A/N: Hi people! It's hot as h*ll in sweden D':

Enjoy :D

Chapter 10 Part 2

"You came out of a… Stargate?"

It had been a week since Vera had stood in front of Nadezjda and spoken to the people in Verania, the planets largest city, named after her. During this time, she had done her very best to dement any form of religion tied to her. She wasn't a deity, she wasn't destined to come. It's was only a back-up plan made by one of her countrymen.

However, the people was reluctant to take that to heart. It was beginning to sink in. Her cold and down-to-earth attitude sure helped. She wasn't a very lovable person at first impression, after all. But people were making pilgrimages to the city. Every hotel had long since been fully booked. Anyone with floorspace over was renting out to pilgrims. Small cities made up of tents was slowly growing outside the city.

The world held almost 3 billion people. They had all been shocked to hear it, except Vera who still struggled with grasping how the galaxy now was tormented and controlled by the wraith.

The task of spreading the knowledge about the wraith had begun almost the next day. Elisabeth had taken on the task with great enthusiasm, as she, like the others, did not want this so-called Skylock to be disabled. They had gone so far as to explain the use of a stargate, and if they wanted, they were more than happy to help them get started on a space program on a different planet. This had been the most effective strategy so far. The wraith was after all something bizarre, taken straight out of a fantasy novel. Space-faring life sucking aliens that had grown to such a large population that they forced a much more technically advanced civilisation to abandon a whole galaxy? It seemed ridiculous. A selected few had even been allowed to visit Atlantis, experience space flight and travel to other planets. They returned to tell the wonderful tales to their people.

When it came to the zero point modules, Vera had been very clear. They were hers, and she wanted them back. They had confirmed that one of them was right there in Verania, inside Nadezjda, safely in storage deep in the command-centre. One of them had been lost at sea approximately 500 years ago. It had been lost due to a war between two factions within the religion, which had split due to different opinions about the 'The Liberator'. It had been sought after but not yet found. The third had also been stolen at the same time, but it had made it across the sea and was now held by the largest country on the planet.

Vera demanded to be taken there so she could claim it.

After some negotiations the country had agreed to accept a visit from her, but not promising anything. While the church had insisted to send an escort with her, Vera had in her turn insisted on an escort made up by her own people. So Teyla, Sheppard, Ronon and Major Lorne was standing by the air vehicle, waiting.

"I heard the people of this world is coming around to the idea of not opening the sky-lock?" Teyla asked Major Lorne who had been called in extra especially for this mission.

"That's all thanks to Zalenka really."

"Dr. Zalenka?" Sheppard asked. "How?"

"Oh I didn't tell you about that?" He asked with a smile. "I was in that meeting you know."

"What happened?"

"Dr Weir was holding another lecture about the significance about the sky-lock and the Veranians was arguing about their possibility of venturing into space."

"Veranians?" Sheppard raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's what we're calling them back in Atlantis."

"She wont like that." He laughed

"Anyway, the argument was escalating when suddenly Dr Zalenka just casually said 'Why don't you just start a space program on a different planet'. The room went dead silent, everyone was staring at him."

"What?"

"Yeah! Apparently, no one had thought of the fact that they're connected to the gate grid now. The Veranians just asked if that was possible."

Sheppard shook his head.

"And now they're cooperating?" Teyla asked.

"At least they're listening. They've started some sort of 'guided tours' where they're teaching them to use the gates and showing them different planets."

"Are they allowed to use the gate freely?"

"No, it seems Vera has forbidden it for the time being."

"Speaking of the devil."

A group of ten soldiers clad in white came towards them. Their uniform reminded them about the one Vera had been wearing in the image that was frequently shown in the media. Vera herself had been positioned in the middle of this armed group. They walked in pairs, so three pairs walked before her, and two behind. The vehicles engines started up, generating a lot less noise than they expected.

The white-clad guards got into the vehicle, leaving Vera to speak with her friends.

"You starting a court?" Major Lorne smiled conspicuously.

"I actually managed to negotiate the number of guards they wanted to send with me from 50 to ten. I tried to refuse completely, but they wouldn't have it."

