Rules, as they say, are written in blood.
"Trust, but verify" is one of them.
Gaining an ally—even a tentative one—from the Ancient race, someone familiar with their technology, language, worldview, and likely privy to past projects, is certainly wonderful.
However, Chaya hadn't breathed a word about the actual reasons that moved her to intervene in my death. I believe in compassion, yet... something here felt entirely off.
According to her, she remembered coming to Atlantis while still Ascended. It was only thanks to that state that she'd managed to trigger the drainage system pumps to dry out the city. Afterward, she'd gone to the ZPM room and breathed life back into me.
She'd moved me to the infirmary and only then became human, preparing those notes for herself.
She clearly remembered being Ascended here on Atlantis. She remembered encountering streams of light in the control room after leaving me under the supervision of the medical machines.
And then, a gap in her memory.
She didn't remember how she ended up near the medical center. In fact, she only came to her senses after I hit my head against the scanner.
Her memory contains everything (or so she thinks) about her past life right up to the moment of colliding with that snow-white flash. I suspect the latter was an Ascended—or several—who stripped her of her privileges. But why leave the part of her memory tied to Atlantis?
Why would an Ancient, especially one already "on the radar" of the Ascended, take such a risk as saving my life? Sar herself simply shrugged, saying the knowledge of her motives was unknown to her.
Just like everything that happened to her after Ascension. This means the last ten thousand years are a blur to her. I hinted, as best I could, that the knowledge likely wasn't destroyed but blocked, much like it was with Dr. Jackson in the series. The Replicators of the Milky Way were able to detect and use it.
And the Milky Way Ascended didn't intervene to stop them.
The Ascended generally behave quite strangely. I've formed the opinion that they are so indifferent to current events that the majority doesn't even intend to fix anything. Then again, reflecting on the events I know, there were plenty of Ancients who flouted the rules and helped humans anyway. With varying success.
Orlin, Oma Desala, Merlin (alias Myrddin, alias Moros), Ganos Lal... Not many, granted. It's unknown how many Ascended there are in total to conclude whether these rebels are just a statistical error.
During my conversation with Ganos Lal, I nearly spoke up about how the Ascended actually do interfere in galactic events. Not directly, of course; that's supposedly forbidden. But there are exceptions to every rule, so they try to act through others' hands. A tablet dropped here, a knowledge vault left there, a trail of breadcrumbs scattered somewhere else... From my chat with Lal and Melia, I realized that everything happening was calculated and predetermined long ago—after all, they knew about the expedition that never arrived. This means they are perfectly capable of helping their chosen ones.
For instance, it seems to me that in the events I know, the Ascended were actively "rooting" for the Earthlings through certain individuals. Whether it was predetermined or the original SG-1 team earned the Ancients' respect enough for them to find loopholes in their rules, I don't know.
But the fact remains.
Whenever Earthlings found themselves in the unfathomable depths of galactic trouble, they somehow, "entirely by chance," found answers to all their questions.
It seems to me that someone is being quite hypocritical...
Or perhaps I'm just bitter that my agreement with the Ascended was nothing more than a ruse to have me die while prolonging their city's existence. Of course, they might have been trying to eliminate some paradox from my interference, but...
Something is fishy. I can't recall a single instance where the Ascended acted exclusively against Earthlings. Maybe I'm just dramatizing, and what happened was nothing more than an adventure they'd calculated, along with my rescue?
What if "up there," they decided I couldn't handle it alone and that I needed help? From whom? The Ascended Exile, of course. She might have been offered help to get me on my feet in exchange for forgiveness.
Sitting on the floor of one of the remote Ancient labs, chewing on a nutrient bar whose taste I could no longer even perceive, I considered that I probably just had paranoia.
"The Others lie."
Indeed, many things could fit that description. You can take it however you want. I suspect that's exactly why the laptop wasn't destroyed by the Ascended—it contains no direct answers or advice.
Only those riddles they love so much.
"There you are," a voice came from the doorway. "I have finished the damage assessment of the city. There is a full list of malfunctions in the control center..."
"How bad is it?" I asked, continuing to stare straight ahead.
"The damage is substantial, but not critical," Chaya approached but hesitated to sit. "The hyperdrive is damaged, sublight engines need maintenance and repair, nearly forty percent of the rooms are underwater and must be inspected personally to fix damage on-site. There are wiring breaks, hull breaches, and significant damage in the lower part of the city affecting the functionality of some rooms."
"Like the lower Jumper bay?" I asked. I remembered there were problems with it in the series because it was completely flooded.
"Jump..." The girl frowned. "An interesting name for Lantean small craft."
