Hello to everyone reading. Yes it has been many weeks, but finally I have the next update. I no longer have the amount of time I use to have to write, but I will continue. This episode has a more traditional SG element to it, and I hope you all enjoy reading it. Thanks...
SGU s04 e06
Ability
"Everett–Everett, can you hear me my love?" asked Te'arly softly.
Everett groaned, "Oh my head..." and lifted his hands to his head. "Where are we?" he looked around but nothing looked recognizable.
"You're on Valeya in a medical facility" said the familiar voice of Daniel Jackson. "You collapsed after revealing the planet–do you remember?"
Everett sat up and held his throbbing head. "Yeah...I remember." He squeezed Te'arly's hand and smiled at her, "I remember that I love you too."
Te'arly had a tear run down her cheek as she moved in and cuddled up to Everett. "I love you too..." she whispered to him.
A few minutes later Cameron Mitchell walked in. "How you feeling General–that was a hell of a show you put on for us... Did you like use the Force, or did that just come natural?"
Everett tried to laugh, but it made his head throb worse. A Valeyian nurse dressed in a traditional silver robe came stepped into the cubical he was in.
"Ah, General Young" she said smiling. "I see you're awake–let me give you something for your pain." She gently placed a small round, grey stone at his feet. "Now, please lift your right foot for me," she asked politely. Everett complied and elevated his right foot. She slid the stone under his heal and motioned him to rest his foot on it. Everett felt the cool stone under his heal and within seconds, his pain was gone.
As the others watch on wondering, Everett exclaimed, "Wow! The pain is gone!"
The nurse said, "It is a grounding stone–it brings one's sprit back to ground after uncontrolled energy events. You will need to allow a few minutes for the pain to be completely gone." She looked at the faces of everyone there. "Don't worry Everett, you are surrounded by those that love you–your energy levels will return quickly." The nurse waived her hand across the holoscreen above his bed head, which gave a soft beep for confirmation of his updated record, before she left.
Cameron asked, "How does the stone feel?" pointing to the device.
"Cold–but not in an icy way, it's rather soothing though my whole body–very strange really." Everett now chuckled and smiled.
Daniel had to ask something, "You know, I don't get it... Why didn't these people ascend? I mean, they have the means–why not?"
"Maybe I can answer that Dr Jackson." Valhalla said as she entered the small cubical area. "Hello Everett, are you feeling better?" She leant over and kissed him motherly on the cheek, then turned to Te'arly and gave her the same with a hug. "It's wonderful to see the two of you again." She turned to Daniel, "Now–you wanted to know why we chose not to ascend my love?"
Valhalla spoke to everyone the same way. In her mind, Humans were still her children, even as adults. She was exceedingly intelligent, beautiful, and unconditionally loving to all sentient beings–respect was never asked, but everyone around her gave it without question. It was an honour to be in her presence–even the Valeyians treated this woman with reverence.
Back on Destiny, the crew functioned smoothly without their General. Any serious decision making was discussed between Dr Rush, Eli, Amanda, and Camille with input from Matt and Ronald. It had now been a week since Everett and Te'arly had been on Valeya. Years of mistrust and fighting between the Yulonia and Ma'gers were quickly coming to a close, with the sharing of some new technology. They had learned quickly that each planet had more than enough naquadah and naquadria reserves, for centuries to come.
The Armstrong would remain in a neutral zone between the two planets for several weeks, with Col Telford overseeing the implementation of the new treaties. Like many Earth conflicts, he was well aware of the bad blood between them–and the timeframe change would take. Another ship would soon arrive to assist, allowing the Armstrong to continue with its mission. On Telford's orders, Destiny soon resumed her original course.
Dr Rush had a word for Franklin, as he said with a smile, "Next time, wake someone up before you decide to change course!" Franklin just laughed and nodded...
Ginn rolled over onto Eli. He felt the bulge of their baby push into his back–the next thing they remembered was falling out of bed as Destiny lurched sideways, creaking a groaning. Warnings and alarms rang out through the ship, and after checking Ginn was ok, Eli made haste for the bridge. Nick, Chloe, and Amanda were already there trying to sort out what had happened. As they looked out the bridge windows, they saw nothing but what looked like snow.
Eli entered the bridge and stopped dead, saying, "What the fuck is that?" more of a statement than a question.
