A/N: Hi guys, this story has taken a while to finish but here it is, complete. Each chapter has been modified since first being posted but if you read it the first time round don't worry, the storyline has not been changed. For those new to this story, the chapters are in couplets, Chapter One is Sheppard's point of view and then the story continues in Chapter Two from Weir's point of view etc for the rest of the story until the epilogue. Hope you enjoy it.
Jumpers Not Included
A Stargate Atlantis Fanfic by maria100 and elora
Chapter One:
'Now if you'll place you're hands on the controls, you will find that it's slightly different to flying anything from Earth, the Jumper seems to be able to read the pilot's mind.' Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard explained carefully to his new student in Puddle Jumper One which was situated safely on the ground in the Jumper bay. Doctor Weir had asked him to set up a training programme for new pilots. They had lost many of their proficient flyers recently. Sheppard thought bitterly of the sad events and the loss of life that had occurred including Sergeant Markham's death whilst protecting Atlantis from Wraith attack.
'Really like everything I'm thinking?' Sheppard's new 'student' Lieutenant Magson asked, her voice sounding quite and timid to his ears. She was reluctantly holding onto the controls of the Jumper and Sheppard could tell that she would rather be anywhere but where she was.
'Well not everything. See look.' Sheppard confidently took over the controls. 'I'm thinking of a map of this world.' Instantly a large screen popped up in front of the window of the Puddle Jumper displaying information of Lantea, the planet on which Atlantis was situated.
'That's amazing Colonel!' Magson exclaimed excitedly, her unwillingness of a moment ago seeming to have disappeared. 'All of this is so new to me. I was only transferred to Atlantis because of my strong ATA gene; I didn't have any experience of the Stargate programme before then. It was kind of a shock. You know, aliens, space travel. Frankly I feel at a disadvantage here.' She said openly.
'Sounds the same as how I ended up here,' Sheppard stated candidly standing up behind the pilot chair and ushering her to sit back down. 'and somehow I've ended up in charge of the military on Atlantis, just try your best Lieutenant.
'Anyway the Puddle Jumper does have one serious flaw in my opinion.' Sheppard said to the young lieutenant, putting the controls back into her hands. 'It can't provide turkey sandwiches, believe me I've tried, it does everything else that you can think of but when I think of a turkey sandwich, nothing, and I could really use one as well, I haven't even eaten breakfast yet!' He made his best angry look, creasing his forehead and turning the corners of his mouth down comically. It had the desired effect; Magson giggled appreciatively and seemed more at ease. 'Don't worry Lieutenant you'll fit in fine here.
'Now we'll practice one last thing as I have a very significant meeting to attend with Doctor Weir on the mainland which under no circumstances can I be late for.' Sheppard said pompously, managing to sound exactly like Doctor McKay. 'Try to think of Atlantis.' Sheppard ordered.
Magson squeezed her eyes shut tightly. After a few minutes she opened them frustrated. 'It's no use sir, nothing's happening.'
'Don't give up yet, it may take some time.' He replied patiently.
'But Colonel how long did it take you?' She asked disheartened.
'Well, that's completely beside the point.' Sheppard muttered hastily, not wanting to revel that he had managed it first attempt. It would be cruel to tell her this and would surely crush her spirit even more than it already was. It wasn't the best way to train someone, Sheppard decided.
'Let's give up you have more crucial places to be, you said so yourself a few minutes ago, sir.' Magson suggested.
'Er yeah about that…' Sheppard murmured, loath to admit that he was in fact attending a child's birthday party instead of the big conference he had made it sound like. 'Anyway,' he said awkwardly, moving the conversation on quickly 'Er, try and think of the view of the planet from the Daedalus. I'm sure you couldn't resist taking a look when you first arrived a few months ago.'
'Yes sir, I'll try.' She replied. Again she squeezed her eyes shut. Sheppard looked around, unsure of what to do if she failed again. He dejectedly thought about the situation they were in, teaching mind control was difficult and there were few pilots on Atlantis at the moment with a strong enough ATA gene to make excellent fighter pilots. Magson had seemed like the best. It was imperative that Atlantis had more than one pilot who could be counted on under enemy fire. Pilots like Doctor Beckett were fine for trips to the mainland but Beckett didn't have anywhere near enough skill to be a fighter pilot. This was why Weir had been hoping that he could train Magson and others to protect Atlantis.
Sheppard looked at his watch frustratedly, his patient teacher demeanour starting to crack. He placed a hand on Magson's shoulder 'Look maybe-' Magson jumped in the chair apparently startled by the sudden noise. The Ancient controls flared to life under her shaking hands. Sheppard heard a sharp, clanging noise outside the Jumper. 'What's-' he started to question.
There was a loud explosion that made the Jumper vibrate perilously and he saw a faint glimpse of orange and red fire out of the front Jumper window. The Jumper rocked violently by the shockwave of the blast. Before Sheppard could react he was knocked off of his feet and slammed viscously into the side of the Puddle Jumper which had stopped its journey as quickly as it had started it. He lay still, aching, for a few moments to settle his spinning head. 'Magson you hurt?' He shouted across the Jumper, accidentally taking a deep breath of the smoky air that was rapidly filling the Jumper. He heard no response from the young lieutenant. He quickly strode over to where she lay on the tilted floor next to the pilots chair. He hastily put his fingers to her neck and breathed a sigh of relief as he found a steady pulse. The smoke was getting thicker in the Jumper. Leaning over the unconscious lieutenant he hit the button that should open the roof of the Jumper bay, hoping that it would act as a chimney and get rid of the smoke. The button refused to activate, sparking ferociously as he touched it. He swiftly removed his hand. 'Damn, this was my favourite Jumper too.' Sheppard muttered ruefully.
He hurriedly hoisted Magson over his shoulder; he could feel the heat coming from the raging inferno outside. Placing his jacket sleeve over his mouth, he ran down the ramp of the Puddle Jumper. He quickly scanned the room and worked out the safest route out of the hostile environment that was now the Jumper Bay. He ran as fast as he could, ignoring the heat that was searing his face and the secondary explosions that were sounding louder and louder. Once he was safely outside he lowered Magson to the floor and tapped his earpiece. 'This is Colonel Sheppard, medical team to the Jumper bay.' He ordered throatily, gratefully breathing in the smoke free air deeply. 'Repair team to the Jumper bay.' He ordered again.
'Colonel Sheppard, what the hell is going on up there?' Weir demanded heatedly over the radio.
