Harry was at his work platform wondering if they should just move up the schedule of the targeted leaving day, after all there was only fifty some days left.
Doing so would allow them to settle down and make it easier for the search teams, being in the same galaxy as the people they were searching for would certainly make it easier to search for clues, especially planet bound ones.
On the other hand it seemed the enemy of the Alteran's, which Toria Ai Shas was built to fight were still active in that part of the universe.
Deciding to table the decision until later, there was no hurry to make a decision now that they had rescued another two crews off damaged ships, and added another thousand or so people to their population, taking the pressure off of caring for the children from the first rescue.
Hopefully in another couple of weeks some of those rescued could be slotted into rescue crews and they might even have enough to scout the last known location of Atlantis, giving them valuable intelligence on what they were letting themselves in for.
Of the three original missions sent out ten days ago only two had been successful. Harry was currently waiting for more information to come back from Ron, as the Bololarys was due to check in, in a couple of hours.
Leaning back in his chair he turned it slightly towards the gates as he ignored the scrolling Holo displays active around him.
Seeing Lantera walking towards him Harry wondered if she brought good news or something that would give him a headache.
Still getting used to the wonderful inventions that had been discovered since her over long sleep Lantera hummed to herself as she walked into the embarkation deck and took in the sight of the six gates spaced out evenly, taking in the wonder of wonders that could create twelve separate connections to other gates. As both sides could be used to anchor a wormhole, she wished they had that type of technology when they were evacuating Tylene.
Casting her gaze towards the platform where the young man who led them, who still worked to hard in her opinion, set up station every day trying to solve all the problems that crossed his desk.
Seeing all the displays providing different information at the same time, she wondered how he was able to multitask so effortlessly, seeing he was watching her she smiled hoping to let him know that she was not the bearer of bad news.
As she climbed the few steps leading up to the platform Harry gestured towards one of the chairs at the table. "So what brings you out of the healers hall and to my world."
Laughing. "You have been watching bad Holo Drama's Jacks been looking up again haven't you." Lantera said as she sat down.
Harry let his smirk be the only answer to her question.
Placing a slim data crystal on the tabletop. "I found this in my belongings this morning, I completely forgot that I had placed it there when we made the decision to enter hiber sleep. After finally thinking about going through my belongings, and deciding to put them away in my assigned quarters I found this in a secure tube in my bag." Lantera told him hope evident in her voice.
"And this is?" Harry asked as picked up the crystal and examined it closely.
"Every thing we have on the evacuation of Tylene, ships involved, evacuation routes, what order the ships left in. Every thing from the moment we started to the moment we were caught in the shock wave of the sun going nova early." Lantera breathed out in anticipation.
Harry stared at the woman in shock as he processed her words and his mind started to race with possibilities.
Gently placing the crystal back down on the table. "Aloria can you retrieve the data or do I need to place it in a reader for you.' Harry asked her through the bond.
Instead of answering a module started to take shape as it rose from the tabletop in front of Harry.
When the door popped open Harry lifted the crystal back up and gently inserted it into the port.
"Aloria how long will it take to assimilate the data and compare it with the archival records?" Harry asked out loud, a glimmer of hope in his voice at the possibility of more vessels that might be recovered with crews still alive.
Slowly as she placed the data in a section of the cities memory core, where she could use an avatar to assimilate the data she replied. "It is going to take a couple of days to go over everything on the data crystal before I can even begin to set up the search parameters."
"On top of that it might be a month or two before I have any hard data for you." Aloria warned him.
"But there is still hope?" Lantera asked, as she converted what the oldsters had begun to call basic into Alteran in her head.
Smiling Harry nodded his head. "Yes there is hope. If there are any more vessels out there that did not make it to their destinations as planned, we might be able to track them down and either find a small colony world they settled on or even be able to rescue those in a situation similar to your own."
"Incoming Matter Stream." Steven called out over the com unit, effectively interrupting their conversation of what the crystal might hold. "Origin Earth SGC."
"Ah the last of the volunteers." Lantera said. "This should reduce the work load to a more manageable level. I must say I have been impressed by what I have seen so far."
Agreeing with her. "Yes they should make a fine addition to the Alliance. I believe most of those they have sent to help us are slated to be the first colonists of their new world when they finally get around to setting it up officially." Harry shared.
"Though not all are as pleasant and forward thinking as those we have met so far." Harry warned her, thinking back to the Dursley's.
"What race is." Lantera said. "Even we have our moments that we fail miserably."
