Ace In The Hole
Chapter 22
Evan had no choice but to let out a beaming warm smile the instant he stepped through the wormhole, Melina laughed out loud has he came bounding down the steps from the gate leaving the rest of his team behind though they too were also smiling at his obvious excitement.
"Oh my god... she's beautiful" His eyes darting back and forth between Melina's warm face and the small new born child held gently in her arms.
"Tamar was sure you would wish to meet the newest member of our family" The young raven haired women smiled at him.
"Hello little one... has she got a name yet?" Evan asks.
"Eva... Tamar thought it only appropriate after it was because of you and your team that she is here" Melina blushs at seeing Evan blush slightly worried that he might have somehow been offended.
"I'm honoured..." Evan replies with warm honest sincerity, the young women smiles before looking back at the rest of his team.
"Is Dr Parrish not with you today?" she asks suddenly registering his absence.
"No... he has been reassigned to other duties back on our home world... I'm sure he will be back once they have finished their work"
Melina smiles and nods accepting Evans explanation "Any particular reason you wanted to see him?"
"Not me... but Zalus and Shala were kind of hoping that on your return Dr Simson would be leaving" She offers with a weary sigh.
"Oh... I kinda thought that he might be ruffling a few feathers in the village" Evan grins seeing Melina roll her eyes "That bad?"
"Lets just say... its not good" she grins back before nodding to the rest of the team "Hello Jake... Tim..." her gaze lands on Alex and she smiles warmly at the young new comer.
"Melina this is Lt Alex Weir... Lieutenant this is Melina and her beautiful daughter Eva" Alex smiles and nods an hello as his two team mates move forward.
"Oh she is gonna break a few guys hearts when she's older" Jake grins.
"She's a little cracker Mel... I bet Tamar is over the moon" Tim smiles before putting his little finger into the small child's grasping hand.
"And she's a little strong one just like her mom"
"She complains like her father though when she is hungry so I suggest we get back to the village" Melina chuckles heading off down the well worn path towards her village.
As Evan and Melina walk on ahead the rest of the team fall back slightly allowing Alex chance to catch up on a few details.
"This was one of the first planets we came to in the Pegasus galaxy... our team that is... second year of the expedition" Tim offers Alex knowing he's dying to ask.
"Wait... you mean this is Sarisia?"
"Yeh didn't you know?" Jake asks with a slight frown.
"I knew we were going on a simple follow up mission and it was low risk... I didn't realise it was Sarisia though" Alex grins looking around carefully.
"What's up... we've been here dozens of times Lexy its fairly safe place... well as safe as a world can be in Pegasus that is" Tim says noting Alex's questioning looks
"They have moved the gate" Alex says quietly.
"What?" Jake asks looking confused
"The gate used to be by the shore of a large lake" Alex shrugs.
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Because I have been here before" Alex grins.
The walk to the village was fairly short and many of the villagers smiled warmly offering pleasant and sincere greetings as they passed by, The group finally entered the largest building in the village and immediately raised voices could be heard.
"That is just not good enough!"
"Doctor I am sure if we..."
"No..." A slightly overweight scientist obviously from Earth was bickering with a young slim man of no more than 25 year old whilst a still younger women also from the village was clearly fuming in the midst of a raging temper standing beside him.
"She says sorry or I am gone!"
"I will not apologise... it is you that should say sorry!"
"What is going on!" Evan barks gaining their attention instantly.
"Colonel Lorne this young savage hit me!"
"OK... Shala... why did you hit Dr Simson?" Evan could not hid his obvious amusement... he could feel the corner of his lips start to rise much to the annoyance of the pompous botanist stood a few feet away.
"This is not funny! Colonel I will be speaking to Mr Woolsey when I get back to the city!" The doctor storms off slamming the door on his way out leaving everyone in the room laughing.
"I am sorry Colonel but the man is impossible... have you not brought Dr Parrish with you?" Shala asks with her eyes almost pleading.
"Afraid not... but I will try to get Simson pulled back to the city I am sure there is someone else that could be sent to help" Evan grins "Or we could send Simson back once he has had a refresher in self defence"
"I hit him once" Shala protests shrugging her shoulders half heartedly.
"He has been continually winding her up all week Evan... she snapped" Zalus adds breaking his silence smiling at his wife as she finally sighs and calms down. The door finally opens once more and Tamar walks in nodding warmly to the visitors but not stopping until he kisses his wife then daughter.
"My friends... I am glad you have returned to Sarisia it has been too long" Tamar grins then flings his huge arms around Evan in a bear hug lifting the considerably shorter officer off the floor.
"Can't breath Tamar..." Evan chuckles as the rest of the assembled group laugh loudly, the 6ft6 dark haired giant of a man finally puts Evan down but not before he ruffles his hair playfully.
"We are just glad to see that the rest of our family is safe" Tamar smiles finally moving back to his wife and daughter.
"Family?" Alex asks with a smile.
"Tamar and Melina... well I guess the whole village in fact kinda adopted us" Coughlin says quietly.
