Mystery Solved
Disclaimer: The characters of the Stargate Universe belong to MGM. The characters of the Four Orders are entirely my own.
AU/SGU/FO: A powerful being from another universe appears on the Destiny just as Eli's time had run out. Stranded on the ship he has to figure out how to go home and the best way is to help the crew of Destiny.
Season Six – 'Hidden Treasures'
Premise:
The crew of Destiny exited stasis only to discover two new passengers from another universe, which have spent their time fixing the ship. After some deliberations, they choose to keep them onboard as their newest allies.
Not long after, an Ancient seed ship nearly killed them all challenging their beliefs of everything they knew about the Ancients. So, they started exploring the reason for that.
Having tasked the SGC to assist, Diablo hopes for results but their lack of progress forces him to leave the ship and return to the Milky Way Galaxy to expedite matters.
A year later, he is back on Earth. Using a base of a race as old as the Ancients, he begins to fill in the gaps. Deciding not to reveal his newest resources just yet, he joins the SGC a year later. In the meantime, the crew of Destiny makes interesting and painful discoveries, and experiences the joy that comes with it.
On Earth, Diablo had to silence temporarily Colonel Carter as she had come close to some of his secrets but revealed to her that he had discovered the proper location of Clava Thessara Infinitas.
Chapter 10
Carter stood speechless as Diablo explained the complex task, he wanted to charge the Talosians (as she learnt the name of their species) with. When he started explaining how this ludicrous feat will be done, she was at complete loss.
He spoke of things that simply couldn't be. There was no such thing as a sentient sun, let alone that it had avatars. Of course, Diablo had ignored her protests on the matter. When he finally breached the payment for their assistance, now Carter was furious and very protective.
"You can't do that without her permission."
"Not that it concerns you, Colonel, but she will do it."
"You can't take unilateral actions on her behalf."
"I agree with you but trust me she will do it. It is a rare opportunity for her to meet telepaths from another race and let alone this powerful besides she has a unique gift." Diablo said and then added seeing the interest of the Talosians. "Dr. Cameron has developed a very rare ability to communicate with all members of the animal kingdom whether they are on her planet or any other in the universe."
The Talosians were impressed and agreed that this is rare indeed. They understood that Diablo wanted to give them the possibility to study this ability. On one hand, he wanted to use it as payment for the crazy task he gave them and on the other one to help her hone her skills and stop being afraid of it.
"We have a deal." The elder said and just as like that they all vanished from Carter's sight.
"I really hated when people do that."
"Tell that to Detective Gordon." Diablo replied and then added as Carter did not get it. "I imagine that is how he feels every time Batman does it."
Carter again had to remind herself that boys will always be boys. The man before her was the most powerful entity they have ever encountered and yet his mind was also into fictional comics and absurd TV shows.
"And if she says no – then what?"
"Then I will give them you and O'Neill, they will definitely enjoy that."
"What?"
Diablo ignored her and headed back to the ship. He was confident that Rhea will not turn down this opportunity. She needed the reassurance the world is not as crazy as she thought. When she sees what these guys can do, she will see the universe in a different way.
As they returned to Earth, Diablo began the necessary preparations. He sent information and instructions to Viz. He also needed to prepare the SGC for the biggest reveal since the discovery of the Stargate, Atlantis and Destiny. But first was the reunion with his friend.
Carter had to explain their visit to Talos to the SGC. To say that they hard time grasping the concept was an understatement. Carter still found it ludicrous and impossible and she voiced it again as Diablo swung by.
"Colonel," he sighed in frustration now. "How does your life compare to that of a star?"
"It is ..."
"...a fart in comparison."
O'Neill and Landry chucked. Sometimes Diablo's comparisons were worthy of Comedy Central.
"Some stars are sentient, Colonel, not all of them." He explained. "They have the ability to slow their time down to ours. And that is, mind you, quite the feat. They can't communicate with us directly for obvious reasons. So, they send their avatars." As he was explaining the obvious reason, he depicted something melting down or vaporising. It was very comic at least for the generals.
"Avatars?" General Hank Landry asked.
"They are usually magenta, -ish, beings with tails like devils. They are very naughty, smiley and like to party unlike any other being. They are very good with plants (again for obvious reasons). Some have powers some don't." Diablo showed a depiction of a Sun Avatar.