Nodding his head to acknowledge her point, Harry watched as the volunteers lined up in the arrival area to be welcomed, and checked in through the healers before being assigned quarters and partners in the care of their new charges, the rescued babies.
Following with his eyes the lead group of young men and women away from the gate, he missed the arrival of the military delegation that followed them through.
"The last of those monstrosities will be shut down this afternoon and disposed of after the children are removed, correct?" Harry wanted to make sure, as he had not been needed, or so he had been told quite vocally quite often.
"Yes." Lantera sighed almost hearing in his voice the derision she used on herself every time she thought about what they had almost done. "You know we did the best we could trying to save as many as we could, with what we had available."
Wincing internally at the hurt in her voice. "I know, and I know you could not have done things differently with the knowledge you had at the time." Harry said apologetically. "But those things frighten me, and it is only natural to loathe what frightens you and endangers children."
"I know." Lantera whispered. "I was not to happy with the idea at the time either."
By this time Jack O'Neill, older version, had made it to the work platform and called out. "Changing the furniture again, I swear you are worse than my ex wife."
Startled, Harry whipped his head around towards the voice. "General O'Neill I was not expecting you today. Is there a problem?"
Wincing just enough to be noticed General O'Neill replied. "Something has come up that I think you need to know about."
Looking around at the people who had come with the General and how nervous some of them looked. "I am not going to like this am I?" Harry said with a sinking feeling.
Seeing the older Jack wince again and the older man in the suit wince also, Harry pointed at the chairs around the edge of the table. "Sit."
As Lantera made to leave Harry placed his hand over hers as she gripped the table and pressed down telling her to stay.
General O'Neill seeing how all emotion had disappeared from Harry's face, prayed to all the gods he could think of that Harry held it together long enough for them to explain.
"Mr. President I would like you to meet the Lord Commander of the Alteran people." General O'Neill made introduction to Harry.
Nodding his head Harry told him. "Greetings, though I did not expect to meet for some time yet, at least until you had achieved membership in the Alliance."
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed quite a few wince at that simple statement. Now he knew he was not going to like what he heard.
"Greetings as well Lord Commander, though I hope we are still welcome after you have heard our news." The president told him diplomatically.
Harry did not say anything other than to narrow his eyes at the man.
The President was not an easily intimidated man, but as he sat there and was stared at by the younger looking man, he felt his palms grow sweaty.
General O'Neill cleared his throat to gain Harry's attention. "I remember being told that you have the means to view other peoples memories."
At Harry's nod General O'Neill continued. "Good I thought I remembered correctly. We have brought every one that was involved with us, so you can see what happened, rather than hear what went on second hand."
Looking past General O'Neill to where some strange man was gesturing wildly as he was walked back and forth, Harry briefly forgot about the impending bad news as he wondered if all Americans were crazy masochists.
Seeing Harry was not paying attention any longer General O'Neill shifted in his chair to look at where Harry was staring.
Groaning inwardly General O'Neill wondered if it was to late to retire.
The others seeing the pause in conversation followed the Generals gaze at his indrawn breath and were horrified to see Rodney acting like he was throwing a temper tantrum.
"Damn Canadians." The President swore under his breath.
"I thought he was one of yours." Harry said without moving.
"Oh I wish, then maybe the man would listen to reason." The President answered.
"Rodney." Elizabeth whispered out horrified, thinking of the political disaster he could cause.
As if he could feel he was being watched Rodney McKay stopped his ranting at the person who was ignoring his questions and turned to look towards the last direction everyone else had gone in.
Only to see them staring at him from the distance and a horrified expression on Elizabeth and Sheppard's faces.
At that exact moment Cadfael came running into the room intent on reaching Harry to show him what he had learned in school today, followed by Bryce who was doing his best to keep his brother in view and out of trouble.
At the exact moment an excited Cadfael closed to within less than a meter of Rodney, the man still frustrated at being ignored, turned around gesturing wildly once again with a hint of anger on his face.
Only to come face to face with a child.
A child, whom he had just frightened badly, A child fresh from his magic classes, who did what any magical child would do when frightened and their instincts of self preservation took over.
Cadfael screamed in fright, and threw out his hands sending Rodney flying across the deck, only to land with a bone wrenching jar near the side of the platform.
Hyperventilating in fear Cadfael stood there shaking not able to move.
Harry shifted at the same time Bryce made it to his brother, both of them grabbing the frightened boy at the same time.
Comforting his fosterling Harry kept murmuring over and over in his ear. "It's ok, you didn't do any thing wrong."
