The Star's Heart, Chapter 12, -the Thrilling Conclusion! (pt 2/3)
Title: "The Mystery of the Star's Heart"
Author: Taylor Dancinghands -taylor@tdancinghands.com
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Beckett, Zelenka, Weir, Teyla, Ronon, (nun!)Jeannie McKay, Grodin, Lorne, Caldwell, among others.
Pairings: Zelenka/McKay, Sheppard/Lorne past and Sheppard/Lorne/Teyla, Beckett/Weir, Caldwell/Jeannie McKay romance background
Category: slash, pre-slash, Steampunk AU, romance, action/adventure
Spoilers: none
Warnings: m/m relationships
Rating: Teen
Summary:In a bygone future that never was, the US Special Projects Bureau's Airship Daedalus carries an expedition into the Hollow Earth to discover the fabled lost city of Atlantis...
(An index for the whole story to-date can be found here.)
Chapter 12, pt 2
Sitting in the prow of the air launch, Peter happily feasted his eyes on the vision of the city, shining like a brilliant star above the lake where she rested, as the last of the sun's rays winked out and the mirror array gradually grew dark. The word that they had sent out to the various settlements was that the celebrations would begin once the sun had left the array -an open declaration that the dark hours need hold no fear for anyone now.
It was a welcome declaration, but a bold and shockingly revolutionary one all the same. Not everyone was comfortable with traveling during the dark hours, and so Elizabeth had arranged for a sort of 'air launch taxi service' to run between Atlantis and some of the more distant settlements. He'd volunteered to accompany Airman Markham, who'd been drafted to serve as pilot, mainly because he wanted a chance to see just what he was seeing now -the city of Atlantis in all her glory, perched like a jewel in the crown of a lake, high above the vast subterranean sea.
Peter was also thrilled to get a tour of the rest of the great cavern as the launch glided past other settlements and groups of folk making their way to the city along the many various paths and tracks that crossed the cliff face. The groups of revelers all carried small, personal lights, generally made from the 'glow moss' they cultivated for such purposes, and were thus visible as twinkling lines of blue-green in the twilight cavern. The settlements, lit with watch fires as well as glow moss lights and the occasional borrowed mantle lantern, blazed like suns among the lesser constellations of moss patches and Atlantis bound travellers.
This would be the fifth trip that Peter had made with Markham, ferrying passengers from various prearranged pickup points to the city, and now they were heading to their last scheduled pickup, from the highest settlement at the farthest end of the cavern from Atlantis. Living closer to the wraith than any other group, the residents of this settlement were reputed to be secretive and regarded by some with suspicion. It had been something of a surprise when they'd sent a message confirming their attendance at the celebration and asking for transportation help, but Elizabeth had beamed with pride and excitement at the news. Even Teyla had expressed some surprise, and assured them that these folk represented no danger. Mysterious and reclusive they might be, but they were no wraith worshippers -of that she was certain.
Peter had the job of manning the sculling sails this run (they'd taken turns), but it was hardly a chore, as only one or two sculls per minute were necessary to keep the launch moving in the nearly windless cavern. Now, as they drew near the settlement, however, Peter needed to use the sculls to slow the craft as Markham steered them to the pickup point. As with other pickups, there was a small crowd of folk gathered and waiting for them, but unlike other pickups, this crowd was silent. Their silence seemed neither solemn nor hostile but rather reminded Peter of a monastery where the monks had all taken vows not to speak.
They seemed to be dressed like monks too, Peter noted as they drew near enough to see their waiting passengers. All of the roughly twenty or so folk finding their places in the launch wore dull or drab colored clothing and more than half wore dark, charcoal gray hooded cloaks, with hoods so deep their faces were only barely visible in the shadows. Peter thought it just a touch creepy, but they seemed polite enough, and Teyla had vouched for them, after all.
He more or less expected that they'd make the journey in silence, as they begun it, but as Atlantis grew closer the hooded ones began to sing. It was a low, sort of melodic chant, which they passed back and forth between two halves of the group, and while the other passengers didn't sing, they swayed ever so slightly to the rhythm of the chant. It should have been creepy too, Peter thought, but something about the performance set him at ease, though he couldn't for the life of him say why.
They fell silent when the launch pulled into one of the docking spaces in the grand foyer at the base of the tower, and stood as one when the airman waiting there caught the bow line Peter threw and laid the gangway across the gap between the launch and the city. Allowing the other passengers to debark first, the cloaked ones crossed the gangway with dignified poise and gathered in a circle once on the other side. Hands clasped, they bowed their heads until all of their heads touched and remained so for the length of a long breath. They were just standing straight again when Atlantis' welcoming committee arrived.
It was Dr Weir in the lead of course, with Sheppard in his dress uniform and Teyla in finest native garb just behind her, but Peter was surprised to see Ronon at their heels, his eyes glued on the cloaked figures. They were holding back a bit from the group of plainly dressed folk, who'd moved forward to meet Dr Weir, but Ronon ignored that group and strode up to the closest of the cloaked ones, fixing him with a piercing gaze.
"You... you wear Travelers cloaks... You are Travelers?" Ronon said, his tone hesitant -almost disbelieving. The figure said nothing, but bowed his head solemnly.
"Traveller..." Ronon began, his stance changing subtly as he addressed the cloaked figure. "I see we travel the same road... and though we meet as strangers, I think we may be kin." There was something, Peter thought, about the way Ronon spoke those words, as though they were memorised of old, or part of some ritual.
"Kin are kin; all men have them," Peter was surprised to here the cloaked man speak now. "Who would be known by me would be known by their teachers. Make yourself known to me and I will honor you likewise."
Peter saw Ronon swallow hard and blink in something like shock. What, he wondered, could shake the this hardy survivor so? "My teacher was Master Smith Tregath," Ronon said after a moment of hesitation, "and his was Master of Masters, Devahy the Nine Fingered. Under Tregath I began as an apprentice, attained first the rank of Journeyman, and then Specialist. Now I, Specialist Ronon Dex, am known to you."
Peter could not see much of how the cloaked visitors reacted to this speech, but, but they all seemed to stand just a little taller, and the one who'd spoken to Ronon slowly lifted his hands to push his hood back.
"Specialist Dex," he said, "My teacher was Master Vranien, who was himself a student of Tregath the Wise. Under Master Vranien I began as an apprentice and attained the rank of Journeyman, but you, Specialist Ronon Dex the Lost, who are now Ronon Dex the Found, you are his last Specialist... our last Specialist. I, Journeyman Solen, am honored to be known to you as well." His hood now lowered, Peter saw that Solen too wore his hair in a similar fashion to Ronon's, and he too had a small tattoo on his neck, similar to the one Ronon had, though of a slightly different design.
Following Solen's lead, the other cloaked people on the pier lowered their hoods as well, revealing them to be men and women, all with a look reminiscent of Ronon's and Ronon could only stare, wide eyes and mouth agape. By now the scene had caught Elizabeth's attention as well as she came to stand at Ronon's shoulder he seemed to shake himself awake.
"My people..." he managed at last, his voice rough with emotion. "These are my people... and they are not all gone..."
"Indeed, we are not," said Solen. "The Belkan folk have hidden us, forty three in number, for all the long years since our home was destroyed. But as you have thought your people lost, we have thought that the knowledge you hold to be lost to us as well, and thus we may rejoice doubly."
"Your people?" Elizabeth repeated with amazement. "They are survivors from your settlement? Ronon, that's wonderful!"
"Forty three of them," Ronon said, sounding as if he could scarcely believe it himself. "There are forty three of my people still alive... I am not alone..."
With those words the group of cloaked figures, coalesced around Ronon, drawing him into an all encompassing embrace. Peter was grinning as he stepped off the launch, and exchanged a happy glance with Dr Weir.
"Tie her up, gentlemen," she said to him and Markham. "That was your last run and there's food and drink aplenty inside."
"Yes ma'am!" Markham replied snappily, making the launch fast with a stern line and then joining Peter on the pier. They all walked together toward the stairs which lead up to the great hall on the second floor where the festivities were taking place.
There was an astonishing variety of food and drink on the three long tables set up at the borders of the hall -both of local origin and from their own kitchens, made of the foodstuffs brought in on the Daedalus. Before there was to be any eating and drinking, however, Teyla lead them all in a brief ceremony, offering up thanks for their victory over the wraith and remembering those who had given their lives in that battle.
As the ceremony concluded, a group of local musicians struck up a tune, clearly intended for dancing. A number of dancers -mainly locals. but a few daring expedition members too- made their way to the center dance floor the moment the music started, but most folk, including Peter, addressed themselves to the food and drink first. Though the guests gathered in the hall numbered close to two hundred, Peter guessed, there was a sufficient abundance of food and drink spread out on the three tables that no one had to wait too long to serve themselves.
Looking for an open spot as he made his way back to the tables with a plate heaped high with delicacies, both familiar and unfamiliar, Peter was pleased to see Lindsey Novak sitting near a couple of unoccupied seats and made his way there. Her endearingly shy smile widened to one of real pleasure when she saw Peter approach, and she beckoned him over, much to his delight. Peter had taken real pleasure in drawing out the Daedalus' quietly brilliant engineer during their voyage here, and found that he'd begun to miss her in the time that he'd been on the city while she remained on the ship, and determined to spend more time with her now.
Passing the time with Lindsey was just as pleasant as Peter had hoped, and together they dared each other to try various unfamiliar native foods and drinks -some fairly intoxicating. After two glasses of something that seemed a cross between beer and wine, they were both willing to try a dance or two, and when they retired, gigging infectiously, to their table, they were treated to a unique spectacle -not seen in the Realms Below in living memory.
