CHAPTER 15 AN ANCIENT MEMORY
The general had business to attend to so he sent John and Gina off for a walk around the city. John was exhausted and Gina held onto his arm, trying to support him a little, both mentally and physically.
"My head's in a strange place right now Gina. Part of me is here, and part of me is there, and there's another part that knows exactly what I have to do, and that scares the crap out of me. How can I know that? Where the hell does that genetic knowledge come from? Has it already happened? If this is doing me in, you're the calmest person I know... you look at me with those beautiful blue eyes that see everything, inside and outside and all I want to do is drown in them right now. Aaah hell Gina..."
She stopped in the street then, oblivious to traffic and people, noise and and the going's on of a city that had no idea what was currently taking place in it's future, in it's present. She wrapped her arms and around him, pulling herself tightly against him and it was with a sense of relief that he dropped his chin on top of her head, smelling her coconut and tropical fruit shampoo and let some of his worries, and all of his angst, for just a few moments... out.
"I know why the ancients chose you to come back John. You're the bravest person I know. Really. You stand here on the brink of doing something so amazing, and so incredible and you show no arrogance, just a humble philosophy that this is what you are meant to do. You have inside you the knowledge to keep your future, your present as it is supposed to be and with no regard for your own life, you do this task that has been given to you without really understanding why it falls on your shoulders. And I stand here in your arms and wish I could be so much more... with you... in your time."
The noise of the city continued around them, and they attracted curious glances from many people, some even felt a tiny sliver of unease as they walked past John. A tiny remnant of ancient gene that perhaps travelled through the bodies of some of these people, reacted to the situation that this traveller from the future had found himself in. As he stood there and let this time wrap itself around him, just as he allowed the woman in his arms to do the same, he reached out once more to make that connection with the portal, to make his direction that much clearer.
The blackness spiralled again... and this time he saw the device, the personal shield. He had been right. It was there all along and as his mind shot through that dark tunnel and the pictures bombarded him from all sides, he saw the device, saw it falling into the water and saw the astronaut take it. The process had been written fifty years in the future and the game would be played out fifty years in the past. He felt Gina tugging on his arm and forcibly pulled himself out of the mire and lightly kissed her to push away the demons that still hovered just over his shoulder. He caught the eye of one man who walked past him and felt the shudder of recognition, felt the moment when one gene recognised another and saw him falter, look quickly at John, then look away. John kept his eye on him, taking in his posture, way of walking and the angle of his head. That familiar flutter as recognition grew, then drifted away. Genetic memory at play again? Or something more. Paradox.
He pulled Gina down the street, something ancient driving him now. "Lets get out of here sweetheart. I need normal. I need to feel not like a man possessed. Show me your home, show me your island.." He looked down at her, pushing away the future to concentrate onthe past.
"Wanna go sightseeing John?" Her face held a devilish twinkle. "There's real magic here in Hawaii also and in this time, and I'll take you to see it. There's also someone I want you to meet, someone special to me - but we won't be able to tell her who you are. I'll telephone my father first, and tell him - enough! The rest of this day is for us..."
She found a couple of bicycles that they could use, and tossing them into the back of her boat they left the bustling city of Honolulu and crossed the water, to a another island near her own one. This one had paved trails and small settlements, however was not developed for the tourists yet as it would be in the future. They unloaded the bikes and laughing a little - it had afterall, been some time since John had ridden a bike, they slowly rode through the paved trails, amongst brilliant flowers, glossy green foliage and felt, always, the heat of the afternoon sun that fell sensually upon them. John paused at one point to remove his shirt, knotting it around the handle bars of the bike and her eyes darkened as she took in his sweat gleaming body with hard muscles and caught the amusement in his eyes when he caught her looking. Then knotting her own shirt high under her breastbone and watched as his own eyes drifted to her tanned midriff... and smiled. Their little game of sexual teasing had begun.
The heat became overbearing when at last she stopped at a cottage that literally was framed with the gem like colours of island flowers. It was stunning and the aromas from the tropical flowers made her senses sing. This was why she had chosen this place to live. She knocked on the door of the cottage and when it opened John felt a punch in the gut. The woman who stared out at him was tall with shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes. She had fair skin, still pale even living in a climate such as Hawaii and when she looked at him with those clear blue eyes, he knew her. He took her hand gently and listened as the introductions were made.