Nick was busy on the CI console and said, "That's what we're trying to find out lad," he paused for a moment to look out the window, "I have no idea–nothing has registered on the sensors" he said with some confusion.
Eli called out. "Destiny, what did we hit, what's out there?"
No answer.
Eli asked again, "Destiny, its Eli–we just crashed into something, please acknowledge?"
Still, Destiny didn't answer.
Nick asked, "Amanda, Chloe?" as Matt and Ronald entered the bridge.
Amanda shook her head, "Nothing, it's like she's not there. I can't feel her anymore!" she said extremely worried.
Chloe's answer was the same, "I can't either, she's gone..." shaking her head as she spoke.
Eli started taping on the CI screen, still nothing. "It's like the ship is dead, but life support systems are within normal range. What the f...?" he said unconsciously as they watched Dr Rush's coffee cup suddenly levitate, rising to head height before falling and smashing on the bridge floor.
There was silence on the bridge for a moment, before Matt broke the tension with an order. "Ok, we do it by the numbers. Rush, what have you got?" he barked.
Nick answered, "The sensors are off line, we've dropped from FTL without warning, but the ship still seems to be functioning."
Matt moved around the room. "Chloe, what's our fight status?" he asked next.
Chloe check her CI which didn't seem to respond as normal. "Um, we appear to be at a stop. I have no control over the engines, sublight or FTL."
Amanda was next, "Navigation is screwed, and I can't make heads or tails of it. I don't even know if we're in the same galaxy..."
Matt looked to Eli just as his radio interrupted, "Captain, T.J on the observation deck–you all need to see this, now!" he could sense the fear in her voice.
On the bridge everyone looked at each other.
Amanda said, "Go, I'll stay here and keep working on Destiny..."
They hurried out of the bridge to the observation deck. Running into the room, they were astounded at what lay outside the windows.
Rush spoke slowly, "How did this happen?" with both great astonishment and confusion in his voice.
Chloe squeezed Matt's hand in fear, but was too afraid to speak.
Matt said the words for her. "This can't be real. Rush, what the fuck is going on here?"
Nick just shook his head in awe of the sight saying, "I don't know how or why, but that appears to be the summit of Mount Everest over there. We seem to have crashed on Earth, high up in the Himalayas. How is this possible?" Nick was as confused as the rest of them–nothing made any sense.
Matt stared at Rush saying, "If we are on Earth, we should be able to get out a signal and call someone."
Nick nodded. "I agree, but this could be an illusion or collective dream. We need to stay inside the ship in case we're still in space, and we also don't know what time this is. My own instincts tell me this can't be real, I don't trust it." Nick was still trying to make sense of anything around him.
Amanda called on the com. "Hey guys, I've managed to get some sensors working, both inside and outside the ship. You're not going to like it but..."
Nick got short with her, "Just tell us what you've found!"
Amanda knew he was stressed and let it go. "We're picking up an unusual energy signature all around the ship–I've never seen anything like this before," Amanda went quiet for a moment.
Matt asked more politely, "Is that it Amanda?"
Amanda had even stranger news to deliver. "No... We are the only living beings aboard. Just me and the six of you, I can't get readings for anyone else..."she sounded terrified.
Eli turned on the spot, "Ginn!" he took off, with Matt catching him.
"Hold it Eli–I'm not having anyone run around the ship alone, Greer will go with you. Sergeant, keep in constant contact, every thirty seconds to a minute." They left the observation deck, heading for Eli and Ginn's quarters...
Ginn rolled over in bed and put her hand on Eli's chest. "I love you baby," she said. Eli didn't move or respond, so Ginn gave him a gentle shake. "Honey, I said I love you," she shook him more forcefully this time. Still Eli didn't respond, as Ginn began to shout. "Eli! Eli! Wake up!" panic started to set in.
Lady Destiny appeared as a hologram to her saying, "Ginn, he is unconscious–and not the only one. I believe we have encountered an entity of some kind, more like collided," Destiny's hologram flickered, "I have lost control of all navigation and sensors, also my engines are off line. I need your help Ginn. I promise you, Eli is safe, but I can't connect to his neuro link at this time."
Ginn took her eyes off Eli to look at Destiny's hologram, "Who else?" she asked.