They laughed at her solemn and dissatisfied face and Vera shook her head.

"Alright." Sheppard said and motioned towards the vehicle. "Should we leave, your majesty?"

"Don't you start." Vera said with a dark voice, clearly tired of the whole deal. But not without a certain undertone that showed that she got the joke, or at least so he thought.

The vehicle started hovering and soon took towards the sky. It was a plane-helicopter hybrid and Sheppard spent the better part of the journey in the cockpit, bothering the pilots. Despite keeping up a good speed the journey took a couple of hours. For those who weren't used to see large settlements in the Pegasus galaxy the flight was a marvel. They flew over other cities, villages, miles and miles of farmed land.

"Hey Vera." Major Lorne called for attention. "Could we do the same thing for Lantea? The shield I mean." He motioned with his head towards the sky.

"If Atlantis was fully functional and staffed, yes. It might have taken a couple of years, but it would have been possible. As it is today and with the constant threat hanging over I'd say it's near impossible. I'm sure the theory and blueprints are stored within Nadezjda's database, but without an expert on the subject it might take years just to fully understand the basics."

"Figured."

"Which is why," She continued "if the people of this planet decide to leave the sky-lock intact we should start negotiating for our own piece of land."

"What?"

"Or maybe ocean, landing on water seem to have less of an impact."

"Would that be possible?" Ronon asked and she shifted her eyes to him.

"Of course. You stubbornly call Atlantis a city, but she is a ship. And with three energy modules taking flight won't be a problem. Of course, it would take careful planning and a lot of precautions, as to not be discovered during the journey. But I believe it would be worth it."

"You would leave Lantea?" Major Lorne looked genuinely surprised.

"Lantea is only a planet. My people's legacy, Atlantis, is what matters to me."

The foreign country

Only a handful of men waited on a large round platform. A few flags were raised at the base, but the wind was next to nothing so they hung still in the air. The leader of the men frowned slightly at that. A welcome always looked better with flags flying on the wind.

He and his men were impeccably dressed in dark blue uniforms with details in bright yellow. They didn't wear weapons, well, at least not any guns. They each carried a ceremonial sword at their hips. But the chance that anyone of them knew how to use it properly was very slim.

Their straight backs became even more straightened when the vehicle appeared in the blue sky.

"Just follow my lead boys." The leader said with a firm calm voice. "Just remember she's a human, just like us."

The landing was soft and the wind causing the soldiers clothes to stir was soon subsided. The larger part of the vehicle's side folded out to a landing. It looked somewhat ridiculous, so many people bunched up in there waiting for their turn to get out. Three pairs of the white-clad guards came first, then Vera, the people from Atlantis then lastly two more pairs of white guards.

The leader stepped up to them.

"I am here to welcome you to our country Lady Vera. I hope you will find our hospitality to your liking."

"I appreciate you using my name, sir, and not the title forced upon me. Though you needn't add 'Lady' to it."

"Then what honorific would you prefer we use?"

"I don't need anyone, but if you insist you can call me Admiral." She could almost feel Sheppards eyes burning on her back. She had managed to steer away that discussion on three separate times, and he hadn't brought it up for a couple of days. This reminder wouldn't exactly help him forget.

"Well then Admiral, if you would come this way." He didn't comment on her guards. Even though he had wanted to say they weren't necessary. But that just might make her suspicious, so he let them follow. It wasn't a large complication after all.

"Wouldn't you expect more.. you know.. cameras or something?" Major Lorne leaned over and whispered to Sheppard.

"Yeah." He agreed and swept across the platform again with his eyes. The only ones people he could se was the guards dressed in ceremonial uniforms. "Not much of a welcoming committee for the saviour of the world."

"What are you talking about?" Ronon asked.

"There should be more of a celebration." Lorne explained.

"Let's go along with it and see what happens. Just don't relax too much."

The whole entourage was led across a bridge that stretched over a deep canyon and then into a large building that looked more like military building than anything else. There were stairs that went down. During this entire little journey no one said a single word. At last the came out to a round open space. The walls were white, the floor and ceiling a light shade of gray. When they came to the centre of it the leader halted and turned around, his fellow soldiers at his back.

