"What the hell does that-"

Rodney stepped forward, raising his hand in front of River to keep him from speaking.

"We're enemies of the Goa'uld," he told the giant. "And the Wraith."

"Why-"

"Be quiet," McKay hissed as Ronon started to ask the question. "Trust me on this one."

The big Satedan scowled, but he didn't finish his question, and Rodney looked expectantly up at the giant once more.

The stern visage of the giant brightened just a little, and he nodded.

"Then we are friends," he told them, still speaking flawless Ancient. "The Wraith are the enemy of all."

"Right." Rodney didn't seem to know what else to say to that particular comment, but he had plenty of other questions now that they'd opened communications. "We're from Atlantis," he said. "And from Earth."

The giant nodded.

"I am Tlaloc. You fly an aircraft of the Old ones. But you do not carry their blood. How is this possible?"

"We found them," Rodney said. "On Atlantis. We have others among our people who have the gene of the Ancients naturally, and our doctors used their blood to show us how to make our own work with the Ancients' technology."

The giant frowned – which was even more hideous on it than the expression was on Ronon.

"For good, though," Rodney added, seeing the look. "To fight the Wraith."

"I see. And how does that battle fare?"

"We're winning," River said, stepping forward and ignoring McKay's annoyed look. "But we're looking for some friends right now. They were in our ship with us, until something grabbed them and beamed them out without asking."

"The two Blooded ones," the giant told him. "They were taken to be tested."

"By you?"

"By the orb that protects the way to us," the giant corrected him.

"The orb?" River repeated. "Where is it? How do we get them back?"

"How did we get here and they didn't?" Rodney asked. "If they have the Blood of the Ancients – which they both do naturally – then they should be here and not us."

"The orb attracts all Blooded ones to it," the giant explained. "If they are willing to undergo the test, and pure of character, then they will be allowed to pass into the next plane of existence – or come and join us."

"And if they are not?" Teyla asked.

"Then they fail the test and are destroyed."

"How many pass?" Ronon asked.

"None."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Heliou is the only one left of the Blood on the outside," Eriek told them. "She cannot pass into this place because of the babe that she carries."

Ian frowned, glancing over at Sheppard before looking back to their host.

"She's pregnant?"

"Yes. And until she delivers, she cannot join me here. So I must find the way to the power so I can bring her here on my own. She is in danger outside."

"From who?" John asked, hesitantly. "The same ones that killed all the people out there?"

Eriek nodded.

"Those of us with the Blood were here when they first arrived – aside from Heliou. They spoke with those outside, and claimed to come in peace, looking for a way to fight the Wraith."

"And then what happened?" Ian asked.

"They found out about this place. About the power that we are seeking to control."

"From Heliou?"

"No. From the others."

"They knew about it?"

"Of course. It was their duty to provide for those of us who had not yet entered this place."

Sheppard frowned.

"And they did?"

"Of course. They have for many generations."

"Why?" Ian asked. "What did you do for them?"

"We alone hold the promise of the power. When my people figure out how to use it, we will become their gods and protect them."

"And they believed that?"

"It is true."

"So you guys just came here and told them to start doing your bidding and they did?"

It was Eriek's turn to look annoyed.

"My people are not conquerors. We are scientists. The others are those who were born among us without the Blood and have no hope of becoming more than what they are born to."

"They're your people?" Sheppard asked.

"No. My people carry the Blood of the power. Those who lived outside did not. Only a few bore children with the Blood. Most did not, and those children had no future."

"They were still people, damn it," John snapped, furious at the cavalier treatment of those who weren't in the select caste. "You should have saved them."

"I am the only one here," Eriek said. "And I do not possess the power, yet. How would I defeat these Genii alone?"

Sheppard frowned, looking over at Ian.

"Genii? Ever heard of them?"

Brooks shook his head. Nothing in his Ancient given memories had anything about anyone with that name. And he'd never heard the term since coming to Atlantis, either.

"They're the ones that killed your people?" he asked – just to make sure.

Eriek nodded.

"They slaughtered the people that provide for us – and I cannot find Heliou. They must have taken her – and the babe."