Time dragged on monotonously.
Day after day, I pored over one database entry after another. Some city sensors worked, so I got news that half the city was already flooded.
But I didn't advance in my research. Good thing I really used minimum consumers in the city, so the shield holds so far. I didn't believe a bit that this could be due to positive Ancient intervention.
The Jumper was ready, stuffed to the brim with everything I could find in my small habitat. A couple scanners, some trinkets, some info crystals in Lantean language...
Interestingly, I even found a personal Ancient shield.
In the series, it was shown a few times. Small, like a tiny green coffin crystal. Activating, it protected its bearer from any damage: firearms, energy weapons, falls from great heights, and so on...
Personal shield of the Lanteans.
The device activated quite simply — with the ATA Gene, just stick it on the body or clothes. It enveloped the person in an almost invisible energy veil.
Useful thing without doubt.
Especially since it tuned only to one owner and no one could remove it — only deactivated at the owner's will. In the series, to do so required driving one expedition member to a hunger fit for the smart device to shut off. Turns out, it has a safety mechanism — not letting food or water through, only air (I think some other gases too), the shield deactivates when the owner considers himself in mortal danger due to the device.
After long exercises in using it, in four days, I learned to deactivate it by force of thought, just thinking I'd die if it doesn't turn off itself. The main thing is to believe it strongly-strongly.
Sure there's a more adequate "switch," but I couldn't find it. Yet.
Over the days spent studying the Gate database, I even got used to the constantly flickering symbols and explanations on the Ancient monitors in the control center.
The latter, by the way, are also of different types. Some look like rectangular pieces of murky green glass suspended from the ceiling. Some simple, built into the wall. None like I'm used to.
Though, gotta admit, in the pursuit of "ultra-thinness" of frameless monitors, local manufacturers outdid my Earthlings. As in much else.
The city computer, apparently realizing the only Atlantis inhabitant is a bit not a genius, displayed the city schematic, marking flooded areas in red. The lab where "I was born!" is also underwater. A bit more, and the ocean will swallow the whole city.
Chewing the disgusting briquette, I returned to sifting addresses.
Another few hours of work, and I realized my brains are boiling. Along with irritation. Right now I'd smoke a couple cigarettes...
But such goods weren't in the city.
But from the control center, you could get to an open balcony with a wonderful view of the dying city. In moments when everything finally got to me and I wanted to escape, I'd go out "to breathe air."
If I had at least one sufficiently charged ZPM, I could admire not black hulks of distant skyscrapers, but buildings shining with inner lights. But as is... Half the city flooded, half just preparing for it.
Brilliant "isekai," nothing to say...
I thought if I got into that version of events where Janus helped save the city, it'd be easier... But after two-three "smoke breaks," I concluded no, it wouldn't.
The expedition had their own power sources keeping the city running until they got a ZPM. I had no such generators. And couldn't create them — no knowledge, no materials.
Thus, Atlantis, if surfaced, would be without energy. Defenseless and alone. Yes, I could use the Gates with the Jumper's help — if dialing from them, the city doesn't spend ZPM energy to activate the "ring."
But all that's such conditionals... Which you fall into only when hopelessness comes... Yeah. Sir, forgive me, but for the role of savior of a great civilization, you clearly don't fit.
Staring at how another city skyscraper released air, filling with water, I absently thought that flood-damaged city parts could be repaired.
Eh, why doesn't the Gate database work on the same principle as the Jumper control? In the series, it was said it reads thoughts... And honestly — it does. The ship responds to mental commands as effectively as to key presses.
Essentially, the instrument panel and yoke on the ship — duplicate Jumper control systems. The main one is mental control. But, for example, you can't dial an address mentally... Though, I didn't try that many times. Just a dozen. But none of the dialing keys lit up in the Jumper. Nor the dialing sound sounded. Nor additional keyboard lighting...
"Sir, this job is not for you," I said to myself.
Funny. Despite the balcony being quite cool — after all, the city is hundreds of meters below ocean surface — and the mush in my head starting to burn. Calling myself sir.
Maybe call some Ancient for a chat, Melis, for example? Or better Ganos Lal. And drive her to white heat with endless addresses like "gracious lady," "young miss," "madam"...
That'd be a laugh.
Sir laughs at madam... And in general, did Lanteans have some special address for girls and women? Well, like well-known mademoiselle and madame, miss and mrs... Interesting, did the Ancients carry a handkerchief in their jacket pocket to give to a lady at the right moment?
