“What is it, General Carter?” asked Sister Helena. General Carter gave the parchment to Sister Helena. It was a rubbing of the pedestal that stood in the center of the village of P4X-987. Sister Helena was shocked. “General, I've seen this image in my vision!”

  “Sister Helena, this image is on a pedestal on P4X-987!” Exclaimed General Carter. “Since we left them no way of contacting us when SG-1 departed, they have found a way to do so. Though I'm not sure how they got the iris open.” She chuckled to herself. The way the people of P4X-987 were contacting Earth reminded her of when General O’Neill used a tissue box to see if Dr. Jackson was alive on Abydos after their first mission through the Stargate thirty years ago. Then General Carter got an idea. “Sister, come with me and bring the stone. I want to try something.” They went downstairs to the control room. “Sergeant Crow, dial P4X-987.

  “Yes, General,” replied Sergeant Crow. He pulled up the address but got an error message. “General, this address is blocked by order of General Hammond.”

  “Understandable, Sergeant. That Gate was buried twenty-five years ago. Let me give you my access code.” She went to the computer and inputted her access code, unlocking the address. Then Sergeant Crow dialed the Stargate. The inner ring began to spin. As the Stargate’s chevrons were illuminated, Sergeant Crow called out when each of the chevrons encoded. As the Stargate finished its dialing sequence Sergeant Crow announced:

  “Chevron Seven locked.” The Stargate kawooshed and Carter looked at Sister Helena. She had the stone in her hand.

  “Close your eyes and concentrate on the people you've been seeing in your visions,” said General Carter.

  “Alright,” Sister Helena replied. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Instantly, she saw the village and the young girl. She looked downcast as before. “I see her,” said Sister Helena. “The little girl in my visions.”

  “Can you go to her and tell her that help is coming?” asked General Carter.

  “I'll try.” replied Sister Helena. She saw the little girl knelt to her level. She wished she could comfort her in person, but she couldn't. Sister Helena noticed the little girl wore an apron, so Sister Helena took her scapular to her face with a motherly smile. She mimicked blowing her nose and drying her eyes with her scapular. She did this several times until the little girl dried her eyes and blew her nose with her apron.

  “That's a good girl. I'm Sister Helena of the Cross. Don't you fret. Help is coming. Do you understand? We are coming to help you.” The girl smiled and nodded.

  “Good,” Sister Helena said. “We are coming.” She broke her connection and General Carter ordered the Stargate to be shut down. “I sent a message that we were coming. They understand.”

  “Sister Helena, how hard was that for you?” General Carter asked.

  “Not hard at all. It almost came naturally.” This gave General Carter another idea.

  “Sister Helena, would you be willing to submit to a physical including a blood test?”

  “I guess. Why?”

  “Sister, Ancient technology requires a special gene to activate it. It was passed on to humans by the Ancients through interbreeding. I think you may have the gene and at a high level.”

  “I see,” said sister Helena. “Then let's find out if I do have this gene.

  “All right,” said General Carter. She motioned to Sergeant Crow. “Take Sister Helena to the Infirmary and have Dr. Lam run a physical and a blood test on her. Find out if she has the ATA gene and at what level. I suspect it will be high.”

  “Yes, General,” said Sergeant Crow. “Sister, right this way please.”

  While Sister Helena underwent her physical and blood test, General Carter summoned Colonel Larkin to her office.

  “You wanted to see me, General?” he asked.

  “Yes, Colonel Larkin, have a seat.” Colonel Larkin sat. “It's been 3 days. What's what is your selection?”

  Colonel Larkin sighed. “I wish I could give you some good news, ma'am. But the fact is neither Barnhofner nor Hughes appealed to me as a good fit for my team.”

  “Very well. I'm assigning Sister Helen of the Cross to join your team, pending your her physical and blood test.”

  “Sister Helena of the Cross. I've never heard of her,” said Colonel Larkin.

  “She's a former Air Force captain who has retired from the military to become a Carmelite nun. Several weeks ago, she received communications from P4X-937, via an Ancient Long Range Communication Device. The have requested our aid to defend them from a possible Goa’uld invasion of their planet.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Are you assigning a nun to my team? She'd be a non-combatant.”

  “That's correct,” General Carter replied, “but she has the ATA gene. I suspect she has it at a high efficiency. She will be your team's cultural advisor.” There was not much Colonel Larkin could do. General Carter's mind was made-up.

  “And our mission will be?” Colonel Larkin asked.

  “You'll be going to P4X-987 for a long-term mission. More details will be at the briefing.”

  “I see.” He could sense that there was something more. “Is there anything else you'd want to tell me?”

  “Yes. Colonel, there's something we need to discuss regarding Sister Helena.”

  Colonel Larkin nodded the sensing the gravity of the situation. “Go ahead, ma'am.”

  “Sister Helena...” Carter began, choosing her words very carefully. She knew the news would be devastating to Colonel Larkin, but she had to tell him. “…was formerly known as Victoria Burney. As I mentioned she was an Air Force Captain and... a member of the Rogue NID.”

  Colonel Larkin’s eyes widened, and his jaw tightened. “Rogue NID? Those people killed my brother!”

