The Ori Galaxy, unknown region of Space; site of the Ori Supergate, minutes after the Sangraal sent through to the Ori Galaxy.
Adria felt defeated, completely and utterly defeated. She knew she had the upper hand against the one the other had called Willow; she knew that the redhead was using the powers of an Ancient to defend Colonel Mitchell and her mother. The Orici, the embodiment of the Ori, had the redhead on her knees and she channelled all her anger of being fired upon behind her, and of the betrayal of her mother and Daniel… she channelled all of that power into her flame blasts and continued to bombard Willow.
'It was all a distraction' thought Adria to herself, 'mother and the other one went to activate the weapon, and the traitor flew the ship towards the gate.'
But Adria knew in her heart that she had almost defeated Willow. That once she was gone, the Orici could beat the others.. use them as the prime example of what happens when anyone goes against the Ori.
'The great SG-1' thought Adria to herself as she lay on the cold hard floor of her ship, her eyes focused on the wall in front of her as she fell the hole in her chest close slowly, 'missed my heart. That was your mistake.'
Adria remembered the redhead starting to glow; she remembered looked on in fear as Willow slowly pushed her powers back as she stood up. Adria closed her eyes as she recalled a glow in front of her as she started to float off the ground just before she heard cracks from her own body as bones everywhere was broken. And then she remembered Willow reaching into her mind, and speaking with a smugness that rivalled her own.
'You're done' recalled Adria as the words that Willow used before a beam of light went through her body. She then felt herself falling onto the ground. But she still saw everything, she was the living embodiment of the Ori… her mind screamed in pain, but she could still see.
'Footsteps' thought Adria to herself as she looked straight ahead, 'I heard footsteps, screaming… mother? No, that other one… the dark haired one. Mother…. Why did you betray me? We could have been rulers together. We should have been rulers together… I'm your daughter and you… you betrayed me. You betrayed me and chose them over your own daughter… you… you…'
Adria then heard the one know as Mitchell ask for a beam out, and a few seconds later she heard the familiar sounds of transportation beams in the distance. She knew that the rest of the crew were looked on the other floors, she had ordered the other stay out of her way… that she could take care of them. But now, she couldn't call on the others either… her mind was in great pain and everything she had was healing her body. And before she knew it.. she saw the event horizon of the Supergate passing over her. And she knew that she was in her own galaxy. Then, just as the entire ship passed through the Gate, and the wormhole had automatically disengaged…. Adria saw a flash of brilliant white light that went off through the ship in the form of an energy wave.
And she could hear it in her mind as tears started to fall down her cheeks; she could hear the screams of ascended beings, the screams of the Ori as millions of voices that once whispered into her ears were snuffed out.
'Like a candle' thought Adria as she closed her eyes, 'I am the last Ori. I will heal, and I will return. I will lead the assault on Earth.. in the meantime, the followers of everything Ori will continue to convert the galaxy. We… I will have vengeance. The red haired one is out is first. The Ancients must have punished her for interfering and, and I will find her wherever she is and take her heart in my hands and crush it. I will watch the muscle, tissue and blood pour down my hand as she lays on the ground next to her people dead. She will be the last to go… she will watch the others die. I am the last Ori… I have all their powers, all their knowledge. I will win… I will win for the Ori. Then once the galaxy is subjugated, I will ascend and gain the collective powers of the Ori… the collective power of two galaxies and destroy the Ancients. The fire of the gods is now within me, and I will make them pay… no matter how long it takes; they will pay.'
Battlestar Pegasus, Admiral Cain's quarters; present day, 1700 hours.
It had been many days since Admiral Cain met the Prior on the Pegasus. As she stood in front of the mirror that was located in her quarters, she recalled the very first day that she had met the man with the glowing staff. Back then, she was on crutches due to her leg injury as she, with Colonel Fisk flanking her walked onto the flight deck and stood in front of a crowd of wary but exited crewmembers. The Admiral looked around her surroundings and glanced at the gangways that were directly over the hanger bay. Smiling, she then turned to Colonel Fisk and asked him if the snipers were ready.
