Ep. 5 - The Enemy Within - Glavish/Black/Hopper

[Aear Charter]

2020
Caverns
Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

Aear watched as Fee set to work. She set to work rousing Doctor Black, taking the first aid kit off of him. All he'd done is resealed his face and cleaned up a bit (only because Fee insisted he do such things). Aear didn't know a thing about human medicine and his healing spells were just going to be trading health around and whilst he normally would have done just that he got the feeling he needed to stay conscious.

I need water. I don't care from where. Magic some up if you must. Did you use all the antibiotic cream?! Will you tell the others that we've got him, and then come back? I'll need your help...

Aear grabbed Fee's canteen out of her bag and handed it to her. That bag that was right next to her. (Cause Fee needed a magical kitten to get it for her apparently. And use all the antibiotic cream, he had nanites in his blood what did he need that for?) Aear was attempting to learn (something that came naturally with perfect memory) how to treat... What HAD happened to Black?

Aear helped Fee get Black to somewhere a little safer, next to a control panel where the group could watch over him. As Fee set to work Aear placed his right hand on Black's forehead so that he could run a few nanites through him. Ok it was kind of intrusive but he was sure there was more too this. At the very least there was something... Different, in his blood. He quickly turned the information to data and got his nanites out.

Aear brought up a magical terminal for Fee showing her the substance but not where he'd found it. "You know what this is Fee?" There was no point panicking everyone and there was nothing he thought could be done right here and now. Short of using his nanites to burn the substance out and Aear didn't think Black would enjoy that too much. All he knew was something was wrong here, how much so, that remained to be seen.

Tag: Fiona Maccafferty, Michael Black, Elly Clark, Mikaere Glavish, Thomas Hopper

[Mikaere Glavish]

2020
Caverns
Beneath Pier 1
Meropis


"I'm magic remember? And I must say I'm glad we found you guys rather then more magically fast mole creatures."

Hearing the explanation, Glavish quickly sighed.  His frustration with that answer had to be more than obvious.  Magic?  Magic?!  As far as Glavish was concerned, it was the layman's generic attempt to describe any and everything that they couldn't determine with the use of physics.  Clearly, that was an extensive list.  How the Meowtians, such an advanced species, had adopted such a term into their own culture to describe their scientific feats was beyond him.  Glavish turned his attention towards Elly.  "Clark?" he said simply knowing the woman would give him the reasonable explanation, which he felt he had already surmised in the midst of his frustration.

"Uh... Aear teleported us here, we were trying to get to the comms lab, something must have happened. Um... Sorry? But, where are we... exactly?"

Glavish didn't need to explain as MacCafferty seemed to have figured it out and explained it to the others.  In Glavish's mind if they had teleported in, then it made sense that they had the means to teleport back out.  He didn't get the chance to bring up the idea before a scream from the distance broke the debate about Neptune of all places.  Though no one mistook the identify of the crier's name.  It was Doctor Black.  Whether it was sentiment or instinct that took over, the lot of them began to race in that direction.  Lying on some slab was Doctor Black and the sight that caught Mikare's attention was the totality of it all.  Black... on a slab... injured... meters away from where he had been.  Didn't anyone else see it?  Put the pieces together people... put it together!

"Jaysus, Aear. The whole bloody base can HEAR you, including those....creatures."

"Yes, the same creatures that have stormed the city from below, likely took Doctor Black captive, and...." Glavish began, but it soon became obvious that they were collectively more concerned about Black's well-being.  A bit of frustration swelled within Glavish as he looked in Hopper's direction to see if he was actually on the same page as a soldier for once.

"You'll feel like hell warmed over for a bit; let us help you. Don't fight it. The generator is a few feet from here...where are the others? Headed there?"

"Lets not get snuck up on."

"You know what this is Fee?"

Glavish exhaled.  His eyes began to survey the room.  "You realize this has all the makings of a trap," Glavish stated. "Take one of our own.  Lure us away from the door by getting the bait to scream, all so that we are no longer standing between the husks of steal that would be our salvation."  Pausing his oration, Glavish looked up to examine the entrance they had come through.  "Get that power up.  We need to erect whatever door or field there is to seal this area off."  Glavish ran his hand over what appeared to be a panel.  Examining for a few moments, his finger tips slowly moved over the surface as if searching for some means to pry it open if they couldn't restore power in time.  "Some time today, MacCafferty.  Black can stand a few moments on his own.  You don't get that power on, and we'll all likely experiencing a few last agonizing moments of existence if we're lucky."

Even as he spoke, his eyes seemed to have deciphered the means to operate the console to hopefully close off the area they were in.  Of course, that did beg the question of how they would get out.  One issue at a time.  With power restored, they'd at least have the means and the time to entertain more options than they would if they all ended up in similar or worse condition than Black.

<TAG: Michael Black, Fiona Maccafferty, Elly Clark, Thomas Hopper, Aear Charter>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

2021
Caverns
Meropis

Aear handed her her canteen, and she gave him a LOOK in response to his. He really did NOT need to take that tone of eye with her; she was saving a LIFE here. What was HE doing?! Ok, fine, so he'd been thier protector, but really, now he was sort of useless. She finished up with Dr. Black and then after he was settled, got to work on the panels.

Elly interjected.

Lets not get snuck up on. Fee nodded. Good idea.

Yes, Dr. Clark, that's very wise. Fiona's tone was one of slight annoyance. It wasn't like it was going to be easy to TELL they were getting snuck up on, and Hopper had the doors. If Glavish were going to be useful, then he could stay, if not, he could use her stapler to guard the doors, as well, because too many chiefs and not enough Indians meant trouble.

Glavish nodded, and spoke up after Elly.

You realize this has all the makings of a trap...Take one of our own. Lure us away from the door by getting the bait to scream, all so that we are no longer standing between the husks of steal that would be our salvation. Fee raised an eyebrow, and her brown eyes flashed. There was nothing that annoyed her more than a man who was all mouth and no trousers whilst SHE was working. Get that power up. We need to erect whatever door or field there is to seal this area off...Some time today, MacCafferty. Black can stand a few moments on his own. You don't get that power on, and we'll all likely experiencing a few last agonizing moments of existence if we're lucky... At that, she'd had enough, and turned around, placing a hand on her hip, and pulling herself to her full four feet ten inches.