Destiny told her: "Matt, Ronald, Chloe, Amanda, Tamara, Nick and of course, Eli. They all appear to be in a state of hyper-consciousness, like a collective dream. I can no longer feel them, and I believe they would be the same. It is my assumption that whatever the entity is, it's controlling part of my neuro connection processes, and some other systems..."
Ginn put her hand on Eli's unconscious body, and gave him a small kiss on the forehead. "I'll be back soon baby, I love you," she struggled to hold back the tears. "Ok Destiny, what do you need me to do?" Ginn's facial expression became completely focused on finding answers.
As a hologram of Lady Destiny the ship became very human indeed, showing all the normal emotions any person would. The crew would forget they were talking to a computer, and treated Destiny's self hologram with the same respect and kindness everyone deserved.
She spoke softly to Ginn. "Please meet with Dr Franklin and Dr Brody on the bridge, they are waiting for you," and with that the hologram vanished, and Ginn took off.
As Ginn entered the bridge, she nearly cut her foot on a shard of broken crockery from Dr Rush's coffee cup. Franklin and Brody were trying to access Destiny's systems, with Franklin under the forward CI controls examining the crystals and circuits.
"Adam," called Franklin, "We need at least six new crystals, four are fried, two more I'm not sure about..." his muffled voice floated out from within the CI's hidden workings.
Ginn answered before Adam, "Do you want me to get them?" she asked.
Franklin backed his head out from under the console. "Ginn?" he asked, "How's Eli–we know he's trapped too..."
Ginn tried desperately hard to hold back her feelings. "Yes, he is. Destiny asked me to help–do you want me to get the spare crystals?" she stayed focused on fixing whatever was wrong, but they could feel her concern.
Adam put his hand on Ginn's shoulder saying empathetically, "We'll get him back Ginn, we'll get this mess sorted out," he watched as she nodded silently before continuing, "You stay and help Franklin–we need you here Ginn..."
Brody left the bridge as Sergeant Wallace arrived, saying, "Damn, this is some weird shit right now. Dr Brody, my man outside will give you an escort. We have put the ship in lockdown for now, with the other affected crew resting in the infirmary." He turned to Ginn, "They have gone to get Eli too, Ginn. We want anyone affected together in the one place. I'm sorry Ginn..."
Ginn forced a smile, "No Sergeant, it's ok, I understand. Thank you for telling me..."
Dr Franklin now sat in Kirks chair checking over more systems on the CI screen. "This is what we know Ginn. I don't believe we actually collided, more like being plucked out of FTL in a catches mitt. Adam was with me in the observation deck just after shift change when this happened, but we both came too some ten minutes after the event. From what we could see, the whole ship is trapped in some kind of amber coloured solution, like thick honey. There doesn't appear to be any major damage, just some fused out crystals–Destiny seems to be intact, but some of her thought processes are compromised," he continued searching Destiny's system circuits on the CI.
Ginn was on the CI to the left of Franklin, and replied, "So you believe this thing is an entity of some kind, and has taken control of the ship?"
Franklin stopped and looked up at the amber glow outside the bridge window, then turned to Ginn correcting her. "Not the ship, just parts of Destiny's collective consciousness–the neuro connectivity she uses to communicate with humans. I think..." he paused contemplating his next words, "I believe it just wants to find out more about us, you know, who and what we are..."
Ginn thought for a moment looking at Franklin and back to Sgt Wallace, then spoke her mind. "If it has the power to stop us in FTL, then it could just have easily destroyed us too..."
Wallace nodded agreeing with Ginn, before saying, "If so, can we communicate with it?"
Dr Brody returned with his escort and the spare crystals, asking, "What did I miss?"
Franklin ignored him, instead staring at Ginn, "Are you think what I'm thinking?"
Ginn's sprits picked up as she answered, "Interface chair! We get inside Destiny and communicate!"
Chloe put her arms around Matt as they sat in the observation deck, deciding the best way to proceed. "I'm getting cold..." she said.
Nick took timeout to sense the temperature. "Chloe is right, the ship is cooling down..." he took a deep breath, "But the air is still fresh...does anyone else feel somewhat lighter?" Nick suddenly jumped up and nearly hit the roof of the observation deck. "I guess artificial gravity is reducing too."
