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Chapter 65: Original Chapter 0.22
[How are you, kiddo?]
"I'm pretty good, Uncle Jack."
[What do you remember?]
Samantha Carter bumped Jack O'Neill on his shoulder, giving him a look, after he repeated the question a second time and seeing the uncomfortable expression her friend displayed over the screen.
"I promise I'm okay. And I remember most things. Most of my life, my studies, my friends, I've been answering Rodney questions about previous missions. Even when they come out unexpectadly."
[Give it to Rodney to keep you on your toes.] Samantha smiled, affectionately.
[Uh. So, you don't remember your fling with Mitchell?]
[Jack!]
[What? If she doesn't remember Sheppard...]
[That is not...]
Alexandra smiled seeing them bicker in another galaxy, far away. The feeling of having missed it washed over her, memories coming to her mind and she felt relieved at that.
"I remember Cam. And Adria. I just don't remember..." She sighed, looking away from them. Then, she shrugged. "I'm not sure what I really remember. Feelings..."
[I don't want to hear that.] Jack made a face at the mention of his niece's feelings towards any of his subordinates.
[Then, leave. Let me talk to her.] Samantha rolled her eyes with a smile, pushing him away from the camera.
[You, ladies, talk, then. Alex, think about visiting your mother. Bye, kiddo.]
"I will, uncle Jack. Bye." Alexandra promised and she actually meant it. Then, stared at Samantha that had a concerned look on her face.
[Maybe you should come back to Earth. Maybe it would help. It's been weeks. Daniel didn't had this much trouble remembering us, after coming back from the Ancients.]
"Maybe I'm different, because I'm an actual Ancient, Sam. I don't know..." An overwhelming feeling strucked her. "I can't leave Atlantis right now. Adria escaped and if she's in this galaxy I have to be here. Powerless or not. Maybe I am the only thing that stands between her and Atlantis."
[How do you know that?]
"A feeling. I've been..." The scientist sighed. "I've been having dreams with her. I don't know if they are scenes from what happened before I came back or if it is something else."
[Have you tried contacting the Ancients?]
"Every night. They are not responding. What if Adria..."
[No. Don't think like that. She's not stronger than a whole group of ascended beings. She's only one.]
Sighing, Alexandra let her head fall onto her arms, perched on the table where the computer was.
"I'm lost, Sam. They... Sheppard looks at me as if I have all the answers..."
[He's just dealing with the fact that you don't remember him, Alex. Give him time.]
A thin line appeared on Alexandra's lips as she stared at one of her best friends.
"What if... not remembering him means something to Adria? And I was the one to erase it to protect him?"
[Alex...]
"I know, I know... But what if I didn't want the same thing happening to him after what happened to Cam?" There was a silence between the two women. There was nothing either could say that would be a proper answer. "I have to go, Sam. Thank you for the talk."
[Any time. Maybe we'll go pay a visit one of these days.]
"I will like that. Give my best to the others."
With a smile, Samantha disconnected and the Stargate blue pool faded.
It was late at night in the control room area and she was basically alone, on one of the farthest corner stations to talk with her family in the Milky Way Galaxy. Only Chuck and Amelia were there and turned to her as soon as the connection disappeared.
"Thank you. Have a good night, guys."
"You too, doc." Chuck offered a smile, before going back to his computer and Amelia only nodded, finishing up some reports.
Alexandra sent a smile their way and walked away from the control room, her tablet in hand as she checked some of the latest reports from the various teams she had been helping in the past two weeks. Not much had happened since she was still on desk duty until Carson or Jennifer gave her the okay to go back onto the field.
As she walked by Rodney's lab, the lights were still on and she frowned. Since dating Jennifer, the scientiest had made sure to have somewhat of a tight schedule between work and time off. However, tonight, he was still working.
"Rodney?"
The scientist looked up from his station with a frown at the sound of her voice.
"Alex. Something's wrong?"
"I should I ask you that. Jennifer won't like that you're still here."
"Oh." He offered a smile at the mention of his girlfriend. "She's working tonight. So, I thought I would be here for a while longer, finishing up some reports for Woolsey."
Looking around the lab, Alexandra nodded, Then, her eyes landed on three wooden boxes and she stepped closer to them.