Listen 'ere, you cute hoor. If your're just going to stand around useless as tits on a bull, then go with Hopper. If have something useful, however, than out with it. I am getting the light on, and you shall wait, or I shall feed YOU to the creatures FIRST. She turned back to her work, and after a moment, the lights overhead popped on. She glared at Glavish once more, but then turned to Aear. He'd spoken and she needed to acknowledge it.

Do you know what this is, Fee? She shook her head softly.

I do not, Aear. Her tone had lightened; the lights were on and Dr. Black was OK for the moment.

Then, the noises started again. Snuffling, and banging. An incessant banging, but the light revealed nothing.

Tag:Mikaere Glavish, Aear Charter, Elly Clark, Thomas Hopper, Michael Black, Plot Twist, bloody bastard!!

[Mikaere Glavish]

2022
Caverns
Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

"Listen 'ere, you cute hoor."

Glavish attempted to mouth the last two words that the woman had spoken.  His brow furrowed as he struggled to comprehend her Irish accent.  "Wait... did you just call me a cute sleeper?" 

Fiona hardly seemed keen to answer as she went on with her mini-tirade. "If your're just going to stand around useless as tits on a bull, then go with Hopper. If have something useful, however, than out with it. I am getting the light on, and you shall wait, or I shall feed YOU to the creatures FIRST.
"

Mikare Glavish simply stared at the woman.  Part of him was wondering if the pressure was getting to her, but if she was having her own psychotic break or worse, a monthly visitor, he could hardly afford to distract her.  They needed power, and if she were going to earn her keep, he needed her to do just that.  He'd contend with this little outburst later.  Clearly, she had forgotten who she was talking to.  Of course, that seemed to be a recurring theme.

Once the area illuminated, Glavish rolled his eyes and sighed.  "Finally," he said.  Standing at the panel, his eyes surveyed the area again.  He then, allowed his fingers to dance over the panel.  And as he did, within a few seconds, the entrance they had stormed through began to weave like light showing that the barrier was in place.  He smiled and nodded in Hopper's direction.  "And watch this." His hand moved over the panel once more and the translucent barrier that had been there seemed to cloud before it was replaced with what looked like stone.  A confident and triumphant smirk fell over his face.  "And finally, a little privacy."

Of course, the reprieve was a brief one before sound of banging could be heard from the other side.  Glavish looked at the others.  "That should hold, but we can't stay here," announced Glavish.  He moved closer to the console that Aear and Fiona seemed to be musing over.  They seemed concerned with Black's condition.  He moved to the neighboring console and his hands began to move across it.  "Let's see, if I set up a looping modulation of oh... twenty-eight characters... that should keep them busy.  Though, they may grow weary of trying to crack the code and just blow the door down.  By then, I'd like to be gone."

Of course the question was go where?  With the numbers that they'd seen, they were likely in one of the safest locations in the entire city.  "We need to establish communications with any remaining allies we have.  Getting out does us no good if we have nowhere to go."  Glavish's hands continued to dance over the console.  His eyes narrowed and then he nodded.  "Maccafferty, use this console to raise anyone.  I just hacked my own G-net frequency which may or may not hold for much longer.  And this time, try using your time more wisely.  Idle threats... really don't become you."

His eyes shifted to Aear.  "You," he said to the alien.  "First of all, if Black is stable, then we need to concentrate on getting him to the infirmary before his condition deteriorates.  Do you still have access to the transportation device you mentioned earlier?"  He wasn't going to say magic.  Meropis wasn't Hogwarts and the alien in front of him wasn't a damned wizard.  His eyes shifted to Elly and Hopper.  "We need to also make sure that we're... alone.  Can the two of you do a sweep of the area make sure that's the case.  Maybe there's another way out of here."  Which also suggested there was possibly another way in.

Glavish finally turned his attention to Black.  His eyes moved his fellow scientist's leg, and then back to the eyes of the man himself.  He needed to get back to the console, so that he could assist the rest of his colleagues, but part of him felt the need to check in with the man.  "How're you holding up, Black?" he asked.  "Dizzy?  Nauseous?  Parasitic lifeform incubating in your abdomen?"

<TAG: Michael Black, Fiona Maccafferty, Aear Charter, Elly Clark, Thomas Hopper>

[Elly Clark]

2022
Caverns Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

They seemed to have come to a strange disagreement about helping black, though as expected it was Glavish who had raised the point.

"Yes, the same creatures that have stormed the city from below, likely took Doctor Black captive, and...."
 He stopped as they moved Black to the console, Elly was looking behind herself to protect an area. Fiona had said something about Elly's comment about not getting snuck up on but Elly was to busy doing just that to register what she had acutally said however.

Dr Clark just kept sweeping the P90 in her hands across the darkness of the room they were in as the others set about the work of restoring power.

"You realize this has all the makings of a trap, Take one of our own. Lure us away from the door by getting the bait to scream, all so that we are no longer standing between the husks of steal that would be our salvation." If she were looking at the civilian leader and not occupied doing what she could to protect him, the others and herself from impending doom, she might have given him a exasperated sigh.

"Get that power up. We need to erect whatever door or field there is to seal this area off."
He pasued for a bit before continuing. "Some time today, MacCafferty. Black can stand a few moments on his own. You don't get that power on, and we'll all likely experiencing a few last agonizing moments of existence if we're lucky." A little impateint she probably haden't even begun.

It was only a few moments after she looked towards Macafferty and Glavish, with a wild look akin to 'what? did she just say what I think she said? and to him?' not that the man didn't deserve it but still, it was not something she would have expected Fiona to say.

"Listen 'ere, you cute hoor. If your're just going to stand around useless as tits on a bull, then go with Hopper. If have something useful, however, than out with it. I am getting the light on, and you shall wait, or I shall feed YOU to the creatures FIRST." Elly wouldn't contest the feeding him first, nor Aear she was sure, and she had a feeling the soldier, who ever he was would mind either, he had a reputation for making the military particularly pissed.

