Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis.
Here is a brief description of my character.
Name: Natalie Sheppard
Age: 26
Appearance: 5'4" Dark black hair, shoulder length, curly. Dark brown eyes, pale skin.
Her older brother is Lt. Colonel John Sheppard. She has four doctorates. Archeology, linguistics, quantum physics, and computer technology. She knows the Ancient and Wraith languages, extensively, both spoken and written. She is almost as smart as Rodney but he has more wisdom. Their expertises complement each other. She is also one of the strongest carriers of the ATA gene. This story starts in season four in between the shows doppelganger and travelers.
The Beginning
Natalie stepped through the gate and into the city of Atlantis. She had two large duffel bags containing some of her stuff. Her language books and some other stuff came on the Daedalus. She stood in the middle of the Gateroom and was trying to take the beautiful city in. Her brother Lt. Colonel John Sheppard walked up behind her. "Welcome to Atlantis, Little sis." He said. She quickly turned around and smiled. "This place is amazing." She told him. John hugged her. "You've only been here for a few minutes." He pointed out. "So?" Natalie asked. He took her to the conference room. There waiting were the rest of SGA-1 and Colonel Samantha Carter. "Let me introduce everyone. Colonel Samantha Carter is the head of this expedition. Then there is Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex and Dr. Rodney McKay, they are my team. Guys, this is my little sister, Dr. Natalie Sheppard." He said.
"It's nice to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you." Natalie commented. "And we have heard so much about you. John said you two look a lot alike and he was right." Teyla said. "I look forward to sparing with you. Sheppard told me how you used to kick his butt after he enrolled you in that marshal arts class." Ronon commented. "She didn't kick my butt, I let her win." John said. "Yes, I did and I can prove it." Natalie replied. "This I got to see." Said Rodney happily.
"Why don't we sit down and start this meeting." Sam suggested. They all took their seats around the conference table. "Dr. Sheppard is our new head of languages department. She is taking over from Dr. Mead, who decided to go back to Earth. I'll have John show you around after this meeting." She said. "I can't wait to get settled in." Commented Natalie. "I have suggested that you join my team sis. I think we could benefit from having your expertise on the team." John said. "But that would make five members, you can only have four." Pointed out Rodney. "True, but I've decided to override that rule, John's right she would certainly help the team." Said Carter. "But there is already a scientist on the team, me. There is no room for her, sorry Dr. Sheppard." McKay told them.
"I wouldn't compete against you Dr. McKay; I have different expertise than you. On the ones that we have the same expertise on, I'm not as smart as you, I've seen some of your work at Stargate command. You're a genius. I mean I'm not dumb by any measure but you surpass me in smarts." Natalie told him. "Really, you think that?" He wondered. She nodded. "And besides I could tell you all sorts of things about my big brother that he hasn't told you about." Added Natalie. An evil smile spread across Rodney's face. "I think you and me could be good friends." He commented. Her brother gave her a dark look.
After the meeting was over John gave her a tour of the city. He showed her last her quarters and office. "So now you know the city. After you get settled in a little bit I'll teach you how to fly a puddle jumper." He told her. "Cool." She said. That evening she had unpacked her office and was working on unpacking her stuff in her quarters. She walked over to the desk in her room and turned on the laptop that Stargate command provided. She had also loaded some the games she owned and all of her music from home. She also brought her entire collection of movies at the request of her brother. She sat down in front of it and began to look at the texts that some of the off world teams found. A few hours after reviewing the texts and her underling's files, she went to bed.
She awoke the next morning; Got dressed in her Atlantis uniform, put her comlink in her ear, grabbed her laptop and headed out the door. She worked for awhile in her office then decided to walk around the city. After walking a few minutes she found the sparring room. There inside was Ronon, John and a man she hadn't met. She walked inside watching her brother and Ronon fight and walked up to the man also watching. "Hi, I'm Dr. Natalie Sheppard." Said Natalie. "Nice to meet you, I'm Major Evan Lorne. How do you like the city so far?" He asked.
"Good, who's winning?" She asked. "Usually Ronon, but Col. Sheppard is having a good day today." Replied Lorne. Just then, John heard them talking and looked over towards them. Ronon taking advantage of this took Sheppard by surprise and sent him flying across the room. Lorne turns to Natalie. "That's usually how it goes." He told her. Natalie chuckled. John got up off the floor and walked over to where his sister and Lorne were. "Having fun?" Natalie asked. "Loads." Her brother replied. "Hey, now you can show how you kick your brother's butt." Ronon said. "I could couldn't I, what do you think, big bro?" Asked Natalie sweetly. John shook his head. "Naw, I want to recuperate from fighting with Ronon, don't want you to have an advantage." John teased.
