Chapter 6 – Tau'ri Transport
Vala looked around the airport with wide eyes. She was far too busy taking in the unfamiliar sights to make any off-colour comments, even though this was her second airport. Also, she'd promised not to speak without permission, a promise which she'd mostly kept. Even if she was allowed to speak, she still felt somewhat unbalanced from the landing. It wasn't like anything she'd experienced before.
"Vala, are you alright?" Jennifer asked with a touch of concern in her voice..
She nodded hesitantly. "Landing without inertial dampening takes some getting used to," she said softly, to avoid being overheard.
Jen shushed her and ordered, "Follow me closely. We need to find out way out and to our car, and we really don't want to be separated."
"Would you like to hold my hand?" Vala offered teasingly.
"That might be the first good idea you've had," Jen replied in a resigned voice as she took the older woman's hand.
"We're riding in a… car, again?" Vala questioned.
"Yes, but in England they drive on the opposite side of the road."
"So long as they drive on the opposite side to oncoming traffic, I really don't care," Vala replied, masking her worry with flippancy. In all the worlds she'd visited, she had not experienced any forms of transport similar to Tau'ri 'cars'.
"Good. We need to head for the exit to the left. Colonel Mitchell will meet us at the car once he has our baggage organised."
"Yes. I heard him tell you that not five minutes ago," Vala griped.
"I never said you could complain, Vala. Come on." Jen tugged at the prisoner's hand and hurried her toward the exit.
-
A little later…
Vala closed her eyes and dropped her head to her knees. "Tell me when we get there," she instructed Jennifer over the sounds of engines and horns.
Jen pulled the prisoner back up by the shoulder. "It's safer if you keep your head up," she instructed. "Otherwise you could hit your head on the seat in front if we stop suddenly. I don't want you to break your neck."
"And I don't need your head bashing me in the back," Cam added from his position beside the driver. "Keep your mouth shut and… read the advertisements or something."
Vala warily looked out the window, afraid that she might glimpse certain doom veering toward their vehicle. The garish signage quickly captured her attention. "Oooh, that looks like fun!"
"Shhh!"
-
Outside a small English home, after a drive a little too long for Jennifer's sanity…
"We're here," Cam announced unnecessarily. Vala sprung out of her seat and was in the process of bending down to kiss the ground when she was halted by the equally deft lieutenant. "Vala, I never said you could leave the vehicle. You're staying here."
"Me? Staying here alone with the driver?" Vala questioned in surprise.
"No, the lieutenant is going in alone." The house they had parked in front of did not have much of a front lawn, leaving the door within the safety zone of the bracelets. "If our potential recruit agrees, we'll take her to a more secure location for an interview. Hailey, are you ready?"
"Ready, Sir." Jen waved a packet of papers which gave orders and permission for the recruitment process from the respective governments.
"Proceed."
"This won't take long," she assured Vala before walking up to the door and pressing a button to ring the doorbell. Hearing a shout of 'Just a moment' she counted the seconds until the door was pulled open.
The woman at the door was fairly tall – especially to Jennifer – and wore her pale blonde hair in a large number of long thin braids. Her face was quite pleasant and matched a photograph the lieutenant had seen. She was dressed in a colourful fashion which made the lieutenant think 'arty'. She also looked curious about the reason a young woman in dress blues had appeared at her front door. "May I help you?"
"I hope so. My name is Lieutenant Jennifer Hailey of the United States Air Force. Are you Melissa Gardner?"
The woman nodded. "That's me. What is this about?"
"I need to speak with your older sister, Sarah. Is she available?"
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Note: I've already started the next chapter!