Doctor Glavish's response was one of shock and probably confusion, though he did seem calmer than she would have thought, hopefully he hadn't gotten her research notes on the anti grav drives, she wanted to contribute something less specifically destructive than naquadria generation to this and humanity as a whole, even if she was just translating it mostly.

"Wait... did you just call me a cute sleeper?"She coughed back a snicker.

Elly looked back just as the lights came on, she didn't flick the light off, perhaps shining it in their eyes when they were in more ambient light would also help, it had worked well in the stairwell in the dark. It was then the sounds not identicale but recongnisable, the monsters were coming, however it seemed Glavish would prove his usefulness beyond insulting and terrorising others, if only a little. 

"Finally, and watch this." he said as a barrier was erected she had already faced it and had pointed her weapon at the entrace, it then clouded.  "And finally, a little privacy." She looked back at him, then the soldier, then Aear and Fiona. 

"That should hold, but we can't stay here,  "Let's see, if I set up a looping modulation of oh... twenty-eight characters... that should keep them busy. Though, they may grow weary of trying to crack the code and just blow the door down. By then, I'd like to be gone." Elly looked at him, leaving as soon as possible was probably a good idea, and hopefully they wouldn't kill the power again if or when then got in. But as the saying goes, 'we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.'

Though Glavish seemed ready to continue she didn't ask what the plan now was, they had gone as far as the other had gone really, "We need to establish communications with any remaining allies we have. Getting out does us no good if we have nowhere to go." She responded after a depper breath. "That was already our plan, we need to get the military talking and working cohesivly again if we are going to get rid of these things, as much as you voice your distaste of them, they are good at that kind of thing, it is their thing." She was trying to tread carefully and not provoke him, but to firmly layout what they already had in mind, somtimes it helped to be firm yet fair, not that Glavish probably understood it as his next comment would demonstrate.

"Maccafferty, use this console to raise anyone. I just hacked my own G-net frequency which may or may not hold for much longer. And this time, try using your time more wisely. Idle threats... really don't become you."
Not quite hacking really then but still naming it after yourself was self absorbed, she had deliberatly left no name to her process of artifically creating the naquadah, though it did bear her name it was in a more technical sense.

She had a feeling Fiona would at least attempt to carry out her threat, Aear would most likely help and Elly wouldn't protest, she looked at the soldier. "I'm Dr Clark, and you might be?" They usually had a thing for rank and doctor was the closest thing she had to one.

"You, First of all, if Black is stable, then we need to concentrate on getting him to the infirmary before his condition deteriorates. Do you still have access to the transportation device you mentioned earlier?"
 Glavish tact would have to meassured in negative values for sure, Aear had just broguht what had likely just saved the man, the same one whom had snapped back at him when he pushed to far. He then Looked to her and the Soldier.

"We need to also make sure that we're... alone. Can the two of you do a sweep of the area make sure that's the case. Maybe there's another way out of here."Glavish, ordered.

"okay," She looked to the Soldier. "Best ways to go about this, I'm not military so any pointers would be great." Elly concluded.

As the Soldier and Elly began to sweep she heard Glavish speak lowly, and she glanced over he shoulder, he was talking to Doctor Black, it seemed he cared about him, or atleast his abilities.

<TAG:Thomas Hopper, Aear Charter, Mikaere Glavish, Fiona Maccafferty, Michael Black, Plot Twist.>

[Michael Black]

2020-2025
Caverns Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

A figure loomed down over Michael, it was Aear Charter this time – the alien from Ueda as Michael knew him. Aear placed his hand on Michael’s forehead and caused a warm, tingling sensation to spread across his skin. Black would normally have objected strongly to this without prior knowledge of the procedure Aear was carrying out, but he was powerless to argue. He squinted up at Aear in the gloom, the alien’s eye looked rough. Black wanted to speak but he didn't have the energy just yet, Aear had gone and used his bloody alien tech hadn't he!? Michael wanted to yell at him, the research wasn't done into the long term effects of linker cores away from the Meowtian home world. He couldn't let Aear do that again, another teleport jump could very well tear the prince apart in front of their eyes.
"You know what this is Fee?" Mr. Charter said to Miss. Maccafferty while displaying a holo-screen of the initial scan of Dr. Black. Fee shook her head. A constant buzzing still occupied Black's head, it was annoying but nothing he couldn't ignore at the moment.

“You realize this has all the makings of a trap," It was Glavish talking now, way to brighten the mood, Michael thought, "Take one of our own. Lure us away from the door by getting the bait to scream, all so that we are no longer standing between the husks of steel that would be our salvation. Get that power up. We need to erect whatever door or field there is to seal this area off." Michael wasn't sure how he felt about potentially being used as bait; he also felt the pressing urge to find out exactly what had been injected into him as soon as psychically possible. Suddenly however, and all at once, things seemed to click into place. Fee and Elly had been working on a control panel and rewiring it to provide power and Glavish had activated a defense shield, he was proud of the team they had here.

"And finally, a little privacy." Black watched as Glavish managed to erect the force field, effectively separating the chamber into two separate rooms. He winced as the creatures that had somehow found their way into the large chamber threw themselves at the now opaque wall that kept the team safe. That was a close call, a few minutes longer and they’d have been easy pickings. The now-smaller chamber the group occupied slowly began to illuminate. He may be one of the IOA’s cronies but Black had to admire Glavish in action when things got tricky,
"That should hold, but we can't stay here. Let's see, if I set up a looping modulation of oh... twenty-eight characters... that should keep them busy. Though, they may grow weary of trying to crack the code and just blow the door down. By then, I'd like to be gone." said Mikaere.

Black’s eyes scanned the room around them as the light poured into every ancient crack and crevice. There was now no doubt about it, this room was of ancient design. Several control panels and readouts occupied various walls in the circular space. Black's blood smeared stone slab lay a few feet away from the group, and beyond that, Michael’s eyes locked onto something. He wasn't sure if the others had noticed it as they began to discuss a plan to get the communications back online and get Michael some help, the conversation went back and forth and seemed very thorough and structured he was sure but Michael found himself unable to listen. The noise from the creatures ceased within moments of the lights coming on, leading Black to theorize in his weakened state that the light was filtering through the force shield and scaring them off. By now it had become very clear that they preferred to hunt in the shadows.
"How're you holding up, Black? Dizzy? Nauseous? Parasitic life form incubating in your abdomen?" Glavish had bent down to ask him.
Michael’s gaze remained fixed on the point across the room, unable to speak, he simply stared. To Doctor Black it had now become very obvious what had been siphoning off power from the main conduits over the last few days.

