Friendship, Week 1: Plowshare (2/5)
Title: Plowshare
Author: liketheriverrun
Prompt: Tools and Weapons/Friendship
Rating: T
Word Count: ~42,100
Warnings/Spoilers: Set a few years in the future so anything and anyone can and do show up.
Summary: The discovery of an alien race that predated the Ancients in Pegasus leads to something no one ever thought they would see-- peace. But is it worth the price they have to pay?
[ Part One] [ Part Two] [ Part Three] [ Part Four] [ Part Five]
* * * * *
January 11, 2012
Todd.
He hated the designator the humans had chosen for him. For one, providing names to individuals was a foreign concept, an entirely human prerogative, for which the Wraith had no need. As a species, the Wraith were much more comfortable as a collective conscious, and the desire for individuality among a Hive was a rarity. He was, of course, the rarity to which he referred, but that did not mean he desired nor wanted to be called Todd. Nor were names a necessity when there were much more distinct ways to identify an individual through the senses than with a designator that can be used multiple times within a single community. But perhaps the most infuriating reason why he hated the name was that it had been Sheppard who had afflicted him with it. And while it was often times entertaining to toy with Sheppard and the others who had taken up residence in the Lantean city, there were also setbacks? the name Todd, being the foremost of these.
Still, these humans had been useful to his plans on more than one occasion, not to mention trusting and gullible to the point of ridicule, so that as much as he hated being called Todd, when the call came, he inevitably answered. The long range communication he had received a day before had been no exception, and he had agreed to convene with Sheppard and his team at their normal meeting location to travel to Atlantis.
It had been a typical meeting. Sheppard had made threatening overtures while simultaneously requesting his presence once more in the city he considered home, much more home than the planet in the other galaxy they had all found themselves trapped on for months after thwarting a Wraith attack. The only difference being that he had spent most of that time in shackles, locked in a cell while the humans had roamed free. Ronon Dex had glowered, waiting, hoping, Sheppard would finally allow the large human to shoot their Wraith ally. The irony was that Ronon's instant distrust and hate for any Wraith, anyone who wasn't part of his own human Hive, made him more Wraithlike in his thoughts than any of them. Dr. McKay had prattled on endlessly about the strange race, the ones they called Eslaterans, who had arrived and wished to meet a Wraith, while Teyla had done her best to guard her thoughts from her Wraith brethren. It had been a valiant attempt, yet in the end, a failure since he not only knew her abilities, he also knew she knew what she was capable of, as well.
To go against Teyla Emmagen directly, to attempt to force one's way through her defenses, was to underestimate the human side of her genetics. The only way to defeat Teyla was to accept her humanity and use it against her. It was the only way to defeat any of them; refusing to do so could lead to utter failure and probable death, a fact discovered firsthand by many a Wraith in this galaxy. What he had learned from the moment he met Sheppard in that Genii cell years before was that these pathetic creatures were brimming with emotions they could not control. They were emotions alien to the Wraith. Where the Wraith had confidence, the humans had something they called hope. The Wraith had the collective mind of the Hive while humans had the need to develop trust. Many of his species found these to be weaknesses. Whereas he knew them for the vulnerabilities they could be when manipulated properly, they were also the human's hidden strength.
So while there was no use attempting to read Teyla's thoughts openly, he knew how to use that minutia of trust, that hope she held that he was truly on their side, and allow it to open her mind to him. He had learned more from her about these Eslaterans and their claim of spawning the Wraith lineage in one moment's reading than in the entire time Dr. McKay had talked...and talked... and talked some more. As to the claim of this new race and their connections to the Wraith, the validity of that remained to be seen.
Once he entered Atlantis, he was met by armed guards. It was a routine he'd become familiar with over the years; at least he was no longer required to be shackled while present in the city. Woolsey stood on the walkway outside his office and watched as he and his escort passed. The human returned the small nod of greeting the Wraith offered, looking somewhat flustered by the implied familiarity and friendship the gesture suggested. He simply smiled to himself, pleased with both the insecurity and the ease the human leader felt with his presence. Eventually, when the time was right, he would be able to use that to his advantage.
When they reached their destination outside a transporter, the group stopped and Sheppard opened the door and signaled for the Wraith to enter, but did not follow him in. In fact, no one did.
"Will you not be joining me?" he asked in genuine surprise.
"They were pretty clear that they wanted to meet with you alone," Sheppard informed him.
"I see." This was becoming more and more interesting by the moment. "And you will allow this?"
The disgruntled crease in Sheppard's forehead told him more than the human's words did. "The Eslaterans delegation has set up a sort of embassy in the West tower. Consider it diplomatic immunity while you're there."
The words themselves meant nothing, but he understood the concept, and the implications. The Eslaterans were powerful enough to dictate terms to these humans, and while the humans obviously were not happy with the arrangement, they were in no position to insist on anything otherwise.
"Then I shall be on my best behavior." The Wraith's lips couldn't help but twitch.
Sheppard crossed his arms with a smirk of his own. "You better be. We'll be watching." He hitched his head toward surveillance cameras in the hallway. There were, no doubt, more like it in the tower where the Eslaterans were residing.
Dr. McKay stepped into the transport and indicated a control on the panel. "I've modified the controls in the transporter so that all destinations are locked out besides here and Eslateran wing. Push this button and it will take you there, push it again when you're done and ready to come back."
"I appreciate the...convenience of your system, Dr. McKay." He did his best to hide his humor that they thought he couldn't simply override the controls and go anywhere in the city he wished. But the truth was, he wanted to see what these Eslaterans had planned. Any group who could exert this much control over the humans was of potential use to the Wraith.
"You'll find the delegation second door on the left once you step off the transport," Sheppard directed, then promised, "We'll be waiting for you here when you finish up."
He nearly rolled his eyes when Ronon rested a hand on his gun, as if to prove the truth of the matter. Instead, he nodded his head in understanding and pushed the designated control.
As the doors slid shut, he heard Dr. McKay ask Sheppard, "Do you have any more cookies?"
He had no idea what cookies were, but made a note to find out. By Dr. McKay's tone, they held some importance to the human scientist.
The trip was instantaneous and the doors slid open on a dimly lit hallway. Stepping out of the transporter, he looked up into the camera in a sort of greeting to the humans waiting in another part of the city, sure they were watching his every move down the hallway. There was something almost exhilarating in the freedom he was experiencing in the city. Granted, it was a single corridor with surveillance, but as often as he'd been in Atlantis, he'd never been without a human guard before. Nor could he deny that there was a part of him that suspected this was some sort of test, or even a trap, by the humans.
As much as the Wraith hated to concede they shared anything in common with their human food source, there was no denying a good portion of their genetic makeup was human. Dr. Beckett's retrovirus had proven as much with its ability to strip away all but the remaining human essence of their beings. It was hideous and intriguing all at once to see the transformation brought about by the drugs and how quickly it could happen. But if the Wraith were human at their core, what made them unique, what made them superior, came from what appeared on the outside to be the basest of creatures. The Iratus bug, however, was anything but simple. It was what gave the Wraith their enhanced strength, their ability to heal, their telepathic bonds, and their loyalty to their Hive. Dr. Beckett's theories that the Wraith had evolved from humans being fed upon by the Iratus bug were the same conclusions Wraith scientists had reached eons before. It had been the basis for the experimentation conducted on the humans in Teyla's family line that had led to her abilities. To suggest as the Eslaterans were that this was false, that the Wraith had not evolved into an advanced race from two inferior ones smacked of deception, which was one of the main reasons he was here in the first place.
After all, the only way to spring a trap was to first see it.
He reached the door and paused, remembering how he'd read Teyla's thoughts and how she had truly believed what the Eslaterans had told her. Not that she hadn't fed false information to the Wraith before with her abilities, but he was convinced she had no idea he had read her like he had. It was preposterous to think otherwise and meeting this race had been the reason he had come, after all. With a scoff at his own hesitancy, he opened the door.
The lighting was dim, barely brighter than it had been in the hallway, similar to a Hive ship, but the five beings standing in the center of the room were easy to see and much easier to sense. The familiar telepathic touch of another effortlessly merging their thoughts with his had him throwing up a mental block out of pure surprise. Not that it was any more successful than Teyla's block had been with him earlier; they simply slipped past it, fluid as water.
Greetings, they said, not in words but in a sensation so intense that he staggered a step before steadying. Welcome.
He found himself relaxing into their consciousness, no longer trying to keep them out but reaching for them, seeking them out in return. It was more satisfying than feeding after a long period of starvation. How long had it been? How long had he been craving this very experience without even knowing it?
Then another thought wrapped around his brain, his body, his entire being.
Ours.
It was almost painful in its possessiveness and terrifying in its implications. It had him trembling in fear and anticipation, set his whole body pulsating in rhythm with these beings that were so much like Wraiths but more.
So very much more.
* * * * *
Richard Woolsey
Expedition Leader
Atlantis
The Coalition of Worlds has reviewed your request to address the council in regards to information you have gained from the people of Eslatera. The council will provide you time on their docket two days hence. A Coalition representative will be sent to escort you and one other Atlantis representative to speak. Please understand that we have many pressing matters on our agenda and the time available to you will be limited. Although we appreciate your assertion that this news is urgent, we hope you will respect these wishes.
Yours in peace,
Dimas of the Free Peoples of Riva
January 18, 2012
John shifted irritably as he stood beside Woolsey awaiting entrance into the Coalition's council chamber.
Woolsey, dressed in his Boston Legal getup once more, glanced in his direction. "Nervous, Colonel?"
"I'm not sure that's exactly the word I'd use to describe it."