Everyone watched with curiosity as the dozen or so cloaked men and women he'd helped ferry to the city formed a circle in the center of the hall, then droped their cloaks to reveal outfits of deep, garnet red and black. They then began the most remarkable knife juggling routine that Peter had ever seen. Halling, who was conveniently seated across from them, explained the story of Ronon's people to Lindsey as they watched, and her eyes widened in amazement as she heard the tale of the Sataedan's remarkable survival.
More musicians came to play when the Sataedans finished (to thunderous applause) and Peter enticed Lindsey onto the dance floor again. They nearly collided with Elizabeth and Carson there -all of them having partaken of generous quantities of various sorts of drink- but the near miss only elicited more laughter in both couples.
Peter did not think he'd ever seen Elizabeth Weir in any state of intoxication before, but this evening her cheeks were flushed and her smile wide and unrestrained. If her step was less than steady, Peter saw that Carson held her close and secure, and Elizabeth relaxed contentedly in his arms. It was good to see her thus supported, Peter thought, and though his had been the job of supporting her in her work, for many years, he'd often thought it a pity that she had no one in her personal life to do the same.
No doubt there were those who thought that Peter would be that person, and Peter had asked himself if he might be more than once, but though he had been happy to devote most of his life to being Elizabeth Weir's 'good right hand' he'd never felt the urge to be anything more. For as long as he had known her, Peter had thought of her as something like an older sister, or a particularly loving aunt, but never a partner. Seeing the open affection in Carson Beckett's eyes as he moved with Elizabeth across the dance floor filled Peter with joy for both their sakes.
As for himself, well, Peter thought, as he and Lindsey swayed past the sweets table, it was possible that Elizabeth might have seen in his eyes what he'd seen in Carson's, and maybe it was high time for him as well. Arm slung around her waist, Peter pulled Lindsey Novak closer to him as they carried their desserts back to their table and when he looked up to meet her eyes he did see affection there, as well as a question. He wasn't exactly sure what the question was, however, until Halling ended up raising it.
"I understand that your ship, the Daedalus, will be leaving us for a time soon," he said, "but that many of you will be staying, to make a home in the city of the Ancient Ones. Do you know how many that will be?"
"I'm not sure, exactly," Peter said. "Mainly, it will be the crew of the Daedalus, like Lt Novak here, who will have to remain with the ship when it goes, and I expect that the Marines will be stationed here, for some tour of duty. The scientists and other civilians, however will have a choice, of going or staying -though I imagine most will stay here. There's so much to learn and discover, after all."
"I take it you will be staying here, then?" Halling asked. Peter opened his mouth to answer in the affirmative, almost without thinking, but then hesitated, seeing Lindsey's gaze drop suddenly. She had no choice, it dawned on him gradually, but he did, and now, suddenly, Peter Grodin realized that his priorities had changed.
"I, um... I'll have to discuss it with Dr Weir," he said eventually, "but I'm thinking about how useful it might be to have someone from the civilian-science field stay with the Daedalus -as long as she'll be going back and forth between Realms Above and Below- to represent the the scientists here with the SPB and other government authorities. I mean, I know Captain Caldwell can carry messages, and bring in the supplies that we ask for, but..."
"But he's no scientist, and if the SPB needs anything explained, or wants to give you some sort of alternative supplies, he won't have any idea," Lindsey filled in, her eyes bright with excitement... and possibly also something more personal. "That's not a bad idea at all. I bet Dr Weir will go for it immediately."
"Possibly," Peter nodded. "I just thought of it a second ago," he said, a little sheepishly.
"Because..." Lindsey's gaze met his briefly before she looked down again. "Because you'd really rather stay here...?"
Peter shook his head. "No, because I'm just a bit dense, and... and it's taken me until just this minute to realize that... while living in Atlantis would be amazing, I think I'd much rather be wherever you are."
"Really?" Lindsey's eyes were back on his, wide with astonishment, and Peter found himself reaching for her hands, to hold in his. "Peter... really?"
"Honestly, Lindsey," Peter said, trying for his most earnest look. "We've all had a lot on our minds recently, but seeing you -spending time with you- this last couple of days... It's rather cast everything in a new light. You... are my new light, Lindsey Novak."
"Oh!" said Lindsey, looking a bit stunned, but lovely nonetheless. So lovely, in fact, that Peter found it quite impossible not to lean forward and kiss her. Luckily, he found his gesture to be most welcome indeed.
***
Little by little, the party was winding down, and Radek Zelenka found himself winding down too. He still wasn't sure if he would ever be able to develop a taste for the locals' strange idea of an alcoholic beverage -nor if he wanted to- but it did get the job done, and he was feeling pleasantly mellow now, after more than a handful of servings. Rodney looked to be in a similar state, slouching against the table beside him at a slight yet slowly increasing list.
Ronon, Radek observed, was doing more than listing slightly, but he seemed to be in very good company. More than a few of his fellow Sateadans were in various stages of drunkenness, but Teyla was with them now, arranging a room for them to spend the night. Radek watched with amusement as the Sataedans apparently failed to understand the directions she was giving them, several times, until Stackhouse came to her rescue, and offered to guide them personally. He was just as drunk as Ronon, but he knew the city pretty well by now, and probably wouldn't get them all lost.
Sheppard and Lorne came up behind Teyla as she watched them go, both more than a little 'handsy' with the Athosian woman, what with the lateness of the hour, the decreasing number of witnesses, and the degree to which they too were feeling the effects of the local beverages. Radek had presumed the presence of some sort of 'love triangle' watching the three of them over the past few weeks, and dreaded the inevitable consequences when one of them was rejected, but now he began to perceive the situation differently. Radek was, himself, a man of the world, and had seen such relationships managed successfully, back in his student days in Prague, though they were not common. He had no use whatsoever for those who condemned such things as 'immoral', and doubted that few, if any, from the expedition would espouse such opinions.
"Is that..." Rodney said, words slurring only slightly as he watched the trio move -propelled by Teyla- toward the dance floor. "Is that what I think it is?"
"And what do you think it is?" Radek asked, needling.
"Well, I knew Sheppard had something going with Lorne," Rodney said, pushing himself up a little to observe. "Then I thought maybe Lorne had something going with Teyla, but... They can't all be together, can they?"
"And why not?" Radek asked, eyebrows raised.
"It hardly seems fair, to me," Rodney replied. "Teyla's gone and grabbed the two hottest guys in the expedition all for herself."
"No? You think so?" Radek said, running an openly provocative hand up Rodney's thigh. "I disagree."
"Yeah, but you're a freak," Rodney said affectionately, smiling so that Radek's heart skipped a beat, in spite of the precision machinery that was meant to prevent just that.
"Come," Radek said, standing and taking Rodney's hand to pull him up. "The musicians will finish soon; the hour is late, and if it is acceptable for them to dance," he indicated Teyla and her two consorts, "then it is acceptable for us."
"What? No!" Rodney said, resisting, but not terribly effectively. "I don't dance... not even a little!"
Radek tisked, dragging Rodney relentlessly toward the dance floor. "Nesmysl! When you have drunk as much as we have, anyone can dance. See?" He indicated Sheppard, who seemed to be stumbling artfully, mostly in rhythm to the music, along with his two dance partners.
The musicians were Athosian, and as such wouldn't know a waltz from a tango from a highland fling, but fortunately, Radek thought, the number three is a fundamental mathematical constant, and the three beat, moderate tempo tune they were playing now was perfect for a slow waltz. Rodney stumbled and dragged a bit a first, and Radek had to lead, in spite of the fact that Rodney was taller. Still, someone had to have taught the man to dance (possibly the nuns, but Radek didn't want to think about that at all) and eventually Rodney began to move with the music, and with Radek, and this was what he had wanted.
Holding Rodney McKay in his arms, their bodies moving with and against each other to the gentle rhythms of the music, Radek felt the joy of everything that had bought them together. He felt Rodney relax against him, his cheek resting against Radek's temple, and immersed himself in the simple sensuality of their dance. It is the nature of dance, Radek knew, that it caused one to focus on the moment alone, leaving the concerns of the past and future behind, dismissing everything but the present -its joys and perfection. It was no easy thing, for men such as they, to set all their figures and inventions aside and dwell in such a moment, and Radek felt it all the more precious for that.
The song ended and the musicians began another, of similar tempo and meter, and Rodney pulled himself together enough to lead, which made Radek love him all the more. At the conclusion of this song, however, the musicians declared themselves done for the evening -which was, in point of fact, morning anyhow- and packed up. Radek and Rodney looked around to see that they, along with Sheppard, Teyla and Lorne, were among only a handful of guests remaining.
"Time to call it a night, I guess," Sheppard said, stretching as he scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck.
"So it would seem," Radek said. "I suppose I should wish you 'sladke sny' -sweet dreams- and see you in the morning?"
"Well, I'm afraid it's already morning," Lorne said.
"That it is," Teyla acquiesced, "so I will also wish you sweet dreams, and look forward to seeing you all later today."
"What she said," said Rodney, yawning hugely. Now Radek was, at last, feeling the weight of his labors of the last several days as well, and finally feeling ready to accept sleep. Rodney's yawn infected him with one of his own, and now he wanted nothing more than to find himself somewhere soft and horizontal. Sleep would take him, he knew, the moment he did.
