Thank you to everyone who has commented and is still reading. I appreciate your support. I know this story is taking a long time to finish, but I intend to complete it.
Chapter 18: The Burial
Teyla stood, her breath caught in her throat, as she beheld the scene before her. The sight was so jarring; she was thankful her son was in a deep slumber, sparing him from this unsettling sight.
The data module, a shattered mess, lay in stark contrast to the tense silence that enveloped the cave. Loth, now unconscious, was a stark reminder of the recent turmoil. Teyla's stunner, held by Rulan still pointed at Loth, added to the palpable tension. Teyla couldn't help but wonder when the silence would be broken.
Ten minutes ago, Teyla was sitting, drinking tea and listening to Gia tell stories about Lila. The woman's blue eyes twinkled in her weathered face despite her tears, and Teyla sat and listened intently, offering a smile now and then.
Loth's abrupt entrance shocked Teyla, disrupting the peaceful tea session. His agitated state and demanding questions about Rulan and the other person in the cave with Carson added to the tension in the air.
Before Teyla or Gia could reply, Loth stormed into the other cave and started shooting things. Despite the chaos, Rulan's quick action prevented any harm from befalling them.
"Is anyone hurt?" Teyla asked, finally finding her voice.
"No, I'm okay," Carson commented, "but Dave's program is a lost cause."
"What happens now?" Rulan asked shakily, still holding Teyla's gun.
"First, you need to put that weapon down," Gia suggested, approaching the man slowly.
Rulan nodded, and Teyla approached him slowly. She was relieved when he handed her the stunner, a silent gesture of trust and understanding amid turmoil. Teyla was amazed at how quiet Halling was and how easy it was to grab the stunner with one hand. She put it in her holster beneath her skirt without too many problems, which led her to wonder where she'd left it so Rulan could get his hands on it in the first place.
"What are you going to do with Loth?" Carson asked, coming out of his stupor. He was concerned about the situation, knowing that Loth was crucial in their negotiations.
A voice she didn't recognise entered the conversation for the first time, "I will deal with Loth?"
A tall, blonde-haired man entered the room. His eyes were brilliant blue, and he was thin and lean.
"And you are?" Rulan asked suspiciously.
"I am Simion, and I apologise for Loth's behaviour. He hasn't been well for a while now."
"And what of the negotiations? Will they continue after this incident?" Teyla asked, her worry evident. The negotiations were crucial for the people's survival, and any disruption could have serious consequences.
"Until this afternoon, I did not know Loth was involved in negotiations on behalf of our people. I certainly didn't ask him to," Simion replied, adding to the mystery of the situation.
Teyla sensed something more was happening, "I thought that Loth was your leader."
"He used to be but is no longer, "Simion replied with a tinge of sadness.
"Then who is the leader for your people? I would like to continue negotiations with them," Rulan confidently stated.
"I am the leader and keeper of the historical records for the Hilarian people who occupy this planet, and I would be willing to continue negotiations. But I sense you need a mourning period before we begin, so how about we reconvene the day after tomorrow? Will that give you enough time to take care of things?"
Teyla sensed compassion in this man, giving her hope that the two people on old Hilaring could work together for a brighter future. At some point, she would mention that the Hilarians from New Hilaring would be happy to help, but for now, she needed to see to Gia's needs and follow her people's funeral rights.
"That would be acceptable," Gia replied, bowing her head.
Simion bowed his head, "I will keep watch over Loth until he awakes, then I will return him to our people and let them decide a punishment for him. Do you need me to watch this young woman as well?" Simion asked, gazing down at Lila."
"No!" Rulan stated forcefully, "We must take her and make preparations for her burial ceremony."
"Please, do what you must," Simion replied with compassion.
Teyla watched as Rulan knelt beside Lila and wrapped her in her brightly coloured sleeping mat.
Thankfully, Halling had slept through the entire commotion, but Teyla knew she would soon have to feed and change her son. But she sensed that Gia might like to know what had happened to her daughter before any funeral arrangements were made.
"I will take her to the burial cave and begin preparations," Rulan offered, kindly taking Lila out of the cave.
Once outside the caves, Gia sat at the conference table and folded her arms. " Please, Dr. Beckett, can you tell me what was wrong with Lila and who the man who disappeared was?"
Teyla knew that Gia understood many things, but she wondered if the woman would understand what a hologram was.
Carson sighed before explaining," Do you understand what a computer is?"
"Yes, Carson, my people used computers centuries ago, and we found them in the ancient city."
Teyla still didn't understand why these people seemed backward when John first met them. From her understanding, Gia held much knowledge, and she suspected others did as well.
"Well, Dave was a computer program that could be projected into the room," Carson answered thoughtfully. She waited to see if he would go into a more complex explanation but remained silent.
