Colonel John Sheppard stood on the platform, somewhat surprised to find himself gazing at the blue pool in front of him in wonder. Even after all this time, after the number of trips he'd taken through the gate, he still found it a fascinating sight.
"Any time you're ready, Rodney," he calmly quipped into his headset's microphone. Sure, it was peaceful standing and staring at the gate. But this little mission was just a quick recon, and he wanted to get it over with sooner rather than later.
"Give me a minute, will you. Don't know why you need me anyway. Simple trip…doesn't need two…" Something that didn't surprise Sheppard – his ability to still block out his friend when he whined.
"Yeah, yeah McKay. Come on. Sooner we get going, the sooner we get back. And then I can start my vaca –". The familiar plop of someone coming through the event horizon had vacation thoughts quickly vanishing as Sheppard wheeled back around to face the gate. What had been an empty platform now was not so empty. The gun came up on an automatic impulse.
The young girl now standing in front of the blue puddle seemed innocuous enough – black BDU blouse over a white thermal, jeans, sneakers, her hair pulled back in two neat braids, sunglasses perched on top.
Harmless. Except…
"Wow. Don't I feel silly. You know, I didn't think it was possible. I mean – the buttons are so big." She was miming dialing a DHD as she continued, "It really shouldn't be that easy. But…" She paused again and seemed, well, embarrassed as she looked up at Sheppard. "I think I actually managed to misdial!"
It was at this point she realized the gun.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Honest! It was an accident!" She raised her hands just as the gate shut down.
"Sheppard! What's going on? Come on, I wasn't that slow!" McKay came up next to the colonel, surveying the scene. "Who's she?"
"Don't know," Sheppard replied, still trying to wrap his head around what just happened. "She came through the gate."
"The… But… We dialed out."
"Yup."
"So…what? She walked…"
"In. She walked in an out-going wormhole." Sheppard finally turned to look at McKay, glad to see him just as confused as he was.
Well…okay…probably not as confused.