Chapter 7: It Talks!
The sun was late in the sky as Ecco swam out of the council chambers. As he swam out he was stopped by a passing common dolphin.
(Ecco is it?) She asked
The bottlenose turned towards her, (I am he,) Ecco replied
(The Asterite would like to see you) with that she swam away in the direction that she had come from.
Ecco turned and followed her down after taking a breath on the surface. Diving deep he followed the common dolphin out of the city of New Atlantis.
New Atlantis is both ruins and brand new. The ruins are what were left of when Ecco's kind the Singers first landed on this planet with the Ancients. They had built this city and named it after the original capital of Atlantis back on the first world.
Eventually after the Ancients had been killed by the Vortex Ecco's kind had rebuilt the city in the image of the singers hoping one day for the ancients to return and they can triumph over the Vortex foe forever.
As they swam deeper Ecco could feel the pressure building so he had to stop to use one of the glyphs that his kind had developed for such a journey.
Glyph technology is something that the singers developed to help them in meaningful tasks such as diving deep and cave exploring. If one were to touch a glyph then their body would receive a gift and different colors and symbols meant different things. Seeing too at a check point Ecco used both the blue which stood for air and the reddish brown which stood for endurance.
This helped Ecco increase his air capacity and his level of tolerance towards the high pressures of the deep abyss. Entering the darkened canyons that the Asterite resides in Ecco finally found the cave where the double helix of energy resides.
Entering the cave Ecco at last came towards the opening that would lead him to the Asterite.
The chamber was filled with light created by the being inside. A double helix of light globes of different colors the Asterite was a being created by the Ancients to serve as a guide for all singers incase something happened to them.
It rarely calls to them but in this case Ecco was summoned meaning something is about to happen.
(You summoned for me great Asterite?) Ecco asked showing his respect by pointing his beaked snout down towards the floor as their way of a bow.
(Indeed I have Ecco historian and archeologist of the singers) the multi song voice of the Asterite filled the cavern.
The common dolphin had long since left leaving Ecco alone with the double helix.
(What is this about exactly?) Ecco asked
(I have summoned you here on a matter of great purpose) said the Asterite
(As you know the Vortex will once again begin harvest shortly within thirty moons from now) the Asterite replied
(But what does this have to do with me?) Ecco replied
(It has everything to do with you seeing as you have saved the ones who came from the ring) the Asterite replied
(The Stargate? How did you know about its activation?) Ecco asked
(I know many things including the activation of the Stargate to our world. Unfortunately the beings that came through the gate have no idea of the danger they are in. The Ancients as I have feared have long since left this plane of existence and only their descendents remain. The only problem is that they don't know how to work the technology that their ancestors have built long ago.) The Asterite replied to him.
(Then how will we fight the Vortex? They will ravage our world once again!) Ecco replied sadly.
(Fear not young singer the time will come when we will rise triumphant over the Vortex once and for all) the Asterite said
(How?) Ecco asked
(The human has a companion a parasite that lives within her called a Goa'uld I have heard of them, and their conquest throughout the galaxy they are vile and evil but this one can help you) the Asterite said
(If it is that evil then why would it be able to help me?) Ecco asked
(This one can't control the host as would most of his kind…) the Asterite replied
(You are hiding something,) Ecco said
(I see much potential in him as well as the human Ecco there is so much they need to learn before they can return home) the Asterite said.
(Then what am I to do?) Ecco asked
(As long as they are here you are to guide them young singer, guide them and show them the way to the light) he said and with that he had gone dim meaning the conversation is over.
Ecco knew what he had to do and he swam up and out of the rocky tunnels and out into the open ocean. He headed towards the island to time and where he left the human.
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The sun had long since set and the plants began to sway. There was an open fire out along the beach and Katy and Icarus had a share of fruit that was picked along the shore. The ocean waves pounded on the shore as the three moons began to rise in the east behind the mountain.
The ocean was dark but clean and the sounds of the waves seemed to soothe Katy to sleep. Icarus however remained awake and staring at the stars above. The sky seemed so clean compared to the memories he had gotten from Katy. It seems as if the world Katy comes from the world of the Tau'ri is polluted to the point of no return unless they do something about it. He sifted through memories of Katy's life and found to his amazement that Katy had lived a hard life from battling cancer to her separated parents. He also found that the girl has three sisters and four brothers.