"Wow!" O'Neill exclaimed. "So, you'd using those fellas to make contact with Destiny?"
"Yes,"
"How many would be needed for this endeavour to succeed?" Hank inquired.
"I think about four hundred of them ought to do it." Diablo replied after a moment of reflection.
"Are they all female?" O' Neill asked his eyes still stuck at the weird being.
"Well, life propagates on the wings of the..." Diablo trailed off waiting for someone to have an epiphany and then shaking head added. "...the mothership. So, yes, they are all female. Sorry, general, no male fellas among them,"
"How long would this take?" Hank asked.
"That depends on many factors, but, I recon about an hour or so. Still, you need to deliver the dead body Viz usually occupies on Talos."
"What, why, I thought everything will happen here?"
"Yeah, no, the Talosians do not travel. They stick to their own world, mostly for protection and to avoid any potentially dangerous situations. They are very powerful telepaths and it would be very tempting for many races to get their hands on them."
"Do you need anything else?" O'Neill said moving to his desk.
"Yes, I will need you and Colonel Carter present." Diablo replied.
"Oh, no, I am not coming." Carter protested having remembered that she and Jack are the backup payment.
"It is not open for debate, Colonel. The Hammond can't command itself. And General O'Neill is the lead protector and the face of Earth."
"Oh, it is open for much debating."
"Sorry, Carter, but he's right – you are coming." O'Neill said firmly. She gestured him to join her. She explained the real reason he wanted them on Talos. O'Neill was taken aback a bit but then shook head and laughed. "No reason to be afraid then Carter. If these fellas are this good, they can tell me where I left the keys to the Harley."
Diablo left the SGC to prepare on his end. The return on Earth will either be glorious success or an epic failure. Avatar greeted him with some not so good news.
"Milord, I have analyzed the data you recovered from the underground lab and I'm afraid it is not as promising as advertised."
"What do you mean?"
"It is indeed accounting for shipment movements but only for the materials used for building the lab itself. I am not sure for what reason that person kept such a meticulous record or if it was the same person but either way it is useless to us."
"So, it was not to build the frame of Destiny?"
"No, only for this base."
"Then why was the frame of Destiny mentioned?"
"There is indeed a mention of it but it refers to another base. I was unable to find information on where that was. "
"But the formula for the metal, what was that for then?"
"Apparently, they put it in every base should there ever would be a need to provide partial construction items for something. I am very sorry, milord, but the data there in terms of raw material movement is useless."
"Darn it. Is there anything useful?"
"The list that contains all of the scientists shows also their appointments around that map that you found. There was also detailed account of all that types of FTL they had experimented with and only a percent of them made the cut for real testing the rest were dismissed."
"So, at least, there is something."
"Uncovering all their movements throughout that sector will take years. Using only two ships at the time will not cut it. We need more resources. It is as you frequently remind Colonel Carter space is vast."
"We have the Ashlar ships."
"That won't cut it either. Even if we tell them about the base, it will take years to train the SGC personnel. The Ashlar vessels are far more complex than those of the Ancients. Even their current crews have much to learn. It is not ideal, not yet."
"This creates an inconvenient setback." Diablo exclaimed frustrated. He had hoped it will not take this long.
"For this to work and as fast as you would want it, we will need all the resources of Earth and that means disclosing the SGC program to the world. With all that behind us, the necessary time will be cut down significantly."
"Yeah, they won't go for that." Diablo stopped and reminded himself of the difficult task that he had undertaken. While he had advanced much in the last year, he had barely uncovered one percent of what needed to be uncovered to have the entire picture. This meant he will need decades unless he makes some miraculous breakthrough, which at this point was unlikely.
"You can always go back in time and have all that you need."
"Yeah, it doesn't work like that. Going back reveals only a portion of reality not all of it. For all, you need to live through it." Diablo sighed deeply. "This will take a few decades if not more." He realized that being the most powerful being doesn't mean every door opens itself for you just because. Chasing down history of millions of years back with barely any remaining history, the task was even at the beginning close to impossible as it was still now.
When the time came, he boarded the USS Hammond. They headed first to the sun where Diablo conversed with the sun's avatar that then joined them. Carter had to admit that she had never seen a being as weird as this one, mostly because the internal sensors did not register it as present or alive.
