Author: Jadelyn Tate
Story: Falling In the Black
Rating: M (just to be safe--it won't get up to NC-17 but I honestly don't know how mature it will get)
Disclaimer: I own no one but Nicole Scott.
Short summery: She didn't know she was searching for a place to belong...until she found it.
A/N: This focuses mostly on an OC dealing with life in the Pegasus galaxy from Season one through…whenever I end it. :D Also, this is for my own personal prompt challenge of 50 prompts. If I get enough interest, I may LJ community the prompts.
Prompt: #33 – Insanity
This was pure insanity as far as Nicole was concerned. As the SGC prepared to send close to two hundred people through the gate, not knowing if they were going to return, Nicole was, somewhat nostalgically, trying to determine what to bring with her.
One personal item per person, that was the rule. Insane, her mind whispered again. Some people were able to get around that with various objects but Nicole was having an issue.
"Is everything okay, Nic?"
"I can't decide," Nicole replied, not looking back at where she knew her boss was watching her. For the past six years, she'd worked closely with Dr. Jackson on various projects, the biggest being the Ancients Language Database. Besides him and General O'Neill, she probably knew Ancient the best. That, coupled with her ATA gene, meant she would be invaluable on this mission, as Dr. Weir had pointed out when she'd approached Nicole last week.
"Can't decide on what?" General O'Neil asked and Nicole finally turned around to find the original SG1, minus Teal'c who was currently off world, standing in the doorway. They were all dressed in civilian clothes so she figured they were on their way out.
"Personal item," she told them. "We're only allowed one."
"What are your options?" Colonel Carter asked, stepping inside. Nicole waved at the two items on the desk.
"Personal laptop, photo-album, and my necklace," she replied, hand going to her throat.
"Is the necklace that important?" the General asked, eying it. Nicole bit her lip.
"My two sisters each have a matching sun and star," she explained quietly, fingering the silver crescent moon. "We haven't taken them off since we were twelve. Our grandmother gave them to us."
"Put it under your top," the General said after a moments pause. "I don't think many people will mind if you have it and one other item."
"And you may have time to scan these into your laptop," Colonel Carter said, pointing at the photo album. "At the very least you can get the ones you really want."
Nicole blinked and then smiled. "I hadn't thought of that though I should have," she murmured. "I already packed up all my work supplies, I should have time to get most of these."
"Well, I did have a reason for coming down here," Daniel said. "Dr. Henderson has decided not to go."
Nicole was quiet for a moment. "Then who's going to lead the Atlantis language department?"
"You are," he told her seriously. Nicole's eyes widened. "The only reason you weren't made head in the first place was because we both know Henderson would never listen to you, despite the fact you know Ancient better than he does."
Soon, the three of them left, leaving Nicole looking around and scrambling to get more supplies.
~~*A*~~
"Insane, the whole lot of us," Nicole mumbled as she stood in the embarkation room.
"Can I have everyone's attention, please?" Dr. Weir called out as Nicole double checked her bag. She looked up. "All right, here we go. We're about to try to make a connection. We have been unable to predict exactly how much power this is going to take, and we may only get the one chance at this. So if we're able to achieve a stable wormhole, we're not going to risk shutting the 'gate down. We'll send in the MALP robot probe, check for viability, and go. Everything in one shot."
Nicole glanced up at the viewing window, catching Daniel's eye. He smiled at her before they both turned back to Dr. Weir. "Now, every one of you volunteered for this mission. And you represent over a dozen countries. You are the world's best and brightest. And in light of the adventure we are about to embark on, you're also the bravest. I hope we all return one day having discovered a whole new realm of humanity to explore, but as all of you know, we may never be able to return home. I'd like to offer you all one last chance to withdraw your participation."
Nicole swallowed, mind going back to her goodbye with her very agitated sisters and eerily silent brothers. She sent a silent prayer for their safety but locked her eyes on Dr. Weir. She wasn't going to back down, no matter what. This was a chance in a lifetime and she knew if her siblings were aware of just what she was doing, they'd be just as excited about it. The civilian leader smiled as no one made a move to leave.
"Begin the dialing sequence."
Nicole cheered with everyone else as the wormhole connected. Watching, she waited with everyone else until the all clear came through. Walking up the ramp, she glanced back one more time at her boss who nodded at her with a smile. Smiling back, she turned back and jumped through.