people to look for you and someone has figured it out."
"You don't know who?"
"Well, I have been here with you. So, no, I have not checked that out."
"Good,"
"Why?"
"No, it is good to know that even you have limitations."
"All beings have those, Mr. Wallace."
"Even the gods?"
"Even them,"
Eli relaxed a bit. "Now, how do we get back to the surface?"
"I don't think you can. Each transference platform has its own requirements."
"What platform?"
"The brown mass that floats like an old carpet is not land mass. It is a transference platform – like a transmat."
Eli got the reference. Finally, he met someone that actually understands.
"But each of them has different requirements to work. If one uses certain percentage of gravity, the other one might be using certain percentage of light or something else. The platform on which you landed may require something from the city or saliva – I don't know. It is uncharted territory for both of us."
"Yeah, but you seem to know who this race is?"
"Yes that I do."
"Care to share?"
"Not yet," Mystery said. "I think you will learn when Diablo comes to visit."
"He said that he can't use the stones."
"True, but he will find a way."
"You are so sure that he will?"
"Oh, knowing him, I am absolutely certain. He will not pass the opportunity to check this out."
"So, no chance this is Kryptonite?"
"Very funny, Mr. Wallace, and no, it is not."
But something in Mystery's voice got Eli thinking. Was it possible that existed somewhere? He thrust head. He needed to focus. Perhaps something in these crystals can help him find where he is. Because, if he was not on the same planet this would complicate his chances of being found.
Back on Destiny, Colonel Young had just returned from his visit to Earth where he had informed General O'Neill of the latest development. He in turn had informed him that they have found the necessary body for Viz to use in order to see Diablo. He actually insisted as the situation over Nevada has not improved even a bit.
He contacted the away team and informed Viz. He replied that he's taking Destiny's shuttle and returning to the ship with some of the teams. As he boarded, Colonel Young greeted him.
"What will happen to your body while you visit Earth?" Young was rather curious to know as it has been bugging him for some time now. He only wanted to ensure that there will be no zombies moving around his ship.
"Why?"
"I don't want any zombies around."
"Zombies?" Viz started laughing. "Wow, it has been awhile since someone made that joke. I can assure you there will be no zombies, Colonel. But it would be best that I do the exchange in a cold room."
"Why?"
"Well, there is a direct relationship between the body of the dead one and me. So, the colder the room the better for the quality of the body, I will be occupying,"
"I will let Earth know..."
"No, no, you have to put my body in a cold room."
"Oh, I see."
"And you should come with me too,"
"Yes, I think that will be prudent."
They readied everything on their end. Varo passed the Ancients' communication stone to Viz whose expression changed drastically the moment he touched it. His eyes were placed with white ones. Varo stepped back startled. "Man, this is weird."
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