There must be some address, but clearly not "madam," because that appeared only... in relatively recent history of my world... On Earth... In this universe, seems, they don't rename... planets...
Stop!
From realizing my mistake, I felt heat rush through me. Despite the cold around.
Anyway, that's not important anymore — I ran back to the control center.
Why the hell did I decide the planet is called Dagan in the Ancients' database? After all, the Ancient language gave rise to Latin, and "Dagan" doesn't look like something named from that language! Exactly! I remembered!
The planet in Ancient times was called completely differently!
Madam... Pfui, damn, Sudaria!
Yes, exactly!
That's where these thoughts come from!
Sudaria! The planet was called exactly that in antiquity, not Dagan, Dogan or whatever!
From Latin, it translates to "handkerchief" or even "nose handkerchief." I couldn't remember that, but distracted from stupid address sifting, my brains "rebooted," and subconsciously I turned to my memories. The associative chain built, and voilà! The planet's name surfaced in my head by itself!
Standing at the terminal for the Gate database and Gates themselves, I mentally thanked the city creators that this panel doesn't directly interface with the central city computer. In so many days, if interfacing with the most advanced computer in this galaxy, I'd have drained way more energy!
Allowing a couple errors, on the third try I entered the correct name and... got the result!
Damn it!
Sudaria really exists!
The planet was even in the list of addresses I was browsing and reading their faded descriptions! Number one thousand eight hundred forty-seven! That is, about a thousand addresses from where I stopped earlier.
I wanted to yell with joy seeing the cherished six address symbols of the planet before me. But the elation didn't compare to realizing how pointlessly and stupidly I spent so much time.
All, no more delaying.
With a trembling hand from excitement of my first major victory, I dialed the combination on the city panel. With a characteristic hum, seven blue crystals on the outer ring of the Gates lit up. As did seven images of the dialed address coordinates on the inner ring part.
With a noise that made me flinch from fright and triumph, a whirl of blue energy burst from the Gates' inner void.
Stargate activation process. Moment linked to activation on the Earth base in the Milky Way galaxy — exactly there crystals are reddish-orange. Milky Way and Pegasus Gates differ not only in design but also functionality. Because "Pegasus" ones are newer. By 5–10 million years or so.
The energy whirl, which I knew could destroy everything in its path, retracted inside with a loud slurp. Now the inner Gate ring was filled with "water." It even rippled, as if a breeze ruffled its surface.
But that's just illusion.
No wind, no water.
It's an energy structure, only remotely resembling the analogies the mind draws. It seems like in the center of this "puddle" a distant but powerful light shines... But that's just an effect.
Active Atlantis Gates.
The white-blue glow produced by the Gates dispersed the half-darkness in the room.
For a few seconds, I stared at this technological wonder. Simply because... Well, how else⁈ These are damn working Stargates! I just activated them! Myself, damn it! Without doctoral degrees and Ancient knowledge in my head!
Suck it, cheaters!
"Admired — enough," I said. "Time to save the city.
I decided to use the same Jumper that became my home and warehouse since the Ascended left. Inconvenient, but I slept in it on the side seats, closing the rear hatch兼 ramp. The ship is hermetic and can be used as a submersible. So if I got "flooded" at night, there was a chance to wake up and get out of the scrape.
Settling into the pilot's seat, I put my hands on the yoke made of transparent material like plastic. Short mental command to start engines... And the ship rises above the floor on an antigrav cushion. Great, works!
I had some fears the city might suffer a bit if I mishandle. Slowly reached the hangar room center, and the seemingly monolithic floor parted, opening view to the Gate Room.
Oh, hope I don't blow everything here.
But as it turned out, the Ancients foresaw such a scenario. Just direct the Jumper a bit forward and down, and it switched to autopilot.
The Jumper leisurely descended into the Gate Room, turned around its axis with the cabin to the Gates.
A few more seconds of reverent awe and worries, from which my hands, armpits sweated... Hope on the other side there's no shield or defense I'll smear against upon materialization.
In known events, there wasn't...
But in reality... And I shouldn't be here. Most likely.
Slightly touching the yoke, I felt pressed into the seat back, and the blue-blue "puddle" filled everything the gaze touched.
***
On the distant continent of planet Lantea, the mother world of the ancient city Atlantis, peace reigned.
Night had taken its rights, but on the shore of a steep cliff, it was light.
