Hello, Stargate Lovers!
Hope you're enjoying this new part of the story.
Thank you, Adela, for your wishes. I wish you the same, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year, hope is a good one.
Chapter 61: Original Chapter 0.18
Location: Higher Planes of Existence
Brown eyes opened and looked around.
She knew every time it was different.
She could never remember the moments spent in the higher planes of existence.
This time it was a bright bluish room, with a desk, a bed and a settee by a tall window, with white curtains fluttering with a soft breeze.
Looking down, her body was glowing and a silver dress flowed around her. It was the same one she wore in the Procullis temple. Her hair was in a loose braid, falling over her shoulder.
Something caught her attention and she looked outside a window.
"It's always different from Ancient to Ancient. Yours is Atlantis, I see."
Alexandra turned to Ganos Lal. The Ancient smiled, standing still by a door.
"Is not the same for you?"
The other woman stepped in and approached the new Ancient.
"No. Mine is a bit different. My home, from old."
Nodding, brown eyes spied the piers and towers through the window, glowing under the sun of old Lantea.
"Why Atlantis?" The scientist asked, not understanding why it would be the ancient city.
"You have a strong connection to the city. Perhaps..." Alexandra turned to the Ancient that smiled. "John Sheppard could be the answer, since he's there right now." Ganos Lal approached the woman turned ancient that had averted her eyes. "Or even your dreams."
"What about them?" There was a tone of defense in Alexandra's voice.
"They're visions of your past. As Mélya."
"My past?"
Ganos Lal nodded and motioned for them to sit on the long settee.
"There is something you should know. Especially now that you are an Ancient. You were born, Alex, because Mélya wanted you to be born. You're a representation of who she used to be."
"What... Why? Who was she?"
"She was the first Lantean to develop the kind of skills that made us who we are now. And the first to discover the answer for ascension."
"She was the first one to ascend?"
The woman nodded.
"When I met Kal..." Alexandra stood, memories flooding into her mind. "He said that name. He triggered something... He said I looked like her."
"It is true."
"Why are you telling me this? Now?"
"Before... we didn't know if we should trouble you with the information."
"And Mélya?"
"I knew her. She was a strange Ancient. Always observing, finding ways to help, always in a subtle manner, of course. However, when the Goa'uld appeared, it was too late for us to actually interfere and save the humans enslaved. But she always wanted to do more. And when we felt that a threat, bigger than the Goa'uld, was coming, she found the answer."
There was silence as Alexandra considered those words, looking out the window.
"To be born again. As a human."
"Yes. But she didn't considered what it would take to do it. We still don't know how she did it. After all, it took hundreds of years for her to reborn. In you. And even then, you were born with no knowledge of us, no powers. Well, not until you needed them. You sent out an energy wave so strong that it truly woken us and we started to observe the humans again. Especially those that put the Stargate of Earth to use."
Alexandra frowned.
"But the threat... If it wasn't the Goa'uld... Adria."
"Yes. Our powers can do much, predict certain events and she dreamt a great battle between an Ancient and a Ori."
"You fought Adria. Not me."
"But it wasn't supposed to be me. And it wasn't supposed to be SG-1 to find the Ark of Truth, even if they did the right thing. And it helped to free the humans in the Ori galaxy."
Nodding, the scientist remembered those days.
"But, again, I wasn't the one that fought Adria. You did. Daniel, Vala, Teal'C, they defeated her. Not me."
With a sigh, Ganos Lal stood and took a moment.
"Something is coming. I've told you this. We don't know what, or when. Mélya had those answers and she never told us."
"Then, what is it that you want from me? Talk with Adria?" Alexandra watched the Ancient, not understanding her part.
"No. We want you to find out exactly what Mélya saw."
"But I'm not her."
"That's why we wanted you to come here. Live as she did. Study as she did. To find the answers we need. That you need."
And so three months went by.
Her brown eyes kept an observant look on Atlantis. She had made it so in her plane of existence, watching over her friends.
She missed them.
Missed John.
She tried to make the bargain work, but it was too painful.
And now Teyla got hurt because of John's impatience streak.
Alexandra sighed, making the image to disappear and went back to her meditation, trying to find her memories as Mélya. But, as usual, there was no answer from her other self.
There was something in the air.
