A/N: Hi people! Especially those who keeps telling my my formatting is horrible. And choose not to move on from the first chapters to see how things change. But I guess you won't be reading this, then? ;)

I got accepted into a university! Only 2% of those who apply actually make it in. And I am now studying to become a veterinary nurse! It's so awesome! Maybe happies made me post quicker this time. I've planned to write this story from the day I started, so happy I felt confident enough to do it now.

I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 9

"Welcome, Liberator."

Weir felt her chest heave and her heart pound. It was just another gate address to dial. Another planet to visit and explore. She watched McKay, Ronon, Teyla and Sheppard standing behind the MALP. Dressed in their blue military getup. Weapons at their chests. Well, except for Ronon, of course. Who stubbornly refused to wear any body armour and only carried his own weapon. The four of them were casually talking. Watching the gate and even laughing. They seemed relaxed enough.

But it wasn't just another mission, was it?

The gate address hadn't just been found in the ancient database. It wasn't an entirely unknown planet. It should be habitable. It had been utilized by the ancients at some point. And there could be something left for them there. Something they desperately needed.

Energy.

Zero Point Modules.

Three of them.

The gate was half-way dialing when the ancient joined them. She was dressed in her white form-fitted uniform, which Elizabeth guessed was military clothing. Vera spoke to Sheppard who answered her. The only one who seemed exceedingly excited was McKay, who had marveled at the idea to fit Atlantis with three fully charged, functioning ZPM. 'The things we could do!'

Weir hadn't listened to all of his ramblings after that. Of course she knew that Stargate Command wouldn't agree with letting all the power sources remaining with Atlantis. There were other objects that desperately needed a power source as well.

But she wasn't even sure how she would handle the situation if they truly could retrieve the ZPMs. The only reason they would have them, would be because of Vera. And she sincerely doubted the ancient would allow such vital treasures to just leave Atlantis. Vera'a main object was to protect the city -ship, Weir heard her voice correct her in her mind.

Either way, arguing about where the modules would go was a lot better than not having them at all.

"What is this?" Vera asked as she joined the reconnaissance team. She nodded towards the large robotic vehicle placed in front of the gate.

"This is a MALP." Sheppard explained and sounded slightly proud about presenting the thing.

"MALP?" She echoed.

"It's a.. thing we send in before we enter the gate. To check atmosphere and... stuff."

"It's short for Moving All-Terrain Laboratory Platform." McKay explained, frustrated by the inadequate explanation. "We send it through the gate so we can check the atmosphere for toxic gasses, radioactive radiation and so on. It also has a camera so we get visuals."

"I see."

It was a crude construction and it seemed rather large for such a purpose. But she kept these thoughts to herself. At least they had constructed something to scout ahead, something that didn't endanger anyone's life.

The gate had connected and the robot drove forward, into the blue shimmering gate to a different world. They all watched it, waited for the all-clear sign.

"How does it look Elizabeth?" Sheppard shouted, they turned towards the command center where she hung over the shoulder of the technician operating the MALP.

"Atmosphere is good. The visuals aren't great. But it seems to be indoors. The lighting is bad and the night-vision doesn't give us much either."

"Indoors?" He asked and looked at the others.

"It sounds reasonable." Vera stated. "If someone doesn't want it to be found or used, it could be protected by a structure of some sort."

"DHD Confirmed." They heard technician say.

"What do you say Elizabeth?"

She looked through the readings herself. Gave the technician a questioning look who told her he saw nothing out of the ordinary. It should be fine. She breathed in slowly and straightened, looked over to the group and gave a small smile.

"It looks alright Lt Colonel. You're clear to go."

"Vera." Sheppard waited for her eye contact. "Would you like to do the honours?" He gestured with his hand towards the gate.

"All right." She nodded, not without being puzzled about the ceremony of it. Of course it would be a huge asset to secure more energy modules for Atlantis. But it had also been 10 000 years. There might be nothing left but these walls that the robot saw.

She moved out and the others followed her. Soon all of them had gone into the event horizon and the Stargate shut down.

Elizabeth slowly breathed in and out. Hoping for the best possible outcome.

The illumination of the gate filled the room with a soft blue light. Vera's eyes calmly scanned the area. It didn't seem to be much larger than it needed to be for the gate to fit. The walls were empty and the only thing down the stairs from the gate was the DHD.

