Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 21:13:24 -0400
From: ron <wolfwalker2@alltel.net>
Subject: Heritage of the Ancients - ch 17

Harry was at his work platform wondering if they should just move up the
schedule of the targeted leaving day, after all there was only fifty some
days left.


Doing so would allow them to settle down and make it easier for the search
teams, being in the same galaxy as the people they were searching for would
certainly make it easier to search for clues, especially planet bound ones.


On the other hand it seemed the enemy of the Alteran's, which Toria Ai Shas
was built to fight were still active in that part of the universe.


Deciding to table the decision until later, there was no hurry to make a
decision now that they had rescued another two crews off damaged ships, and
added another thousand or so people to their population, taking the pressure
off of caring for the children from the first rescue.


Hopefully in another couple of weeks some of those rescued could be slotted
into rescue crews and they might even have enough to scout the last known
location of Atlantis, giving them valuable intelligence on what they were
letting themselves in for.


Of the three original missions sent out ten days ago only two had been
successful. Harry was currently waiting for more information to come back
from Ron, as the Bololarys was due to check in, in a couple of hours.


Leaning back in his chair he turned it slightly towards the gates as he
ignored the scrolling Holo displays active around him.


Seeing Lantera walking towards him Harry wondered if she brought good news
or something that would give him a headache.


Still getting used to the wonderful inventions that had been discovered
since her over long sleep Lantera hummed to herself as she walked into the
embarkation deck and took in the sight of the six gates spaced out evenly,
taking in the wonder of wonders that could create twelve separate
connections to other gates. As both sides could be used to anchor a
wormhole, she wished they had that type of technology when they were
evacuating Tylene.


Casting her gaze towards the platform where the young man who led them, who
still worked to hard in her opinion, set up station every day trying to
solve all the problems that crossed his desk.


Seeing all the displays providing different information at the same time,
she wondered how he was able to multitask so effortlessly, seeing he was
watching her she smiled hoping to let him know that she was not the bearer
of bad news.


As she climbed the few steps leading up to the platform Harry gestured
towards one of the chairs at the table. "So what brings you out of the
healers hall and to my world."


Laughing. "You have been watching bad Holo Drama's Jacks been looking up
again haven't you." Lantera said as she sat down.


Harry let his smirk be the only answer to her question.


Placing a slim data crystal on the tabletop. "I found this in my belongings
this morning, I completely forgot that I had placed it there when we made
the decision to enter hiber sleep. After finally thinking about going
through my belongings, and deciding to put them away in my assigned quarters
I found this in a secure tube in my bag." Lantera told him hope evident in
her voice.


"And this is?" Harry asked as picked up the crystal and examined it closely.


"Every thing we have on the evacuation of Tylene, ships involved, evacuation
routes, what order the ships left in. Every thing from the moment we started
to the moment we were caught in the shock wave of the sun going nova early."
Lantera breathed out in anticipation.


Harry stared at the woman in shock as he processed her words and his mind
started to race with possibilities.


Gently placing the crystal back down on the table. "Aloria can you retrieve
the data or do I need to place it in a reader for you.' Harry asked her
through the bond.


Instead of answering a module started to take shape as it rose from the
tabletop in front of Harry.


When the door popped open Harry lifted the crystal back up and gently
inserted it into the port.


"Aloria how long will it take to assimilate the data and compare it with the
archival records?" Harry asked out loud, a glimmer of hope in his voice at
the possibility of more vessels that might be recovered with crews still
alive.


Slowly as she placed the data in a section of the cities memory core, where
she could use an avatar to assimilate the data she replied. "It is going to
take a couple of days to go over everything on the data crystal before I can
even begin to set up the search parameters."


"On top of that it might be a month or two before I have any hard data for
you." Aloria warned him.


"But there is still hope?" Lantera asked, as she converted what the oldsters
had begun to call basic into Alteran in her head.