"Yes, sir" said Colonel Fisk as Admiral Cain nodded at him, "ready to fire on your command."
'Good" said the Admiral as she heard a noise in the distance before a strange ship, with what looked like a ball of energy in the rear section, floated towards the group, "by the gods, Jack. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"It's floating off the ground, sir" said the Colonel as she looked around and looked at the looked of awe from the other behind him, particularly from Major Shaw. He then looked back at the Admiral and asked her if she had any idea how advanced these people could be.
"The Colonial Military's Research and Development division was working on a theory" said the Admiral as the small craft stopped in front of them, "but just a theory. They said that a working prototype would be decades away…. And only if we were lucky."
"To be this advanced" said Colonel Fisk as a side door slowly opened, "they could be great allies against the Cylons."
"And Adama" replied the Admiral as she stepped forward with her crutch as the door opened and two armoured soldiered walked onto the deck and covered the entrance as the crew started to mummer. They looked at the strange armour and the staffs that they were holding on to just as another two soldiers walked out onto the deck. They were soon followed by a bald, pale man who had a scar over one of his eyelids. He was dressed all in brown with a strange symbol on his chest. They saw him look at everyone from the top of the ramp that led from the ship to the hanger deck before he walked down carrying a staff with a crystal ball on top, and a brown book in the other hand.
"Welcome aboard the Pegasus" said Admiral Cain as she walked towards the bald man, "my name is Admiral Helena Cain, commander of this vessel."
"I am a Prior of the Ori, do you speak for your people?"
"Yes" said the Admiral as Shaw looked nervously at the Prior and then at the Admiral, before looking at Colonel Fisk as sweat beaded down the side of his face, "yes, I do."
"However, none of you wish to embrace the Ori of your own free will" said the Prior as he held on to his staff while the Admiral looked up at the sniper positions when she heard sickening cracks from the gangways followed by thuds of bodies hitting the metal floor. She then looked at the Prior with her eyes wide open in shock, wondering how the Prior knew about the snipers, "you seek to know how I discovered your plot."
"I… I…" said the Admiral confused.
"The Ori know all" said the Prior as he looked at everyone, "the Ori are all seeing, and all knowing…."
"Then why didn't they help us against the Cylons?" said Captain Shaw as everyone looked at her; as the Admiral looked at her before she told the officer, in no certain terms, to remember her place and stay in line. Shaw couldn't do anything but look back at her superior officer, knowing that she just crossed a line as other mumbled behind her. The Major knew that she had just expressed the thoughts that all of them were thinking, despite all the showy technology… the main thought going through most of them were that if the Ori were so powerful, then why didn't they prevent the attacks of the Colonies.
"The Ori wanted to show you the folly of your ways" said the Prior as he held up the book, "Origin was the real uniting force of this land. The usurpers, the legion of evil that you call your gods, turned your ancestors away from the hallowed words in this book. They were the ones who took your people away from the path to entitlement, to knowledge of the universe that has been hoarded ever since. But now, the Ori have come to share that knowledge with you, to save your people… the Ori feel that you have learned your lessons and are ready to come back to the great path of enlightenment."
"We want your technology" said Admiral Cain, "we want to get rid of the Cylons and…."
"The Cylons are inconsequential to the grand design that the Ori have for this land" said the Prior, "they have already been taken care off. Now, now is the time for you and your people to come back to the Great Path; come back to Origin and then, eventually ascension. A life full of wondrous knowledge and everlasting life alongside the Ori."
"This.. this is blasphemous" said a crewmember as the Admiral turned around and stared at the man who had just spoken.
"I… I'm sorry, sir" said the man as he shook his head at the Admiral, "bu.. but this is… we're turning our backs on the gods."
"If you seek proof" said the Prior as the Admiral turned around again and stepped back as the Prior tapped his staff onto the floor as the crystal glowed a brilliant white that seemed to hit each and every part of the ship, as even those in the engine room could see the white light coming in through the hallways. The glow soon faded as the soldiers walked into the ship, followed by the Prior who turned and faced a stunned crowd, "there will come a time when you will seek the assistance of your gods. When they do not come to your aid, you will either die…. Or you will embrace the words of Origin and worship the Ori."