  General Carter nodded; her expression sympathetic. “I know this is hard to hear. Helena was involved in some operations that led to tragic outcomes, including the loss of Patrick. After her capture she served her time in prison and since dedicated her life to seeking redemption.” Colonel Larkin clenched his fists struggling to contain his anger. This news was a shock to him. He had harbored a grudge to the Rogue NID for going against the ethics they had sworn to uphold as officer of the Air Force and now with Space Force. But to work with a woman who was responsible for his brother's death, he could not take it in.

  “And you want me to work with her? To trust her?” General Carter sensed the anger on Colonel Larkin’s face and in his posture.

  “Colonel Larkin,” said General Carter gently, “I wouldn't be assigning her to your team if I didn't believe in her abilities and commitment to change. I believe she has a unique proficiency with the ATA gene and she has valuable knowledge that is crucial to the mission.” He knew she was right. So, he sighed and looked down at the floor before meeting General Carter's gaze again.

  “I'll try ma'am. For the sake of the mission.”

  General Carter nodded, grateful for his professionalism. “That's all I ask. Give Sister Helena a fair chance. You’re all working towards the same goal here.”

  “I understand, General.” Though deep down he was not so sure.

  “Good. Gather your team in the briefing room. I'd like you and your team to meet her. Dismissed.” As Colonel Larkin left, there was a buzz on the intercom.

  “General Carter, it's Doctor Lam. Can you come to the infirmary. It's about Sister Helena. Her test results are ready.

  “I'm on my way, Doctor,” said General Carter.

  General Carter went up to the infirmary. She found Doctor Lam and Sister Helena there.

  “You wanted to see me, Doctor?” General Carter asked. Something about Sister Helena.

  “Yes,” replied Doctor Lam. “Sister Helena’s test results came back. She has the ATA gene and high proficiency. I can’t say for sure, but she may be up there with General O’Neill, General Shepphard, and Doctor Beckett.” She showed General Carter the test results on the monitor and gave her a physical copy as well.

  “I see,” said General Carter. “Thank you, Doctor.

  “If I may, what does thar mean for me?” Sister Helena asked.

  “It means that you can use Ancient Technology with a high rate of proficiency at the same rate as some of our personnel at the SGC can. I’d like to have some tests run on you to test your abilities with the ATA gene before the mission. For now, I would like for you to meet the SG-Team you will be working with on your mission. Come with me.” As they made their way to Level 27, Sister Helena asked General Carter:

  “General Carter, it has been some time since I was involved with the Rogue NID and I don’t remember if Colonel Galli ever mentioned to me but who are the Ancients?”

  “The Ancients were an advanced race of humanoids who created the Stargates and other advanced technology, including ships and city ships.

  “City ships?” Sister Helena asked. “Were they ever on Earth?”

  “Yes, they have been” General Carter. “For a time, they lived on Earth. Have you ever heard of Atlantis?”

  “I heard of the myth of an ancient city that sank into the ocean.”

  “Well, it’s partially true. Atlantis was one of the city ships the Ancients built. It is currently in another galaxy. We found it about twenty years ago. It’s been to Earth a couple of times since then.”

  “Really? That’s interesting.”

  “Doctor Daniel Jackson created a series of videos designed for newcomers to the Stargate Program. I’d like for you to watch them.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I will,” said Sister Helena.

  “Good. I’ll have a tablet sent to your quarters.” The two had entered the conference room where Colonel Larkin, Squadron Leader Fairbairn and Oversersjant Bjornson were waiting. They were wearing green battle dress uniforms. As soon as General Carter entered the room, they all stood at attention.

  “At ease, everyone,” said General Carter. “I’d like for you to meet Sister Helena of the Cross. Sister Helena, I’d like for you to meet the members of SG-24, who you will be serving with. This is your commanding officer, Colonel Marcus Larkin.

  Both Sister Helena and Colonel Larkin froze.

  Sister Helena felt a pain in her chest as she heard his name. “Larkin,” she thought. “Is he related to the man that I killed while I was with the Rogue NID?”

  Colonel Larkin stiffened, his jaw tightened, and he couldn’t help clenching his fists a bit. He couldn’t believe that he was meeting the woman who was responsible for his brother’s death in person. He could have unleashed his anger out on her, but he remembered what General Carter had told him. “Give her a chance. You’re working towards the same goal.” So maintained a level head and extended his hand.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Sister. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

  “Likewise, Colonel.”

  “This is Squadron Leader Isolde Fairbairn, the team’s executive officer and science officer,” said General Carter.

  “Welcome, Sister Helena,” said Fairbairn as she smiled.

  “Likewise,” replied Sister Helena as she shook her hand.

  “This is Oversersjant Gunnar Bjornson, the team’s tactical specialist,” said General Carter.

  “Welcome, Sister Helena,” Said Bjornson. A large grin was on his face as he extended his hand.

  “A pleasure,” said Sister Helena. “I look forward to working with you.”

  “Sister Helena has a lot of work to prepare for the mission,” said General Carter. “I expect each of you to help her. Squadron Leader Fairbairn, will you take Sister Helena up to level 3 for processing?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” replied Fairbairn, “Sister Helena if you will come with me.”

  “I would like for the four of you to have dinner in the commissary this evening together to get to know each other better. The briefing for the mission will be tomorrow morning at 0900 hours. Dismissed,” said General Carter.