Thank you lelephant1, scr1tno, and jodz92 for you wonderful reviews. I'm glad you guys have enjoyed the story thus far.
lelephant1, I'm afraid the next few chapters are going to be the 'filler chapters' that set up for the real action (which, I promise you, is coming). Be patient :) Thank you for your thoughtful criticism, though. I always appreciate any writing tips I can get.
Enjoy!
Snapping out of her thoughts, Rachel heard a rhythmic tattoo from her door. Sliding the picture she had been gazing at back inside her vest, she got off her bed to open the door. She was surprised to find Marie waiting on the other side, wearing what looked like work out clothes. "Hello..." Rachel's greeting sounded more like a question.
"Hi!" Marie gave Rachel a little wave. "Are you busy? No? Great! We're going to the gym."
"We are?" Rachel blinked perplexedly at Marie as the latter nodded. "Why?"
"To work out. It's not a foreign concept. I personally have to get rid of that belly fat I seem to have accumulated during the winter. I'm sure you have your own body issues." When Rachel raised her eyebrows at her, Marie relented. "Teyla wants to meet you. You know who she is, right?" Rachel nodded. "Anyways, she asked me to ask you to meet us at the gym tonight. She would like to teach us the art of hitting people with sticks. I think that's how Teyla bonds, or something. Should be fun, eh?"
Rachel furrowed her brow as she considered the invitation. "I don't really have any work out clothes, and this is quite short notice."
"Sorry about that, by the way. I completely forgot about you until, well, right now," Marie said apologetically.
"Oh, that's alright. Everyone does." If Rachel sounded a little bitter, Marie did not appear to have noticed. Not that Rachel minded entirely, but she seemed to be pretty much invisible to everyone on this base. As she was not related to anyone in the city (that she was aware of), and had not yet publicly exhibited any special kind of skill, Rachel was left with the status of chopped liver. She could not help being just a little resentful sometimes.
Zoning back into the conversation, Rachel heard Marie say "Don't worry about the attire. They provide workout outfits and gear at the gym. Most of them are in burly Marine size, though. But you can probably make it work. So...coming?"
"Well..." Rachel thought about it, "sure."
***
After walking aimlessly for about fifteen minutes, Rachel and Marie came upon a solitary figure walking briskly with a laptop in hand. "Dr. Z!"
Zelenka swiveled around and regarded Rachel inquisitively. "Were you addressing me?"
"Yes, sir, I was," she responded, a little sheepishly. "I just – just wanted to say hello. Uh, perhaps I should introduce myself. Rachel Beauvoir," she extended a hand for Zelenka.
He eyed it warily. "I am not related to you, am I?"
"Oh no," Rachel laughed, "nothing like that. We do work together, though, in my reality, of course. I suppose I could call myself your apprentice. You, uh, basically taught me everything I know."
Zelenka smiled, looking surprised and flattered. "Well, perhaps you could show me what kind of teacher am I. Both of you have been learning at your SGC, yes?"
"That's right," Marie answered.
"Good!" Zelenka exclaimed. "I would love to see what you know. We have much to discuss. There is much I am curious to know. We must have lunch."
Rachel grinned and nodded her agreement. "We must. I would like to know more about the temporal variations in your space-time. I have some theories I would like to mull over with you, if that's alright."
"Perfectly alright," Zelenka answered. "However, I have only lunch free on most days, so we must meet then."
"Of course, I can come tomorrow," said Rachel.
"I can't," cut in Marie. "Dr. McTyrant usually likes us to bring our lunches to the lab and work while we eat. You two should still meet, though. I get the feeling you'll have a lot to talk about."
"Indeed we shall," Zelenka answered. "Well, I must get going, but I hope to see you again soon." With a parting wave, he strode the length of the corridor and disappeared around a corner. Rachel and Marie watched him go, only later slapping themselves over the head for forgetting to ask him where the gym was.
***
By the time Rachel and Marie finally arrived at the gym, Teyla was busy sparring with a man neither of the girls recognized. Like Sheppard, the man held his own rather well for a while, but eventually succumbed to Teyla's stick wielding wrath. Marie flinched in sympathy when the man's inevitable slam into the mat came. Putting her weapons down, Teyla offered a hand to help him up. "You are getting much better," she said, "but you must work on your balance."
"I could become a tightrope walker, but you'd probably still beat me," said the man with a friendly grin.
Teyla smiled at him before noticing the two girls standing near the doorway. She motioned the over. "Major Lorne, have you met Rachael Beauvoir and Marie McKay?"
"Haven't had the pleasure," Lorne answered. "Evan. Nice to meet you." He shook hands with each girl in turn. "Hey! You're McKay's kid, right?" he asked when he got to Marie.
She shrugged. "Not really."
He gave her a sympathetic look before turning back to Teyla. "Same time next week?"
"Yes, Major. That sounds good." Lorne nodded at her, waved the girls goodbye, and left with a towel draped over his shoulder.
Teyla turned to Rachel and Marie with mischievous smile. "Are both of you ready to begin?"
I feel like Rachel has been rather ignored until now. I decided it was time for her to make an appearance, as she is important for...future events. I also wanted to have a little fun with the secondary characters Zelenka and Lorne, as they too will play a role later on. (Well, more Zelenka than Lorne).