CHAPTER 3
"So far Mckay thinks that he's onto something but I'm not so sure. He's been looking at the thing for twelve hours and hasn't made any significant progress." The voice of John Shepard crackled over the radio. "Also, Tyran wanted to speak with you. I don't know what about but he said that it was a matter of 'great urgency'."
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Anything else to report?" She asked.
"It's quiet on our end."
"I'll be there in 10 minutes. Weir out."
"Copy, Shepard out." With that the transmission went dead and the stargate disconnected.
After gearing up in a basic vest, radio and side arm, Dr Weir stepped through the gate to see Colonel Shepard on the other side. "Are you sure that he didn't say anything else?" She asked, itching to know what was going on.
"Not a word." Colonel Shepard explained indifferently.
After trudging through the now familiar surroundings, Dr Weir, accompanied by John and Teyla, entered Tyran's, now empty, hut. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, you must come to the temple quickly." Tyran beckoned, leading them through the dense vegetation that surrounded the temple. They burst through the opening in the doorway and marvelled at how alike the 'temple' was to Atlantis. A large screen lit up once they had stepped inside, which showed Dr Weir's face and a long list of ancient symbols next to it.
"We have always been able to read the language of the ancestors." Tyran explained plainly. "This shows that you are ready. However, many villagers say that you should not be allowed to go through the ceremony. They believe that it was a gift to our people and while we have allowed you to study it, the ceremony is a deep root of our society, no outsider has ever taken part in the ceremony and should thus stay that way." Tyran's face dropped into a mournful smile.
"I don't see why I was called here then." Dr Weir thought aloud, hoping to push further explanation from the man.
"If they see that you are in the window of the ancestors then they may allow you to go through the ceremony however, before that would be able to happen, you need to acknowledge this and search within yourself to discover if you are truly ready." Tyran explained with a cautious smile on his face. "Also, if this man is of your home world then there is no way that you can go through with the ceremony. They have to be present in the village at the time."
"I'm not sure if I want to be part of this ceremony. Some things are best left alone and I think that this is one of them, if the person is on Atlantis then one or both of us may risk losing our place on the expedition." Dr Weir explained, trying as hard as she could to keep her eyes solidly on Tyran.
"Please, think of what this could do. You have no way of knowing yet of the impact until you have gone through the ceremony." It appeared as if Tyran desperately wanted her to carry through with it. "Nobody has ever rejected their opportunity to take part in the ceremony and our people have been carrying this out for thousands of years."
"I will consider taking part in the ceremony but I will need time, and possibly lots of it." Dr Weir resigned. She wasn't sure if she wanted to risk the chance that Colonel Shepard was actually the person her heart was supposed to have 'chosen'.
"Thank you Dr Weir, but I believe that you will chose to take part in the ceremony."