The five of them made their way together, all swaying slightly, toward the residential tower, but they parted company at the lift. Exiting the conveyance on their floor, Rodney paused a moment to look out the wide bay windows in the lift vestibule, which offered a properly arresting view of the illuminated city. As much as he longed for sleep, Radek could not fault him, for he found the view just as compelling. This, after all, was what they had fought for, all these weeks, and now it was theirs -their new home, in fact.
Home... the word resonated in Radek's mind, calling forth images of the very few places he associated with that word. There'd been the fine, large country home he'd known as a child, whose sad ending -a fire accidentally started by his little brother- still haunted him. The cramped and grimy 'školník' flat they'd moved to afterward, in the basement of the village school, had never seemed like home, though when he'd finally left that place to come attend university in Prague, the whole city felt like home to him within days of his arrival.
Coming to Atlantis, Radek realized now, had felt just the way coming to Prague had felt, marvelous, mysterious, frightening, challenging, and inexplicably welcoming. Young and madly distracted in love, Radek and Nikola had squandered the freedoms and opportunities of their home in Prague, and disaster had followed. Now, here he was, older and hopefully wiser, once again finding himself in another marvelous and precarious home, and once again in love. He hoped with all his heart that they would be wise enough to keep this home, and he knew deep down in his heart that he would fight with everything he had for her sake. He was fairly sure Rodney felt the same, and he saw it now in Rodney's eyes as he gazed out over the fantastical city that he loved no less than Radek.
Radek leaned against his lover, wrapping an arm around his waist, and Rodney mirrored the gesture with an arm over Radek's shoulder. They stood in contented silence for a spell, drinking in the vision before them.
"Jeannie says she's going with the Daedalus," Rodney said after a time. "They're getting married -her and Caldwell, I mean."
"Indeed, I thought things might go that way," Radek said. "It's good news."
"Yeah, I guess, if it makes her happy," Rodney said philosophically. "They're planning some big church wedding in Boston."
"Surely not a Catholic wedding?" Radek asked.
"No, no, thank... whatever," Rodney said with a grimace. "Caldwell's family are all old time Unitarians... who are almost bearable. I mean, they're at least mainly rationalist, even if they do still seem to insist on believing in God. Anyhow, Jeannie says she'll understand if I can't attend, and that maybe she'll have a better chance at getting along with her new in-laws if I don't." Radek gave a snort of laughter.
"She does have a point there," he said. "I must remember to congratulate them both before they go. Will she stay in Boston after, and work for the SPB, or travel on the Daedalus with Caldwell?"
"Not sure," Rodney said, gazing into the distance. "Dunno if she knows either, yet."
"Come," Radek said, tugging Rodney away from the view. "We cannot sleep standing here, and we will if we do not move soon."
Rodney acquiesced with a grunt and the two of them made it to Rodney's quarters without any further interruptions. They didn't even bother to turn on the light once inside, but undressed with careless expediency and all but tumbled into the bed. Radek felt himself sinking into welcome unconsciousness even as his head came to rest on the pillow, and then he felt a warm hand come to rest on his chest, fingers splayed over the apparatus that could be easily felt beneath his thin under-vest.
"You're staying, aren't you?" he heard Rodney ask out of the dark, his voice revealing the vulnerability he normally strove to keep hidden.
"Of course," Radek said, laying his own hand over Rodney's.
"'S dangerous here," Rodney said, as though it were a fearful confession... and an apology of sorts.
"It is dangerous everywhere, miláčku," Radek replied. "I choose Atlantis, not because it is more or less dangerous than anywhere else, but because you are here... and it is my home now."
"Okay," Rodney said, though it was as much as sigh of relief as it was a word.
Radek reached forward to place a gentle kiss on Rodney's temple, then rolled on his side to spoon up against his lover's chest. Rodney's hand remained where it was, over Radek's heart, but Radek could feel him relax around him as he gradually dropped off to sleep. Comfortably enclosed in his lover's protecting embrace, Radek closed his eyes and followed him into slumber.
***
"You say these are made in the image of a living creature from the Realms Above?" Teyla asked as she examined the life sized orlub in her hands.
The one inconvenience of both her and Peter Grodin going on the Daedalus, Jeannie had realized that morning, was that neither of them would be able to continue running the new 'orlub-post' system that they'd just set up. She'd brought the issue up with Dr Weir over breakfast... or rather 'brunch', and the expedition leader had suggested training Teyla, who might suggest another of the locals to assist her.
"The system is mainly intended for the benefit of those living here, in the Realms Below," Elizabeth had pointed out. "Having it run by a local seems the best way to assure that it serves them in the way that is best for them."
Teyla had taken to the idea immediately, and she and Jeannie had gone directly after their meal to the upper level balcony where she and Peter Grodin had set up Atlantis' 'orlub postal hub'.
"One of Dr Zelenka's guiding philosophies, as an inventor," Jeannie answered her momentary student, "is that even the smartest scientist in the world must admit that he is not such a clever inventor as nature." 'I could never in a million years invent something so marvelous as a pigeon,' he'd told her once, and Jeannie could see his point.
"That seems wise," Teyla said. "But I cannot imagine that it is so easy to recreate nature, as he has done here. This machine is modeled after a living creature, and yet it does not live -else the wraith would take it. How then is it able to motivate itself, to move and function, without the energy of life?"
"Oh, it's quite an achievement, you're right about that," Jeannie said with undisguised admiration. "What powers the little orlubs, and the big one too, are crystals of moldavite... Here, you can see it by shifting these 'feathers' aside like so..."
Jeannie moved the perfectly crafted brass components on the orlub's feathered chest, to reveal a small, transparent window, beyond which could be seen a small cluster of faintly glowing, greenish crystals, about the size of her little fingernail.
"Oh!" Teyla exclaimed, eyes wide as she marveled at the sight. "And what are these crystals? Where do they come from?"
Jeannie frowned for a moment in thought, knowing that this was one secret which Radek had shared with a handful of people only, and for good reason. Still, Teyla was as trustworthy as anyone Jeannie had ever met, and it was also highly unlikely that she would ever visit the Realms Above, where the secret was much more dangerous.
"It's a mineral, found only in the lands surrounding Dr Zelenka's home," she said at last, "and its origins are... somewhat mysterious. It's generally said to have originated from a meteorite -something that fell to Earth from space- but Radek is the only one who's ever learned how to draw power from them. He's had to keep it secret, because of the... political situation in his native country."
Teyla didn't seem to be listening anymore though, Jeannie noticed, only nodding absently as she finished speaking, and continuing to gaze at the little glowing crystal at the orlub's heart.
"I must speak to Dr Zelenka," Teyla said suddenly, looking up from the device at last. "There is something I must tell him, something I believe he should know about these crystals."
“What, are they dangerous?” Jeannie asked, orlub still clutched in one hand as she followed Teyla back into the control room. “I’m pretty sure Dr Zelenka’s been working with them for years…”
“I have not heard of any danger associated with them, no,” Teyla said, glancing about to control room and spotting Zelenka, along with her brother, Dr Weir and Stephen, in the conference room. “But I believe I may know something important about them… about their origin.”
Jeannie had no idea what to think about that, and so only followed Teyla to the transparent door of the conference room and waited as she knocked. Jeannie thought she remembered hearing that they would be discussing requisitions and supplies –an important if boring task- and she could see Rodney scowl at the interruption. It was Dr Weir who opened the door.
“Yes, Teyla,” she said. “How can we help you?”
“Forgive the interruption, please,” Teyla said, “but I must ask something of Dr Zelenka… or rather, I believe I have some important information for him… if I am correct about the nature of the crystals he is using to power his flying machines.”
Radek turned away from the table, hearing these words, and faced Teyla, his expression both interested and wary. “What would you have me know about them?” he asked.
“These small green crystals,” Teyla said, taking the orlub from Jeannie and indicating the revealed heart of the mechanism to Zelenka. “They truly power your machines?”
The Czech inventor glanced down at his invention, then back at Teyla, nodding in confirmation. “The crystals are of moldavite,” he said. “A rare mineral formation found in certain parts of my country, and nowhere else in the world. Some years ago Nikola and I learned how to extract power from them, but the mineral is so rare, we kept our process a secret.”
“And what do you know of the origin of these crystals?” Teyla asked, insistent. Radek raised his eyebrows at her question.
“Very little, in truth,” Radek said. “There has been for some long time a theory that they are a type of tektite, and were originally part of a meteorite, but we have no way to prove it.”
“And did it not strike you,” Teyla asked, “that there are some slight similarities between these crystals and the Star’s Heart?”
Zelenka shrugged. “They are both crystalline in appearance,” he said, “and some parts of the Star’s Heart bear a similar color to moldavite, but these things seem most probably coincidental.” This made sense to Jeannie, but Teyla was shaking her head.
“It is my belief that they are not,” Teyla said, “and I would like to tell you why.”
“I would certainly like to hear why,” Elizabeth said, though Rodney, naturally, looked highly skeptical.
“Fine,” he huffed, gesturing Teyla toward a seat as ungraciously as possible. “I could use a little entertainment about now.”
Teyla ignored his rudeness, but took a seat all the same. “When Jinto told me about the power room he had seen,” she began her tale, “he confirmed a part of the story I was taught –that there are… receptacles for three Star’s Hearts at the heart of the city of the Ancient Ones. You have all seen this for yourselves as well, I suppose?” Rodney and Radek, the only two who had seen it, nodded in confirmation.
“Two were empty, when we found it,” Radek said, “and one contained the old, nearly expired power unit.”