"Don't touch them." Rodney warned, watching her, curiously.
"Why not?" Brown eyes kept their attention on the objects.
"One of them was the cause of John's near death experience that made you ascend."
Silence and a somber look fell on the scientist's face.
"They're supposed to be five." Alexandra blurted out and straightened up as Rodney jumped from his chair and came closer to her.
"How do you know that?!" He almost squealed.
"I... don't know. Maybe..."
"Some residual information you kept in your brain. That's awesome! Random situations might do the trick for your memories to come back."
"Rodney, I don't know anything else. I just... said it." The former captain shrugged, watching him get some gloves.
"Put these on."
"Why?"
"Just put them on. And pick one of them." He pointed at the boxes.
Used to his antics and knowing he was probably right, Alexandra put the gloves on and did what he said. Randomly, she picked the greenish coloured box and looked at it.
"Can I open it?"
"Sure. They're secure now. The gloves is just a protective measure."
With a nod, she opened and looked inside, a suspended breath on her lips.
"Uh..."
"What?" Rodney was watching her intently, as if studying what she was doing.
"There's nothing."
"Yeah. They have no markings, nothing inside. I believe the first one had some kind of toxyn, because of what happened with John."
"No." The sureness of her tone and the frown on her face told the scientist she was offering more information.
"What do you mean?"
"There was no toxyn. None of the boxes have toxyns, or anything inside. They are conduits for the Ancients. One Ancient, actually."
Rodney made a squeal and picked up his radio, waking everyone up.
"How did you remembered?"
Alexandra looked towards the opposite side of the table and found broody hazel eyes staring back at her.
"I don't know. Like I said to Rodney, I just blurted the words. It just came to me. I tried remember something more, but nothing happened."
Leaning back on the chair, John had a pensieve look on his face, never straying away from her.
"However, she said the name of a planet." Rodney interrupted. "Vaemond." And we need to go there. It might have answers and most likely another box. She says they are five."
"Conduits, you said." Woolsey turned his head towards Alexandra, right next to him. "To what?"
"I don't know."
"And they are linked to one Ancient?" Teyla had a frown between her brows.
"Yes. But I don't know which Ancient."
"Mélya." The pilot's voice made her turn her eyes back to him.
"How do you know that name?"
"It's linked to you, according to Kal. And maybe that's why you remembered the boxes."
For a moment, they stared at each other and something like an electrical current went between them.
"I don't know if that's right. I'm sorry." She was the first to look away, but her sixth sense told her that John kept his eyes on her.
"So, we have a go, Mr. Woolsey?" The pilot asked, turning back to his leader.
"Yes. Be careful."
Hours later
Alexandra tried to keep her ears shut as Rodney grumbled about far away ruins as they walked back towards the temple that was not far from the gate.
They had paired up after arriving on the planet, alongside Major Stevens team that was given the perimeter to secure. And while John and Teyla kept looking inside the temple for any information, the colonel had ordered Ronon to escort Alexandra and Rodney to the ruins that were an hour away from the site.
And now the Satedan gave her an exasperated look at the scientist's babble.
"You've read the files as much as I did, Rodney. When I said the name Vaemond, I didn't know it was going to be forest and hills and rocks and dirt. Besides, I was counting on the Ancient cult that it was supposed to be guarding the temple to direct us."
"You can't count on what you don't know. You used to be more suspicious. Your memory can't be trusted right now." Give it to Rodney McKay to be rude at any moment. "I'm sorry, Alex."
Stopping in her tracks, she frowned and turned to him.
"Are you... apologizing, Rodney? Uh! That's new."
"That's not..." Rodney frowned, stopping as well. "How do you know it's new?"
Turning around, Alexandra bit her lip as she saw Ronon stop a few meters ahead of them. Narrowing his eyes, Rodney stepped right beside her, his blue eyes scanning her face.
"Alex, how..."
"Shh..." Ronon asked quietly, looking around the area, raising his blaster into position.
Making Rodney stop, Alexandra raised her P'90 as well.
"Don't shush..."
Her hand came to his lips, silencing him.
"Stay here." Ronon gave them a look and walked ahead, disappearing from their sight.
