STARGATE: EXPLORER

by Lady Grey
Alpha/Beta by Jude

December 20

Nine Days Later

P9X-1017

Every day when Daniel returned to his quarters in Shahr, he felt as if his head might explode from all the knowledge he was obtaining from the Furlings. He wasn’t sleeping well, because his mind wouldn’t shut down at night, dizzy with so much thinking. The things he’d seen in the library after his return from Alpha colony were amazing. The human academicians and scientists traveling to Furdani were learning a great deal from the highly advanced Third Race.

Most astounding of all was Daniel’s discovery of the aap, a device identical to the one SG-1 had found and lost at Heliopolis, the meeting place of the Four Races where Doctor Ernest Littlefield had been trapped for fifty years. This time, however, Daniel was able to quiz the Furlings about it, to learn from one of the cultures that had helped to create the machine. For a while, the experience left him enthralled, intoxicated… but even that eventually lost its appeal.

Every new discovery inextricably led back to what he had lost, what had been so violently taken from his people.  The nightmares returned, and Daniel couldn’t concentrate on his work.  All he could think about was Zeus.

Now there was no SG-1 to hunt him down; the Goa'uld was free to roam the galaxy with impunity, believing he had destroyed his greatest inconvenience -- the Tau'ri.  There would be no justice, no punishment, not even a shadow of threat to the tyrant. All that remained of Earth's people were too busy struggling to live another day and build some kind of future, using the meager remains of their culture and the legacy left to them by the Asgard.

Daniel started spending more time in the Furling version of a gymnasium, trying to work off some of that frustration. He physically pushed himself to the limit every day, returning to his studies only after his body was exhausted.

It was just a matter of time until Daniel’s growing disquiet was noticed. 

As he left the gym with the Forest Clan elder, he shot a glance at his friend, noticing his pointed stare.  Scout was wearing a new pair of tooled leather gauntlets over his forearms that reminded Daniel of the ones the Mountain Clan guide, Denali, had worn when he first came to Shahr.

“You seem troubled,” Scout observed, as they headed for the nearest transporter booth. The elder had mastered English perfectly, including the use of contractions and what slang Daniel used, though Scout spoke with the same lilting accent he'd had when conversing in the Ancients’ tongue. “You don’t eat properly, and your sleep is filled with troubling dreams.” 

This was the hardest part of living with the Furlings – everyone knew everyone else’s business. All they had to do was check a person’s most recent memory recordings to know what they’d been doing, what they’d been thinking. Every life was an open book.

But Daniel knew this particular inquiry was being made only because the elder was concerned about him. Their society considered Daniel a valuable addition, an important liaison to the human race. Even more than that, though, the two had become good friends in the last few months.

Daniel shrugged. “It’s okay, really,” he said with a polite smile. “I’m fine.”

“Yet each time you return from your brief visits to Alpha, you grow more distracted. Does something there disturb you?”

“It’s hard to watch what they’re going through,” Daniel admitted, his face pulling down into a scowl. God, how he hated Zeus! “Especially knowing there’s not a damned thing I can do about it.” 

“What if there were?”

Before he could select their destination, Daniel lifted his fingers off the city map he had pulled up on the touch-screen in the transporter booth. He glanced at Scout, trying to read the alien’s cool expression. All he saw was a hint of mystery twinkling in the elder’s unfathomable amber eyes. 

“My people have to concentrate on survival,” Daniel muttered, hating the sound of the words he’d heard so many times from Jack. They held an air of defeat for him.

“I wasn't asking about your people,” Scout clarified coolly. “I meant you, personally. If you had another option, a way to obtain justice for your world, would you take it?”

Clenching his jaws in frustration, fighting back a tide of rising anger, Daniel growled unhappily, “There’s not a lot I can do against somebody like Zeus, Scout. I’m just one man.”

“As is he,” the alien returned smugly.

“He has an army,” Daniel shot back impatiently.

Scout lifted his chin proudly, gazing down his nose at Daniel. “And you have the Third Race.”

