John's rescue team were relieved when the jumper doors opened and they escaped into the fresh air, it'd been extremely cramped inside. Evan took point approaching Talon nervously pacing beside Jumper 1.
"I'm Major Evan Lorne, Sheppard's second in command, Talon I presume" he said holding out his hand.
Before she could respond the little stone in her left hand light up 'Talon I don't feel so good'.
Evan swallowed hard at the weakness in his CO's voice one thought filling his head 'NOT AGAIN'.
"Hold on John your people are here" she replied into it before turning back to Evan "yes".
"Alright people let's move out".
After a long couple minutes of lugging heavy equipment across the rough terrain with Talon hurrying ahead then circling back urging them on they finally reached John.
Looking at the pale unconscious man, Evan knew before Carson could say it that he needed to be in Atlantis ASAP.
"Alright Marines, Doc work your magic while I accompany Ms Talon to find the rest of his team".
She offered him a wry smile as she pulled on her coat "would it be alright if I leave my things here" she said gesturing to the pile.
"I don't see why not, Sergeant Kirby keep an eye on the ladies belongings".
"Yes sir" Kirby replied through gritted annoyed to be assigned babysitting duties of a pile of inanimate objects.
With that Evan and Talon hurried towards the mountain.
"My superior would like you to accompany us to Atlantis to answer some questions" he figured that being straight with her would be best.
She glanced at him "I would give anything to see Atlantis, however I must insist on collecting my readings".
She removed the lid of a carved box that stood on a stone plinth that they'd approached and pulled out a half dozen crystals.
"What are they" Evan asked pointing at the familiar looking crystals she was tucking into her pocket.
"My ground sensors relay information to this conduit where the data is stored on crystals".
"You built that" Evan wondered aloud as they headed towards the cliff face.
"Yes, one of the satchels Kirby is watching contains all my research".
Evan couldn't help wondering why someone bright enough to build their own seismograph at such a young age would want to give strangers their entire research. They approached an arch which Talon passed through, with a quick glance around Evan followed. On the other side he found himself in a small entrance hall dimly light by fluorescent blue columns.
"Neeve a word" Talon called after a middle aged woman who was hurrying past from where she stood a step or two ahead of him.
The woman stopped turning "ah Talon what can I do for you today".
"I was wondering if you knew where the explorers have gone, some of their friends have arrived".
A flicker of a smile crossed the older woman's face "when I last saw them they were in Keogh's lab but that was a while ago. They may have moved on, the Doctor was frantic about tracing the source of some energy signatures".
"Thanks Neeve. If you see any of my people let them know I'm about to head out".
"Will do".
Evan gave Neeve a curt nod and a brief smile before hurrying after her who was heading for a nearby transporter.
Stepping out into the small lab Evan was embarrassed to see Rodney kick the console in front of him.
"Please refrain from doing that, this equipment's very sensitive" Talon reprimanded annoyed at his disrespect.
The scientist spun round startled "Major what the heck are you doing here".
"Rescuing Sheppard".
"What'd you mean rescuing John, he just went for a walk" Rodney contradicted in his whiny voice.
"He was walking around the ruins of the old settlement when a tremor occurred and a wall collapsed trapping him beneath" Talon responded.
"Look Carson says we need to get him back home ASAP, so let's move it people" Evan said his emotions boiling over.
They stared at him surprised at the anger in his tone.
They jogged back cutting the time in half slowed by the rough terrain and Rodney. The only people they found were a handful of combat engineers packing up equipment. John, half a dozen Marines and the medics were no where to be found.
"Kirby where's everyone" Evan asked narrowing his eyes at the Marine who was sat glowering on a lump of masonry.
"Heading back to the jumpers Sir".
"Right you lot nearly ready" Evan asked turning to the others, a chorus of 'yes Sirs' music to his ears.
Talon who'd moved to collect her belongings carefully approached Rodney "you're a Doctor of science correct".
"Yes" he said fidgeting wishing the jarheads would hurry up.
"Then I believe these will be of interest to you" she said holding out the metal boxes and one of the satchels.
"What makes you think that" he snapped.
"Rodney" Teyla reprimanded.
Talon just shook it off "it's my scientific research".
"I guess I could take a look".
BACK IN ATLANTIS
As soon as the jumpers landed the medical team rushed John to surgery and Rodney headed to his lab with Talon's research and data crystals while Teyla kindly offered to deliver the records to the cultural centre. Meanwhile Ronan and Evan accompanied her to the briefing room where Woolsey was waiting.
"Hello Talon, I'm Richard Woolsey, leader of this expedition would you care to take a seat".
"Hello Richard" Talon replied with a hint of a smile as she sat opposite him while Evan and Ronan took seats at the other end of the table.
"First of all would you care to explain how you managed to activate the jumper and how you knew our address".
"My people are directly descended from a group of Alterans who established a scientific outpost on Avona. While the those who remained here in Atlantis focused on ascending those on Avona focused on research".
She paused to slip her coat off revealing her toned arms, the right of which she held out towards Woolsey. "I had John point to the symbols in the order that you dial them".
"How did you come to meet Colonel Sheppard and how did he end up trapped under a wall" he continued like a lawyer to hide his worry.
"I was heading out to check my tremor readings when I saw John looking at the remains of the council chambers, we took a turn around the ruins of the old settlement. I left him so I could collect my research and records from the new settlement when a tremor hit, I hurried back as soon as I could but it was to late he was already trapped".
"Where was his team during all this" one thing Woolsey had learnt was that John's team was inseparable.
"They were inside the mountains establishing trade relations with the other advanced race on Avona. The Astria are nice people, their only defect being their inability to tolerate sunlight after years of living in the mountain".
Woolsey continued to question her for the next half an hour trying to gauge her motives when the doors opened revealing an out of breath Rodney.
"Zed PM's she's given us Zed PM's, three of which we can use in Altantis and one that's compatible with the defensive shield on the kid's planet. Then there's her research I've never seen anything more amazing in my life. Her readings show that Avona has been experiencing increasing seismic activity for a while" he rambled.
Woolsey who had risen in concern at the sight of Rodney bent over gasping for air now dropped back into his chair. "Why would you give us this stuff, it's obviously very valuable in order to get Doctor McKay this excited".
"We've converted to the same power supply as the astria so no longer have use for the Zed PM's as you call them. There isn't many of us left so we've been looking for someone to continue our work. Since we heard from some trading partners that Atlantis was inhabited again, we'd hoped that you're the people to do that".
"How many people are left".
"Since the last wraith attack, about fifty on Avona. About a hundred left to live with trading partners or travel".
"Major a word in my office" Woolsey said rising followed quickly by Evan who'd spent the entire time writing his report and worrying about John.
Once in his office Woolsey closed the door "you've spent time with her, do you think she's a threat".
"Absolutely not Sir, from what I can tell she's eager to make friends with anyone who are opposed to the Wraith. She didn't bat an eyelid when Rodney was being his usual charming self".
"Then I think we should extend the warm hand of welcome to her" he said opening the door again.
They crossed back to the briefing room where they found Talon and Ronan engaging in a staring competition.
"Talon in return for your generous gift we'd be honoured if you'd join us" Woolsey asked.
Talon frowned looking at each member of the room in turn "anyone care to translate".
Evan laughed "he's asking if you'd like to live here in Atlantis with us" he said holding out a spare radio unit "providing it's ok with your people".
"I'm sure I'll have their blessing".