Borealis (Stargate Atlantis FF)

Chapter 15 News

John was standing in the entry to Chaya's temporary quarters. The visit to the Ancient woman was the first thing of his agenda just after the sleep and small breakfast and he was anxiously awaiting being let in. He passed his hand over the sensor and waited until the door opened. He stepped in and was greeted by a familiar face.

"Hello, John." Chaya said weakly. "I didn't think to see you so soon."

"I..." John didn't really know what to say.

"I hope everyone of your people is safe." Chaya said moving to stand by the crib that used to be Torren's. "This was a close call." Her voice sounded strained and unsure.

"They are safe. What about your people?"

"They will be fine. Apart from Maya and Janus they needed only minor attention from your medics." Chaya said. "Do you know when I can see Maya?"

"Sam told me to get you to the observation room in an hour." John said. "Beckett will brief us all about the medical situation there." Then he looked towards the crib and only then noticed quiet fussing sounds. Then the child started crying. "Who is it, Chaya?"

"It's Mercury, Maya's son." Provided Chaya taking the child into her arms. "He's getting restless without his mother..."

Then the strangest thing happened when John came closer to examine the child for himself. Mercury turned and reached for him. John was sad when the child started wailing even more but Chaya seemed just tired.

"Can you hold him for a moment?" She asked.

"I-"

John was not given any time to consider his answer when the woman put the child into his arms. Surprisingly after a short while boy stopped crying and smiled contently. Chaya, who was retrieving a bottle from a bag looked at them both with wonder.

"Even Jinto can't calm him down so fully and so quickly" she wondered. "It's just like he acts for his mother..."

"I can't believe this kid is living with you on a battleship." Stated John swaying lightly and looking into a smiling face of this unusual child. "I wouldn't believe any father would agree to his kid being put in constant jeopardy."

"He has no father." Chaya said sadly. "I mean we don't know him." She continued seeing John's questioning expression. "When Maya was descended and we joined her she had no memories of her life from before. We were working on getting the ship to this galaxy and then we were starting to fight the Wraith and one day we were just worried about her health. Kenosos determined she was pregnant. And from what we gathered the child was not conceived during the time after descention."

"Can ascended beings...?" John almost chocked.

"No." Chaya said surely. "There is no body. We think she was pregnant when she lost her natural body and that's why descending her, bringing her back to her physical body, basically creating it from energy, was so difficult and taxing. There were two lives to bring back."

"And since she lost her memories..."

"She was not able to think even about possible fathers." Chaya concluded. "But there were feelings, John. Feelings we all envied her. Feelings of love and trust and being loved. She felt them thinking of her child. She knew she was deeply loved and protected when Merc was conceived."

"She could really do that?" John was amazed.

"It is possible but we don't know how, it only happens with feelings woven very deeply into the heart. It's still a mystery."

John was surprised how those ancients seemed different from all the previously met ones. He was holding in his arms a child of a human woman who, despite being vulnerable, was accepted as a leader and followed without a word and cared for deeply. The child himself was treating him with a lot of friendliness and trust, unlike most kids John knew. He looked and stood patiently when Chaya fed the baby and was suddenly overcome with a warm feeling of closeness and need to protect. Out of his musings got him the chime from the door and he was surprised when Jinto entered through the open door. The young man seemed accustomed to the kid and took Mercury from John's arms.