Finally, the others saw what he saw. In the center of the room stood Almeda, the android/replicator being they had awoken in Lilith’s hidden auxiliary lab not more than two weeks ago. Next to her was a coffin-sized transparent case set on a platform with more equipment that seemed to hum to Michael. The inside of the case was obscured by a white mist which, even as Michael concentrated, seemed to fade – a human figure garbed in white robes lay there. He felt a little more strength returning to him by the minute and Michael was able to pull himself back up to his feet, leaning on the wall for support. He stumbled his way toward the platform, completely ignoring protests from the rest of the group, and leaned over a control panel. Almeda seemed completely absorbed in entering commands into another display over on the wall and didn't even acknowledge the group’s presence. Michael glanced over the display, leaning on it for balance, and turned his head back toward the team,
“This chamber is cycling through an opening sequence.” He stated through gritted teeth. The platform clunked as bolts were released deep inside the mechanism. Michael slowly stepped away from the device.

<tag Fiona Maccafferty Aear Charter Mikaere Glavish Elly Clark Thomas Hopper>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

2025 hours
Meropis
Caverns

By now, Fee had had ENOUGH.

She put her hands back on her hips. She REALLY needed a stool so she could look this Glavish in the eye when she gave him what-for, but she'd suffice for tip-toes.

Wait... did you just call me a cute sleeper? She shook her head.

Nope, bloody pain in me arse. Now light is on. 'Twould've been on FASTER had you stopped whining and HELPED me. It's bleedin' closed-circutry, elementary for YOU. SUPPOSEDLY. With his IQ and accolades, it should've been child's play. For Fee, it took a moment longer than it SHOULD have because she was stretching to reach things.

"Finally She tossed her head at him. As she had said, it would've gone faster if he'd gotten his head out of his rear end and lent a hand. At least he could REACH the bloody panels. He moved his hands around the panels, like she did for the doors, and made a wall appear.

Finally.And finally, a little privacy. She shook her head. Would be nice if they weren't in a dark, dank cavern, fighting for thier lives. More stupidity spewed forth. That should hold, but we can't stay here. Let's see, if I set up a looping modulation of oh... twenty-eight characters... that should keep them busy. Though, they may grow weary of trying to crack the code and just blow the door down. By then, I'd like to be gone. She shook her head, almost shaking.

Only if Moles can suddenly read Java script! She was now to the point of exasperated. She could NAME the number of times she'd met a mole that could read, understand, and backdoor into a code: precisely ZERO. On second thought, she said, snapping her fingers, Under section 12 of the NASA Civillian agents field guide, subsection A, I am relieving you of your seniority. Hang tight, guys, I just about have the lights to the whole caverns. We'll need to go back up to get the rest online. There. Let him deal with THAT!

Elly smoothed things over as she crossed to Black and Aear. She noted that Michael was staring off at something, and she directed her gaze towards it. He spoke, his voice tense, still feeling pain. Something appeared; Almeda at a console of sorts. A hologram, most likely. Or the lack of air was getting to ALL of them. Dr. Black stood, even as she tried to protest. He moved towards the alien.

This chamber is cycling through an opening sequence. Fee nodded, and looked at him.

Aye, I suspected it for some time. I would like to see if I can't magnetize it to see if I can stop it. I've tried overriding the codes, but I can't keep up on my own, and Glavish there is useless. She sighed. What did this mean? She absently reached over and touched Michael's hand. You should sit back down. Keep up your strength.

Tag:@michaelblack, Mikaere Glavish, Elly Clark, Aear Charter, Thomas Hopper, Plot Twist!!

[Aear Charter]

2020-2025
Caverns beneath Pier 1
Meropis

Aear was still studying the strange substance he found inside Dr Black. He was struggling to make heads or tails of it, probably because he struggled to make heads or tails^[1] of human biology. He was still trying to understand it when the lights came on. He looked away shutting off his magical terminal. What in the black sea did he miss while he wasn't paying attention?

We need to establish communications with any remaining allies we have. Getting out does us no good if we have nowhere to go."

"That was already our plan, we need to get the military talking and working cohesivly again if we are going to get rid of these things, as much as you voice your distaste of them, they are good at that kind of thing, it is their thing."

"Brave Phoenix were supposed to be sending over a diplomat today. I should be able to send a mental message if they've arrived. She'd be with Conway right?" It was a plan at least. Aear knew his friends were sending over a diplomat. (The kind of friends that happened to be a private military that you paid for protection of your colony.) Aear however still unaware that they'd hired, let alone sent, his first Gunner partner.

"You," he said to the alien. "First of all, if Black is stable, then we need to concentrate on getting him to the infirmary before his condition deteriorates. Do you still have access to the transportation device you mentioned earlier?"

Aear turned to Glavish. Didn't he know it was Aear's job to be inappropriate? Aear wasn't about to let anyone take his job from him either. Aear strolled over, grabbed Glavish's arm and maneuvered him over to where he'd previously vomited blood. Aear simply pointed at the purple puddle. ^[2] "That is how I got them here. The next spell I try to cast will probably fail and put me in recovery form so unless you're good with carrying me around i'd shut the hell up."

Fee was pretty much glaring at Glavish who seemed rather irritated himself. Elly looked rather flustered and Black was dragging himself to his feet. You sure you're okay to stand there? Fee seemed to be more concerned with Black then herself at the moment and Aear probably knew better then anyone how she could hold her own.

It was then that Aear noticed Almeda, and that things were moving, not the room they were in but he could hear and feel things moving nearby. Black suggested something was opening and it didn't take a manufactured genius to figure out that the idea was very, very bad. "Great, the alien mole creatures beat me to build a giant death ray of doom."