Sandwiching the young ten year old between him and his brother in a tight hug, Cadfael soon calmed down and started to breath normally.
Getting up from his knees Harry scooped up his fosterling, and started back to his work area with Bryce holding Cadfael's hand.
Not even bothering to look to see if the ill mannered human had been injured, Harry carried Cadfael over to the table and set him down on the edge nearest him, opposite of General O'Neill, while his brother sat down in the chair next to Harry's, still holding onto his brothers hand.
"Are you ok now?" Harry asked in concern, as he looked the boy over.
Nodding his head Cadfael started to relax a little and gave his brothers hand a squeeze in thanks.
"Now what was so important that it had you running all the way here?" Harry asked lightly, and with a smile to show he was not mad.
"I wanted to show you what we learned in class today." Cadfael rushed out, bouncing back to his old self, as only the very young can.
"And what was that?" Harry laughed.
Scrunching up his face in concentration Cadfael finally threw out his hand palm up and a small flame appeared dancing around in place in the center of his palm.
Opening his eyes and seeing he had done it, Cadfael started to bounce in place happy once again.
Pulling him into a hug. "That is a very good job, I am proud of you." Harry whispered in his ear.
Cadfael squeezed Harry back with all his might before jumping down off the table and running over to where Lantera was sitting wanting to show her too.
Groaning could be heard coming from the floor from where Rodney had landed, and where Elizabeth and Sheppard had disappeared from view as they went to check on him.
Smiling at the antics of his young fosterling, Harry reached over and grabbed Bryce's hand and thought towards him. 'Bryce, could you take your brother up to the conference room to start his homework. I would rather he not be around as I teach that imbecile some manners'
Smirking at the thought of what was going to happen, but turning it into a frown when he saw that his time to be with Harry was being interrupted by these people, He never the less nodded his head.
Not letting go as Bryce started to move away, Harry thought one last thing. 'While you are up there can you get a hold of Jack and warn him that the Earth people are here.'
Nodding his head in agreement, Bryce grabbed his brothers attention, telling him they had to start their homework upstairs while Harry finished his meeting. The sooner they got it done the sooner they could play with Harry.
All happy again Cadfael grabbed his brothers hand, and half ran half pulled him towards the steps wanting to get his homework over as soon as possible because he wanted to go to the park and go swimming.
The President went cold when the mans face, the leader of the Ancient people, turned from warm and caring too angry and cold.
"Would it help if I shot the man?" The President said half in jest, only half.
By this time Rodney who had regained his feet was screaming at Elizabeth. "I will not apologize, I am the one that was hurt here not that kid."
"Rodney I am warning you." Elizabeth returned Rodney's yell with her own.
"Elizabeth for the last time I will not apologize to some little freak who can't even." Rodney yelled in anger than stopped as his under-developed flight or fight instinct kicked in to late.
All the Earth people except General O'Neill cringed back in fear as Harry jumped to his feet as glowing energy, the darkest green it was almost black, engulfed Harry and swirled around him angrily causing a breeze.
With a thought fueled by Harry's rage, his magic shot out and hit Rodney in the chest and pinned him to the opposite wall.
Gripping the table hard enough to leave an impression of his fingers in it, Harry had to work hard at controlling his rage before it got out of control, and he let his rage pulverize the man.
Flinging his arm out violently towards the pinned man and then slashing it in a downward arc towards the end of the table, Rodney McKay flew through the air and landed in a chair that appeared right before he would have hit the floor, only to have chains wrap around his body holding him in place and the sound of tape being ripped off a roll, as duct tape appeared in front of his face and slapped itself over Rodney's mouth.
The President at this point had his head in his hands, trying to think of a way out of the disaster, that once again the Canadian scientist had caused.
Closing his eyes and sitting back down Harry slowly counted to one hundred as he calmed himself down.
John Sheppard gingerly touched the chained Rodney McKay and the tape covering Rodney's mouth. Yep, it was real all right he thought.
Turning his back on McKay, he slowly made his way along with Elizabeth to sit down at the table again.
"I hope you don't mind General O'Neill, I borrowed your technique for shutting up individuals. Seems to work very well, I especially like the pain they go through as they are forced to rip the tape off." Harry said slowly as he opened his eyes to the fearful stares around him from most of the people.
"So, now that.That creature is duly contained." Harry said as he pointed to the bound and mumbling scientist. "Would some one like to tell me what you are all doing here and the subject you are dancing around is?"
Very aware that things could go very badly for them John Sheppard stood up and walked slowly towards the head of the table as non threateningly as possible.