The implications of that hint sent a shockwave through Daniel’s consciousness. It took him a moment to gather his wits and fully realize what appeared to be on the table here. “Do you mean… you'd fight Zeus for us? Why?”

“Many reasons, Daniel. Do you wish our assistance in your quest?”

“I don’t know.”  Daniel’s heart was pounding in his ears.  He was sweating, trembling, excited, yet unable to quite commit to the belief that he’d heard correctly and this wasn’t some kind of cruel dream. “First, I'd have to know why. All of it, because I get the feeling there's a lot more than you've told me so far.”  He glanced away to program in the transporter destination closest to his home, waited the mere seconds for the relocation to take place, then led the way out of the booth down the block from the apartment.

“Your race cannot fight for themselves,” Scout explained. “Your resources and personnel are needed to rebuild, not to make war; we understand this, and agree. We've been where they are, and they do, indeed, have no choice, if they are to survive.” 

“Okay.” Daniel’s mouth was dry. His stomach was clenching.

“We were denied an opportunity for justice against the Ancients,” Scout went on, “and there are many who feel participation against your enemy would give us vicarious victory over our past. A way to face our demons, as you might say.”

Both arguments made sense. Still, Daniel held back his answer, keeping his gaze on the path toward his quarters. He dared not hope this conversation was real. "We can't afford to draw attention to Alpha," Daniel told the elder, remembering Jack's warning. "If Zeus finds out there were survivors, he'll go after them, too."

Scout nodded. “It has always been our way to protect those who can't help themselves,” he went on, “because we believe it's the right thing to do. The universe requires balance, and we've been gifted with the power to help achieve that. We can protect Alpha, as well as seek out your enemy.” 

He felt Scout’s warm hand settle on his shoulder, grip it, and stop him. The two faced each other on the grated walkway above a flowing stream. There was warmth and kindness in the elder’s paternal expression.

“It's also the wish of those who've come to know you well that you're in need of your own peace of mind,” Scout added. “The Nox believed that comes from a lack of resistance, from pacifism, but nature’s laws tell a different story.” 

He glanced down at the water bubbling and swirling beneath their feet. “Water isn't always calmly flowing. Sometimes it’s cold and hard. Sometimes it disappears into the air, where it becomes too heavy and falls to the ground again as rain.  It can be gentle and healing, or driven by wind hard enough to strip flesh off bone.” 

Daniel nodded, getting the picture. “The Nox are always gentle, flowing streams. The Furlings are water in all forms, even great waves that crash against the shore and crush boulders into pebbles.”

Scout smiled, nodding approvingly. “Yes, Daniel. So now I ask you again: do you wish to bring justice to your race?”

A sense of rightness and gratitude settled into Daniel like falling snow. “Yes, el-Mikha. I do. What do you want from me in return?”

“Only what we've asked from the beginning,” said the elder quietly. “Your knowledge. We wish to learn everything we can about other races, for we are very curious.” He smiled fondly, searching Daniel’s face with his eyes. “And somewhere, out there in the stars, our distant history lies hidden. We don't have those you'd call archaeologists, seekers of the past. We can benefit from your knowledge in finding our roots, wherever they may be buried on distant worlds.”

“Then tell me what you want me to do,” said Daniel confidently. He felt almost euphoric, his body lightweight, his head tingling.

Scout patted his shoulder, turned him back to the path and started walking again. “First, you must prepare. Finish your training as a warrior.”

Daniel shrugged. “Okay. I’ve never really committed myself to learning more than what I’d need to get by. I suppose I could always improve.”

“You must learn to be more stealthy, to fight your enemies with cunning and skill. You have a sharp mind, but use your strategic skills too little. I have heard you argue with General O'Neill, and know how clever you can be, when the stakes are high. With training, you can be a dangerous enemy.”

