Disclaimer & Notices
To start off, for those who came directly to this chapter, I have made some updates to chapter 1, mainly in the form of removing the double up of the opening scene and adding a first chapter disclaimer. For those wondering about Tom, the answer can be found in a big reveal during the climax of Chamber of Secrets. Now, to the disclaimer. Let me remind everyone that I do not own any rights pertaining to the canon referenced in this story. All I can claim is the idea for this story. I write this story for entertainment and to improve my overall writing skills. If you can't handle my beliefs being respectfully included in my stories, feel free to read something else. I am not holding you against your will. Finally, at the time of posting this chapter, this story only has an A.I. proofreader. With those out of the way, let's move on to the chapter.
Chapter 2: Settling in
The warehouse bustled with activity as I oversaw my platoon's preparations for the upcoming journey to the Pegasus galaxy. Taking up two-thirds of the massive space, it was divided into thirds. A third was filled with supplies needed to set up a few magically specialized labs. Another third contained my platoon's personal effects (including mine). Apart from pathways, the rest of the space was taken up by general supplies, including all of my platoon's enchanted black ops gear. There were a few dozen crates of dragon bones and magic-rich iron already piled up and ready to be moved into my Shadow Realm. Alongside them, several hundred tons of Arabian Sand and my customized Tel'tak were present.
I had already sent Dr. Weir, Atlantis' expedition leader, a carefully encrypted email explaining the basics of my abilities and allowing her to order extra expedition supplies. I emphasized the need for secrecy regarding the sensitive nature of my abilities. To provide a cover for the extra supplies, I suggested that she claim Peverell Industries had loaned the expedition several experimental prototypes, maintaining the illusion of a cutting-edge research project to justify the increased storage capacity without revealing the true source.
Once we were certain about what we were taking and how, my platoon started loading up the borrowed USAF C-130 Hercules. Supplies and equipment that wouldn't fit in my shadow realm were loaded onto the transport. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and anticipation as we prepared for the journey. Among the enchanted transport crates containing livestock, there was one that housed six house elves. Lastly, the pallets of non-secretive gear that we were officially bringing were loaded.
Upon landing at Colorado Springs, blue glyphs started glowing behind my ears, indicating that I had activated the psionic aspect of my magic. With this ability, I could read the surface thoughts of those within a moderately large distance, allowing me to eavesdrop and anticipate conversations.
We headed to the hangar that acts as the entrance to the SGC's newly completed base beneath Schriever Airforce Base. I picked up translated conversations of the expedition members, indicating heightened activity in preparation for departure. As we approached, I mentally coordinated the logistics with my team, helping things run smoothly. Soon, the final preparations were done, and my platoon and I found ourselves in the gate room. In the power room, McKay and Siler worked on a generator device, their excitement evident as they prepared for the Stargate activation.
Dr. Weir stepped up in front of the gate. "Can I have everyone's attention, please? All right, here we go. We're about to try to make a connection. We have been unable to predict exactly how much power this is going to take, and we may only get the one chance at this. So if we're able to achieve a stable wormhole, we're not going to risk shutting the 'gate down. We'll send in the MALP robot probe, check for viability, and go. Everything in one shot. Now, every one of you volunteered for this mission, and you represent over a dozen countries. You are the world's best and brightest. And in light of the adventure we are about to embark on, you're also the bravest. I hope we all return one day having discovered a whole new realm for humanity to explore. But as all of you know, we may never be able to return home. I'd like to offer you all one last chance to withdraw your participation."
As no one responded, she said, "Begin the dialling sequence."
As the Stargate activated, I stretched my psionic muscles, and my entire platoon joined their minds with mine, preparing for our sweeping scout mode. I sensed Colonel Sumner's intent at asserting his dominance and intercepted him just before he spoke. "Colonel, the Major has one of the strongest ATA gene expressions among the expedition. So you need to put aside your dislike for the flyboy. As apart from me, most with the gene need concentration and training to make Ancient Tech work." Sumner's gaze shifted towards me, and his demeanor eased up slightly. "I know that you had intended for me to be your military second. I've seen his skills in action, and despite his tendency to ignore orders, he tends to only do so in order to save people. Hence the black mark on his record."
The moment arrived, and the Stargate activated, filling the gate room with excitement and applause. The robot probe was sent through, and I sensed the tension and anticipation from everyone present.
