"Ias, you're late."
"I couldn't find any thermals. I was patrolling Dracco sector when the summons went out."
Ashel looked down on the girl, milky blue eyes unreadable as he calculated the validity of her excuse. She didn't squirm or flinch, knowing any such movement would immediately condemn her as a liar. Sage eyes remained focused on his chest, wings still against her back, hands firmly at her sides. He finally nodded and led her inside to where the others had already gathered, standing in order of rank. Ias took up position in the empty space in the back right of the simple formation, wings folded neatly and firmly across her back as she remained deathly silent. It was only then that the mignot, Vo, stepped forward to address them.
"Sometime early this morning, the Stargate was activated. Preliminary defenses show a machine of some kind, most likely a surveillance device. Since Chander City is the closest and largest settlement to the Forbidden Sector, the responsibility of finding out who sent it, what they want, and if they are hostile falls directly on us." He began as he paced before the dozen or so winged guardians. "It is because of this responsibility that Chander City is allotted the best of all Kayans. You know your task, I expect a preliminary report by tomorrow morning the latest."
He nodded and they all lifted a right wing in uniform solute as he turned and left, Ashel immediately taking the man's place in the front.
"This is strictly information gathering, Ias, you are the fastest of wing and best with languages. Learn what you can. Toden, Jor, you will accompany her to make sure she doesn't get into any, trouble." He paused and cast a meaningful look the girl's way before continuing. "As for the rest of you, fly to your designated cities and relay the news."
They saluted him as well before scattering to their assignments. Ashel caught Ias just as she was preparing for take off, sending Toden and Jor ahead.
"You'll catch them easily even if they fly at best speed." He said pointedly at the look in her eyes, holding up a decorated armlet. "Why do you refuse to ware it?"
"It sets me apart for the rest of the Kayas, I don't want it."
"Like it or not, you will take over as head of this sector when I am gone. It is an honor to be chosen so young Ias."
"And an unwieldy burden." She retorted, but held still as he placed it on her arm, the material melting away and the markings becoming as a tattoo on her well bronzed shoulder. "I'm no leader Ashel, you know this."
"I also know you wont allow yourself to be a leader. Now go, we will talk later."
She frowned but nodded, turning and diving off the end of the platform which overhung the top of the mignot's palace home, frosted feathers reaching greedily for air. It took her only ten minutes to cover what Toden and Jor had taken half an hour to fly, slowing her pace long enough to tell them she would signal them only if there was trouble before setting off again.
Her leisurely pace was twice what they could travel at comfortably. As she cleared the last of the smaller settlements on the very boarders of the Forbidden Sector she began to climb, hopping from thermal to thermal as she drifted like some gigantic bird across the endless wilder land.
The Forbidden Sector had remained untouched all the way to what was left of the mighty sea that had once claimed most of the planet, miles upon miles of forest and swamp and bog. In the middle lay the Stargate to which Ias flew in a meandering way, seeking out any sign of "interlopers". She found them not, but she did spy the contraption Vo had spoken of.
Dappled wings cup as she stalled, focusing her gaze intently upon the immediate area before descending carefully, landing lightly beside the metal machine and slipping a deft hand into the pouch about her waist. She drew out a single pair of gray gloves which slipped on easily, melting into her skin and leaving barely noticeable markings on each of her knuckles as she stepped cautiously forward.
There were no markings on it that she could make out, nor did it seem active, wings folded lightly across her back as she kneeled to peer more closely at it. Fingers tentatively drifted forward to touch one of the sleek sides, but a sudden rumble made her jump, the symbols on her knuckles glowing as she spun to face the Stargate. The inner track was spinning, the nubs on the outer track lighting up one by one.
Someone was coming through. Panicked, pale eyes flashed as she sought cover- and peered through the still empty ring. Without another moments hesitation she dove through the middle moments before it engaged, spinning to face a swirling pool of light. She had never actually seen it working, mesmerized by the shimmering blue. Curios fingertips drifted barely inches from the surface, the symbols on her knuckles glowing and sending a "buzz" across her nerves.
