Griffon


Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate: Atlantis

Summary: The SGA team discovers the Pegasus Galaxy equivalent to the black market and McKay gets amnesia.

Chapter One

Major John Sheppard stepped out of the stargate onto the planet Telosia, his P-90 raised as if he expected attack. Behind him, three more forms stepped forth from the event-horizon—that looked suspiciously like a puddle of water—and stood in a loose circle around him. He nodded, satisfied, and studied the alien terrain.

The area around the stargate was clear of trees even though a dense forest was visible not far off. An ornamental stone path led from the 'gate into the wooded area, torches lining the first ten feet. The torches were lit despite the fact that it was midday on the planet.

Sheppard raised an eyebrow at Teyla. "You didn't say anyone'd be expecting us," he mock accused.

Teyla smiled, accepting the teasing. "No one is. Telosia is the epicenter of trade among all the peoples of this galaxy," she responded. Then her smile faded. "It can be dangerous to come here, because of the Wraith. Such a gathering of people…." She didn't need to finish.

"Well that's just great," Doctor Rodney McKay broke in angrily, "Not only do we have the wrath of the Wraith to deal with, but we're on a planet that they frequent for an all you can eat buffet!"

"Shut-up, McKay," Sheppard said, rolling his eyes, "We need supplies. We have about five hundred more mouths to feed than we expected."

"Besides," Lieutenant Aidan Ford interjected, "How are we supposed to learn anything if we sit around, afraid of our own shadows?"

McKay glared, but subsided, for which Sheppard was grateful. The physicist had an annoying habit of giving him a headache. "Okay," Sheppard said, once he was sure there would be no more outbursts, "Teyla, show us the way to go. Ford, watch our six. McKay, stay out of trouble."

"Me stay out of trouble? You're the one who got us stuck in the transporters that time."

Sheppard grinned. "Yeah, but you're the one who fainted when we were about to be incinerated as trash."

McKay muttered something unintelligible, then said testily, "Well, are we just gonna stand around here all day smelling the flowers?" He started marching off down the path until Teyla gently grabbed his arm and pointed in another direction.

"The Market changes its location. The number of torches lets us know where to go," she explained.

Sheppard nodded. "Makes sense." He swept a low bow, extracting an amused grin from Ford, a snort from McKay and a look of confusion from Teyla. "After you, m'lady."

The Market was everything its name implied. Stalls containing clothing, metal works, food and other, more colorful items lined the streets and the low hum of human voices was broken occasionally by vendors calling out their wares at the tops of their lungs. Various people wandered through, some in more of a hurry than others—sometimes knocking people over as they went.

"Teyla! Teyla Emmagan?" a masculine voice cried out over the cacophony of the crowded market, "Is it really you?"

A tall man with a grey beard and bald head forced his way through some people and came to a stop in front of the Atlantis team. He wore a gaudy yellow, blue and green tunic with bright red leggings and had a feathered headdress of multiple colors. Sheppard, was mildly concerned, but when Teyla embraced the old man he relaxed.

"This is Kallen," Teyla told them, "He's in charge of the Market, and has been ever since I can remember. Kallen, these are Major Sheppard, Lieutenant Ford and Doctor McKay. They are from a planet called Earth, in a galaxy far, far away."

Sheppard and Ford grinned. McKay gave the Athosian woman an odd look before glancing at his other teammates. His expression changed to one of weary annoyance. Sheppard couldn't help but laugh.

"Have I done something to amuse you, Major?" Kallen asked.

Sobering abruptly, Sheppard shook his head. "No, it's uh…an inside joke. Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It's nice to meet you Kallen."

"I am glad to meet you as well, Major. And Lieutenant and Doctor as well."

"Ah," Sheppard winced, "Uh, those are actually our titles. You can address us by them if you want to," he put in quickly when the old man simply stared at him.

Then Kallen smiled. "Of course. I have seen stranger customs in my lifetime. Sometimes I wonder how we could all have the same Ancestors."

McKay chose that moment to speak, even though the statement had obviously been rhetorical. "It's actually quite easy, considering they all left about ten thousand years ago. That much time, living on different planets and having different environments to deal with can cause…"

"Since when were you an anthropologist?" Sheppard asked before McKay could go into one of his long-winded speeches.

"You don't have to be an anthropologist to understand the significance of…"

"McKay. Shut-up."

"Why do you tell me that all the time?"

"Because I can."

Sheppard grinned as McKay rolled his eyes. Kallen looked between the two of them and then leaned in to whisper in an audible tone to Teyla, "Are they always like this?"

"Yes," Teyla answered, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Well," Kallen began, "If you will all follow me, I will show you where we can speak of bargaining without all these ears."

Sheppard stuck his tongue out at McKay and turned to follow the old man.

"Oh, very mature, Major."

The small tent Kallen led them into was surprisingly roomy. What looked to be a desk made out of a very shiny material was situated in the middle while chairs of the same material were lined up against the sides. Kallen pulled one of the chairs up to the desk and sat down so that he was facing them.

"Please," the old man began pleasantly, "Sit down. You'll be more comfortable for negotiations."

Sheppard shrugged and pulled up a chair, Ford and Teyla followed suit. McKay however, was tapping one of the chairs with his knuckles and the expression on his face made Sheppard groan. It was the 'I've-found-something-new-and-cool-and-I'm-gonna-have-to-check-it-out' look.

"Sit down, McKay," Sheppard growled before the scientist had a chance to open his mouth.

"But, this is unlike any metal I've ever….right. Sitting down. You know, you can be an asshole sometimes?"

"I can be an asshole sometimes? Oh well, takes one to know one."

"Ahem," Kallen coughed to get their attention. "If we may continue?"

McKay sighed and pulled the chair out so that he was sitting by Teyla and as far away from Sheppard as he could get. Ford, for his part, just looked straight ahead, the muscles in his jaws jumping sporadically as he tried to keep himself from laughing at the two. Teyla ignored them all and gazed at Kallen.

"Thank you," Kallen said irritably, "Now what exactly do you need?"

"Food," McKay said before anyone else could speak. Ford discretely kicked him in the ankle. Unfortunately, McKay wasn't so discrete in his reaction. "Ow! What'd you do that for? That hurt. My ankles are very sensitive, Lieutenant. I think you broke it."

"It was an accident," Ford lied, "And it wasn't that hard."

"How would you know? You've got those combat boots on. You can't tell how hard you kick someone with those." McKay's voice had taken on a whiny quality now.

Sheppard could feel the headache coming on. "Your ankle's not broken, McKay, and unless you'd like it to be, you'd better shut your mouth and don't say another word unless I tell you to. I do know how hard I can kick somebody with these boots on."

The physicist swallowed back the retort he had been about to make when he met Sheppard's eyes and settled for a pouty glare.

"Sorry about that, Kallen," Sheppard apologized, "Our major priority is food."

Before the Telosian could respond, a boy that couldn't be older than five ran in, out of breath and in a panic.

"Grandfather! Someone's killed all the nesting females and stolen the eggs!"


Well, that's the end of chapter one…let me know what you think.