Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis

Dedication: To Steph7085, my fabulous friend and beta.

Basic Elements

Chapter 1

For centuries the Secret Council watched over the galaxy ensuring its survival. They worked in shadow exposing themselves and there existence only when they had to. Many times the galaxy came close to ending, to being completely destroyed but the Secret Council and its agents were able to prevent it. A government developed, the Republic, ruling over the planets blissfully unaware of the dangers around them, of how often and how close they came to being destroyed.

The Republic soon learnt of the Secret Council, their desire to be the one and only ruling body caused them to feel threatened. They outlawed the Council and declared that anyone working for them was a traitor. Many of its agents were lost either captured and imprisoned by the Republic or left out of fear. The Council was forced to work in shadow, the Republic was still unaware of the dangers but the Secret Council knew what was still to come, the great apocalypse.

Marcus Lorne stood in the great chamber in the centre of the wooden semi circular table. The ceiling was high above him and the stone walls were completely bare. The fires that burned around the edges of the room were the only source of light and the orange glow of the flames provided an eerie yet mystical atmosphere to the room. The men that were currently standing around the table were backlit by the fire, casting their faces into shadows and masking their identities to anyone who didn't already know who they were.

"Marcus Lorne," a familiar male voice said. "You have been summoned before the council because you are one of our best and most trusted agents. We have a mission for you of the utmost importance, the main reason that this council was created."

Lorne remained quiet as he waited for the council members to continue and the voice of a woman took over. "There are things that are kept secret even from our agents. There is an ancient weapon that will destroy all life in the universe. We are as yet unaware of the nature of the weapon or it's location but we do know how to stop it."

"How is that?" Lorne spoke for the first time since entering the room.

"The prophesy states that when the elements are combined the weapon shall be destroyed."

"The elements?" Lorne asked not quite sure he was understanding what he was hearing.

"The basic elements of the universe, they have taken human form though the people are unaware of the great power that exists within them. As long as they remain in the dark about their powers they will remain dormant but once they find out they will begin to manifest themselves," Another member of the council informed him.

If it wasn't for the fact that he was standing in the chamber of the Secret Council and it was the council that were telling him this he would have though it was some sort of elaborate joke. He had been an Agent of the Secret Council for years now and with the exception of two of them the members of the council were overly serious and arrogant. There was no doubt in his mind that every word he was being told was true. He had seen a lot in his life, his father had been an Agent of the SC and Marcus had been raised to follow in his footsteps but this was by far the craziest thing he'd ever heard.

"What is my mission?"

"To gather the elements, we have been tracking them since their birth. Your first location is the planet Talos where two of the elements reside, fire and water. There will be those who will attempt to stop you from completing your task and we should not have to remind you to avoid the Republic. You leave in one hour"

"I understand," Lorne stated before turning and walking toward the large wooden doors. The two guards opened them for him and he stepped through feeling the slight rush of wind and hearing the thud that indicated they had been closed behind him. He walked down the hallway which was lit by actual electricity along with the rest of the building. It was the location of the Secret Council's headquarters, its location was known only to the council and its few remaining agents. If the Republic were ever to learn of it's location they would undoubtedly arrest anyone they found and destroy the entire base. It would bring an end to the SC and everything they were trying to do.

- - -

"Lorne," a voice called as he entered the docking bay and he tuned to see one of the only two members of the council he actually liked. He was nothing like the others, he was serious only when he had to be and even then he would usually have some sarcastic remark or joke that was only funny to him.

"Councillor O'Neill," Lorne greeted as he approached the man.

"We're giving you a bigger ship," O'Neill stated and gestured to the large ship that was docked behind him. "Agent Lorne meet the Aurora."

Lorne had to admit it was impressive but he preferred to stick to his own. "What's wrong with my old one?" he questioned.

"It's not big enough," O'Neill informed him. "There are enough rooms on this one to accommodate the elementals."

"The autopilot and weapons systems are also much better aboard the Aurora," a female voice stated and he turned to see the other member of the council he got along with.

"Councillor Carter," he acknowledged as the woman approached.

"Lorne," she replied. "The Aurora's a good ship and she's all yours."

"Alright," Lorne accepted somewhat grudgingly, he was sure it was a great ship but he liked to know he could trust his ship and his old one had never let him down.

"I'm sure you're aware of the civil war there is on Talos, what the council failed to inform you is that the two elementals are on opposite sides," Jack told him.

"Well that's great," Lorne stated sarcastically.

"Here," Jack said handing him a small data pad. "It has the necessary information on the first two elements, including an image of them so you'll be able to recognise them. They also each have a mark on their arm left arm, the symbols for their elements."

"Thanks," Lorne replied as he took the data pad.

"Good luck Agent Lorne," Jack told him. "You're going to need it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"It's not a lack of confidence in you but a very in depth knowledge of the situation."

"This wouldn't happen to be knowledge you'd care to share would it?" Lorne asked already knowing the answer.

"You'll learn when the time is right, but I will say this, the Secret Council are not the only ones who know about the elementals," Jack informed him cryptically which was very unlike him leading Marcus to believe the Council didn't know much more and didn't want him to find out.

"This mission keeps getting better and it hasn't even started yet," Marcus stated and Jack smiled in amusement.

"Just be careful, don't make any unnecessary stops."

"Good luck," Sam finished and Marcus nodded before heading over to his new ship and walking up the ramp. Closing it behind him and heading for the bridge, he quickly plotted a course to Talos and engaged the ships engines. Taking off from the ground and piloting it out of the large hanger bay and into space. He engaged the hyper drive and allowed the autopilot to take over.

He took his backpack through to one of the bedrooms and unpacked his things. It would take him at least a few days to reach Talos so he had plenty of time to adjust to his new ship. The Aurora was like most Secret Council ships; it could easily pass for a smugglers ship and therefore could more easily avoid unwanted attention.

Satisfied his things were in some semblance of order he went to explore the ship ignoring the remaining bedrooms knowing they would be pretty much identical to his own. He found the kitchen and eating area down the corridor and soon after located the fully stocked armoury. The engine room was much the same as the one from his old ship except bigger and he could see a few differences in the engine.

After exploring the majority of the ship he made his way to the kitchen with the small data pad O'Neill had given him. Locating the food that had been stocked aboard the ship he decided to just grab an apple as he sat down and started reading through the information on the water elemental.

This was going to be an interesting mission.

TBC