"Wait" said the Admiral as the door to the ship closed, and then turned around. She knew that something just happened, that something bad had just happened and she and the crew may have just paid a heavy price.
It was a few hours later, after the punishments given to the crewmember and Captain Shaw, that the first signs of a problem had surfaced. A black eyed Captain Shaw was in the CIC, as the other crewmembers avoided her like a plague, when suddenly the Major next to her started coughing. It was soon enough the Captain herself started to cough and then she felt slightly dizzy.
"Sir?" said the Captain as she got up from her chair and turned to look at the Admiral, who was looking at her as if she would take her weapon out and shoot her between the eyes, as she held onto the back of her chair, "I… I…"
"Captain?" asked Colonel Fisk as he rushed towards the young woman as she grabbed her chest and then fainted on the floor, "Captain?"
"Colonel?" asked the Admiral as Colonel Fisk felt for Captain Shaw's pulse. He then looked up and said that her pulse was rapid, and her skin was burning, "get her o the infirmary."
It was then, as the Colonel was picking up Captain Shaw in his arms that others in the CIC started to cough. It wasn't long before the Admiral started to feel sick as she stood at the CIC's center table with her head in her hands. She had already gotten reports of three quarters of the ship's crew getting sick with the same exact symptoms and they had nothing in the infirmary that could heal them.
"We tried our most powerful antibiotics, sir" said the doctor in charge, "but… I'm sorry."
Those were the words ringing in the Admiral's head as she stood, coughing and weak, looking through the glass at a completely weakened Gina; her pet Number Six who was still just staring at her in her catatonic state. It had been six hours since the Prior had been on board the ship, six hours since Captain Shaw was the first to die. The Admiral new that even Gina was getting sick as she asked the doctor to check her temperature when people started to exhibit the symptoms ship wide. She was knocked out of her train of thought as the phone in the cell rang and the Admiral limped over, while coughing and holding onto the walls for balance due to her dizzy spells. She picked up the receiver and asked whoever it was calling what it was, and that it had better be good news.
"Sorry, sir" said a weakened Captain at the CIC, "I.. I'm sorry to say that Colonel Fisk just collapsed. He… he's not breathing, sir. He… he's gone."
"Frak" said the Admiral weakly, "how… how many?"
"Five hundred, sir" said the Captain, "what are your… your or.. orders?"
"Prior… Prior" said the Admiral as she lay her head on the wall, before she turned and leaned her back on it, "Prior…. Must… must have anti… antidote."
The admiral felt herself leaving her body as her chest tightened before she slipped down onto the floor and used all her strength to give her last, final order to the Captain.
"In.. inform, Prior" said the Admiral as she struggled for breathe, "tell we… do… anything… Ori. That's… that… my order. Tell.. them… help…"
"Admiral?" asked the Captain as the phone fell onto the floor as the voice of the Captain came through, calling for the Admiral who was slumped against the wall with her head hanging down, as her hair covered her face. The Captain tried a few more time before he called the Ori ship, and relayed the Admiral's orders.
It seemed a lifetime for Helena Cain, she thought that she felt herself floating in a sea as she looked up at a blue sky. She looked around and smiled at the crystal clear water before she felt herself sinking. She started to panic as she started sinking deeper and deeper into the water when she suddenly opened her eyes and gave a gasp as she looked around before she noticed the figure of the Prior standing in front of her looking at Gina.
"You have kept a soulless one" said the Prior as he looked at the catatonic Gina.
"How… how?" asked the Admiral as she winched in pain as she slowly got up by holding on to the wall of the cell. She then turned around and pinched herself to make sure that she was awake. She then looked up at the Prior stunned as he walked towards the glass.
"I have told you that your gods will not be able to help you" said the Prior as he turned and looked at the Admiral, "the Ori have given you the cure. They seek only to teach your people the way to the Great Path, and one way is to show mercy. Mercy to you, and to the ones who have not believed."