They stepped into Daniel’s apartment and went into the bedroom. Daniel laid out a clean outfit the Furlings had made for him. By his choice, every garment had been fashioned of black cloth, as a symbol of mourning for his lost world. His trousers were modeled on the BDU pants, with cargo pockets on the thighs. Long-sleeved or sleeveless tunics with high collars covered his upper body, tied at the waist with a matching sash.  Over his back and arms, a hooded cape provided the warmth necessary for comfort in the cool underground city.

Every garment bore his personal mark as a decoration, stitched into the fabric with silky dark gray thread: an inverted “V” with a tiny halo, the stargate symbol for Earth.  On his trousers, the logo might be in a pattern around the hem, emblazoning a pocket or trailing up the outer seams. Tunics carried the design up long sleeves or as a single larger glyph on the chest. One of his capes featured the logo in the center of his back, the other in small rows around the edges.

"I've seen others of the Forest clan in training," Daniel told his companion as he laid out his clothes. "I'd be honored to learn your fighting style."

"Then I’d be equally honored to teach you," Scout told him with a happy smile.

With Scout in tow, Daniel hesitated before cleaning up after his workout.

The elder followed him into the bathroom, tucked into a back corner and walled off from the sleeping area with a curved glass wall down which a constant fall of water ran in ripples, acting more as a room divider than an actual wall. Scout leaned against the doorjamb, his thumbs hooked into the waistband of his brown suede trousers. "I can set up a training program at the place where you perform your exercise," he continued while Daniel doffed his tunic, shoes, and socks. "There's an interactive hologram that will help teach you the techniques, and when you need an actual opponent, I'll schedule some time with you."

"Your people have such fascinating technology," Daniel observed, his hands hesitating on the fastener at the top of his pants.

He'd rather have bathed in private, but the Furlings didn't understand such things. Scout would think nothing of having a conversation with him in the nude, because there was no sexual content to such an encounter between them.  Claire had learned to leave Daniel alone in the bathroom because he got so distracted and embarrassed, but there were times when she still forgot and would zoom right in and start talking.

At least Scout was another guy. Daniel turned his back to finish undressing and started the water, always just the right steamy-hot temperature. Apparently, Scout wasn't finished with this chat yet, so Daniel would just have to deal with having a guest at an unsettling time.

The elder paid no attention to Daniel's nudity. "You should know there's a reason why I came to see you." There was something in his voice that made Daniel turn his head just enough to make eye contact and keep his face out of the spray.

Scout's shoulders were squared. He stood at parade rest now, hands clasped behind his back, his expression braced, anticipating, his eyes hooded, secretive.

"We prepared for millennia for our release from this world," he explained. "The moment you set us free, we took to our travels again."

This wasn't exactly news to Daniel. During his many trips to Alpha and back, he had seen expeditions leaving, teams of Forest and Sky Clans, with only a handful of Grass Clan among them, all heading for other worlds through the unlocked stargate. He had even been present when a few small teams returned to Furdani.

Still, Scout was trying to tell him something important.

From behind him, the elder's voice rang out, louder than the sound of the falling water. “The People have visited many worlds, now that the Wheel is open to us again. We have discovered several planets populated by both humans and Ting-sha,” he announced. “They all worship Zeus.”

A chill made Daniel’s skin prickle into gooseflesh. He moved his head out from under the spray, soaping his body up as he made eye contact, struggling to maintain his composure.  “Have you reported this to General O’Neill?”

“We have.”  Scout’s chin lifted.  His eyes narrowed.  “Alpha will send no one to make inquiries.”

Daniel hesitated, weighing his options, considering the implied offer in his friend’s words. Jack would absolutely lock Daniel up in a stockade and sentence him to hard labor for the rest of his natural life, if he found out about this.  For an instant, Daniel felt a pang of conscience, but it was quickly washed away by a rising tide of determination.  Zeus had to pay for what he'd done, and if the only way to do that were to sneak off, then Daniel was willing to risk the wrath of O’Neill; it was always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

“I’ll go.  Take me there.”

The alien nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. “There is much for you to learn before you meet this challenge.”