"I don't see a door." McKay stated just before the gate went dark.

To their surprise, the light remained in the room.

"Look up." Teyla noted.

The roomed seemed to rise like a pillar, several hundred feet, up in the air. At the very top of it, it opened up to the sky. But it didn't seem like it was daylight shining into the room.

"It's a lumination crystal." Vera informed them. "It stores certain spectrum's of light and reflects it back. It's very rarely used since it's impractical. It's inefficient in smaller seizes. This one needs to be at least ten meters in diameter to emit such a light."

"A ten-meter-wide crystal?" Ronon asked.

"It holds no value, I assure you."

"This is just a normal DHD." McKay stated. Who had started to orient the room. It truly seemed to be just a large tower. A closed room. "There are no control panels other than this here." He tapped the console and looked at the others.

To this Vera smiled and watched the four of them start looking around the room, searching for an exit or a panel. She calmly walked down the five steps to the floor and stopped by the DHD catching McKay's eye.

"We don't leave everything out in the open." She raised her hand over the floor and he looked at her, confused.

Then a silent 'pshhhh' was heard and a linear crack opened up in the floor and slid to the side. Inside was a pale blue light that rose up towards her hand. It was an octagon shaped pillar. White with lines of blue light. It stopped at waist height and she placed her hand on the smooth panel.

A surge pulsed through the room. Sending the blue lights scattering across the floor, up through the walls reaching for the lumination crystal above them. It suddenly shone with a steady bright light.

"There's your door. Dr McKay." She nodded towards the wall opposite to the gate, where there now were contours to an opening.

Two men were sitting at an outdoor parlour at a paved street without any traffic disturbing the customers. The weather could be described as perfect. The sun was out, only small white clouds drifted across the sky. People had shed their jackets and hung them around the back of the chairs. It seems to be one of the first days of the season that was actually warm. Winter was transforming to spring. Everyone wanted to sit in the sun and relax.

The two friends were enjoying a traditional drink. A caffeine packed herbal substance with too many spoons of sugar in in, chilled to eight degrees Celsius. In an earthling language, ice-tea with too many spoons of sugar.

They were dressed very differently. With one of them being the only one in the street actually wearing a long sleeved. The shirt was white with large loose sleeves, fastened around the wrists. A dark grey west hung over his thin shoulders. Around his neck was a necklace in a thin chain. The jewelry being an image of a tower. The same tower that could be seen in the background, rising over the entire city.

The other was wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt with the two top buttons unbuttoned, a much more business-like appearance.

"I'm guessing times are getting hectic for you this time of year? With the big holiday around the corner." The business man smiled.

"Indeed." He nodded. "It's the most important one, after all."

The business man turned his head to watch the large pillar structure for a moment and smiled.

"You really believe the prophecy?" He asked.

"You really need to keep asking?" The other man answered with the same smile.

"I just find it highly unlikely that a liberator will bother with our world. How long has that tower been there? 3000-years?"

"Archaeological excavations confirms the pillar symbol to be at least 5000 years old. And do tell..." He took a breath. "What is an atheist man like yourself even doing in the religious capital of the world?"

"Commerce!" He motioned with his arm towards the people passing by, men, women, families. Everyone carrying shopping bags. "What better place to sell one's wares than in the capital, days before the big holiday?"

And then, slowly like rings on water, an effect spread across the ocean of people. The motion of a passing crowd came to a stop. All eyes turned towards the same spot in the sky. People in the café got up to their feet with the expression of disbelief and wonder on their faces.

The man with the pillar medallion was no exception to this. But his friend frowned, looking at the crowd around him.

"What's happening? What-?"

"Maybe..." The other one said, not shifting his eyes from the sky. "Maybe you would like to re-think your beliefs." His hand closed around the pillar medallion. The business man turned his head towards the pillar behind him. The crowd started to whisper, slowly raising their voices.

The massive orb at the top of the pillar, had started to shine in a bright blue colour. The businessman's mouth fell open, he rose from the chair, slowly shaking his head.

"That... That's...No it.. can't..."

It the next moment the pillar erupted with a bright blue light, bathing the sky and the city with its colour. A large gasp was heard through the crowd. Someone started to cry, someone screamed, gasps was heard and everyone was stunned.

"The liberator has come." The man kissed his medallion with tears of joy in the corner of his eyes.