[1]Get it? Tails ^^
[2]Uedans have purple blood for those that didn't know or forgot.

Tag: Fiona Maccafferty, Elly Clark, Michael Black, Mikaere Glavish, Thomas Hopper, Plot Twist

[Michael Black]

2028
Caverns Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

Fee had joined Michael halfway between the group and the stasis chamber platform. The pod was cycling open still, Almeda – if it even was Almeda – continued to pay the group no attention.
“Aye, I suspected it for some time. I would like to see if I can't magnetize it to see if I can stop it. I've tried overriding the codes, but I can't keep up on my own, and Glavish there is useless. You should sit back down. Keep up your strength.” Her Irish tones were even quite soothing in this terrible situation. However, Black wanted to see what was in that pod. Perhaps whoever it was had some answers for them about the creatures and the power loss. Before he could do anything else, a searing pain struck through Michael’s body, running up and down his spine like a jolt of lightning. He doubled over clutching his stomach and forehead. It was like a great orchestra had struck up all of sudden within his mind. Even more strangely, he instantly knew what it was.
“The Stargate just opened.” He said before stumbling back to the wall and leaning on it in agony, “I can FEEL it!” The way he’d said that couldn't make it any more obvious that he was in distress and this was not a good thing.

The low hum from the middle of the room had now reached it’s peak. A whoosh from the stasis chamber made everyone flinch, the glass split cleanly in two before both sides rotated back and down into the platform. The occupant lay still and exposed on the soft white material that formed his bed. For a brief moment, Michael even thought he might already be dead and that this was all just a waste of time. The man suddenly gasped, taking a long and sharp intake of air before sitting up and rubbing his face with his hands as if sick or tired. Michael considered how powerless the group had been to stop the chamber opening, it had all happened quite suddenly, and what else might happen they wouldn't be able to stop? If there was any kind of airborne pathogen in there with the mysterious stranger, it was already too late for all of them. Not that it bothered Michael, glancing at the rash of prickly skin on his forearm – he had bigger problems to worry about. The man had an intelligent look about him, he had short grey hair and blue eyes. He sat still rubbing his face and neck, obviously not content with being woken from his sleep. Michael fumbled in his jacket for the ancient life-signs detector and pointed it at the male. He was getting a reading, flesh and blood - not a replicator like Almeda. He showed the device to Glavish and Maccafferty.
“Is he... Is he an ancient?” Michael dared to ask.

<tag Mikaere Glavish Fiona Maccafferty Aear Charter Elly Clark Thomas Hopper>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

2028
Caverns Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

Fiona ignored the others as they made a plan. She assumed that Hopper had different orders and assignments than the scientists. She focused on HER assignment-Almeda. Right now, the hologram-sort of image was typing furiously. Fiona was convinced that it was a loss of oxygen-they were seeing things. The canary in the mine sort of thing. She would have spoken, had Michael not doubled over in seeming acute pain. 

“The Stargate just opened...I can FEEL it! She looked at him. He wasn't kidding. She looked up, and yelled. 

Aear, Elly?! We've got problem. She indicated Dr. Black to the two others. Glavish came over as a man appeared before them, with Almeda. 

Is he... Is he an ancient? Fiona stood with her mouth lightly opened and her eyebrows cocked. 

Haven't a balding. Looks human to me. She looked to the man; he reminded her of her own Da, actually-Kenneth Maccafferty had blue-grey eyes and gray hair these days, though it had been brown when he wore a younger man's clothes. She simply spoke to the image. 

Well, are you or aren't you? The others LOOKED at her, and she shrugged. What?! 

Tag:@michaelblack, Aear Charter, Elly Clark, Mikaere Glavish, Thomas Hopper, Plot Twist bastard. 

[Elly Clark]

2025-2028
Caverns Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

It seemed that Fiona had had enough of Glavish, she couldn't blame her but yelling at him when he might have something useful to them wasn't going to help them, she felt much the same way, but had learnt you couldn't change people like him, they were who they were, and were often both brilliant and stupid, often at the same time, it seemed as though she would have to play reasonable voice, as much as she might have been a different person if she were on the reciving end. Aear and Glavish discussed how they had gotten here, she didn't like his explanations as much as Glavish did, but she had leanred to accept his terms for things were different and in her mind silly, but none the less to him correct, and it often took some straining questions to learn information about 'magic'.

"Nope, bloody pain in me arse. Now light is on. 'Twould've been on FASTER had you stopped whining and HELPED me. It's bleedin' closed-circutry, elementary for YOU.
" Elly might have laughed or gaped her mouth at such comments directed at their boss... but at the moment she was too busy getting ice walled by the soldier and trying to make sure nothing else was int heir with them. Though it seemed the Firey red head was earning that name today.

"Only if Moles can suddenly read Java script!" It wasn't Java and their probably werent moles... but the point remained she had reminded Fiona of the fact they seemed to lack any higher intelligent functions. But the icing on the cake for the moment was what Maccafferty said next."On second thought," Elly had a mental 'uh oh...' and looked to the solider, the Canadian woman was going to have a hard time getting Glavish off Fiona if it came to physical violence without possibly killing him. "Under section 12 of the NASA Civillian agents field guide, subsection A, I am relieving you of your seniority. Hang tight, guys, I just about have the lights to the whole caverns. We'll need to go back up to get the rest online." 

Elly turned mouth slighlty open, what? NASA had no authority over the IOA, atleast not someone like Glavish, the only people capable of removing him legally weren't in the room, well that wasn't precisely true but he wasn't mader than usual. She looked to Glavish then the Soldier, she hated what she was going to say.

"Uhm... I think we should all just work together forget ranks and all that flim flam, we can let General COnway or Captain jones or someone else decide this later, she looked hard at Glavish, NO buts, it's the fariest solution and until then, I say someone other than you two take control... preferably not me..." She glanced appolgetically at Fiona then quickly Aear then at the Soldier, she hoped they would play nice, becuase otherwise, the true Canadian inside her was going to try to put some people on the floor, hockey puck or not.

