Chapter 7 - Trouble with the Elders
TN:-This is a shorter chapter than normal but still a good 1500 words so enjoy.
Athena was worried as she was waiting for the meeting of the ascended Elders to start as it was an unscheduled meeting to do with what she had done with Leo and their descendants.
It was some time later when the council had gathered and they started the meeting with the usual pulse of energy to quieten down the onlookers. The place they were holding the meeting looked like an amphitheatre made with Alteran style similar to Atlantis. The elders sat as if holding a trial with the 5 most senior elders arrayed in a row facing Athena who looked small in comparison. If she didn't know any better she almost believed they were trying to intimidate her and make her look guilty to the others.
"Athena you know why your here but for the record your here for breaking one of most important laws, you have interfered with the lower plain and altered the timeline irreparably." Said the elder sitting in the middle of the 5 member panel. "Not only that but you gave him access to our technology to uplift their society beyond what they should be and are ready for."
Athena looked at the panel of Elders and prepared herself for her defence of the decisions she had made and the lies she had told to start her plan. "Yes I'm guilty of everything you have said but then I would rather be guilty and do what is right for the continuation of our race in the lower planes. You all sit here judging me for changing things as if they aren't our descendants and that we should have no attachment to them. That we should be above feeling concern for the future of our people but that just makes us no better than the Ori."
There was a massive wave of disbelief when she compared them to the Ori, especially the older ascended who went through the split with their religious cousins.
"You dare compare us to those abominations!" shouted one of the elders.
"Yes I did, I know we do not require the lower forms to pray to us and we don't drain them to increase our own power but in the same way they treated their followers as less than themselves we have started to do the same." Athena Argued back. "We watch on as time pass's and billions die due to our mistakes and from the result of technology we have left behind."
At that the gathered ascended quietened down in contemplation at her words when another of the elders commented back. "But we are above them. We have shed our mortal bodies and have to measure things in lengths of time that they would not even be able to contemplate."
At that rebuke there were several of the other ascended that exclaimed in shock at the callousness of the elders comment. "You say that and prove my point for me." She said, "Look at the mistakes we have left behind such as the wraith who feeds on a whole galaxy and we do nothing. Then there is the Goa-uld who use bastardized versions of our own technology to enslave millions if not billions and you still sit here and say we are above them."
More and more of the attending ascended where agreeing with her and this was worrying the elders as yes they were the oldest and most powerful among them but even they could not stand against the masses if they all choose for a change in direction.
"We need to recess to come to a consensus of what has been heard here." The lead elder said to the gathering then led the 5 elders from the amphitheatre in a burst of bright light.
Athena sat in the diner she met Leo in some time ago with Aries and Oma sat with her talking about what she said and what changes it could lead to especially with so many agreeing with what she said.
"Well that was unexpected but a long time coming." Oma said. "As a people we have stagnated and I think it's down to how we view everything beneath us. We have watched as tens of thousands of years have passed and done nothing to stop whole civilisations from being wiped out. We now have a chance to change our outlook and the way we do things."
Aries agreed with her whole heartedly. "I agree with you Oma but it's going to be hard making new laws to limit involvement as if we give everyone free reign to interact with the lower planes we will have chaos. I think we need to do things slowly and use what Athena did with Leo as an example and a test to see if we can do it without getting directly involved. We can choose worthy people to lead and give them the skills, knowledge and the reason to improve not only themselves but their civilisations. But the laws we have to set is how much do we interfere and how much knowledge do we give."
Athena responded "I don't think we always need to get involved though as a lot of the time these fights and catastrophe's pave the way forward for these civilisations but there are other times when a little push can have a major change." She paused before continuing. "What drove me to do something with the colonials is that they are our direct descendants and we were just going to watch when they were reduced from a population of 14 billion to less than 30,000 in little more than 4 years."
She was passionate and dedicated to what she was saying. "I wanted to see more of them survive and change for the better and from what I saw Leo is doing well but is not doing things fast enough and if we could just a little more I think he could save millions. I know we could stop the attack all together but they need this to change and develop for the better."
After that they spent some time discussing what they could do in the future if they managed to change things.
It was some time before they were called to another meeting to hear the elders' decision on what direction they will take as a race from now on.
All the ascended Alterans have gathered for this meeting, there were thousands of them all filling the unlimited seats of the amphitheatre all waiting in muted curiosity for the decision.
The elders entered once everyone was gathered and the most senior elder addressed everyone. "We are gathered to announce the decision of the elders council on repealing the non-interference in the lower planes law. It's been decided after the revelations by Athena about how we are becoming more and more separated from reality so we have decided that we will relax the law for interaction with the lower planes in several ways."
At that outcome there was pandemonium within the gathering and it took a while for everyone to settle down to hear the rest of the decision.
"We will be relaxing the rules where we will allow you to take temporary physical form to socialize and live with the lower planned races but you will have to be nondescript in dealing with them. Second any major changed to the future of a civilisation is to be brought before the council and discussed before any action is taken, with this in mind we will be using Athena's interference with our descendants as a trial to see at what level we can interact and change things without directly getting involved." The elder looked around and then focussed on Athena at the mention of her plans with Leo. "Lastly we will not be interfering with the development of Avalon now named earth and there growth into the fifth race as they need to grow beyond there petty differences."
At that he asked if anyone needed any clarification and they spent a time going through a Q and A before they broke up the meeting.
Athena was pleased with the decision made by the elders as it was a step in the right direction that could allow them a bit more freedom with how they interacted with certain races such as the Nox or the Asgard. Then there was the small colony of Furling that was also in the Andromeda galaxy that was stuck on a single planet due to limited resources.
She was on her way to Andromeda to look over Leo and see what he's accomplished since she last checked in when she came across Aries and Oma.
"Hello dear sister, If you're going where i think you're going we would like to accompany you to see how good old Leo is doing." Asked Aries.
Oma added "Yes, we would like to see how your chosen one is doing and if needed give him a little more of a push to save more of our people."
Athena thought for a few minutes then agreed to allow them to accompany her.