Pieces were coming together in Daniel’s mind. “Okay. You obviously have something planned. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

After finishing his shower and getting dressed, he served the Forest elder some fragrant emlaa tea, a Furling favorite, while they talked about the information on the discovery of the Ting-sha planets, discussing which to explore first.  Using the projectors built into the gauntlets he was wearing, probably just for this purpose, Scout showed him holograms of star charts.  He had come prepared, expecting Daniel to agree to leave with him.

Now they were going to be leaving Furdani without Jack's permission or knowledge, and also without Daniel having completed his distasteful bargain with his commanding officer.  Eventually, he'd have to face up to the ramifications of this decision, but once Daniel had made up his mind to pursue Zeus with the Furlings at his back, no power in the universe aside from death would stop him.

Minutes later, with two small bags packed with Daniel’s most necessary possessions, Scout escorted him to a transporter and set a destination vocally. Daniel was still working on learning the four Furling dialects, so he had no idea where they were going.

On arrival, Daniel glanced at the clothing the People around them wore. Every costume was the same basic design, but the colors were in solid primary colors, none of the somber earth tones the citizens of Shahr wore. The outfits were fitted with neat, short jackets trimmed in black; they looked like military uniforms.

“Where are we?” he asked.

“In the city of Ahmegah.” Scout led the way down a long, busy corridor.

“The third city? I haven’t read much about it, except that most of it’s beneath the ocean floor. Lots of resources come in, but no goods go out.”

Everywhere they went, the bustle stopped for a moment as each Furling stood at attention until Daniel and Scout had passed.

“What’s with the…” He nodded behind them. “Are you military?”

“Not in the way the Tau’ri understand the concept,” Scout explained. “All our people learn the art of war as they attain adulthood, once they have finished the Hunt. It is a matter of honor, pride, and destiny. Those who excel become teachers. The teachers who surpass their peers eventually become elders. The honor of this greeting, however, is not for me,” he added with a grin.

Oh.  Well, that was embarrassing.  Daniel simply couldn’t fathom what the Furlings liked about him so much. All he’d done was… set them free’ he supposed that was a pretty significant thing, after all.

Eventually the corridor ended in a gallery with floor-to-ceiling windows, and from the view as they approached, Daniel saw they were completely underwater, the nearby submarine landscape well lit but fading to dark blue in the distance. All around them were other long hallways with galleries like this one; what drew Daniel’s attention, though, were the massive structures that each of the galleries overlooked.

The closest one gave an idea of the scale on which the others were built. The distant ones allowed him to see a few more details, though what they were he couldn’t exactly decide. Scout solved that problem with another holographic display above his gauntlets.

The structures in the water were each the size of a small city, built in the shape of a massive sword with wings. A gracefully sweeping cage embraced the handle of the glittering object, sparkling as if made of precious metals and jewels. The holographic miniature turned and rotated with Scout's direction, then changed to a wire-frame view that revealed the floor plans of the interior.

Whatever they were, they were breathtaking. 

“What are these things?” asked Daniel in an amazed whisper. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

“In the long-ago, when the People were first imprisoned here, our first goal was to survive,” Scout explained, his fingers fondly touching the cool glass of the window. “Our second goal was to preserve our knowledge. Our third was freedom. Last of all, we wanted a chance to confront those who had exiled us here, to know the reason why this was done to us. These are our starships, stored here beneath the surface of the water, sheltered for thousands of years, constantly renewed and upgraded with the best of our technology, until we could once again take them to the stars.” 

He turned to Daniel and smiled. “You've given us our freedom, but we can no longer face our captors, since they ceased to exist long ago. The People now offer you justice for your world, Daniel Jackson.” He tapped one knuckle against the glass, indicating the closest craft. “This will be your home, for as long as you wish to travel with us. Others were launched the day you released us from our prison, and we've been out in the universe exploring. We've met your enemies, but don't really know them yet. We must learn from you, if we're to seek justice for the Tau’ri.”