"You have the ability to see other people memories right?" John asked carefully.
"Yes." Harry said staring at the moving soldier wondering why he would ask.
Gulping and finding his courage John replied. "Then do it, and look at mine, it should tell you everything you need to know."
Tilting his head as he stared at the man, Harry finally pointed to the floor in front of him not saying a word.
Hesitating only a second John took two steps and sank to his knees in front of the powerful young man.
Reaching out with his left hand, Harry gently placed his outstretched fingers on the mans face and told him. "Relax, this won't hurt, and I promise not to look at anything that does not directly relate to the incident in question. Close your eyes and think back to the day in question and I will see it unfold as if I was there."
Harry had placed his other hand on the panel that he used to link to the systems and told Aloria to record every thing he fed to it for later study and playback.
The President was startled when a Holo image appeared above the table in the place of all the floating displays.
Fascinated he watched the story unfold before his very eyes, and felt some relief as the story unfolded and he saw the multiple attempts by Colonel Sheppard to help those trapped in a computer generated world, while their bodies slept in those chambers.
After an hour Harry released his grip ending the memory and causing John to wobble a bit.
Closing his eyes he barely heard the others questioning the Colonel as he got back to his feet and made his way down the table back to his chair. Harry was saddened that once again the Wraith had claimed Alteran lives, this time with help.
Opening his eyes Harry asked. " Are you alright, are there any lingering effects?"
Waving it off John said. "No I'm fine, just a little unsteady from kneeling so long."
Nodding his head at the answer Harry speared the Daedalus's commanding officer with a stare as he tried to word his question to be less confrontational than how he wanted to just spit it out.
"You were there Colonel, in your opinion do you believe everything was done that could have been done?" Harry asked slowly and carefully.
Taking his time to answer carefully so as not to anger the man. "If we had the time, I would have had my people try to install a power source bringing some of her systems back online, so we could have moved or towed the ship back to our base, with the hope that in the future we could find a way to release them. But two Wraith hive ships had found us and we just did not have the time." Colonel Caldwell answered.
Harry turned his head to stare up at his fosterlings through the cry-steel wall as they were finishing their homework, seeing they were still occupied. Never the less he wanted to get this done and over with so he could go home with the boys, he promised to take them swimming today, Harry said softly. "I agree. As much as it pains me too, I agree."
General O'Neill and the President let out a sigh of relief at Harry's words.
Turning back to those at the table Harry summoned a data pad with all his findings on it. "This contains all the information our probes have been able to gather on the world you labeled BP6-3Q1, the one from your note with the co-ordinates you left with Remus General O'Neill."
"You were Right General O'Neill, in your supposition that the creatures that infected the Jaffa known as Teal'C, were not a natural occurrence. As such they have been eradicated and you will find that in seven of your days it will be safe for you to fully explore and catalog the planet." Harry told them as he slid the data pad over towards the President.
"Please take note that all mammalian life large than one of your rodents you call mice have been eradicated by those creatures. Though it seems the sea life was spared and seems to be thriving, there is a section in the report covering climate zones of this world compared to your worlds, and recommendations of animal life to be introduced beside the livestock to ensure the planets eco system thrives, based off the species available to you today." Harry stared at the president when he said that.
"Though we will not order you to do so." Harry said as he rose from his chair.
"I must say I am hopeful for your race, seeing as how you have acted with this disaster, and making sure we knew about this tragedy." Harry told them as they too stood up.
"Though that one has not impressed me at all." Harry said as he pointed at the bound Rodney McKay at the end of the table.
"His ignorance and spouting as facts his incorrect information, is deplorable." Harry said as he once again looked over to the President.
"Don't' shoot him on my account.But if you would like to, and for me to hide the body for you, I would be willing." Harry said as a way of saying no hard feelings.
"Now if you will excuse me I have two boys that should be finished with their homework now." Harry started to walk off, and added as he left the platform. "Lantera will see you to the gate."
"Lantera if you would, I have two boys that need to hug me so I can feel better." Harry told her with sorrow in his voice.
"Of Course Lord Commander." Lantera replied softly. "This way gentleman."
As they started to move away from the table, Elizabeth stopped and called out. "Wait what about Rodney, I mean we can't leave him like that."
"Why not?" General O'Neill said flippantly.
"Jack." Drawled the President. "Avoid one war and now you want Canada to declare war on us, really, make up your mind."
Walking back over to the chained man Lantera sneered at him while saying. "If it were my decision, I would let us get rid of him so you can replace him with a real scientist."