"What did you call them?" I asked.
"Lantean small ship," the girl shrugged. "Sometimes—'shuttle'."
"Tasteless," I sighed, nodding toward a horseshoe-shaped console a couple of meters in front of me. On the wall before it was a non-standard monitor with numerous Lantean symbols scrolling across.
"Laboratory equipment," she identified immediately. "Judging by the records... most of what is readable pertains to human physiology. A comparison of evolutionary changes is being conducted. It seems this lab studied directed genetic mutations."
"As far as I know, they were trying to artificially bring a human closer to Ascension here," I said. In the known events, an expedition member activated a device. His metabolism accelerated, as did his hearing and synaptic connections in his brain. Subsequently, abilities like telekinesis, telepathy, and healing by laying on of hands appeared. Furthermore, the victim became so intelligent he could devise a hyperdrive for a Jumper. I suppose I needn't repeat that such a thing isn't provided in the "standard" configuration.
"Oh," Chaya simply exclaimed. "I suppose this is one of many laboratories."
"What do you mean?"
"As far as I know, the Lanteans fervently researched the possibilities of their own bodies and tried to understand Ascension from a scientific standpoint," Chaya said. "Rumor has it hundreds of research teams worked on this."
"I see," I briefly recounted what I remembered about this device. "You know, I appreciate you explaining everything and teaching me Lantean, but... you're a scientist, aren't you?"
"All those you called the Ancients are scientists in one field or another," Sar said. "I have some knowledge as well. I think I can guess what you want."
"And your opinion?"
"I would trust the last entries in the lab journal," the Ancient pointed to the monitor. "It states here that the chance of a successful mutation is one in a thousand. Oh, I beg your pardon, ten thousand."
"And what happens to those who aren't that one person?"
"Cellular membrane destruction, organ decomposition, excessive growth or burnout of nervous tissue, brain cell decay..." the girl listed. "The result closest to Ascension is turning into photoplasma. Followed by structural collapse."
"So there will be no easy path?"
"Unfortunately," Sar said. "Had this machine worked as intended, it is unlikely the Lanteans would have left for Earth as you say."
"Yes, they would have used it," I agreed. "But, as you understand, having to pull you away for every little thing to figure out what's on a display..."
"It is no trouble for me to help you, Mikhail," Chaya said, emphasizing once more that we had not switched to first names. "After all, that is why I am here. Furthermore, I realized how difficult the Lantean language is for you."
"Is that so?" I smirked.
"Yes," she replied, ignoring my sarcasm. "I have reconfigured the central computer so that, where possible, labels are in your native language."
"That isn't a joke, is it?" I asked.
"No," she replied. "Since I am the only person in the city who can understand the Lantean language, your presence in the city is difficult. I sought to fix that."
"Hm... Thank you," I stood up and extended my hand for a handshake. "You really have done a lot for me. Things will be easier now."
"I hope so," she replied. "I must say that many of the city's labs are disconnected from the central computer. Like," she glanced around the compartment we were in, "this lab, for instance. It is impossible to upload updates from the data core into its computer because it is isolated from the rest. So it can only be done manually."
"We shouldn't go near that thing," I said, pointing to the exit. "We hardly need mutations that make us less attractive."
Chaya looked at me intently but remained silent.
"I wrote a program to analyze the source language and translate it into your native one," she said already in the corridor, on the way to the transporter, pulling a familiar handheld from a small, inconspicuous bag hanging at her waist. "Therefore, I recorded it onto your multifunctional scanner. Now, to understand what is written, you simply need to connect to the console and run the program—it will automatically translate everything that is unclear to you. This applies to practically all languages you may encounter. At least all that were in the Atlantis database."
"Including Ancient dialects?"
"Including those."
"And it'll translate from the Wraith language too?"
"I said as much," Chaya handed me the familiar scanner. "And yes, I also repaired that device you barbarically broke. I returned it to its standard place on the shuttle."
Hmm... It really is convenient having a living Ancient on your team. I could already appreciate how useful she was.
While this tangible drop didn't fill my bucket of trust, I at least appreciated the gesture.
Taking the scanner she'd modified for me, I almost wanted to whistle—but I caught myself in time. Seriously, the entire interface, console commands, reference info, root directory of operating modes—everything was translated into the great and powerful Russian tongue!
So many problems solved now! I couldn't wait to dive into the city's database and study everything! Time allowed for it—nearly a day had passed since returning from the mission.
"You're a miracle!" Unable to help myself, I grabbed the girl around the waist, lifted her up, and spun her around. "I don't even know how to thank you!"
"Simply putting me on the floor would suffice," her face showed no emotion other than bewilderment. Strange; I know she isn't a total phlegmatic.