Smiling Harry nodded his head. "Yes there is hope. If there are any more
vessels out there that did not make it to their destinations as planned, we
might be able to track them down and either find a small colony world they
settled on or even be able to rescue those in a situation similar to your
own."


"Incoming Matter Stream." Steven called out over the com unit, effectively
interrupting their conversation of what the crystal might hold. "Origin
Earth SGC."


"Ah the last of the volunteers." Lantera said. "This should reduce the work
load to a more manageable level. I must say I have been impressed by what I
have seen so far."


Agreeing with her. "Yes they should make a fine addition to the Alliance. I
believe most of those they have sent to help us are slated to be the first
colonists of their new world when they finally get around to setting it up
officially." Harry shared.


"Though not all are as pleasant and forward thinking as those we have met so
far." Harry warned her, thinking back to the Dursley's.


"What race is." Lantera said. "Even we have our moments that we fail
miserably."


Nodding his head to acknowledge her point, Harry watched as the volunteers
lined up in the arrival area to be welcomed, and checked in through the
healers before being assigned quarters and partners in the care of their new
charges, the rescued babies.


Following with his eyes the lead group of young men and women away from the
gate, he missed the arrival of the military delegation that followed them
through.


"The last of those monstrosities will be shut down this afternoon and
disposed of after the children are removed, correct?" Harry wanted to make
sure, as he had not been needed, or so he had been told quite vocally quite
often.


 "Yes." Lantera sighed almost hearing in his voice the derision she used on
herself every time she thought about what they had almost done. "You know we
did the best we could trying to save as many as we could, with what we had
available."


Wincing internally at the hurt in her voice. "I know, and I know you could
not have done things differently with the knowledge you had at the time."
Harry said apologetically. "But those things frighten me, and it is only
natural to loathe what frightens you and endangers children."


"I know." Lantera whispered. "I was not to happy with the idea at the time
either."


By this time Jack O'Neill, older version, had made it to the work platform
and called out. "Changing the furniture again, I swear you are worse than my
ex wife."


Startled, Harry whipped his head around towards the voice. "General O'Neill
I was not expecting you today. Is there a problem?"


Wincing just enough to be noticed General O'Neill replied. "Something has
come up that I think you need to know about."


Looking around at the people who had come with the General and how nervous
some of them looked. "I am not going to like this am I?"  Harry said with a
sinking feeling.


Seeing the older Jack wince again and the older man in the suit wince also,
Harry pointed at the chairs around the edge of the table. "Sit."


As Lantera made to leave Harry placed his hand over hers as she gripped the
table and pressed down telling her to stay.

General O'Neill seeing how all emotion had disappeared from Harry's face,
prayed to all the gods he could think of that Harry held it together long
enough for them to explain.


"Mr. President I would like you to meet the Lord Commander of the Alteran
people." General O'Neill made introduction to Harry.


Nodding his head Harry told him. "Greetings, though I did not expect to meet
for some time yet, at least until you had achieved membership in the
Alliance."


Out of the corner of his eye he noticed quite a few wince at that simple
statement. Now he knew he was not going to like what he heard.


"Greetings as well Lord Commander, though I hope we are still welcome after
you have heard our news." The president told him diplomatically.


Harry did not say anything other than to narrow his eyes at the man.


The President was not an easily intimidated man, but as he sat there and was
stared at by the younger looking man, he felt his palms grow sweaty.


General O'Neill cleared his throat to gain Harry's attention. "I remember
being told that you have the means to view other peoples memories."


At Harry's nod General O'Neill continued. "Good I thought I remembered
correctly. We have brought every one that was involved with us, so you can
see what happened, rather than hear what went on second hand."


Looking past General O'Neill to where some strange man was gesturing wildly
as he was walked back and forth, Harry briefly forgot about the impending
bad news as he wondered if all Americans were crazy masochists.


Seeing Harry was not paying attention any longer General O'Neill shifted in
his chair to look at where Harry was staring.


Groaning inwardly General O'Neill wondered if it was to late to retire.


