Cerulean Waters

Summary: The Atlantis team tries to establish trade with an ocean reliant civilization only to find out an unscrupulous Genii is about to destroy their world as they know it. Can Sheppard and the team save them?

Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis and all of the characters aren't mine. Toni Beck is mine, however. She's just playing with them for a while. Setting is early in the Third Season, but there aren't any overt spoilers.

Author's Note: First, thank you for all the encouragement I have received and positive comments on my other stories. I really appreciate it! Second, you don't have to know Toni to enjoy this story, but if you would like to know how she became entangled with the Atlantis team, start with my story Blood Sea. Hope you all enjoy!

CERULEAN WATERS

Chapter One

Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard took the stairs to the Control Room two at a time. One of the Gate Technicians exchanged a questioning look with the security officer on duty. Neither of them knew of an emergency, but the Colonel was moving pretty fast.

"That was quick." Dr. Weir met him halfway across the Control Room.

"You know what they say," Sheppard smirked. "When duty calls."

"Is doing the personnel reviews really that bad?"

"My pen was beginning to look like a pretty good alternative to a hara-kiri knife." He responded, completely deadpan.

She only smiled and guided him to the conference room. Teyla and a familiar face waited there. The older man paced the room. His gray hair looked longer than the last time Sheppard had seen him. The lines on his face were deeper, too.

"Orin."

The older man had been a family friend of Teyla's. His people were severely culled and only a handful survived, escaping in a cloaked jumper. Since that time, they lived among the Athosians.

"Colonel." He stepped closer, clasping the younger man's hand tightly.

"Not that it isn't great to see you, but what's happened?" John sat on the edge of the table. He knew that a surprise visit and an urgent call to Weir's office did not often lead to good news.

"Orin has returned from a trading expedition with a number of new contacts. Several are very promising." Teyla explained. She smiled warmly at her long time friend. "In fact, there is one that looks very promising. However, they are insisting that if we are to meet, it must be within the next twenty hours."

"Why such short notice?" Dr. Weir crossed her arms.

"They are about to enter a period of ritual and celebration. Once they begin, new alliances will not be considered until the next year, when they begin the renewal rituals again." Orin explained. "They are a society bound by strict tradition. All of their tribes must agree to new off world trade agreements and all of the tribes only come together once a year."

"That's got to put a crimp in doing business. How much off world trade do they do?" Sheppard didn't mind a short notice trip, but he wanted to be certain the risk would be minimal.

"Very little." Orin confirmed. "They are a simplistic people, living off what the ocean gives them."

"The ocean?" Dr. Weir asked.

"Yes, the Noowak people live in nomadic tribes. They spend much of the year living on their family boats, traveling from island to island. I do not know how many there are, but I saw many hundred when I was there only two days ago."

"So, what is it that you think they can offer us?" Sheppard got right to the point.

"After discussing things with Orin and his travel party, I believe their knowledge of harvesting food, medicine and materials from the sea would be beneficial to both Atlantis and my people on the mainland. We've lived among bodies of fresh water for generations, but the sea is quite different. Also…" Teyla hesitated. "Orin informs me of many precious materials they wear as trinkets. The children play with them as toys. If they are indeed what he believes them to be, then it would be of great value when trading with other societies."

"What sort of materials?" Sheppard chewed his lip, considering.

"Pearls, opals, gem stones. They were not cut or polished, but I am positive they were gems." Orin frowned. "I know these items would be of value, but they only take what the sea gives them. Mining such things would go against all they believe."

"And you fear we would ask such a thing." Elizabeth nodded, understanding. "I can assure you, we would never ask a trading partner to do anything that goes against their beliefs, no matter what the gains."

"Teyla said as much, but thank you for the assurance. These are good people." Orin smiled.

"John, what do you think?" Weir asked.

"How advanced of a society are we talking about?"

"They hunt with nets and spears. Their boats are made of wood and villages on land are made of stone and brick. There are none of your electrical devices among them." Orin clasped his hands behind his back. "I think we would have much to learn from them, and they would benefit from what simple things we could offer."

"Okay." John nodded and stood up fully. "Sounds good to me."

"Very well." Weir agreed. "Colonel, prepare your team."

Teyla and Orin both smiled.

0o0o0o0o0

Sheppard squinted against the bright sun light as soon as he stepped through the Gate. He pulled out his shades as the others stepped up behind him. McKay let out a low whistle and the Colonel silently agreed. The view was spectacular.

They stood upon a stone platform on a rocky hillside. A blue ocean stretched out several hundred feet below them. The red rocky terrain dropped steeply to the water's edge. A narrow path snaked down the mountain. Peppered along the path were bright white buildings, hanging from the mountainside like bird's nests. At the bottom, canoe style boats lined the white sand. Larger boats, decorated with bright canopies, filled the bay.

"This is different." Ronon mumbled.

"I think I got drunk in a town in Greece that looked just like this." Sheppard stepped down onto the stone path.

"Oh, yeah, yeah." McKay snapped his fingers. "That's it. It does look like, um, Santorini."

"Maybe a five hundred years ago." John stepped closer to Teyla and Orin. "Okay, lead the way."

They traveled down the hillside, passing small huts where women tended children and men worked mending nets. All eyes stared warily at the strangers, but none spoke. John nodded and smiled at a few people, but they quickly averted their eyes.

"Friendly bunch." He spoke quietly to McKay.

McKay nodded to acknowledge he'd heard, but his eyes darted about realizing most of the people wore only sarongs or flowing robes. Many of the women wore the flimsy material around their waists, baring their breasts.