That troubled her as she tried to feel for it. A change was coming, she knew that much as seven months in learning how to sense different energies made her feel.
Something was disturbing her peace and immediately Alexandra placed herself on the main plane of existence where she found the Ancient she needed.
"I need to talk to Adria, Ganos."
"You're not ready."
"I am. Finally, I am."
The Ancient sighed and looked up from her meditative spot.
"Adria is currently having what you would call a tantrum."
"Is that what I am sensing?"
The Ancient nodded.
"Then, maybe I am the best person to talk with her."
For a moment, there was silence. And Alexandra didn't know what to do or say.
"Very well." Ganos Lal gave a sigh, before flicking her wrist and, moments later, the former scientist stared at a woman, laying on the floor, dark hair in disarray. No flames in sight, no higher position.
"You came." The same arrogant tone, spite the dishevelment of her figure.
"Adria."
"Looks good on you." The Ori sat up, her dark eyes not leaving Alexandra. "The Ancient's glow. Finally, embraced your legacy, Alexandra?"
The scientist approached the other woman. There were no barriers between them, only darkness and an invisible thread around Adria and her bed, to keep her imprisoned.
"You asked to see me. Multiple times as I understand. What do you want?"
"Not afraid anymore?" Adria's dark eyes followed the Ancient and smiled when got no answer. "You know, I always felt we were the same. Two sides of the same coin as the humans say. But you were always scared to embrace your powers. Too afraid to be who you are meant to be."
"And what is that, Adria? A religious maniacal subordinate of higher beings? Because that's you. You could have done so much more. Find cures, end wars."
"I was too powerful to only do that." The Ori stood and started to walk back and forth.
"Oh, I don't doubt it. You were always so much stronger than me. Even in my strongest. I never denied it. Instead, you chose to enslave half of my galaxy, destroy temples and lives, separated families, killed thousands..."
"Broke hearts?" There was an evil smirk on the lips of the Ori as she stopped and fixed her eyes once again on the former scientist.
Straightening her shoulders, Alexandra narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not here to talk about the past. You asked to see me. And if you have nothing to say, I'll be going." Alexandra turned.
"Wait!" Adria took one step in her direction. "You, better than anyone else, know how lonely it is to have powers in the midst of others that don't understand it. We could be... friends."
Frowning, Alexandra turned.
"Friends? After everything you've done?"
"I was manipulated." There was an entreaty tone to her voice.
"You killed the Ori when you ascended. And kept enforcing their laws, Adria." The fury inside of her raged.
"Then help me be better. Teach me. Teach me to be more like you."
Alexandra gulped at the request.
A smiled appeared on her lips as she watched John and Rodney bicker. She couldn't hear them, or see beyond what happens outside of the city, but that was enough. Little moments where she connected somehow with them. And it pained her every time she saw John be impatient or one of them appear with another bruise. And Torren was growing up so fast.
They had accomplished so much in a year. Even the fight against the Wraith had a turning tide with Todd's and the Travelers help. But there was much work to do still.
And, spite having all the answers, she couldn't do anything to help them.
With a sigh, she let go of the vision. A stray tear fell down her cheek. Instead of easing the pain, it was becoming more and more difficult to let go of it, spending hours just watching them, watching Atlantis to thrive.
Suddenly, her step faltered and a vision came to her. Something called onto her, a voice warning her of impending danger.
"Find it... Alexandra, find the object that will doom everything... Find it. Findt it!"
She saw a box being opened and Alexandra dove into the vision. John was there, opening a box.
No! Not again!
She couldn't let it happen. Not again. Not when she couldn't do anything to prevent it now.
"You're troubled." As she resurfaced from the vision, Ganos Lal appeared by her side as if knowing the anxious spirit of the new Ancient, a worried tone to her voice. "What is wrong?" The Ancient saw tears sliding down Alexandra's cheek and cupped it softly. "Dear..."
"Another box, like the one that almost killed John..."
A frown appeared on the other woman's face.
"It can't be. We have no knowledge of it."
"Are you saying they appeared out of nowhere?"
Keeping silent, Ganos Lal closed her eyes and then nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"We didn't know it would be important. Not after we helped heal John."
A fine line appeared on Alexandra's lips, standing up and going for the window. John was having trouble sleeping.
