Major John Sheppard made his way through the halls of the SGC. He was sure that the Srg. he had asked for directions from had directed him to go straight, then take take two lefts. Well, two lefts later and he still didn't feel like he was any closer to his quarters then he was 10 minutes ago. 'How can anyone find their way around here?' he thought to himself.

The SGC was a complex tunnel system where one wrong turn could lead you wandering for hours. Sure- he could keep exploring on his own - but he wasn't really interested in accidentally stumbling into ... well he didn't really know. 'Something alien-ish though' he supposed. 'Who knows what kind of dangerous alien stuff they have lying around here.'
- Alien.

That thought alone made the Major stop in his tracks. It was still a surreal fact to him that Aliens actually do exist. Hardly 72 hours earlier his life had been completely normal. 'Okay well as normal as flying over Antarctica as a Major in the Air force could be' . . . As normal as being in the Air Force could be?

John shook his head. 'Face it' he told himself. 'Your life has never been normal.'

"Major!"

John head shot up at the familiar voice pulling him out of his thoughts. "Dr. Weir." He nodded at the woman who had just come up to him.
She smiled. "I was hoping I'd bump into you." John nodded and stood up straight. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, actually I just wanted to thank you for agreeing to come on my expedition. I know this couldn't have been an easy decision for you. I mean, we have no idea what is waiting for us. But I know that your ability with the ATA Gene will greatly help us in overcoming whatever difficulties might arise." John shrugged. "Well, I don't know about that. And as I understand it, a lot of other folk have the ATA gene as well." Elizabeth nodded."Yes, that is true. But no one has the same control as you do. Either way, I'm glad your joining us." John wasn't sure how to respond, so he just nodded his head. Elizabeth shifted from one foot to the other. "Well, I was just on my way to meet with Dr. Mckay, and Col. Sumners. Rodney wants to go over some of the numbers with me, and I invited the Col. in case there was anything he should know. You're welcome to join us." When he took to long to answer, Elizabeth quickly went on. "You don't have to, of course. I'm sure you must have packing to do and-"
"No, no. That's okay" he cut her off. "I'd be happy to join you." He smiled.
"Okay then!" She smiled back and turned down the hall. "It's this way." He followed down the corridor.

- Sure he still had packing to do. 'But getting to know the people I'm going I'll be traveling to another alien planet with, isn't a waste of time either.' he thought. 'Besides, it wasn't like I was able to even find my quarters. At least Dr. Weir knows where she's going.'

A couple hours later, and John was finally settled in his room. The meeting had gone smoothly and there didn't seem to be any problems. Any luck, and this time tomorrow he would be in a different galaxy. - A different galaxy. That thought still seemed as bizarre and as impossible to reach as ever. He still had his doubts about the whole idea, but one thing was sure.

While Col. Sumners might prove to be an area of growth for his patience, it was quite obvious to him that Dr. Weir honestly cared about everyone in her expedition. And as long as that remained her focus, he was confident that he would be able to obey her orders.

As John started his packing, he spoke his last thought out loud. "A long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far away..."