Sure John was a little nervous. These people had put him and his team on trial a few years ago and would have banished them if not for some midnight wheeling and dealing Woolsey himself had conducted. But since then Atlantis had settled into an uneasy alliance with the Coalition of Worlds, both groups recognizing they had more to gain as allies than enemies. But there was more to it than that.
"It's been nearly a week since we contacted them," Sheppard grumped. "A week since we told them we had news about a powerful new race in the galaxy, and their busy with 'pressing matters' of their own?"
"The Coalition has only continued to grow over the years," Woolsey reminded, the way he adjusted his tie yet again speaking to his own nerves. "Considering what Todd told us the Eslaterans want, we will need their backing to make sure this goes smoothly."
John knew Woolsey was right and that they had to go through the Coalition if they wanted this to work, but the arrogance of these jerks made even McKay look like the flippin' Dalai Lama. The fact that it involved talking to the Coalition about information provided by Todd, who had been deemed the mouthpiece for the Eslaterans thanks to his ability to translate their thoughts into words better than they could, only made things that much worse.
"Considering what Todd told us, do you really think anything will go smoothly?" John countered.
"Do we have a choice?"
Sheppard could only frown at Woolsey's question, because, no, they didn't have a choice.
The doors to the council room opened and John felt his stomach twist to see the large panel with the three Coalition representatives seated behind it. It reminded Sheppard of something you would see on C-Span during a congressional hearing, and even more intimidating. Demis of Riva and Kelore of Latira were both still members of the council, but Shiana of the Tribes of Santhal had been replaced by another familiar face.
Dahilia Radim, sister to the Genii leader Ladon Radim, gave them a small smile of greeting. "Mr. Woolsey, Colonel Sheppard, welcome."
"Dahilia, what a surprise," Woolsey admitted. "I had no idea you were serving on the council."
"It is a new appointment," Dahilia told him. "My brother asked me to represent the Genii when a spot on the council opened up when Shiana recently stepped down."
"I can't think of anyone who is better suited to fill it," Woolsey responded.
While Mr. Woolsey's surprise had been genuine, John wasn't sure his last statement was. Relations with the Genii had definitely warmed since Ladon had taken command, but the two groups were cordial at best, leery and suspicious of one another at worst. Still, it was a vast improvement from the days of Cowen and Kolya.
Not to be outdone by their newest member, Demis cleared his throat. "As I stated in my letter, our time is limited, so if you would please begin, Mr. Woolsey."
"Of course." Woolsey stepped forward onto the platform John was all too familiar with to address the small group. "I trust you read over my reports on our discovery of the Eslaterans and their home world."
"We reviewed the documents you sent," Demis assured.
"Then I'll skip the history and move on to what we have learned since their arrival in Atlantis."
Dahilia interrupted before he could go any further. "Your report stated they are currently residing in the city. Why are they there and not their home world?"
John could hear the note of suspicion in her voice and see it on the faces of the other two.
"The delegation currently in Atlantis was sent ahead of the others of their race to ensure it was safe to return," Woolsey explained.
"Safe?" Kelore asked in puzzlement. "Why would they not think it was safe to return?"
Woolsey took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he had to tell them next. "Because, they never left this galaxy voluntarily. The Ancients forced them out and then trapped them in the dimension when they left. If we hadn't stumbled onto their settlement and released them, they would still be imprisoned. They feared their old enemy was still here and it was possibly a trap."
"This is absurd!" Demis exclaimed. "The Ancestors would never do that unless there was a viable reason."
Woolsey held up his hands. "From everything we've seen, the Eslateran's are a peaceful people."
John did his best to keep his face neutral. While they had never threatened anyone from Atlantis, it didn't mean they weren't a threat. Anyone who could make your weapons vanish with a thought couldn't be trusted in Sheppard's book.
"They want only to return to their home," Woolsey told them, "and since they are the original inhabitants of this galaxy, they feel they have the right to do so."
"Then why do they not simply return?" Dahilia asked. "Why is it a concern for the Coalition of Worlds?"
Here is comes, John thought to himself.
Woolsey straightened his jacket, as if to compose himself and determine the best way to explain what he had to say. "You must understand the Eslateran's position. The Ancients came into their home and started populating it with humans. Humans, as you are well aware, are not always a peaceful people. As the Eslateran's concern over the spreading violence grew, and in their opinion, the Ancients refused to do anything about it, they decided to take matters into their own hands. They felt humans were like a vermin, spreading out of control, so they created a predator for them from their own genetic makeup. They created the Iratus bug in a hope that it would control the spread of the human population."
The outrage of the council was immediate and Woolsey waited until Demis finally called for silence before speaking. "You have been playing host to a race whose purpose was to eradicate human life? Your own scientists have said the Iratus bug is what led to the development of the Wraith."
John couldn't stay quiet anymore. "Look, it's not like we have much choice in the matter, and in the end, neither do you."
"We are well armed," Kelore boasted. "Since the creation of the Coalition, we have made great strides against the Wraith?"
"Your weapons don't mean jack shit against these guys," Sheppard cut in. "Remember how they can travel between dimensions? Well, they can send things there, things like guns and ammo, and it's gone before you even know they took them."
"You've seen this?" Dimas had actually gone pale at the news.
"We have," Woolsey agreed. "And unless the human population of Pegasus agrees to their terms, other things will begin to vanish as well."
Dahilia was doing a rather convincing job of remaining calm at the news. "What terms?"
"A truce," Woolsey informed them, "between all worlds and races, including the Wraith. We are to turn over all weapons and agree to a peaceful coexistence to be monitored and policed by the Eslaterans."
"And if we refuse?" Dimas asked.
Woolsey couldn't seem to bring himself to answer, so John did. "Any world that refuses to be part of this truce, or is caught breaking it, will join the weapons in another dimension."
"That is impossible," Kelore scoffed. "How can they send an entire population to another dimension? If that was possible, why not do that before instead of creating the Iratus bug?"
Woolsey spread his arms. "They took their entire city and everyone in it there over a million years ago. I believe that is proof enough of what they are capable of doing. As to why they never did this before? It appears they have developed a new technology or perhaps just evolved enough during their exile that allows them to do this. Some things are still unclear even to our translator."
Or their translator was keeping a few things to himself; John wouldn't put anything past Todd. Although some of things he had said hit too close to home to be denied, like how the Ancients had captures Eslaterans to study their ability to travel between dimensions, trapping them in holding tanks that suspended them between the two realities so that they were nothing more than pure energy in this one. Rodney had instantly put two and two together and come up with the energy creature they had accidently released their first weeks on Atlantis. Seeing as the thing had nearly killed Rodney, John could see how that might stick out in McKay's mind. Of course, that had just led to more questions regarding the role the Eslaterans dimension hopping abilities had played in the Ancients eventually being able to ascend. And also went a long way as to why the whole Eslateran incident had been mostly purged from the Ancients records. Evidence of experimentation on enemy prisoners wasn't exactly something most civilized people liked to keep in the archives.
John just hoped like hell the council members wouldn't ask any questions about who this translator was. Sheppard could just imagine the outrage that they were not only still working with the Wraith on occasion, but that he was the spokesman dictating their future.
Dahilia tilted her head thoughtfully, "How do we know they won't do more than disarm us? After all, their original goal was to wipe out the humans in this galaxy."
Locking his hands in the small of his back, Woolsey confessed, "Honestly, we don't know for sure. But they have given us their assurances they mean us no harm. Their original fight was with the Ancients, the attacks on the early populations of that time were an attempt to force the Ancients to exert some control over the humans. Instead, the Ancients found a way to defeat the Eslaterans and trap them. Now that the Ancients are gone, they are willing to try to coexist, as long as we abide by their rules."
The Coalition representative sat silent for a moment, contemplating what they had just heard. Finally, Dimas spoke up. "We will need to consult with the other Coalition worlds." He sounded stunned, numb. John completely understood since he'd felt that way when Todd had reported the Eslateran's demands nearly a week ago.
"Of course," Woolsey allowed. "But please, don't take too long. We must provide an answer in ten days."
"We will respond before then," Dimas assured then stood, indicating the meeting was adjourned. While the other two council members stood and moved toward the exit in dumbfounded silence, Dimas paused and looked back at the Atlanteans. "Peace. It is what we have always strived for. I just never imagined we would have it forced upon us like this."
John had to admit that the feeling was definitely mutual.
* * * * *
Transcript of transmissions between the Daedalus and Atlantis
Date: January 29, 2012
Location: Orbit above PX1-976
S. Caldwell: Atlantis, this is the Daedalus, we're in position.
R. Woolsey: Copy that, Daedalus. Are your passengers still aboard?
S. Caldwell: Negative. They beamed down to the surface a few minutes ago with the Coalition delegation and a team of marines. Unarmed marines.
R. Woolsey: Colonel, I know this is difficult...
S. Caldwell: But what choice do we have? Right? At least they've let us keep the weapons on our ships for the time being.
R. Woolsey: Perhaps the Coalition will have luck convincing the Telmacks to agree to the truce.
S. Caldwell: We can always hope.
K. Marks: Sir, communications from Sgt. Hutchinson on the surface. The Telmacks have broken off talks and have taken up defensive positions. [pause] I hear weapons fire, including P-90s.
S. Caldwell: Prepare to beam our people out of there?
K. Marks: Sir. Wait. It's stopped. All weapons fire has stopped.
P. Meyers: I'm reading a large energy buildup on the planet. [there was a faint tone in the background that grew louder]
S. Caldwell: What the hell is going on down there? Marks, get those men up here, now. Meyers I want sensor dat?
[transmission interrupted by intense static for approximately 15 seconds]
R. Woolsey: Daedalus, this is Atlantis. Do you copy? Daedalus, do you read me?
S. Caldwell: This is Caldwell. Standby Atlantis. [directed to K. Marks] Major, I want a status report from the surface.
R. Woolsey: Colonel, what's happening?
S. Caldwell: We had some sort of power surge, there was also a high-pitched tone that appears to have come from the surface of the planet and reached us all the way up here.
