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Chapter 1
Colonel Sheppard, Ronon, Teyla and Rodney were having lunch together in the mess hall as they usually did every afternoon. John sat back with his arms crossed over his chest and his feet occupying the one remaining empty seat at the table. "So what do you guys think this meeting is about anyways? Colonel Carter made it sound important." Rodney groaned and looked down at his watch. "Ugh, I had forgotten all about the stupid thing. I hope she realizes I have genuinely important things to do with my time, unlike some of the other crew, who will remain nameless," he said pointedly as he looked at Ronon.
Ronon smiled broadly and said," What? I have important stuff to do too, McKay." Rodney made a face. "Oh yeah, like what, grooming all that ridiculous hair of yours?
Ronon's smile widened. "No, like training Dr. Keller defense tactics in the training room this afternoon." Colonel Sheppard and Teyla immediately made an impressed face at him, with John even saying aloud, "Oohh."
Rodney sniffed the air and stuck out his chin the way he often did when he was put in his place and said, "Never mind then. Let's go before we're late."
They all rose and pushed in their chairs as they followed Rodney who hurriedly shuffled towards the conference room to meet Colonel Carter and the few other department heads and personnel who had been invited to the meeting.
Everyone mulled around for a few minutes talking in groups before Colonel Carter had joined them and cleared her throat loudly, causing everyone to take their seats and quiet down.
"Thank you," she said as she stood, smiling at them all. "I'll be as brief as possible; I know you all have things to do." Rodney gave a knowing look to the others. Colonel Carter continued. "I've asked you all here to hand out the new manuals for conduct and appropriations that is being enforced by Stargate directive. They've decided to standardize regulations here in Atlantis and although I'm sure some of you will disagree with their methods, these are the rules and they will be followed to the T with no exceptions or special circumstances." She had started to pass out the thick manuals as she spoke and everyone took them and passed them along the table, keeping one for themselves.
"Now, I will give you all time to read through them before handing them out to your departments and team members. Learn these rules people. They are in place for the safety and protection of Atlantis, for Earth, and everything that we hold dear. Dismissed."
Everyone stood, their copy of the manual grasped in their hands and slowly began treading out of the conference room.
Ronon headed off towards the training room stealthily tossing his copy of the manual into a nearby trash bin, Rodney headed towards the science labs while stuffing his copy under his vest, Teyla headed towards the east wing to find a bench in the afternoon sun to read her copy, and Colonel Sheppard headed to his quarters to read his, stopping only to pick up a large coffee in the cafeteria.
John sat on his bed, the sounds of Johnny Cash singing softly in his ears, with his coffee in one hand and the manual in the other hand, already halfway read.
Taking a large sip of coffee, he was about to swallow when he read a line in the manual that caused him to choke and sit up, spitting his coffee all over the crisp white pages. His eyes quickly re-read the words and his thoughts whirled angrily as the droplets of coffee slid lazily down the page.