Chapter 126

Shambhala

Going over various reports on her iPad Camille Wray enjoyed her hot tea during a quiet moment in her office. One thing she had learned was that administrative duties over a city of this size were never ending. Still it was a challenge she was thankful to be given an opportunity to face. Hearing the pleasant chime of the office door ring out Camille looked up to see Elizabeth Weir enter her office.

"Elizabeth, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat" said Camille, ever the gracious host.

"Thank you Camille. Forgive my disturbing your quiet moment alone" replied Weir.

"During my time aboard Destiny I had more than ample opportunity to enjoy solitude, enough for a lifetime" replied Wray.

"I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for you" said Weir sincerely.

"Much like your first year in Atlantis I assume. Under constant threat, cut off from everything and everyone you know, and unsure if you would ever see Earth again. Thoughts of how you handled that first year in Pegasus got me through my time on that ship" replied Wray honestly.

"What is it you needed to speak with me about" asked Weir.

"General Landry asked that I speak with you about whether you've come to a decision about remaining in your current body or retaking human form" stated Wray.

"Ah. I knew that question would rear its head sooner rather than later. That is an issue I've put a great deal of thought into. If the answer I've reached effects my remaining in Shambhala I perfectly understand" sighed Weir.

"What answer might that be Elizabeth" asked Wray.

"Everything happens for a reason, even if we don't fully accept or enjoy that reason. When I first learned of Rodney's reactivation of my nanites to save my life I was less than thrilled to be very honest. Overtime I came to accept that it was not something I could change. My time on Asuras was incredibly hard, but I came to see the strength in the replicators on an individual basis. Now I find myself in the position of not being able to comprehend a life in a human body" answered Weir.

"So you want to keep the replicator body? That's a bit of a surprise" said Wray.

"It shouldn't come as a surprise at all. By trade I am a diplomat first and foremost. On Earth there were many like me, but among the replicators I am unique. With that in mind I feel it my duty to guide them along a path far different than that of the Asuran's. Frankly, they need me and I need them. This is our chance to usher in a fresh beginning between mankind and machine kind. It is my privilege to play a role in this and I don't intend to miss it" stated Weir.

"You really do view them as your people now don't you" asked Wray.

"I do, but I will always view myself as human first and foremost. Nothing can ever change that. My time on Atlantis and within Pegasus opened my eyes to so much I never once considered. My place is here, and with them. Please tell the General that my decision has been made" said Weir.

"General O'Neill won't be pleased about this I'm sure" confided Wray.

"I'm sure. Because I'm a machine no doubt" replied a somewhat irritated Weir.

"No, because this means he lost his bet with General Landry" laughed Wray.

"Some things never change" smirked Weir.

"The Tollan's have informed me their attempts to reactivate their recovered databases are going well. They should be fully restored and online in the coming days" said Wray shifting topics.

"Good, that brings them one step closer to normalcy" smiled Weir.

"It is good, but the bad part is this means we're that much closer to having Shambhala's first trial, or in this case Triad" wryly answered Wray.

"The dividing lines are already being drawn throughout the Tollan's. Travell isn't the most diplomatic of diplomat's I've found. Personally, I don't think her chances of coming out the victor in this are good at all" confided Weir.

"Then you are in agreement with the majority. I'll never admit it to anyone but you, but General O'Neill actually has a betting pool at Home World Command over what they do to her when found guilty" said Wray while rolling her eyes.

"Very diplomatic of the General. Not much love lost between Jack and the Chancellor" replied Weir.

"Let's just hope we can keep the peace on the home front during and after" sighed Wray.