Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: Atlantis. Never had and never will. sigh
A/N: This is just a ficlet that came to me when I was re-watching "Rising".
Thanks again Astrochick again for the thorough Beta-ing. ;)
Chapter 1
"And I think people who don't want to go through the Stargate are equally as whacked"
The line kept repeating over and over in Major John Sheppard's head.
John was still trying to comprehend that an Ancient missile, which looked more like an airborne squid, had nearly blasted he and General Jack O'Neill out of the sky over the icy plains of Antarctica. Not to mention that he also discovered that he had some mutant Ancient gene, when he had sat on a funky looking recliner. He later found out that the chair apparently was used earlier by General O'Neill to destroy a Goa'uld fleet attacking earth. Now that John thought about it, he still wasn't even sure what a Goa'uld looked like.
When Doctor Elizabeth Weir approached him after the Ancient chair incident, he had no idea what the woman was going to say to him. He remembered she had a smile on her face, which was a good sign he assumed, but when she asked him if he wanted to be a member on her expedition team to the Pegasus Galaxy, John was confused and speechless. Then he remembered her being slightly embarrassed for being so forward with her invitation, and she started to apologize. John, still unable to comprehend that aliens actually existed, quickly told her that he'd think about it. His answer seemed to satisfy her, and she left him to speak to General O'Neill.
After his succinct conversation with General O'Neill, that one line the General said had stuck in his thoughts for the next few days. After much thought, he was back at the Antarctica outpost, and waiting for the elevator to reach the bottom of the ice cavern.
When he reached the bottom, the place was bustling with scientists much like the first time he was there. He saw Doctor Weir walking busily back and forth from scientist to scientist observing their work progress.
As if on cue, she looked up, saw John, and smiled. She raised her index finger up to tell him she would be with him in a minute. John nodded and stood uncomfortably as busy scientists made their way around him.
"Major Sheppard," Elizabeth said, "I'm so glad you decided to join this expedition. You don't know how happy you've made me." Elizabeth was trying to contain her excitement. She had been afraid that the Major would decline her invitation. If he hadn't, they would have lost a valuable source for finding more information about Ancient technology. But he was here now, and Elizabeth felt like a thrilled schoolgirl.
"Doctor Weir," John nodded, "I'm glad to be here, but to be honest. I still don't know what I'm doing here. I'm not even sure what here is."
"You haven't been briefed?" Elizabeth asked.
"I've been briefed about the Stargate, SGC, ZPMs, Ancients, Goa'uld, aliens, and millions other stuff in the last few days, but it doesn't mean I understood what I've heard."
"I think I know how you feel," Elizabeth said with an understanding smile. "I had the whole Stargate business sprung on me several months before. I didn't know if was a joke or not, until I got a signed note from the President stating this was not a joke. Then I read through all the mission reports, and I kept thinking this is science fiction, but it wasn't, it was reality. After a while, everything starts to sink in. At least you hope it did."
"You read all of the mission reports?" John asked.
"Yes."
"Oh, okay, just wondering. Must have been some interesting reading for you to sit and go through all of them."
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, they were very much in the can't-take-your-eyes-off type of reports." Elizabeth gestured John to follower her. "Well, right now everyone is basically gathering and preparing some more data, before we finally make our way to the SGC and to Atlantis." Just the mere thought of going to Atlantis was making Elizabeth bubble with excitement again.
"Our final destination," John added.
"Correct. Since you're here, I'll introduce you to some of the crew. You've met Doctor Beckett and Doctor Zelenka before." Carson looked up and gave a nervous smile before Doctor Zelenka told him to sit in the Ancient chair again. "This is Grodin, Dumais, Wagner, Peterson…" Elizabeth introduced name after name of scientists, and John just nodded and waved as he followed Elizabeth around. "…and you've met Doctor Rodney McKay."
"Major," Rodney said and continued to work on calculations on his laptop ignoring John's extended hand for a handshake. John tried to mask his ignored handshake by brushing his hand through his messy hair.
"Now if you don't mind, Major, please make yourself useful somewhere else. I'm trying to figure out the correct energy output to make a stabilized wormhole, so we can get to the Pegasus Galaxy in one piece," Rodney said as he typed on the keyboard.
John looked at Elizabeth confused.
"Just ignore him," she mouthed and led John to her office.
"Wait a minute, in one piece? What did he mean by in one piece?" John asked when they went into her office.
Elizabeth sat down behind a table, which became her makeshift desk and gestured for John to take a seat in front of her. "When you go through the event horizon of the stargate, it breaks down your body in to energy, and sends it through the wormhole. When the data reaches the stargate at the other end, it reads the energy signature, translates the data, and reconverts the object together to its original form."
"This was not in the briefings I had."
"Some people don't like to hear the technical details. It makes them more nervous."
"I wish I hadn't heard the details either," John said disconcerted. "Have you ever been through the stargate?"
"No, this will be my first time going through," Elizabeth confessed.
"Excited?" John asked.
"Can you tell?"
"Just a little."
"Aren't you?"
"I'm as excited as anyone going to a galaxy far, far away," John said.
"So," Elizabeth cleared throat and sat up straight, "I'm guessing you didn't come all the way down here to get acquainted with me. What can I help you with, Major?"
"I've been thinking…a lot about this mission," he began.
"You aren't going to back out on me, are you?" Elizabeth asked concerned at his possible answer.
"Oh no, no, not all," he assured, "I'm all for going to another galaxy and finding more ZPMs and whatnot. But by the looks of everyone around here, everyone is really dedicated, and I just wanted to let you know I would be as dedicated as everyone else under your command."
Elizabeth gave a sigh of relieve. "I'm glad to hear that, Major. Yes, everyone is very dedicated. It's kind of hard not to be. We are going to another galaxy completely foreign to us, cut off from everything we know, and I have no doubt about your full dedication. But I think I know the main reason why you came all this way to talk to me."
John leaned back into his chair. "Actually, I was in the neighborhood, and thought I'd drop by to say hello."
"I've read your records," Elizabeth said, her fingers intertwined together on her table. "And I'm sure you know, so has Colonel Sumner." John let out a nervous sigh. "I'll tell you frankly. There have been concerns about your past insubordination, but I believe that, despite the fact that you defied direct orders, you had good reason for what you did."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"But," Elizabeth continued, "I will not tolerate 'good reason' as an excuse for defying orders." John was about to speak in his own defense, but Elizabeth raised her hand to stopped him. "I'm not saying that you will do this. I'm not saying that you won't. I just want you to keep in mind. Even though I'm not military, I am in charge of this expedition."
"You're the boss," John said.
"Good, I'm glad we've cleared that up." Elizabeth prepared to get up. "If you want to stay and look around that is fine with me, but if you'll be leaving, I'll see you in Colorado Springs."
"Doctor Weir!" A voice outside called for Elizabeth. Elizabeth excused herself and ran out her office, leaving John alone with his thoughts.
John had, in fact, come to Antarctica to better perceive Elizabeth's character. General O'Neill spoke highly of Doctor Weir, in his own way. From his short conversation with her, he could tell that she was well-prepared and organized, and definitely a diplomat. At least she didn't pass any judgement against him, even after reviewing his records. That was a good start, he thought. As for Colonel Sumner, John was going to have to work on his image there.
John finally got up and decided to leave. As he walked through the bustling outpost lab, John realized that he was about to pass the point of no return. He was committed, and in a week, he was probably never going to return to earth again.