Chapter 9

  It was a serene morning on Othalla. The gentle dew sparkled on the lush, rolling hills as the sun rose gracefully over the horizon, inviting a new day. As the warm rays of the alien sun touched Amos Fyree’s dark cheeks, he felt a comforting warmth that reminded him of the events from the day before. The Milky Way Replicators had been vanquished, Asgard was safe, and now he and his companion Freyr were preparing to embark on a mission that held the promise of changing the universe forever—provided, of course, that they could convince the Asgard High Council.

  Amos got up from his bed in the Penthouse the Asgard had given him after saving Hala from the Replicators and walked over to the sink by the window in the living room of his apartment. “...the Asgard don’t have to shit do they?” mumbled Amos to himself as he scurried around his apartment looking for a place to use the restroom.

  “Where is it? Where is it? Where’s the fucking toilet!” yelled Amos. “Fuck… Fuck!” Here Amos was in one of the most technologically advanced civilizations in the cosmos and it dawned on him that the Asgard neither peed nor pooed.

  They were considered gods once, but even gods have to take a shit! Amos looked around his apartment frantically. He could see the Asgard computer that they gave him, a small tablet laying on his bed, outside of his bedroom was a small outdoor pool where he could swim and relax while enjoying Othalla’s pristine weather.

  Ascending the stairs, one would discover an intimate bedroom that featured a crackling fireplace, a modest desk inviting creativity, and a stunning glass roof overhead, providing an unobstructed view of the sprawling cityscape below. Yet, nestled discreetly in a corner of the living room, a substantial staircase spiraled downwards, leading to another glass-encased sanctuary. This space held a quaint shower, designed somewhat impractically for the size of a twelve-year-old, along with a simple bucket and a sink equipped with both hot and cold water—innovative yet ultimately lacking in the more basic comforts Amos longed

  Amos hadn’t done number 2 since he arrived in the past; nearly two days of adventure was waiting inside of him. “That’s it!” Amos said to himself frantically. Amos ran to his Asgard computer core and banged on its keys like he did on the first day of computer literacy class in the sixth grade. “Ah hah, Eureka!” out of the small matter converter came a small silver toilet with wipes and a detachable waste bin. “Goddamnit it can even flush!” said Amos with a sigh of relief. Amos moved his new prototype toilet next to the shower and sink and sat down on his latest invention – a toilet. He grabbed his wipes and relaxed as nature took its course.

  On his brand new toilet, Amos began thinking about Freyr and the conversation he had last night. Although the Replicators had been defeated in Ida and Milky Way, there was still an entire planet of Replicators millions of light years away in Pegasus. Before he had fallen asleep Amos’s mind filled with ideas of all the things he could do with the Replicator technology in Pegasus. Not only could they permanently remove Asurus, the Replicator homeworld, as a future threat to Earth, but with Replicator technology – no Lantean technology – he might be able to save the Asgard as well. Amos wiped himself and flushed the toilet then made his way back into the bedroom where his alien tablet was kept. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed through the large glass wall a group of Asgard staring at him. Were they looking at him while he was taking a shit? Everyone back on Earth had heard stories of little grey men abducting men and women to run sexual experiments on them. Those people didn’t know about Stargate Command, and they didn’t know those little grey men were the Asgard. Amos felt that if he stayed on Othalla one more day, that he too might be abducted and experimented on – sexually. Amos quickly ran to the terminal on his room's door and pressed a button that turned his transparent glass walls black.

  “Shwoo,” Amos breathed a sigh of relief and continued on with the rest of his day.

  After programming the Asgard computer to make himself some breakfast, he sat on his sofa and began thinking up ways he could be of some good; as well as an excuse for getting off of Othalla.

  “Hmm, oh I forgot my tablet,” Amos said to himself. As soon as Amos reached up to grab his tablet, he could see the small black device rise from his mattress and float all the way over to his location.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Well would you look at that, more powers!” he thought to himself as the tablet hovered to him and gently rested on his lap. Yesterday, Amos had used the powers of the Ancients to amplify the power of an energy disrupter he had made. Now, he had gained the power of telekinesis. Over time, Amos wondered if he would gain even more abilities.

  A few hours drifted by before Amos was jolted from his thoughts by the low hum of the intercom.

  “Hello, this is Amos,” he replied, curiosity tinging his tone. “Heil ok sael, Amos Fyree! This is Freyr. I trust you had a restful slumber?” Freyr’s voice danced through the speaker, bright and cheerful, as if he held delightful tidings.