"Sorry Tamar this is Lieutenant Weir" Tamar reaches out and shakes his hand warmly "We managed to stop a Wraith attack on the village about five years ago it really was not as big a deal as he makes it sound" Lorne says blushing slightly.
"You held off an entire squad of Wraith whilst the village evacuated to the Lashara Caves not a single person was lost that day because of your deeds we all owe you our lives" Tamar says with honest sincerity.
"Stop it your making me blush!" Jake says grinning but obviously trying to deflect the praise.
"So what brings you to Sarisia?"
An hour later Melina and Shela are busily cleaning away the remains of the meal as Tamar, Zalus, Lorne and his team-mates are sitting deep in discussion.
"Evan... I am afraid that might not be possible even with the extra help... we just do not have the space... the fields nearby are already at full capacity" Tamar grimaces seeing his friends disappointment.
"I had to ask" Evan sighs "Maybe if we gave you more man power?"
"Its not a question of manpower Evan... We understand that you have many more mouths to feed in the city... the travellers are good people... it is only right you take them in in their hour of need but the amount of land that can be farmed safely is limited... you understand that?" Zalus adds.
"Of course... you know that I would never wish to put any of you in danger" Evan implores.
"We know... still I wish there was some way we could help" Tamar sighs as his wife sits down snuggling into his lap yawning.
"Sorry... Eva woke me early this morning" Melina sighs.
"Sorry Sir... I don't mean to be rude... but what do you mean by putting your safety at risk?" Alex asks the large burly farmer.
"The Lashara Caves have protected our people for centuries we only farm the area around the cave system for protection from the Wraith" Tamar says.
"The cave system runs under this whole area for miles... all the way to the mountains in the east... its like a natural labyrinth... perfect hiding place from the Wraith" Evan sighs nodding to Tamar.
"There are numerous entrances including two near this village that is how we evade capture we farm only near an escape route" Tamar adds.
"Your people discovered the caves when the gate was moved to lake Lashara?" Alex asks gently, Tamar instantly stiffens and suddenly Melina is alert at hearing the question.
"How did you?"
"This was a world that belonged to the Ancestors was it not?" Alex asks slowly trying not to rattle them to much.
"How could you know that?" Melina looks to the rest of Alex's team-mates and is even more confused on seeing that they too are a little surprised at the lieutenant's questions. "The Ancestors lived far to the north across the Iderian sea... no one has been there since the great war... The gate was moved here by the Ancestors during their last battle with the Wraith... no one except my people has ever known of their presence on this world"
"Sarisia was... well is a bountiful world is it not?" Alex smiles
"Yes... the twin suns provide almost continual sunshine the climate is moderate... we have gentle but defined seasons and rainfall is regular" Tamar states proud of his world.
"Perfect for farming?" Alex adds.
"Of course... the land is fertile and the soil is enriched and capable of growing many different crops... but that still does not answer how you could know these things?" Tamar says raising an eyebrow.
"That's not really what's important... the thing is you are limited by your need for security are you not?" Alex says turning to Evan slightly "Sarisia was a very important world for the ancients for exactly the same reasons that Tamar has just explained" Alex rolls his eyes at Lorne's obvious confusion "The Ancients like the Asgard could synthesize food... we know that starvation is not going to be a problem... but synthesized food is still lacking no matter how hard you try it always feels and tastes like its... well lacking!"
"They also farmed here then... the Ancients that is?" Evan says finally understanding.
"Slight understatement... Sarisia was the main producer of food for the Ancients in the galaxy... the northern continent was even more bountiful than the southern... its rich in minerals one in particular that is" Alex grins.
"Naquadah!" Lorne guesses "We know its here but its distributed evenly in the top soil enriching it... how concentrated is it in the north we never bothered checking it... we just assumed that the distribution pattern would be planet wide and not worth mining" Evan states.
"Its almost twice the concentration making the land there even more fertile than is found here... but its not worth mining as there are no actual veins as you would normally find with Naquadah" Alex states letting the others take it all in.
"Why didn't you tell us that there are Ancient ruins to the north?" Jake asks suddenly curious... both Tamar and Melina look at him confused before nodding in sudden realisation.
"Because there are no ruins" They both say in unison.
"But if the Ancients lived in a city to the north then surely there has to be some ruins there" Tim adds
"Ahem!" Alex suddenly coughs and stands to stretch his legs grinning, before walking slowly around them towards the door "Like I said guys... I've been here before"
Lorne catches on immediately and chuckles as both Jake and Tim's eyes suddenly widen catching on to his meaning.
"I don't get it..." Tamar adds even more confused.
"You will one day... I promise" Tamar shrugs...then kisses his wife on her head gently before grinning at Lorne.
"He's not an Ancient" Evan grins.
"Fine... I will not deny I am curious to how he knows what he knows but I know you keep your word Evan... I can wait to find out the truth" Tamar grins back.
"You know this was just meant to be a quick social visit... catch up with friends...good meal... see if we can figure if its possible to increase crop production... go home" Evan says walking up to Alex who is now standing in the warm sunshine watching villagers working in the nearby fields.