Gia's face lit up as she replied, "A hologram," showcasing her intelligence and understanding of advanced technology.
"You know about holograms?" Teyla asked in amazement.
"Do not be amazed, Teyla," Gia began, "remember, I am the keeper of our historical records handed down from generation to generation. In answer to the question you haven't asked. After John and his friends left the planet, I sat down with Rulan and others and went into great depth about the history of our people before they came to this planet and after. It took a while, but eventually, they began to understand." Gia's profound knowledge and understanding of her people's history left Teyla in awe.
"I still do not understand how you can remember such large quantities of information," Carson commented, asking the question Teyla longed to ask.
Gia chuckled, and Teyla thought it was good to see her laugh despite her recent loss.
"We do have writings to access. Few people can read them because they are written in a long-dead language, and very few learn to read them."
Again, Teyla was amazed at how such a simple, generous people could have such a rich history.
But rather than continuing this questioning, Teyla changed the subject, "What do we need to do to prepare for the burial ceremony? That is if we have your permission to attend."
"We have many caves where our people are laid to rest. Their physical remains are buried beneath the surface, and in time, their essence ascends to be with our ancestors." Gia smiled, "We would be honoured if you and Carson attended."
"I believe we stumbled upon one of these caves when we first came to the planet," Carson stated, thinking back to the cave he found with John and the others the first time they were on the planet.
Gia nodded, "If you saw remains scattered on the surface, that would have been an ancient burial cave where the people have already ascended to be with our ancestors." Her face saddened, and her voice softened before she continued, "Do you know what was wrong with my Lila, Dr Beckett?"
"She had a weak heart, which ultimately led to her death," Carson answered compassionately.
Teyla suspected there was more to Lila's condition, but she was convinced Gia wouldn't want to know.
"Thank you, Dr. Beckett. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go and help Rulan prepare the ceremony for Lila. I will come and get you before nightfall."
She and Carson watched as Gia left the clearing; her shoulders seemed more slumped than usual, and her footsteps were slow, giving a sense of the physical and emotional pain she was in.
Before Teyla could say anything to Carson, Simion walked out of the cave, leading Loth. Loth's face was dark, and he looked angry, but thankfully, he didn't say anything.
Simion bowed towards them and smiled, "Again, I apologise for Loth's behaviour, and I hope it doesn't jeopardise a future between Gia's people and mine."
Loth muttered something as they walked off, but Teyla couldn't catch what he was saying, so she ignored him.
At that moment, Halling started to fuss, and she quickly realised it was time to feed and change him. She had no idea how he had slept through everything in the last twenty minutes.
"I guess now we wait," Carson commented, sitting at the table.
"I think I will feed and change Halling, Teyla said, sitting beside him.
"Perhaps a cup of tea would be nice, "Carson suggested standing again.
"Yes, I believe it would because I didn't get to finish the last one."
Carson went inside the large Cavern, and Teyla began to feed her son. Her thoughts quickly turned to John and her children, and she wondered what they were doing.
oOo
Lorne was relieved when he finally sat at one of the tables on the balcony in the mess hall. The sky was dark, and the night was cold, but he wanted to spend some time alone, so he was happy to sit in the cold. He looked up at the stars shining brightly, and it was difficult for him to imagine that Sheppard would be looking at very different constellations if he even had time to gaze at the night sky.
He'd had a tough day of meetings, and the deadline for the Corean invasion was drawing near, so Atlantis was preparing for an attack, but Jennifer had ordered him to the mess hall for a meal since he wouldn't be any good to anyone if he passed out from hunger. They were Jennifer's words exactly.
O'Neill was in charge of battle preparations, and Sillian Teldy and Fillon assisted him. He wanted to be involved in the preparations, but even he agreed he was tired and hungry, so half an hour's break would do him good.
He still had no idea where Teyla was, and the thought of telling Sheppard his wife was missing when he finally made it home filled him with fear. The weight of this responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders, threatening to overwhelm him.
O'Neill had tried to encourage Lorne by telling him they would find her, but with each passing day, he knew the chances of finding her grew slimmer.
Sighing, he took a mouthful of his chicken stew and was surprised at how tasty and satisfying it was. He was about to take another mouthful when a soft voice interrupted his contemplations.
"Can we sit here, Colonel?"
He saw Amelia and Jasmine standing beside the table with their trays laden with food.
"Sure, go ahead."
He looked around the mess hall and was surprised that Sharnie and the Sheppard Children weren't with them, "Where are the kids?" He asked, feeling a little worried.
"They are with the Athosisans on New Athos," Amelia answered, "General O'Neill has informed us of the impending battle, and we would like to assist."
"I will be on Standby with Dr Keller in the infirmary," Jasmine commented, and Lorne didn't miss the determination in her eyes.