"Admiral! Admiral!" shouted Captain Shaw, who ran in with Colonel Fisk through the door as the dark haired Admiral stared at the two of them while stepping back in shock.
"How?" asked the Admiral as she looked at the Prior, and then at the two officers in front of her, "I.. I was told the both of you died."
"We have reports all over the ship, sir" said Colonel Fisk as he nodded his head while continuing to talk with excitement in his voice, "the ones who had died, are… are alive. It is a miracle."
"It is the mercy of the Ori" said the Prior as he walked towards the Admiral and lifted his hand and touched the Admiral's face. Captain Shaw and Colonel Fisk looked on stunned as the scars on the Admiral's face closed up, and it was soon that they all realized that the Admiral could move both her legs properly. The injury that the Admiral recently suffered was no more.
"Hallowed are the Ori" said the Prior as he stood back and handed the Admiral, who was still stunned at what just happened, a translated copy of the Book of Origin.
"Hallowed are the Ori" said the three of them together.
The Admiral had been spending a few days with the Prior in her quarters going over the Book of Origin before there was a report that another Ori vessel had made it to their location. The Prior smiled as he told Admiral Cain to accompany him to the hanger bay where he would introduce her to the Orici, the one who would put the Admiral on a direct path to the Great Path; a place from where she would lead the Twelve Worlds of Kobol to the embrace of the Ori, and to ascension.
It wasn't too long before the Admiral met Adria, who told the Prior return to his ship and go on to his assigned planet to led the inhabitants in prostration. In the meantime, she would accompany the Admiral back to her quarters.
"Yes, Orici" said the Prior as he stepped back while the Orici turned and smiled at the Admiral who led Adria back to her quarters.
"You still do not believe" said Adria in her regal attire as she walked past various crew that could only look at the both of them as they walked through the hallways, "you still do not believe in what the Ori offer. You are interested only in our technology."
"I have seen the power" said Admiral Cain as they approached her quarters while, at the same time, she glanced at the young woman walking next to her. The Admiral could feel the power just radiating from Adria as she stopped outside her quarters while they continued to talk. The Admiral could hear the Orici's voice in her own head while she was talking before the Colonial officer opened her door and let Adria into her quarters.
"You fear me" said Adria as she walked in the room while the Admiral closed the hatch to her quarters behind her. The young woman then walked towards the tall Colonial and asked why there were no seats.
"I prefer that my officers stand" said the Admiral as she headed towards a small table where there were some bottles of ambrosia, "would you like a drink? Do the Ori, Priors… Orici's have drinks?"
"Orici" said Adria as she smiled at the Admiral, "I am the living embodiment of the Ori; their powers, their knowledge… everything they are.. I am. And no, there is only one of me… and I do not require a drink."
"Ah" said the Admiral as she poured herself a drink before closing the bottle. She then turned and sipped her ambrosia while looking at Adria who, in turn, was looking around her quarters before she turned and looked straight at her.
"To be honest" said Adria, "I prefer my quarters for what you are thinking."
"Excuse me?" asked the Admiral as she walked away from Adria after she downed the entire glass of ambrosia.
"You believe that with the powers of a Prior" said Adria as she walked towards the Admiral, "that you may protect your people, kill the traitors and destroy the soulless creatures known as the Cylons. Creatures that your own gods did not prevent you from creating.. even if they knew that your people would be destroyed by them."
"Yes" said Admiral Cain a she shook her head, trying to get rid of thoughts that were swimming in her head, thoughts of her standing on a plain with her feet ankle deep in water with Adria standing next to her as they looked at a great city located in the distance, "why… why are you in my mind?"
"I'm showing you the true power of the Ori" said Adria, "I am showing you the City of the Gods on the plains of Celestis. The Cylons have been wiped out. A great force tried to retake Caprica and one ship destroyed them all. If you are to become a Prior, then you will be tasked with converting the survivors on the Twelve Worlds. You will bring them to the fold of the Ori, you will bring them to the embrace of the Ori. You are strong… a great officer of the Colonies; believed by the people?"