The journey with it was though very enlightening. The sun avatar quickly guessed who was most sceptical so it spent the journey with Colonel Carter challenging everything she thought she knew about the cosmos. Diablo felt it was best to stay away from their conflict. He focused instead on his meditation. It was a necessary component for the mission at hand.
The Talosians would have to enter his mind and he wanted to ensure he doesn't fry them in the process. He needed to restructure his mind walls. It was a good thing the Hammond was going at standard cruising speed so it gave him the necessary time.
As they arrived, the Hammond landed near the cave of the Talosians. Diablo remained onboard until the sun avatar would come to collect him. First to come would have to be Viz and then Vanessa in the bodies prepared for this occasion. They needed to meet with the Talosians so they can prepare them for what it was to come. Then they would return back to Destiny and get ready. An hour later, the party would start.
The Talosians via the minds of the sun avatars will create a space where the three would meet and the building of the bridge would commence. This process could take days as it was a delicate procedure. And also, the telepaths payment would have to come too – Rhea. She had been briefed and to the surprise of Colonel Carter had accepted. Carter wanted to ensure she fully understands what that could mean for her but Rhea was adamant.
Preparations were complete. The sun avatar came to collect Diablo. They reached the cave where the Talosians stood ready. Carter remained in her sceptic state of mind but changed very quickly when the sun avatar took the form a small sun. As the avatar's radiance increased ever so slightly, everyone could swear they can see another one reaching out to it.
The Talosians focused and Diablo opened his mind to them. He sensed their surprise as they just like Carter had been very sceptical about the power that his mind harboured. He smiled but maintained his focus. And in an instance, he was no longer in the cave but travelling at incredible speed towards the pocket dimension created for this occasion.
Reaching it, he sensed the presence of Viz. This time he did not push him away. He reached for him but he was still out of range. He felt calming warmth that came from the Talosians as they eased the distance between them. Diablo began sensing Vanessa. Her mind was in great distress.
'What did she think this would be a cakewalk?' Diablo thought fondly of her non understanding of the world she had walked in. Still, he focused on adding soothing notes to calm her down. Ironically, she may have thought that should come from her husband but it was not his place to do that. As the three will have to coexist somehow, she had to learn to trust Diablo.
He felt her resistance which was more than natural. No one enjoys, apart the Borg, having someone else in your mind constantly talking. That was a level of torture you can't wish even on your worst enemies (unless you are very cruel or pissed at them). Her distress eased bit by bit.
Now, they stood before a veil that was more like a wall. That's all that separated them.
"Boss?"
"Viz,"
"Sweetie?"
Vanessa did not reply. She did not understand where she was nor what that thing before her was but she could sense both Viz and Diablo.
"See it as meeting hall." Diablo helped out.
"It is more like a fork."
"A fork is where roads cross and usually create four ways not three."
"Was that Carter, boss?"
"Yes," Diablo replied and focused his answer back to where she was. "Mind your own business, Colonel."
"Why is she even hearing this?"
"I imagine the Talosians let her in so she doesn't feel excluded. Imagine standing still around the stoic telepaths that have closed eyes..."
"Yeah, anyone would feel very stupid." Viz agreed. "And impatient,"
"But why is there a wall between us?" Vanessa asked.
"Well, it is not a wall in the common sense of the word." Diablo said. "If you accept the doctrines of your world, then technically speaking you are here in your soul mode."
"Kind of a soulforge then?" Viz helped out.
"Yes, I suppose." Diablo agreed then added. "Actually, not appropriate, but close in intent,"
"I don't think I like it." Vanessa said.
"That's the point. In a moment or two, we would..." Diablo trailed off. "There is really no easy way of saying this. We will merge." He then turned to Viz. "You know the soulforge was not a bad example."
"Merge?" Vanessa panicked.
"Sweetie, calm down," Viz soothed.
"I definitely don't like it. I don't think I can make it..."
Diablo's laughter interrupted her. "Think? That is very funny given our current state. It is a very ironic thing to say, Lieutenant. You are here in the state of mind so to say I don't think it is a bit weird and utterly inappropriate."
"She has the right to say what comes to min..." Viz stopped midsentence realizing that now he sounded stupid.