Black then said something as new sounds filtered around the room. She went to say something about rest and not moving but he seemed certain and said something first. "This chamber is cycling through an opening sequence."
 She turned quickly toward it leveling her P90 at it and taking a few steps until the figure inside became distinguishable. "Aye, I suspected it for some time. I would like to see if I can't magnetize it to see if I can stop it. I've tried overriding the codes, but I can't keep up on my own, and Glavish there is useless."

"Great, the alien mole creatures beat me to build a giant death ray of doom." She sighed, his sarcasm was occasionally grinding. "N-not quite." Black then said something insane, atleast to her. “The Stargate just opened.” Black stumbled back and she dropped the P90 on it strap grabbing his arm, to help steady him. “I can FEEL it!” She gave him a strange look then looked to Fiona as she called for them. "Aear, Elly?! We've got problem.." We've got a lot of problems today, she thought.  "C-can you feel it?" She didn't know how the gene worked, not anything beyond the basic.

The chamber then went from a hum to whoosh. She pantic and let go of his arm, snatching at her weapon. She held it up towards the chamber, who knows what kind fo terrible things the ancients kept around they didn't have a good track record and their reports were certainly not contradictory. Black then said something else, something that got her into a new mode. “Is he... Is he an ancient?” Uh... uh... she should probably ask, blakc was likely to hurt or any number of things to get his ancient going well... probably. 

Fiona beat her too it as she racked her brain for the correct words. Haven't a balding. "Looks human to me." Fee then quickly went on to ask something more. "Well, are you or aren't you?" SHe looked at her. "We look like them... and well... he might not understand english... maybe we should try ancient?" She glanced at Black then to the man. She knew she was going to butcher this infront of the man, but her written and reading was much better than spoken. "Anquietas?" (Ancient for Ancient/old one) It likely sounded more Latin than spoken Anceint but surely someone stuck in stasis for a quite a while could forgive her?

<TAG: Michael Black, Fiona Maccafferty, Aear Charter, Mikaere Glavish, Thomas Hopper, Plot Twist, hopefully nice ancient who forgives Elly for her poor spoken Ancient.>

(Link to Ancient I used, tried to get anceint font but I realised it might not gell so well with everyone broswers and computers so yeah. stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Ancient_language )

[Mikaere Glavish]

2029
Caverns
Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

Doctor Glavish was torn between annoyance and amusement as the petite redhead made her claims of relieving him of his command.  His only response was a stern glare as he crossed his arms.  He didn't even manage a retort before the alien threw in his two bits, or rather move him to the puddle of purple hue.  Glavish pulled himself free of the Meowtian's grasp and glared down at him.

"That is how I got them here. The next spell I try to cast will probably fail and put me in recovery form so unless you're good with carrying me around i'd shut the hell up."

Glavish chose not to add any commentary.  It wasn't his problem that the Meowtian had a lack of physical stamina that would prevent him from doing another jump.  Of course, if he did end up in recovery, would it really be the worst thing in the world?

"Uhm... I think we should all just work together forget ranks and all that flim flam, we can let General Conway or Captain Jones or someone else decide this later. NO buts, it's the fairest solution and until then, I say someone other than you two take control... preferably not me..."

Glavish could appreciate Clark's attempt to be the voice of reason, but he was hardly the one that needed any talking to.  Glavish simply held up his hands.  "Oh no... no," he said.  He moved against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest again.  "Maccafferty clearly has all of this well in hand."

"This chamber is cycling through an opening sequence."

"Aye, I suspected it for some time. I would like to see if I can't magnetize it to see if I can stop it. I've tried overriding the codes, but I can't keep up on my own, and Glavish there is useless."

"I've been relieved, remember?" said Glavish innocently.  He simply sighed as he watched them attempt to stop the chamber's opening sequence.  It wasn't a task easily done, but Glavish certainly had a plan as to how to do it.  One simply needed to create a subroutine that allowed the sensors to believe the sequence was complete.  Not an easy feat, but one manageable enough.  Then, it was simply a matter of reversing the sequence to shut it.  Once it was closed, the sequence would have reset to its original settings. Though, Glavish offered nothing.  Instead, he simply let them futilely attempt to halt the process.

Personally, he was curious what was on the inside.  He didn't think any dangerous antigens were within.  The Ancients were quite meticulous when it came to sterility.  And rather than preserve a virus, they likely would have eradicated it so that it wouldn't pose a threat to any of its progeny... or anyone they deemed worthy to come looking for them.  No, the station had been infested by mole creatures and there was this mysterious room that they had no ideas about.  It was about time that they got some of their questions answered.

“The Stargate just opened. I can FEEL it!”

It was that comment that actually forced Glavish off the wall from where he had watched.  What the hell was Black going on about?  How could he possibly feel the Stargate?  He started to move a bit closer and eventually found himself next to Maccafferty once again.  His eyes looked down at the scanner that Black was trying to show them, but his attention was more on Black himself.

"Is he... Is he an ancient?"

"Haven't a balding. Looks human to me. Well, are you or aren't you?  What?!"

There were no words?  Of course he looked human.  What ancient had she seen that looked like a smurf?!  Glavish rolled his eyes, and it was roughly about the time that Clark spoke once more seemingly the voice of reason.

"We look like them... and well... he might not understand English... maybe we should try ancient? Anquietas?"

Glavish's eyes widened.  Clearly he had spoken too soon where Clark was concerned.  Naturally, it was at this point that he chose to speak up once more.  Otherwise, this man would consider them less than intelligent life and this entire situation would do nothing but degrade.

"English should be fine, Doctor Clark," Glavish chimed in.  "The power source may be separate, but the computer network is integrated with the city's.  It'll recognize our language soon enough.  Unless you'd prefer to continue translating your entire conversation verbatim."  His eyes then moved to the man.  "I'm Doctor Mikaere Glavish from Earth.  And instead of playing twenty questions with you, I'd like to try to nail it down to three.  First, who are you?  Secondly, the city has been overrun by these mole creatures that emerged not far from this location.  What can you tell us about them that will aid us in safely leaving this room, expelling them from the city and saving the lives of our comrades."  Glavish took a deep breath and then looked over at Black briefly before back at the man.  "Lastly, why can he feel the Stargate?  I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't a completely foreign concept to you."

