Her head turned to follow the sudden rumble of a helicopter starting up-John identified it by the engine sound as one of the Hawk variants. Continuing, she said, "The cultists were smart in a couple of ways. They concealed their activities by burning the buildings where their victims bodies' were left, and until now they'd managed to avoid drawing attention from the only people who might recognize their aim: the SGC. They haven't killed anyone directly involved with the Stargate program, because they knew they had plenty of time-eleven years-to fulfill what they see is their destiny
John frowned, wondering if he'd missed something. "Where'd you come up with a specific timeframe?"
"It's in their set of doctrines." Rebecca threw him a selfdeprecating smile. "It's my job to know as much about them as they do themselves. In their scriptures it's written that, eleven years after the `revelation of the truth hidden in plain sight,' the misuse of the Gate of Heaven will allow the forces of evil-meaning aliens with godlike powers-to prey on Earth." Her gaze returned to the front windshield. "Either the creation of the television show or the SGC's standard operation of the gate could be interpreted as misuse, and one of those at least is in plain sight."
"What, you think we never should have used the gate?" John retorted, immediately getting defensive. He hadn't been a part of that decision years ago, but he sure as hell considered himself a part of the program now. "Should've just locked it up in some vault'? You have no idea what we've discovered out there-"
"Easy, Colonel." Rebecca lifted her hands in surrender. "Whatever else you might say about the Stargate program, it did expose humanity to predation. I'm not in a position to pass judgment; I'm just showing you the situation from the viewpoint of the cult. Their doctrine tells them that these metaphysical alien gods need human souls to give them power, in order to finally subdue and destroy the forces of good. God and Satan battling over immortal souls-it's the same dualistic `good versus evil' premise employed by virtually all religions."
"Not to mention plenty of comic books."
Rebecca glanced over at him with mild amusement. "Where do you think they get their ideas from'? Books, movies, games-the most successful stories are all based on mythology, even if they create their own. Anyway, fast-forward eleven years from the premiere of Wormhole X-creme and we end up with 2012. A dozen cultures and countless New Age cults, citing the Mayan calendar and others as guides, have marked that same year as the arrival of Armageddon, the Apocalypse, whatever you want to call it. That coincidence is a powerful reinforcement to the Lilith cult's convictions. 2012 will mark eleven years after the gate was first seen to be the `revelation of the truth hidden in plain sight."'
"Which proves right off the bat that they've got a couple of screws loose," John said, pulling the Humvee up to the Headquarters building. "Wormhole X-creme may have first started airing in 2001, but the gate was first used long before then."
"Regularly?"
He stopped in the middle of opening his door, unsure. "Depends on your definition of `regularly.' Not counting any Goa'uld stunts back in the bad old days, the gate was first used in 1945, then again in 1969 and 1994, but the program didn't really get going until 1996."
"In that case, if the Lilith worshippers are right, the final war is already underway." Rebecca swung her door open and climbed out of the vehicle, then turned and tossed him a considered look. When he didn't immediately reply, she moved to go inside.
There was something spooky about all of this, John had to admit. Looking around to make sure no one was within ear shot, he lengthened his stride to catch up to her. "The Ori have attacked Earth a few times," he admitted. "That epidemic we had a couple of years back, for starters. The SGC thinks they've finally managed to take all of 'em out, but the `true believer' nut jobs don't seem to have gotten the memo that their gods are dead. Assuming they are dead."
At that, Rebecca seemed to pick up her pace, spine rigid. John hurried up the steps of the building and reached for her arm. "Hey, what'd I say?"
She paused on the top step and faced him. "Mock their beliefs all you want," she said coolly. "The difference between a cult and a religion is often just a legal distinction, one that varies from country to country. We have `alien god' religions in the US that the UK and Germany have outlawed. It doesn't matter how baseless you might think their faith is. Bottom line, Coloneclass="underline" whether their beliefs are founded on fact or fallacy is not the point. They believe it, and they're willing to kill for it, so we need to take that devotion seriously."
"I do take it seriously," he said, surprised at her vehemence. "I don't think murder's a joke under any circumstances. Being a smartass…it's just what I do."
Rebecca acknowledged the subtly offered truce with a nod. "In any case, what we're seeing here is symptomatic of two sects within an overarching framework, one more violently inclined than the other."
"Maybe it's related to the number of iratus genes a person has. The more Wraithlike you are, the more you believe."
Shaking her head, she said, "Think about it. Cults attract more believers, not less, when their leaders demonstrate manifest abilities. I realize charisma is ninety-nine percent of the attraction, rather than any actual ability to perform sleight of hand, but being able to suck the life out of someone is awfully damned manifest. I can't see how such an obvious demonstration of power would cause a rift unless they all believe with equal fervor but have fundamentally opposing epistemolo gies." She paused, biting her lip. "It's possible that they've split into two entirely different factions, each claiming to follow the one true `Lilith'."
Recalling the bitter divide between the peoples of the country in which they currently stood, John could understand how easily such a situation might arise.
Pushing open the door, Rebecca took off her sunglasses. "That conclusion fits with the evidence I've personally accumulated. It's also the only explanation I have for the videotape that uptight paper-pusher showed me-"
"Oh, so you're open-minded about cultists, but not bureaucrats." John couldn't pass up that opportunity, even if Woolsey got on his nerves.
"Everybody's free to believe what they choose. Personally, I believe that God created a different heaven for bureaucrats, lawyers, and accountants."
Only the slightest glimmer of humor was visible in her eyes, and John had the distinct impression that she was holding something back.
"Dr. Jackson pointed out earlier that succubi and incubi are fabled to take a liking to certain individuals," she continued, "sometimes plaguing them all of their lives. That looks to be the case with Mr. Payton. There are even accounts of succubi becoming so protective of their `pets' that they'll kill to protect them, restoring them to life under certain circumstances."
And there it was again: that phantom hand clawing against his chest.
When John's pace slowed, Rebecca glanced back at him. "Please don't say you're remembering that episode of The X Files," she warned.
"Actually, I've got a real life experience to draw on this time" No need to be too specific. "I've seen a Wraith restore life to someone on whom they've previously fed. I know it's possible."
She seemed briefly jarred by that news, but covered the reaction by starting up the stairs toward their assigned office, propping her sunglasses on her head as she went. A moment later, she said, "That adds substance to the profile suggesting we have two sects with conflicting epistemologies-no, I need to stop using that word. It's not an epistemology, since we know the Stargate and Ascended beings really exist. These two factions have different goals, different motives. According to what we've seen, and based on what you've just told me, one is deliberately poaching the other's pet victims." A frown settled on her face. "Dr. Jackson mentioned Lilith's Babylonian name, Ninlil. I briefly… encountered a couple of followers of Ninlil several years ago. They're so far below the radar they're flat-lined, but…"