P. Meyers: Sensors don't seem to be working properly.
K. Marks: But we do have a lock on all members of our surface team.
S. Caldwell: Beam them up, directly to the bridge.
K. Marks: Yes, sir.
S. Caldwell: Sergeant, report. [pause as there is no answer] Hutchinson?
W. Hutchinson: Gone. [inferred as voice is barely discernable]
S. Caldwell: Gone? Sergeant, what's gone?
W. Hutchinson: Everything. Every building, every person, even the gate. Every sign that the settlement was ever there is gone.
S. Caldwell: Jesus Christ. [inferred as it is mumbled] Meyers, do we have sensors back yet?
P. Meyers: Colonel, I don't think we ever lost them. The readings confirm Sgt. Hutchinson's report. Everything that was down there is...gone.
Eslateran: We now have peace.
S. Caldwell: Holy Jesus Christ.
February 3, 2012
"They are out of their goddamn minds if they think for one fucking second we are turning over information on the Travelers locations."
Sheppard was pissed, and even Rodney knew that was an understatement. He was practically jogging to keep up with John as he stormed through the hallway on his way to Woolsey's office. Not that Sheppard was that much taller than Rodney, but the inch or so he had on McKay was all legs, which often made Rodney feel like a Shitzu skittering to keep pace with a lumbering Great Dane, especially when John was just flat out pissed like he was now.
It bore repeating? Sheppard was pissed.
"Then don't give it to them," Rodney told him simply, knowing the situation was anything but simple.
"I'm not," Sheppard insisted jabbing a finger in Rodney's face, "and neither is Woolsey or any other damn person in this city."
McKay rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's exactly what I plan to do, sit down with the Eslaterans and give them the location of every potential holdout to their 'truce'." He used air quotes to accentuate the ludicrousness of the last word. After what had happened to Telmack, Rodney had decided that words like peace and truce were being used because they sounded much nicer than words like intimidation and military law.
Sheppard resumed his long strides down the hall. "We'd be hanging them out to dry. Do you really think Laryn or any of the others will disarm their ships?"
"If the Eslaterans catch up to them and they don't agree, they're screwed," Rodney pointed out.
"They don't have ships," John reminded. "If we don't give them a ride, they'll never catch the Travelers."
"We're not the only source of ships in Pegasus," Rodney pointed out. "And the Wraith are like their long lost children. If we don't help them, the Wraith will."
Sheppard shook his head as if denying the cold truth of the matter. "They still won't find them without our help."
"Then we're screwed."
John stopped and crossed his arms at Rodney's claim.
McKay threw his arms wide. "I'm sorry, but if we refuse to cooperate, what's to stop them from deciding we're also a risk?"
Sheppard's frown of anger transmuted into one of puzzlement. "Why haven't they already?"
Rodney furrowed his brow in his own confusion. "Because we released them? We've let them take over an entire tower here in the city?"
"And why do they want to be here?" Sheppard asked. "They finally have their home world back. Why aren't they all living there?"
"You think they want to be here because they don't trust us?"
John leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice. "Think about it. This is the home of the people who defeated them and it's being inhabited by their descendents. Would you want to be here if you were them or would you want to stay as far away as possible?"
Rodney considered the notion for a moment. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer?"
Sheppard shrugged. "Something to think about."
"Then why not just zap the entire city away and be done with it?" Rodney asked.
With a conspiratorial tilt of his head, John murmured, "Why didn't they zap it away when they went up against the Ancients a million years ago?"
It took a second for what Sheppard was suggesting to sink in. Christ, what if they couldn't zap the city away? What if the Ancients had built defenses into Atlantis? They'd be safe and could give the Eslaterans the boot. Of course, that meant the rest of Pegasus would still be sitting ducks. When had Atlantis ever just sat back and watched the humans of this galaxy fend for themselves against a common enemy? So, really, in the grand scheme of things, nothing had changed? they were still the bitches of the Eslaterans, unless they could figure out how the Ancients had defended the city.
Why was he the only one who could see these things?
Rodney signed in frustration. "Even if there was a reason why they couldn't attack the city, I don't know what it is. And unless I know how Atlantis is safe..." Pinching his thumb and index finger together, he moved his hand from spot to spot to indicate the various worlds spread across the galaxy. "I can't do anything to keep the other planets safe."
"Yeah, but you can figure it out." Sheppard said it dismissively, as if it were a given, before turning and continuing on his way to Woolsey's office.
Rodney glowered at his back before finally catching up with Sheppard as he started up the stairs to Woolsey's office. Once there, he completed ignored Todd, who was also standing in front of Woolsey's desk, and let their expedition leader know he was not happy about the situation.
"You cannot give the Eslaterans information on how to find the Travelers."
Woolsey sighed, as if he'd known it was just a matter of time before the colonel showed up in his office with this exact complaint. "Colonel, you understand the requirements of the truce. Either we stand with the Eslaterans or they will see it as breaking the treaty."
"They will send any Traveler ship they come across into the other dimension," John argued, "and we'd be helping them do it."
Todd spoke up then. "They will be given every opportunity to comply with the truce."
Sheppard shot the Wraith an angry look before addressing Woolsey again. "The Travelers will never give up their weapons. They've been on the run too long."
"It is a well known fact that the Travelers are marauders," Todd pointed out.
"Not all of them?" John started.
Todd, however, simply talked a little louder and over Sheppard. "It is hardly fair to those who have disarmed in accordance with the treaty to be at a disadvantage if the Travelers attack them. That is the purpose of the truce, to end the violence."
Rodney scoffed at the idea of a Wraith calling for equal footing. "Easy for you to say considering your greatest weapon is part of your physiology."
"The Eslaterans are already working to find a way to alleviate that issue," Todd reminded them. "The Wraith Hives are disarming; it is only fair that all human ships do the same."
"All the Hives are disarming?" Rodney's eyebrows rose in disbelief.
"There are a few Queens who are...reluctant to agree to the terms of the Truce," Todd admitted, "but they will eventually relent or suffer the same fate as the humans who refused to disarm."
"I won't help them," John told Woolsey defiantly. "I won't authorize the use of any jumpers to help them either."
Woolsey shifted uncomfortably before squaring his shoulders. "I understand the Travelers have been allies with Atlantis in the past. But we are not the final authority in this situation, Colonel Sheppard, just as you are not final authority on Atlantis."
Rodney knew as well as John that Woolsey may have outranked Sheppard in the expedition, but it was obvious he was talking about an even higher authority, probably the SGC or even the IOA.
Todd stepped forward. "Perhaps I could alleviate the dilemma this causes for you. The Eslaterans are more than welcome to use a Wraith Hive for this attempt at communications with the Travelers."
"Communications?" John snorted at the word choice.
"If they comply with the treaty, there will be no repercussions for the Travelers," Todd insisted.
Sheppard sneered at the Wraith. "You'll forgive me if I don't believe you. You haven't exactly had the best track record on telling the whole truth."
"What you believe is of no concern to me, Sheppard. We Wraith will provide transport to the Eslaterans." Todd turned and bowed his head at Woolsey. "If you will excuse me, I have preparations to make."
As soon as Todd was gone, John leaned across Woolsey's desk until he was face to face with the man. "You know this will go south."
"Colonel, what do you expect me to do?" Woolsey demanded. "I am in no position to dictate terms to either the Eslaterans or the Wraith. And open hostilities will just end with us in the same position as the Telemack."
Sheppard's lips flattened and he straightened, unable to argue the last point. "The Travelers are sitting ducks and you know it. We're just supposed to sit aside and let it happen?"
"No," Woolsey said quietly, "we can contact them, let them know it would be in their best interest if they disarmed."
Rodney rolled his eyes at the suggestion. "Like that's going to do any good."
"And if they still refuse?" John demanded.
"Then we have done everything we can to help them." Woolsey started straightening papers on his desk, a clear sign he was dismissing the two men.
Sheppard took it, turning silently on his heels with Rodney close behind. Halfway down the stairs he spoke low enough that only McKay could hear.
"Find out what's going on with Atlantis, if there's really something protecting it, and if there's some way to protect these other worlds."
"It's a big database, Sheppard," Rodney stressed. "Not to mention the fact that the Ancients obviously didn't want information about these guys easily found. It's going to take time, if there's anything in there at all."
"Then keep looking."
"And what are you going to do?" McKay asked warily. Sheppard didn't like the no-option option; he usually found the alternate hare-brained option that never seemed to bode well for him.
"I'm going to contact the Travelers like Woolsey suggested. Not that I expect it to do any good, but..."
Rodney understood exactly what he meant. "At least they'll have warning of what to expect."
"For all the help it will be to them," John grumbled. "I have a feeling things are only going to get worse around here despite finally having 'peace'."
Rodney had to admit he had the same ominous prediction churning around in his gut, too.
* * * * *
Intercepted Distress Call from Traveler ship Baraclaise
Date: February 10, 2012
This is Captain Jaelin Karse of the Traveler vessel Baraclaise. [muffled voices in the background] Return fire! We are under attack by the Wraith. [explosions sounding in the background] Repeat, we are under attack. They have disabled our ability to open a hyperdrive window. We are adrift? [a tone sounds in the background] What is tha?? [static] appears... have a new weap...sensor read... cannot... [transmission ends].
February 18, 2012
"Are all the drones gone?" Sheppard leaned back against the bench in McKay's lab, picking up a nearby Ancient device Rodney had been studying and turning it over with mock curiosity. It was really just a ploy to cover his agitation over the ceremonial duties he was expected to perform as soon as they went to Eslatera.