"I need to do something."
"Alexandra, you can't. You can't change the course of History.
"I've been doing that the moment I was born."
"If he's supposed to..."
"Don't say that word." The hiss made Ganos Lal to step back. "Are you going to stop me?"
Ganos Lal just stared at her and then disappeared.
"You're quieter than usual."
Alexandra looked up from her bench and looked at Adria.
"There's nothing to say."
"And here I thought we were becoming friends." The mocking tone made the Ancient smile.
After her visit in his dreams and on Mórlya, John had picked up the pace, being more open, more friendly and more present with his friends.
Good. And that made her reconsider her previous choice of not helping Adria. She needed to do something to take her mind out of Atlantis, or she would lose her resolve and her own advice towards John. She needed to move on.
"How is Atlantis, by the way?"
Brown eyes found dark ones.
"Atlantis is fine, Adria."
"I know, I know. Just wanted to hear something different. Our lessons are becoming so boring."
"Boring how? We talk about the Ori and the Ancients. About your galaxy and mine. There's so much more to talk about."
"Except the one thing I actually am curious about."
"Atlantis is off limits." There was a tone of warning in Alexandra's tone.
There was silent for a moment.
"How long has it been since you've become an Ancient?" The Ori's eyes were fixed on the Ancient's.
"More than year already."
"And are you feeling any different?"
"Different how?" Alexandra frowned, not understanding her question.
"Have you let go of your earthly feelings? Because that will happen, if it haven't yet."
Alexandra stared at the Ori that simply shrugged, before closing her eyes.
"Well, when that happens, I will let you know."
And what the former scientist didn't see was the smirk Adria sent her way.
Torren was walking and pratically running and Alexandra smiled at the image.
Then, all of a sudden, the image faded as an energy blast was felt throughout her plane of existence.
With only one thought, Alexandra found herself in the main plane of existence where she found the elders she usually avoided.
"What is happening?"
The others turned to her, not being able to hide their concerns.
"We don't know." One of them said. But there was a murmur amongst the others.
"You're not telling me something."
"We should..." Ganos Lal started.
"No!" Ordered the one named Silas, one of the older Ancients.
Taking one step into the middle of them, Alexandra stared at Silas, anger bubbling inside of her.
"Either you'll tell me. Or I'll leave."
"You cannot." Silas tone was low and dangerous. "John Sheppard will die, if you do."
A fine line appeared on her lips before the threat.
"Alex..." Ganos Lal tried to appease her.
"Tell me. Now." A glow surrounded her body as all of the elders felt the power inside of her to grow. It was more than they could endure.
"Atlantis is under attack." Another Ancient provided, giving in. "Or about to be."
"What do you mean, under attack?"
"The energy we are feeling, is something big. As big as the feeling of the threat that is coming. We just don't know when it will be."
"However this unknown... something... is disrupting the flow in Atlantis timeline."
"What... what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that something already happened, that shouldn't have happened."
"Like what?"
"We don't know. We can't see."
Another burst of energy was felt.
"I need to warn Atlantis."
"You are forbidden of interfering. We already gave you too much leniency by letting you watch over them."
"If it is coming..." Alexandra was starting to los her patience.
"You are the one disrupting its timeline." Silas hissed, taking a step towards Alexandra.
"I'm not like you, Silas! If there's one thing that I can do, is warn them."
"You didn't do as told before. Or abide to our rules. You will now!"
"Make me."
"Col. Sheppard will pay for your disobedience."
Narrowing her eyes towards the older Ancient, Alexandra closed her hands into fists, trying to reign in her temper. And a new blast of energy made their bodies made of energy to fade slightly and the murmur between the Ancients started once more.
However, there was something distinctive is the new blast and, without waiting for permission, Alexandra transported herself to Adria's cell.
It was empty. There was nothing, but the broken thread that kept the Ori from escaping.
"Ganos..." She murmured when she felt the Ancient behind her.
"Go. I'll talk with them."
Disappearing from the higher plane of existence, Alexandra appeared where she knew Woolsey and the others were. In the conference room.
"Alex?" John jumped from his chair, frowning. Immediately, his hazel eyes went over her, seeing if there were any injuries, since there was a distress glimmer in her eyes.
"There's no time to explain."
