Chapter Ten: Breakfast Time
The next morning Astra woke lying on her stomach with Evan sound asleep lying on his back. Astra knew Evan was an early riser, a habit from being in the military all his life. She laid there quietly so she wouldn't disturb him. The archaeologist watched as Lorne's eyes fluttered open. He smiled at her. The alarm on Evan's watch beeped. A light went on the watch and it read 6am.
"Does that mean we have to get up now?" she asked.
"Yes it does," he confirmed.
Evan got out of his sleeping bag and Astra turned her back while he quickly changed into some clean clothes. Lorne then put his TAC vest on and then attached his P90, a 9M to his right leg, and there was a LSD in his back pocket. Lorne turned around so that he had his back to Astra, so that she could change into some fresh clothes. Evan helped her with her TAC vest. Once she was ready they exited the tent with Evan going first. They weren't surprised too see the rest of their team up and having breakfast. Evan went and got her some breakfast as well as something for himself to eat.
"Where to first?" Wyatt asked.
"The labs. As much as I want to read those books, I want to know what they were studying," Astra replied. "Thanks," she said to Evan when he handed her, her breakfast.
"You're welcome," Evan replied. "What lab do you want to look in?"
"The middle one," she answered, munching away.
"So how did you boys sleep?" Evan queried the others.
"Mahendra snores and Wood talks in his sleep," Wyatt replied.
"I do not talk in my sleep," Jason denied.
"And I do not snore," Mahendra huffed.
Astra laughed for she'd been off world with both men before and Wyatt's description was true of both men. Evan shrugged his shoulders and ate his breakfast. He was happy to hear Astra laugh for it made the world a brighter place.
"Yes you two do that! Seriously! Wood I had a whole conversation with you one night on P42 – 892. You were dead to the world but you answered every single question! I know stuff about you that you wouldn't have normally told me," she teased.
"I didn't?" Jason inquired, thinking of the red haired nurse that he had a crush on in the infirmary.
"A red haired named Julie," Astra teased.
"What department?" Evan queried curiously.
"Never mind," Jason grumbled, ignoring Astra's laughter.
"You snore like a V8 engine, Mahendra," Astra told the Athosian.
"I do not know what V8 engine is, so how I can snore like it? What is V8 engine?"
"It's a type of engine race car driver's use. They're suppose to be really fast and are very loud," Wyatt tried to explain.
"I would like to see one," Mahendra declared.
"Maybe we should take you back to see Earth one day so you can see these things," Astra suggested.
"He'll have to be cleared by Weir and IOA," Evan told her.
"Screw the IOA! How did they become so powerful? Stupid people can't make decisions and live in tiny offices, never seeing the front line or what happens the way we do," Astra ranted. "I hate them."
"That Woolsey guy was at the SG any other day poking his nose where it doesn't belong," Evan admitted. He hated the IOA as much as Astra did, almost as much.
"SGC is a military run base," Astra said.
"I know. Yet you turn around he was there. He wasn't popular at the SGC and I doubt he is in Atlantis," Evan said.
"None of the IOA are," Astra replied.
"Why do you hate the IOA so much and who are they?" Wyatt queried.
The IOA are called the International Oversight Committee, run by a bunch of civilians who have been trying to get their hands on the SGC and Atlantis. They have some say about both places," Evan tried to explain. "They don't come with the best of reputations."
"I also have a personal reason to hate them," Astra said.
"Should I even ask why?" Wyatt inquired.
"When they discovered I was half Ancient and half human they wanted to send me off to Area 51 or somewhere like that "for study purposes," until General O'Niell stepped in and stoped them," she replied, getting up and washing her dishes, then putting them away.
"I suggest you don't mention that again, Lieutenant," Evan warned their new recruit, noticing how upset Astra was after being reminded what the IOA had wanted to do too her.
He'd been there with Astra in a meeting with Jack and his team when Mr. Woolsey came in demanding that Astra be taken to area 51 because she was half human and half Ancient. Jack had refused him unless he had some bit of paper saying he could remove his daughter, and even with a bit of paper he wouldn't allow Mr. Woolsey to touch his daughter. Their meeting had been about their last mission they'd gone on.
After the incident Mr. Woolsey had been even less then popular with the SGC personnel after what they had happened, though Jack had tried to keep it discreet. He knew Astra had been at the SGC for at least four years and was considered pretty much a veteran, along with Daniel Jackson. Who was one of her close friends and mentor.
"Sorry, sir. I didn't mean to upset Dr, Owen. I've been learning on the job since I've been on Atlantis for a few months now," Wyatt apologised.
"We'll let it slid this time and I'd rather you ask dumb questions no matter how dumb they sound okay? Its better to be alive by asking stupid questions then dead because you assumed something. Always listen to your civilian and if they tell you that they are smarter then you, its because they are," Evan advised him.
"Yes sir," Wyatt replied smiling.
"Of course we are smarter then you. We have at least one PHD in something. You guys are grunts," Astra teased. "Leave Lt. Van Ingen alone you bully, Lorne," she scolded, poking him with her finger.
"We ready to go?" Evan asked his team. He then looked at Astra, a smirk across his face. "You should be careful where you poke fingers."
She swore at him in Italian and wondered off again.
"How many languages does Dr. Owen know?" Wyatt quizzed.
"I lost count after five," Evan replied.
The boys went and cleaned their dishes and joined Astra. The team then headed to the Ancient building.
"I only speak English and Arabic," Jason commented.
"Me too," Wyatt replied.
"French and English for me," Evan added.