“Just so,” said Teyla. “The tale I was taught speaks of this third Star’s Heart, and of the origin of the Ancient Ones. When I first heard this history, and was told that the Ancient Ones’ first home was ‘beyond the stars’, it was necessary to explain what the stars were, and what it meant that the Ancient Ones came from beyond them. For you, I imagine that this concept is not so difficult.”
“Indeed, not,” Elizabeth answered. “And we’ve heard other tales which suggest the same thing.”
“Then I expect you have also heard of how the Ancient Ones fancied themselves masters of all the Realms Above, in those days,” Teyla continued, “and how, in their arrogance, thought to find themselves masters of all the Realms Below as well, and thus precipitated their own downfall.” Heads nodded all around the table. Even Stephen had been briefed on this particular history.
“In preparation for their descent, the tale was told to me,” Teyla went on after a pause, “the wisest of the Ancient Ones determined that those vessels of power which gave energy to their city –enough to carry it between the stars- were too powerful to be allowed to fall into the hands of their enemy. Thus they removed two, leaving the city with only enough power to endure the long years ahead with great restriction. Of the two they removed, one, as is well known, was given into the hands of my ancestors for safe keeping, and was eventually passed to your grandfather,” Teyla nodded to Elizabeth, “but the other was meant to be sent much farther away, to dwell among the stars themselves. I say it was meant, but the Ancient Ones did not succeed in their intention.”
“What, they tried to send it into space?” Rodney asked. “Or into orbit around Earth?”
“Unfortunately, I do not know what either of these things are,” Teyla said, “and in the end, it does not matter, for the third Star’s Heart, according to this tale, did not achieve its goal, but fell back to the Earth, and shattered as it fell, into countless fragments, scattered over the land.”
At these words Jeannie saw Dr Zelenka draw an astonished breath, murmuring an soft epithet in his mother tongue.
“In its conclusion, the tale tells us that to most who saw them these fragments would seem only useless baubles,” Teyla said, “but to those with the wit to know treasure from dross, the fragments would reveal secrets of great power, and eventually bring that one to answer the call to bring them all home.”
There was a pause the length of a long breath before Rodney, predictably, exploded.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” he snapped. “Of all the ridiculously, coincidental, fairy tale explanations…”
“Ne, ne, it makes sense, McKay,” Radek retorted immediately. “Tesla came to Prague researching the moldavite crystals; it is how we met. They called him as surely as they called me. And it was my work with the crystals that forced me to stay in touch with the scientific world, when I would have withdrawn completely. I became known to you, and to Dr Weir because of the moldavite, and in the end, that is how I came here.”
“Wait,” said McKay, still sounding testy. “You never published a word about moldavite, just about low power electrical engines.”
“Of course not!” Radek replied. “Can you imagine what would happen if the world were to discover that my country is filled with countless, tiny, energy producing devices, free for the taking?”
Jeannie could, and it made her mouth go dry. Europe was already teetering on the brink of war, and this… but Teyla, of course, was completely mystified.
“Forgive me,” she said, glancing around at everyone’s expressions of dismay. “But this is an area about which, I am afraid, I know nothing.” Radek shook himself to look up and meet her eyes.
“Of course,” he said. “In the Realms above, my country is small and poorly defended. We are the protectorate of an aging, decadent empire whose power is waning, and surrounded by ambitious, powerful enemies. To reveal that such a treasure exists on our lands..."
Teyla frowned, a puzzled crease forming on her forehead. "Surely," she said, aghast, "your own neighbors would not prey upon you for the sake of mere treasure?"
Rodney gave a cynical snort at this, though Elizabeth just looked sad and Stephen frowned unhappily.
"Of course, I would never wish such a plague as the wraith upon the people of the Realms Above," Radek said after a moment. "But it is also true that it forced an important truth upon you, the peoples of the Realms Below. In having an undeniable, common enemy, you see each others' commonalities quite clearly. Without such a scourge, the lands of the Realms above too frequently find reason to make war upon each other -quite often trivial and foolish reasons. Such small treasures as may be found in my lands would serve as more than sufficient reason for our neighbors -who speak in a different language, have a different history and follow a different ruler- to come to our towns and villages in force, take what they please, and ruin what they fancy. They do not see us as the same people at all, you see, and destroying us would be no more to them than to the wraith."
Hearing Radek state things so plainly made Jeannie feel slightly ashamed, though she could not say why, unless it was at seeing the look of horror and pity of Teyla's face as she slowly shook her head.
"Indeed, you are not wrong to say that our people have learned to see the things that lie in common between those we know and those we come to know," she said after a moment. "It occurs to me now that the folk in the Realms Above must live in daily fear, little different from that which we know in our lives -though the beings we fear may be different, no doubt the fear is the same."
"Fear for our lives and loved ones is something all men and women know, no matter where or how they live," Elizabeth answered her. "I imagine the folk of the Realms Below must have conceived of our Realms as something of a paradise, just as we imagined we might find when we came, hoping to find the city of the Ancient Ones."
"Such are the hopes that drive us all, in our youths," said Radek sadly. "And such is the sobering truth that leads us to wisdom, as we grow older."
"As true as your words may be, Dr Zelenka," Elizabeth replied, "I am not content to leave the great potential that lies in your discoveries about the moldavite crystals to be held hostage by the Prussians. Surely there must be some way to make use of them while avoiding the repercussions to your country."
"I share your desires most profoundly, Dr Weir," Zelenka said, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. "For, as you have seen, my finest inventions -the orlubs- I have had to keep secret these past years. I would like nothing better than to be able to manufacture many more of them, and it pains me to think of the services they could provide to the world, if only they could be kept to peaceful uses."
"Well, you can make and use as many as you want here," Jeannie pointed out. "In fact, our new postal system could probably use a half dozen more little orlubs to be as efficient as possible."
"And, if it is widely known that the power source comes from elsewhere," Teyla added, "there is no chance that the technology will be misused, for no one would be able to copy these machines on their own."
"Indeed not..." said Elizabeth, a deeply thoughtful look crossing her features.
"What?" said Rodney and Zelenka, in a near perfect chorus.
"As above, so below," Elizabeth said cryptically, in a quiet, wondering voice. "It should have been the motto of our expedition. Radek, what if the situation Teyla just described was reversed? If it was widely known that the power source for your inventions came from the Realms Below? Even if the machines themselves were manufactured in Europe, but it was understood that 'power crystals' had to be brought from here?"
"But that is not the case..." Radek replied, confused. "It is well known that moldavite is found only in our lands..."
"Yeah, but who knows that they can be a power source?" Stephen interjected. "And who would know, if you sealed your power source -made it a sort of 'black box'?"
"Only Nikola Tesla knows of these properties, besides me," said Radek, still sounding confused. "My housekeeper, Josef, knows that I am buying moldavite from whoever finds it, and that I pay a higher price than most, but he does not know why."
"A black box, of course!" Rodney said now, snapping his fingers. "That's perfect -better still if we seal it with a warning of dire, possibly explosive consequences, if the seal is broken."
Now Jeannie was starting to get the picture, and so, it seemed, was Zelenka. Frowning, his brows drawn together over his spectacles, he seemed to be thinking the matter over.
"You would hide the truth, the true nature of moldavite, in a cloak of lies," he said at last. "And have it known that its origin is here, where it is beyond the reach even of the Kaiser?"
"Or the Confederacy, or the British, or anyone else who would use the power to evil ends," Elizabeth stated adamantly.
"And it's a very plausible lie," Rodney added. "Actually, considerably more believable than the truth."
Radek sat back, fingering his chin as the wheels turned. "Something of what we have discovered here must be made known," he said, considering.
"It will be," Elizabeth replied. "Not everything, but it was always my intention to let it be known if we did discover what we hoped to here. The world should know that the Lost City of Atlantis exists, and I intend to tell them."
"There must be highly secure transport, between here and Europe," Radek pointed out. "And it will be a target for pirates, privateers, and every sort of bandit."
"It will be," Stephen answered him, "but it's nothing the US Lighter than Air Fleet can't manage. We're by far the dominant air power in the world, and we mean to stay that way."
Radek nodded slowly. "I have already acquired quite a stockpile of moldavite crystals," he said, "and I have been very quiet about it. I believe that Josef is trustworthy enough that he may be brought in on some part of the operation, and some members of his family as well, so that our buying operation may be expanded, without giving anything away."
"Good!" said Elizabeth approvingly. "That's perfect. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may be able to pull this off."
"It goes against my nature, to be the perpetrator of such a fiction," Radek said, "but I have learned too many hard lessons about the nature of power not to understand the necessity. We will change the world under the protection of this lie, my friends, and for the better, I do believe."
Thus it was that Jeannie and Peter Grodin spent the next day and a half, before the Daedalus departed, learning a few basic phrases in Czech and taking the names of various trustworthy Bohemian and Moravian industrialists. It would take some time before the full magnitude of what they were about to do came home to them, and much longer still before the larger world became acquainted with changes that were about to be visited upon it, but that is the nature of revolutionary change, after all.
The larger world remained in ignorance still on the day that Jeannie McKay was wedded to Captain Stephen Caldwell in Boston Massachusetts. The Caldwell Family was a relatively prominent one in Boston, necessitating a relatively prominent wedding, and the very public airing of the bride's family and background. Thus it was from that event that the world came to learn more personal events of the rediscovery of the Ancient City of Atlantis, but the first contracts had already been signed in Prague by then, and the work was underway. The future was coming, and world would know it soon.
