ACT 1 – DISCOVERY

Chapter 2 – Journey

Teyla adjusted her holster over her hips as she headed out of her quarters and into the quiet corridors of the Sythus. The hour was getting late with most of the crew either finishing Late Meal in the Canteen or starting on the late shift the same as her.

She suspected her rotation up in Central Station this evening would be somewhat dull, as had been most of her shifts over the past two weeks as the Sythus travelled through hyperspace to the border. Once there, they would meet up with The Valse, the Satedan battleship, and the accompanying Fleet ships to finally begin the mission out beyond the Alliance to hunt down the Skerti. However, until then, there was just the constant travel of uneventful days.

At the transporter, Teyla entered into the empty small space and triggered the correct floor number. As the familiar sensation of movement pushed gently against up her boots, she tried to think of some old reports she could read while on rotation this evening. There was little else to do really, unless something unexpected happened. Operating under silent running this past week, there were no link calls arriving to take, not even from the three other Fleet ships following the Sythus through hyperspace for the mission. Nothing to break up the monotony of long empty shifts.

She had not minded the first week back aboard the Sythus, as there had been plenty to acquaint herself with following the recent changes to the ship. While the Sythus had been docked for repairs following the significant damage sustained during the Nest Battle, the opportunity had been taken to upgrade some aspects of the ship. There were new sensors, structural improvements to the hull, additional computer security, further engine improvements put in place before Lead Engineer Ru had been reassigned to the Skerti Drive Project, and a new filtering system installed inside the water systems of the ship. Along with changes to some emergency procedures, including the newly fitted antigravity secure lines on each deck, there had been much to learn and multiple drills to complete. It had all helped fill that first week, helped her enjoy her time back on the Sythus and among some of her closest friends. There had been frequent link calls in from the Facility, including one particularly fascinating report from Atlantis. Apparently an actual Ancestor had appeared to John and told him of a cache of secret information within Atlantis that could provide intel on the Skerti. Though, there had been no further update on whether that cache of information had been found before the Sythus had crossed into silent running.

No further word of John.

The dull days had then started to follow. All the training was complete, the ship was working smoothly, and there was little for her to do except spar, eat and fulfil her rotations up in Central Station. And endure the lonely nights alone in her bed missing John's embrace.

The transporter stopped, but her stomach did not, lifting and then dropping as if she had still been moving. She held still, laying a hand over her middle.

Another aspect of this second week that was far from enjoyable, was that her attempt to wean herself off her anti-nausea medication was not going well. Last week she had barely noticed any nausea following her recent encounter with an unpleasant Satedan stew before the mission. She had hoped the symptoms had passed and, her tablets running low, she had started to reduce the daily dose with the expectation that it was all a bad memory. But the nausea had started returning. The Healer back in the Facility had warned her it could happen and that further doses might be required. The problem though was that requesting further medication from the Healers onboard the Sythus would require blood tests and that seemed over the top for only occasional moments of nausea.

It was just in moments like this in the transporter, brief occasions when the nausea stirred awake again. She had hoped that not reducing the dosage any lower would stabilise things today, but clearly that was not the case. She was going to have to go visit the Healers for some more tablets, but that would wait; for now, she was already feeling better, the moment passed, so she strode out of the transporter and down the corridor that would take her to Central Station.

Everything was fine; it was just the lingering side effects of what had likely been food poisoning from that stew. And Father had said that Satedan spiced food did not agree with him either. It would pass with some additional medication.

It didn't mean anything was wrong with her.

She quickly pushed that anxious thought out of her mind as she stepped through the hatchway into Central Station.

As expected, the large front screen at the far end of Central Station was filled with nothing except the elongated spiralling swirls of hyperspace outside. The two Pilots sat at their stations in front of the screen had little to do on such long flights, but she knew they had plenty of readings to monitor and clearly nothing was currently concerning them. She shifted her attention to the central tactical display table immediately ahead of her, the main station for her and her fellow Elite. Stood on the far side was Si, who was focused down on the multiple screens set across the wide top of the display table.

She could already tell from Si' demeanour and posture that nothing significant had happened during his shift, so clearly there was going to be little to entertain her focus this evening.

