Earth-New Beginning
Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
Chapter 26: Beginning
Heat waves wavered over the hot sand. Mira wiped the sweat off her forehead. Part of her missed the drenching storms they'd endured while hiding in the canopy. Both for the cooling of the mugginess and the clean drinking water they'd gathered. It would be better than the never ending sun and high temperatures.
The Phoenix Group sheltered further down. They'd found a large cave level with the desert floor. Mira's group had found a smaller cavern higher up giving them the best vantage point. The huge sandy colored rock blended in with the dunes and they'd stumbled upon it by accident.
Tan mixed with red lined the cave walls she stood in, providing both shade and cooler temperatures. Several alcoves provided private space for each of her people to sleep. She'd chosen on farther back tucked into a corner.
Lucas Taylor, and she frowned thinking of him, had gone back to living the life of a hermit. He'd holed up somewhere, refusing to share his hiding place. Mostly he came out at night. Between his stench and almost feral eyes, he made her uneasy, particularly after they'd found one Phoenix's men partially eaten. What troubled her had been the lack of blood. It should have coated the ground.
After that she'd posted a night guard to protect her people while they slept.
Mira leaned against the cool rock taking relishing the comfort against her hot back. She wanted to see Siena. Her father Allen had her daughter back in Terra Nova with the promise he'd look after their child. Now, she wished she hadn't. She missed so much of Siena's life with this mission to the past.
I should have taken her she ranted at herself.
"Hello, Mira," a familiar voice drawled.
She wrinkled her nose. Lucas stank. "You need to bath."
"I'm fine." He did look better, with color in his face. However, his clothes hung on him.
"You should eat."
He grinned. "Oh. I have." His eyes so like his father's glanced over her almost hungrily. "I'll be gone for a while."
"Where are you going?" Mira didn't really care. She just wanted him gone.
His eyes burned and seemed to turn red. "To make my father pay."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Benton sank down in a hard chair completely exhausted. He'd been up for twenty-four hours, not unusual for him, translating between the Colonials and Dr. Shannon's staff, plus monitoring the various patients. Most of them had awakened during the night and had been demanding answers. Answers none of them had.
A hand touched his shoulder and he looked up. "You should get some sleep." Dr. Cassiopeia sat next to him. "I'd rather not have to make it an order."
He gave her a tired smile. "Used to giving orders?"
She laughed. "Most of my patients are warriors so yes."
"Must be challenging."
"And rewarding. They defend our people."
He nodded. Race had a military background along with his intelligence background. His long-time friend never talked about it. As he remembered, in the earlier days, the younger man had been more impulsive. As he grew older Race had used his brain rather than fighting or grabbing a gun.
"Bed," the Colonial doctor gently urged. She gave him a sight push.
"Yes, Doctor." He managed to cross the crowded floor pausing at the door. Rain fell heavily splattering against the already saturated ground. No doubt he'd be soaked by the time he reached home.
"Dr. Quest," a young voice said.
He blinked trying to focus. A young soldier stood at the door, wearing his armor with his gun slung over his shoulder. In his hand rested one of the plastic raincoats. "I think you need this."
"Thank you." Ben put it on, pulling the hood over his heard. Trudging across the muddy grounds glad he'd worn his boots. His feet would have wet if he hadn't.
Once inside his home, he took them off and left them by the door. As he hung up the rain coat he smelled a combination of eggs and spice. Benton recognized the combination from one of the dishes Estella, Race's ex-wife had always made when she visited the Maine compound.
"Hungry, Doc?" Race got up and fixed him a plate.
His stomach rumbled. When had been the last time he'd eaten? He nodded, taking a spot at the table. Race puta filled plate in front of him along with a cup of coffee.
"You look tired, Father." Hadji gazed at him concerned.
When had his older son gotten into the habit of not wearing his turban? His dark hair rested on his shoulders and he wore a long sleeved shirt.