***
On to the Epilogue...
Author: Taylor Dancinghands -taylor@tdancinghands.com
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Beckett, Zelenka, Weir, Teyla, Ronon, (nun!)Jeannie McKay, Grodin, Lorne, Caldwell, among others.
Pairings: Zelenka/McKay, Sheppard/Lorne past and Sheppard/Lorne/Teyla, Beckett/Weir, Caldwell/Jeannie McKay romance background
Category: slash, pre-slash, Steampunk AU, romance, action/adventure
Spoilers: none
Warnings: m/m relationships
Rating: Teen
Summary:In a bygone future that never was, the US Special Projects Bureau's Airship Daedalus carries an expedition into the Hollow Earth to discover the fabled lost city of Atlantis...
(An index for the whole story to-date can be found here.)
Chapter 12, pt 2
Sitting in the prow of the air launch, Peter happily feasted his eyes on the vision of the city, shining like a brilliant star above the lake where she rested, as the last of the sun's rays winked out and the mirror array gradually grew dark. The word that they had sent out to the various settlements was that the celebrations would begin once the sun had left the array -an open declaration that the dark hours need hold no fear for anyone now.
It was a welcome declaration, but a bold and shockingly revolutionary one all the same. Not everyone was comfortable with traveling during the dark hours, and so Elizabeth had arranged for a sort of 'air launch taxi service' to run between Atlantis and some of the more distant settlements. He'd volunteered to accompany Airman Markham, who'd been drafted to serve as pilot, mainly because he wanted a chance to see just what he was seeing now -the city of Atlantis in all her glory, perched like a jewel in the crown of a lake, high above the vast subterranean sea.
Peter was also thrilled to get a tour of the rest of the great cavern as the launch glided past other settlements and groups of folk making their way to the city along the many various paths and tracks that crossed the cliff face. The groups of revelers all carried small, personal lights, generally made from the 'glow moss' they cultivated for such purposes, and were thus visible as twinkling lines of blue-green in the twilight cavern. The settlements, lit with watch fires as well as glow moss lights and the occasional borrowed mantle lantern, blazed like suns among the lesser constellations of moss patches and Atlantis bound travellers.
This would be the fifth trip that Peter had made with Markham, ferrying passengers from various prearranged pickup points to the city, and now they were heading to their last scheduled pickup, from the highest settlement at the farthest end of the cavern from Atlantis. Living closer to the wraith than any other group, the residents of this settlement were reputed to be secretive and regarded by some with suspicion. It had been something of a surprise when they'd sent a message confirming their attendance at the celebration and asking for transportation help, but Elizabeth had beamed with pride and excitement at the news. Even Teyla had expressed some surprise, and assured them that these folk represented no danger. Mysterious and reclusive they might be, but they were no wraith worshippers -of that she was certain.
Peter had the job of manning the sculling sails this run (they'd taken turns), but it was hardly a chore, as only one or two sculls per minute were necessary to keep the launch moving in the nearly windless cavern. Now, as they drew near the settlement, however, Peter needed to use the sculls to slow the craft as Markham steered them to the pickup point. As with other pickups, there was a small crowd of folk gathered and waiting for them, but unlike other pickups, this crowd was silent. Their silence seemed neither solemn nor hostile but rather reminded Peter of a monastery where the monks had all taken vows not to speak.
They seemed to be dressed like monks too, Peter noted as they drew near enough to see their waiting passengers. All of the roughly twenty or so folk finding their places in the launch wore dull or drab colored clothing and more than half wore dark, charcoal gray hooded cloaks, with hoods so deep their faces were only barely visible in the shadows. Peter thought it just a touch creepy, but they seemed polite enough, and Teyla had vouched for them, after all.
He more or less expected that they'd make the journey in silence, as they begun it, but as Atlantis grew closer the hooded ones began to sing. It was a low, sort of melodic chant, which they passed back and forth between two halves of the group, and while the other passengers didn't sing, they swayed ever so slightly to the rhythm of the chant. It should have been creepy too, Peter thought, but something about the performance set him at ease, though he couldn't for the life of him say why.
They fell silent when the launch pulled into one of the docking spaces in the grand foyer at the base of the tower, and stood as one when the airman waiting there caught the bow line Peter threw and laid the gangway across the gap between the launch and the city. Allowing the other passengers to debark first, the cloaked ones crossed the gangway with dignified poise and gathered in a circle once on the other side. Hands clasped, they bowed their heads until all of their heads touched and remained so for the length of a long breath. They were just standing straight again when Atlantis' welcoming committee arrived.
It was Dr Weir in the lead of course, with Sheppard in his dress uniform and Teyla in finest native garb just behind her, but Peter was surprised to see Ronon at their heels, his eyes glued on the cloaked figures. They were holding back a bit from the group of plainly dressed folk, who'd moved forward to meet Dr Weir, but Ronon ignored that group and strode up to the closest of the cloaked ones, fixing him with a piercing gaze.
"You... you wear Travelers cloaks... You are Travelers?" Ronon said, his tone hesitant -almost disbelieving. The figure said nothing, but bowed his head solemnly.
"Traveller..." Ronon began, his stance changing subtly as he addressed the cloaked figure. "I see we travel the same road... and though we meet as strangers, I think we may be kin." There was something, Peter thought, about the way Ronon spoke those words, as though they were memorised of old, or part of some ritual.
"Kin are kin; all men have them," Peter was surprised to here the cloaked man speak now. "Who would be known by me would be known by their teachers. Make yourself known to me and I will honor you likewise."
Peter saw Ronon swallow hard and blink in something like shock. What, he wondered, could shake the this hardy survivor so? "My teacher was Master Smith Tregath," Ronon said after a moment of hesitation, "and his was Master of Masters, Devahy the Nine Fingered. Under Tregath I began as an apprentice, attained first the rank of Journeyman, and then Specialist. Now I, Specialist Ronon Dex, am known to you."
Peter could not see much of how the cloaked visitors reacted to this speech, but, but they all seemed to stand just a little taller, and the one who'd spoken to Ronon slowly lifted his hands to push his hood back.
"Specialist Dex," he said, "My teacher was Master Vranien, who was himself a student of Tregath the Wise. Under Master Vranien I began as an apprentice and attained the rank of Journeyman, but you, Specialist Ronon Dex the Lost, who are now Ronon Dex the Found, you are his last Specialist... our last Specialist. I, Journeyman Solen, am honored to be known to you as well." His hood now lowered, Peter saw that Solen too wore his hair in a similar fashion to Ronon's, and he too had a small tattoo on his neck, similar to the one Ronon had, though of a slightly different design.
Following Solen's lead, the other cloaked people on the pier lowered their hoods as well, revealing them to be men and women, all with a look reminiscent of Ronon's and Ronon could only stare, wide eyes and mouth agape. By now the scene had caught Elizabeth's attention as well as she came to stand at Ronon's shoulder he seemed to shake himself awake.
"My people..." he managed at last, his voice rough with emotion. "These are my people... and they are not all gone..."
"Indeed, we are not," said Solen. "The Belkan folk have hidden us, forty three in number, for all the long years since our home was destroyed. But as you have thought your people lost, we have thought that the knowledge you hold to be lost to us as well, and thus we may rejoice doubly."
"Your people?" Elizabeth repeated with amazement. "They are survivors from your settlement? Ronon, that's wonderful!"
"Forty three of them," Ronon said, sounding as if he could scarcely believe it himself. "There are forty three of my people still alive... I am not alone..."
With those words the group of cloaked figures, coalesced around Ronon, drawing him into an all encompassing embrace. Peter was grinning as he stepped off the launch, and exchanged a happy glance with Dr Weir.
"Tie her up, gentlemen," she said to him and Markham. "That was your last run and there's food and drink aplenty inside."
"Yes ma'am!" Markham replied snappily, making the launch fast with a stern line and then joining Peter on the pier. They all walked together toward the stairs which lead up to the great hall on the second floor where the festivities were taking place.
There was an astonishing variety of food and drink on the three long tables set up at the borders of the hall -both of local origin and from their own kitchens, made of the foodstuffs brought in on the Daedalus. Before there was to be any eating and drinking, however, Teyla lead them all in a brief ceremony, offering up thanks for their victory over the wraith and remembering those who had given their lives in that battle.
As the ceremony concluded, a group of local musicians struck up a tune, clearly intended for dancing. A number of dancers -mainly locals. but a few daring expedition members too- made their way to the center dance floor the moment the music started, but most folk, including Peter, addressed themselves to the food and drink first. Though the guests gathered in the hall numbered close to two hundred, Peter guessed, there was a sufficient abundance of food and drink spread out on the three tables that no one had to wait too long to serve themselves.
Looking for an open spot as he made his way back to the tables with a plate heaped high with delicacies, both familiar and unfamiliar, Peter was pleased to see Lindsey Novak sitting near a couple of unoccupied seats and made his way there. Her endearingly shy smile widened to one of real pleasure when she saw Peter approach, and she beckoned him over, much to his delight. Peter had taken real pleasure in drawing out the Daedalus' quietly brilliant engineer during their voyage here, and found that he'd begun to miss her in the time that he'd been on the city while she remained on the ship, and determined to spend more time with her now.
Passing the time with Lindsey was just as pleasant as Peter had hoped, and together they dared each other to try various unfamiliar native foods and drinks -some fairly intoxicating. After two glasses of something that seemed a cross between beer and wine, they were both willing to try a dance or two, and when they retired, gigging infectiously, to their table, they were treated to a unique spectacle -not seen in the Realms Below in living memory.