<TAG: Michael Black, Fiona Maccafferty, Elly Clark, Thomas Hopper, Aear Charter>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

2033
Caverns
Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

It was growing later in the evening, and Fee was tired. She'd been working all day, and while, by all appearances, her job was easy, in reality, it was anything BUT. Not only did she maintain the mainframe coding system, she also kept the peace with the alien species, not just with the Tau'ri, but with each OTHER. Plus, she was slightly neurotic and maybe a little crazy.

Uhm... I think we should all just work together forget ranks and all that flim flam, we can let General COnway or Captain jones or someone else decide this later..NO buts, it's the fariest solution and until then, I say someone other than you two take control... preferably not me... Fee looked at Elly, her face neutral.

Thank you for your input, Elly. Dr. Black, Officer Hopper?! She was fine giving up control...but only if someone was going to DO something. Elly at least had brains in her head and was doing stuff, the brains in Glavish's head seemed to be operated solely by testerone, and she was a bit too busy saving them to be pretty. Elly was at her side, doing what she did as a translator. Fee was holding a wire, WHY WERE THERE NO OTHER WIRES in a freakin' science lab?!

We look like them... and well... he might not understand english... maybe we should try ancient? Anquietas? The "ancient" ignored Elly like he had Fee. Great. NASA had only spoken of Ancients in files she'd been forced to read, but she had exactly ZERO training on them, and obviously, she didn't speak Ancient. She shrugged, and muttered in Celtic.

Marbhfháisc ort* SHe sighed and turned back to her task. She worked steadily, stripping the ponytail holder from her braid down, and removing the two batteries from her radio. One of the others would have to be her ears, but she could at least get the power back on. From her first aid kit, she extracted some tape and scissors. She set about creating a closed circuit, and then she got the rest of the lights on. She had NO idea if they would work anywhere else-probably unlikely, since it was a closed circuit, but maybe one of the techs up base could at least tap in. It was the best she could do without a full set of tools and a half-dozen inches in height.

Finally, once the four lights were on, Glavish came with something useful.

English should be fine, Doctor Clark...The power source may be separate, but the computer network is integrated with the city's. It'll recognize our language soon enough. Unless you'd prefer to continue translating your entire conversation verbatim. I'm Doctor Mikaere Glavish from Earth. And instead of playing twenty questions with you, I'd like to try to nail it down to three. First, who are you? Secondly, the city has been overrun by these mole creatures that emerged not far from this location. What can you tell us about them that will aid us in safely leaving this room, expelling them from the city and saving the lives of our comrades."Lastly, why can he feel the Stargate? I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't a completely foreign concept to you. Fee waited. Maybe HIS approach would work, because redundancy ALWAYS worked. She shook her head, and looked to Black.

How are you know? I am going to get the comms back online. Dr. Clark, I can use your help translating the codes.

Tag:@michaelblack, Mikaere Glavish, @elly, Thomas Hopper, Aear Charter, Plot Twist, you're up, and if you mess up the code, you're a dead man. Again.

*Means, basically, "To hell with it."

[Plot Twist]

2038
Caverns
Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

The man frowned as voices drifted across the room toward him,
“Is he... Is he an ancient?”
“Haven't a balding. Looks human to me. Well, are you or aren't you? ... What!?”
"We look like them... and well... he might not understand English... maybe we should try ancient? Anquietas?"
The man turned to face the group assembled near the control panel; he shuffled to the edge of the platform and dusted off his brown robes as a smile spread across his withered complexion. One of the group seemed to be slumped over in a bit of pain. He slowly eased himself off the platform and onto his own two feet, momentarily ignoring the group while he regained his balance. Somebody was talking to him,
"I'm Doctor Mikaere Glavish from Earth. And instead of playing twenty questions with you, I'd like to try to nail it down to three. First, who are you? Secondly, the city has been overrun by these mole creatures that emerged not far from this location. What can you tell us about them that will aid us in safely leaving this room, expelling them from the city and saving the lives of our comrades. Lastly, why can he feel the Stargate? I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't a completely foreign concept to you."
Almeda made her way over to the chamber and began to climb in,
“Thank you Almeda.” He said as the chamber slid closed over her, placing the android back into stasis once more. He returned his attention to his visitors; some of them seemed visibly shocked by his comprehension of English.

The man lifted a shaky hand to his head, still weary after using the stasis pod,
“My name is Dorane. It has been... So long.” He paused, a look of concentration washing over him, “I was hoping my people would- Creatures?” Dorane grimaced,
“The Koan.” There was almost a distaste to the way he’d said it, “I had hoped they were dead, after all this time. I see you’ve erected the blast doors, we should be safe in here from them for the time being... The Koan were a nocturnal species, they don’t venture out in the daytime – but that was when they first came here. I thought their species would have died off by now.” He glanced over again at the slumped man that Doctor Mikaere Glavish was referring to. He slowly wandered over to Doctor Black, the man still feebly clutching and staring at an ancient life signs detector. “Hmm.” Dorane reached out a hand toward Hopper, “You there. Give me your scanner as well please.” Hopper obliged, looking a little confused as he did. Dorane took Black’s detector away and pressed the two together. He then slowly moved the two detectors toward Black’s face. Suddenly, Michael Black yelled and clutched his head. Dorane quickly moved the detectors away and placed them on the floor.
“It is as I suspected. Your friend here clearly has an affinity with Alteran technology. It is possible that he can feel it yes, but why? That I do not know. Perhaps it would be best to keep him away from any of the devices you may have on you.”

Dorane slowly shuffled back toward the center of the room, looking this way and that. It seemed that something clicked all of a sudden,
“Come, come. This way!” He gestured toward an alcove that had appeared where Almeda had been stood before. It seemed to be a small barely lit, single-file passageway. Dorane led the way, “The Koan are an alien species. Barely sentient, but clever, and they can be vicious. They were brought here from their world by the Etruscans, to infiltrate our defences from underground. I thought they would have died out, the last few times I went to explore I found no sign of them.” Dorane stooped to fit through the passageway, it was a short tunnel that led into another, similarly sized lab. How many of these rooms were there down here?
“This is my communications array.” He said, waving an arm at a wall covered in ancient technology that now blinked and glowed. Two zero point modules lay in an open metal case on a low bench. A third was gently glowing and tied into the ancient systems. The first two looked lifeless and dead, having clearly reached maximum entropy a long time ago. Dorane shuffled up to a control panel and entered a few commands,
“Oh my. I see you’ve been busy here. This certainly bodes well.” Again a grin crossed Dorane's face briefly, before he set about scrolling through the readings on the data screen.