The others seeing the pause in conversation followed the Generals gaze at
his indrawn breath and were horrified to see Rodney acting like he was
throwing a temper tantrum.


"Damn Canadians." The President swore under his breath.


"I thought he was one of yours." Harry said without moving.


"Oh I wish, then maybe the man would listen to reason." The President
answered.


"Rodney." Elizabeth whispered out horrified, thinking of the political
disaster he could cause.


As if he could feel he was being watched Rodney McKay stopped his ranting at
the person who was ignoring his questions and turned to look towards the
last direction everyone else had gone in.


Only to see them staring at him from the distance and a horrified expression
on Elizabeth and Sheppard's faces.


At that exact moment Cadfael came running into the room intent on reaching
Harry to show him what he had learned in school today, followed by Bryce who
was doing his best to keep his brother in view and out of trouble.


At the exact moment an excited Cadfael closed to within less than a meter of
Rodney, the man still frustrated at being ignored, turned around gesturing
wildly once again with a hint of anger on his face.


Only to come face to face with a child.


A child, whom he had just frightened badly, A child fresh from his magic
classes, who did what any magical child would do when frightened and their
instincts of self preservation  took over.


Cadfael screamed in fright, and threw out his hands sending Rodney flying
across the deck, only to land with a bone wrenching jar near the side of the
platform.


Hyperventilating in fear Cadfael stood there shaking not able to move.


Harry shifted at the same time Bryce made it to his brother, both of them
grabbing the frightened boy at the same time.


Comforting his fosterling Harry kept murmuring over and over in his ear.
"It's ok, you didn't do any thing wrong."


Sandwiching the young ten year old between him and his brother in a tight
hug, Cadfael soon calmed down and started to breath normally.


Getting up from his knees Harry scooped up his fosterling, and started back
to his work area with Bryce holding Cadfael's hand.


Not even bothering to look to see if the ill mannered human had been
injured, Harry carried Cadfael over to the table and set him down on the
edge nearest him, opposite of General O'Neill, while his brother sat down in
the chair next to Harry's, still holding onto his brothers hand.


"Are you ok now?" Harry asked in concern, as he looked the boy over.


Nodding his head Cadfael started to relax a little and gave his brothers
hand a squeeze in thanks.


"Now what was so important that it had you running all the way here?" Harry
asked lightly, and with a smile to show he was not mad.


"I wanted to show you what we learned in class today." Cadfael rushed out,
bouncing back to his old self, as only the very young can.


"And what was that?" Harry laughed.


Scrunching up his face in concentration Cadfael finally threw out his hand
palm up and a small flame appeared dancing around in place in the center of
his palm.


Opening his eyes and seeing he had done it, Cadfael started to bounce in
place happy once again.


Pulling him into a hug. "That is a very good job, I am proud of you." Harry
whispered in his ear.


Cadfael squeezed Harry back with all his might before jumping down off the
table and running over to where Lantera was sitting wanting to show her too.


Groaning could be heard coming from the floor from where Rodney had landed,
and where Elizabeth and Sheppard had disappeared from view as they went to
check on him.


Smiling at the antics of his young fosterling, Harry reached over and
grabbed Bryce's hand and thought towards him. 'Bryce, could you take your
brother up to the conference room to start his homework. I would rather he
not be around as I teach that imbecile some manners'


Smirking at the thought of what was going to happen, but turning it into a
frown when he saw that his time to be with Harry was being interrupted by
these people, He never the less nodded his head.


Not letting go as Bryce started to move away, Harry thought one last thing.
'While you are up there can you get a hold of Jack and warn him that the
Earth people are here.'


Nodding his head in agreement, Bryce grabbed his brothers attention, telling
him they had to start their homework upstairs while Harry finished his
meeting. The sooner they got it done the sooner they could play with Harry.


All happy again Cadfael grabbed his brothers hand, and half ran half pulled
him towards the steps wanting to get his homework over as soon as possible
because he wanted to go to the park and go swimming.