Everyone watched with curiosity as the dozen or so cloaked men and women he'd helped ferry to the city formed a circle in the center of the hall, then droped their cloaks to reveal outfits of deep, garnet red and black. They then began the most remarkable knife juggling routine that Peter had ever seen. Halling, who was conveniently seated across from them, explained the story of Ronon's people to Lindsey as they watched, and her eyes widened in amazement as she heard the tale of the Sataedan's remarkable survival.
More musicians came to play when the Sataedans finished (to thunderous applause) and Peter enticed Lindsey onto the dance floor again. They nearly collided with Elizabeth and Carson there -all of them having partaken of generous quantities of various sorts of drink- but the near miss only elicited more laughter in both couples.
Peter did not think he'd ever seen Elizabeth Weir in any state of intoxication before, but this evening her cheeks were flushed and her smile wide and unrestrained. If her step was less than steady, Peter saw that Carson held her close and secure, and Elizabeth relaxed contentedly in his arms. It was good to see her thus supported, Peter thought, and though his had been the job of supporting her in her work, for many years, he'd often thought it a pity that she had no one in her personal life to do the same.
No doubt there were those who thought that Peter would be that person, and Peter had asked himself if he might be more than once, but though he had been happy to devote most of his life to being Elizabeth Weir's 'good right hand' he'd never felt the urge to be anything more. For as long as he had known her, Peter had thought of her as something like an older sister, or a particularly loving aunt, but never a partner. Seeing the open affection in Carson Beckett's eyes as he moved with Elizabeth across the dance floor filled Peter with joy for both their sakes.
As for himself, well, Peter thought, as he and Lindsey swayed past the sweets table, it was possible that Elizabeth might have seen in his eyes what he'd seen in Carson's, and maybe it was high time for him as well. Arm slung around her waist, Peter pulled Lindsey Novak closer to him as they carried their desserts back to their table and when he looked up to meet her eyes he did see affection there, as well as a question. He wasn't exactly sure what the question was, however, until Halling ended up raising it.
"I understand that your ship, the Daedalus, will be leaving us for a time soon," he said, "but that many of you will be staying, to make a home in the city of the Ancient Ones. Do you know how many that will be?"
"I'm not sure, exactly," Peter said. "Mainly, it will be the crew of the Daedalus, like Lt Novak here, who will have to remain with the ship when it goes, and I expect that the Marines will be stationed here, for some tour of duty. The scientists and other civilians, however will have a choice, of going or staying -though I imagine most will stay here. There's so much to learn and discover, after all."
"I take it you will be staying here, then?" Halling asked. Peter opened his mouth to answer in the affirmative, almost without thinking, but then hesitated, seeing Lindsey's gaze drop suddenly. She had no choice, it dawned on him gradually, but he did, and now, suddenly, Peter Grodin realized that his priorities had changed.
"I, um... I'll have to discuss it with Dr Weir," he said eventually, "but I'm thinking about how useful it might be to have someone from the civilian-science field stay with the Daedalus -as long as she'll be going back and forth between Realms Above and Below- to represent the the scientists here with the SPB and other government authorities. I mean, I know Captain Caldwell can carry messages, and bring in the supplies that we ask for, but..."
"But he's no scientist, and if the SPB needs anything explained, or wants to give you some sort of alternative supplies, he won't have any idea," Lindsey filled in, her eyes bright with excitement... and possibly also something more personal. "That's not a bad idea at all. I bet Dr Weir will go for it immediately."
"Possibly," Peter nodded. "I just thought of it a second ago," he said, a little sheepishly.
"Because..." Lindsey's gaze met his briefly before she looked down again. "Because you'd really rather stay here...?"
Peter shook his head. "No, because I'm just a bit dense, and... and it's taken me until just this minute to realize that... while living in Atlantis would be amazing, I think I'd much rather be wherever you are."
"Really?" Lindsey's eyes were back on his, wide with astonishment, and Peter found himself reaching for her hands, to hold in his. "Peter... really?"
"Honestly, Lindsey," Peter said, trying for his most earnest look. "We've all had a lot on our minds recently, but seeing you -spending time with you- this last couple of days... It's rather cast everything in a new light. You... are my new light, Lindsey Novak."
"Oh!" said Lindsey, looking a bit stunned, but lovely nonetheless. So lovely, in fact, that Peter found it quite impossible not to lean forward and kiss her. Luckily, he found his gesture to be most welcome indeed.
***
Little by little, the party was winding down, and Radek Zelenka found himself winding down too. He still wasn't sure if he would ever be able to develop a taste for the locals' strange idea of an alcoholic beverage -nor if he wanted to- but it did get the job done, and he was feeling pleasantly mellow now, after more than a handful of servings. Rodney looked to be in a similar state, slouching against the table beside him at a slight yet slowly increasing list.
Ronon, Radek observed, was doing more than listing slightly, but he seemed to be in very good company. More than a few of his fellow Sateadans were in various stages of drunkenness, but Teyla was with them now, arranging a room for them to spend the night. Radek watched with amusement as the Sataedans apparently failed to understand the directions she was giving them, several times, until Stackhouse came to her rescue, and offered to guide them personally. He was just as drunk as Ronon, but he knew the city pretty well by now, and probably wouldn't get them all lost.
Sheppard and Lorne came up behind Teyla as she watched them go, both more than a little 'handsy' with the Athosian woman, what with the lateness of the hour, the decreasing number of witnesses, and the degree to which they too were feeling the effects of the local beverages. Radek had presumed the presence of some sort of 'love triangle' watching the three of them over the past few weeks, and dreaded the inevitable consequences when one of them was rejected, but now he began to perceive the situation differently. Radek was, himself, a man of the world, and had seen such relationships managed successfully, back in his student days in Prague, though they were not common. He had no use whatsoever for those who condemned such things as 'immoral', and doubted that few, if any, from the expedition would espouse such opinions.
"Is that..." Rodney said, words slurring only slightly as he watched the trio move -propelled by Teyla- toward the dance floor. "Is that what I think it is?"
"And what do you think it is?" Radek asked, needling.
"Well, I knew Sheppard had something going with Lorne," Rodney said, pushing himself up a little to observe. "Then I thought maybe Lorne had something going with Teyla, but... They can't all be together, can they?"
"And why not?" Radek asked, eyebrows raised.
"It hardly seems fair, to me," Rodney replied. "Teyla's gone and grabbed the two hottest guys in the expedition all for herself."
"No? You think so?" Radek said, running an openly provocative hand up Rodney's thigh. "I disagree."
"Yeah, but you're a freak," Rodney said affectionately, smiling so that Radek's heart skipped a beat, in spite of the precision machinery that was meant to prevent just that.
"Come," Radek said, standing and taking Rodney's hand to pull him up. "The musicians will finish soon; the hour is late, and if it is acceptable for them to dance," he indicated Teyla and her two consorts, "then it is acceptable for us."
"What? No!" Rodney said, resisting, but not terribly effectively. "I don't dance... not even a little!"
Radek tisked, dragging Rodney relentlessly toward the dance floor. "Nesmysl! When you have drunk as much as we have, anyone can dance. See?" He indicated Sheppard, who seemed to be stumbling artfully, mostly in rhythm to the music, along with his two dance partners.
The musicians were Athosian, and as such wouldn't know a waltz from a tango from a highland fling, but fortunately, Radek thought, the number three is a fundamental mathematical constant, and the three beat, moderate tempo tune they were playing now was perfect for a slow waltz. Rodney stumbled and dragged a bit a first, and Radek had to lead, in spite of the fact that Rodney was taller. Still, someone had to have taught the man to dance (possibly the nuns, but Radek didn't want to think about that at all) and eventually Rodney began to move with the music, and with Radek, and this was what he had wanted.
Holding Rodney McKay in his arms, their bodies moving with and against each other to the gentle rhythms of the music, Radek felt the joy of everything that had bought them together. He felt Rodney relax against him, his cheek resting against Radek's temple, and immersed himself in the simple sensuality of their dance. It is the nature of dance, Radek knew, that it caused one to focus on the moment alone, leaving the concerns of the past and future behind, dismissing everything but the present -its joys and perfection. It was no easy thing, for men such as they, to set all their figures and inventions aside and dwell in such a moment, and Radek felt it all the more precious for that.
The song ended and the musicians began another, of similar tempo and meter, and Rodney pulled himself together enough to lead, which made Radek love him all the more. At the conclusion of this song, however, the musicians declared themselves done for the evening -which was, in point of fact, morning anyhow- and packed up. Radek and Rodney looked around to see that they, along with Sheppard, Teyla and Lorne, were among only a handful of guests remaining.
"Time to call it a night, I guess," Sheppard said, stretching as he scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck.
"So it would seem," Radek said. "I suppose I should wish you 'sladke sny' -sweet dreams- and see you in the morning?"
"Well, I'm afraid it's already morning," Lorne said.
"That it is," Teyla acquiesced, "so I will also wish you sweet dreams, and look forward to seeing you all later today."
"What she said," said Rodney, yawning hugely. Now Radek was, at last, feeling the weight of his labors of the last several days as well, and finally feeling ready to accept sleep. Rodney's yawn infected him with one of his own, and now he wanted nothing more than to find himself somewhere soft and horizontal. Sleep would take him, he knew, the moment he did.