The door lead them into a hallway with convex walls. They were bright white and the area was completely lit up by unseen light sources. There was no echo from their feet and it measured about 160 feet long.

"You have any idea of what this place is, Vera?" Sheppard had taken the lead and now he glanced back at her as he asked the question.

"I have never been here before." She dodged the question. Because she recognized the structure. It was of clear Lantean design. Not only that, it was a military design. It seemed they were walking in a stationary military commando base. Not mobile like Atlantis, not meant to function as a civilian habitat. But she didn't want to create any expectations in the group, so she kept silent about most it. "It is Lantean design, it reacts to the gene."

"Any idea what we should expect at the end of the corridor?"

"It's been 10 000 years, colonel. Your guess is as good as mine."

But when they reached the end of that corridor and Vera stepped up to the panel by the door to let the door slide open, none of them would have guessed what came next.

Her heart was racing, racing to the point where she almost forgot to breathe. And even when she took extra deep breaths it was as if there wasn't enough oxygen in the air. But it didn't show. Her face was like a pond in the forest a calm summer day. At least she had been trained to face such emotions.

She had been chosen because of her face, her likeness to the liberator. Had she ever been one of those believers? No, not really. She wasn't religious. In fact, she considered herself to be an atheist. But being the avatar, as her job was called, she wasn't required to have the faith. Only to play a part. It was a well-paid job, and lasted only for a maximum of five years. Duties included good behavior, memorizing a whole lot of texts, smiling a lot but first and foremost: be a pretty object to watch and be worshiped.

However, it also included leading the welcome ceremony if the liberator ever showed up. Which, as stated, she never ever believed would happen. The liberator was a sham. An idea forged by a long dead civilization, a religion conjured up to control the masses… Wasn't it?

So here she stood, heart pounding in her ears, but showing nothing of it. Staring at the rounded score on the wall that was supposed to mark a door. A door that never had opened up before. Which wouldn't open until the liberator came.

It suddenly hissed.

And opened.

Having required her command code to open the door, Vera stood at the front when it opened up to the next room. She heard the other slightly raising their weapons in reflex, but they relaxed just as quick.

The room was large, still with the same white tone on the walls, floor and ceiling. But decorated differently. Clearly by humans, clearly with religious intent. There were people in the room. At least a hundred and completely mixed. From children to elders, from white skinned to dark. All of them wearing a grey uniform, ornated in gold and silver thread.
Except for one, a woman standing in front of them, wearing a white uniform. White bright hair, fair skin and eerily blue eyes.

Vera felt as though she was looking into a warped mirror as she faced the woman.

"Welcome, Liberator." She spoke softly, but you could still hear the faint hesitation of nervosity shivering on her voice.

"What's going on here?" Sheppard whispered to Vera as the woman carefully bent her head in a slight bow.

"I have no idea." She whispered back. When the woman faced her again Vera started on a sentence, but was cut off.

"I know nothing with any certainty, except that the sight of stars makes me dream."

Vera's eyes narrowed as she watched the woman very carefully. Seconds of silence passed, but the woman didn't flinch. Vera answered her.

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."

The people in gray and fell to their knees with their heads bowed. The woman swept her arm towards the isle formed between them. "This way." She said and took the lead.

But Vera didn't follow immediately, she turned towards the group and caught Sheppard's attention.

"I have no idea what is going on here. These are Lantean structures, but I do not know who these people are. Or what they believe me to be. However, I must follow this woman. It is a personal matter, and I will not ask you to come with me. You will have to decide for yourself."

"Does it have anything to do with the over the top poetic catchphrases?" Sheppard asked with sarkasm in his voice.

"I will tell you later, when there is time."

"Well, you piqued my interest. Let's go." None of them protested.

They were all curious of what was happening, and of what was going to happen. The rows of people were still down on one knee. Only the small children dared to look up and take a peek at them. One of them looked got eye contact with Ronon who made a face, which caused the kid to giggle, and a reprimand to be hissed from the person next to him.

"These people speak our language." Dr McKay. Pointed out. "They could be descendants-"

"All people of the Pegasus galaxy speak our language McKay." Sheppard pointed out.

"Yes but, clearly they know her."

"Maybe they're just happy their sacrifice has arrived." Teyla frowned at Ronon who felled the comment. "What?" He said with a shrug.

"He isn't all wrong." Sheppard said. "We should still be careful. Just… Stay on your toes, all right?"