"Yes" said the Admiral as she stood up straight while she and Adria were in her mind approaching a gate with another regal looking Prior who turned around after opening the gate. She saw that beyond the Gate of what seemed to be iron was a great wall of fire, "I can lead the people. They will follow me to the Ori.. I can refit this ship with the technology of the Ori and fight with you once the Twelve Worlds belong to the Ori. I will assist in the destruction of Earth and… and…"
"You will not attack the Earth" said the Orici as she walked towards the Admiral who suddenly screamed in pain as she got on her knees as she imagined herself getting tortured while Adria just looked on, "you will not attack Earth. You will convert the other Colonials in that fleet after you have converted the Twelve Worlds. If Earth refuses… only then will you join us when we destroy that planet. You will convert the renegade fleet, and only if they refuse to join will you burn them. Do you understand?"
"Ye.. yes" said the Admiral as she kneeled on the floor and held her head in her hands.
"Yes, what?" asked Adria as she walked towards the Admiral.
"Ye.. yes, Orici" said the Admiral as she felt the pain immediately vanish before she opened her tear filled eyes and looked up at Adria who got on both knees in front of her.
"Good" said the Orici, "there are many ways for the change. But I am told that this is more… preferred."
A stunned Admiral looked on as Adria leaned forward and gave her a deep kiss. The Admiral returned the kiss as she felt a great power go through her, and it wasn't before long that Adria pulled back and smiled at her newest creation. A single minded Prior that would spread Origin to the remaining hundreds of thousands of unbelievers on the Twelve Worlds. In the meantime, she knew that she had to return to her ship, that it was long overdue for Daniel to return.. and she guessed that he had something planned.
'The Sangraal is on the other ship' thought Adria to herself, referring to the ship that the Prior had just taken, as she got up before the newly created Prior stood up and looked at the Orici while holding a staff, 'but just to be sure. I will take my ship to the Supergate until Dr. Jackson returns, and finishes the weapon.'
"I have some business that requires my attention" said Adria as she got back on her feet, "you know your role?"
"Yes, Orici" said the now Prior Cain.
"Good" said Adria with a smile, "you have your pet to play with now. In the meantime, go convert the Twelve Worlds. Hallowed are the Ori."
"Hallowed are the Ori" said Cain as she gave Adria a bow.
That was a few days ago, and as Prior Cain in the present day looked at her facial scars, her pale skin and silver hair.. she could only smile as she felt the massive amounts of power coursing through her body. She had some knowledge of the Ori, she could refit her ship with weapons from materials that she hoped still existed on the Twelve Worlds. She knew that the Cylon attacks were widespread, but that the more classified military projects, the projects that never made it to any public, or 'official', government documents should still exist.
'We could use those to create a weapon that we could attach to the hull of the Pegasus' thought the Prior to herself as she went through the information in her mind, 'and then, once the people have converted to Origin, I will find the others and then… then I will have my day. Adama and Roslin, I am coming for the both of you… technology using ascended knowledge against our old Colonial technology; I will burn you both… both Colonial One and Galactica.'
Cain then smiled at her reflection before she turned and walked out of her quarters. She walked down the halls as the crew she passed looked at her, some in awe while others in fear of what may happen if she was unhappy or angry at them; they saw an example of how ruthless she can be when they had seen what happened to Gina after Cain became a Prior. She healed the Cylon in front of them… before levitating her off the ground and sentenced her to death. Cain telekinetically twisted the head of the Cylon woman before she unceremoniously dropped the now dead Gina to the floor of the hanger bay, and told the crew to shove her out the air lock.
Almost at the CIC, the former Admiral could feel the fear from everyone.. and she liked it. She walked through the revolving doors and into the CIC where Colonel Fisk and the others stopped what they were doing and looked at Cain.
"Are we there?"
"Yes" said the Colonel, still trying to get used to his superior in her new look, "sir."
"Prepared for final jump to Caprica" said Captain Shaw as she turned and looked at Cain, while tring her best to hide her fear.