The five of them made their way together, all swaying slightly, toward the residential tower, but they parted company at the lift. Exiting the conveyance on their floor, Rodney paused a moment to look out the wide bay windows in the lift vestibule, which offered a properly arresting view of the illuminated city. As much as he longed for sleep, Radek could not fault him, for he found the view just as compelling. This, after all, was what they had fought for, all these weeks, and now it was theirs -their new home, in fact.
Home... the word resonated in Radek's mind, calling forth images of the very few places he associated with that word. There'd been the fine, large country home he'd known as a child, whose sad ending -a fire accidentally started by his little brother- still haunted him. The cramped and grimy 'školník' flat they'd moved to afterward, in the basement of the village school, had never seemed like home, though when he'd finally left that place to come attend university in Prague, the whole city felt like home to him within days of his arrival.
Coming to Atlantis, Radek realized now, had felt just the way coming to Prague had felt, marvelous, mysterious, frightening, challenging, and inexplicably welcoming. Young and madly distracted in love, Radek and Nikola had squandered the freedoms and opportunities of their home in Prague, and disaster had followed. Now, here he was, older and hopefully wiser, once again finding himself in another marvelous and precarious home, and once again in love. He hoped with all his heart that they would be wise enough to keep this home, and he knew deep down in his heart that he would fight with everything he had for her sake. He was fairly sure Rodney felt the same, and he saw it now in Rodney's eyes as he gazed out over the fantastical city that he loved no less than Radek.
Radek leaned against his lover, wrapping an arm around his waist, and Rodney mirrored the gesture with an arm over Radek's shoulder. They stood in contented silence for a spell, drinking in the vision before them.
"Jeannie says she's going with the Daedalus," Rodney said after a time. "They're getting married -her and Caldwell, I mean."
"Indeed, I thought things might go that way," Radek said. "It's good news."
"Yeah, I guess, if it makes her happy," Rodney said philosophically. "They're planning some big church wedding in Boston."
"Surely not a Catholic wedding?" Radek asked.
"No, no, thank... whatever," Rodney said with a grimace. "Caldwell's family are all old time Unitarians... who are almost bearable. I mean, they're at least mainly rationalist, even if they do still seem to insist on believing in God. Anyhow, Jeannie says she'll understand if I can't attend, and that maybe she'll have a better chance at getting along with her new in-laws if I don't." Radek gave a snort of laughter.
"She does have a point there," he said. "I must remember to congratulate them both before they go. Will she stay in Boston after, and work for the SPB, or travel on the Daedalus with Caldwell?"
"Not sure," Rodney said, gazing into the distance. "Dunno if she knows either, yet."
"Come," Radek said, tugging Rodney away from the view. "We cannot sleep standing here, and we will if we do not move soon."
Rodney acquiesced with a grunt and the two of them made it to Rodney's quarters without any further interruptions. They didn't even bother to turn on the light once inside, but undressed with careless expediency and all but tumbled into the bed. Radek felt himself sinking into welcome unconsciousness even as his head came to rest on the pillow, and then he felt a warm hand come to rest on his chest, fingers splayed over the apparatus that could be easily felt beneath his thin under-vest.
"You're staying, aren't you?" he heard Rodney ask out of the dark, his voice revealing the vulnerability he normally strove to keep hidden.
"Of course," Radek said, laying his own hand over Rodney's.
"'S dangerous here," Rodney said, as though it were a fearful confession... and an apology of sorts.
"It is dangerous everywhere, miláčku," Radek replied. "I choose Atlantis, not because it is more or less dangerous than anywhere else, but because you are here... and it is my home now."
"Okay," Rodney said, though it was as much as sigh of relief as it was a word.
Radek reached forward to place a gentle kiss on Rodney's temple, then rolled on his side to spoon up against his lover's chest. Rodney's hand remained where it was, over Radek's heart, but Radek could feel him relax around him as he gradually dropped off to sleep. Comfortably enclosed in his lover's protecting embrace, Radek closed his eyes and followed him into slumber.
***
"You say these are made in the image of a living creature from the Realms Above?" Teyla asked as she examined the life sized orlub in her hands.
The one inconvenience of both her and Peter Grodin going on the Daedalus, Jeannie had realized that morning, was that neither of them would be able to continue running the new 'orlub-post' system that they'd just set up. She'd brought the issue up with Dr Weir over breakfast... or rather 'brunch', and the expedition leader had suggested training Teyla, who might suggest another of the locals to assist her.
"The system is mainly intended for the benefit of those living here, in the Realms Below," Elizabeth had pointed out. "Having it run by a local seems the best way to assure that it serves them in the way that is best for them."
Teyla had taken to the idea immediately, and she and Jeannie had gone directly after their meal to the upper level balcony where she and Peter Grodin had set up Atlantis' 'orlub postal hub'.
"One of Dr Zelenka's guiding philosophies, as an inventor," Jeannie answered her momentary student, "is that even the smartest scientist in the world must admit that he is not such a clever inventor as nature." 'I could never in a million years invent something so marvelous as a pigeon,' he'd told her once, and Jeannie could see his point.
"That seems wise," Teyla said. "But I cannot imagine that it is so easy to recreate nature, as he has done here. This machine is modeled after a living creature, and yet it does not live -else the wraith would take it. How then is it able to motivate itself, to move and function, without the energy of life?"
"Oh, it's quite an achievement, you're right about that," Jeannie said with undisguised admiration. "What powers the little orlubs, and the big one too, are crystals of moldavite... Here, you can see it by shifting these 'feathers' aside like so..."
Jeannie moved the perfectly crafted brass components on the orlub's feathered chest, to reveal a small, transparent window, beyond which could be seen a small cluster of faintly glowing, greenish crystals, about the size of her little fingernail.
"Oh!" Teyla exclaimed, eyes wide as she marveled at the sight. "And what are these crystals? Where do they come from?"
Jeannie frowned for a moment in thought, knowing that this was one secret which Radek had shared with a handful of people only, and for good reason. Still, Teyla was as trustworthy as anyone Jeannie had ever met, and it was also highly unlikely that she would ever visit the Realms Above, where the secret was much more dangerous.
"It's a mineral, found only in the lands surrounding Dr Zelenka's home," she said at last, "and its origins are... somewhat mysterious. It's generally said to have originated from a meteorite -something that fell to Earth from space- but Radek is the only one who's ever learned how to draw power from them. He's had to keep it secret, because of the... political situation in his native country."
Teyla didn't seem to be listening anymore though, Jeannie noticed, only nodding absently as she finished speaking, and continuing to gaze at the little glowing crystal at the orlub's heart.
"I must speak to Dr Zelenka," Teyla said suddenly, looking up from the device at last. "There is something I must tell him, something I believe he should know about these crystals."
“What, are they dangerous?” Jeannie asked, orlub still clutched in one hand as she followed Teyla back into the control room. “I’m pretty sure Dr Zelenka’s been working with them for years…”
“I have not heard of any danger associated with them, no,” Teyla said, glancing about to control room and spotting Zelenka, along with her brother, Dr Weir and Stephen, in the conference room. “But I believe I may know something important about them… about their origin.”
Jeannie had no idea what to think about that, and so only followed Teyla to the transparent door of the conference room and waited as she knocked. Jeannie thought she remembered hearing that they would be discussing requisitions and supplies –an important if boring task- and she could see Rodney scowl at the interruption. It was Dr Weir who opened the door.
“Yes, Teyla,” she said. “How can we help you?”
“Forgive the interruption, please,” Teyla said, “but I must ask something of Dr Zelenka… or rather, I believe I have some important information for him… if I am correct about the nature of the crystals he is using to power his flying machines.”
Radek turned away from the table, hearing these words, and faced Teyla, his expression both interested and wary. “What would you have me know about them?” he asked.
“These small green crystals,” Teyla said, taking the orlub from Jeannie and indicating the revealed heart of the mechanism to Zelenka. “They truly power your machines?”
The Czech inventor glanced down at his invention, then back at Teyla, nodding in confirmation. “The crystals are of moldavite,” he said. “A rare mineral formation found in certain parts of my country, and nowhere else in the world. Some years ago Nikola and I learned how to extract power from them, but the mineral is so rare, we kept our process a secret.”
“And what do you know of the origin of these crystals?” Teyla asked, insistent. Radek raised his eyebrows at her question.
“Very little, in truth,” Radek said. “There has been for some long time a theory that they are a type of tektite, and were originally part of a meteorite, but we have no way to prove it.”
“And did it not strike you,” Teyla asked, “that there are some slight similarities between these crystals and the Star’s Heart?”
Zelenka shrugged. “They are both crystalline in appearance,” he said, “and some parts of the Star’s Heart bear a similar color to moldavite, but these things seem most probably coincidental.” This made sense to Jeannie, but Teyla was shaking her head.
“It is my belief that they are not,” Teyla said, “and I would like to tell you why.”
“I would certainly like to hear why,” Elizabeth said, though Rodney, naturally, looked highly skeptical.
“Fine,” he huffed, gesturing Teyla toward a seat as ungraciously as possible. “I could use a little entertainment about now.”
Teyla ignored his rudeness, but took a seat all the same. “When Jinto told me about the power room he had seen,” she began her tale, “he confirmed a part of the story I was taught –that there are… receptacles for three Star’s Hearts at the heart of the city of the Ancient Ones. You have all seen this for yourselves as well, I suppose?” Rodney and Radek, the only two who had seen it, nodded in confirmation.
“Two were empty, when we found it,” Radek said, “and one contained the old, nearly expired power unit.”