Si looked up towards her approach with a wide soft smile.

"Good evening, Si," she greeted him as she moved up alongside the table, running her eyes with expert brevity over the display screens.

Nothing new from any part of the Sythus and no indication of any interruptions to the hyperspace flight; not that she wouldn't have already been informed anyway. She switched her attention to the two screens closest to Si, seeing that he had filled them with the last scans and starchart of the sector that was their primary target for this hunt mission. An empty corner of that sector of the galaxy that held nothing but drifting asteroids, no planets, stars, or anything of interest. Unless you were a Salvager, then such asteroids were full of potential minerals, trapped gases, and metal ores which to mine and sell on to anyone buying. The Salvagers were a wide-ranging group outside the Alliance, but they traded frequently over the border. They were a hardy, adventurous group who flew ships with thick hulls designed for dangerous flights through hazardous nebulae and asteroid fields in which few would dare venture. They also had frequent run-ins with Wraith, so their lives were dangerous, but often lucrative.

However, that had not been the case for the crew of an abandoned Salvager Processing Ship that The Valse and her scouting group of ships had found. The ship had been dead, her crew slaughtered by the Skerti, the large vessel left to drift through space. Research into the ship's computer had revealed the sector in which the Processing Ship had been attacked, the Skerti having used the Salvagers' own ships as means to board the Processing Ship and attack. Then Atlantis had provided further information, an unexplained displacement of a massive asteroid field in the same sector of space.

Which had led to this hunt mission.

To hopefully find the Skerti.

There was no guarantee that anything would be found in the target sector, but if the Skerti were hiding there, perhaps even somehow responsible for the movement of the entire asteroid field, then finally they might find their new enemy.

It was a vitally important mission, but, for now, also rather boring.

"How was your Bantos sparring session with Halling?" Si asked.

"Enjoyable," she smiled. "Anything happen up here?" She asked in weak hope.

"Uneventful," he summarised with a knowing look. "But only a day now until we reach the border."

She nodded, shifting her attention down to the screens again. "What are you working on?" She asked, curious as the scans of the target sector could not have been updated while they were in hyperspace and under silent running.

"Just reviewing everything we have," he replied as he tapped one display officially ending his rotation in Central Station.

The reviews of the target sector data had been thorough and well discussed in the first week of flight, so she smiled at what had clearly been his own attempt to fill his uneventful shift. "I see," she stated pointedly.

Si smiled back, understanding her teasing tone and look. "I will leave the quiet shift to you," he retaliated in his deep soft voice.

"Thank you," she could not quite keep the sigh out of her voice. It was not so much the monotony of such long empty shifts, as the time it gave her mind to wander.

Si chuckled deeply as he moved around the table, his large warm hand touching her upper arm as he passed by. "Good eve."

"Sleep well, Si," Teyla replied as she watched him head for the hatchway out of Central Station, leaving her in charge for the next handful of hours.

She ran her eyes over the tactical display screens, the table recognising her beacon implant and providing a log of her own text links. There was one from Halling 'thanking' her for the bruise he'd found on an elbow. She particularly enjoyed sparring with Halling when they decided to focus solely on Bantos, indulging their old Athosian training to its fullest. Though, in her opinion, he had grown a little too reliant on knives and stunners. Several raps on his elbow and thighs had helped remind him of their old training.

She messaged him back with wishes for a good night's rest, and then she slid her attention over the rest of the screens. All the department Leads for the late shift had logged in and reported all systems working well. Every part of the Sythus was running smoothly and efficiently.

Which left her with little to do except update the logs and, perhaps, review the target sector herself. Si had clearly found enough to study to fill some of his time, so perhaps she would as well.

As she opened up the starchart on the central larger screen on the table, she looked off to her right towards the far front screen and its swirling view of hyperspace.