The President went cold when the mans face, the leader of the Ancient
people, turned from warm and caring too angry and cold.


"Would it help if I shot the man?" The President said half in jest, only
half.


By this time Rodney who had regained his feet was screaming at Elizabeth. "I
will not apologize, I am the one that was hurt here not that kid."


"Rodney I am warning you." Elizabeth returned Rodney's yell with her own.


"Elizabeth for the last time I will not apologize to some little freak who
can't even." Rodney yelled in anger than stopped as his under-developed
flight or fight instinct kicked in to late.


All the Earth people except General O'Neill cringed back in fear as Harry
jumped to his feet as glowing energy, the darkest green it was almost black,
engulfed Harry and swirled around him angrily causing a breeze.


With a thought fueled by Harry's rage, his magic shot out and hit Rodney in
the chest and pinned him to the opposite wall.


Gripping the table hard enough to leave an impression of his fingers in it,
Harry had to work hard at controlling his rage before it got out of control,
and he let his rage pulverize the man.


Flinging his arm out violently towards the pinned man and then slashing it
in a downward arc towards the end of the table, Rodney McKay flew through
the air and landed in a chair that appeared right before he would have hit
the floor, only to have chains wrap around his body holding him in place and
the sound of tape being ripped off a roll, as duct tape appeared in front of
his face and slapped itself over Rodney's mouth.


The President at this point had his head in his hands, trying to think of a
way out of the disaster, that once again the Canadian scientist had caused.


Closing his eyes and sitting back down Harry slowly counted to one hundred
as he calmed himself down.


John Sheppard gingerly touched the chained Rodney McKay and the tape
covering Rodney's mouth. Yep, it was real all right he thought.


Turning his back on McKay, he slowly made his way along with Elizabeth to
sit down at the table again.


"I hope you don't mind General O'Neill, I borrowed your technique for
shutting up individuals. Seems to work very well, I especially like the pain
they go through as they are forced to rip the tape off." Harry said slowly
as he opened his eyes to the fearful stares around him from most of the
people.


"So, now that.That creature is duly contained." Harry said as he pointed to
the bound and mumbling scientist. "Would some one like to tell me what you
are all doing here and the subject you are dancing around is?"


Very aware that things could go very badly for them John Sheppard stood up
and walked slowly towards the head of the table as non threateningly as
possible.


"You have the ability to see other people memories right?" John asked
carefully.


"Yes." Harry said staring at the moving soldier wondering why he would ask.


Gulping and finding his courage John replied. "Then do it, and look at mine,
it should tell you everything you need to know."

Tilting his head as he stared at the man, Harry finally pointed to the floor
in front of him not saying a word.


Hesitating only a second John took two steps and sank to his knees in front
of the powerful young man.


Reaching out with his left hand, Harry gently placed his outstretched
fingers on the mans face and told him. "Relax, this won't hurt, and I
promise not to look at anything that does not directly relate to the
incident in question. Close your eyes and think back to the day in question
and I will see it unfold as if I was there."


Harry had placed his other hand on the panel that he used to link to the
systems and told Aloria to record every thing he fed to it for later study
and playback.


The President was startled when a Holo image appeared above the table in the
place of all the floating displays.


Fascinated he watched the story unfold before his very eyes, and felt some
relief as the story unfolded and he saw the multiple attempts by Colonel
Sheppard to help those trapped in a computer generated world, while their
bodies slept in those chambers.


After an hour Harry released his grip ending the memory and causing John to
wobble a bit.


Closing his eyes he barely heard the others questioning the Colonel as he
got back to his feet and made his way down the table back to his chair.
Harry was saddened that once again the Wraith had claimed Alteran lives,
this time with help.


Opening his eyes Harry asked. " Are you alright, are there any lingering
effects?"


Waving it off John said. "No I'm fine, just a little unsteady from kneeling
so long."


