STARGATE ATLANTIS Exogenesis - Sonny Whitelaw

The eye of the beholder...

When Dr. Carson Beckett disturbs the rest of two longdead Ancients, he unleashes devastating consequences of global proportions.

With the very existence of Lantea at risk, Colonel John Sheppard leads his team on a desperate search for the long lost Ancient device that could save Atlantis. While Teyla Emmagan and Dr. Elizabeth Weir battle the ecological meltdown consuming their world, Colonel Sheppard, Dr. Rodney McKay and Dr. Zelenka travel to a world created by the Ancients themselves. There they discover a human experiment that could mean their salvation...

But the truth is never as simple as it seems, and the team's prejudices lead them to make a fatal error - an error that could slaughter thousands, including their own Dr. McKay.

Exogenesis

"The Ancestors do not want us here, Teyla," Halling said by way of greeting. "We are being punished."

Teyla felt compelled to deny his words, and yet he had uttered Ea's very sentiments. "As children we idealize our parents. It is only when we grow older that we come to understand that they are both fl awed and fallible."

Halling went to speak, but she motioned for him to let her finish. "That does not diminish our love and respect for them. Indeed, our greater understanding allows us to judge their shortcomings, and our own, less harshly."

"Then should we no longer aspire to be worthy of them?"

Gently clasping his arm, Teyla looked up into his troubled eyes. "Not all of the Ancestors were as pure in spirit as we once believed. We should aspire to be worthy of those who were. But perhaps more importantly, we should aspire to be worthy of each other."

Taking a step towards the jumper, she added, "Come. The Daedalus will be arriving soon to evacuate everyone."

When Halling did not respond, she turned to see him staring bleakly up at the mountains. For his next question, she could provide no answer.

"I wonder how Jinto is faring."