Chapter 32

It felt as if the world was about to plummet asunder and then, just as quickly as it began to break apart, it was renewed.

Aja awoke to find herself lying face down in the ring transport. A strange eerie calm coming over her body.

It was over. Kebechet was gone.

She sat there for untold moments, overcome with grief, loss encapsulating every fiber of her being. This being, this invader of first her body, then her mind, had become so much a part of who she was that when she was gone, Aja felt as if some part of her was missing. She found the abscence of that other voice in her mind to be strange, almost alien. For the better part of ten years she had always been there, speaking with her to keep her sane, that without it she was fairly certain she would lose her mind.

But she didn't.

The insanity that had come as a result of Qetesh's experiments was gone. It was as if she were herself again. Not herself -- she corrected -- more than herself. For now she and Kebechet were blended together. Their minds now a singular being formed of their two seperate identities. She found herself suddenly aware of things that she knew she should have no knowledge of. Times, long passed, and events, quite awful, that there were no words to describe them. Genetic memories. Kebechet's genetic memories. Passed down to her from Qetesh, who in turn, recieved them from countless generations of Goa'uld who came before. It gave her great insight and a better understanding of the path that lay before her.

She knew what Morgan had asked of her was great, but in reality, she may be the only hope they had. The Orici, the child of her sister, Vala, was born with something evil inside of her -- knowledge. Like Qetesh, this knowledge opened her up to a great wealth of power -- which in the wrong hands could be dangerous. She had to learn to forget the darker nature of this knowledge if she had any hope to survive. Aja knew that this wouldn't be easy. That there would be obstacles standing in their way every step. The biggest of which was The Others. The ones who had knocked Anubis down a few pegs after his Ascension. But she was different. She was an advanced human with the genetic memory of the Goa'uld, not a Goa'uld. And unlike Anubis she would reach Ascension on her own without any aritifical means.

Aja understood that being a Hok'tar made her special. That now with Kebechet's genetic memory made it her powerful. Once Ascended, she would become a forced to be reckoned with. A being who could stand against The Others should they choose to interfere. That is why Morgan chose her to riase The Orici. She needed someone with the ability to protect the child from those who would see her as a threat. With Morgan's guidance The Orici would learn to supress her darker nature and in doing so become open to the insight needed to guide The Prophet to his greater destiny. It was a long shot -- and a difficult one -- but it was the only shot that they had.

Failure wasn't an option.

***

It was easier than Vala thought it would be.

Despite the noise that they had made, she was able to make her way off the ship with relative ease. Something she was almost certain was due to the little extraordinary life that was inside of her. Within an hour she was aboard a transport of missionaries headed to the village of Ver Umbra, where the Ori soliders were training and preparing for the coming invasion. As soon as it was clear, she snuck into the nearest woods, taking refuge in a mossy clearing about a mile or so out of the nearest campground. Exhausted, she lowered herself slowly to the soft ground, resting against a nearby tree.

You told me you would explain to me Mother.

"That I did."

Well?

"Its hard to explain," she sighed. "I can't say that I am the expert in all things Daniel, but there is one thing I know for certain. He would never hurt you."

If you do not known him well, then how can you claim he not capable?

"Its hard to explain, but the type of man that Daniel is -- would bring no harm to a child, especially his own. He is caring. Kind. Considerate. He had faith in me when no one else ever has. And most importantly, he got me to want to become a better person."

All of this and yet, you do not know him well.

"Exactly."

So, you're saying, that although you do not know Daniel well, that in the time that you have known him, he has had an effect on your life.

"A tremendous effect."

That brings me some ease.

"That is good to hear."

It also may explain a few things.

"Like what?"

That he is indeed The Prophet.

"You know you mentioned that before, but you didn't really get into detail about what that means."

Orion, the first of The Ori, descended to the mountain where he met The Great Beings. The Great Beings, seeing him worthy, infused him with their power and knowledge, and he ascended. He taught this knowledge to all who sought it. The Alterans, unable to embrace the path, rejected Origin, and so Orion left until the day came when all would be open to the ways of The Great Path. Before he left, he promised that when the day came he would return, and when that time came, all beings would embrace the ways of Origin. The First Doci and The Cadre, the first ten Priors, had said that Orion appeared before them and said that one day he would come again, a mortal. A Prophet. And that all living things would be united under the ways of Origin.

"Then how is The Prophet a threat to you?"

Daniel does not follow the Path of Origin. He follows a path laid down by the Alterans. A wicked perversion as set forth by The Unbelievers. The Ori forsaw this and so they set out to create a being of True Origin, who would take the place of the corrupted Prophet.

"The Orici. Well that certainly explains alot."

How so?

"If Daniel is this all powerful being that The Ori are trying to replace then why not do so with his own child."

The Ori's reasoning matters not.

"Why?"

We cannot both exist. In order for one to flourish, one must perish.

"One of you has to die?"

No, cease to exist. There is a difference. There can only be The Orici or The Prophet. Not both at the same time. Which is why The Prophet will try to destroy me. Father or not, if his own existence was at stake, I doubt it would matter.

"I still don't understand."

Two physical beings of such power existing in one time and place would create chaos. The very fabric of the universe would tear itself apart. Time itself would begin to bleed.

"So you're saying that either you exist or Daniel does."

And the time shall come when you will have to choose which one of us that will be.