"I get it, Viz." Diablo said. "I was just teasing."
"That was not funny."
"Yeah, it was. It was very funny."
"Do you two always biker this much?"
"No," Viz replied. "We do not biker. We have different opinions. Why?"
"Would it be like that all the time?"
"Yeah, it will." Diablo answered instead. She needed to hear the truth. "There is no need to sugar-coat it, Viz."
"I am not."
"Yes, you are." Diablo said then turned to Vanessa. "Didn't you take my advice?"
"I did but he's being stubborn."
"What advice?" Viz asked.
"You need to be more yourself, pumpkin." Vanessa replied.
"Well, I am..."
"No, you are not."
"Hey, I know myself thank you very much..."
"She has a point. You are being more humanly than yourself."
"I...I thought that what marriage was...sacrifice..."
"Oh, holly imbecile," Diablo exclaimed. "Being you is most important and then it is not sacrifice it is compromise. I suppose in a way it is like game politics. Both sides are not happy about it but it works for both."
"I agree." Vanessa said. "Though I would not quite put it that way,"
"True, it was not the perfect example." Diablo said.
"Still – merge..."
"It is not a bad thing, Vanessa. It will be only for a moment and then we will be one. You will see the benefits, though in your case they would be a bit weird."
"How's that?"
"You will see."
"Then, why hasn't it happened yet?"
"Yeah, there is a barrier between us." Viz agreed. "Courtesy of the Talosians, no doubt..."
"Yes and no," Diablo replied.
"What do you mean yes and no?"
"The Talosians did bring us here, yes. But the barrier isn't their doing, it is ours."
"Ours?" Vanessa exclaimed. She sounded surprised.
"Yes," Diablo confirmed. "We need to break through it before we can join. And for that, Viz, you need to be yourself."
"Are you saying this is my fault?"
"In a way, it is. You have adopted very quickly your new human home but that has changed you a great deal. Vanessa, you see, despite being as sceptical as Carter, has come here to make this work and she is nearly there, but you are far away from both of us."
"I am also very afraid." Vanessa added.
"Good, keep the fear. But do not allow it overpower you. Fear is a good regulatory tool. It keeps you grounded and real unlike that imbecile that you married."
"I...you are still against our marriage."
"As I told you before, it is not your marriage that is the problem it is the way it was done. Had that one had a little more faith in me we wouldn't be in this mess, now, would we?"
"Hey, you do remember I am also here?"
"Yeah, then, be here."
"Pumpkin, he has a point. You need to be yourself as it is the person I fell in love with..."
"...other than the weird ways of coupling," Diablo couldn't resist adding.
"Human ways are not bet..." Viz stopped himself again. He realized the point Diablo was trying to make. He had spent much time emulating the humans but he was not one of them no matter how much he tried. And that was what the others were trying to convey to him. They did not want him more human they wanted him the way he was.
The veil before him melted away. He had finally embraced who he was. Vanessa's veil was still present but Viz sensed it was not she who kept it up it was Diablo. Was he afraid of her now?
"...or there could be another reason, huh?" Diablo said.
Vanessa realized the reason he kept the barrier was that she was not ready yet. But will she ever going to be ready? It is a question she had been asking herself. 'Game politics', she now understood why he said it and as she did the barrier fell.
What she experienced as they merged was not something she could put in words. It was the weirdest sensation ever. Sensation – that was also a weird word given that they were there in a state of mind. But as it happened, all worries flew away from her.
Everything she was and was going to be took a whole new meaning. She felt, in a blink of an eye, the universe like never before. She did not believe before that these two had so much experience but that changed. She felt everything they had felt and were feeling in this moment of joy and reunion. It was exhilarating and she felt very quickly overwhelmed but their warmth protected her and the feeling (so to speak) passed and she felt light and calm.
She felt their mutual relief (again, yeah, feeling in a soul, weird). In a way, she could see the bridge that the Talosians and the three of them have built. She was probably the only human to have access to two minds at the same time. She had a thought of how weird it would be for two Goa'ulds to share the same body. Will it actually work? Or two Tok'ras?
"Now, that would be interesting to see." Diablo said. Vanessa realized that her thoughts were not exactly her own anymore. That was the price of sharing. "And so much more." Diablo added. "But let's not deviate."
