The Fall of Iconia

Chapter 25

A/N: Standard Disclaimer...

Chapter 25

Rene finished repelling into the hole, let go of the rope and turned around. He always felt in awe when he saw a stargate. Just knowing that this level of technology had been around for hundreds of thousands of years left him reeling.

This particular gate was dusty and clearly hadn't been used for a very long time, but there was an intact DHD set up near it. Tessa reached the bottom a moment later, and stepped to his side. "I suppose it would be too much to ask for there to be power to it," she said wistfully.

"Probably," he agreed, "but didn't you say Colonel O'Neill and SG-1 once powered one off of, what was it called, an alternator?"

"Yes," she said warily.

"What if we jump started this gate with a phaser power pack?"

"Do you really believe that there's enough power in a phaser to open a stable wormhole to Iconia Prime, or Earth?"

"No, but we'll always wonder if we don't try, won't we?"

"I have a better idea," she said, starting up the rope.

He watched her start up, then said, "Are you going to try it the way it is now?"

She stopped climbing and looked down at him. She was only a meter and a half up, so simply dropped back down. "I s'pose that would be a good idea, wouldn't it."

"I'm not sure about you, but I'd feel kinda silly if I pulled apart my phaser only to find that the gate had power already."

She nodded and walked to the DHD.

Deep Space Nine...

Janus flashed into being just outside his parent's suite. He had kept an eye on his aunt until she and Dr. Weir disappeared into the past. He had tried to follow them, but had been unable. They had gone to that three hundred thousand year period where the Q's power did not work. Now, he had to explain to his father, and he really was not looking forward to it.

Hesitantly, he reached out and pressed the door chime.

"Come!"

His father was obviously home. He reflected that twenty years ago, he would have flashed directly into this man's room, and started some mischief. Now, however, he was glad to show his respect for both his parents.

"Janus!" his father said in surprise. Picard had been playing his flute, and he now set it on the table in front of him.

"Hello, Father." He turned to address the two women seated across from Picard "Mother. Janet." He was amused by how much this incarnation of his sister looked like their mother, even though, in theory, her genetic makeup now had no relation to either of their parents.

"Hello, Janus. What are you doing back so early?" his sister asked.

Picard indicated a chair beside him, and Janus sat down. He didn't relax into it, however. He seemed tense. "I watched as Weir's ship took off for the delta quadrant. As it accelerated, it entered a wormhole, quite by accident."

Picard felt a sense of dread. "It went back in time, didn't it?"

"Yes, Father. We can only take the long way around to them."

"When are they?"

"Approximately two thousand centuries ago."

"Where we can't get to them without sitting powerless for a hundred thousand years," Picard said, clearly disgusted.