“Just so,” said Teyla. “The tale I was taught speaks of this third Star’s Heart, and of the origin of the Ancient Ones. When I first heard this history, and was told that the Ancient Ones’ first home was ‘beyond the stars’, it was necessary to explain what the stars were, and what it meant that the Ancient Ones came from beyond them. For you, I imagine that this concept is not so difficult.”
“Indeed, not,” Elizabeth answered. “And we’ve heard other tales which suggest the same thing.”
“Then I expect you have also heard of how the Ancient Ones fancied themselves masters of all the Realms Above, in those days,” Teyla continued, “and how, in their arrogance, thought to find themselves masters of all the Realms Below as well, and thus precipitated their own downfall.” Heads nodded all around the table. Even Stephen had been briefed on this particular history.
“In preparation for their descent, the tale was told to me,” Teyla went on after a pause, “the wisest of the Ancient Ones determined that those vessels of power which gave energy to their city –enough to carry it between the stars- were too powerful to be allowed to fall into the hands of their enemy. Thus they removed two, leaving the city with only enough power to endure the long years ahead with great restriction. Of the two they removed, one, as is well known, was given into the hands of my ancestors for safe keeping, and was eventually passed to your grandfather,” Teyla nodded to Elizabeth, “but the other was meant to be sent much farther away, to dwell among the stars themselves. I say it was meant, but the Ancient Ones did not succeed in their intention.”
“What, they tried to send it into space?” Rodney asked. “Or into orbit around Earth?”
“Unfortunately, I do not know what either of these things are,” Teyla said, “and in the end, it does not matter, for the third Star’s Heart, according to this tale, did not achieve its goal, but fell back to the Earth, and shattered as it fell, into countless fragments, scattered over the land.”
At these words Jeannie saw Dr Zelenka draw an astonished breath, murmuring an soft epithet in his mother tongue.
“In its conclusion, the tale tells us that to most who saw them these fragments would seem only useless baubles,” Teyla said, “but to those with the wit to know treasure from dross, the fragments would reveal secrets of great power, and eventually bring that one to answer the call to bring them all home.”
There was a pause the length of a long breath before Rodney, predictably, exploded.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” he snapped. “Of all the ridiculously, coincidental, fairy tale explanations…”
“Ne, ne, it makes sense, McKay,” Radek retorted immediately. “Tesla came to Prague researching the moldavite crystals; it is how we met. They called him as surely as they called me. And it was my work with the crystals that forced me to stay in touch with the scientific world, when I would have withdrawn completely. I became known to you, and to Dr Weir because of the moldavite, and in the end, that is how I came here.”
“Wait,” said McKay, still sounding testy. “You never published a word about moldavite, just about low power electrical engines.”
“Of course not!” Radek replied. “Can you imagine what would happen if the world were to discover that my country is filled with countless, tiny, energy producing devices, free for the taking?”
Jeannie could, and it made her mouth go dry. Europe was already teetering on the brink of war, and this… but Teyla, of course, was completely mystified.
“Forgive me,” she said, glancing around at everyone’s expressions of dismay. “But this is an area about which, I am afraid, I know nothing.” Radek shook himself to look up and meet her eyes.
“Of course,” he said. “In the Realms above, my country is small and poorly defended. We are the protectorate of an aging, decadent empire whose power is waning, and surrounded by ambitious, powerful enemies. To reveal that such a treasure exists on our lands..."
Teyla frowned, a puzzled crease forming on her forehead. "Surely," she said, aghast, "your own neighbors would not prey upon you for the sake of mere treasure?"
Rodney gave a cynical snort at this, though Elizabeth just looked sad and Stephen frowned unhappily.
"Of course, I would never wish such a plague as the wraith upon the people of the Realms Above," Radek said after a moment. "But it is also true that it forced an important truth upon you, the peoples of the Realms Below. In having an undeniable, common enemy, you see each others' commonalities quite clearly. Without such a scourge, the lands of the Realms above too frequently find reason to make war upon each other -quite often trivial and foolish reasons. Such small treasures as may be found in my lands would serve as more than sufficient reason for our neighbors -who speak in a different language, have a different history and follow a different ruler- to come to our towns and villages in force, take what they please, and ruin what they fancy. They do not see us as the same people at all, you see, and destroying us would be no more to them than to the wraith."
Hearing Radek state things so plainly made Jeannie feel slightly ashamed, though she could not say why, unless it was at seeing the look of horror and pity of Teyla's face as she slowly shook her head.
"Indeed, you are not wrong to say that our people have learned to see the things that lie in common between those we know and those we come to know," she said after a moment. "It occurs to me now that the folk in the Realms Above must live in daily fear, little different from that which we know in our lives -though the beings we fear may be different, no doubt the fear is the same."
"Fear for our lives and loved ones is something all men and women know, no matter where or how they live," Elizabeth answered her. "I imagine the folk of the Realms Below must have conceived of our Realms as something of a paradise, just as we imagined we might find when we came, hoping to find the city of the Ancient Ones."
"Such are the hopes that drive us all, in our youths," said Radek sadly. "And such is the sobering truth that leads us to wisdom, as we grow older."
"As true as your words may be, Dr Zelenka," Elizabeth replied, "I am not content to leave the great potential that lies in your discoveries about the moldavite crystals to be held hostage by the Prussians. Surely there must be some way to make use of them while avoiding the repercussions to your country."
"I share your desires most profoundly, Dr Weir," Zelenka said, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. "For, as you have seen, my finest inventions -the orlubs- I have had to keep secret these past years. I would like nothing better than to be able to manufacture many more of them, and it pains me to think of the services they could provide to the world, if only they could be kept to peaceful uses."
"Well, you can make and use as many as you want here," Jeannie pointed out. "In fact, our new postal system could probably use a half dozen more little orlubs to be as efficient as possible."
"And, if it is widely known that the power source comes from elsewhere," Teyla added, "there is no chance that the technology will be misused, for no one would be able to copy these machines on their own."
"Indeed not..." said Elizabeth, a deeply thoughtful look crossing her features.
"What?" said Rodney and Zelenka, in a near perfect chorus.
"As above, so below," Elizabeth said cryptically, in a quiet, wondering voice. "It should have been the motto of our expedition. Radek, what if the situation Teyla just described was reversed? If it was widely known that the power source for your inventions came from the Realms Below? Even if the machines themselves were manufactured in Europe, but it was understood that 'power crystals' had to be brought from here?"
"But that is not the case..." Radek replied, confused. "It is well known that moldavite is found only in our lands..."
"Yeah, but who knows that they can be a power source?" Stephen interjected. "And who would know, if you sealed your power source -made it a sort of 'black box'?"
"Only Nikola Tesla knows of these properties, besides me," said Radek, still sounding confused. "My housekeeper, Josef, knows that I am buying moldavite from whoever finds it, and that I pay a higher price than most, but he does not know why."
"A black box, of course!" Rodney said now, snapping his fingers. "That's perfect -better still if we seal it with a warning of dire, possibly explosive consequences, if the seal is broken."
Now Jeannie was starting to get the picture, and so, it seemed, was Zelenka. Frowning, his brows drawn together over his spectacles, he seemed to be thinking the matter over.
"You would hide the truth, the true nature of moldavite, in a cloak of lies," he said at last. "And have it known that its origin is here, where it is beyond the reach even of the Kaiser?"
"Or the Confederacy, or the British, or anyone else who would use the power to evil ends," Elizabeth stated adamantly.
"And it's a very plausible lie," Rodney added. "Actually, considerably more believable than the truth."
Radek sat back, fingering his chin as the wheels turned. "Something of what we have discovered here must be made known," he said, considering.
"It will be," Elizabeth replied. "Not everything, but it was always my intention to let it be known if we did discover what we hoped to here. The world should know that the Lost City of Atlantis exists, and I intend to tell them."
"There must be highly secure transport, between here and Europe," Radek pointed out. "And it will be a target for pirates, privateers, and every sort of bandit."
"It will be," Stephen answered him, "but it's nothing the US Lighter than Air Fleet can't manage. We're by far the dominant air power in the world, and we mean to stay that way."
Radek nodded slowly. "I have already acquired quite a stockpile of moldavite crystals," he said, "and I have been very quiet about it. I believe that Josef is trustworthy enough that he may be brought in on some part of the operation, and some members of his family as well, so that our buying operation may be expanded, without giving anything away."
"Good!" said Elizabeth approvingly. "That's perfect. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may be able to pull this off."
"It goes against my nature, to be the perpetrator of such a fiction," Radek said, "but I have learned too many hard lessons about the nature of power not to understand the necessity. We will change the world under the protection of this lie, my friends, and for the better, I do believe."
Thus it was that Jeannie and Peter Grodin spent the next day and a half, before the Daedalus departed, learning a few basic phrases in Czech and taking the names of various trustworthy Bohemian and Moravian industrialists. It would take some time before the full magnitude of what they were about to do came home to them, and much longer still before the larger world became acquainted with changes that were about to be visited upon it, but that is the nature of revolutionary change, after all.
The larger world remained in ignorance still on the day that Jeannie McKay was wedded to Captain Stephen Caldwell in Boston Massachusetts. The Caldwell Family was a relatively prominent one in Boston, necessitating a relatively prominent wedding, and the very public airing of the bride's family and background. Thus it was from that event that the world came to learn more personal events of the rediscovery of the Ancient City of Atlantis, but the first contracts had already been signed in Prague by then, and the work was underway. The future was coming, and world would know it soon.
***
On to the Epilogue...