Suddenly, a blast shot was heard.
"What is happening?" Rodney whispered as she pushed him behind a dense bush.
"From the sound of the blast? Wraith. Stay here."
"Ronon said the same thing. And he's not coming back." His hand grabbed her arm.
"Ronon is big. I'm fast. Faster if I'm not with you, Rodney. Trust me." Alexandra looked into the scientist eyes, trying to reassure him. "Please."
For a moment, the scientist seemed to consider her words. Then, he just nodded.
Silently, she disappeared into the forest and Rodney stared in the direction both his friends had gone to.
Minutes passed by until Rodney heard a rustle coming from his right.
"Wraith." Alexandra's whispered voice was followed by her sitting next to him. "They attacked the temple. Sheppard and the others are restrained. Stevens team is nowhere in sight."
"Dead, most likely." The older scientist whined at the prospect. "There's no way we can get to the gate. It's the first thing to go when we have Wraith around."
"Culling?" Her eyes kept wondering around them, aware of any danger.
"No. There was only the mention of a cult, no settlements in the database."
"So, if they are not taking humans..."
"They are looking for something."
"The box."
"There was no mention of any box in the database either. And the temple had no hidden compartiments. Neither did the ruins."
"We don't know that for sure. Maybe only the Ancient the boxes are meant for can see what is beyond stone."
"That's actually a good idea." Rodney had a surprised tone to his voice, looking at her in the same way.
"Just saying..." She shrugged. "But we need to find shelter. It's getting dark. And you're no fighter, Rodney. C'mon..."
As they stood from their spot, blast guns clicked into position behind them.
They were surrounded by Wraith soldiers.
The two scientists were taken back to the temple site, weapons gone from their bodies.
As Rodney got pushed to sit near the rest of his team, not far from the stairs that led to the temple, Alexandra was pushed to stay up, not far from them. With a huff she pulled her arm from the wraith's hold.
"You okay?" John's eyes went over her face, seeing no injury, even if his body was tense from the prospect of what they were about to face.
"I'm fine. Didn't hear them coming." She looked around, her eyes seing her friends bedraggled state. Ronon was clutching his side. "Major Stevens?" John shook his head with a sad look. Then, she noticed bruising forming on his temple and blood on the corner of his lips. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine. Don't worry." John offered a reassuring smile, noticing what she had done.
"Why are they not killing us?" Rodney decided to question.
"Because I wanted you alive." Alexandra's head whipped around at the familiar voice as woman in a bright red long dress appeared in their line of sight. "Hello, Alexandra." Adria stopped right between two wraith soldiers, a mischieveous smile appearing on her lips.
The scientist's brown eyes scanned the figure.
"You must be Adria."
Silence descended upon the site. John, Teyla, Rodney and Ronon stood still as, for the first time, they met the Ori.
"Must... You don't remember me?" The ascended woman raised a brow and made a gesture, to which a wraith manhandled Alexandra to step closer so she could look into her eyes. "How human of you. No powers, no memories, no protection shield. Ganos Lal really did a number on you."
Alexandra's heart was beating fast. Memories of fury, of hatred, of pain flooded her senses, but she tried to reign them in.
"As far as I'm concerned, you were the one that did this to me." There was a quiet anger in her tone.
An evil laugh escaped Adria's throat as she walked around the scientist, her eyes scanning her figure.
"You think I want you completely human? You're my greatest enemy and you, as a human, are no fun at all, Alexandra."
Looking up as the Ori was taller, Alexandra narrowed her eyes in defiance.
"Well, I apologize to spoil your fun. But think... I'll be easier to kill."
Raising a hand, Adria made flames come to life around Alexandra, burning her skin. However, she locked her jaw and closed her hands into fists, giving no satisfaction for the Ori to hear her scream.
"Leave her alone!" The hiss came out of John as stood up in a quick motion.
With a mischieveous grin, the woman made the flames simmer down and focused her attention on the pilot.
"By the looks of it, you must be John Sheppard. Another pilot, uh?" Adria bit her lip as she glanced to a heavy breathing Alexandra, flushed from the fire. "What must dear Cameron think of this?" She raised a hand and two wraiths grabbed John and made him kneel down, by kicking him on his side when he tried to fight them. "Let's see what we have here." She closed her eyes and fire surrounded them while the scientist watched her enemy place her hands on the pilot's face.