"John, this is my mentor - Dr Jennifer Carter - she is the one who encouraged me to get my physics degree, a brilliant scientist and an even more amazing woman. Aunt Jen - this is a friend, visiting from the mainland. Colonel John Sheppard."
Her keen eyes assessed him. "Airforce, young man? A pilot I imagine. You have the bearing of a pilot. My son, Jacob, is a lieutenant stationed in Florida. Hoping to get into the astronaut programme."
John froze in shock "Jacob Carter?"
"You know him Colonel?" Her eyes seemed to see too much and John felt himself pale. He was standing in front of Samantha Carter's grandmother. Paradox or genetic memory. Whose game was he playing now? His own,or that predestined one that drove him through this universe.
"I haven't had the pleasure m'am - but I've heard good things about him. If he wants to take a run at NASA, tell him to keep at it - I hear it's the place to be at the moment. All the action is going to be up there!" He pushed his gaze skyward, feeling just a little naughty and he saw something in her eyes that seemed to understand.
"I'm sure you're right Colonel." That blue eyes seemed to linger a while longer on him,then she smiled and turned to invite them into the cottage for refreshments. He grabbed Gina's arm just as they walked in.
"You called her Aunt Jen - please tell me that this is just a term of endearment..."
Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. "She's my father's sister John - why?"
"Aaah hell... I've just had sex with Samantha Carter's second cousin... that is, if I got those damn family ties right..."
"Who the hell is Samantha Carter?" Gina stared at him with puzzled eyes.
" Oh baby, that's a long story and one I shall enjoy filling you in on, just a little... but not too much. Most of it you'll have to discover for yourself, suffice to say, you have a family who will go on to do great things. So, many great things..."
She laughingly pulled on his hand. "You have to tell me.. don't leave me hanging..."
He bent and murmured into her ear. "I'll not leave you hanging babe, never fear. I always finish what I started..." Her giggle was just a little bit naughty and drew a knowing look from Aunt Jen as they followed her through to the small dining area. She motioned them through the back of the house to the shaded area outside where a small picnic table was set up and asked John to help her in the kitchen. She caught his eye and held it and felt something shift between them, and releasing Gina's hand , he followed her into the kitchen, leaving Gina to continue outside. She kept silent for a few moments, then turned those blue eyes on him, reminding him so much of Sam that his breath hitched and she smiled.
"I remind you of her, don't I?" He looked at her in shock.
"Who? Gina?"
"No John, Sam... you see Sam in me, don't you."
He grabbed the bench for support and took a deep breath. "Sam hasn't been born yet..."
"I know that John. I know what you know and a little bit more. You see John, I'm not just Jennifer Carter... we share something else... " she touched him then and an electrical current shot between them with alarming speed causing him to yelp in surprise.
"Jesus... sorry, m'am, but crap! What was that?"
"Our ancient gene connection. Do you know who I am John? I came from Atlantis 10,000 years in your past, here to earth to help seed a new colony of ancients. I am Callandra and I chose to move through the generations, helping each one reach their potential and ensure that the future follows the path that has been predestined. The time portal sent you back here to help that astronaut survive. If he didn't then there would be many repercussions down the line... the space programme would be postponed, Sam would not join NASA, would not help uncover the mystery of the stargate... do you see now? Do you understand now, why you are here to do what you do?"
" If you know all this ... why did you just not save him yourself?"
" There are parts John, roles and we all must play them. I cannot take your role, just as you cannot take mine. Your gene is strong, the strongest of my kind that I have seen after the dilution. It makes me proud to stand alongside you and know that our legacy has brought us to this point. Come John, my niece will be getting worried..."
He tugged gently on her arm. "Does she know any of this, Jen?"
" No, only what you have told her, that knowledge I have seen in her eyes. There is something else, but I cannot tell you this yet... soon. Come, let us go through to the back. And John? You made the right choice.. one night will never just be that... you knew that then, and you know that now."
He nodded, felt that overwhelming sense of relief. Some way, some how. It would be right.