"I am happy to be on duty in the control room, "Amelia offered.
Lorne looked at the two women before him and saw their determination, but he couldn't ask them to fight; Amelia had a baby, and he was pretty sure Jasmine was pregnant.
"You have families to look after, and with Carson and Ronon missing, I can't ask you to risk your lives."
"I'm doing it for my daughter," Amelia replied forcefully.
"And I am doing it so that Atlantis will be a safer place for any children I may have in the future, " Jasmine replied with steely determination.
He knew he wouldn't win an argument with the two ladies, so he nodded, "Eat your food and report to your stations in half an hour."
Just as Lorne was about to take another bite, his com activated, "Lorne here."
"I'm just letting you know that Rollonk is in the infirmary. It seems he is sick again."
"Thanks for letting me know, Lorne out."
He sat and ate his meal in silence, knowing the battle to come could be brutal, and they could lose lives. The uncertainty of the situation hung in the air, a palpable tension that made every bite of his meal feel like a countdown to the impending conflict. He only hoped the Coreans were bluffing and they couldn't break through Radek's code.
oOo
Rodney stared at John, wondering why he'd asked the previous question. After a few minutes, he finally found his voice.
"You have to ask me that question?"
"Well, McKay, can you break Zelenka's lock on the gate?" Sheppard's voice was firm, a hint of impatience in his tone.
"Again, why are you asking me this?"
"Just answer the question, McKay, can you do it or not!?" Sheppard's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
"Of course I can. I'd guess that even you can do it, Dr Sheppard."
If looks could kill, Rodney would be dead by now, and there was venom in Sheppard's voice as he spoke, "I told you never to call me Dr Sheppard."
Sheppard looked around the room, hoping no one was watching, much to Rodney's amusement.
"Relax, Sheppard, there's no one here except us. Once you retake the ancient city, I'll write a program to crack Radek's lockdown. It will be a piece of cake."
Rodney flinched the minute he suggested anything would be a piece of cake because things were never that simple for him and his team. His shoulders tensed, and he could feel a knot forming in his stomach.
"What have I told you about saying things will be easy, "Sheppard growled, and Rodney didn't miss the annoyance in the man's eyes.
"Sorry," Rodney muttered, more to himself than Sheppard.
"We begin in half an hour, Rodney. You'll be on my team, so meet me in the main cave in ten minutes to gear up. I will answer any last-minute questions you have then.
Rodney watched as Sheppard walked off, his internal conflict palpable. Why did he have to go and play soldier again? He was a scientist, not a warrior. But then, if Sheppard could hold a PhD and use complex calculations under challenging situations, he could be brave enough to be a soldier if needed. That's what he kept telling himself anyway, trying to reconcile his intellect with the need for physical courage.
Taking a deep breath, he collected his things and headed to the main cave to prepare for a battle, a dangerous mission to retake the ancient city, of which he didn't want to be but knew he had to be a part of. His reluctance was palpable, his steps heavy with apprehension.
oOo
With a heavy heart, Carson entered the burial cave, a solemn place with walls adorned with ancient symbols - which Carson assumed were Ancient writings - and flickering torches casting eerie shadows. The air was heavy with the scent of incense; the only sound was the soft murmur of prayers. He only wished he could have done more for Lila while she was still alive. Now that Dave, the Holographic Doctor, had been destroyed, he wondered how to help any of these people.
Teyla entered beside him, with Halling fast asleep in her arms. Carson prayed that the child would remain quiet throughout the ceremony because the last thing he wanted to do was leave the sacred ceremony with a screaming baby. He was positive Teyla wouldn't be happy either.
In front of them was a shallow grave, and Lila's body lay inside, wrapped in a brightly coloured burial robe. She would be buried at the end of the ceremony, and a stone marker would be placed on top.
He and Teyla had spent the afternoon looking after Halling and exploring the local area. They hadn't encountered anyone else during that time. The local wildlife was small, with birds flitting between the sparse trees and rodents scurrying through the dry underbrush. Carson wondered how much meat they'd get off the tiny creatures. The dry woods and the almost dried-up stream they visited painted a grim picture of the planet's condition. He wondered when the last time it rained was. Maybe that was a question he could ask Gia and Rulan another time.
It was becoming increasingly clear that these people needed help, and rather than continuing to live on the old Hilaring planet, they needed to be relocated to another, more vibrant world. He also needed to discuss that with Gia and Rulan at another time. He'd also have to speak with Simion about relocation because he was positive Simion's people couldn't continue to exist here long term.
Despite his enjoyable time with Teyla during the afternoon, Carson found himself in the midst of an internal struggle. The burden of negative thoughts weighed heavily on his mind, and he couldn't shake it off. The gravity of the situation and the responsibility he felt for these people's future were taking a toll on him.