“B-but-but I--” Daniel swallowed. He looked from Scout’s eyes to the massive vessel and back, a lump in his throat. “I can’t command a crew! I don’t know how.” He shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

“There are many ways to seek a solution to a problem,” Scout assured him. “An experienced commander will direct the daily operations of the ship, but you will guide the crew on board. Together, we'll help you in your quest for a permanent peace, both for the refugees of Earth and for yourself.”

“I--” Daniel stared at the amazing, gigantic starship, floating in the water before him. Tiny lights sparkling on its surface were windows, he realized, and the glowing ball on the pommel was a bridge, bright and clear, with several of the Mountain Clan moving around inside it. The far end of the pointed blade housed engines that were still and silent as the craft sat at anchor, waiting to come to life in space. “Oh, my God.”

“It needs a name,” Scout urged, touching his shoulder lightly. "Your people are so fond of naming everything."

The image of the starship swam in Daniel’s vision as he blinked back tears.  “I would like to call her Gaia,” he said huskily. “Mother Earth, the goddess who gave birth to the Titans, the gods, and humankind.”

“Then let me take you to your goddess.” Scout gestured toward a staircase leading downward. “Come, friend. This way.”

Daniel was in a daze as he stepped aboard a crescent-shaped shuttle. The submarine dropped from a dock into the water below it, and Scout piloted the roomy craft toward the Gaia. He gave Daniel an exterior tour first, pointing out the various decks, systems and weapon ports.

“What’s that?” asked Daniel, pointing to the sweeping metallic arcs and swirls embracing most of the bow.

“A wormhole generator for this vessel,” Scout told him. “The rear engines can drive Gaia through space or propel it into hyperspace; we can also make short jumps through a wormhole created for the ship itself.  That requires a great amount of power, and so can only be used in emergencies.”

“Wow. Jack will want one of those.” 

“We will be sending one to Alpha for his assessment.”

"Maybe you should tell the crew of that ship to take their time." The farther away he was from Jack when the General figured out Daniel had another way off Furdani, the better.

"Consider it done."

As they neared the forward curve of one of the wings, a large panel slid back, exposing an empty compartment. Once they’d landed, the door closed and the water was pumped from the enclosed chamber. When it was emptied, Scout opened the submarine’s hatch, and they stepped out onto the hangar deck, where the Gaia’s officers were waiting for inspection.

After a brief meal, during which he met the officers, followed by a short rest, Scout took Daniel on a tour of the main sections of the vessel.  Aside from the expected spaces like the bridge, engine room, galley, infirmary, mess hall, crew quarters, and hangar decks – complete with thousands of fighter craft, sized for pilots of each race of the People – there were extras that would have had no place on a battleship designed by humans. There was even a music room, filled with Furling instruments, along with a piano alien craftsmen had fashioned from Daniel’s memories of basic structure and sound, just for him.

There were gardens, a greenhouse, a library, and a chapel, and rather than tight, narrow corridors that saved space, every room and passageway was graced with twenty-foot ceilings, softly carpeted floors, and elegantly decorated walls with murals, paintings, and sculpture niches.

Being inside the ship was like visiting a museum.

Daniel was stunned. "What kind of starship is this?" he asked his guide. "Why is it so… beautiful? Our spaceships are just… functional. Boxy and boring, all shades of gray."

Scout chuckled. "We believe anything worth doing is worth doing well. Function need not be dull or ugly, and we take care in even the smallest details. The design of every ship has come straight from our hearts, friend; they are symbols of our freedom, and our strength of purpose.”  He cocked his head. "Besides, those who work on these craft are expecting to be away from home for long periods of time.  They should see beauty daily to help keep them happy and calm. Otherwise, they may grow to resent their assignments so far from the familiar."

"This is a battleship, right?" This was confusing to Daniel, to have a deadly weapon so elegantly decorated. It was a little like dressing up a pistol in mother-of-pearl and gold scrollwork -- something more ceremonial than made to actually use.

"As your people would say, the top of the line."