"Thank you for following us so readily. This was far easier than we had hoped." His smiled turned into a grin and concealed doors hissed open to give access to several more soldiers. These ones not dressed in any ceremonial clothes. They were overwhelmed within seconds.

"Shit." Sheppard hissed. The people from Atlantis had their arms raised, except for Vera who had gone unarmed as a show of trust. A heavy miscalculation. The white guards instantly formed a circle around the group from Atlantis

"What is this?" Vera asked with a hard voice, staring only at the man in charge.

"We are not a religious people, Admiral. You request is a straight-out insult to us."

"I am only asking for an item that was deposited on this planet thousands of years ago. It belongs to my people and therefore is rightfully mine. I am not asking to be-"

"There will be time for talk. Men, process them."

Sheppard had already, reluctantly, realized they were outnumbered and gave the silent order to back down. One of them, however, didn't listen. And Ronon downed at least four people before they managed to overpower him, and almost had to render him unconscious to take him away. The white guards had possibly done the same thing if Vera hadn't ordered them to surrender. There was no point to oppose them. Their only transport out of here would be commandeered by now, and they were in an unknown territory.

Then the entire group had been seized and taken away from the round room the leader gave his orders.

"The church guards are useless, but don't kill them. We don't want to piss of the church more than necessary. It's the other five that's of any interest. Place them in different cells. Wait a few hours then we'll start the interrogations."

"Who do you want to start with sir?"

"We'll begin with their white princess."

The first interrogation with Vera

When they come for her she is standing with her feet apart, her hands resting at her back and her head help up high. There are three men handling her. Two whose job seems to be intimidating, holding their fingers always close to their weapons triggers. But she cooperated and allowed them to shackle her hands, lead her out of her cell and down a corridor. She noted that there were several other doors. Probably leading to cells similar to hers. With one simple bed, a toilet and sink. Nothing else.

She was led into a small room. Her hands chained together, that chain got locked into the table that was set up with two chairs. She was never left alone, an armed guard was standing behind her. Not for security, she guessed. They already knew she was unarmed so it's probably only a scare tactic. Or maybe they did have that much respect for their prisoners, always expecting them to try and break free.

They let an unnecessary amount of time pass before the interrogator stepped into the room. It's the same man as the one who ordered their capture. He didn't bring anything with him. Not even pen and paper.

"Normally I would have a whole file about the subject I am about to question. But you." He smiled faintly. "You seem to have appeared out of thin air."

"A Stargate." She corrects him.

"A what?"

"It is a device that connects two different points by creating a wormhole. Outside of your planet this technology is very well known and used daily."

"Well. That sounds fantastic. Sensational, really."

"It was developed by the Anquietas, my ancestors, a long time ago."

He was silent for a while, just watching her. He had black short hair, and green eyes that looked quite friendly and honest. She didn't trust those eyes for a second.

"Why have we been made hostages?"

"You're not hostages." He stated. "Being a hostage would indicate that we would want something in exchange for your safe return. You are simply prisoners."

"And why would that be?"

"What is your name?"

"Vera." She answered and was about to demand an answer to her own question when he continued.

"No, I mean your real name. The name you had before you…" He waved his hand over her figure. "Became who you are. Or have you been raised to play the part?"

Vera closed her mouth, curled up her fingers into fists and leaned back in her chair. This was a terrible interrogation. She had received some training as to how you withstand interrogations from enemies and had had a few times where she had been captured. As well as she had carried out a few. This was too much of a conversation. She supposed he was trying to build up a familiarity, but going on about it completely wrong. She decided that whatever happened she would remain calm and keep telling him the truth.

"I was born Vera, on the ship Atlantis. I am a Lantean."

"And you have lived thousands of years?"

"No. 10 000 years ago, my people faced a crisis they could not handle. It was decided to hide the ship and flee to a different galaxy. I was left behind in stasis." Even as she said it she realised that it would sound unreasonable to a person who lived on a planet where they hadn't been able to leave their own atmosphere.