"Now what?" Viz asked.
"Now begins the future." Diablo said and they both saw what he had in store for humanity. They had no more secrets between them. "Well, I will put barriers at places to protect both of you but in everything else we are one."
"But we are still apart?" Viz said.
"Distance, we will deal with that problem later. For now, you and your wife will return to Destiny while I shake things here. It will be a painful process but it has to be done."
"You really found this Infinity thing?" Vanessa asked.
"Yes, I will be telling you about it in a few days." Diablo was pleased that the mind bridge held and was holding. But it was time for action now. He did not anticipate this development when he first came to Earth but now it was nothing but inevitable. "Go, I will contact you shortly."
The two melted away and he was back in the cave with the Talosians and Carter. Well, the Talosians were busy now with their payment as Rhea had arrived.
"There is no need for us to remain here, Colonel." Diablo said.
"How would she return?"
"Easy, she would leave the body and as it is already dead, the Talosians will bury it. It has served its purpose."
"Ah, ok," Carter left the cave and returned to the ship. It took off and headed back to Earth. Apparently, the ludicrous plan worked like a charm. She had noticed that the sun avatar had disappeared too. Perhaps it had its own way of returning home, which begged the question why it had come with them in the first place.
"Oh, and Colonel," Diablo attracted her attention. "Call on ahead and inform the SGC to have the IOA's most senior representatives to come to Area 51. I have an announcement to make, and yes you want what that is though you can't tell them specifically. Tell them only it is life changing."
Carter knew what the announcement will be about. She was still furious that she couldn't share it. She wanted to do so for so long but Diablo's compulsion was unbreakable. Still, she communicated his request to the SGC.
When they arrived on Earth, the brass of the SGC had gathered the IOA's advisory council, the people that made the decisions. They all stood in anticipation of this bold statement. They all wondered what was so important that they were dragged here.
Diablo appeared dressed in his most prestigious attire. They had never seen him in this light before. But they kept forgetting that he was the king of his universe.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice." He began. "I know you wonder what this is about. What is this life changing event that is worth the presence of you all? Before I share that I wanted to thank you for your unwavering cooperation for the past year. You have kept your end of the bargain while I may not have been as reciprocate much lately but then again in any relationships there are up and downs."
The interest of what he wanted to tell them grew. Carter had to notice that when he wanted, he could speak in an enticing even for the politicians' way.
"That being said, today marks an occasion, no, a possibility for a very different future for all of mankind. That is something that I think our American friends keep forgetting most of the time. As Neil Armstrong put that sign on the moon, it did not read 'Here we men from America first set foot upon the moon. We come in peace'. It read 'Here men from Planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. We came in peace for all mankind.'"
He let these words sink in. He wanted to remind them that while Americans landed first the message left behind was from all mankind and the people of Earth, not just one nation.
"So, today's announcement has a lot to do with that." Diablo continued. "This time the knowledge of this life changing event comes with a price tag. The sad truth is that even with your cooperation, you could barely spare more than two ships to help and that is not enough."
There were murmurs in the hangar. It was still unclear where he was going with this.
"Avatar recently reminded me of something that I keep reminding Colonel Carter constantly – space is vast, very vast. Using two ships at a time is simply not enough. At this rate, we will be successful in a few million years and while I can wait that long you can't, provided you are still around as a species."
There was silence and anticipation in the air.
"In order, to uncover millions of years' worth of history with barely any remaining in the galaxy, I will need a lot more resources. Twenty countries will not do. What will do are the resources of the entire planet. That means all the countries in the world working as one.
When you people venture into space, into other dimensions, into other galaxies, the alien species that you will meet will not give a damn if you are Americans, or Russians, or Chinese, or French, or Canadian, or Afghani, or Brazilian, or Peruvian, or any other. The only value that is universally accepted is what planet you come from and what race you are.
And this means that you will need to make a full disclosure of the Stargate program to the world. No more secrets."
His last words echoed and there was calm in the hangar before it exploded into a storm of disagreement.
"What is so worth it that you think we will resort to disclosing the Stargate program?" One the senior councillors asked. "And why you think we need to share whatever it is..."
