Chapter 7

Sitnalta had thoroughly enjoyed herself this evening. The Athosians were extremely hospitable and it was obvious they loved Teyla. But the thing that had intrigued her the most had been the children. As Atlantis she had spent countless millennia observing the phenomenon of procreation. Yet she had very little experience with children.

Those entrusted with the running of Atlantis were invariably adults. As the children had always been kept apart in the residential areas, they had stayed out of her experience. So it was not surprising that she was completely fascinated by Torren. Well, Torren John. She stole a glance at Doctor Elisabeth. Sitnalta was aware people underestimated her intelligence and maturity. The body she was created in seemed to be like that of a human female of about twenty-one. And in her desire to live every moment to the fullest, she often acted younger than the rest of SGA-1 or the scientists. As far as she was concerned the marines never really grew up. But though she might appear young, she was in fact ancient. She also saw everything around her and was able to interpret even the slightest nuances and gestures of her surroundings. Therefore she was aware of the crisis between Doctor Elisabeth and Colonel John – perhaps even more so than they were.

She was also aware that a number of people wondered about Colonel John and Teyla – especially because Teyla named her son after him. Well, she was aware that was just stupid speculation. Instead she had seen the friction between Specialist Ronon and Teyla, and it was this that intrigued her. Could those two have developed deeper feelings for one another? It seemed like it. Then the next question was: were they ever going to do something about it?

She grinned. She would give them – Specialist Ronon and Teyla as well as Doctor Elisabeth and Colonel John – another few months. But after that she was going to have to do something about it. She hated the fact that the people around her wasn't as happy as they should be.

Of course it did help that she had some extra information about people that the rest of them didn't: every time someone used the transporters within Atlantis, a complete bio-molecular scan was done (how else was Atlantis to reassemble them on the other end?), as well as a neural transfer. Though she respected people's boundaries, she often felt the need to help those who are sad. It was just sometimes difficult to know how much she could do and how much she needed to leave to them to figure out for themselves.

They were nearing the enclosed clearing where the stargate stood. Enclosed clearing: strange description. But it was true: the gate stood within a clearing. But the trees had grown so high around it that the branches had formed a canopy over the clearing. As far as Sitnalta was concerned, it was the most beautiful sight in the galaxy when this gate activated and drenched the clearing with the pale blue light of the event-horison.

She wondered if she could get the Athosians to plant some flowers around the gate. Then she frowned: how long would it take her to convince Woolsey to let her place flower-pots around the Atlantis-gate? Often in the history of Atlantis had the city been decorated with millions of plants – including the gateroom.

Suddenly Torren gave a small squeak and the whole group came to a halt as Teyla sat down to feed him. One of the children had given her a lovely blanket, which the Athosian woman now used to shield everyone's view of the baby at her breast. Yet Sitnalta was still fascinated. She wondered if she would ever have the opportunity to hold and feed her own child. She had never even discussed the issue with Rodney. Or either one of the Becketts or Doctor Jennifer, for that matter. She did not even know if her body was able to conceive. She would have to ask one of the doctors the next time she went for a physical.

By now a number of the children had taken the opportunity to play a game in which they chased each other. One of the small ones bumped into her, and she decided to give chase. What use was the body of a young woman if one did not use it? As she ran with the children, she had time to wonder what Rodney was doing.

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What Rodney was doing right at that moment was something that would have made Sitnalta yell at him if she knew. When she returned she probably was going to yell at him anyway, he knew. And he had just enough presence of mind left to try and convince his co-players that the women was not going to be impressed when they got back. Not all of them might have someone, but enough of them did so that Rodney was getting worried. Anne Teldy was going to scream at Radek. Jennifer would put her hands on her hips and look at Duncan with a sad expression that would make the Doctor feel like a worm. Laura Cadman was probably also going to yell at Carson. And Elisabeth was going to give John that sad, pained look that Sitnalta had learned to do as well.

Sitnalta...yes, she was going to give him that look. And later she might yell at him; he was never sure, though. She liked to keep him off balance.

That was why he was trying his best to convince his friends they needed to get some coffee and sober up before the women returned. But they did not seem to pay him any attention, though. In fact, Ronon leaned over slightly and poured Rodney another shot of moonshine.

What Rodney obviously did not realise, was that for some reason he was speaking French. And though his friends were not complete idiots, they did not understand French. But then again, had they realised he was speaking French while glaring at his cards, they probably wouldn't even have bothered telling him. The night had progressed to that stage where nobody cared. In fact, most of them hardly played the game in any coherent fashion anymore. Except Rodney. Though he was as drunk as a skunk, Rodney still had the ability – probably due to his incredible competitiveness – to play the game and win more often than not.

Not that Sitnalta was going to be impressed with him. Through his alcohol-induced daze he wondered how he was going to explain all of this to her.