Eli's eyes widened, "So we're still in space! If we were on Earth, gravity would be normal. Destiny's normal artificial gravity is set to near Earth at 9.80m/s²," he was now excited.
Nick calmed him down, "Eli, don't get to excited yet, we still don't know why or where we are. Ok, at least this gives the impression what we see out there isn't real, but we are no closer to whatever is out there..."
Matt spun on the spot, nearly knocking over Ronald in his haste, "What the fuck?" he said. "You and Eli just went out the door looking for Ginn..." Matt stared at both Sgt Greer and Eli who looked back dumbfounded.
Ron asked confused, "What are you talking about? We've been here all along."
Tamara joined in. "No, I heard Eli call out Ginn, and Captain Scott stopped him from running out. It was just after Amanda told us we're the only ones onboard."
Nick decided to ask Amanda after more blank stares from Eli and Greer. He touched the com panel, "Amanda, how's it going up there, any progress?"
No answer. Now Matt and Chloe looked at Dr Rush confused, "Dr Rush," said Matt, "Amanda isn't here...it's just us..."
On a bed in the infirmary Amanda sat bolt upright suddenly, causing Camille to nearly have a heart attack from fright. Several medics ran over to her, but she appeared to be in a trancelike state, completely unresponsive...
A bright flash obscured the bridge as Amanda shielded her eyes out of reflex. When she opened them, Amanda was sitting in and connected to Destiny's interface chair.
An unfamiliar voice said to her, "Hello Dr Amanda Perry, can you tell me more about your species, and the one you refer to as Destiny?"
Amanda found herself suddenly looking at Nick, but the voice was all wrong. He sounded like a three way harmony, similar to a Go'uld. She looked around and realised she was sitting back in her wheel chair–Amanda started to choke and gasp. Next thing she knew, she was sitting on the observation deck with Nick and his raspy strange voice.
Fake Nick said, "I'm sorry that memory was uncomfortable for you, I believe this is more suitable."
Amanda nodded then asked, "Who are you, I know you're not Dr Rush?"
He answered, "We do not have a language, and therefore I do not have a depiction of my species. Can you tell me more about where you are from?"
Although Amanda was scared, she sensed the entity didn't want to harm them and realised it mainly wanted to learn more, so she answered honestly. "We come from a planet called Earth, in a Galaxy called the Milky Way." A map of the universe appeared like a hologram before her, as the entity quickly located the Milky Way and Earth, showing a picture taken from space.
"Is this the planet you refer too?" he asked.
Amanda was quiet astonished at the speed with which it found her world and asked, "Have you been there before?"
Fake Nick smiled. "Yes, in the beginning when your solar system was created. We knew it would form into a life bearing planet, so I have...visited...I think you say, many times since. We observe all that happens in this universe, and others."
Mandy was now shocked. She had just been given conformation of one of mankind's most provocative questions–the existence of multiple universes. "The other universes, are they the same as this one?" Amanda wanted to learn just as much too.
He laughed, "I see the scientist in you Amanda. I will only tell you this much–your people are assuming the correct theories, and will eventually find them. They are not a replication of each other, so the rest you will learn." He paused for a moment before asking, "I want to know about love. Your species has an unusual connection with each other, please explain it to me."
The hologram quickly changed to a personal scene of Amanda making love with Nick, taken from Nick's point of view. As fast as the entity brought up the image, it was removed after sensing Amanda's immediate discomfort. She tried to compose herself without saying why, but fake Nick wanted to know.
"Why does this make you feel anger? Is it not love?" he asked.
Amanda shook her head, "It's not that, this looks like Nick's personal memory and that is private. I understand that you wish to learn about us, but this is confronting and personal to me and him. Love is more than just an act of intimacy– it's about being there for someone regardless of their situation."
The entity still had a blank look on Nick's face. "But your world has had much turmoil and war. I find it hard to understand how you can show such intimacy and nurturing to each other, yet still you cause violence and suffering. How can this be when you have an understanding of compassion?" Although childlike in his question, the entity clearly understood it would take some explaining from Amanda.
She sighed deeply in this virtual world she found herself in, and attempted to answer as best she could. "Well, yes you are right. We have a past of violence and war, but also of great blessings and advancement. The one gift of humanity is our free will to choose, but some take advantage of this to suppress others for their own purpose…" as Amanda said the words, they both heard a voice call out to them.