"10 000 years huh?" He said in a sarcastically impressed voice.

She forcefully held back a sigh. Perhaps the others had been right. The fact that the people they had first met perceived her as some kind of divinity was a sort of blessing. This was going terrible.

"Do you have any records of how the three devices came to your planet?"

"Nothing beyond that which the church has to say about it."

"And you do not trust them." He just smiled at her statement. "The three crystals were brought here for safe-keeping by a small group of people who didn't agree with the evacuation of Atlantis. The base in which they were originally stored on this planet was built by my people in a joint project with your ancestors. Mysticism around the crystals started about 2700 years ago. Later there was a division within the belief. It caused the religion to split into two, which eventually lead to the theft of two of the crystals. One of them was lost at sea, the other one is today controlled by your country. The religion that today portray me as 'the Liberator' is fairly young, only about 500 years old. But due to the crisis of the red plague that claimed approximately 40% of the worlds population, the religion spread rapidly."

Khalid's programming had made him document and follow all the events and history in the world. The world had, at one point, lost their technology due to large and long-lasting world war that had threatened to annihilate humanity completely. Famine followed, and society had developed into a post-apocalypse hunter-gatherer form of living. It had taken time to rebuild.

Some of the people from earth had been extremely interested in this unique play of events as well as it's documentation. It seemed they believed they had something to learn from it.

"So much information, and no way to verify it."

"The history of your planet has been objectively recorded by Khalid, a VI. It's true that he doesn't have full supervision, but he has done what he can with the tools left to him."

"And this Khalid is located in Verania, I suppose?"

There would be no reasoning with this man. But she couldn't help herself trying.

The first interrogation with Ronon

He didn't like being separated from the others. Not for his own sake, he was sure he could take out a few guards and escape from this place. But they didn't know the terrain here, and they had no reassembly point.

When they came to take him to interrogation he followed them without making much fuss. And when they started asking him questions he just sat there, staring back at them. And regardless of what questions they asked him that's what he kept doing. Sitting there, staring back at them.

The first interrogation with Sheppard

"You are one of the peculiars of your group." The same man who had question Vera sat down in front of Sheppard. He wore a slight smile and joined his hands while leaning forward.

"Really?" Sheppard asked, leaning back and looking bored.

"As I told your companion; usually I have a whole dossier about my subject. But some of you seems to be blank slates."

"Probably because we're not from this world."

"Hmm, yes, she claimed something similar. That you came out of a… Stargate?"

"That's correct."

"How would such a gate work?" He tilted his head to the left.

"Something about connecting two points in space using wormholes. You really shouldn't ask me about tech stuff."

"And you come from the same place as the woman Vera? This Atlantis?"

"Yeah. Well no. I mean…" He raised a finger. "We came from Atlantis together. But we, well some of us, comes from earth."

"Earth?"

"It's a planet in another galaxy, very, very, very….very far away from here. Very. Far."

It continued like that. Futile with little or no claims being accepted as truth. The interrogation with Lorne and Teyla was similar. At the end of the day the interrogator sat down at a table spreading his thin dossiers across it. With a large sigh he leaned back and shook his head.

"They're a stubborn bunch."

The two guards that had been escorting the prisoners and listened to all the interrogations.

"Can they really be this well-schooled to play these parts? They're so diverse."

"They could be brainwashed."

"Brought up to do this one job. Convinced they're serving their god or whatever."

"Is there…" The other guard started carefully. "I mean… it sounds so… real. Is there any chance they're actually-"

"Telling the truth?" The interrogator cut him of with a hard voice.

"None of them are claiming to be divine. Why would they-"

"It's tactics. The world is turning it's face away from religions. Science is slowly killing it. How does the church cleanse itself then from such a religious image?"
"They make science into a religion." The first guard said, with a voice as if he just realised the great plan.

"Exactly." He smiled grimly looking at the second guard who was staring at him with open mouth.

A/N: More to come, of course! The next chapter is gonna be alot more action packed, we hope! ^_^
Til' next time! Pls leave a comment 3