The data from the MALP indicated a large, structurally intact room with viable life support, confirming our destination's viability. Weir received O'Neill's approval, and the team prepared to step through the Stargate. Passing through the gate, a light mental pinging sensation engulfed me, which gradually turned into a mental tugging as more of the expedition came through. Drawn to a spot a few steps in front of the gate, I placed my hand on the rising lockout device without hesitation.
In an unexpected turn of events, the city's AI mistook me for a Lantean, conveying impressions of the city's state. A trickle of energy flowed from me, which increased as I asked everyone to brace themselves for the city to ascend. The strain on my magic became too much, darkness encroaching my vision, and I blacked out, my mind and body succumbing to the overwhelming drain of energy. Regaining consciousness, I found myself in a makeshift infirmary, the medical team monitoring me closely.
"You had us worried for a moment," Dr. Beckett said, his relief mixed with concern. "By any chance can you tell me what happened? Your platoon is being cagily tight-lipped."
"They'll do that. It seems I need to tell them that full self-contained corps deployment reporting is required. How much of my full un-redacted file have you read?" I managed to whisper, my voice weak.
"Only just started," Dr. Weir replied, appearing at my bedside. "I only just finished defragmenting it before you arrived in the states. So I just skimmed the cliff notes summary.
"Well, it seems that I'm not too far ahead. It seems."
"Well, the short of it, Doc, is that when we arrived, my team felt the mental equivalent of an insistent message delivery dinging. By the time we secured the immediate area and the gate shut down, the dinging had become a major tugging, specifically within my own mind." I closed my eyes, trying to remember the details. "Somehow the City's Lockout Device raised out of the floor before me. The instant my hand made contact with it, it began updating the city's historical records and drawing upon my magic. While also conveying the status of the city. It must've been around that time I lost contact with my platoon. As I don't remember any of their commentary/reactions. After that point, I learned that we were on the ocean floor and about to lose power. I opened up the flow rate of my magic and activated the city's intercom to give you the heads up and telling the city to return to the surface. What are the power levels like?"
"We're all incredibly grateful for what you did. As for the power levels, we don't rightly know." She then briefed me on the situation. Colonel Sumner led a team off-world, there was an attack, and he, along with personnel and locals, was abducted. Survivors were evacuated here, and Sheppard is pushing to mount a rescue.
After being awake for a few hours, I began getting early warnings of becoming stir crazy. The elves understood my need for rest before tying them into the city. My platoon sergeant checked on me, sensing my mounting need to do something. Shortly thereafter, I overheard senior staff discussions about Dr. Beckett's desire to keep me in for observation and further tests. So, I decided to astrally project myself into the meeting, startling most of them.
"Calm down, Dr. Beckett. I am technically asleep in the hospital bed you left me in. I'm just astral projecting. There's only so much astral wandering I can do before I start really losing it. That's why I asked about the power levels when I first woke up. I'm feeding energy to some helpers I brought along, which is slowing my recovery down."
Even after a heated discussion, Dr. Beckett was convinced to let me go from his care. My platoon sergeant helped him understand the severity of the situation by flipping through my file to the section detailing the shadow realm infirmary incident. With reluctance, I was released but promised to be on light duties for a while to avoid overexertion.
I visited the ZPM hub to perform an experiment, drawing chalk runes around the base. Beckett walked in on me as I pricked my left thumb to draw blood. He complained, but I assured him the blood magic I was using was tame compared to what I could theoretically do. Pressing my bloody thumb on an incomplete rune, the array flared to life, similar to a Fullmetal Alchemist transmutation cycle. A 49-inch diameter Dias appeared in place of the Hub, its internal cavity magically expanded to fit a massive cold fusion reactor generating a fraction of a ZPM's energy output.
The light settled, and the six crimson bands on my forearms, usually invisible to everyone else, appeared on the dais, signaling the transfer of the house-elf bond to Atlantis. My energy reserves began replenishing at their normal rate.
"Is there a reason why you came to find me, doc?" I asked.
"Sheppard's team returned a short while ago, and we are hosting a party."
The party was in full swing as the celebration of our successful mission continued. Amidst the revelry, Kanaan, one of the Athosians I connected with shortly after being released, introduced me to Teyla. We shared a moment of understanding and camaraderie, knowing that our journey in Pegasus was just beginning. The vibrant atmosphere of the party made me feel more at home in Atlantis, and I couldn't help but marvel at the incredible experiences that awaited us in this new realm.