"Jump" said the Prior as she smiled at Colonel Fisk before walking to the table where she tapped her staff onto the ground and the crystal glowed, connecting her mind to the rest of the crew, "we will bring enlightenment to the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. We will lead them to the light of the Ori, and onto the Great Path. Those who refuse will be burned in the flames of damnation… but those who join us in this holy crusade will shine in the eyes of the gods; the gods who saved this ship when the false gods of Athena, Hera, Zeus, Artemis and the others dared not. The one, true gods… Hallowed are the Ori."
"Hallowed are the Ori" said everyone on the bridge as Cain sensed everyone in the ship saying the same thing, "Hallowed are the Ori."
"Sir" said the Colonel as he looked up at the DRADIS screen, "we've come home."
"Shaw" said Cain as she looked at the officer, "with me. Pick some marines as well, we're heading to the surface. It's time we continued the conversion process."
"Yes.. yes, Prior" said Shaw as she looked at the former Admiral, a great fear growing in her gut as she tried not to think about the consequences now that they sold their souls for power.
The Colonial Refugee Planet, 1700 hours.
Narim and four others from the Curia, including Carine, were waiting at the New Tollana Stargate along with Commander Melik who was speaking with two of the Curia members and about sixty people from the Asura who survived, and were given basic medical assistance. Some members of Tollan security who had translator jewels located on their lapels told the frightened Colonials what was going to happen next, that they were travelling to another world where they would be able to get food, medicine and a place to stay.
In the meantime, Narim was walking towards his wife as she looked at the Ancient's ring before she turned and gave him a small smile once she sensed his presence.
"Will you be talking to me now?" asked Narim as he looked down at the floor they were standing on as a few children were crying and asking for their parents, "you realize that you and I are in an union. Not Samantha and I."
"I apologize" said Carine softly as she looked at the crying children as some of the adults tried to comfort them, before he looked back at Narim, "I remember the first time we met on the transport out of Tollana. You continued talking about Samantha and how you needed to contact her. I was afraid that.. I feared that old feelings may surface when you see her again."
"I do not deny having had an infatuation" said Narim as he glanced over at Carine who was looking up at the ring, "and the longer that I knew that there was no means to contact Earth; that's when I realized that it was just an infatuation. It is something that does not last as long as one believes."
"But..." said Carine as Narim interrupted her.
"She is not you, Carine" said Narim as the woman looked at her husband and smiled before she looked at the ring once again.
"High Counsellor" said one of the men from Tollan security, "the Colonials are prepared."
"Very well" said Narim as he brought up his arm and pressed some buttons on the device that was attached to his wrist. It wasn't too long before the wormhole was formed as the Colonials behind them gave a collective gasp at the blue puddle of water. Narim turned around and told than that it was completely harmless, that they would be going through the event horizon of the wormhole to a brand new planet thousands of light years away. Noticing how unconvinced the Colonial's seemed, he locked his fingers with Carine's and told them that he and his wife will go through first. And then he will give the signal for everyone else to come through to prove that it was safe.
"I am ready" said Carine as she looked at Narim as they both of them walked through the Stargate and found themselves on another planet standing on a pedestal with several people looking up at them. Narim led his wife down the stairs before a bald man approached him and introduced himself as Richard Woolsey from the International Oversight Advisory.
"Narim" said Colonel Carter as Woolsey motioned towards her as she stood next to Faith, "it's been a long time."
"Samantha" said Narim with a smile, "it is good to see you again."
It was once Woolsey finished introducing the others, including the new members of SG-1, that Narim introduced Carine as his wife and fellow Curia member.
"Congrats" said General O'Neill as he patted the Tollan male on his shoulder as Colonel Carter, along with Faith and Teal'c walked towards Carine and offered their congratulations. However, it didn't take too long before their conversation switched to the matter at hand. The General motioned for the medical staff to come up to the pedestal before he nodded at Narim who spoke into his wrist device and asked that the refugees be sent through the gate.