Nodding his head at the answer Harry speared the Daedalus's commanding
officer with a stare as he tried to word his question to be less
confrontational than how he wanted to just spit it out.


"You were there Colonel, in your opinion do you believe everything was done
that could have been done?" Harry asked slowly and carefully.


Taking his time to answer carefully so as not to anger the man. "If we had
the time, I would have had my people try to install a power source bringing
some of her systems back online, so we could have moved or towed the ship
back to our base, with the hope that in the future we could find a way to
release them. But two Wraith hive ships had found us and we just did not
have the time." Colonel Caldwell answered.


Harry turned his head to stare up at his fosterlings through the cry-steel
wall as they were finishing their homework, seeing they were still occupied.
Never the less he wanted to get this done and over with so he could go home
with the boys, he promised to take them swimming today, Harry said softly.
"I agree. As much as it pains me too, I agree."


General O'Neill and the President let out a sigh of relief at Harry's words.


Turning back to those at the table Harry summoned a data pad with all his
findings on it. "This contains all the information our probes have been able
to gather on the world you labeled BP6-3Q1, the one from your note with the
co-ordinates you left with Remus General O'Neill."


"You were Right General O'Neill, in your supposition that the creatures that
infected the Jaffa known as Teal'C, were not a natural occurrence. As such
they have been eradicated and you will find that in seven of your days it
will be safe for you to fully explore and catalog the planet." Harry told
them as he slid the data pad over towards the President.


"Please take note that all mammalian life large than one of your rodents you
call mice have been eradicated by those creatures. Though it seems the sea
life was spared and seems to be thriving, there is a section in the report
covering climate zones of this world compared to your worlds, and
recommendations of animal life to be introduced beside the livestock to
ensure the planets eco system thrives, based off the species available to
you today." Harry stared at the president when he said that.


"Though we will not order you to do so." Harry said as he rose from his
chair.


"I must say I am hopeful for your race, seeing as how you have acted with
this disaster, and making sure we knew about this tragedy." Harry told them
as they too stood up.


"Though that one has not impressed me at all." Harry said as he pointed at
the bound Rodney McKay at the end of the table.


"His ignorance and spouting as facts his incorrect information, is
deplorable." Harry said as he once again looked over to the President.


"Don't' shoot him on my account.But if you would like to, and for me to hide
the body for you, I would be willing." Harry said as a way of saying no hard
feelings.


"Now if you will excuse me I have two boys that should be finished with
their homework now." Harry started to walk off, and added as he left the
platform. "Lantera will see you to the gate."


"Lantera if you would, I have two boys that need to hug me so I can feel
better." Harry told her with sorrow in his voice.


"Of Course Lord Commander." Lantera replied softly. "This way gentleman."


As they started to move away from the table, Elizabeth stopped and called
out. "Wait what about Rodney, I mean we can't leave him like that."


"Why not?" General O'Neill said flippantly.


"Jack." Drawled the President. "Avoid one war and now you want Canada to
declare war on us, really, make up your mind."


Walking back over to the chained man Lantera sneered at him while saying.
"If it were my decision, I would let us get rid of him so you can replace
him with a real scientist."


"I know you were told about General O'Neill's involvement with a repository
and his subsequent placement in a stasis chamber. " Lantera told him as she
learned over the chained man.


"Any one with a command of the basic language should have the common sense
to realize that stasis means total suspension, and especially with your
previous experience with a stasis pod." She sneered at his incompetence.


"So it boggles the mind how one would make the mistake of identifying a
hibernation unit for a stasis pod, seeing as even you declared that they
were mind linked to the computer and each other. "Getting close in his face
Lantera delivered the final blow. "Any one with more than two brain cells
should have caught on to the fact if their was brain function going on
through a computer link it certainly was obvious they were not in a
suspended state like stasis."


Lantera spotted Molly over helping get the last of the volunteers squared
away. "Molly, could I borrow you for a moment."