"Radek was loading the last of them to go through the gate an hour ago," Rodney informed him, taking the device out of his hand with a disapproving glare before turning back to his computer.
"What about the Earth-based weapons?" Carson asked.
"Most went out on the Daedalus when it left yesterday." John's tone was grim but resigned as he pulled his side arm from the holster on his thigh. He missed the comforting weight already. "This one's the last." And as soon as the formalities were completed, it would be gone on a one way trip to another dimension.
It was also the last trip the Daedalus would make to Atlantis proper. Since the SGC refused to disarm their battle cruisers, the Earth ships would be allowed to drop supplies at the furthest planet with a stargate on the edge of the galaxy and come no further into Pegasus.
"At least we have the option to send our weapons back to Earth," Rodney pointed out. "Not like anyone else in the galaxy had an alternative to surrendering them to the Eslaterans for safe keeping."
Safe keeping. John scoffed at the term McKay had chosen. There was an entire population of Telmacks and a Travelers' ship put away for safe keeping, as well. Not to mention three Hive ships before the Wraith all agreed to the truce. Evidently their family connections with the Eslaterans held little sway in convincing the holdouts Todd had mentioned to disarm.
"How are the other Pegasus worlds taking the news?" Carson asked. "I can only imagine the Genii's reaction."
"Pissed," John told him. "If Dahilia Radim hadn't been on Telmack when it happened, I don't think Ladon or the other Genii would have believed it. I'm starting to think the Eslaterans wanted the delegation there as witnesses to spread the word more than to try to convince the Telmacks to surrender."
"Then it was a smart move on their part." When both Carson and Sheppard frowned at McKay's comment, Rodney raised his hands. "Hey, I don't like what happened any more than you do, but just think how many other worlds would have held out and met the same fate as Telmack and the ships if they hadn't. And you know it's only a matter of time before they find the Travelers who are trying to hide."
The Travelers, after learning what happened to the Baraclaise, had done what had kept them alive for so long against the Wraith? they had split and scattered to the far corners of the galaxy. The Eslaterans may have the Wraith ships to search for them, but the Travelers had generations of Wraith evasion under their belts. Hopefully that would be enough to keep them safe, but John knew eventually the ships would need to resupply. If the planet they chose was sympathetic to the Eslateran cause, they were screwed. A surprising number of worlds were pro-Truce, typically those who were the most primitive, and therefore, under the biggest threat from the stronger worlds and the Wraith, so John could understand how they saw the positive in all this bullshit. Sheppard, however, did not share their sentiment.
"The whole thing sucks," John grumbled in his own anger.
"So, I see the Genii aren't the only ones upset about the situation," Carson observed.
"Damn right I'm upset," Sheppard snapped. "Sure we have, on occasion, used our weapons against other inhabitants of the galaxy, but there are more than simple farmers out there. There are wild animals and criminals who aren't going to stop being criminals just because they don't have weapons. Do they seriously think they're going to start farming for a living instead?"
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," Carson quoted. When John and Rodney just stared at him he explained, "It's from the Bible."
"Oh, good," McKay quipped dryly, "we have biblical precedence on our side."
Carson sighed. "I am simply trying to see the positive side of things, Rodney. This could be a chance at real peace in the Pegasus galaxy. Whereas the colonel sees this as a glass half empty situation, I see the potential for the glass being half full."
"See, that's the problem with you two," Rodney pointed out, waggling a finger between the two other men. "Half full, half empty; what you're missing is the big picture."
"Which is?" Carson asked with thinning patience.
"The glass itself is too big. Just like the galaxy is too big for the Eslaterans to police, at least until more of them return, and just like human nature is too violent to abide by a truce long term."
"Which means Telmack and the Travelers won't be the last world to be punished," John added grimly.
Rodney was right; it was just a matter of time before the humans in Pegasus fell back into their old ways. That was a major concern for the SGC. How can you send unarmed teams on missions unless they started fashioning crude spears as soon as they exited the gate? And if you aren't exploring the Pegasus galaxy, what's the mission you're trying to accomplish? There were already rumblings that the staff would be cut drastically, off-world travel would be limited, and the mission would be reduced to little more than maintaining the city and keeping it out of anyone else's hands. In essence, they'd be squatters in the most technologically advanced city in two galaxies.
"Not to mention the Wraith," McKay pointed out. "If nothing else, they need to eat. It's not like they can take up gardening to meet their recommended daily allowance of soul sucking."
"Many will go back into hibernation," Carson pointed out. "And the Eslaterans believe they will be able to modify their DNA to remove the need to feed on humans."
"Like you tried?"
There was no accusation in Rodney's voice, but Carson winced just the same.
"Hopefully, they will have better luck than I did. After all, they share the same genetics and the Eslaterans don't feed on human life forces."
"Not directly anyway," John grumbled.
Sheppard couldn't help his irritability. Maybe it was his experiences in Pegasus that had shown if something can go wrong it will, or his years of military service that made him apprehensive about anything that took away his weapons, or maybe it went back further than that to a childhood that had taught him that if something sounded too good it probably was. Whatever it was, John wished he could be as hopeful as Carson, but he just couldn't shake the feeling that when things changed, and they most definitely were changing at an alarming rate, that change was going to be for the worse.
Woolsey's voice cut through his thoughts across the radio. "Colonel Sheppard, are you ready to depart for Eslatera?"
No, he sure the hell was not ready, but today was the day everything changed whether he wanted it to or not. Taking a deep breath, John tapped his earpiece. "We're on our way."
John studied the handgun he still held. He pulled the empty clip, checked the chamber to ensure it was void, as well, then slammed the magazine back in place. The confidence the sharp snick used to give him was replaced by a knot in the pit of his stomach at the dread of giving up even a single handgun.
Dropping the gun back into his holster with practiced efficiency, he started for the door. "Come on; time to go beat some plowshares and pruning hooks."
Rodney fell into step beside him as smoothly as his nine-millimeter had slid back into its accustomed place at his side. "You know, pruning hooks aren't exactly the safest thing to have around either." He spoke loud enough for Carson, who was a step behind them, to hear. "And don't even get me started on how dangerous plowshares can be, and not just the ones used to plant crops."
"Is it possible to bring the Telmacks back?" Carson wondered aloud. "After all, the Eslaterans were trapped in the other dimension for a million years and returned safely. Could the Telmacks be brought back, as well?"
"I think the more important question is will they ever let us bring them back," Rodney countered. "And what are they doing to them where they are now?"
Yeah, those were definitely good questions, but Sheppard had a better one, one he'd been thinking about ever since the Telmacks had vanished out of this reality.
"Can you send the Eslaterans back and trap them like the Ancients did?"
John's voice was barely above a whisper, but the way McKay stumbled said he'd heard the question.
"Are you serious?" Rodney hissed back.
Carson, apparently curious as to why they were whispering stepped in closer. "Serious about what?"
Sheppard intentionally ignored him; in fact, he now wished he hadn't said anything in front of the physician. Not that he didn't trust Beckett, but the fewer people he incriminated in this plan... and really, it wasn't even a plan, more of a pipedream at this point... the better. If he could have kept McKay out of it, he would have. Unfortunately, Rodney was the resident genius and John knew there was no way to even ask the question unless it was asked of McKay.
Rodney shook his head. "This goes way beyond finding out if Atlantis is somehow protected."
"So?" John demanded.
McKay threw up his arms. "So, you're talking about not just having a defense against their abilities but going on the offense with a weapon of our own."
"Can it be done?" John repeated.
Carson, however, wasn't going to be ignored. "Can what be done?"
"I don't know," Rodney admitted honestly. "Hell, I don't have any idea how the Ancients did it in the first place."
"But you turned off whatever was trapping them," John reminded.
"Oh, bloody hell, you aren't considering?"
McKay spoke right over Carson. "And you turn off the jumper on a daily basis. Do you know the mechanics of how that works? Can you build it from scratch? Because I'd really like to see that if you can."
Leave it to Rodney to crap all over the parade. "No," John admitted. "But you probably could."
Rodney crossed his arms irritably. "For all we know it took the Eslaterans the million years they were trapped to find an answer for how to do it. So maybe you're right, Sheppard; if I had a million years to work on it, I might be able to come up with a way to do it, too."
Carson leaned it closer, placing a hand on each man's chests and lowering his own voice. "If you keep talking like this, you may just get your chance. Do you have any idea what the Eslaterans would do to you if they knew you were even considering such a foolish notion?"
Yes, John did know what they would do, which was what had made him consider it in the first place. Given the stakes, how could they not consider it?
* * * * *
My dearest Torren,
Today is a date that future generations will look back upon and mark as a turning point in all the lives of those who reside in the Pegasus Galaxy. It is a day that most of us never thought would happen as long as both humans and Wraith coexisted. And yet, here it is.
Peace.
It is uneasy; there is no doubt about that, and our friends from Earth are reluctant to trust those who would enforce it. I cannot deny that I, too, have apprehensions. Still, we have the chance to be free of fear of death by Wraith hands. This is something no Athosian has ever known for as long as our history has been passed down from one generation to the next. Our great cities fell to the Wraith ages ago. Perhaps now we will have the chance to grow and prosper and return to the ways of our ancestors and be lucky enough to grow old. It is something those who have only resided here a short while cannot comprehend. They cannot understand what it means to have the potential to not only see you, my child, grow to adulthood, but to possibly see your own children born and grow, as well.
There is peace, my beloved son. Something I have always wanted for you but could only dream about. Now it is ours, but at what price? You are so young, so innocent, that I fear you will not understand this date until you are older, which is why I am writing you this letter as you sleep. I honestly do not know if I envy your oblivion or not. But no matter what comes in the future, never forget that for now, there is peace in our galaxy. I only hope that it can continue.