"As you wish," I complied with her request. Either she's just such a prude, or she finds my company unpleasant.
Then again... would I be pleased if some Cro-Magnon hugged me?
"It will take time for the program to copy, translate, and parallel the city's database," Chaya said, smoothing her dress.
"Excuse me, what? You only said translation."
"Indeed," she said. "But your language is not yet developed enough to understand, for example, the laws of subspace or the constants that affect time dilation in black holes. Therefore, some of the text will remain in the Lantean language. In the second version of the database. The original copy will remain in the primary language. It is easier for me to work with that way."
"That's... good, of course, but... Do we even have enough free space on the server or wherever information is stored?" I asked.
"Yes, without a doubt," Chaya replied. "The free volume is sufficient to copy the database several thousand times."
Several.
Thousand.
Times.
Copying a database that is at least several million years old. Containing all the knowledge of an entire race! Records of species encountered on planets, of the worlds and moons themselves, stars and black holes, ships and medicines, of... of everything! And that's just a small part of what's there!
I think it's worth considering starting a production line for a new type of data storage after establishing contact with Earth. Say, for ten or twenty terabytes. Or even producing the latest computers. Though I don't know if Ancient technology can run Crysis on ultra-max settings. They say if you do that, the universe collapses...
Alright, all that for later.
"You've been in the city less than a day and already wrote such a complex program?" I clarified.
"I did it in the breaks between other work," Chaya said.
"Other work?" I clarified. "You mean the city assessment?"
"It seemed to me I could perfectly well devise an occupation for myself," the Ancient narrowed her eyes slightly. "I did not know I was under your command and living from order to order."
"Of course not," I caught myself. "Just... ahem... I'm certainly not against you doing your own things..."
"Fine," Sar interrupted, checking her scanner. "When Atlantis lost power, its systems shut down in an emergency fashion. Plugging in the battery resulted in a restart of all systems in the city."
"Every single one?" I asked.
"Absolutely all that can function without direct operator input," she said. "Various sensors, long-range scanners, the subspace transmitter, shuttle charging, lighting for corridors and rooms in uninhabited parts of the city, power for all labs, and so on."
"So the city is devouring our ZPM's energy with the same appetite as a bull eating slop?" I inquired.
"The analogy is crude, but I believe it is correct," Sar said. "I managed to disable some systems using the control panels in the control room. Others must be turned off manually or at distribution consoles. However..."
"Right," I nodded. "You know, there's a console in the floor in front of the gate that can be used to disable... a lot, if not almost everything."
"Yes, I understand what you are referring to," the girl said as we entered the transporter. "But, unfortunately, the emergency shutdown mechanism can only be used by pure-blooded Lanteans."
At that moment, I was already pressing a point on the city map.
"Pure-blooded?"
A flash of light filled the cabin.
"Yes," the doors opened and Chaya stepped out first. "You surely know that those you call the Ancients are not a homogeneous race?"
"Um... I suspected," I lied without blinking. "But it would be better if you refreshed my memory."
Chaya looked at me with suspicion and surprise.
But she did not refuse the request.
"When those you know as the Ancients came to this galaxy, they seeded it with life," she said. "Over time, a large number of human and other races appeared. They developed over many years under Lantean protection. Many reached such a level of development that the inhabitants of Atlantis turned their attention toward them and entered into open contact. Peoples exchanged knowledge, conducted trade, and so on. Over time, if developed peoples demonstrated technical, moral, and spiritual development analogous to that of the Ancients, the latter would accept them into their society and reveal their secrets to them."
"So those clever eccentrics *did* share knowledge!" I said irritably.
"Yes, and very often," Chaya admitted. "For example, I originated from the Proculian people. We were not sufficiently advanced technically, but at the same time our spiritual development and drive for enlightenment impressed the Ancients. Many of my people joined them in recognition of our past merits. But," she grew sad, "the majority of my people were never able to cross the threshold of low societal development. I fear I am to blame for that. I loved my people so much that I helped them, built for them, and provided everything necessary. That was my great mistake."
"Because the people of your planet got used to getting everything at the first request," I realized. "Why develop if you have everything you need as it is?"
"Precisely," Chaya said sadly. "My people valued and value spiritual development above the material. They do not strive for the stars; they are not impressed by scientific knowledge of the world. I fear it was specifically I who caused them to remain as they are."
"Speaking of your people," I caught myself. "You were protecting them from the Wraith while you were Ascended."
"Probably," Chaya replied absently. "I do not remember, I am sorry."