She rolled her eyes. "So, does anyone else want to fight?" She asked. Lorne was thinking about it, but Ronon beat him to it. "I will." Ronon said. She took off her jacket to reveal a green, slightly tight, short sleeve shirt on underneath it. She walked up to where Ronon was and got into a fighting stance. Ronon went high with his first swing and she ducked then punched him in the gut. They exchanged blows for awhile when Natalie swung her legs under Ronon's knocking him flat on his butt. She then placed her boot inches from his neck. "Do you give up?" She asked. "Yeah, you're good. I can see how you beat your brother so easily." Ronon commented. She removed her foot and helped Ronon up. Natalie then turned and looked over to her brother and Evan. Their jaws were on the ground.
"Anyone else?" Asked Natalie. "No, not right now." They said together. "Comon sis, I need to brief you on the mission we're going on tomorrow." John said. The siblings both walked out of the room. Lorne walked up to Ronon. "She's good." Ronon commented. "Yeah, and hot." Evan added. "Yeah, she is, but don't let Sheppard hear that." Ronon told him. "Ready?" He asked the Major. Lorne nodded and they began to fight. John took Natalie to the mess hall to eat. Rodney joined them a few moments later. The siblings were deep in discussion about the next mission. "Hi." Said McKay. "Hi, Dr. McKay." Natalie replied. "If were going to work together call me Rodney." He told her. "Or Meredith." John added. Rodney just rolled his eyes. "What have you two been up to?" Rodney asked. "Oh, I was just watching my little sister beat Ronon's butt." John said. McKay's eyes widened. "Really? How fast?" He asked. "Four minutes, round about." John said. "No, it wasn't more like ten." Added Natalie.
"How'd you beat him?" Rodney asked. "Knocked him flat on his butt. It was amazing." Replied John. Natalie blushed. "You really knocked him flat on his butt?" McKay wondered. "Yeah, he was actually not embellishing it, this time." Replied Natalie. The three of them ate the rest of the meal talking about this or that. Natalie was headed back to her office to translate some texts when she ran into Major Lorne. "Hi, Dr. Sheppard." He said. "Hello, Major Lorne and call me Natalie." She told him. "Ok, Natalie, you can call me Evan or I also go by Lorne." Said Evan. "Ok, agreed, Evan." Natalie said smiling.
"By the way I didn't get to tell you that was an impressive display back there, beating Ronon." He told her. "You didn't need to, your expression was enough." Natalie commented. He smiled. "I was on my way to my office; you wouldn't believe how much paperwork has piled up there since Dr. Mead left." Said Natalie. "Well, I'll see you around then." He said then left. She couldn't help but look over her shoulder. He is hot, she thought to herself. She began to walk towards her office again. Maybe I could get John to tell me more about him, she wondered, smiling. After she caught up on most of her paperwork she went to sleep wondering if the mission tomorrow would go without a hitch. In the morning she got ready and went to the locker room to get ready to go off world.
The rest SGA-1 arrived moments later. They got ready and walked to the Gateroom. The tech dialed the Gate, it activated and they went through. The mission went off mostly smoothly. They were there to open trade agreements with the villagers. The ceremonies to talk to them were strange. Natalie was glad she knew the Ancient language extensively, the written and the spoken, because Rodney, Ronon and John were almost married off to the leader's daughters. The months rolled along, they went on many different missions, trade agreements, meet and greets and many other kinds. There were a few times where they were ambushed by the Wraith or something went a little wrong but mostly they went relatively smoothly.
Today, SGA-1 minus Teyla was walking through the woods of P4X-824. Teyla was helping SGA-12 with some trade agreements. "Where is the power readings coming from? The village is too primitive to be creating that much power." Commented McKay. "Here, it's off to the left." Natalie said, looking at her tablet's screen. John led them to the left and found an Ancient console in front of an Ancient building of some sorts. "This is what's making the power readings you were so worried about?" John asked looking at the run down building. "Well, yes, when we were first looking at it, it seemed important." McKay replied. "Besides, we haven't opened the building yet. Who knows what could be in there, maybe even a fully working ZPM." Natalie added. "You sound like McKay now." John commented. The scientists ignored his comment. "She's right we need to open it up." Said Rodney, walking up to the console. Natalie followed.