"Stop, Adria."
The words came out quietly and imperious, as if it was an order.
John buckled down to the ground with a pained groan when Adria released him and she looked pleased as she stepped closer to Alexandra.
"No manipulation this time. What are the Ancients trying to prove?" There was a tone of wonder in the Ori's words.
"Beats me." Alexandra shrugged, her heart beating fast as John's groan echoed in her ears. She could feel something changing inside of her. "As far as I know, you destroyed them."
"You don't really know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"C'mon, Alex. A powerful human ancient, trained to defeat me. We are the same. We should rule galaxies. Instead, you are powerless and they left their best champion all alone."
"I'm nothing like you. You know this. You know what happened the last time you tried to pull me to your side. I might hate the Ancients, but I will never give up on the humans." Alexandra's tone was eaven, knowing her next words might be her last. "And look what they did. Daniel, Vala, Teal'c they made everyone see the truth. Destroyed your power. I might not have mine, but I can see you're not as powerful as you once were, are you?" She saw Adria narrow her eyes. "I'm not the Ancients champion. I'm the Tau'ri champion. You might kill me and win the battle, but they will never give up on fighting the war against you."
There was silence for a split second as the Ori considered those words.
"Very well, Ancient. Let's see what you do, when I do this." Adria raised her hands and flames surrounded her friends and screams filled the site.
Alexandra tried not to let it affect her, but she couldn't.
"Adria! Stop! What do you want?"
Flames simmered down once again as an evil smile graced the Ori's lips.
"I want a box." She made a gesture for everyone to follow her to the inside of the temple. Wraith soldiers made SGA-1 team to stand up and walk.
"Alex..." John whispered as he was able to step closer to her.
She didn't acknowledge him as her eyes were trained on Adria's back. The pilot frowned. The last few minutes had been interesting. He had never seen Alexandra act so cold, in gestures and words.
Adria stopped in front of the temple's altar.
"I tortured the guardians of the temple." Adria turned to the group behind her. "Puny little things. They offered the location..." At that, a small entrance in the rock wall slid open. "That only an Ancient can retrieve the box and that there are five of them."
"Five boxes, uh?" Alexandra glanced at Rodney. "And what does this box contain?" She was curious, seeing a small wooden box inside the entrance, fascinated by the fact that she had discovered nothing in the earlier inspection of the altar.
"Nothing. Is what is does that is importante."
"And what is that exactly?"
"Together, the boxes give life to the one possessing them."
"Well, I don't see you giving life to anyone. Most likely death." Alexandra mocked, then turned to the Ori. "Isn't your power enough?"
"If I want to rule all three galaxies and a few more in the process, no." Adria narrowed her eyes at the scientist. "Pick up the box, Alex. Or someone will suffer." The Ori stared at the Ancient that had stepped closer as if called upon the power she felt coming from the box.
"Don't!" Ronon and John said at the same time. In response, they were punched in the ribs.
"Enough." Adria stepped closer to the pilot with a dark smile, taking a knife from the belt of the wraith holding him. "Let's see." Her eyes scanned his body before grabbing John's head and placing the blade to his throat. "Should he be the first?"
"Alex, don't listen to her..." John huffed, grunting in pain.
Looking between him and her enemy, Alexandra felt the need to do neither. Not saving him, not giving her the box.
"C'mon, Alexandra, are you going to let me kill your beloved? Your unwavering loyalty towards the Ancients almost killed Cameron, remember? Poor little SG-1 leader. Back then you had your powers to bargain for his life. What do you have now?"
Brown and hazel met for the briefest moment. John could see the pain in Alexandra's eyes, what she had done, what had haunted her all of those years. And he finally understood what she had decided to do a year ago.
"Poor John Sheppard. Well, apparently she doesn't love you as much as Col. Mitchell..."
And, as Adria pulled the blade away from this throat to plunge it into his heart, something happened.