There was even an embarkation room, outfitted with short-range transporters for beaming to a planet or another nearby spacecraft, as well as a full-sized stargate with Furling embellishments for passenger or crew travel to more distant places. He studied the ship’s gate, which was covered in gold leaf and encrusted with what looked like jewels.  Each constellation glyph lit up from the inside, appearing to be one solid piece rather than a ring inside a wheel, much more like the Atlantis gate than Earth’s.

This one, however, didn’t have a DHD. The People had designed something a good deal more advanced to operate their gate. Daniel studied the control panel, taking note of a circular indentation in the center of the device. It looked familiar, but he wasn’t sure of its purpose.

Tapping the depression with one finger, he asked Scout, “What’s this for?”

“The Hub,” he said simply. “The way the Ancients built the Wheels – or stargates, as you call them – is that one dialing device in proximity to another will override its control of the Wheel. For instance, if we were in orbit around this planet, using this portal would render the one on the surface inoperable until this one shuts down. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Stargates being used in space have to be close to a planet that has another wormhole generator to fix the point in space for departure or arrival.” Daniel had experienced that in person on several occasions – fleeing Apophis’s ship just before SG-1 had blown it up came quickly to mind. He’d been on a Goa'uld mother ship in orbit around Earth, but couldn’t activate a wormhole directly to Earth, because the portals were too close to the same point in space. He’d had to go to another planet, using Earth as his embarkation point, then travel back to Earth from there.

“For most stargates, this is so; however, the Hub will allow you to fix a precise point in space for this ship, this portal, so that you may travel as you wish, from this ship to any world. You may return here through the stargate as long as Gaia maintains the same approximate position in space. If we should be forced to move from that area, no wormhole would engage for your return.”

“The People have certainly put a lot of thought into this,” Daniel told his friend. “I don’t know what to say, other than… thank you. That hardly seems like enough.”

Scout gave him an elegant bow. “You've seen your starship,” he stated quietly. “Now it's time for you to meet your captain. He was unavoidably detained when you arrived, or he'd have been there to meet you.” 

A Mountain Clan giant stepped forward, dressed in royal blue and charcoal. His hair was shiny black, with eyes to match his tunic. The captain gave him a formal bow and gestured with his hands in the traditional Furling greeting. 

"Apologies for not joining you earlier," he said warmly, then looked to his right. "I believe you know my executive officer?"

Standing beside the captain was Denali, the same individual who had welcomed Daniel upon his first arrival in Shahr and taken him to meet the council of elders.

"It is good to see you again, my friend."

Daniel smiled at him. "I wondered why I hadn't seen you in a while. You've been here, I suppose?"

Denali nodded. "Yes. There was much to do to prepare the flagship."

"It's very impressive." Daniel glanced around, taking note of the officers he'd already met, performing at their duty stations on the bridge. "Since the People don't have a military, why have you adopted our ranking system? I noticed during the introductions that everyone's using the titles."

The Captain explained with a grin, “We have no military rankings, as do the Tau’ri. We liked the sound of the titles you use, and so we have adopted them as our own. This way, your people will instantly understand our hierarchy.

“Makes sense,” Daniel returned with a chuckle, “though I'd think that, for a ship this size, you ought to at least be a General or Admiral.”

“I like Captain,” the alien told him, his broad face expanding with a grin. “Welcome aboard, friend.”

“Thank you.” Daniel was a little overwhelmed.

“We will be leaving the dock shortly,” announced the commander. “If you would like to unpack in your quarters and rest, you may join us on the bridge whenever you like. This ship must be handled delicately while subject to the pressure of water, atmosphere and planetary gravitational fields. It will take many hours to achieve orbit. Once we have reached space, we will send for you to discuss further plans. Rest well, and enjoy exploring your new home.” 

“Pleasure to meet you and the crew, Captain.”

Daniel followed Scout off the bridge, down the main corridor, and into the starboard wing, where the officers’ quarters and VIP suites were located. His rooms were situated first in line, right next to the library. He didn’t think his heart had slowed down from its wild, excited tattoo since he’d boarded the ship, but as soon as he stretched out on his bunk, he fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

End Chapter 17

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