Your devoted and loving mother
Teyla
* * * * *
Continued in Part Three
Author: liketheriverrun
Prompt: Tools and Weapons/Friendship
Rating: T
Word Count: ~42,100
Warnings/Spoilers: Set a few years in the future so anything and anyone can and do show up.
Summary: The discovery of an alien race that predated the Ancients in Pegasus leads to something no one ever thought they would see-- peace. But is it worth the price they have to pay?
[ Part One] [ Part Two] [ Part Three] [ Part Four] [ Part Five]
* * * * *
January 11, 2012
Todd.
He hated the designator the humans had chosen for him. For one, providing names to individuals was a foreign concept, an entirely human prerogative, for which the Wraith had no need. As a species, the Wraith were much more comfortable as a collective conscious, and the desire for individuality among a Hive was a rarity. He was, of course, the rarity to which he referred, but that did not mean he desired nor wanted to be called Todd. Nor were names a necessity when there were much more distinct ways to identify an individual through the senses than with a designator that can be used multiple times within a single community. But perhaps the most infuriating reason why he hated the name was that it had been Sheppard who had afflicted him with it. And while it was often times entertaining to toy with Sheppard and the others who had taken up residence in the Lantean city, there were also setbacks? the name Todd, being the foremost of these.
Still, these humans had been useful to his plans on more than one occasion, not to mention trusting and gullible to the point of ridicule, so that as much as he hated being called Todd, when the call came, he inevitably answered. The long range communication he had received a day before had been no exception, and he had agreed to convene with Sheppard and his team at their normal meeting location to travel to Atlantis.
It had been a typical meeting. Sheppard had made threatening overtures while simultaneously requesting his presence once more in the city he considered home, much more home than the planet in the other galaxy they had all found themselves trapped on for months after thwarting a Wraith attack. The only difference being that he had spent most of that time in shackles, locked in a cell while the humans had roamed free. Ronon Dex had glowered, waiting, hoping, Sheppard would finally allow the large human to shoot their Wraith ally. The irony was that Ronon's instant distrust and hate for any Wraith, anyone who wasn't part of his own human Hive, made him more Wraithlike in his thoughts than any of them. Dr. McKay had prattled on endlessly about the strange race, the ones they called Eslaterans, who had arrived and wished to meet a Wraith, while Teyla had done her best to guard her thoughts from her Wraith brethren. It had been a valiant attempt, yet in the end, a failure since he not only knew her abilities, he also knew she knew what she was capable of, as well.
To go against Teyla Emmagen directly, to attempt to force one's way through her defenses, was to underestimate the human side of her genetics. The only way to defeat Teyla was to accept her humanity and use it against her. It was the only way to defeat any of them; refusing to do so could lead to utter failure and probable death, a fact discovered firsthand by many a Wraith in this galaxy. What he had learned from the moment he met Sheppard in that Genii cell years before was that these pathetic creatures were brimming with emotions they could not control. They were emotions alien to the Wraith. Where the Wraith had confidence, the humans had something they called hope. The Wraith had the collective mind of the Hive while humans had the need to develop trust. Many of his species found these to be weaknesses. Whereas he knew them for the vulnerabilities they could be when manipulated properly, they were also the human's hidden strength.
So while there was no use attempting to read Teyla's thoughts openly, he knew how to use that minutia of trust, that hope she held that he was truly on their side, and allow it to open her mind to him. He had learned more from her about these Eslaterans and their claim of spawning the Wraith lineage in one moment's reading than in the entire time Dr. McKay had talked...and talked... and talked some more. As to the claim of this new race and their connections to the Wraith, the validity of that remained to be seen.
Once he entered Atlantis, he was met by armed guards. It was a routine he'd become familiar with over the years; at least he was no longer required to be shackled while present in the city. Woolsey stood on the walkway outside his office and watched as he and his escort passed. The human returned the small nod of greeting the Wraith offered, looking somewhat flustered by the implied familiarity and friendship the gesture suggested. He simply smiled to himself, pleased with both the insecurity and the ease the human leader felt with his presence. Eventually, when the time was right, he would be able to use that to his advantage.
When they reached their destination outside a transporter, the group stopped and Sheppard opened the door and signaled for the Wraith to enter, but did not follow him in. In fact, no one did.
"Will you not be joining me?" he asked in genuine surprise.
"They were pretty clear that they wanted to meet with you alone," Sheppard informed him.
"I see." This was becoming more and more interesting by the moment. "And you will allow this?"
The disgruntled crease in Sheppard's forehead told him more than the human's words did. "The Eslaterans delegation has set up a sort of embassy in the West tower. Consider it diplomatic immunity while you're there."
The words themselves meant nothing, but he understood the concept, and the implications. The Eslaterans were powerful enough to dictate terms to these humans, and while the humans obviously were not happy with the arrangement, they were in no position to insist on anything otherwise.
"Then I shall be on my best behavior." The Wraith's lips couldn't help but twitch.
Sheppard crossed his arms with a smirk of his own. "You better be. We'll be watching." He hitched his head toward surveillance cameras in the hallway. There were, no doubt, more like it in the tower where the Eslaterans were residing.
Dr. McKay stepped into the transport and indicated a control on the panel. "I've modified the controls in the transporter so that all destinations are locked out besides here and Eslateran wing. Push this button and it will take you there, push it again when you're done and ready to come back."
"I appreciate the...convenience of your system, Dr. McKay." He did his best to hide his humor that they thought he couldn't simply override the controls and go anywhere in the city he wished. But the truth was, he wanted to see what these Eslaterans had planned. Any group who could exert this much control over the humans was of potential use to the Wraith.
"You'll find the delegation second door on the left once you step off the transport," Sheppard directed, then promised, "We'll be waiting for you here when you finish up."
He nearly rolled his eyes when Ronon rested a hand on his gun, as if to prove the truth of the matter. Instead, he nodded his head in understanding and pushed the designated control.
As the doors slid shut, he heard Dr. McKay ask Sheppard, "Do you have any more cookies?"
He had no idea what cookies were, but made a note to find out. By Dr. McKay's tone, they held some importance to the human scientist.
The trip was instantaneous and the doors slid open on a dimly lit hallway. Stepping out of the transporter, he looked up into the camera in a sort of greeting to the humans waiting in another part of the city, sure they were watching his every move down the hallway. There was something almost exhilarating in the freedom he was experiencing in the city. Granted, it was a single corridor with surveillance, but as often as he'd been in Atlantis, he'd never been without a human guard before. Nor could he deny that there was a part of him that suspected this was some sort of test, or even a trap, by the humans.
As much as the Wraith hated to concede they shared anything in common with their human food source, there was no denying a good portion of their genetic makeup was human. Dr. Beckett's retrovirus had proven as much with its ability to strip away all but the remaining human essence of their beings. It was hideous and intriguing all at once to see the transformation brought about by the drugs and how quickly it could happen. But if the Wraith were human at their core, what made them unique, what made them superior, came from what appeared on the outside to be the basest of creatures. The Iratus bug, however, was anything but simple. It was what gave the Wraith their enhanced strength, their ability to heal, their telepathic bonds, and their loyalty to their Hive. Dr. Beckett's theories that the Wraith had evolved from humans being fed upon by the Iratus bug were the same conclusions Wraith scientists had reached eons before. It had been the basis for the experimentation conducted on the humans in Teyla's family line that had led to her abilities. To suggest as the Eslaterans were that this was false, that the Wraith had not evolved into an advanced race from two inferior ones smacked of deception, which was one of the main reasons he was here in the first place.
After all, the only way to spring a trap was to first see it.
He reached the door and paused, remembering how he'd read Teyla's thoughts and how she had truly believed what the Eslaterans had told her. Not that she hadn't fed false information to the Wraith before with her abilities, but he was convinced she had no idea he had read her like he had. It was preposterous to think otherwise and meeting this race had been the reason he had come, after all. With a scoff at his own hesitancy, he opened the door.
The lighting was dim, barely brighter than it had been in the hallway, similar to a Hive ship, but the five beings standing in the center of the room were easy to see and much easier to sense. The familiar telepathic touch of another effortlessly merging their thoughts with his had him throwing up a mental block out of pure surprise. Not that it was any more successful than Teyla's block had been with him earlier; they simply slipped past it, fluid as water.
Greetings, they said, not in words but in a sensation so intense that he staggered a step before steadying. Welcome.
He found himself relaxing into their consciousness, no longer trying to keep them out but reaching for them, seeking them out in return. It was more satisfying than feeding after a long period of starvation. How long had it been? How long had he been craving this very experience without even knowing it?
Then another thought wrapped around his brain, his body, his entire being.
Ours.
It was almost painful in its possessiveness and terrifying in its implications. It had him trembling in fear and anticipation, set his whole body pulsating in rhythm with these beings that were so much like Wraiths but more.
So very much more.
* * * * *
Richard Woolsey
Expedition Leader
Atlantis
The Coalition of Worlds has reviewed your request to address the council in regards to information you have gained from the people of Eslatera. The council will provide you time on their docket two days hence. A Coalition representative will be sent to escort you and one other Atlantis representative to speak. Please understand that we have many pressing matters on our agenda and the time available to you will be limited. Although we appreciate your assertion that this news is urgent, we hope you will respect these wishes.
Yours in peace,
Dimas of the Free Peoples of Riva
January 18, 2012
John shifted irritably as he stood beside Woolsey awaiting entrance into the Coalition's council chamber.
Woolsey, dressed in his Boston Legal getup once more, glanced in his direction. "Nervous, Colonel?"
"I'm not sure that's exactly the word I'd use to describe it."
Sure John was a little nervous. These people had put him and his team on trial a few years ago and would have banished them if not for some midnight wheeling and dealing Woolsey himself had conducted. But since then Atlantis had settled into an uneasy alliance with the Coalition of Worlds, both groups recognizing they had more to gain as allies than enemies. But there was more to it than that.