"Eli, Amanda, Nick!" called Ginn, as she walked aimlessly around Destiny. She suddenly found herself face to face with Nick and Amanda, in the lounge of the observation deck. "Hey, are you ok?" she embraced Amanda, then Nick. "I'm in the interface chair, and I know what has happened…"
Mandy put up her hands to stop Ginn, "Ginn, the entity is here…" she said calmly, and pointed to Nick.
He looked at her curiously before saying, "Hello Ginn, your mating partner Eli Wallace is fine. He and the others are safe. Amanda Perry is teaching me about your species. Tell me why you showed affection by embracing this image of "Nick", when you clearly want to be with Eli?" he asked.
Ginn was caught off guard and quickly looked at Amanda with a questioning glance, "What?"
Amanda nodded, "Just tell him why, and how we greet those we care about..." she said.
Ginn looked back at a smiling "Nick". "Um, well I am good friends with both Dr Rush and Amanda, and I care about them as if they were my own family. What I share with Eli is different to how I feel about them, and others." She realised the entity was just wanting to learn about emotions.
Fake Nick seemed to understand, but still wanted more. "So this emotion called love, does it have differences for your species that spread to other worlds? You are not from Earth, yet you are having offspring with Eli who is," he said.
Ginn smiled at the comment 'offspring with Eli', having never thought of their different worlds. "Apart from some very minor things, our genetic makeup is the same. I am as human as Eli or Amanda, and so I have the same emotional responses that they have."
He turned his attention back to Amanda. "Amanda, would you embrace me the way you do for Nicholas, and show me the same sensations? Before Ginn realised I wasn't Nicholas, I could sense her relief and warmth knowing he was well."
Amanda became uncomfortable again. "I understand you want to learn and feel, but you are not my Nick. You may be an image of him, but you are not him! It would be a betrayal of my trust with him to do that, I hope you understand" she said somewhat worried about his response.
Fake Nick looked her over and asked the same thing. "I can sense your hesitation Amanda, but this would greatly increase my understanding of your species. We do not feel "love" between our species, nor do we mate. Our reproductive cycle is billions of your Earth in between, as we are what your data banks refer to as simultaneous hermaphrodites, capable of self reproduction. Our offspring is limited to one, at the end of our life cycle, which for me is near."
Ginn put her hand affectionately on his shoulder, and said with genuine compassion, "I am sorry to hear that. Our lives are but an instant of time compared to yours, you must have collected an immense amount of knowledge about this universe in that time..." Part of her wanted to know more of the entity's journeys.
Amanda took a deep sigh and smiled at him. "Ok, but just this once, as long as you promise my Nick won't know it happened..." She stepped forward and lovingly embraced him, opening her heart to this ancient creature of the universe. Her lips met his, and she kissed him passionately without fear, and allowed him to feel her love. Amanda broke away and hugged him, and with a whisper she said, "Better to have loved and lost, than never at all. That is something we say on our home world."
Fake Nick held her hand as she stepped back. "Now I understand... Thank you for the lesson, Amanda. This experience will be passed on to the next generation, who will keep watch over your world. Your simple gesture of embrace has shown me why your race is worth saving, but now I must go."
Amanda quickly looked up and asked, "Please, is there any way you could share some of your knowledge with us?"
He put his hand on her shoulder. "I already have..." Amanda felt a sensation from Destiny as she began to awaken. "One more thing Amanda, please tell Tamara her baby is safe and will one day return to her. She will understand...Goodbye."
Ginn's eyes fluttered open as Franklin disconnected her from the interface chair. "Ginn, the ship is back online, you alright...What happened in there?" Before she could answer there was a blur of FTL as Destiny resumed her course.
Ginn collected her thoughts and looked at Franklin with a smile. "Yeah, it's ok where going to be fine..."
Eli and the others woke up with what felt like a bad hangover in the infirmary.
Greer made the first comment. "Oh God, did anyone get the licence plate of that truck?" as he held his throbbing head.
Eli looked back at him saying, "Hey, not so loud! My head is throbbing too..."
A voice came over the com. "Attention everyone, Dr Brody here, we have resumed course as normal and all systems are online...hope you guys down there had a nice nap..."