Her thoughts slid to John again without any effort on her part and the ache in her chest called for her full attention. It was difficult to stop her mind from always returning to him, of acknowledging how powerful a feeling it was to miss someone she loved so dearly. She had thought herself used to missing those important to her as, in many ways, it was a standard part of being an Elite. She often thought of her family, of those lost in battle, and of Oneakka's current absence from the Sythus. He was normally good company onboard, and always a useful source of distraction on boring flights, as sparring with him constantly presented a good challenge for her, but he was back in the Facility hopefully still recovering well. She also missed Athos too, knowing that winter would still have its hold on her homeworld, the deep snows and clean sharp air uncomfortable at times, but full of old nostalgic memories.

Including the more recent memories of taking John around Tjaru in the snow, taking him to the slopes were her people tobogganed in large groups; the air full of laughter and occasional snowball fights. She recalled John had started one with her when they had been there.

Frowning at how easily her thoughts had circled back to him, she looked down to the display screens and sighed as she started her review of the mission ahead of them. Hopefully it would be a quick and efficient hunt. That they could return home in victory swiftly with good news for the Alliance and John.

But, if not, she hoped the mission would at least be eventful to help distract her from the long nights alone in her bed.

000

Three days spent in hyperspace on an Al'kesh with only Teal'c' stoic silence as company was not everyone's idea of fun, but Daniel had enjoyed it. After months spent working as negotiator between the paranoid rebel Jaffa group and the Free Jaffa, he had been grateful for some silence.

As much as he enjoyed Teal'c' company, there was only so much time he could spend around other Jaffa. The overly loud and muddy Jaffa camp had been active all day and night, and he'd started to lose patience with the rebels' paranoia that the Goa'uld were secretly controlling the Free Jaffa. The negotiations had been hard enough, but there had also been constant interruptions whenever someone's honour had been offended and a duel was called. At first Daniel had watched the duels with a watchful, worried eye, but by about the fiftieth contest, he'd barely paid much attention. The Jaffa could take a beating like no one else, and no one had been killed, so he'd just waited for the duel to be over and then get back to the matter at hand. At least until the next challenge was called.

Then the news had arrived that he was urgently needed in Atlantis. He'd held off leaving right away though, knowing how close the negotiations were to getting some real traction. As he and Teal'c had been had personally requested as the negotiators by the rebel Jaffa, his announcement that he'd have to leave in two days' time had galvanised the talks. It had taken a lot of work, involving late nights and early starts, but finally the two sides had agreed on the final aspects of the peace agreement. That done, he'd packed up his things and climbed aboard an Al'kesh with Teal'c for the three day journey to the closest Stargate. Three glorious days of no mud and no shouting.

The time in hyperspace had also given him the opportunity to finally get his teeth into reading Janus' logs that the SGC had sent him from Atlantis. He'd been meaning to read through Janus' journals for awhile now, but, as always, he had rarely been given the time to see or study Atlantis. Now though, it seemed fate was once again drawing him there. Not that he'd found any reference so far to Janus' secret lab in the city, but he still had plenty to read though, and he had a few other ideas of places to look once he was actually in Atlantis.

Which wouldn't be too long now as Teal'c dropped them out of hyperspace and steered the ship down into the atmosphere of the bright green planet. Daniel turned from the view and quickly collected up his last few things, cramming them into his already full backpack. He'd been living out of this thing for months, rotating through only four changes of clothing. The Jaffa had had hand-washing facilities, but there was nothing quite like a proper cycle through a good old Earth washing machine to give his clothes the right smell of home. And he was more than ready to go back home, regardless how long he would have before he left for Atlantis.

He felt the Al'kesh touchdown with the lightest of touches as he wrestled the backpack closed.

"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c' deep and reassuring voice approached as Daniel stood, settling his backpack straps over his shoulders. "Are you ready?"

"All ready to go," Daniel assured his old friend.

"Then let us depart," Teal'c stated as he headed towards the now open door out of the Al'kesh.

Daniel started after him, catching up with Teal'c as they headed out into bright hot sunshine. The Stargate stood a few metres away, two Free Jaffa guards stood to either side. Daniel saw both of them nod, probably more towards Teal'c, but Daniel nodded back to them before turning his attention to Teal'c walking next to him.