Silence fell inside the temple and time stopped as Alexandra grabbed the box. An energy wave flowed from the box into her body and it was released onto their surroundings, imploding back into Alexandra that raised her free hand and directed it against Adria that opened her eyes in surprise by the unexpected events.
"I told you, Adria." Alexandra's eyes were white as her voice sounded as if in an echo. "Atlantis is under my protection." A beam of light came out of her hand and Adria stepped back from John, watching the wraith fall to the ground, dead.
The Ori screamed as light enveloped her body and Alexandra closed her fist. However, flames rose from the ground and her body turned into a bright red flame and she disappeared.
A scream of pain was released from Alexandra's throat and her knees connected with the ground, her hand still clutching the box.
"Alex..." John was immediately there, his hands pulling her against his body, one of his arms craddling her head.
"John." Her eyes were barely open as she looked up at him. But her senses told her something else. "Rodney. Box. Gloves."
"Sure." Rodney had a frown between his brows as he heard her and was careful with her hand, prying the box from her grip. His eyes were pained, seeing her burned palm.
"I'm tired, John."
"I know."
"I don't... remember. I just... acted."
"I know."
"She's..."
"Disappeared." Teyla offered, watching her friends with her heart beating fast.
"The gate should be... free." Her eyes were half closed, but her burned hand came to John's cheek, that greeted the touch with a smile. "I'm tired..." Her breathing slowed down and she lost conscience.
Three days later
It was late when his feet took him to the infirmary and he sat down on a chair next to her bed.
His hand took her bandaged one. She was warm like always and that warmth comforted him. It told him she was alive.
It pained him seeing her like that, after all the pain she had suffered.
They had talked about Adria, but seeing the pain the Ori still inflicted her, the way the Ancients manipulated her back then, with Mitchell's feelings... all for what? To fight Adria? He never truly understood why she had been so reluctant to let him in, why she had fought against her feelings towards him, why the secrets... he didn't understand. Not until three days before, when he met Adria and heard all of those things, how Alexandra reacted to them. That was not the Alexandra he knew. Not entirely. That was the Alexandra before him, before Atlantis, and also the warrior the Ancients wanted and lost when they betrayed her. He knew Mitchell had almost died. However, she had never told him she had given up her powers to save him him and a year ago she had done the same with him. But, instead of giving up her powers, she had given up her life for him.
She looked so pale...
Maybe not having memories would help her fight Adria. Maybe that was the reason she left them behind. Because he wasn't sure that Atlantis was well equipped to fight someone as powerful as the Ori. Maybe they needed the warrior and not the funny and kind-hearted Alexandra this time. And he was willing to sacrifice what he felt for her for what was necessary at the moment.
With that decision in mind, John must have fallen asleep because next thing he knew, something touched his hair softly. He looked up to see Alexandra's fingers moving in the air and his eyes found her opening her own.
"Hey, doc." He said, quietly, a small, pained smile on his lips. His hand grabbed the one reaching for him, feeling the softness of her skin.
"You're alive."
"Thanks to you."
She rolled her tired eyes with a smile, which made him exhale with relief.
"I don't remember anything."
"I don't care what you remember. What you did was careless, Alex. And so... you." There was a somber look to John as he said the words, but at the same time there was a tiny smirk on his lips.
"Careless? I was not..." A frown appeared between her brows.
"Doing things without any sense of self preservation, that's careless. Putting yourself in danger... and..."
"I was trying to save you and the others..."
"How is my favourite patient?" At that moment, Carson entered the infirmary, offering a warning look towards John that immediately stood from the chair.
"I feel quite well, Dr. Beckett." Alex smiled at the doctor.
"Good, good. Col. Sheppard, might you give us some privacy, please? I'm sure, Alex doesn't want to be berated with questions at the moment."
"Sure. I'm... sorry, doc." John nodded, giving one last look towards Alexandra, who had looked away from him. "Sleep tight, Alex."
When he left, Carson turned to his patient that had a sad look in her eyes.
"Thought you might need some saving, lass."
Alexandra gave a small chuckle, her eyes shimmering softly.
"What would I do without my knight in shining armour?"
Carson offered her a smile as he checked her vitals and her bandaged hand, before leaving her alone for the remaining of the night.
Ps: Thoughts?