Sgt Greer just grunted at him. "Wait till I see him... I'll give him a nice nap!" Eli tried to laugh, but it hurt.
Ginn came through the door several minutes later and walked straight up to Eli, and planted a kiss on him. "I love you baby, but don't ever scare me like that again!" he hugged her back. She looked over to Amanda who was now sitting up. Mandy gave her a look of "don't say anything" as she put her arms around the real Nick she loved.
Amanda locked eyes with T.J for a moment, enough to get her attention. Without a word T.J instinctively knew something was up. Nick excused himself to head for the bridge, and T.J came over. "Can I see you in private sometime please Tamara, it isn't urgent..."
T.J could sense something and said, "No, now is fine. Come to my quarters."
They met at Tamara's quarters a short time later. "What is it Amanda, I can feel something..." asked T.J.
Amanda tried to put the words together without causing T.J too much anguish. "The entity that took control of the ship–it had a message for you. It said 'Tell Tamara her baby is safe, and will return to her someday,' he said you would understand what that means."
Tamara's tears welled up in her eyes as she suddenly slipped down onto a chair, putting her hands each side of her face, "Carmen is alive? Where, how, who..." she became frantic.
Amanda grabbed onto her, "T.J! I don't know–I don't know...I only know what he told us, it is an entity of unimaginable age and wisdom. We don't even know what it really was, only why it stopped us dead in FTL fight. I don't have any more information for you...I'm sorry." Amanda took T.J into her arms and comforted her.
T.J gathered herself and calmed down. "Amanda, it must have been something to do with where you were. The aliens sent Cain and the others back only to die hours later–I spoke to him before he did, and there was no baby...so it can't be true. You must have heard wrong. I think Destiny was trying to help me get through it with less pain, and put the memories in my head."
Amanda thought better of arguing such a difficult suggestion with T.J, and played it down. "You're probably right Tamara, we were inside Destiny's memories I believe..." she let it go and apologised. "I'm sorry T.J, truly sorry..."
T.J sat back down and looked at Amanda. After a moment she said, "What if you're right?"
Amanda weighed up the best answer. She could feel Destiny telling her that what was said was correct, and one day they may know for sure. But for now she simply said, "Then only time will tell..."
In another part of the universe, a man in chains lay back on his hard bed and sighed saying to himself, this was a really dumb idea Castell, what were you thinking? Castell had never looked his age of twelve hundred years, but he sure felt like it now. He looked to the man in the adjoining cell, who also had started to become a shadow of his former self.
Prior Genesis walked to the cell door and turned to his guards, "Leave us!"
He opened the door with his mind and stepped in, standing in front of a laying Castell. "So Uncle Castell, do you require anything?"
He forced a smile saying, "Warm bed would be nice, and you to die..."
Genesis gave a fake chuckle. "You always were the joker Uncle, but if I were to give you something, what would you give me?"
Castell was a sucker for punishment. "A headache..." it was a bad choice of words.
In the next instant he felt as though his body was put in a compacter, as the weight of the Ori power again beared down on him. Instead of fighting it he gave in, and found the Ori quickly released him again. In their slight confusion not expecting him to give in so quickly, they missed his real intention. The door of the next cell unlocked, but remained shut with the man in the cell remaining silent.
Genesis smiled with evil intent saying, "I'll come back when you have given up some more, Uncle Castell!" and laughed as he slammed the door shut, and left with his guards.
Once again Castell found himself alone with his thoughts...his wife and daughter. He had to make it through this for them too. Looking again at the man sitting silently on the bench in the next cell, he gestured with his eyes to the now unlocked door.
The man asked, "What did you just give me?"
Finally Castell decided to speak to him. "Some power to fight and an open door to assist."
The man sat there and asked, "What makes you think I would help your sorry ass?
Castell smiled. "Because neither of us can escape by ourselves, but together we stand a chance. Besides, you're good at stealing ships for your own purpose..."
The man stood and walked to Castell's side of the divided cell, saying with a tough raspy voice, "And what would you know about me and that?"
Castell sat up on the bed and answered him with a shock. "How far did you think you would get after you jumped through the gate...obviously not far enough to reach your modified ship and escape the Ori? Oh, by the way, Te'arly's doing well too after you tried to kill her. I'm afraid love is far stronger than hate, General Decca Traise..."