Author's Note: This is the second installment of the Escape Route series, co-written by myself and my friend Nimeria. As always, we own nothing and no one except for ourselves. Enjoy reading! )
The Never-Ending Escape Route
Chapter Ten
(Over the video feed.)
Gen. Landry: Ah. Hello Taylor.
Taylor: Hi!
Gen. Landry: As I was saying, I got a telephone from General O'Neill. It seems that the IOA has gotten word of you ladies and your special gifts. They would be most interested in having nice, long, talks with you when you get back…to study you, as it were.
(Jessie growls)
Mary: Floxnart.
Taylor: Yeah. That's not cool.
Gen. Landry: Personally, I agree, as does General O'Neill. He has decided, with Dr. Weir's okay, that it would be most beneficial for you ladies to remain in the Pegasus Galaxy for the time being, where it seems your gifts are of most use.
Jess: So we aren't going back now?
Landry: No. Mitchell, you come back. General O'Neill says he'll get some stuff together for you ladies and send it through in a few weeks.
Mitchell: I'll be back in about an hour sir, just as soon as I get my stuff together.
Landry: Good. I'll see you then Colonel. (The transmission ends as the 'Gate shuts down)
Taylor: They want to...study us?
Jess: Like...aliens? (They both look horrified and Mary doesn't look much better.)
Mitchell: Hey, now. It's okay. Don't worry about it. I promise you that we aren't going to let them get to you guys, okay?
Elizabeth: You ladies are welcome to stay here for as long as you need to. And you can rest assured that I won't be letting anyone who may be a threat to you on the roster.
Mary: Why would you do that?
Elizabeth: (smiling) Colonel Sheppard's affection for Taylor aside-
Taylor: Is there ANYONE who doesn't know about that yet?
Elizabeth: This is Atlantis. Word travels quickly. We're very close here, and there are many of us here who do care for you already. We take care of our own. Welcome to Atlantis ladies. First thing tomorrow, I'm sure that John and Rodney will have no problem with finding you actual permanent quarters.
(The three young ladies leave the control room)
Taylor: I just can't believe...we're not aliens.
Jessie: Technically no. But you can walk through walls. This is not normal.
Taylor: Yeah, but, still.
Mary: Taylor, you need a distraction.
Taylor: Good luck on that one.
Mary: Oh really? I wonder then...what's a spiky haired gentleman to do when his date can't say "hi"...
Taylor: Tell him what? We're just...living...in Atlantis...now...
Jessie: (pokes Taylor) Race you!
Taylor: Wha?
Mary: Three, Two, One, RUN!
(Jessie takes off at a sprint, and after a millisecond passes Taylor joins her.)
Taylor: Not fair! Cheater!
(Mary giggles and follows them.)
(Elizabeth Weir watches the girls leave the control room from her office, and smiles.)
(In the mess hall...)
Rodney: Where are you off to?
Sheppard: I'm going to go keep an eye on the Marines.
Teyla: Don't you mean you wish to keep an eye on Ronon?
Sheppard: That too. That too. (He gets up and walks out of the Mess.)
Teyla: (looking across the mess) Major Lorne! Good afternoon!
Lorne: Hi!
(He walks over to her and McKay with a tray of food from the table he was going to sit at, when Taylor and Jessie run into the Mess at break-neck speed, and pummel into him.)
Jessie: (breathlessly) I win!
Taylor: (also breathless) Do NOT! You cheated!
Jessie: I poked you is all!
Taylor: My nerves had to recover before I could run!
Lorne: Um, could you get off of me please?
(The two girls realize for the first time that they are in the cafeteria, at lunch time, and are in fact on Lorne and what used to be his lunch.)
Taylor: Oh, oh so sorry.
Jessie: (as Taylor helps her up) Yeah. Didn't see you.
Lorne: (chuckles) That's kinda obvious girls.
Teyla: I thought you girls were leaving for Earth soon?
Jess: Well, we were supposed to but...
Taylor: Apparently some of the outside organizations beyond the SGC want to "study" us. So Jack tipped us off and we're staying here.
Lorne: (cleaning up his lunch that thankfully was just a sandwich and juice so it hadn't made a big mess) Well, that's good. Not that they want to study you but that you're staying here. That's good right?
Taylor: Yep. (Looking around in confusion as Mary walks in)
Rodney: He went to the gym, Blondie.
Taylor: Oh. (Smiling sheepishly and not bothering to ask how he knew who she was looking for) Thanks. (She quickly walks out of the mess and off towards the gym which she eventually finds with only two wrong turns. She activates the door and walks in; ducking quickly to avoid being hit by the marine Ronon had sent flying.)
Ronon: Sorry, kid.
Taylor: S'alright. (She waves happily then walks carefully around to where Shep is leaning against a punching dummy.)
Shep: Heya. So what's the news? When are you heading back?
Taylor: I'm not. They...um...well lets just say Jack doesn't think it's safe for us to go back to Earth for awhile.
Shep: Wait? So you're staying?
Taylor: Yeah.
(He grabs her and pulls her into a hug.)
Shep: Fantastic. (Around them, the marines seem to consider wolf-whistling, and decide against it at the glare from Ronon.) That's great. (He lets her go and smiles at the goofy look on her face.)
Taylor: Yeah. Elizabeth says tomorrow you and Rodney can help us find rooms.
Shep: (smiling) I know just the place.
Authors' Note: And so we come to the end of part two of the Escape Route Series. But not the end of the series itself. There's more to come people, oh yes. (grins mischeviously) Oh yes. Much, much more, just you wait!
Not The End!