Ronon and John began to look around the perimeter. Rodney hooked up his tablet and began to tap stuff into it. Natalie walked up to the door; there was Ancient and Wraith writing on it. She began to translate it and input it into her tablet. John and Ronon were almost finished walking the perimeter when someone started shooting at them. The two of them chased after him. Meanwhile after working on the console for awhile they figured out that the door was sealed fast and there was no way to open it. The console was programmed to send out an energy reading to lure them here, but who could have done it. "John." Natalie said into her comlink, she wondered where he and Ronon were, they were supposed to be back awhile ago. She heard nothing but static. "John, can you hear me?" She tried again. She and Rodney exchanged worried glances. "Ronon, are you guys there?" She tried one last time. "Where are they and why aren't they responding?" McKay wondered. "I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about this. I think we should go look for them." Suggested Natalie.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A voice near them said. They looked around, the place was deserted. "They are just fine. I sent them on a wild goose chase and scrambled their communication. By the time they realize what is happening, we'll be gone." The vice added. "I know that voice." Muttered McKay. Natalie placed her tablet on the ground and picked up her P-90 that was hanging from her tac-vest. She walked over to Rodney. She then saw movement and pointed her gun at it. Rodney also placed his tablet on the ground and was now aiming his P-90 at the same place. Michel the Wraith stepped out of the shadows. "Hello, Dr. McKay, good to see you." He said. "Michael." Rodney said, shocked, realizing they were in big trouble. "Who?" Natalie asked. "Haven't you read any of the mission reports?!" McKay exclaimed. "Not all of them." She replied. Michael walked up to her. "Who are you? I haven't seen you before." He said.
"Dr. Natalie Sheppard." She replied. "Really, are you related to Col. Sheppard in any way?" He asked. "He's my brother." Natalie told him. "That is good news I was just going to kill you. But now you are of some use to me." Commented Michael. A lot of Wraith were beginning to appear, they were surrounded. The Wraith drew their weapons and pointed them at the two scientists. She and Rodney pulled the triggers on their P-90's, taking down a few of the Wraith. They were then shot with the Wraith stunners. "Leave all their gear here, but take their tablets." Michael ordered. His men complied. The Wraith were carrying the two unconscious scientists away when Michael picked up one of the tac-vests his men took off the scientists and pulled a video camera out.
He smiled; he wanted to leave a message for Col. Sheppard. Meanwhile, John and Ronon finally caught up to the man that was shooting at them, it was one of the villagers. "Why were you shooting at us?" John asked. "The Wraith made me, or he would kill the entire village." The young man replied. "The Wraith?" Ronon asked. "Yeah, but this guy didn't look like no ordinary Wraith. He looked like a mix between a human and a Wraith." The villager told them. "Michael." John said, his eyes widening. They released the villager and ran to where they left Natalie and Rodney. They arrived there moments later, but they were too late, they were gone. There were some Wraith bodies lying around the area and all of their equipment except for the tablets. John walked to where he saw a video camera laying on the ground. He picked it up and turned it on. Michael's face appeared on the screen.
"Hello, Col. Sheppard, by now you realize why I led you away on a wild goose chase. I wanted Dr. McKay. What I didn't know was I would be getting a bonus, your own sister. This is a real treat, two people to help me with the task I needed McKay for. Do not go looking for them, their in good hands. Of course, after they have done what I need them to do they will be one of my experiments." Michael said. He smiled then the recording turned off. John's blood froze at the last statement. "Sheppard. We'll find them." Ronon assured him. "Gather the equipment; we're heading back to Atlantis." John ordered. After they arrived in Atlantis they dropped off the gear and headed to Carter's office.
"Hello, John how did the mission go?" She asked looking up from her laptop. She noticed two of the group were missing. "What happened?" She asked. John told her the story. Meanwhile, on a Wraith hive ship some where in space, Natalie and Rodney were waking up in a Wraith cell. "Great, just great. Now what? We don't have the people here who usually help us escape." Rodney shouted. "Calm down, I'll figure it out. I just recently read a mission report where they threw knives to get the door open." Natalie told him. "Well the people who have the knives aren't here." He pointed out. "Oh, really?" Natalie said, pulling a knife from her boot. "How? Oh, I forgot your Sheppard jr. So, what's your idea after we get out of here?" Rodney asked. "Steal a Wraith dart and fly it to a Stargate." She replied. "Of course." Rodney said sarcastically.