"Ah, here comes the crucible – share." Diablo interrupted him. "I know what you fear will happen if you shared, disclosed the Stargate program with the public but it won't. How do I know that? Well, the answer is your presence. How so I hear you asking? You represent the twenty or so most powerful countries in the world. You control everything that could potentially lead to a disaster.
But this kind of power can have two outcomes – either you will emerge as one or it will lead to the very path you are afraid of. The IOA wanted to keep Atlantis and make it a sovereign state and if you had succeeded then you would have become the worst this world has ever seen. "
"That is ridiculous. We would hav..."
"No, the IOA, even now, is infested with the Trust. If you had Atlantis in your clutches, you would have become nothing short of Tyrants. And the entire world would have turned against you and the very scenario that you feared would have come to pass.
While now, you have momentum. And it is time to use it to build something that will last – call it a galactic alliance, call it a commonwealth. You made promises in the Pegasus that you have yet to keep. But now, you will have an opportunity unlike any other."
"What you suggest is filled with..."
"Risk – oh yeah, it is. Will there be outrage – absolutely, will there be witch hunts – oh yeah. And it is perfectly normal reaction. If I was a citizen, and someone disclosed that for the last twenty years you have been doing this, I will be pissed. But this development is something I can manage."
"How?" O'Neill asked.
"The last time I made an announcement this impactful was on a planet on the other side of the universe with a population twenty times yours, give or take. So, I already know the drill. You have my word, General O'Neill, I will deal with this impact."
"Even if we agreed, what is shared must be carefully..."
"NO!" Diablo said adamantly. "Nothing will work but the truth. There will be no selective ways of telling the truth. If you want to gain the respect of your planet's population, then you must be open. You must show that you will take responsibility for your actions, that you will be accountable for them. That is the only way they will accept it."
"So, if we said yes right now, you will tell us what is so important that..."
"Oh, no, you are not getting off this easily. I will share it once it has been ratified by all governments of the world. And ratification can happen only when done by their parliaments."
"That's insane. Our word is more than..."
"Not enough," Daniel Jackson interjected. He understood what Diablo wanted from them. He wanted security they will not back away from their word. "He needs legitimate documents not some flimflams. They have to be also ratified by the UN, NATO, European Union and all worldly organisations."
The murmurs among the IOA councillors grew. They felt that something this riskier must be well backed before being endorsed and so far, all they had was a life changing event that they did not know what it is.
"Our alliance will not be affected by this decision." Diablo eased some of their fears or concerns.
"Before a decision of this magnitude can be made, we must know what this is about. And so far, you have dangled a potential abstract and that is not enough, nowhere nearly enough. And as you are not willing to tell us, this meeting is over..."
The IOA councillors started to move away. They had barely reached the gate when Diablo spoke again.
"CLAVA THESSARA INFINITAS!"
These words produced the desired effect. Everyone stopped in their tracks. While Dr. Jackson understood Diablo's intentions a moment ago now he had to disagree with him.
"It doesn't exist." He spoke. The others looked at him so he elaborated. "I have searched through all available databases and even when I was joined with Moros, Merlin, there was nothing but whispers and rumours. The Rosetta stone that Athena and Ketesh had found led us nowhere and that was the only clue for it. So, I am sorry, Lord Diablo, but it doesn't exist."
"I have known its location for the past 6 months, Doctor Jackson. I haven't shared it because it was not the time. Now it is."
"Even with the texts that spoke of the Rosetta stone there is no proof of its existence..."
"You are wrong, Doctor. The clues to its location have always been right under your nose this entire time. But you see whoever created this puzzle made it for a reason. There is a reason why it is so hard to find that its creator has left so few clues that will make even the most motivated person doubt its existence."
"And what is that reason?" A councillor asked.
"The Ancient that came up with it wanted to make sure that not just anyone can find it. He wanted to ensure that whoever does is worthy of it. And it is worth the trouble. This knowledge will change the fate of whoever finds it. It will shift the balance of power. It will be either the greatest source of unification or the greatest darkness that had ever befallen this galaxy and all others."
"This is a tall order. Where is it?"
"Oh, no, I told you this knowledge comes with a price tag. And I have told you what that entails. You have to make up on your own minds. Are you worthy or not? The ball is now in your court."
To be continued in season 7...
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