Westward to Pegasus
So, err... there may be one small section after this chapter that needs to be finished. I'm on it, I swear!
Chapter 21
"McKay!" John called through the door that stood slightly ajar, knocking on the door frame. There was no answer to his greeting, but inside he could hear the clatter of something dropping and the beginning of another McKay rant. He decided to invite himself in.
"Meredith!" he called again as he entered the workroom at the back of the house. Lorne had gleaned that bit of information when McKay's sister had sent the scientist a letter addressed to 'Dr Meredith Rodney McKay', and John had not wasted this gift. Caught off-guard, McKay jumped and once again dropped the metal plate he had been holding.
"Honestly, what is the problem with you people?" he shouted. "Do you always just let yourself into people's houses? You could at least pretend to be civilized."
"No, Rodney," John replied patiently. "People usually answer the door when people knock."
"Thank you!" Zelenka added from his work station in the corner. "I tell him that, but he always insists it is my fault."
"Whatever," McKay said, sensing he was losing the battle. "I don't have time to play butler, anyway."
Desperately wanting to take that opening, John instead focused on the business at hand. Teyla would be so proud when he told her of his restraint. "You said you wanted me to look at something," he reminded the scientist.
"Yeah, just give me a moment," Rodney said, hefting the metal plate back onto the table.
John took a moment to look around Rodney's workroom. The walls were covered with shelves, which in turn housed a variety of gadgets in various states of repair. A few things he recognized, but John was pretty sure even Rodney didn't know the purpose for half of them. Still, the man was clever and always inventing something new.
Reaching out for one particularly intriguing object, John jerked his hand back when McKay snapped, "Don't even think about touching that."
John huffed. "Well, why did you call me here if all I have to do is sit around not touching anything? I have things to do, you know," he told Rodney.
McKay snorted.
"There!" Rodney exclaimed, holding up his invention in triumph minutes later. It looked like the breastplates of armor worn by medieval knights. However, this creation had creative hinges that allowed for fairly full coverage without hindering movement.
"Yeah?" John asked, somewhat skeptical. "It will be really helpful in case Kolya takes up jousting."
Rodney rolled his eyes. "I'll have you know this is a highly advanced piece of equipment here. I've designed a special alloy that should stand up to a bullet."
"Should?" John asked, fixating on what he viewed as an important detail.
"Well, we haven't tried it yet. That's why you're here," Rodney said, shoving the metal contraption at John.
John grabbed it, surprised at how light it was. While he trusted Rodney to be brilliant, he wanted a bit more proof. Plus, Rodney couldn't shoot straight to save his life. John didn't trust him to hit the vest.
"How about not?" John said. "McKay, you need to be sure about this before trying to shoot someone."
"But how else are we going to test it?" Rodney asked.
"I don't know! Make a scarecrow or something," John suggested.
Rodney's eyes lit up. "Oh! The two of you could have matching hair!"
John's patience was wearing slightly. "Just get it done. I would hate to shoot you instead of the scarecrow."
"Well, I plan on standing behind you," Rodney said triumphantly.
"Accidents happen," John growled. Zelenka chuckled.
While McKay and Sheppard were building their test subject, Zelenka went around to the neighbors' houses to alert them. However, they were used to explosions and other strange noises coming from McKay's house at all hours, so no one seemed particularly worried.
About 20 minutes later, Rodney had created a simple body using straw-stuffed clothing attached to a post for support. He was especially proud of his final flourish, using charcoal to darken the stems sticking off the top of the scarecrow's head. Since John was the man with a gun, no one chose to comment on the similarities.
"You two go around the corner of the house," John ordered McKay and Zelenka as he readied his weapon.
"Why?" McKay argued. "I need to see what happens."
"Well, McKay," Sheppard said dryly, "if this armor is as good as you say it is, that means the bullets might bounce off. When they ricochet, there's no telling where they'll go. I don't want to have to be the one to explain things to Doctor Beckett."
Taking aim, John shot five bullets at the armor. McKay counted the resulting pings, wondering if he would be digging bullets out of the wooden siding. At least none of his windows had shattered.
Sheppard called the all-clear, and together the men walked forward to examine the armor. Four dents were clearly visible. McKay noticed that they were all clustered over where the heart would be. None of them had pierced the breastplate.
"Looks like you're right, it works," John said, slapping McKay on the back.
"Well of course it works. I made it," the scientist replied, indignant.
"There are only four marks here, but there were five shots," Zelenka pointed out. McKay grinned at Sheppard, waiting to hear his excuse.
Sheppard merely pointed with his chin to the pile of straw that was the head. He had shot clean through forehead just beneath the simulated hair.
"Not bad; now, if you could just make another 30 or so of those vests, that would be great," John said, putting his dirty black hat back on his head. "Good day, gentlemen."
McKay sputtered after him while Zelenka shook his head and muttered. There was a lot of work ahead of them.
TBC
Up next: Sheppard learns why a woman is the perfect person to plant explosives.