The door lead to another long white corridor. They followed the woman who walked in silence and the atmosphere didn't exactly encourage chatting. The door at the end of the corridor opened up to a large dome-structured room. The woman walked into the middle of it, stopped and turned.

A panel rose from the floor and Vera, flanked by the Atlantis team, stopped in front of it. Not taking her eyes off the woman.

"Place your hand on the pedestal." She motioned towards the smooth surfaced panel with her hand.

"No." Vera answer without a single moment of hesitation.

The woman froze, her eyes shifting among the people who stood before her. Clearly uncertain of her position in this situation.

"But… you-"

"I do not know what the consequences will be if I activate this. Judging from the structure this is a planetary main operating base."

"Which means…?" Sheppard asked, raising an eyebrow. So far they had only seen large empty rooms and long white halls.

"It's firepower would easily take down Atlantis. if it's completed and stocked."

"What? Are you serious?"

The woman started sweating as the strangers talked among themselves. She was starting to panic and found no words to speak. The liberator was real. She was standing there, right in front of her. She had even responded correctly to the secret code phrase that only a handful people in the entire world knew. Besides that, she really did look exactly as she always had done in the images. Even down to the way her hair was braided.

A door that had not been visible before opened up revealing a man dressed in white clothing. The way he dressed, Teyla thought, was similar to Vera's uniform. Slim-fitted and decorated with seems and cuts rather than disturbing the pattern with colours.

His skin had an olive hue. His hair was dark, and even though cut short, a tuff of it hung down in front of one of his eyes. There was something odd about those eyes. They seemed calm and kind, yet their blue-gray shimmer somehow looked… too bright.

"Thank you Melissa." He spoke to the woman. She turned around and seemed relieved. "Everything is as it should. Please, return to your duties."

A silence fell as she left the room through the door the man had come, and when it closed behind her, he spoke again.

"I had hoped we could have kept her here a bit longer. She'll go to spread the word of your arrival now. The entire world will know in an hour."

"What exactly is going on here?" Sheppard asked making a frustrated motion with his hand.

"I'm sorry, my name is Khalid. I am in command of this base." He turned towards Vera. "It's truly an honour to meet you, Admiral."

Vera slightly twitched when her current rank finally was revealed.

"Captain Khalid." She continued quickly, hoping that it would somehow slip by.

"Admiral?" Sheppard raised a brow, Vera ignored him.

"These people call me Liberator. Would you explain why?"

"I will." He nodded and motioned towards the panel. "But first, would you please?"

Vera turned towards Sheppard, seeking his advice of what to do.

"Go ahead, Admiral." He said with a gesture.

"I assure you, this complex will pose no threat towards Atlantis. Placing your hand here will bring you to, and activate, the command central of the base."

Silence fell. Vera looked at Khalid and then down at the panel. She raised her hand and a blue light instantly reacted. A detached voice spoke "Gene structure, confirmed."

There was loud mechanic rumble, then the floor started moving.

"What's happening?"

"The floor?"

"Is it... rising?"

Khalid smiled, satisfied with their reactions. But Vera remained silent as the floor took them up. When it stopped it first seemed as if nothing had changed. They were still surrounded by white walls, until the windows were revealed. A section of the walls slid to the side and revealed a glass like structure that reached from floor to ceiling.

McKay, Sheppard, Ronon and Teyla walked up to gape at the view.

In front of them was a city. Not a collection of homes. Not a trade market. But a large city that seemed to go on forever. There were proper streets, tall buildings and wide parks. They were looking down at it all, and they couldn't see an end to it.

"There must be hundreds of thousands living here." Teyla said aghast, she couldn't even imagine a population of this seize surviving in this galaxy, not with the wraith around.

"Try millions." McKay inflicted.

"Are you thinking… what I'm thinking?" Sheppard asked.

"It looks like… earth." McKay answered.

And they weren't wrong. The city they were watching held many similarities to earths largest cities.

"Welcome to Verania. The planets largest city."

A/N: So. The quotes. "the sight of stars" bit is a quote from Vincent Van Gogh. And "time adrift among open stars" is from Mass effect 2, spoken by Tali as she returns to the Quarian fleet.

Verania is partly a play on Vera's name, but mostly taken from "Starzingers", an anime from the 80's which I grew up with.

I'm not 100% sure whats going to happen throughout this story. But there's going to be action! Stay tuned :)