"If Lantia was home... then Sarisia was that special place... the one you go to just to... relax... think... dream... enjoy life and its wonders" Alex sighs wistfully lost in his memories for the briefest of moments.
"They didn't ship the food to the city did they" Evan says finally realising.
"No... the cities came to the food... why have a small transport running back and forth when you can just load the lot in one go"
"Did they ever bother doing things small" Evan grins.
"No not really..." Alex smiles but the smile is short lived and Lorne can't miss the sadness in his eyes.
"What was it like here back then?"
"It was much like it is today little mechanization very much hands on a complete back to basics" Alex smiles fondly remembering better times.
"The humans working the land?"
"No... the humans owned and ran the farms day to day but it was the Ancients that did most of the hands on hard labouring jobs" Alex notices Evans look of confusion "Its happening on Earth even now I believe... people it seems feel a need to re-connect with their routes... escape modern life and recapture a more simple existance"
"Getting their hands dirty... I guess I could understand that" Evan smiles finally realising.
"The Ancients were surrounded day to day with wondrous technology... their needs met and every whim catered for... but still many wanted nothing more than to feel a warm summer breeze on their face and bare solid Earth beneath their feet" Alex smiles taking a deep breathe "Working the land getting back to basics was just as important as the next big discovery or advancement... many saw it as a spiritual endeavour... the loss of Sarisia was the turning point" Alex's smile falters once more and a haunted look fills his eyes.
"What happened?" Evan watches has Alex hesitates briefly before taking a big long deep steadying breathe.
"The war had been going for some time and although the Wraith had been pushed back at first... their numbers suddenly began to grow at an alarming rate" Alex sighs.
"The cloning facility... they captured a ZPM" Lorne guesses.
"We didn't know that back then" Alex shrugs his shoulders weakly "All we knew was that their numbers increased a hundred fold in weeks and suddenly... three super hives were systematically wiping out the Lantian fleet"
"Three super hives?"
"They had managed to capture several Lantian warships and recover their ZPM's... our greatest warships were knocked aside so that eventually only a handful of cities remained"
"That's awful" Lorne says almost subconsciously.
"Four cities and the remainder of the fleet were sent in a last attempt to halt hostilities try to negotiate a ceasefire... but..." Alex suddenly falls quiet his eyes misting over slightly as he tries to choke down a sob.
"They never came back..." Evan puts a comforting hand on Alex's shoulder trying to calm him sightly well aware the enormity of what he is being told.
"They managed to destroy the bulk of the hives supporting fleet but the super hives broke through heading for Sarisia... and ultimately me"
"Atlantis was here on the planet?" Lorne asks mildly surprised.
"It was me that moved Tamar and Melina's Ancestors... I was the one that put the new gate here knowing the caves near Lake Lashara would offer them perfect protection... The loss of the fleet was a devastating blow to the Lantians they spent a few days completely paralysed by their own fear"
"You took over and did what had to be done" Lorne smiles "If it hadn't have been for your quick thinking all those people in the village and the thousands more in the surrounding villages would never have even been born..."
"It was the least I could do... I should have stayed and fought to protect them... but I was ordered back to Lantia and so the siege began"
"You wouldn't have handled 3 super hives on your own Lexy I mean your tough but come on" Lorne nudges Alexs elbow trying to lighten his mood playfully... Alex shrugs his shoulders and smiles weakly
"I could have tried" Alex sighs kicking a pebble across the floor in front of them "I thought about defying the order" Alex sees Lorne look at him sharply.
"Really... I never thought of you as the Sheppard type" Lorne grins
"I had just lost 4 of my sister ships... even an ancient city can go a little crazy sometimes I guess..." Alex runs his hand through his hair "Anyway... it was the final blow for the high council... what remaining hope they had was lost the day I left this world"
"That was when they decided to leave Pegasus?" Lorne asks gently.
"Not right away... they tried to figure a way to fight back but... slowly... fear and frustration wore them down... it was only a matter of time until they were forced to abandon Pegasus for good"
"It couldn't have been an easy decision for them too make..."
"No... and at first I was furious not only abandoning Pegasus but me as well I mean come on!" Alex grins weakly "Moros said I would be needed... too trust in destiny... he probably knew all along what was going to happen" Alex chuckles "Because two days later we discovered Dr Weir... she told us of your expedition to find the city ten thousand years in the future... she was... I have to say Evan... she was amazing"
"She certainly was" Evan nods smiling "Seems you were quite smitten" Evan chuckles seeing Alex blush.
"She had a passion and self belief not only in herself but in humanity as a whole... she was furious at the Lantians for giving in and she was adamant that if given the chance humanity would prevail"
"Sounds like the Elizabeth I knew alright" Evan nods.
"Being around the Ancients I think she realised something that most of you are all slowly coming to see..."
"What's that?" Lorne ask frowning slightly.
"That at the core the Ancients were only human... and they made just as many mistakes on their journey through life" Alex says with a sigh.
"Then all we have to do is learn from their mistakes" Lorne grins slapping Alex's back gently.
"I hope so Evan... I truly hope so"