To anyone else, Daniel imagined Teal'c' face looked as calm and impassive as always, but he could see the subtle signs on his friend's profile that told him something was bothering Teal'c. He wasn't sure if it was the band of silver through Teal'c hair, but Daniel felt like his friend had grown even more serious of late. Or maybe Daniel was just projecting his own disappointment that he was having to leave. It had been a long time since he, Teal'c, Sam and Jack had been a team, but he still missed those days. Not that he didn't love Cam and Vala being part of SG1, but…

"You sure you don't want to come back to the SGC with me?" Daniel asked.

"I am needed here," Teal'c replied, which was the same answer he'd given several times during the trip. "Besides, you are needed in Atlantis."

"You could come too," Daniel suggested as he adjusted a strap of his backpack. "Sam and Jack would love to see you."

"Indeed I would enjoy seeing them as well," Teal'c replied with a smile. "But the peace here is new and I suspect my presence will be useful, at least until the first supplies arrive."

That was true enough and when Teal'c made his mind up about something there was nothing to do about it.

"I'm sure the peace will hold," Daniel assured him as they reached the DHD, turning towards each other. "I'm pretty sure it will hold," Daniel amended after a beat. One thing he'd learnt over the last decade was that there were no such things as absolutes. Well, apart from his love for his friends, his SG1 family.

Teal'c inclined his head and a wide smile shifted his lips, which was a significant reaction from him. "I agree. I will miss you, Daniel Jackson."

"I'll miss you too, Teal'c," Daniel smiled up at his old wise friend.

Teal'c extended his arm for the Jaffa gesture of respect and Daniel reached out and gripped his friend's massive forearm, leaning in to press his shoulder against Teal'c'. He wrapped one arm around Teal'c back though, turning it into a half hug. He felt Teal'c' hand on his upper back and they held the moment for a breath and then let go of each other.

"Give Colonel Carter a hug from me," Teal'c instructed with another smile.

"I will," Daniel promised him. "And one for Jack?" He teased.

Teal'c angled his head in thought. "If he will allow it."

Daniel chuckled as he turned to the DHD and started dialling in the address for home. He looked up and watched as the Gate's inside ring finished turning, locked, and the wormhole exploded out in a rush of sound and light. He lifted his arm, activated his IDC and then reached for his radio.

"Stargate Command, this is Daniel Jackson."

"Receiving your IDC now, Dr Jackson," an efficient clipped Air Force voice replied. "Iris is open and you are clear to proceed."

"On my way," Daniel replied as he released his radio and turned back towards Teal'c. It was time to go.

"The new enemy, the Skerti, sound particularly dangerous," Teal'c noted with a deep frown, so this was what he'd been worrying about. "You must take care."

"I will," Daniel promised with a smile. "You take care of yourself too," he added as he made himself turn away and head for the Gate. As he reached its watery event horizon, he turned back and gave Teal'c one last wave before he stepped through.

He had no idea how many times he'd been through a Stargate, but it never got old. Nor did the familiar clank of the metal walkway under his boots as he arrived home into the SGC and made his way down the ramp.

"Welcome back, Dr Jackson," General Landry's voice arrived from the left and Daniel looked round to see the General emerge from the side door.

"It's good to be home, General," Daniel grinned as he stepped down off the ramp, hearing the Gate shutdown behind him.

"But not for too long, I'm afraid," Landry added as they headed back out the open side door into the familiar corridor outside. "They are expecting you at Midway Station as soon as you're ready to depart."

"Of course," Daniel agreed, though he had hoped for maybe one night before the turnaround, but he would at least have a day's rest on Midway during his quarantine period. Hopefully time enough to finish Janus' logs.

"Did you get a chance to read through the latest we sent you from Atlantis?" Landry asked as they headed towards the elevator.

"I did, seems that things have started well with the new trading contract with the Elite," Daniel summarised as they stepped into the metal box.

"Indeed. But I was referring more to the journals of the Ancient Janus," Landry corrected as he jabbed the level for Daniel's lab.