Several figures emitting blindingly bright light stood next to each other, looking straight ahead. Any other being of human origin, species to which these intelligences belonged, couldn't boast such eyesight acuity.
For they looked far beyond the horizon, through the many-meter thickness of the water surface.
"I think we should consider how to leave this galaxy," said the snow-white figure with Ganos Lal's face. "This human... is not a savior. Hippophoralkus found someone as eccentric, clumsy, straightforward as he was himself. A mind without cunning and...
"Enough," interrupted her another Ascended. "Your opinion is noted. As is your attitude toward what was done.
"We cannot entrust our fates to him," protested Ganos. "I believe in humans, in their path and self-perfection, but... This Mikhail! He's not capable of solving even the simplest task! Melis practically told him everything outright! But he didn't even understand that right away!
"I said — enough!" repeated the same Ascended in the same emotionless tone. The others besides these two continued to observe silence. "It would be irrational not to use this chance.
"It's a mistake," stated Lal. "We should have intervened and eliminated the rules violation.
"And violate them again?" a glow arose in the air, and another Ascended appeared next to the arguers. "I'm afraid, Ganos, you're projecting your personal thoughts and emotions too strongly regarding this human's ancestors.
"My emotions are fine, Melis," stated Morgana. "And it has nothing to do with his ancestors!
"But it does relate to our survival," the male reminded. "The rules are already violated. We can only neutralize the consequences. Which we're doing.
"This human will destroy Atlantis!" said Ganos Lal. "Cause and effect will be disrupted.
"Maybe so," said the male. "But the rules violation will be eliminated.
"At the cost of our legacy?" Morgana was horrified.
"This is not the first or last city in the Pegasus galaxy," Melis reminded. "Sooner or later, others will be discovered.
"But by then, we may no longer be," Lal pointed toward the Atlantis resting on the bottom. "This human is like a mockery of our general plan!
"Possibly so," the second Ascended pretended to believe what was said. "But I note that before, we showed more patience toward humans and their actions.
"Because before, our descendants acted," another light figure appeared nearby. But unlike the others, this woman had a more memorable appearance. "Ganos Lal is nervous because General Hippophoralkus's actions may lead to irreversible change of the future. And strengthening that branch of our descendants we prefer to forget.
"Oh," Melis's face showed an expressionless smile. "Chaya Sar. I thought you were already dead.
"You know that's impossible under normal circumstances," the dark-skinned woman who joined the other Ascended last replied coldly.
"Who knows," Melis tilted her head. "The Ascended in the Milky Way thought so too. Now they're dead.
"Who called this exile to the meeting?" Ganos Lal irritably inquired. She didn't even intend to hide her disgust at the sight of the newcomer at their gathering.
"I have the right to be among you," said Chaya Sar. "I'm an Ascended just like you.
"You were exiled and punished," their leader reminded her. "You're forbidden to leave the planet.
"I know. But you lack energy to...
"We don't need your help," the Pegasus galaxy Ancients' leader cut off. "You disobeyed your sentence. And your punishment will last another hundred thousand years.
"Witnessed," the other Ascended chorused.
"Another hundred thousand years for coming to help you?" Chaya Sar looked at the other Ancients in confusion.
"You violated your punishment terms," said Ganos Lal. "Sanctions for that were known to you in advance.
"You just don't want me involved in all this," Sar said.
"You're right," Melis confirmed. "Your "help" usually ends in catastrophe. In current circumstances, that can't be allowed.
"I suppose I won't be forgiven even if the Ori convert all our descendants in the Universe without exception to their faith?" Chaya clarified.
"Don't aggravate your guilt," the Ancients' leader said. "Return where you should be. And don't appear among us again.
Melis, continuing to hold an empty smile on her face, demonstratively waved her palm at the guest.
"I hope you succeed," Chaya said with poorly hidden pain in her voice. "If you need me...
"You won't be needed," Ganos Lal said sharply. "Get where you belong!
Silently enduring the insult, the dark-skinned Ascended dissolved in the air.
"Never liked her," Lal said contemptuously. "After what she did, showing up with innocence on her face... She's mocking all of us!
"Or you should just calm down," Melis said, glancing toward Atlantis. "I'd like to say I'm sorry for Atlantis and Mikhail, but...
"At least half of that would be a lie," Ganos Lal snorted.
"Exactly," Melis mimed another of her empty smiles. "I think the break is over, and it's time to plan the next step, since this human failed...
***
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