A Cruel Twist of Fate, sequel to "Trial of a Major in Love"
Disclaimer- I do not own Stargate Atlantis or it's characters, expect Ki and Astra are mine!
Enjoy where "Trial of a Major in Love" left off.
A warm summer's day, on a pier of Atlantis 2 people can be seen looking out across the ocean; him with his arm around her shoulder, he leaning into his embrace.
"We need to have a party" he says
"Why? I don't want one" she retorts
"It's your birthday, you've got to" she sighs "And it will be your first with me"
"And many more to come Evan!" Evan looks her right in the eye
"Of course Ki. When do you have to at work?"
"It's Saturday, so 12.00" she replies "Till 22.00"
"Okay, I'll have dinner ready for you" he strokes her face and Ki closes her eyes
"I can still remember the first time you done that, like it was only yesterday"
"Wow that was" he pauses to think "8 months ago"
"Doesn't feel that long. It's Laura and Carson's engagement party this Friday"
"Yep, are we still going?"
"Of course, they are our friends. What present are we getting them?" Evan smirks with glee
"Ah that I will show you later" he looks at his watch "Work I think"
"Bummer, so soon?" she protests "I'm going to get Rodney to build a time dilation device so we can have longer together"
"Oh good idea!" says Evan sarcastically "I'll walk you to the infirmary" they get up Evan picks up his and Ki's jackets and they leave the pier.
They enter the infirmary laughing not noticing Carson
"Well, nice to see you enjoyed you're morning off" he comments, making Ki jump
"Oh Dr Beckett I didn't see you there, yes I did thank you"
"Hmm, I'll see you this even, babe" he kisses her and leaves
"Nice to see you to are happy"
"Thank you, we're looking forward to your party on Friday"
"Aye, it is your party too" Carson's eyes fall
"You don't seem pleased. Is there something wrong?"
"No, it's just that I don't do parties"
"Okay" anxious to change the subject "Where would you like me to start?" she asks
22.15 Ki & Evan's quarters, the door open and an exhausted Ki walks in
"Hey babe" calls Evan from his desk "How was work?"
"Bad, busy" Ki flops onto the bed and sighs "SGA 4 came in hot, 2 ended up in the infirmary" Evan looks at her "1 had a penetrating abdominal injury the other a badly broken leg" Evan flinches knowing how that feels, that explosion and being stuck with McKay hadn't helped
"I know how he feels, dinner?" he asks
"Starving" he gets up and goes to another table and picks up a plate
"Which planet had they gone to?"
"M8A-663" Evan sits on the bed and hands her the plate "Hmm pizza, thanks"
"Farmers, not technology advanced but willing to trade food for medical help. What happened?"
"They
think Michael, Col Carter is sending SGA-1 tomorrow with back
up"
"Properly my team then with Marines"
"Well no getting shot" she waves a slice of pizza in his face
"In 8 months have I once?" he protests
"No but still" she munches her slice "Oh Carson and Laura's present"
"Right" he moves over to the corner of the room and uncovers the easel to reveal a painted canvass
"Oh wow, Evan that's brilliant!" on the canvass is Carson hugging Laura with both of them laughing.
"I had to find a picture to it from; do you think they'll like it?"
"Like it, love it!" she marvels at the painting "Of course not as good as my portrait"
"Well noting compares to that" he recovers the canvass "Expect the really thing" he moves over to the bed and lays down, picking up a slice of pizza and eating it
"Hey that's mine I've been at work all day" Ki tires to get the slice of pizza back but falls on top of Evan
"Hi" he says
"Hi" she replies
"Can I help?"
"Properly" he flips her onto her back, moves the pizza off the bed, she then wraps her arms around his shoulders, in one slick move slides his hands under her top causing Ki to breathe in sharply, he leans down so their faces are touching
"I love you Ki" he pauses "Will you marry me?"
"Evan" she stammers "Yes"
Gate room the following morning
"Okay" cries Shepard, the gate activates "Listen up, recon mission to M8A-663, find out what happened to the locals and our team. We'll take it from there, Marines on six, my team point, let's move out!"
M8A-663 SGA-1 and SGA-2 have already arrived and are securing the immediate area as the marines make it through
"There appears to have been a fire fight" comments Teyla
"P90 brass, so that was our people yesterday" adds John
"Well that's strange, the locals are farmers, why would they attack our people?" enquiries Rodney
"Rodney is right, they are simple people, good people, open to trading" responds Telya
"Well let's find the villagers and ask them" John turns to Laura marine team "Lt Guard the gate, radio contact every 15 minutes. Major Lorne's team with me"
"Yes sir" reply Evan and Laura together. The 8 people move down a well trodden path through a sparse woodland; they eventually come to fields full of crops and a small village.