"It's been nearly a week since we contacted them," Sheppard grumped. "A week since we told them we had news about a powerful new race in the galaxy, and their busy with 'pressing matters' of their own?"
"The Coalition has only continued to grow over the years," Woolsey reminded, the way he adjusted his tie yet again speaking to his own nerves. "Considering what Todd told us the Eslaterans want, we will need their backing to make sure this goes smoothly."
John knew Woolsey was right and that they had to go through the Coalition if they wanted this to work, but the arrogance of these jerks made even McKay look like the flippin' Dalai Lama. The fact that it involved talking to the Coalition about information provided by Todd, who had been deemed the mouthpiece for the Eslaterans thanks to his ability to translate their thoughts into words better than they could, only made things that much worse.
"Considering what Todd told us, do you really think anything will go smoothly?" John countered.
"Do we have a choice?"
Sheppard could only frown at Woolsey's question, because, no, they didn't have a choice.
The doors to the council room opened and John felt his stomach twist to see the large panel with the three Coalition representatives seated behind it. It reminded Sheppard of something you would see on C-Span during a congressional hearing, and even more intimidating. Demis of Riva and Kelore of Latira were both still members of the council, but Shiana of the Tribes of Santhal had been replaced by another familiar face.
Dahilia Radim, sister to the Genii leader Ladon Radim, gave them a small smile of greeting. "Mr. Woolsey, Colonel Sheppard, welcome."
"Dahilia, what a surprise," Woolsey admitted. "I had no idea you were serving on the council."
"It is a new appointment," Dahilia told him. "My brother asked me to represent the Genii when a spot on the council opened up when Shiana recently stepped down."
"I can't think of anyone who is better suited to fill it," Woolsey responded.
While Mr. Woolsey's surprise had been genuine, John wasn't sure his last statement was. Relations with the Genii had definitely warmed since Ladon had taken command, but the two groups were cordial at best, leery and suspicious of one another at worst. Still, it was a vast improvement from the days of Cowen and Kolya.
Not to be outdone by their newest member, Demis cleared his throat. "As I stated in my letter, our time is limited, so if you would please begin, Mr. Woolsey."
"Of course." Woolsey stepped forward onto the platform John was all too familiar with to address the small group. "I trust you read over my reports on our discovery of the Eslaterans and their home world."
"We reviewed the documents you sent," Demis assured.
"Then I'll skip the history and move on to what we have learned since their arrival in Atlantis."
Dahilia interrupted before he could go any further. "Your report stated they are currently residing in the city. Why are they there and not their home world?"
John could hear the note of suspicion in her voice and see it on the faces of the other two.
"The delegation currently in Atlantis was sent ahead of the others of their race to ensure it was safe to return," Woolsey explained.
"Safe?" Kelore asked in puzzlement. "Why would they not think it was safe to return?"
Woolsey took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he had to tell them next. "Because, they never left this galaxy voluntarily. The Ancients forced them out and then trapped them in the dimension when they left. If we hadn't stumbled onto their settlement and released them, they would still be imprisoned. They feared their old enemy was still here and it was possibly a trap."
"This is absurd!" Demis exclaimed. "The Ancestors would never do that unless there was a viable reason."
Woolsey held up his hands. "From everything we've seen, the Eslateran's are a peaceful people."
John did his best to keep his face neutral. While they had never threatened anyone from Atlantis, it didn't mean they weren't a threat. Anyone who could make your weapons vanish with a thought couldn't be trusted in Sheppard's book.
"They want only to return to their home," Woolsey told them, "and since they are the original inhabitants of this galaxy, they feel they have the right to do so."
"Then why do they not simply return?" Dahilia asked. "Why is it a concern for the Coalition of Worlds?"
Here is comes, John thought to himself.
Woolsey straightened his jacket, as if to compose himself and determine the best way to explain what he had to say. "You must understand the Eslateran's position. The Ancients came into their home and started populating it with humans. Humans, as you are well aware, are not always a peaceful people. As the Eslateran's concern over the spreading violence grew, and in their opinion, the Ancients refused to do anything about it, they decided to take matters into their own hands. They felt humans were like a vermin, spreading out of control, so they created a predator for them from their own genetic makeup. They created the Iratus bug in a hope that it would control the spread of the human population."
The outrage of the council was immediate and Woolsey waited until Demis finally called for silence before speaking. "You have been playing host to a race whose purpose was to eradicate human life? Your own scientists have said the Iratus bug is what led to the development of the Wraith."
John couldn't stay quiet anymore. "Look, it's not like we have much choice in the matter, and in the end, neither do you."
"We are well armed," Kelore boasted. "Since the creation of the Coalition, we have made great strides against the Wraith?"
"Your weapons don't mean jack shit against these guys," Sheppard cut in. "Remember how they can travel between dimensions? Well, they can send things there, things like guns and ammo, and it's gone before you even know they took them."
"You've seen this?" Dimas had actually gone pale at the news.
"We have," Woolsey agreed. "And unless the human population of Pegasus agrees to their terms, other things will begin to vanish as well."
Dahilia was doing a rather convincing job of remaining calm at the news. "What terms?"
"A truce," Woolsey informed them, "between all worlds and races, including the Wraith. We are to turn over all weapons and agree to a peaceful coexistence to be monitored and policed by the Eslaterans."
"And if we refuse?" Dimas asked.
Woolsey couldn't seem to bring himself to answer, so John did. "Any world that refuses to be part of this truce, or is caught breaking it, will join the weapons in another dimension."
"That is impossible," Kelore scoffed. "How can they send an entire population to another dimension? If that was possible, why not do that before instead of creating the Iratus bug?"
Woolsey spread his arms. "They took their entire city and everyone in it there over a million years ago. I believe that is proof enough of what they are capable of doing. As to why they never did this before? It appears they have developed a new technology or perhaps just evolved enough during their exile that allows them to do this. Some things are still unclear even to our translator."
Or their translator was keeping a few things to himself; John wouldn't put anything past Todd. Although some of things he had said hit too close to home to be denied, like how the Ancients had captures Eslaterans to study their ability to travel between dimensions, trapping them in holding tanks that suspended them between the two realities so that they were nothing more than pure energy in this one. Rodney had instantly put two and two together and come up with the energy creature they had accidently released their first weeks on Atlantis. Seeing as the thing had nearly killed Rodney, John could see how that might stick out in McKay's mind. Of course, that had just led to more questions regarding the role the Eslaterans dimension hopping abilities had played in the Ancients eventually being able to ascend. And also went a long way as to why the whole Eslateran incident had been mostly purged from the Ancients records. Evidence of experimentation on enemy prisoners wasn't exactly something most civilized people liked to keep in the archives.
John just hoped like hell the council members wouldn't ask any questions about who this translator was. Sheppard could just imagine the outrage that they were not only still working with the Wraith on occasion, but that he was the spokesman dictating their future.
Dahilia tilted her head thoughtfully, "How do we know they won't do more than disarm us? After all, their original goal was to wipe out the humans in this galaxy."
Locking his hands in the small of his back, Woolsey confessed, "Honestly, we don't know for sure. But they have given us their assurances they mean us no harm. Their original fight was with the Ancients, the attacks on the early populations of that time were an attempt to force the Ancients to exert some control over the humans. Instead, the Ancients found a way to defeat the Eslaterans and trap them. Now that the Ancients are gone, they are willing to try to coexist, as long as we abide by their rules."
The Coalition representative sat silent for a moment, contemplating what they had just heard. Finally, Dimas spoke up. "We will need to consult with the other Coalition worlds." He sounded stunned, numb. John completely understood since he'd felt that way when Todd had reported the Eslateran's demands nearly a week ago.
"Of course," Woolsey allowed. "But please, don't take too long. We must provide an answer in ten days."
"We will respond before then," Dimas assured then stood, indicating the meeting was adjourned. While the other two council members stood and moved toward the exit in dumbfounded silence, Dimas paused and looked back at the Atlanteans. "Peace. It is what we have always strived for. I just never imagined we would have it forced upon us like this."
John had to admit that the feeling was definitely mutual.
* * * * *
Transcript of transmissions between the Daedalus and Atlantis
Date: January 29, 2012
Location: Orbit above PX1-976
S. Caldwell: Atlantis, this is the Daedalus, we're in position.
R. Woolsey: Copy that, Daedalus. Are your passengers still aboard?
S. Caldwell: Negative. They beamed down to the surface a few minutes ago with the Coalition delegation and a team of marines. Unarmed marines.
R. Woolsey: Colonel, I know this is difficult...
S. Caldwell: But what choice do we have? Right? At least they've let us keep the weapons on our ships for the time being.
R. Woolsey: Perhaps the Coalition will have luck convincing the Telmacks to agree to the truce.
S. Caldwell: We can always hope.
K. Marks: Sir, communications from Sgt. Hutchinson on the surface. The Telmacks have broken off talks and have taken up defensive positions. [pause] I hear weapons fire, including P-90s.
S. Caldwell: Prepare to beam our people out of there?
K. Marks: Sir. Wait. It's stopped. All weapons fire has stopped.
P. Meyers: I'm reading a large energy buildup on the planet. [there was a faint tone in the background that grew louder]
S. Caldwell: What the hell is going on down there? Marks, get those men up here, now. Meyers I want sensor dat?
[transmission interrupted by intense static for approximately 15 seconds]
R. Woolsey: Daedalus, this is Atlantis. Do you copy? Daedalus, do you read me?
S. Caldwell: This is Caldwell. Standby Atlantis. [directed to K. Marks] Major, I want a status report from the surface.
R. Woolsey: Colonel, what's happening?
S. Caldwell: We had some sort of power surge, there was also a high-pitched tone that appears to have come from the surface of the planet and reached us all the way up here.