"I know you were told about General O'Neill's involvement with a repository and his subsequent placement in a stasis chamber. " Lantera told him as she learned over the chained man.
"Any one with a command of the basic language should have the common sense to realize that stasis means total suspension, and especially with your previous experience with a stasis pod." She sneered at his incompetence.
"So it boggles the mind how one would make the mistake of identifying a hibernation unit for a stasis pod, seeing as even you declared that they were mind linked to the computer and each other. "Getting close in his face Lantera delivered the final blow. "Any one with more than two brain cells should have caught on to the fact if their was brain function going on through a computer link it certainly was obvious they were not in a suspended state like stasis."
Lantera spotted Molly over helping get the last of the volunteers squared away. "Molly, could I borrow you for a moment."
Making her way over to Lantera she stopped when she saw the man chained up in a chair at the end of the table. "Oh dear, none of mine are around to have done this." Molly trailed off seeing the gray shiny tape over the mans mouth.
"Harry did this didn't he, what did he do?" Molly asked in Alteran, as she poked the man making sure he was good and tied.
"Scared the stars out of Cadfael and then refused to apologize and called him a freak." Lantera said with venom.
Getting an evil glint in her eye Molly replied. "Well seeing as the Lord Commander did this, it will dispel when he goes through the Astria well enough."
Giving a brief flick of her wrist the man and chair started to float before violently turning upside down as it followed her towards the gate.
Looking over her should at the shocked and a few smirking faces she called back. "Come along dearies I don't have all day.
Not able to hold her laughter in Lantera called after her. "Molly you are one evil woman, I like you."
Approaching Steven, Molly called out in passing. "Be a dear and connect one of the Astria to their home would you."
As the gate rippled into existence Molly twisted her hand as if she was twisting an apple off of the tree. The greenish looking man rotated so he was looking at her even though he was still upside down.
"You should know that there are those that will not put up with having their children belittled in any way. You should learn that before some one really hurts you, instead of just your pride." Molly told him before flicking her hand towards the gate shooting the man through the event horizon.
Rounding on General Jack she told him as she pushed her finger into his chest. "I blame you for showing that sweet innocent boy that duck tape stuff." Before Molly turned and walked away.
The President could not hold it in any longer and let loose with his laughter letting the stress of the situation leak away.
XXXX
SGC briefing room Earth
Taking his jacket off and sitting down at the head of the table the President asked. "Hank, you still have Jacks hidden bottle around somewhere?"
"I think I can find something for your needs Sir." Hank said as he went into his office and to the bottom drawer of his filing cabinet.
Returning to the table with several glasses he poured the President a stiff drink before sitting the bottle down near the other glasses in the center of the table.
"So.Was there a reason Dr. McKay came flying through the gate with duct tape sealing his mouth." General Landry asked as he looked at Jack, as if blaming him.
"Hey don't look at me, I didn't take any with me." General O'Neill defended himself.
Sitting back in the chair with a smile on his face Hank replied. "Just reminded me of a incident a while back is all."
"In case any one is wondering, there were no broken bones, but Dr. Lam plans to keep him overnight for observation." Hank told them.
"Thank you General. "Elizabeth told him as for once in her life she forgot protocol and poured herself a drink.
"So comments?" The president said, taking another sip of his scotch.
"They are a very powerful race that could be a great Ally." George said slowly trying to start with the positives.
"Yes they are, but do we really want to ally ourselves with a race that angers that quickly?" Elizabeth countered.
"He was protecting his kid for god's sake. I would have done the same, and more." General O'Neill spat out.
"They take the responsibility of their children seriously. He ordered the destruction of a whole solar system because the Wraith were trying to kill their children that had set down there in an emergency without knowing it was a hive world." General O'Neill said as he looked at the bottle on the table longingly.
"Every thing for two light years from that sun is gone." Looking up and piercing Weir with his stare, "If it was my kid, in that situation not knowing if McKay had attacked him or not, he would be dead right now." General O'Neill said coldly.
Tying to ease the tension that was growing, knowing that General O'Neill had more than a soft spot for kids, George offered. "Colonel Sheppard in a bold move neatly defused the whole situation for us. And I think that data proves that they have no harsh feelings and truly wish for the treaty." Pointing at the data pad in front of the President.
"That's the thing we haven't told you yet. It's not a treaty we have been negotiating, it is acceptance into the Alliance of Great Races as the Fifth Race." General O'Neill dropped the bombshell.
Then pointing at the data pad in front of the President. "And that is the ticket that will do it."
Scott lent me his most excellent editing skills for this chapter.