"How many survivors?" asked Colonel Carter as she and Carine watched the confused looking Colonial refugees being met at the Stargate's pedestal by the medical staff. She could see that most of them were frightened and looked back at the Stargate as they were led away by medical personnel while the translators from Earth told them that they were safe, and that they were going to be medically examined before they were given some food and rest. The Colonel then saw Carine look at the Stargate before she closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Out of a hundred and fifty?" asked Carine as she looked at the blonde woman before she looked at the steady stream of men and woman, both young and elderly, as well as children who were crying while coming through the Stargate, "only sixty survived."
"Damn" said Faith as she looked on as the stream stopped and two more Curia members stepped through the gate before the Stargate disengaged. They were then met by Narim, Woolsey and General O'Neill, "what happened?"
"As far as we could tell" said Carine, "half died from their escape, a few more died after they landed on New Tollana… there was nothing we could do."
It was soon that Narim, and the others walked towards Colonel Carter and her group along with someone in a strange uniform that seemed out of place among both Tollan and the Earth officers. Narim introduced him as Commander Melik of the Asura, and told them that he had a horrifying tale to say.
"Very well" said Woolsey as he looked at the General and nodded his head.
"Let's talk" said the General as he looked at Melik, who looked at Narim confused before the Tollan translated what the Earth officer had told him. The general then looked at Narim and asked him how the man understood him since he spoke English.
"Translation matrix" said Narim as he pointed to the crystal on his lapel while Daniel walked towards him excitedly.
"Interesting" said Daniel as he looked at the device the size of a pin, "any language?"
"Yes" said Narim as Daniel looked at the device closely.
"Neat" said General O'Neill, "any way we could… you know… get some of that…"
"I am sorry, General" said Carine, "but…"
"It's not a weapon though" said Faith, "weapons I can understand."
"I do apologize" said Narim as he looked at everyone, "the Curia still is living by the previous code. No technology can be shared with primitive races."
"Ah well" said the General as he looked at Daniel and nodded his head at Melik, "we'll do it the old fashioned way."
"Melik" said Daniel as he motioned the man to follow him, "if you'd come with me, we can have a quick discussion with these officers over a hot cup of coffee. You can talk to us about what happened to you and your people after your flight from the Colonies. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes" said Melik.
Daniel had led Melik, accompanied by the others as they headed towards the main camp. They could see that a huge crowd was already at the medical building as doctors and nurses rushed out to help the Colonials. In the meantime, Daniel led them to the Mess tent as Colonel Carter walked next to Faith, Vala and Teal'c while Colonel Mitchell and Dixon escorted Colonel O'Neill and the others.
"You alright, Sam?" whispered Faith as she saw the blonde woman stealing glances at Carine and Narim who were walking together.
"Yeah" said the Colonel as she looked at Faith as Vala tapped on her shoulder.
"So you and him had a… you know? I think the proper Earth term is 'a thing'?" asked Vala quietly.
"Huh?" said the Colonel, "oh, no.. I mean.. no… it was nothing. Just a silly crush… you know."
"Indeed" said Teal'c as the Colonel looked back at him and smiled, "however, she had given Narim a feline."
"Oooooo" said Faith and Vala as they grinned at the Colonel whose face was turning red as they approached the tent, while the Colonel looked back at Teal'c who was looking away with a small smile on his face.
"Did you just set me up, Teal'c?" asked the Colonel as she furrowed her eyebrows at the man.
"I do not know what you refer to, Colonel Carter" said Teal'c as they walked past the group of people who were in lines of ten as the nurses and other staff were giving out coffee for the refugees to drink while waiting to be checked out.
"This is bad" said Vala as she looked at them before looking at the Colonel, "if your briefing about what their military did to them was right, I mean.. I expect this from the Goa'uld. Not other humans."
"That's the ugly side of humanity for ya" said Colonel Mitchell as he hung back for Vala and the rest of SG-1 while Daniel sat down with Melik, General O'Neill and the others, "I'm guessing that we'll get to hear the whole story with Jackson translating for us."