"I've not had a great deal of free time," Daniel explained to be clear. "But I have managed to read most of Janus' logs on the trip in hyperspace," he continued as the elevator doors slid open. "There isn't any, even passing reference to his hidden lab so far, but I've still got the last years of his logs to go through." Not that he'd overly expected to find anything in Janus' very official logs, but it was still fascinating reading and worth doing. Plus he could never predict when seeing or reading something Ancient might stir up a 'feeling' inside from old suppressed memories or reveal little bits of information left behind by Merlin.

However, he didn't explain any of that right now as Landry was setting a fast pace down the hallway, which told Daniel far more about the urgency here than anything the General had said.

"That's unfortunate, but I'm sure that once you get to Atlantis you'll work it out," Landry smiled with that familiar pushy military confidence that Daniel recognised from all manner of Generals he'd worked with over the years. It told you they had faith and trust in you, but also delivered a whole heap of pressure and expectations with it.

"Has Rodney had any luck scanning the city?" Daniel asked as they turned a corner. "I'd hoped my theories about the outskirts of the city being less monitored might be-"

"No, I'm afraid there was no joy there, but I suspect Dr McKay is slightly distracted at all the new tech they're working on with the Elite."

"Right, yes," Daniel nodded as they reached his lab. "Still, I've got some other ideas, so I'm sure we'll find something."

"Good," the General concluded as he stopped in the doorway. "We've received the books and journal papers you requested."

Daniel had already spied the metal trolley half loaded with the requested books. He eagerly headed for them. "Thank you, these should really help," he picked up the first couple, one about Eastern European vampire myths and the other a rare book someone with some clout in the Air Force had gotten for him from a private collection. "Brilliant," Daniel carefully flicked through the book. It was almost 100 years old, but it was clear the private collector in question had taken good care of it.

"I suggest you put everything you in need on that trolley and it can be decontaminated at Midway," Landry suggested.

"Right, yes," Daniel agreed. There were other books on his shelves that he'd considered worth taking to Atlantis. He was hoping he might have time to follow up on some other research into several Ancients whose names had lingered in his head after Merlin had left.

"So, I suggest you pack up what you need and we'll see you back upstairs at the Gate as soon as you can," Landry instructed.

"Yes, yes. I need to repack some fresh clothes and get my other boots," Daniel added. "So, I'll head by my quarters too."

"Whatever you need, Dr Jackson. You are, after all, going to be the guest of honour in Atlantis."

Daniel wasn't sure that was true considering the place was being visited daily now by scientists and experts from the Alliance's Elite.

"After all," Landry added, "it's not every day that an Ancient appears promising them all the answers to their troubles and names you personally to help out."

"True," Daniel agreed reluctantly. "But I suspect it's probably just my research that'll be the key."

"And Atlantis have had to wait almost two weeks to get you."

Daniel nodded, he got the point; the General had probably gotten a lot of calls asking why he wasn't in Atlantis yet. "I'll get everything sorted as quick as I can."

The General nodded. "Though, it's also worthy of note that Vala has been taking a little too much interest in this mission."

"She has?" Daniel frowned. Actually, he'd been a little surprised she hadn't been here when he'd arrived. With each of the relief teams that had arrived at the Jaffa negotiations these past months, she'd sent him a video message each time. They usually involved her telling him she was bored with him and Teal'c gone and how she thought she could probably help them with the Jaffa negotiations.

Usually adding that she missed him at the end.

Often delivered with an insinuating wink.

"Yes, seems she feels she would be well equipped to help you 'find missing treasures', as she put it."

"Oh dear," Daniel muttered.

He should have realised that she'd find the idea of discovering another hidden Ancient horde all too tempting. The idea of what she could get up to in Atlantis with the Elite there now sharing their new tech… As much as he'd perhaps, maybe, missed her company these past months, he knew she'd be nothing but a hindrance in Atlantis. He'd have to dedicate half his time and attention to making sure she didn't upset anyone, or, more likely, steal anything.

"But, fortunately for the both of us, she is currently on a mission off-world," Landry added, his eyebrows raised pointedly. "So I see that as another reason why a swift departure would be a very wise choice."

Daniel was pretty sure that was just a joke, not a real concern, but before he could ask, the General gave him another pressurising smile and left.

0000
TBC