"Orin!" A man with dark cinnamon skin and black hair strode up the path toward them with his arms outstretched. He wore a bright blue sarong tied about his middle, showing old scars across his chest and arms.

"Cae." Orin clasped hands with the other man. "It is good to see you. I have brought the friends of which I spoke. I hope the time is not too late."

"No, there is still time."

"This is my friend Teyla. Her family is like my own." Orin made the introductions. "This is Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, Dr. Rodney McKay and Ronon Dex. This is Cae. He's Chieftain of this village."

"Hi." John smiled.

"Greetings." Cae smiled, his white teeth a stark contrast to his dark lined skin. "Please come and join us."

As they neared the bottom of the path, they could see the largest of the buildings. It was the only multiple story dwelling. A courtyard greeted visitors to the home. At the moment, dozens of people filled the space.

"Looks like the party's already started." Sheppard commented to Teyla.

"Yes, it seems the tribes are already gathering."

"Indeed." Cae smiled. "This time tomorrow all of the Noowak families will be represented here and the Binding Rituals will begin."

"Binding?" McKay asked. "As in marriage?"

"Some will occur, yes." Cae led them into the large courtyard. "Although, promises of alliance, of trade, and of unity as a people is the focus of the celebration. Let's go inside. I would like to speak before introducing you to the others."

They stepped into the shade of the building. John took off his glasses, looking around at the sparse furnishing. Most were made of wood. Low benches and tables looked old but well cared for. The white walls were adorned with bright textiles. For all of its simplicity, John thought it was a nice home.

A women with very long hair, graying at the temples, came from one of the adjoining rooms. She greeted Cae with a warm kiss before turning to their guests. "I am pleased you arrived. Welcome to my home. I am Ana."

"Hello," Sheppard gave her his most charming smile. "Thank you for having us."

She dipped her head, smile widening. Cae made the introductions before she held out an arm. "Please, follow me." Ana walked them onto a terrace which overlooked the water. "Sit."

The team lowered themselves onto pillows around a low oval table. Cae retrieved a pitcher and glasses. He poured each of them what looked like a strong tea. Orin gratefully accepted his, drinking immediately. John followed suit, surprised at the chai-type flavor.

"So you wish to establish trade?" Ana set her glass down.

"We would like to explore the possibility." John realized that Elizabeth and Teyla must be rubbing off on him, because that was not something he would normally say.

"Then let us talk. Time is short." She looked to her husband.

"If we are to come to a decision, it must be made by nightfall." He explained.

0o0o0o0o0

"You're home early." Elizabeth descended the stairs.

"I told them we'd be back." Sheppard shrugged, smirking slightly. "I think we've made some new friends."

"Well that's good news." She smiled back. "So there's an opportunity for trade?"

"At least for a good vacation spot." McKay rocked back on his heels.

"So you liked it?"

"He liked all the topless women." Ronon shoved Rodney off balance.

"Really?" Elizabeth's brows shot up.

"It is very temperate there, and the Noowak people spend much of their time in the water. Their clothing is…minimal." Teyla confirmed.

"I see." Weir fought to hold back her laugh.

"Yeah, kinda like being on the Mediterranean…only no casinos, fast cars or running water." Sheppard shrugged.

"Sounds nice. I'm anxious to hear all about it. Why don't we head up and debrief."

Once they were settled around the conference table, John began to relay the events of their trip while McKay plugged in the digital camera. "I'm not sure how many of them there are, but fourteen families are represented at the ritual gathering. It sounds like each family is basically a tribe made up of possibly hundreds with the same surname. They live mainly on these boats, like roaming armadas. Each family… you know, mom, dad, kids, maybe grandparents… has a boat that serves as their home. They travel among the islands with the seasons, never staying put for very long."

"Their only on-land city is this one." McKay turned on the video, showing Elizabeth the white-washed cliff dwellings. "We were told the families rotate who lives in the village every few years."

"The village is the most vulnerable to the Wraith. By rotating those in residence, they assure no one family line is decimated more than any other. It also allows the people to maintain their sea faring culture." Teyla explained further.

"They're a proud people, too." Ronon added. "They pick their friends carefully."

"So what is you think they may be able to offer?" Elizabeth leaned forward on her elbows.

"To be honest I'm still not sure." John shrugged. "But, I do know they have developed a whole society that exists on the ocean ninety percent of the time. If their ocean is anything like our ocean…"

"And since the plant life and animals are similar on most of the planets we visit…" Rodney interrupted.

"Right." Sheppard frowned momentarily at being cut off. "Anyway, there could be a lot to learn."

Elizabeth understood. They had only been gone a few hours. "Anything we have to offer in particular the Noowak people are interested in?"

"They did mention one thing." John smiled. "Goggles."

"What?" She asked incredulously.

"Swimming goggles." He leaned back in his chair. "They saw my sunglasses and asked if they could be made into goggles. See, they use glass, leather and this resin, to make goggles. You should have seen the looks on their faces when they learned we actually make 'em specially for swimming."

"Well, that's an easy request to fulfill. Anything else?"

"Material to help repair their boats. Waterproofing. Stuff like that." Ronon added.

"Okay. So what's next?" Weir looked at the blue water on the display screen.

"They begin their ritual celebrations tonight. They have invited us back for tomorrow night's events. The ceremonies continue for four days beyond that." Teyla explained.

"Well, I suggest you get some rest. It sounds like you'll be having a late night tomorrow." Weir stood from the conference table. The team began to file out of the room. "John?"

"Yeah."

"If you think she's ready to go off world, I think you should bring Toni in on this one."

She wasn't surprised to see the full smile on his face.

"I was just thinking the same thing."

0o0o0o0o0