As Icarus does not really require sleep though his host does he allowed her to rest while he too shut down for the night working on her body and making sure that it is of optimum efficiency.
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Ecco came near the shore where he left the human to find it glowing with light. Bobbing his head above water he was surprised to see a fire burning on the shore just beyond the waves high tide mark.
To him seeing fire for the first time was something that intrigued him to no ends. After all fire I something that is unknown to singers and being as humans and especially the Ancients needed fire to make their food and to stay warm was something that Ecco was determined to find out.
But looking at the fading embers of fire he could make out the human as being asleep and he would wait till morning before revealing himself in the meantime there is a school of nearby fish calling his name.
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It was dawn the next day when Katy woke and found herself on the beach.
She had dreamt that she was at home again with her siblings at a campout before the monsters that she saw in the temple attacked. Opening her eyes to that shock she was sighing with relief to find herself on the beach again.
That was one really bad dream Icarus said
Katy did not say a word for she was still waking up as she headed towards the river mouth that she saw a bit ways from the fire and washed her face.
As she did so she went with her finger and brushed her teeth. Seeing as her teeth have been cleaned somewhat she went to search for food but found that she was already tired of fruit.
"I need meat," she mumbled to herself.
There were birds in the sky but they don't look like they nest near the shore anytime soon.
Katy's stomach growled and she was desperate for something to eat.
The sound of splashing came to mind as she neared the shore. Looking out she spotted something large and grey leaping about.
"A dolphin?" she asked
What is a dolphin? Icarus asked
"It is a creature native to Earth that lives in the ocean. It is admired for its intelligence and cunning along with other members of the cetacean race," Katy replied
She then projected images and memories of these creatures to Icarus so that way the Goa'uld could see them.
Intrigued the alien parasite looked through them.
At last the dolphin stopped splashing and disappeared into the ocean. Katy felt a deep sense of disappointment until something dark came out of the waves onto the sand.
Squeaking, clicking and whistling at opened its mouth in an eternally happy face.
By the heavens above! Icarus said surprised
The dolphin clicked and squeaked at them but nothing came from it. He continued to squeak but Katy had her head tilted. She was deeply confused as she stared at the dolphin trying to say something to her.
"Um either it's me or is it trying to say something?" Katy asked
I think it is but we can't produce the right sounds to communicate Icarus said
Getting frustrated the dolphin waited for a wave before going back into the ocean feeling slightly sunburned as he swam a ways before flipping it's tail above the water and made a coming motion.
"I think it wants us to follow it," Katy said to Icarus
I think we should Icarus said
Stepping into the water Katy was surprised that it was indeed wet as her clothes provided too much of a drag. Making a decision she began to strip of her clothing or what's left of it before following.
What are you doing fool? Icarus said
I am stripping these clothes provide too much drag Katy replied
But there is no protection for you from the cold Icarus said suddenly scared
They will be useless in the water Katy replied sharply as they swam out to follow the dolphin.
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Ecco was finally glad he managed to get the human to follow him though why it would strip its outer skin was something that had him intrigued; till he remembered that humans wear clothing to keep warm at night and cool during the day since they can't do it themselves. Figuring she took them off to keep her from being dragged by the current Ecco quickly swam up to the human and offered his dorsal fin.
The girl took a breath before grabbing his fin and letting him take her down into the depths.
As they swam out he noticed that the human has to frequently go up for air seeing as their lungs are not as well developed as a dolphin's. Lucky for Ecco he managed to adjust one of the air glyphs for her to breathe. He even adjusted one of endurance so she could last in the colder depths. Seeing as the girl was trying to go up for air again Ecco pushed her back down again and held the glyph in his mouth.
At first the human seemed to be struggling till he made her hold it and then when it vanished she suddenly stopped struggling as he gave her another the power of endurance. Becoming complacent again Ecco led her down into the depths of the ocean.
He knew where he has to go to speak to the Asterite and managed to stop a few times himself for the glyphs and give a couple to the human and through her the parasite.