"Yes, yes, that's how it was, you can take my word for it," I said. "Only thanks to you, your people knew no Wraith invasion. But now that you're a simple human and they are defenseless, we need to think about how to secure them."
"I..." Chaya was bewildered. "I did not think they were still alive... I... I forgot about them..."
A mark of mild panic appeared on the Ancient's (if she can still be called that) face.
"I forgot about my people..." she muttered, quickening her pace. "How did this happen!?"
The girl, moving her legs quickly, at some point broke into a run, a turquoise (the color of her dress) arrow dashing toward the control room.
All I could do was run after her.
The fact that she forgot about protecting her people using Ascended powers was, of course, explained by her lack of memories from the last ten thousand years. But... how could she forget that her people are defenseless?
I have a bad feeling, a very bad one... Could it be the Ascended purposefully removed that knowledge as punishment or revenge for her new disobedience?
I found Chaya near the control console, dialing an address. Her concentrated face evoked compassion, so I intercepted her hand before she could activate the gate.
"I need to get to the planet!" she said.
"We'll do it together," I explained. "In a 'jumper'. Because, as I recall, the gate on your planet is out in space."
"What?" the Ancient goggled. "Who did that, and why!?"
Right... Life is getting "merrier" by the day.
"Make it so no one but us can pass through the gate into the city," I ordered, heading for the stairs to the "jumper" hangar. "We don't need guests meeting us while we're away."
"Give me a few minutes," she said.
Climbing into the jumper, I started the ship's engine and waited for Chaya.
As soon as the deathly pale (highly noticeable on Sar's dark complexion) Ancient dialed the address, I began to descend into the Gate Room. I have to say, Chaya really didn't disappoint—the virtual screen before me was rife with notes in my native language. Yes, it didn't erase the Ancient symbols engraved on the instrument panel, but thought-control took care of that oversight.
As soon as the familiar outlines of the "puddle" appeared before my eyes, the ship lunged through the gate.
* * *
"Commander," the first officer approached Styx just as the Hive began to accelerate for the jump into hyperspace. "That was a risky operation. In the past, no Hive has managed to leave here alive."
"We are not all," Styx snapped.
He did not intend to enter into disputes with a subordinate.
At the very least, to avoid acknowledging the fact of a chance coincidence. The old ship, damaged in battle, needed repairs—so he had had to exit hyperspace earlier than planned.
Imagine Styx's surprise when the Hive ship's scanners detected a significant number of life signals on the planet below them. The planet was not on the list of feeding grounds distributed to other Hives. On the contrary, since ancient times it had been preferred to bypass it due to some unknown energy defense protecting the inhabitants from culling.
But nothing happened.
While the Darts were conducting the cull, the damaged hyperdrive restored itself. As did part of the internal damage within the ship. The restored hull integrity and the healed wounds in the hangar pleased him.
But no more than the several thousand humans gathered by the Dart pilots and brought to the ship.
The soldiers who rounded up the locals on the world's surface were bewildered—the humans weren't afraid of them at all. As if they didn't even know who they were or how dangerous such encounters were.
Therefore, the sudden attack and cull went excellently. And Styx was pleased with how circumstances had turned out.
He hadn't just survived and kept his ship after meeting Cunning Blade. He had also found a world near her feeding grounds where he could repair his damaged ship and gather humans. This quantity would last him quite some time.
For the first time in long months, his Wraith would be able to feed to their fill. And a significant reserve for the future would still remain.
"We should have left a few families on the planet to breed the herd," the first officer said. "Then we would have had our own grounds."
"No," Styx snapped. "A Hive ship is easily tracked. I am certain Cunning Blade's ships will visit here soon to find out what we were doing. I do not intend to fight her over a few animals."
And he would have had to fight.
By acquiring feeding grounds, the Wraith are simply obligated—otherwise they are deemed weak—to drive the persistent away from their planets. Not to do so means awakening interest in others as to the reasons for the weakness.
Conflict was not what he needed now. He should reach his secluded base and bring the Hive to combat readiness. And then, start the hunt for the Lanteans.
"I think it is worth studying the words of the chief monk about his goddess," the first officer suggested. "She may be real."
"In that case, why did she not stop us?" Styx asked.
The subordinate had no answer.
"Did you search the planet with sufficient precision?" the Hive commander asked. "Energy signatures, structures exceeding the locals' level?"
"Nothing, commander. Whatever destroyed the Wraith on this planet before is no longer here."
But at least one Lantean small ship traveling through the gate had appeared in the galaxy. Could it be a coincidence?
Unlikely. Information about what is happening in the galaxy should be gathered more carefully.
The hyperspace window flared and the giant organic ship vanished from orbit of the planet Proculus.