They were about to start her plan when two Wraith guards came to their cell. Natalie quickly hid the knife back in her boot. The Wraith led them to the bridge. Michael was waiting for them there. "Ah, you're awake. Now I want you to begin the work I captured you for." He said. "And what is that?" Natalie asked. "To modify the engines." He replied. "To what, exactly?" She asked. "To inter-galactic." Was Michael's only reply. "You want us to, why?!" Rodney squeaked. "To have something the other Wraith haven't, to maybe even visit your lovely planet." Michael told them. Their eyes widened. "No, we won't let you do that." Natalie exclaimed. "Oh, you will." He said. "If you don't help me modify the hyperdrive I'll either kill you or experiment on you." He added. "No, I won't do it. Do what you want but I won't help you." Natalie said crossing her arms. Michael looked at Rodney. "And what is your opinion?" He asked. "I'll do it I'll help, just don't hurt her. I need her help to modify it. Don't worry I can make her do it." He assured. Natalie looked at McKay in shock. "Good, take them to the engine room." Michael ordered his guards.
The guards led them there, once they arrived they noticed their tablets were lying on a table ready to use. The guards left them alone, guarding the outside door. "What the hell, are you thinking, helping someone like him?" Natalie whispered. "I said I'd help but he doesn't know that we'll actually be rigging the hyperdrive to explode. And we'll make the ship appear on Atlantis' long range sensors." He whispered back. Natalie smiled. "Ok, where do we start?" She asked.
Back in Atlantis Carter and Zelenka were trying to use the city's long range sensors to find Michael's hive ship. After setting the parameters they began the search. Two hours later they found the ship. John, Ronon, Zelenka, Lorne and Carter were sitting in the conference room minutes later. "We located Michael's hive ship." Carter told them. "How?" John asked. "Actually, it was quite easy. Someone on board made a transponder signal that the city picked up." Zelenka answered. "They're still alive." Lorne commented. "They probably haven't done what he wanted them to do yet." Ronon pointed out. "I wonder why he wanted McKay." John asked.
"I've actually figured it out. The ship is floating with no engine power. That only mean one probable reason." Carter said. "And that is what?" Asked Ronon. "To modify the hyperdrive." Zelenka replied. "There is one problem though." Carter said. "Great, there is always a problem." Commented John. "The closest Stargate is three days away from the ship by jumper. The Daedalus is two weeks away from Atlantis." Carter told them. "The puddle jumper is the only answer then." Lorne said. "Okay suit up, I'll send SGA-2 with you." Carter ordered. The meeting then dismissed. A half hour later the rest of SGA-1 including Teyla and SGA-2 were in the puddle jumper. The ship dropped from the bay and went through the open Stargate.
On the hive ship, Rodney and Natalie were working on the engines. Two Wraith guards walked in grabbed McKay by the shoulders and pulled him out of the room. Natalie was going to help him, but he gave her a look that told her to stick with the plan. The guards took him to where Michael was waiting for him. "Dr. McKay, what is your progress on the engine?" He asked. They had just hit a snag with their plan earlier, so Rodney stalled for time. "Slow, we hope this idea we have will work. It could just burn out the engine." He said. "You have two days." Michael said. "Um, we might need more than that." McKay said. "No more than two days, Dr. McKay, your lives depend on it." He said. The guards took Rodney back to the engine room.
"What did they want?" Natalie asked as soon as the guards closed the door behind them. "He said we have two days to modify the hyperdrive." He answered. "Well, we probably will be finished by then." She said. Rodney and Natalie worked feverishly. Two days, later, they just completed what they set out to do when Michael and his guards walked into the room. Natalie was down on one knee pretending to tie her boot, in reality she was pulling out the two knives she always hid in her boots. "Are you finished yet?" Michael said. "Almost, just have to run one more test." McKay replied. Natalie stood, her hands behind her back. "Good, no remarks, Dr. Sheppard." He asked, looking at her. She smiled. "No, just a plan." She told him. She then threw her three inch long knives into the guard's heads, killing them instantly. Michael tired to shoot her with his stunner but she rolled out of the way, closer to him. She quickly spun near the ground, swinging her leg under his and knocking him to the ground. He quickly recovered and jumped back up. By that time she was also standing. They fought, exchanging blow after blow.
He was wining. Michael punched her in the face knocking her to the ground, near one of the Wraith guards. She pulled out the knife in the guards head. She stood and stabbed Michael in the abdomen, then spun and kicked him in the face, knocking him out cold. She quickly pulled the knives out of their respective places and turned towards Rodney. He was standing there with his mouth wide open. "You were amazing!" He said. Natalie rolled her eyes. "By the way, thanks for the help, Rodney." She said sarcastically. "You had it handled." He replied. "Pick up the tablets, let's get out of here." She said. She grabbed the stunners from the guards and handed one to Rodney. She placed her knives in her belt. They ran to the Dart bay.