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Katy and Icarus were awestruck by the dolphin's intelligence as he handed her the crystals whom once touched enabled someone like her to have the power to hold their breath longer and refill their lungs with air. Diving deeper Katy noted the water getting darker but she did not feel any colder.
She could not see very well being as their eyes are not adjusted to the world of the ocean. The held on as the dolphin dove deeper still stopping to allow them to touch the glyphs again and he himself. Before going further into the dark depths.
I think this is some sort of technology Icarus stated after the last time they touched the crystal noting the dolphin symbol inside of it.
I think you are right Katy replied as at last the dolphin led them in somewhere where Katy felt small as they saw the globes of light.
The dolphin led them further into the cave until at the end of the dimly lit tunnel was a huge double helix with orbs around them like a strand of DNA. It glowed slightly as they rotated slowly around the cave.
Holy shit! Katy thought
My thoughts exactly Icarus replied
The dolphin stood beside them as the thing lowered itself down.
"Welcome," a voice said and both Katy and Icarus swam back a ways shocked.
"Fear not my friends for I am not here to harm you," the voice continued
How are you speaking to us? Katy asked
"I can read your thoughts and understand what you are saying." The voice said as a bubble of air suddenly appeared and wrapped itself around Katy and Icarus.
Gasping for air Katy suddenly found herself able to breathe again. Poking the bubble she found that it will not break and it is solid.
"Where are we?" Katy asked
"You are on the planet Delphi on the other side of the known universe from where you are. In the Draco galaxy," was the reply.
"Wow," was all that Katy said
"I am known as the Asterite the guardian of time and space on this world. I was created by the race known as the ancients long ago as a means of guiding the Singers in the correct path," the Asterite said
"Singers?" Katy said
"You known them as cetaceans, dolphins, whales, porpoises they were brought here long ago by the Ancients and giving the environment of this planet forced them to evolve faster in the intelligence department. The glyphs that you used are part of that technology." He stated as he rotated faster for a bit.
"Um why are we here?" Katy asked
"You are here because you are the first humans we have seen in over a 10,000 years." The Asterite replied
Katy was awestruck at that statement, "So I am some kind of science experiment then?"
"No," was the reply
"No?" Katy asked
"You are our means to salvation for you see there is a race out there that has wiped out the humans from this world destroying our alliance with them and leaving us here stranded. We have evolved since then but we need your help to fight them off." The Asterite said
"How with all your technology surely you can do it yourself?" this time it was Icarus that spoke since he asked to take over.
"That is not possible for the foe we speak of has technology that advances past ours and has harvested from our world every five hundred years decimating our population each time," the Asterite replied
"Then how did you all survive?" Katy asked
"We hide in these caves and use stealth technology to hide us until they leave then replant everything that was destroyed." The Asterite replied
"So you are limited to what you can do trying to reinitiate life on your planet and trying to fight off this enemy with the few numbers you have," Icarus said this time
"Yes," the Asterite replied
"How is it we can help?" the Goa'uld was indeed curious
"We need to destroy them or at least drive them away from our world forever," the Asterite said
"And how am I or how are we going to do that?" Icarus asked
"You have access to the land and thus the human technology that incorporates it. Hopefully you are able to find some means to defend this planet," the Asterite said
"So you need us to find a way that these ancients used to defend themselves?" Icarus said.
"Yes," was the reply
"Well there is a problem there seeing as we can't understand the singers when they tried to speak with us as you can see with our grey companion here," Katy said sarcastically.
"That can be arranged," was the reply and then the bubble burst and they found themselves nearly drowning in water as a light enveloped over them and suddenly they found themselves dressed in strange clothes.
The clothes resembled a wetsuit like how divers use but surprisingly Katy found that she could breathe.
"You are now able to understand and speak in the language of the singers as well as your own," the Asterite said.
Turning to him Katy was surprised but such a statement.
"I also changed the chemistry of your body allowing you to be able to breathe the water like the hungry ones do and the Outcast. Our world is mostly covered in water with few land masses and cities being all islands since the Foe had destroyed our polar ice caps and flooded our continents," the Asterite replied
"So now will you help us?" it asks.
Katy then replied, "Like we have a choice."
TBC