"Hello" calls out Telya
"Doesn't appear to be anyone home" comments Ronon
"No it appears they just abandoned everything" says Teyla as she looks round the village square; they move around the village checking homes, doors left open, tools just dropped, food left on fires. Evan enters a single story house, it is dark inside; there is a room to his left and one straight ahead with a fire smouldering in the hearth to his right with a few blankets in front of it. He proceeds with caution with his P90 raised and enters the room on the left, nothing; onto the room in front, his eyes quickly sweep over the room, something causes him a double take. In the corner huddled up is a girl dirty and shaking; he lowers his P90 and crouches down
"Hello" he says gently "What are you doing here all by yourself" she tries to squeeze herself further into the corner "Hey I won't hurt you I promise. Where's your mom and dad?"
"Taken" she says so quietly that he has to strain to hear
"By who?"
"A weird looking wraith" Evan thinks a "weird" looking wraith, that means Michael, so that's the mission directive completed
"My people don't like the wraith. Did the wraith take everyone?" she nods, he moves closer to her until he is right next to her "What is your name?"
"Astra, after the stars"
"I'm Evan" she leans her head on his arm "How old are you?"
"7"
"Big is this your home?" again she nods "Do you want to come back to my planet?"
"Will I be alone there?"
"No there are lots of people on my planet. How did this weird wraith not get you?"
"I hid, there was screaming, people ran trying to escape, my mom told me to hide. I don't like it here; I'm hungry" Evan gets out a food bar and gives it to her
"Major Lorne!" calls Shepard
"In here sir!" he calls back, footsteps can be heard entering the house, they enter the room
"Anything to report?"
"Yes sir" Astra tries to hide behind Evan "Meet Astra, she says a weird looking wraith took the villagers"
"Michael" sighs Teyla "She is the only survivor?"
"Yep, permission to bring her back to Atlantis" asks Evan
"Well she can't stay here. I think that answers all the questions, let's go home" Evan gets up, Astra with tears in her eyes looks around the room
"Is there anything you want to bring sweetie?"
"No" she stammers "I don't have anything" Evan bends down and picks her up, she hugs him
"Come on let's go" he leaves the house and they walk back along the path to the gate
"Col" greets Laura "Did you find out anything sir?"
"Michael has been here; Lorne found a kid" he turns to his 2IC
"I see sir, dial home?" Shepard nods so Laura dials the gate
Atlantis
"Incoming traveller" calls Chuck, the gate opens "Receiving Col Shepard's IDC"
"That was quick" comments Sam moving down to the gate room just as everyone emerges "Anything?"
"A small surprise ma'am" replies Evan, Sam sees him holding Astra her face buried in his shoulder
"And Michael" adds Shepard
"Well looks like a new guest; infirmary please" Evan nods and heads straight out.
When he enters the infirmary he is greeted by Carson
"Hey Doc, I've brought you a small person, by the name of Astra"
"Aye son I can see that, over here please" he motions to a bed Evan places her onto it "Hello princess" Astra shifts towards Evan, taking hold of his hand "It's okay I'm not going to hurt you"
"You'll be fine with Carson" Evan tries to leave but feels his hand getting squeezed "okay I'll stay" Astra then allows Carson to check her over
"Well all seems fine a healthy young lady"
"Good, shall we go and see Col Carter?" at which point Sam enters
"Or I'll come to you; everything okay?"
"Peachy, just a little nervous" replies Carson
"Well we need to decide where she is going to stay" asks Sam tentatively
"Another person who has taken a shine to Evan" says Ki as she enters
"Yep" replies a beaming Evan
"Hello Astra, I'm Ki" Astra smiles "Are you hungry?" she nods "Right whilst this lot have a chat we'll get some food" Ki picks up Astra and they leave
"Well I think she may have already found a home" comments Carson, Evan frowns
"Yes" he sighs looking at the door Ki just left through
"Well it is the better option at least Ki is here most of the time; either that or the Athosians" says Sam "If you have a problem say now Major"
"Yes ma'am, permission to leave to talk with my girlfriend?"
"Yes please do" Evan half runs out of the infirmary after Ki.