  “Yeah, Freyr, I slept well enough. Had to make do with what I could find for a toilet, but other than that, I can’t complain,” Amos replied, a hint of humor in his tone. “Oh dear! My apologies, Amos Fyree! I completely overlooked the fact that humans have such... needs. I’ll be certain to inform the High Council so we can arrange better accommodations for you humans in the future. But on a brighter note, I bring splendid news! The High Council has graciously allocated time for a private meeting with you this morning to discuss our upcoming journey to Pegasus,” Freyr announced, his enthusiasm contagious.

  After spending nearly three long days in Ida, a sense of anticipation surged through Amos. He adored the Asgard—truly remarkable beings—but the nagging sensation that he might find himself in a predicament if he lingered too long was hard to shake. “That sounds fantastic, Freyr! Absolutely wonderful! Just give me a moment to tidy up, and I’ll be there in a flash,” Amos affirmed, excitement quickening his pulse. He rose, maneuvering through the cramped space to freshen himself up in the minimal shower, then set off towards the location of his meeting with the revered Asgard High Council.

  Amos stood at the threshold of a chamber that buzzed with a quiet tension, distinct from the grandeur of Gladsheim. While that great hall was often a stage for public spectacles, the room he now entered felt more intimate, reminiscent of the solemn conference rooms back at Stargate Command. A round table, its surface the hue of polished marble, served as the focal point of the gathering. Seated around it were Penegal, Freyr, and seven other members of the esteemed High Council, their expressions a blend of resolve and much expectation.

  “Greetings, Amos Fyree. Please, take a seat,” Penegal said, his expression unchanged. “We’ve received word from Councilor Freyr—the threat of the Replicators isn’t over. It seems their true home lies in the Pegasus galaxy.”

  Amos nodded. “Yes, your eminence. Although you’ve eradicated a portion of the Replicators, there are still many more out there in Pegasus. These particular ones are different; they've evolved and now resemble the Ancients.”

  “Lanteans,” Freyr interjected. “That’s the correct name for the Ancients, isn’t it, Amos?”

  “Exactly, Freyr,” Amos confirmed. “The Ancients began calling themselves Lanteans when they departed from the Milky Way millions of years ago, during the great plague. They established a new empire in what seemed like an empty galaxy but soon encountered an alien species known as the Wraith. They fought a war for over a century, ultimately losing and submerging their great capital, Atlantis, deep beneath the ocean. The Replicators were war machines designed by the Ancients in their battle against the Wraith.”

  The Asgard exchanged glances and began conversing amongst themselves in their own tongue, unaware that Amos understood every word.

  “Still worried about altering the timeline, are you?” Amos asked.

  One of the Asgard, adorned with a green medallion, replied, “Indeed, Amos Fyree. Your presence in the past has already fractured the timeline beyond repair. Continuing on this path could lead to many unforeseen consequences, not just for us, but for other sentient species as well.”

  Amos twiddled his thumbs, looked at his sweaty palms, and chose his next words very carefully. He then looked at the council members, opened his mouth and said, “What if I told you that the answer to solving the Asgard’s cloning problem is in Pegasus.”

  Once again those big round eyes of the Asgard opened up like a child’s eyes on Christmas morning. “You believe the answer to our cloning problem is in the Pegasus Galaxy?” asked Penegal.

  “Yes, Penegal, I do,” replied Amos. He pushed up his horned rimmed glasses and continued by asking,

  “Penegal, have you and your scientists ever considered using Replicator technology to fix your cloning problem?”

  Penegal and the Asgard Council Members began mumbling and nodding to themselves. “You haven’t have you?” Amos pushed.

  “No we haven’t thought about using Replicator technology to fix our cloning problems, remember the Replicators that we have dealt with thus far are mere insects with no humanoid form. We had no idea that the Replicators would eventually take on the form of the Ancients. Moreover we have been on the defensive throughout this entire war, we have had neither the time nor the place to conduct such experiments,” Penegal said sorrowfully.

  “I see,” said Amos. “The technology we need to make humanoid form replicators is in Atlantis, which is impossible for us to get to outside of Earth. However, there should also be similar technology in Asuras, the Replicator homeworld. With that technology I believe I can make bodies made of living tissue grown from nanites. Some human form Replicator allies in Pegasus could do it. I believe I can do the same thing with the knowledge of the Ancients. Fortunately, the technology that I invented, the Replicator Disrupter technology, also works on the Pegasus Replicators. With that technology, we can conquer that world, and have it under our control, by the end of the day.”

  Upon hearing Amos’s fiery words, the council nodded their heads in approval. “We will agree to your mission. Wiping out the Replicators is our highest priority, even if they are in another galaxy. In addition, the prospect of finally fixing our cloning dilemma and extending our longevity as a species far outweigh the costs. Even so, Amos Fyree, I must ask, how is it that we are to get to Asurus, the homeworld of the Replicators and defeat them within the same day?” said Penegal cautiously.

  Amos chuckled, shook his head and said: “Follow me.”