THE PATH NOT TAKEN

Chapter Two: -

Briefing Room

All members of Sheppard's team we're now sitting around the briefing room table.

Rodney was sitting next to John and whispered into his ear as Caldwell entered the room "Elizabeth is going to have our heads for this when she wakes up."

John looked at him. "Our heads."

Before Rodney could reply back Caldwell started the briefing. "So, what did happen on your last mission?"

John waited for Caldwell to sit down before answering his question. 'We accidentally stumbled across the creatures nesting ground. Unfortunately, we had upset the locals, by trespassing on their home world. They don't like visitors and we got cut off from the Stargate." John paused to gather his thoughts..

After which continued. "We were unable to use the Puddle Jumper as it had taken fire upon arrival and we had to ditch. It was almost night time the gate was too far to trek back in the dark so we took refuge in a nearby cave, which is where we found it. You could say the creature didn't seem to mind us being there, in fact it provided us with plenty of light for the 'night,' mind you at the time we didn't know were the light was coming from."

"Morning had nearly come; we heard noises in the distance. The local's had found the Puddle Jumper. So we decided to make our way back to the Stargate on foot but before we did…"

Ronon took this opportunity to tease Rodney. "Only Rodney's curiosity got the better of him."

Rodney folded his arms in response. "I knew that was coming. You guys were the ones wondering we're the light was coming from, that night."

"And you were the one who wanted to take a look further in."

"Yes, well it taught me a lesson or two about curiosity."

"As I was saying," continued Sheppard. "We decided to check out the source of the light first and we came across the creature."

"Rodney picked up strange readings from it."

"Letting the curiosity get the better of him again, Rodney decided to reach out and touch it. A force from it stunned Rodney and he fell back onto one of the two eggs, it broke and massive bright light erupted from it. The creature guarding them got a little upset and started making threatening gestures."

Teyla spoke for the first time since they were in the meeting room. "We decided to withdraw from the cave quickly. Grabbing Rodney we attempted to leave. But the creature was having none of it and it blocked our exit."

Ronon took his queue. "And it started to lash out."

Before anyone could finish the story for him, John carried on. "We managed to get around it and find our way back to the gate. The rest you know."

Curiosity peeked and Caldwell asked the one question he needed to know about the planet. "What upset the locals?"

"Cut a long story short, the local's were Wraith."

"Wraith?" Everyone turned at the new voice to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway

John stood up as she entered the room. "Have you been standing there long?"

"Not long, just got here, Carson told me I'd find you all here."

Caldwell also stood and started gathering his things up. "I'm surprised he let you out so early."

"It took me a while to persuade him; officially you could say I'm still on leave, why I'm not stealing your thunder am I Colonel."

"No not at all, glad your okay. Well everyone after today's events it looks like we all got through it in one piece. I'm going to have that world marked down as hostel and make sure no one visits that place again."

As he was about to leave and call for dismissal Rodney jumped in. "I'm not so sure this is all over yet."

Ronon looked at Rodney. "What do you mean we got the creature didn't we?"

Rodney shrugged his shoulders "Did we?"

This made Ronon unsure of his own question

Elizabeth stepped in behind them as they cleared the briefing room. "Anyone care to fill me in?"

Rodney turned round to face her. "I'd be happy to over a hot meal, I'm starving."

Teyla stepped in beside Rodney them. "We all are."

With that they had left the control room for the Mess Hall, Elizabeth nodding in Caldwell's direction as they left

The Mess Hall

They had been in the mess for over an hour and the time was coming up to 22.00, the briefing had taken over two hours, which had taken place sometime after they got back from off world. They had talked about their last venture, amongst other things. Rodney was hunched over his control pad, rubbing his head over his recent readings he'd picked up from the creature. Sheppard leaned over his right shoulder. "You might as well put that away Rodney, we're not going back there."

Not listening he waved his index figure for attention. "You know it's interesting. That creature seemed to be emitting some kind of signal. Trouble is, were did the creature go? I'm still not entirely convinced we got it."

"Well it's getting late, so I know were I'm going." Answered Elizabeth as she got out of her chair.

"Sounds like a plan." Replied Ronon.

"Umm." To engrossed in his readings Rodney hadn't heard what they said till he heard the shuffling of chairs as everyone got up and departed. "Oh, that time already." He asked himself as he looked at his watch.

Weir's quarters

04.00, Elizabeth was getting restless whilst sleeping, her mind kept replying that of the recent events. Aloud squawk echoed throughout the room and she woke with a start. Breathing heavy she got up and walked over to the sink and splashed water on her face to cool off. She heard the squawk again and quickly turned round expecting to find the owner of the noise, it sounded like the exact same squawk the creature had made. Only it wasn't there. She automatically reached up for her earpiece to call security forgetting it was on her bedside unit. She was about to pick it up, remembering the nightmares she shook her head thinking it was just her imagination working overtime. "You're overreacting girl." She whispered to herself. She didn't bother going back to bed but got ready for the new day.

TBC