As the sun set, Gia arrived at the cave to escort them to the burial ceremony. Her mood was heavy with sorrow, and Carson could see the traces of tears on her face. He couldn't blame her, knowing that Lila was her only child.
Gia started to sing, and the cave was silent as the ceremony began. Her voice was beautiful as she sang a song of life and gratefulness. Carson was enamoured by the sweetness of her voice and the conviction that came from each word.
The flickering torches cast an enchanting glow around the cavern, painting a picture of ethereal beauty that Carson couldn't help but admire.
After Gia's beautiful song ended, Rulan stood up and started to pray, "Almighty one, we pray you will allow Lila's beautiful soul to live with her ancestors. She was kind, sweet, and gentle and only thought the best of others, so she deserves to dwell with her ancestors for all eternity. Please grant her our request on this day."
Carson closed his eyes and listened to the prayer's words with deep respect despite his differing beliefs. He may not have agreed with their customs, but he understood the importance of their beliefs to them. He felt a pang of sadness for the loss of Lila and a sense of awe at the depth of their cultural traditions.
When Carson was on Earth in his beloved Scotland, he never dreamed he would travel to other galaxies and witness other people's beliefs. Ever since he was young, he'd always wanted to become a doctor; he'd never dreamed of becoming an archeologist or anthropologist—now he was both—something that blew his mind. Those thoughts led him to remember that he was a clone, and those thoughts were another Carson Beckett's memories - something that he didn't think about often these days.
After Rulan finished his prayer, he picked up Lila's body and placed it in the shallow grave. He then placed a single white flower on top of her. Gia put a red flower on top of her, and others followed, placing a yellow flower on top.
Gia's explanation of the flowers' profound significance before the ceremony added a layer of depth to the ritual. The white flower, a symbol of purity; the red one, a symbol of love; and the yellow one, a symbol of friendship, each carried a powerful expression of their feelings.
Once the yellow flowers were given, people were allowed to leave the ceremony. Once they'd gone, Carson and Teyla placed a yellow flower on Lila.
Carson took Teyla's hand, their fingers intertwining, and was about to leave when Gia grabbed him, "Please, I would like you to stay here with Rulan and me."
Teyla handed Halling to one of the women she'd met earlier and asked her to look after him briefly. Luckily, he was still sleeping and had slept through the entire ceremony.
He nodded, watched Rulan and Gia fill the shallow grave beside them, and closed their eyes.
"What happens now?" Teyla asked, and Carson could see she was trying to be diplomatic.
"I know that maybe this isn't the place, but I would like to express something that concerns me," Gia said with a deep sense of sadness in her eyes,
"Is there some kind of tradition that states we should stay here," Teyla asked, and again she was trying to be diplomatic.
"We do not have to stay, but I wish to do so," Gia replied, "plus, I think this is as good a place as any to discuss my concerns."
"What's troubling you, Lass?" Carson asked with genuine concern, his empathy reaching out to Gia.
"It has been many years since it has rained in certain parts of the planet, and I feel my people may starve to death in coming years. I wondered if the people from New Hilaring can help us relocate to a more abundant planet?"
Carson didn't know how to answer her because he'd had similar thoughts this afternoon. Luckily, Teyla knew just what to say.
"I will speak with Minister Toth on your behalf. Perhaps he can offer aid or find you a planet to relocate to. I am sure he would also like to help Simion and his people if they would be willing."
"We could possibly send some scientists from Atlantis to help find out what is affecting the weather on your planet," Carson offered, hoping that Sheppard would agree.
"Thank you for your generous offers. The people of Atlantis are a kind and generous people." Rulan replied with a bow.
"I am not promising anything," Teyla began," but I will do my best to arrange the help you need. Firstly, you must meet with Simion to see if he will accept Minister Toth's help."
"I agree, and first thing in the morning, I will attempt to arrange a meeting," Gia replied with unwavering determination.
Carson stood and looked at Gia kindly, "We must go and get Halling now because I believe Teyla would like to feed and change him. It would be a good idea if we all also got a good night's sleep."
"I think I will stay here for a while," Gia said, her voice trembling with grief. Carson didn't miss the tears streaming down her cheeks again. His heart went out to her, and he felt sympathy for her plight.
"I will stay with her," Rulan offered," Will you be able to find your way back to the conference Cave? I believe some food is left from lunch in the small cold spring at the back of the cave."
"Thank you for your kindness, "Carson said before taking Teyla's hand, "we will see you both later, and please take as long as you need."
Carson led Teyla out of the Burial cave, and his heart went out to these people. They'd had to deal with heartache and adversity for so long, and it left him wondering how they could be so generous and kind.
TBC…
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