P. Meyers: Sensors don't seem to be working properly.
K. Marks: But we do have a lock on all members of our surface team.
S. Caldwell: Beam them up, directly to the bridge.
K. Marks: Yes, sir.
S. Caldwell: Sergeant, report. [pause as there is no answer] Hutchinson?
W. Hutchinson: Gone. [inferred as voice is barely discernable]
S. Caldwell: Gone? Sergeant, what's gone?
W. Hutchinson: Everything. Every building, every person, even the gate. Every sign that the settlement was ever there is gone.
S. Caldwell: Jesus Christ. [inferred as it is mumbled] Meyers, do we have sensors back yet?
P. Meyers: Colonel, I don't think we ever lost them. The readings confirm Sgt. Hutchinson's report. Everything that was down there is...gone.
Eslateran: We now have peace.
S. Caldwell: Holy Jesus Christ.
February 3, 2012
"They are out of their goddamn minds if they think for one fucking second we are turning over information on the Travelers locations."
Sheppard was pissed, and even Rodney knew that was an understatement. He was practically jogging to keep up with John as he stormed through the hallway on his way to Woolsey's office. Not that Sheppard was that much taller than Rodney, but the inch or so he had on McKay was all legs, which often made Rodney feel like a Shitzu skittering to keep pace with a lumbering Great Dane, especially when John was just flat out pissed like he was now.
It bore repeating? Sheppard was pissed.
"Then don't give it to them," Rodney told him simply, knowing the situation was anything but simple.
"I'm not," Sheppard insisted jabbing a finger in Rodney's face, "and neither is Woolsey or any other damn person in this city."
McKay rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's exactly what I plan to do, sit down with the Eslaterans and give them the location of every potential holdout to their 'truce'." He used air quotes to accentuate the ludicrousness of the last word. After what had happened to Telmack, Rodney had decided that words like peace and truce were being used because they sounded much nicer than words like intimidation and military law.
Sheppard resumed his long strides down the hall. "We'd be hanging them out to dry. Do you really think Laryn or any of the others will disarm their ships?"
"If the Eslaterans catch up to them and they don't agree, they're screwed," Rodney pointed out.
"They don't have ships," John reminded. "If we don't give them a ride, they'll never catch the Travelers."
"We're not the only source of ships in Pegasus," Rodney pointed out. "And the Wraith are like their long lost children. If we don't help them, the Wraith will."
Sheppard shook his head as if denying the cold truth of the matter. "They still won't find them without our help."
"Then we're screwed."
John stopped and crossed his arms at Rodney's claim.
McKay threw his arms wide. "I'm sorry, but if we refuse to cooperate, what's to stop them from deciding we're also a risk?"
Sheppard's frown of anger transmuted into one of puzzlement. "Why haven't they already?"
Rodney furrowed his brow in his own confusion. "Because we released them? We've let them take over an entire tower here in the city?"
"And why do they want to be here?" Sheppard asked. "They finally have their home world back. Why aren't they all living there?"
"You think they want to be here because they don't trust us?"
John leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice. "Think about it. This is the home of the people who defeated them and it's being inhabited by their descendents. Would you want to be here if you were them or would you want to stay as far away as possible?"
Rodney considered the notion for a moment. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer?"
Sheppard shrugged. "Something to think about."
"Then why not just zap the entire city away and be done with it?" Rodney asked.
With a conspiratorial tilt of his head, John murmured, "Why didn't they zap it away when they went up against the Ancients a million years ago?"
It took a second for what Sheppard was suggesting to sink in. Christ, what if they couldn't zap the city away? What if the Ancients had built defenses into Atlantis? They'd be safe and could give the Eslaterans the boot. Of course, that meant the rest of Pegasus would still be sitting ducks. When had Atlantis ever just sat back and watched the humans of this galaxy fend for themselves against a common enemy? So, really, in the grand scheme of things, nothing had changed? they were still the bitches of the Eslaterans, unless they could figure out how the Ancients had defended the city.
Why was he the only one who could see these things?
Rodney signed in frustration. "Even if there was a reason why they couldn't attack the city, I don't know what it is. And unless I know how Atlantis is safe..." Pinching his thumb and index finger together, he moved his hand from spot to spot to indicate the various worlds spread across the galaxy. "I can't do anything to keep the other planets safe."
"Yeah, but you can figure it out." Sheppard said it dismissively, as if it were a given, before turning and continuing on his way to Woolsey's office.
Rodney glowered at his back before finally catching up with Sheppard as he started up the stairs to Woolsey's office. Once there, he completed ignored Todd, who was also standing in front of Woolsey's desk, and let their expedition leader know he was not happy about the situation.
"You cannot give the Eslaterans information on how to find the Travelers."
Woolsey sighed, as if he'd known it was just a matter of time before the colonel showed up in his office with this exact complaint. "Colonel, you understand the requirements of the truce. Either we stand with the Eslaterans or they will see it as breaking the treaty."
"They will send any Traveler ship they come across into the other dimension," John argued, "and we'd be helping them do it."
Todd spoke up then. "They will be given every opportunity to comply with the truce."
Sheppard shot the Wraith an angry look before addressing Woolsey again. "The Travelers will never give up their weapons. They've been on the run too long."
"It is a well known fact that the Travelers are marauders," Todd pointed out.
"Not all of them?" John started.
Todd, however, simply talked a little louder and over Sheppard. "It is hardly fair to those who have disarmed in accordance with the treaty to be at a disadvantage if the Travelers attack them. That is the purpose of the truce, to end the violence."
Rodney scoffed at the idea of a Wraith calling for equal footing. "Easy for you to say considering your greatest weapon is part of your physiology."
"The Eslaterans are already working to find a way to alleviate that issue," Todd reminded them. "The Wraith Hives are disarming; it is only fair that all human ships do the same."
"All the Hives are disarming?" Rodney's eyebrows rose in disbelief.
"There are a few Queens who are...reluctant to agree to the terms of the Truce," Todd admitted, "but they will eventually relent or suffer the same fate as the humans who refused to disarm."
"I won't help them," John told Woolsey defiantly. "I won't authorize the use of any jumpers to help them either."
Woolsey shifted uncomfortably before squaring his shoulders. "I understand the Travelers have been allies with Atlantis in the past. But we are not the final authority in this situation, Colonel Sheppard, just as you are not final authority on Atlantis."
Rodney knew as well as John that Woolsey may have outranked Sheppard in the expedition, but it was obvious he was talking about an even higher authority, probably the SGC or even the IOA.
Todd stepped forward. "Perhaps I could alleviate the dilemma this causes for you. The Eslaterans are more than welcome to use a Wraith Hive for this attempt at communications with the Travelers."
"Communications?" John snorted at the word choice.
"If they comply with the treaty, there will be no repercussions for the Travelers," Todd insisted.
Sheppard sneered at the Wraith. "You'll forgive me if I don't believe you. You haven't exactly had the best track record on telling the whole truth."
"What you believe is of no concern to me, Sheppard. We Wraith will provide transport to the Eslaterans." Todd turned and bowed his head at Woolsey. "If you will excuse me, I have preparations to make."
As soon as Todd was gone, John leaned across Woolsey's desk until he was face to face with the man. "You know this will go south."
"Colonel, what do you expect me to do?" Woolsey demanded. "I am in no position to dictate terms to either the Eslaterans or the Wraith. And open hostilities will just end with us in the same position as the Telemack."
Sheppard's lips flattened and he straightened, unable to argue the last point. "The Travelers are sitting ducks and you know it. We're just supposed to sit aside and let it happen?"
"No," Woolsey said quietly, "we can contact them, let them know it would be in their best interest if they disarmed."
Rodney rolled his eyes at the suggestion. "Like that's going to do any good."
"And if they still refuse?" John demanded.
"Then we have done everything we can to help them." Woolsey started straightening papers on his desk, a clear sign he was dismissing the two men.
Sheppard took it, turning silently on his heels with Rodney close behind. Halfway down the stairs he spoke low enough that only McKay could hear.
"Find out what's going on with Atlantis, if there's really something protecting it, and if there's some way to protect these other worlds."
"It's a big database, Sheppard," Rodney stressed. "Not to mention the fact that the Ancients obviously didn't want information about these guys easily found. It's going to take time, if there's anything in there at all."
"Then keep looking."
"And what are you going to do?" McKay asked warily. Sheppard didn't like the no-option option; he usually found the alternate hare-brained option that never seemed to bode well for him.
"I'm going to contact the Travelers like Woolsey suggested. Not that I expect it to do any good, but..."
Rodney understood exactly what he meant. "At least they'll have warning of what to expect."
"For all the help it will be to them," John grumbled. "I have a feeling things are only going to get worse around here despite finally having 'peace'."
Rodney had to admit he had the same ominous prediction churning around in his gut, too.
* * * * *
Intercepted Distress Call from Traveler ship Baraclaise
Date: February 10, 2012
This is Captain Jaelin Karse of the Traveler vessel Baraclaise. [muffled voices in the background] Return fire! We are under attack by the Wraith. [explosions sounding in the background] Repeat, we are under attack. They have disabled our ability to open a hyperdrive window. We are adrift? [a tone sounds in the background] What is tha?? [static] appears... have a new weap...sensor read... cannot... [transmission ends].
February 18, 2012
"Are all the drones gone?" Sheppard leaned back against the bench in McKay's lab, picking up a nearby Ancient device Rodney had been studying and turning it over with mock curiosity. It was really just a ploy to cover his agitation over the ceremonial duties he was expected to perform as soon as they went to Eslatera.
"Radek was loading the last of them to go through the gate an hour ago," Rodney informed him, taking the device out of his hand with a disapproving glare before turning back to his computer.
