Table of Contents
THE CHOSEN
From above them, a cry went up. It burns. The river burnsand the Wraith with them!
This time, Teyla made no move to stop the Dalerans climbing the trees to witness for themselves. Indeed, she immediately pulled herself aloft and stared across the eastern fields. The sight was mesmerizing and more than satisfying. The entire eastern portion of South Channel was a blazing inferno. Lines of fiery serpents began to appear through the far fields, where the oil had flowed along irrigation channels. From this distance it was not possible to make out individuals, but she could see many smaller flames moving about, like the wicks of a hundred candles. Having stumbled into the oil, some of the Wraith had been set ablaze. The gruesome creatures had extraordinary regenerative properties, but it was doubtful if those caught in the fields of oil could survive such a sustained conflagration. The three vast columns of Wraith began to fall back.
Cries of joy traveled across the treetops, and Teyla felt a measure of relief. The battle to come would not be easy, but the people of Dalera were now empowered by the sight before them.
Ushat touched her arm. She took his Shield from him, and he signaled the warrior below to blow the trumpet. Reply calls from the Citadel told them that the EM fields close to North Bridge and the western end of the wall had also been disabled. Just before the roiling black smoke obscured her vision, she noticed the nearest column of Wraith headed in their direction.
They come! cried a lookout. At the speed the Wraith were moving, the first waves would soon be upon themfar sooner than Teyla had planned.
An original publication of Fandemonium Ltd, produced under license from MGM Consumer Products.
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2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. All Rights Reserved.
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METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Presents
STARGATE ATLANTIS
JOE FLANIGAN TORRI HIGGINSON RACHEL LUTTRELL
RAINBOW SUN FRANCKS and DAVID HEWLETT as Dr. McKay
Executive Producers BRAD WRIGHT & ROBERT C. COOPER
Created by BRAD WRIGHT & ROBERT C. COOPER
STARGATE: ATLANTIS 2004-2006 MGM Global Holdings Inc. STARGATE:
ATLANTIS is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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ISBN: 0-9547343-8-6
Printed in the United Kingdom by Bookmarque Ltd, Croydon, Surrey
To Cody and Amber
SW
To James
EC
Thanks also to:
The cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis for creating such a fun world in which to play. Special thanks to David Hewlett, David Nykl, Torri Higginson, and Paul McGillion, all of whom took time out of their extraordinarily busy schedules to offer insight into their respective characters, and to my children, who sustained me with unending cuddles and chocolate fish.
SW
Many, many thanks are due to Sonny, for being willing to take a chance on me, for her invaluable guidance along the way, and for being the most generous coauthor I could have imagined. Thanks also to Sabine, for instantly welcoming me into the fold; Sally and Tom, for trusting Sonnys judgment; my family, for their faith in me now and always; and my husband, for his endless support, understanding, and fantastic cooking.
EC
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from religion.
Corollary to Clarkes Third Law
PROLOGUE
S omehow he felt just a little cheated. Sitting on the grass, the mid-afternoon sun warming his face and the breeze ruffling his hair, Major John Sheppard decided that this day was just about perfect in every way. The brilliant blue skyideal flying weather, the aviator in him noted idlywas completely inappropriate for the magnitude of the decision he was about to make. Storm clouds would have been more fitting, or at least something with a little less cheer and a little more drama. Figures. He allowed a wry grin to twist his lips. Unpredictability seemed to define his life.
Taking the road less traveled was one thing, but he was pretty sure Robert Frost had never considered that it might lead to another galaxy.
God, another galaxy . He still hadnt wrapped his mind around that concept. Days ago, hed been minding his own business at McMurdo Station, secure in his view of the world: namely, that it was far from perfect but at least followed a rational set of rules. It was quiet, he was getting lots of stick time, and the environment, while hostile, didnt come with gun-toting inhabitants determined to blow him out of the sky. At least, thats what hed thought until that freaky missile had fired at him. Then hed taken a seat in that equally freaky chair, and everything that hed thought he understood about the world had gone out the window.
It was an unparalleled opportunity, theyd all told him with the same expression of wide-eyed wonder. Travel instantly to another galaxy, explore the culture and technology of a race far more advanced than our own, and take a stab at defending Earth from a nasty fate. He was a strong natural carrier of the all-important gene. Think what they could do with his help. There was just that one tiny detail about possibly never coming home.
It surprised him that he wasnt more afraid of that prospect. Then again, he wouldnt exactly be leaving behind a stellar career and devoted family, and Antarctica was already about as close to an alien environment as he could imagine.
Still, another galaxy?
Leaning back against the hillside, John wondered if the idyllic weather was a sign. He dismissed the thought when he couldnt be certain if it was telling him to stay on Earth, where there were lovely sunny days, or to consider this opportunity a step toward a brighter future. And because he couldnt interpret the potential omen and had no better luck interpreting his own turbulent thoughts, he returned to his original plan.