A warning chirp sent her flat against the forest floor, wings flat across the ground and not a moment to soon as the gate disengaged. The only thing hiding her from view was the bottom of the Stargate itself. She stiffened as voices sounded clearly not feet from where she lay. None would think to look back at the gate, not if she remained silent. Jor and Toden would make sure to keep their interest forward.
She gently touched her hand to the surface of the ring and flinched away. It was superheated, or at least it had to be for her to feel it. Hands firmly on the ground she pressed her torso upwards, head inching quietly upwards until her eyes cleared the ring and she spotted the travelers. There were only four, all of them gathered around the machine. Three were male, the last a female. Of the three males, one was of dark complection, a golden emblem on his forehead that set the girl ill at ease.
They appeared much like an average Amunet, though not quite as long of limb or wide of eye. Their dress was that of camouflage, had they been traveling through thick cover in the forest she most likely would have missed them in her first fly over, but she memorized the patterns and colors in one glance. They wouldn't be able to escape her watchful eyes so easily. They were also armed, but not heavily so, showing caution, but not hostility in their intent. It was not wise to enter strange lands unguarded. Ashel would approve.
The female had begun to prod at the machine, squatted much in the same fashion that Ias had been not seconds before which made her smirk slightly, eyes narrowed as they tried to see what they were looking at. The dark skinned male shifted and she started to find they were staring at her. A screen had appeared out of some hidden compartment and on it played a moving image of her. Her heart nearly stopped when her mirror image jumped up, looking around frantically before diving in the direction of the gate- and taking with it the eyes of all who were watching.
Ias had already dropped back to her stomach but she was trapped. Footsteps, a single pair, were inching towards the ring. A voice was calling out something that could have passed as a greeting in its tone, Ias chirping her question. Jor whistled from somewhere overhead. There was a single male approaching, his manner was as inviting as his tone. She could risk it.
Swallowing, she slowly stood, carefully keeping the smoothly curved side of the ring between her and the four to obstruct them should they try to harm her. Faded green eyes met the crystal blue of the stranger unflinchingly before traveling slowly to his still moving lips, focus as keen on the movement as her ears were to the sound, brain working as quickly as she could push it. And then it all clicked.
"..understand me?"
"Yes."
They both blinked in surprise, the male looking back to the other three before smiling tentatively.
"You can understand me?"
Ias paused and then nodded slowly, the words slow to translate to and from Kayan in her mind.
"Yes, I can. It will take time until I'm good. Talk slowly, please?"
The male's smile widened as he motioned the girl forward, Ias reluctant stepping from behind the ring's protection, fingers walking in the air as she gingerly stepped over the polished bottom, wings flaring slightly before settling once more along her back, though the muscles remained taunt and ready for take off should she feel the need. She hesitated when she realized they were all staring at her, eyes darting once to the sky before looking to each stranger in turn. It was as if they had never seen a Kayan before...
"No wings? Never?"
Her question snapped them out of their trance, the first male shaking his head.
"Um, no. We've never met a race with wings before." He said, Ias's brow wrinkling slightly though she didn't respond. "What's your name?"
"Ias." She smiled, right wing cocking in something akin to a solute but not exactly.
"Well, a pleasure to meet you Ias. My name is Daniel Jackson, that's Colonel Jack O'Neill, that's Major Samantha Carter, and that's Teal'c." The male said, gesturing to each in turn.
They had ranks. They were military also. Ias whistled loudly before singing a short message to which Jor clicked an affirmative. He would return to Chander and report to Ashel and Vo, leaving Toden to provide protection if I needed it. The others shifted uneasily, eyes to the sky but if they were truly like Amunets they could not see the two Kayans who circled over head though Ias could make out their silhouettes vaguely.
"Hey, Ias, was it?"
The girl snapped to attention at the one called Colonel Jack O'Neill, head cocked aside in what seemed to be an unsettlingly birdlike fashion for him because he hesitated to address her again.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Others. Enough light to make it to seeing ledge and stay the night. They will come back in morning with further instructions." She answered simply, smiling briefly before taking a step forward. "You will come?"
Jack looked to the rest of the troop before shrugging. "Lead on."