As Melik drank a cup of hot coffee, he recounted the story of how the Battlestar Pegasus found them. Daniel was going to interrupt at certain points as Melik was speaking, but it was General O'Neill who asked the archaeologist to hold on; to wait until they had found out everything. Everyone could just look on stunned as Melik recounted, with Daniel and the just arrived Dr. Burke translating, at how Admiral Cain had ordered all military needs to take priority before anything else. He told them how she ripped out the jump drives, food, water, supplies of spare parts; everything that a ship would need to survive was taken away, including important personnel. He then stopped as his voice cracked before Melik talked about the people on the Scyllia who refused; he told a stunned audience that the ones who refused, the ones who the Pegasus had claimed were important, had their families up against the hull of the ship, and shot dead. It was that example that made the other ships surrender to the Pegasus.
"But you did not?" said Carine, also stunned at what she was hearing. Not one of the Curia had bothered to ask what had happened with the Pegasus. They were so intent on handing the refugees off to the SGC that they never bothered to ask any questions. She could only looked at her husband before they watched the Earth officers who were holding their anger in check; she then looked at the bald diplomat as he rolled his hands into fists before she looked down and then over her shoulder at Colonel Carter who had her eyes closed while shaking her head.
"No" said Melik as Carine turned back to him, "I sabotaged my jump drive.. told the military personnel that there was an overload earlier that day while escaping from the Cylons. Even asked them for spare parts.. but of course they refused."
"Melik" said Daniel as he put his hand on the man's shoulder, "do you have the co-ordinates for the fleet that the Pegasus stole from? Maybe they could still be alive or…"
"It has been months" said Melik as he looked at Daniel, "they are all likely dead."
"We still need to check it out, Jack" said Daniel as he looked at General O'Neill while Melik looked at the archaeologist, "there could still be people alive… no matter how unlikely."
"I am sorry" said Narim as the General looked at him, "but we are unable to spare any ships.. or at least that was the initial decision. With what Melik has told us, Carine and I.. along with the other two Curia members could go back and ask the rest of the Curia to change their decision."
"You do that" said the General as he looked at Narim, and then he looked behind him at Colonel Carter, "Carter, I need you back at the SGC. Emerson's on leave so I want you to take command of the Odyssey and get to those coordinates that Melik will, I hope, be giving us. Run scans and search for any life signs."
"The Odyssey?" asked a confused Narim as he and Carine looked at Colonel Carter.
"A ship" said Colonel Carter with a smile as Narim and the other Tollan looked on surprised before she leaned sideways and talked to the General, "I'll have Willow join me, sir. If there are any barely alive signs of life.. then we could use her abilities to help them recover."
"Do it" said the General before he turned around and nodded at Daniel who then asked Melik for the coordinates, telling him that he and the others would try to rescue as many people as possible and bring them back.
Melik could only wrap his arms around himself as he nodded his head before telling the Earth officers what they needed to know. It was then that Colonel Carter rushed out of the tent after the General told the others that they were needed here to help in relocating the refugees once they had been given their check-ups.
"Where… Where are you people from?" asked Melik as Daniel translated, "we have never heard of a people called the Tollan and now… now we have met more humans outside the Colonies."
"We" said Daniel after the General had given the man his approval, "we are from Earth."
While Melik looked on in shock at Daniel, General O'Neill told Colonel Mitchell and Dixon to head to the Stargate and contact the planet where they had found the organic Cylon remains, as well as the nuked civilization. He ordered them to contact the SGC personnel who were still conducting experiments and ask them if any Colonial craft had landed on the planet. If not, and in the event that Colonial ships did arrive, then they were to contact any Colonial personnel who claimed to be from the Galactica, and get them to the Colonial Refugee planet for an urgent debrief on what they had just learned.
"Yes, sir" said Colonel Mitchell and Dixon as they ran out of the tent before he turned to look at a still stunned Melik who was being slowly taken out of the tent by both Daniel and Vala, who were trying their best to keep him calm.
The General then asked Faith and Teal'c to help out Riley and Sam while he and Woolsey talked to Narim and the other Tollan.
"Sure" said Faith before they walked out of the tent as the General turned to Narim and Carine, who looked back at the older man in surprise.
"Yeah" said the General with a small smile, "I think we need to talk."
TBC.