Cleaning Up After The Ancients - Chapter 149

Chapter 149 - New Old Worlds

The next morning had come quicker than he would have liked after the discovery of his amplifier induced electrokinesis. But dealing with the Jaffa Nation took precedence over his own desire to experiment, and that was likely to be a lot more trying than dealing with Earth politicians.

So Eventus had managed a good six hours sleep, and had been up and ready to go at the gate embarkation room by seven sharp to meet Teal’c as he’d come through the stargate to escort him to Dakara.

Taking a few seconds to double check the charge was still full on both of his personal shields and side arm, Eventus gave a thumbs up to the gathering of people in the gate control room before turning to Teal'c.

“You're sure they won't mind the weapon?”

“Unlikely.” Teal'c replied as the gate began to spin. “Most in the council chambers will be armed as I am.”

“Chevron one encoded.” Walter’s voice announced over the room's speaker as a cachunk sounded from the gate.

Eventus's eyes flicked to the Ma'tok staff the Jaffa was casually holding. “Have you ever considered an upgrade? Because there's a lot of changes I could do while maintaining the weapons basic form.”

“Chevron two encoded.”

There was enough internal space in the Ma'tok staff design that you could add all sorts of interesting extras once you miniaturized the weapon function.

“I could add a rapid fire mode, limited automatic targeting, a unidirectional force field… Oh!” Eventus exclaimed as an idea hit. “I could make the ends able to generate lightsaber blades.”

“Chevron three encoded.”

“You can make a lightsaber?” Teal'c asked, raising a single eyebrow in seeming interest.

Holding up a hand, Eventus made a so-so motion. “I could make something close to a lightsaber. Doctor McKay helped me work out the design specifics a couple weeks back. And it should be able to do everything but reflect weaponsfire.”

“Chevron four encoded.”

Unfortunately reflecting pulse weapons was all but impossible as the fields containing the energy pulse just couldn't be interacted with in a way that might cause that sort of effect without bursting.

Teal'c seemed to consider his words for a moment before giving a slow nod. “I would be interested in seeing a blue one.”

“Chevron five encoded.”

“A blue lightsaber or a Ma'tok staff with blue lightsabers at the ends? Eventus asked to be sure since the Jaffa hadn't specified.

“The former.” Teal'c clarified.

“Chevron six encoded.”

Eventus nodded. “Do you have a handle style preference? Because I can do classic Star Wars, modern Goa'uld, modern Asgard, or the various eras of Ancient.”

“Classic Star Wars.” Teal'c said simply.

“Chevron seven locked.” Walter finished as with a final thunk the last of the address symbols was registered.

The unstable vortex exploded out from the gate before quickly collapsing back into the water-like shimmer of an active event horizon.

Staring at the wormhole for several seconds, Eventus turned to look up at the control room. “You know, when I get back to Atlantis I could totally ship you guys a replacement DHD and stabilizer platform?”

“Na, we’re good.” O’Neill’s voice echoed out from the speaker.

Teal’c turned to the control room and offered a nod to the people within. “Do not worry O’Neill, I will do my utmost to return the Ancient intact.”

“I’d say you didn’t have anything actually capable of hurting me.” Eventus began with a smile. “But even my people were unable to invent a shield capable of blocking out the pain of politics.”

“Indeed.” Teal’c returned with a slight smile before he turned and began walking up the ramp to the gate.

Following a step behind the Jaffa, Eventus stepped through the event horizon.

Traveling through a wormhole generated by a second generation gate was a distinctly different experience from what the Lantean was used to. The deeper subspace layer the wormhole threaded through creating an illusion of darkness that was only interspaced by the bright stars of other Stargate’s subspace beacons.

A desert heat slapped him across the face as they arrived on Dakara, the change from climate controlled bunker to planetary environment whose sun was trending towards the end portion of its lifespan still somewhat shocking even though he had been expecting it. 

“I like what you've done with the place.” He offered as he looked around the rebuilt forum. “You've got a nice combination of architectural styles going on, though a bit sparse on the waterworks and plant life for my personal taste.”

“Landscaping selection is currently stuck in committee.” Teal'c offered, eyeing the trio of Jaffa that was approaching them with thinly veiled caution.

Climbing the stairs up the Stargate platform, the one in the center, a somewhat tall and extraordinarily well built man with tanned skin and a black tattoo on his forehead, raised a fist to his chest and bowed his head. “Tek'ma'te, Teal'c.”

Teal'c inclined his head. “Tek'ma'te, Mol'ar. Does Bra'tac await us in his usual chambers?”

“Of course.” Mol'ar confirmed, dropping his fist back down to his side. “I'm afraid to say however that in the few hours you have been gone, word of the Ancients impending visit managed to reach the general populace.”

Teal'c frowned. “I see. Who was it?”

“I do not know.” Mol’ar said, giving an apologetic shake of his head. 

“Something I need to be worried about?” Eventus asked the pair.

“Possibly.” Teal’c admitted with a slight incline of his head. “More likely however it is an attempt to influence sentiment.”

“So politics.” Eventus sighed.

“Indeed.” Teal’c confirmed before turning back to the trio. “You may escort us to Bra’tac’s chambers.”

Mol’ar nodded, motioning to the others before all three turned and began walking down the steps with Teal’c joining in step moments later.

Letting out a quiet sigh at the pointless pageantry, Eventus followed along as they made their way towards a moderate sized building to the left of the worn away statue that hid the surface portion of the reconstructor facility.

He wasn’t going to mention there being more to the facility of course, though how nobody had figured it out was something of a mystery given the power requirements for the device had been large even by Lantean standards.

“There has been much debate on whether to try and restore the statue.” Teal’c put forward as he noticed Eventus’s gaze. 

“I have some pictures of what it originally looked like if your people want a reference.” Eventus offered. “Though personally I was never really a fan of that era’s architectural choices.”

“I will keep your offer in mind.” Teal’c said before resuming his silence.

The entryway of the building they entered looked to lead off into a quartet of deeper rooms, and the Jaffa led them to the one towards the left of the entrance.

“We will leave you here.” Mol’ar said, stepping to the side and nodding to them. “Chel Nok, Teal’c.”

“I fear it shall be needed.” Teal’c returned with a nod of his own before pushing open the large iron banded doors.

Bra’tac’s chambers were about what Eventus had expected. Bare grey stone walls with an interior lit braziers burning with an odorless fire and various heavy dark wood furnishings that held a bevy of scrolls, books, and knicknacks. 

“I thought I asked not to be…” Bra’tac began angrily as they entered, only to trail off as he looked up from the bevy of papers on the table in front of him.

“Teal’c!” He rose to his feet with a smile. “It is good you returned so soon.” His eyes flicked over to Eventus. “And even better that you bring one who may hopefully soon be a new friend.”

“Eventus Iuxta Devera.” Eventus introduced himself with a smile.

“Bra’tac of Chulak.” Bra’tac returned, motioning to the chairs situated around his table. “Come, sit, we have much to discuss before the council convenes.”

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Author’s Notes: You kind of have to respect how hard the Jaffa went into politics. Even if Eventus doesn't given how much politics annoys him.