Title: Just Another Day in Paradise
Author: dvshipper
Rating: G (will probably go to a PG in later chapters)
Spoilers/Warnings: none
Summary: SG-1 travels to a tropical climate planet that has everyone relaxed, except Teal'c, who knows there must be something more sinister about the team's calm attitudes.
A/N: Thanks to Lisa Michelle and Erin for being awesome betas on this! The next chapter will depend on all of you readers! If you like and want more, leave a comment and let me know. If you have any ideas or suggestions, don't hesitate to tell me.
Chapter 1: The Warmth of Tranquility
Warm sunlight washed across Daniel's face as he stepped out of the Stargate melting the chill that wormhole travel still gave him. As he looked at his surroundings he was pleased to see shimmering turquoise waters washing up on a golden sandy beach dotted with tall palm trees. The landscape was a perfect, stereotypical tropical paradise, the kind you'd see on the Travel Channel. Daniel heard Vala squeal when she came up beside him on the steps leading down from the gate.
"Finally, a nice planet. I'm so tired of dirty forests and boring deserts," Vala said as she stretched her hands into the sunlight, letting her P-90 hang from its clip on her chest. All she needed were those little exotic beverages she'd seen in movies and a beach towel and she felt like she could stay for a week or more.
"I know what you're thinking and no, we can not take a vacation here or stay simply because you feel like it," Daniel told her as he scanned the horizon and immediate area for anything that looked dangerous or Ori related. He may still be a civilian, but with as much time as he'd spent with Air Force personnel, he'd picked up a few things. However, multi-tasking was something he had always been good at so dealing with Vala and carrying out his responsibilities off-world was relatively easy.
"Don't make up your mind so soon, Daniel. You haven't seen me in a bikini," Vala replied with a wink.
"Yes, I have."
"I don't remember that," she said, looking slightly confused.
"You were pretty drunk," he reminded her.
"And all you did was look? That's hard to believe."
"Who said I just looked?"
"Can we get on with the mission now?" Colonel Mitchell piped in. He was following Colonel Carter and Teal'c down the steps and onto the path that led from the gate to somewhere off in the distance. "This probably leads to somewhere, right, Teal'c?"
"Indeed, most paths do exactly that, ColonelMitchell."
The team moved out following the path until Mitchell heard some rustling in the bushes that lined the way and motioned for everybody to stop. Leaves moved and twigs broke, the noises of movement getting closer. They all had their P-90's in hand, ready to defend themselves against any aggressor that might attack. Whatever was moving around in the greenery was clearly almost to the trail, when they heard something that wasn't exactly a wild animal sound. A woman giggled. SG-1 looked at each other in confusion before seeing a beautiful woman stumble out of the bushes, dressed in a bright blue bikini and leather flip-flops.
"Hello, we're peaceful travelers. Do you think you could take us to the nearest village?" Daniel spouted the usual speech, just as the woman got a huge smile on her face. She was looking at Mitchell not much different than how Vala looked at Daniel when she was about to say something suggestive.
"I can take you anywhere you wanna go, honey," the scantily clad beauty was less than a foot away from Mitchell and didn't seem to notice the others. She had long, black hair and dark tan skin as if she had spent hours in the warm sun with only the bikini she now sported. Mitchell appeared attracted to the female because he didn't back away when she grabbed his hand and led him through the bushes the way she had come from.
"Whoa, slow down!" Mitchell protested as she dragged him through the brush at an increasing speed. He wondered if he should even be following this woman. It could be an evil seductive trap set by the Ori to capture SG-1. Or not, besides he loved it when he got to be like Kirk.
The rest of the team was keeping up close behind, tearing through underbrush as they went. Usually, when someone was getting pulled away by one of the locals, it was cause for concern. However, Sam felt herself feeling calmer than she would be in any other situation. There seemed to be a little voice in the back of her mind telling her to trust this woman and for that matter, any person they may encounter on the planet. Sam wasn't completely aware of this soothing feeling but she kept following the two like everything was normal.
A clearing revealed itself as the group emerged from the thick trees. The space was inhabited by a number of grass huts and there were men and women lounging around, dressed in about as little clothing as the first woman that SG-1 encountered. The people looked to be of Polynesian descent and seemed to have kept the culture and lifestyle of their island ancestors. Daniel spotted a pile of banana leaves on the ground in the middle of the huts which were positioned in a lazy circle. Apparently, they were cooking something. It reminded Daniel of those cheesy luaus expensive Hawaiian resorts hosted for their guests.
"Is this where you live?" Mitchell asked the woman who was still holding his hand even though they had stopped running.
"Yes, that one over there," she told him, pointing to a hut that was a tad smaller than the others around it, suggesting that she may live alone.
Vala observed the two people holding hands, wondering why Mitchell would do something like that off-world. Maybe he was trying to gain her trust or get some information out of her. Vala wasn't jealous, just concerned because Mitchell had become a sort of brother to her, a very attractive brother, but a family member nonetheless. It concerned her when he may be in danger, especially when she thought it might be a trap. Today, however, she didn't voice her feelings like she normally would have. A feeling in her gut that could be termed intuition was telling her it would be okay and that Mitchell would be fine. Daniel was also on her mind, but for entirely different reasons.
"Could I speak with the village elders?" Daniel asked, knowing that a culture like this would be ruled by a council of the oldest members of the community who would probably have information about any Priors coming through the gate lately.
"Of course, they meet in that hut right there," she pointed to a large, almost hall-like hut on the farthest side of the village.
Daniel walked across the center of the village with Vala on his heels, eager to stay next to him. He didn't mind, who could object to a beautiful woman wanting to be at your side? There was almost something romantic about their dynamic off-world. Both willing to die to protect the other, always having each others' backs. As Daniel and Vala got to the entrance of the structure, an old man stepped out. He bowed and Daniel did the same, greeting each other in a silent respect.
Sam and Teal'c watched Daniel and Vala disappear inside the shelter and Mitchell run off, back through the trees with the native woman. "And then there were two," Sam commented, receiving a raised eyebrow from Teal'c. He knew something was not right, but he couldn't place his finger on it. On any other mission, Sam would run after Mitchell and question his behavior. Then again, on any other mission, Mitchell wouldn't behave that way at all. Teal'c, for reasons he couldn't explain, seemed unaffected by the relaxed mood that had settled on the team like a thick fog. A loud shriek interrupted his thoughts, forcing him to spring into action and turn toward the noise.
--
What do you think? More? Too horrible to keep writing more? Let me know!
dvshipper