* * *
The search didn't take long. By the end of the following day, we had finished searching Proculus.
And the results were not pleasant.
Already in orbit, it became clear there were no survivors on Chaya's home planet. Not a single person.
But she insisted on going down and seeing for herself.
I don't know what she wanted to see, wandering through destroyed villages, looking at a ruined garden next to something resembling a temple... However, I gathered from her words that it was the Temple of Athar. Under that name she'd lived here after Ascension.
The Ancient, turned into pure energy, had—as I recalled—taken the human form of a girl named Chaya Sar, a servant of Athar, to be able to communicate with the people she was protecting. Had been protecting...
And what became the temple had originally been the house she'd built for herself and for meetings with her countrymen, giving them what they needed. That was how it was in the times before her Ascension. And it continued after she returned to the planet and became an outcast.
An interesting story for a novel, but... the end of this story is too tragic.
"I found no bodies," she said quietly as we finished searching the last, largest village, the one closest to the temple. About a thousand people had lived in it. According to her, all the inhabitants of this world were alike—calm, trusting, cheerful, kind.
"There was no cruelty or malice in their hearts," Chaya said, pursing her lips.
"I'm afraid the Wraith didn't care," I said softly, glancing at the destroyed village. "The inhabitants weren't killed. They were taken. By force."
This was evidenced by household items scattered around the dwellings, utensils, scraps of torn clothing, and drag marks on the soil. The Wraith—and I can find no other reason why the people left without Chaya's protection had vanished—did not stand on ceremony. They met no resistance, so they took everyone without losing a single person. And without resorting to bombardment for intimidation.
"It is my fault!" the Ancient cried out. "If I had not become human again, they would have been under protection!"
I had nothing to say to that.
But the thought kept circling in my head that everything had coincided just a bit too smoothly. As soon as Sar vanished, her people were culled by the Wraith. Weren't the glowing ears of the Ascended, deciding to get even with her, sticking out of this situation?
I didn't want to say that out loud without evidence more grounded than guesses.
For a few minutes, we stood by the jumper while Chaya, pain on her face, stared at the settlement's ruined buildings. From the way her palms were folded, I assumed she was praying.
Perfectly logical, considering the faith in her as a goddess had been strong here. Likely, she was paying tribute to the memory of the people who'd died.
"It is time for us to return," she said. "I have entered our biological signatures into the city's energy shield program, so we are in no danger when passing through the gate now or in the future."
Somewhere at the edge of my mind, the thought arose that the lady wasn't exactly from the gate-builders' race, so she could have messed something up. I didn't want to get smeared at the end of the flight, but... I think everything will be fine.
"If you need to be alone, I'll fly to a certain planet to meet with someone," I said as the jumper was already rising out of the atmosphere. Despite the lack of signals around, I continued to maintain the cloak until the zone where it deactivates automatically. "Or, if you want, we can talk..."
"Thank you for your concern," Chaya said softly, looking at me. In the time since we'd lifted from the planet, she had for the first time stopped staring at the instrument panel from the co-pilot's side. "It hurts because of my failure, but... unfortunately, they were doomed from the moment I became human. I do not know why my memories of their vulnerability were not at the center of my attention, but... I also realize that even owning all of Atlantis, we could have done nothing. Only a day, maybe a bit more, has passed since they were gathered. I realized this by the warmth remaining in the hearths of the houses. Unfortunately, we would not have been able to save even most of them."
Because Atlantis isn't exactly "mobile" yet, and you can't carry many people on jumpers. However, had we realized immediately, we surely could have evacuated at least someone on the jumpers.
But what's done is done.
"We need to return to the command center," Chaya said as the jumper was already ascending into the Atlantis hangar. Despite my fears, we survived the flight and didn't crash against the gate shield. "Both of us. It will not take long."
"Why?" I asked suspiciously. "What do you want to do, Chaya?"
"I think you have more in common with your Earthlings than I do," Sar said. I didn't miss the fact that she'd switched to "thou" with me. Had the disaster on her home planet really made her less prim?
Then again, compared to Ganos Lal and Melia, Chaya was a sweetheart in principle. I feel entirely sorry for the girl and her people.
But we could do nothing. Even if the Wraith hadn't "drunk" the Proculians immediately, they were on board a ship. Which one specifically was anyone's guess. Yes, there was a chance the Wraith had come through the gate, but... it was somewhat doubtful.
"My Earthlings?" I goggled. "I don't quite understand..."
"I intend to open the gate to Earth," the former Ascended said firmly. "Since I did not save my people, perhaps it will be possible to help yours."
Ah, so that was it...