<tag Mikaere Glavish Fiona Maccafferty Aear Charter Michael Black Thomas Hopper Elly Clark>

[Elly Clark]

2029-2038
Caverns Beneath Pier 1
Meropis

Glavish was going to be a child, she accepted that now petty and child like. His pointed words at Fiona and his leaning against the wall were clearing meant to antagonize them, if she could she would slap him very, very hard and if that didn't work find a hockey stick and beat some sense into him or all the crap out of him, it was not going to matter in a little while if he kept it up.

They then went between themselves about leading but none seemed interested, It was almost going to by default fall back on Maccafferty Or herself, both of which she didn't like right now. But when she tried Anceint to the Ancient Doctor Glavish seemed again ready to attack her decision, while he might have technically been correct, it was only polite to speak to the man in his own language if they could, and also he'd probably been in stasis for a few thousand years, the translation download might not be immediate or even possible now.

"English should be fine, Doctor Clark, The power source may be separate, but the computer network is integrated with the city's. It'll recognize our language soon enough. Unless you'd prefer to continue translating your entire conversation verbatim." If that would make you either more cooperative or less of an asshole she'd do it. "He's been in stasis for probably quite a while... just trying to be helpful..." She wanted to add more to that sentence but the Glavish and the ancient had other plans.

"I'm Doctor Mikaere Glavish from Earth. And instead of playing twenty questions with you, I'd like to try to nail it down to three. First, who are you? Secondly, the city has been overrun by these mole creatures that emerged not far from this location. What can you tell us about them that will aid us in safely leaving this room, expelling them from the city and saving the lives of our comrades." Elly Mentally scoffed he had no real interest in saving their lives, beyond looking good and confirming his self absorption. 

When Glavish got onto Black she looked towards the doctor with a look of compassion, she bet it was perhaps one of the most awful things he was going through now, but feeling ancient technology was certainly something she didn't understand, But to save him they needed to work together and find out who and what this ancient was doing here. But only for a moment as the Ancient stepped out of his pod before thanking what seemed to be Almeda who then took his spot in the stasis pod. Fiona had asked for Elly's help but the Ancient spoke.

“My name is Dorane. It has been... So long.” He paused, a look of concentration washing over him, “I was hoping my people would- Creatures?” That certainly didn't bode well for them... but the guy had been in stasis for 'So long' as he put it, just how long they would try to find out when they had time. 

“The Koan. I had hoped they were dead, after all this time. I see you’ve erected the blast doors, we should be safe in here from them for the time being... The Koan were a nocturnal species, they don’t venture out in the daytime – but that was when they first came here. I thought their species would have died off by now." The way he had said their name and spoke about them seemed to conform to the enemy of my enemy is my friend line of thought. Elly was somewhat stunned they were speaking to an actual ancient, it seemed they might finally be able to not have one die on them or otherwise be unhelpful.

She watched him as he walked over to Black. “Hmm. You there. Give me your scanner as well please.” Dorane said to hopper, the soldier obliged and the Ancient then took the detector from Black. Dorane pressed them together and moved them towards Doctor Black who exclaimed and clutched his head. "Hey! Did you have to do that to him?" As much as this man was an Ancient and surely the smartest person in the room, he couldn't just do as he pleased.

“It is as I suspected. Your friend here clearly has an affinity with Alteran technology. It is possible that he can feel it yes, but why? That I do not know. Perhaps it would be best to keep him away from any of the devices you may have on you.”  That was comforting for her, She didn't have any on her, she didn't have the gene so their wasn't much point giving any to her, though she still desperately hoped she'd get the Therapy and it would take, but she hadn't even figured out a way to eve ask for it, not yet, but after today, she might reconsider.

Clark watched as Dorane moved around, then had an idea or a epiphany of sorts and lead them down what appeared to be an alcove where the Robot Almeda had been standing sometime before. “Come, come. This way!” Elly looked to the other and Followed first behind Dorane. “The Koan are an alien species. Barely sentient, but clever, and they can be vicious. They were brought here from their world by the Etruscans, to infiltrate our defences from underground. I thought they would have died out, the last few times I went to explore I found no sign of them.”

"Yeah... about that... we might have had a battle here and in space around this planet when the first group came to Meropis, they know where it is again... maybe they brought more or awakened some from stasis or something like that then?" It wasn't outlandish but they might have needed to update him on a few things. The Tunnel Alcove lead them into a a lab similar to before, Dorane stepped out first and Elly followed rudimentarily checking the room for the Koan.

“This is my communications array.” He said, Elly noticed the ZedPMs almost to quickly their, glow unmistakable, along with the sight of two at maximum entropy, it was saddening but the more Modules they had, evendead one could help them replicate the technology and power behind them, it was part of the reason many of the science team, including herself were. "What kind of Communications array needs a stand alone ZedPM? Subspace capable I assume, but just for communications... are you running a galactic TV station?"

Dorane was reading at a control Panel Elly was a few steps behind trying to keep pace, but he was reading faster than her and it didn't help she had to convert the numbers from base 8 to base 10 as well on the fly, she wasn't that good, Black would have more of a chance at this, or Doctor Jackson, she was only getting fragments most of them seemed to be general statistics, and one about life signs, normal stuff, he probably could get more out of this faster than they could explain everything. “Oh my. I see you’ve been busy here. This certainly bodes well.”
It bodes well... that unsettled her, what exactly could that mean. She turned to the others. "General city statistics and stuff... but I can't keep up, also the base number conversions aren't making it any easier."

<TAG: Michael Black, Mikaere Glavish, Thomas Hopper, Fiona Maccafferty, Aear Charter, Plot Twist, Suspicious Ancient,>