Making her way over to Lantera she stopped when she saw the man chained up
in a chair at the end of the table. "Oh dear, none of mine are around to
have done this." Molly trailed off seeing the gray shiny tape over the mans
mouth.


"Harry did this didn't he, what did he do?" Molly asked in Alteran, as she
poked the man making sure he was good and tied.


"Scared the stars out of Cadfael and then refused to apologize and called
him a freak." Lantera said with venom.


Getting an evil glint in her eye Molly replied. "Well seeing as the Lord
Commander did this, it will dispel when he goes through the Astria well
enough."


Giving a brief flick of her wrist the man and chair started to float before
violently turning upside down as it followed her towards the gate.


Looking over her should at the shocked and a few smirking faces she called
back. "Come along dearies I don't have all day.


Not able to hold her laughter in Lantera called after her. "Molly you are
one evil woman, I like you."


Approaching Steven, Molly called out in passing. "Be a dear and connect one
of the Astria to their home would you."


As the gate rippled into existence Molly twisted her hand as if she was
twisting an apple off of the tree. The greenish looking man rotated so he
was looking at her even though he was still upside down.


"You should know that there are those that will not put up with having their
children belittled in any way. You should learn that before some one really
hurts you, instead of just your pride." Molly told him before flicking her
hand towards the gate shooting the man through the event horizon.


Rounding on General Jack she told him as she pushed her finger into his
chest. "I blame you for showing that sweet innocent boy that duck tape
stuff." Before Molly turned and walked away.


The President could not hold it in any longer and let loose with his
laughter letting the stress of the situation leak away.


XXXX


		SGC briefing room Earth

Taking his jacket off and sitting down at the head of the table the
President asked. "Hank, you still have Jacks hidden bottle around
somewhere?"


"I think I can find something for your needs Sir." Hank said as he went into
his office and to the bottom drawer of his filing cabinet.


Returning to the table with several glasses he poured the President a stiff
drink before sitting the bottle down near the other glasses in the center of
the table.


"So.Was there a reason Dr. McKay came flying through the gate with duct tape
sealing his mouth." General Landry asked as he looked at Jack, as if blaming
him.


"Hey don't look at me, I didn't take any with me." General O'Neill defended
himself.


Sitting back in the chair with a smile on his face Hank replied. "Just
reminded me of a incident a while back is all."


"In case any one is wondering, there were no broken bones, but Dr. Lam plans
to keep him overnight for observation." Hank told them.


"Thank you General. "Elizabeth told him as for once in her life she forgot
protocol and poured herself a drink.


"So comments?" The president said, taking another sip of his scotch.


"They are a very powerful race that could be a great Ally." George said
slowly trying to start with the positives.


"Yes they are, but do we really want to ally ourselves with a race that
angers that quickly?" Elizabeth countered.


"He was protecting his kid for god's sake. I would have done the same, and
more." General O'Neill spat out.


"They take the responsibility of their children seriously. He ordered the
destruction of a whole solar system because the Wraith were trying to kill
their children that had set down there in an emergency without knowing it
was a hive world." General O'Neill said as he looked at the bottle on the
table longingly.


"Every thing for two light years from that sun is gone." Looking up and
piercing Weir with his stare, "If it was my kid, in that situation not
knowing if McKay had attacked him or not, he would be dead right now."
General O'Neill said coldly.


Tying to ease the tension that was growing, knowing that General O'Neill had
more than a soft spot for kids, George offered. "Colonel Sheppard in a bold
move neatly defused the whole situation for us. And I think that data proves
that they have no harsh feelings and truly wish for the treaty." Pointing at
the data pad in front of the President.


"That's the thing we haven't told you yet. It's not a treaty we have been
negotiating, it is acceptance into the Alliance of Great Races as the Fifth
Race." General O'Neill dropped the bombshell.


Then pointing at the data pad in front of the President. "And that is the
ticket that will do it."

Scott lent me his most excellent editing skills for this chapter.