Unfortunately, Michael predicated that move and had most of his hive guarding it. "Can't go that way." Natalie said. "Let's find a hiding place, Atlantis has to be sending help. That's why Michael wanted us to complete the engines in two days. Earlier, I used the ship's long range sensors and found out the nearest Stargate was three days away." Rodney suggested. She thought for a moment. "Okay we'll find a hiding place for right now. But it won't last for long. How long have we been here?" Natalie asked. "Almost three days." Rodney replied. They headed a different direction and found an unused lab with two consoles. Natalie closed the door and walked over to one of the consoles. She hooked in one of the tablets and locked the door with a password. Hopefully it would last a little while if they were found.
Rodney had hooked the other tablet to the second console and was tapping stuff into it. "What are you doing?" She asked. "Seeing if I can contact anyone in the vicinity. Hopefully the help Atlantis sent is near." He told her. A few minutes later he was finished. "Ok, were ready to try it." Rodney commented. They activated communications and tried to contact anyone. "Can anyone hear me? Please respond." Natalie said. Seconds passed, then minutes. Natalie looked at Rodney. Before she was going to say it was not working they heard a response. "Is that you Nat?" John asked. "We're hiding on the hive ship, where are you?" She asked. "Six hours out give or take." Her brother replied. She and Rodney smiled at each other, happy help was arriving. Their happiness was short lived however, banging could be heard on the door. "They found us." Rodney said. "Hopefully the door code I put in will last for awhile." Natalie commented. "And, if not?" Rodney asked. "We go down fighting." Natalie said. Just then the communications were jammed.
John heard what was going on and tried to mentally push the jumper's engines harder. Back on the hive ship, the door burst open. The guards shot their stunners immediately and hit the two scientists before they could react, knocking them out cold. Hours later, they awoke strapped to metal slabs. Natalie looked around as best she could, there were many instruments and consoles. Michael walked between the two slabs looking at each of them. "Since you have completed the modifications, (or so he thought), you are no longer any use to me. So now I decided after all pain you caused me I am going to experiment on you. But not yet, we are going to set up a surprise for Col. Sheppard and his rescue team." Michael said. Six hours later, John landed the jumper in the open dart bay. "That was too easy." He commented. He, Ronon, Teyla, Lorne and his team made their way through the hive. John looked at his life sign's dector. The only two other human sign's either than them were straight ahead.
They walked through the corridors and finally made it to the room. John was about to step inside when a voice stopped him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I have lined the floor with sensors. They are connected to Dr.'s McKay and Sheppard. You step on one and you'll give them a jolt. Each time the power of the jolt will be increased." Michael said. The lights came on in the room. They saw Natalie and Rodney strapped to metal slabs and wires coming from their bodies. Michael was standing behind them, near a console. John looked at the floor he couldn't see any sensors. "You don't believe me, I'll give you a demonstration." He told them. He pushed a button on the console. Natalie felt a powerful charge course through her body, she screamed. After a few moments, it stopped. "Believe me now?" Michael asked.
John pointed his P-90 at him. "What if I just shoot you?" John wondered. "My finger is hovering over the button that will kill them both, you shoot and I'll push the button before you kill me." Michael said. John lowered him gun. "I thought so." Commented Michael walking a few steps away from the console. John quickly swung his gun up and shot Michael multiple times. Michael's body fell down to the ground. "That's just great! Is that the only solution you military types know, shoot stuff?!" Rodney exclaimed.
"Now, calm down Rodney, We'll get you out of there don't worry." John said. He stepped forward and hit a sensor, shocking McKay. He screeched. "You did that on purpose!" He shouted. They didn't know how they were going to get across to shut down the machine. Ronon gauged the distance, pulled his blaster out of his holster and shot the console. It erupted into a million sparks. "What good was that?" Natalie asked. Ronon took a step forward, nothing happened. "You disabled it." Natalie commented. John and the rest of the group walked over and quickly unbound them.
Thankfully the wires were attached to some kind of electrodes and were easy to take off. Teyla walked to where Michael body fell, but there was no body. "Where's Michael?" she asked. John looked where she was looking. "I think we need to get out of here fast." John said. "Your right we fixed the engines to overload when the ship jumps in to hyperspace." Natalie said. They ran down the corridors towards where the jumper was parked. They were almost there when they were surrounded by Wraith. Just then the Daedalus beamed them and the puddle jumper up. The people were standing on the bridge. "How? Carter said you were two weeks out." John pointed out.
"She radioed me the situation and we pushed the engines." Caldwell replied. He then ordered them to jump to hyperspace. "We are about four days from Atlantis." Caldwell informed them. After Rodney and Natalie were both checked out the headed to the mess hall. John, Ronon, and Teyla were waiting for them there. Rodney told them the whole story about what happened on the hive ship. He really got into detail when he explained Natalie's fight. John hugged his sister glad she was safe again. The end for now.