Borealis (Stargate Atlantis FF)

Chapter 11 Emotional

Daniel Jackson was spending another night in the lab that had been discovered last week. It was some kind of hall of memories and traditions. You could find there some things you would not expect from the Alterans. There was even a section about what you would call 'legends'. So Daniel sat there and explored all the text without stopping. It was a totally new side to the technologically advanced race that had invented the Stargate system. It looked like they were much more passionate than they wanted to appear.

"What are you doing here, Danny?" Asked Jack entering the room. "Found anything interesting there?"

"Actually, yes." Said Daniel preparing to show his friend some part of the text.

"I didn't ask 'what' you found, I just asked 'if'!" Jack warned.

"Okay..." Daniel looked at him suspiciously. "So... why did you come here?"

"You're the expert on the Ancients... You know them."

"We're not really friends, you know. Quite the opposite rather."

"Caldwell saw the crew of the Borealis." He informed. "He says he recognized some of them from the Atlantis database. Looks like some of them were part of the group that came back to Earth and apparently ascended."

"And descended back to 'fight for the peace in Pegasus'?" Daniel asked ironically.

"It looks that way." Jack said. "There is also the thing about a human woman leading them. You think it is even possible?"

"A year ago I would tell you that it was a ridiculous idea..." Daniel started.

"Daniel..." warned Jack.

"After reading through even a small part of this I can see that we may have underestimated the spiritual part of their nature." Daniel said. "Now I think a human might be leading them, she would just have to be quite extraordinary and have a lot to offer."

"Extraordinary, check. Much to offer – probably also check."

"Jack?"

"What?"

"You know who leads them, don't you?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah..." Jack answered truthfully. "We, I mean Carter or more precisely Beckett... did even a DNA test to determine her identity and it looks conclusive."

"You gonna tell me who it is, or...?"

"No."

"Okay..." stated Daniel unsure what to think. "Any other things?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to know if you'd be my best man?" Asked Jack. "You know, the wedding, next month...?"

"Sure, Jack. I couldn't say no, could I." Daniel answered with a smile. "Any idea who's gonna be the bridesmaid?"

"I think Sam wants to ask Vala, but it was just an idea, I don't know who she's gonna choose eventually. The Daedalus will be on Earth in eight days, so there is still time to decide. But Vala certainly IS invited to the wedding itself, so..."

"It's going to be a momentous occasion." Said Daniel and then looked Jack in the eye and smiled widely. "I still can't believe you actually, finally asked her. It looked like you'd never make the step."

"Well, the circumstances changed a little."

"Thankfully."

**

When Jack left Jackson looked back to the Ancient notes. After a while he noticed Jack left a red piece of paper on the console beside him. Daniel opened it and saw one short note. It said 'Janus is the XO'. As unimportant as the message seemed it actually gave Daniel an idea where to look for his answers. He found a batch of notes left by the Ancient scientist and searched for the last ones before leaving Atlantis. One name seemed to dominate the log – Elizabeth. Then Jackson noticed the color of the note and instantly knew who was the captain of Borealis. Considering she was a replicator the last time anyone saw her it looked improbable that she would be back but there was something that could be a clue in the notes, he knew. He just had to find it. For himself and for Jack, to give him some answers.