"What is it, Dr. O'Neill?" Woolsey stood as well, concern etched in his eyes.
"There's…" Something interrupted her words and she looked up. The glow around her dimmed for a moment as her eyes fell on what it was on the table. "You found another box?" She looked at them.
"Yes! We found another one a month ago and now..." Rodney started.
"Focus! What is happening?" John interrupted the scientist with a stern tone.
"You need to raise Atlantis shields. Just in case..."
"Of what?" Ronon asked as Rodney picked up his tablet.
"Adria, she… She got away."
"What do you mean, she got away?" Teyla spoke, a frown appearing on her expression.
As John stepped closer to her, the first explosion was felt against the city.
"She's here." Brown eyes found hazel ones.
"Alex..." When John was about to touch her, Alexandra's body faded and she disappeared.
[Col. Sheppard, something is approaching the city.]
[Something hit the northern pier.]
[There's a red light coming towards us.]
The reports flooded into the SGA-1 team radios and Woolsey left the conference room and exited onto the balcony. Immediately, his eyes fell on the two bright figures standing still in one of the piers.
"Adria. What are you doing? How did you..."
"Escape?" There was an evil smirk on the Ori's lips. Her figure was no longer disheveled or her glow dimmed. Her stance was proud and her dress clean and brighter than ever. "Was getting tired of being locked up. Of hearing you babble away your... teachings."
"I never truly trusted you."
"Then, why did you kept coming, Alexandra?" Adria crossed her arms, a brow raised in mocking.
"Maybe, for a moment, I believed you could be good."
The two women stared at each other for a moment.
"You know, I'm going to be honest. I only needed you to visit me once. But the shield was stronger than I imagined. So, I needed you to keep coming."
"What do you mean?" Alexandra was afraid of what those words meant.
"I find your stubborness almost endearing. Even before this, and it helped that you were still as such, because the plane of existence your beloved Ancients trapped me in had one weakness."
"What do you mean?!" Alexandra's heart was beating fast as she repeated the question.
"They were only able to trap me in that room because me and them are different. However, I found a flaw in their barrier. You. Like I said, two sides of the same coin. With you there, your energy bumping onto it, every now and then, so similar to my own, the barrier thinned and crumbled. Haven't you felt tired as of late?" Adria smirked, fire surrounding her, her dark eyes bright as a sun.
Alexandra's heart went still for a moment. Why did she had to go see Adria? Why didn't her sixth sense prevented her from visiting her? Why did she had to help her?
"Leave Atlantis alone, Adria." An orb of light appeared on the Ancient's hands.
"Or what?" The Ori stopped and raised a hand, a flame appeared.
A vibration went through the air. And the Ori's lips turned up as she sent a blast of flames against Alexandra.
The fight began and it was fast as lightning.
"Why Atlantis, Adria?"
"Because you love it so much. And it's a ship. A very powerful ship."
"It's under my protection."
"Better yet."
Alexandra burst into light, white flames surrounding her body as she attacked Adria but the Ori was stronger. Always had been. And Alexandra was too impetuous with her emotions at the moment to think straight. She just wanted to protect the city.
A blast knocked her onto the ground and she grunted in pain. Blood spurted from her lips and Adria leaned over her.
"You cannot win, Alexandra."
The moment the Ancient raised her hands, Adria grabbed her wrists and started to burn her, making her scream. Then, her powers fought back and the energies mingled, draining each other.
Time stopped and someone separated them, grabbing the scientist, placing her in her own plane of existence.
"What did you do, Ganos?" With a grunt, Alexandra stood. "I have to go back!" She panted, grabbing her middle. "They're in danger."
"She's weak. So are you. Alex, you need to let go. Become human."
"What? No! I can't! John..."
"He will be alright. None of us will hurt him."
"I won't be able to fight her as a human."
"You will. Just let go. You'll be so much stronger. Just let go." Ganos Lal placed a hand on the woman's cheek, softly. "Trust me."
Alexandra's energy was fading fast. And she couldn't understand half of what Ganos Lal was saying. What have Adria done to her?
Too tired to argue, she just closed her eyes.
In Atlantis, all that everyone saw was a bright light falling from the sky and a blast that shook the towers once it hit one of the piers.
Ps: Thoughts?