"What about the Earth-based weapons?" Carson asked.
"Most went out on the Daedalus when it left yesterday." John's tone was grim but resigned as he pulled his side arm from the holster on his thigh. He missed the comforting weight already. "This one's the last." And as soon as the formalities were completed, it would be gone on a one way trip to another dimension.
It was also the last trip the Daedalus would make to Atlantis proper. Since the SGC refused to disarm their battle cruisers, the Earth ships would be allowed to drop supplies at the furthest planet with a stargate on the edge of the galaxy and come no further into Pegasus.
"At least we have the option to send our weapons back to Earth," Rodney pointed out. "Not like anyone else in the galaxy had an alternative to surrendering them to the Eslaterans for safe keeping."
Safe keeping. John scoffed at the term McKay had chosen. There was an entire population of Telmacks and a Travelers' ship put away for safe keeping, as well. Not to mention three Hive ships before the Wraith all agreed to the truce. Evidently their family connections with the Eslaterans held little sway in convincing the holdouts Todd had mentioned to disarm.
"How are the other Pegasus worlds taking the news?" Carson asked. "I can only imagine the Genii's reaction."
"Pissed," John told him. "If Dahilia Radim hadn't been on Telmack when it happened, I don't think Ladon or the other Genii would have believed it. I'm starting to think the Eslaterans wanted the delegation there as witnesses to spread the word more than to try to convince the Telmacks to surrender."
"Then it was a smart move on their part." When both Carson and Sheppard frowned at McKay's comment, Rodney raised his hands. "Hey, I don't like what happened any more than you do, but just think how many other worlds would have held out and met the same fate as Telmack and the ships if they hadn't. And you know it's only a matter of time before they find the Travelers who are trying to hide."
The Travelers, after learning what happened to the Baraclaise, had done what had kept them alive for so long against the Wraith? they had split and scattered to the far corners of the galaxy. The Eslaterans may have the Wraith ships to search for them, but the Travelers had generations of Wraith evasion under their belts. Hopefully that would be enough to keep them safe, but John knew eventually the ships would need to resupply. If the planet they chose was sympathetic to the Eslateran cause, they were screwed. A surprising number of worlds were pro-Truce, typically those who were the most primitive, and therefore, under the biggest threat from the stronger worlds and the Wraith, so John could understand how they saw the positive in all this bullshit. Sheppard, however, did not share their sentiment.
"The whole thing sucks," John grumbled in his own anger.
"So, I see the Genii aren't the only ones upset about the situation," Carson observed.
"Damn right I'm upset," Sheppard snapped. "Sure we have, on occasion, used our weapons against other inhabitants of the galaxy, but there are more than simple farmers out there. There are wild animals and criminals who aren't going to stop being criminals just because they don't have weapons. Do they seriously think they're going to start farming for a living instead?"
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," Carson quoted. When John and Rodney just stared at him he explained, "It's from the Bible."
"Oh, good," McKay quipped dryly, "we have biblical precedence on our side."
Carson sighed. "I am simply trying to see the positive side of things, Rodney. This could be a chance at real peace in the Pegasus galaxy. Whereas the colonel sees this as a glass half empty situation, I see the potential for the glass being half full."
"See, that's the problem with you two," Rodney pointed out, waggling a finger between the two other men. "Half full, half empty; what you're missing is the big picture."
"Which is?" Carson asked with thinning patience.
"The glass itself is too big. Just like the galaxy is too big for the Eslaterans to police, at least until more of them return, and just like human nature is too violent to abide by a truce long term."
"Which means Telmack and the Travelers won't be the last world to be punished," John added grimly.
Rodney was right; it was just a matter of time before the humans in Pegasus fell back into their old ways. That was a major concern for the SGC. How can you send unarmed teams on missions unless they started fashioning crude spears as soon as they exited the gate? And if you aren't exploring the Pegasus galaxy, what's the mission you're trying to accomplish? There were already rumblings that the staff would be cut drastically, off-world travel would be limited, and the mission would be reduced to little more than maintaining the city and keeping it out of anyone else's hands. In essence, they'd be squatters in the most technologically advanced city in two galaxies.
"Not to mention the Wraith," McKay pointed out. "If nothing else, they need to eat. It's not like they can take up gardening to meet their recommended daily allowance of soul sucking."
"Many will go back into hibernation," Carson pointed out. "And the Eslaterans believe they will be able to modify their DNA to remove the need to feed on humans."
"Like you tried?"
There was no accusation in Rodney's voice, but Carson winced just the same.
"Hopefully, they will have better luck than I did. After all, they share the same genetics and the Eslaterans don't feed on human life forces."
"Not directly anyway," John grumbled.
Sheppard couldn't help his irritability. Maybe it was his experiences in Pegasus that had shown if something can go wrong it will, or his years of military service that made him apprehensive about anything that took away his weapons, or maybe it went back further than that to a childhood that had taught him that if something sounded too good it probably was. Whatever it was, John wished he could be as hopeful as Carson, but he just couldn't shake the feeling that when things changed, and they most definitely were changing at an alarming rate, that change was going to be for the worse.
Woolsey's voice cut through his thoughts across the radio. "Colonel Sheppard, are you ready to depart for Eslatera?"
No, he sure the hell was not ready, but today was the day everything changed whether he wanted it to or not. Taking a deep breath, John tapped his earpiece. "We're on our way."
John studied the handgun he still held. He pulled the empty clip, checked the chamber to ensure it was void, as well, then slammed the magazine back in place. The confidence the sharp snick used to give him was replaced by a knot in the pit of his stomach at the dread of giving up even a single handgun.
Dropping the gun back into his holster with practiced efficiency, he started for the door. "Come on; time to go beat some plowshares and pruning hooks."
Rodney fell into step beside him as smoothly as his nine-millimeter had slid back into its accustomed place at his side. "You know, pruning hooks aren't exactly the safest thing to have around either." He spoke loud enough for Carson, who was a step behind them, to hear. "And don't even get me started on how dangerous plowshares can be, and not just the ones used to plant crops."
"Is it possible to bring the Telmacks back?" Carson wondered aloud. "After all, the Eslaterans were trapped in the other dimension for a million years and returned safely. Could the Telmacks be brought back, as well?"
"I think the more important question is will they ever let us bring them back," Rodney countered. "And what are they doing to them where they are now?"
Yeah, those were definitely good questions, but Sheppard had a better one, one he'd been thinking about ever since the Telmacks had vanished out of this reality.
"Can you send the Eslaterans back and trap them like the Ancients did?"
John's voice was barely above a whisper, but the way McKay stumbled said he'd heard the question.
"Are you serious?" Rodney hissed back.
Carson, apparently curious as to why they were whispering stepped in closer. "Serious about what?"
Sheppard intentionally ignored him; in fact, he now wished he hadn't said anything in front of the physician. Not that he didn't trust Beckett, but the fewer people he incriminated in this plan... and really, it wasn't even a plan, more of a pipedream at this point... the better. If he could have kept McKay out of it, he would have. Unfortunately, Rodney was the resident genius and John knew there was no way to even ask the question unless it was asked of McKay.
Rodney shook his head. "This goes way beyond finding out if Atlantis is somehow protected."
"So?" John demanded.
McKay threw up his arms. "So, you're talking about not just having a defense against their abilities but going on the offense with a weapon of our own."
"Can it be done?" John repeated.
Carson, however, wasn't going to be ignored. "Can what be done?"
"I don't know," Rodney admitted honestly. "Hell, I don't have any idea how the Ancients did it in the first place."
"But you turned off whatever was trapping them," John reminded.
"Oh, bloody hell, you aren't considering?"
McKay spoke right over Carson. "And you turn off the jumper on a daily basis. Do you know the mechanics of how that works? Can you build it from scratch? Because I'd really like to see that if you can."
Leave it to Rodney to crap all over the parade. "No," John admitted. "But you probably could."
Rodney crossed his arms irritably. "For all we know it took the Eslaterans the million years they were trapped to find an answer for how to do it. So maybe you're right, Sheppard; if I had a million years to work on it, I might be able to come up with a way to do it, too."
Carson leaned it closer, placing a hand on each man's chests and lowering his own voice. "If you keep talking like this, you may just get your chance. Do you have any idea what the Eslaterans would do to you if they knew you were even considering such a foolish notion?"
Yes, John did know what they would do, which was what had made him consider it in the first place. Given the stakes, how could they not consider it?
* * * * *
My dearest Torren,
Today is a date that future generations will look back upon and mark as a turning point in all the lives of those who reside in the Pegasus Galaxy. It is a day that most of us never thought would happen as long as both humans and Wraith coexisted. And yet, here it is.
Peace.
It is uneasy; there is no doubt about that, and our friends from Earth are reluctant to trust those who would enforce it. I cannot deny that I, too, have apprehensions. Still, we have the chance to be free of fear of death by Wraith hands. This is something no Athosian has ever known for as long as our history has been passed down from one generation to the next. Our great cities fell to the Wraith ages ago. Perhaps now we will have the chance to grow and prosper and return to the ways of our ancestors and be lucky enough to grow old. It is something those who have only resided here a short while cannot comprehend. They cannot understand what it means to have the potential to not only see you, my child, grow to adulthood, but to possibly see your own children born and grow, as well.
There is peace, my beloved son. Something I have always wanted for you but could only dream about. Now it is ours, but at what price? You are so young, so innocent, that I fear you will not understand this date until you are older, which is why I am writing you this letter as you sleep. I honestly do not know if I envy your oblivion or not. But no matter what comes in the future, never forget that for now, there is peace in our galaxy. I only hope that it can continue.
Your devoted and loving mother
Teyla
* * * * *
Continued in Part Three