"Long night," he answered as he dug into his food, enjoying the exotic taste.
"You're going to get some sleep right, Dad?" Jonny sounded concerned.
He chuckled. "I was ordered to."
"Smart doctor," Race commented. The white haired man took a sip of his coffee.
Jessie, normally more talkative, finished her breakfast. She placed her dishes in the sink. "I need to get going."
Race gave her a fond smile. "Have a good day at the lab."
She returned his smile with a teasing one of her own. "Always do." Jessie hurried across the room, grabbing her coat and dashing out into the storm.
Bandit sat on the floor next to Jonny giving his master hopeful looks. His son gave the dog a pat. "Not today, Bandit."
Finished, Benton rose to put his plate in sink.
"Leave it Dad, I'll do it," Jonny offered.
"Thank you, Jonny." He yawned.
"Night, Doc," Race called as Benton went to his room.
Tossing off his clothes, he crawled between the sheets, too tired to do anything beyond sleep for several hours. He heard the familiar sounds of rain mixed with his family's happy chatter as they cleared the table before falling into a deep sleep.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Standing by the window, John stared out at the unfamiliar buildings and bright colored plants. Sweet damp scents floated inside and he heard the voices of people as they walked by on the dirt paths as the rain plummeted down. Bugles pierced the air and he wondered again if he'd really been told they belonged to Brachiosaurus.
He sipped the liquid he'd been given. It had a pungent not quite pleasant taste. A nurse had given it to him explaining he wouldn't be able to eat any of the local food because he wouldn't be able to digest them. His body needed a slow adjustment.
"How are you feeling this morning, Colonel?" the accented voice of Dr. Shannon inquired.
"Better, Dr. Shannon." He finished the drink leaving the glass on the side table. "Does it always rain like this?" He hoped not.
"Only during the storm season."
"Any of my team awake?" He watched the attractive woman's face.
"Most woke up during the night," she told him. "They're asking questions."
"Like the scientists they are." He ran his hand through his dark hair. "How many?" Part of him dreaded the answer.
"We transported all sixty three cylinders to the colony and everyone in them has been revived."
"Only Sixty three?" There had been over two hundred people living in Atlantis. What happened to the others?
"A through search was done to make certain we didn't miss anyone according to Dr. Jackson."
"Dr. Daniel Jackson?"
"No. Dr. Alona Jackson."
He blinked letting her words sink in. "Is someone going to tell me what is going on around here?"
"That's what we're trying to discover." Dr. Shannon used a soothing tone he recognized. Both Doctors Keller and Becket did as well. "Why don't you lie down and let me take a look at your vitals."
"No."
"Colonel," her tone firmer.
"No," he repeated. "I know you're doing your job, but my responsibility is to those sixty three people you've revived."
"And I will allow you to do so once I've checked your readings." Dr. Shannon wouldn't budge.
"I'm fine."
"Not a good idea to argue with my wife." A tall man with short sun bleached hair stood in the doorway. "Commander Taylor would like to speak with you Colonel."
"Who's Commander Taylor?"
"He's in charge of the colony," the man explained.
"Your colony." He remembered the name from the woman, Tessa Sheppard's conversation with him. Thankfully his memory had improved and his brain was no longer muddled and foggy.
"I'll allow the commander to speak with Colonel Sheppard," Dr. Shannon interjected. "After I make certain he is fine. I want to keep him for a few more hours for observation."
"Taylor's not going to like that," her husband seemed to remind her.
"Remind him of our earlier conversation and who is in charge of patients."
"I will." The man's eyes shifted to John. "I'm Jim Shannon, second in command of Terra Nova."
John introduced himself. "Colonel John Sheppard."
"Nice to meet you." Jim Shannon winked at his wife. "See you at dinner."
She smiled at her husband before he left. "Now Colonel." Her attention shifted back to him. "Let's get you checked out so you can talk with your people and Taylor." Dr. Shannon pointed at the bed.
Considering the number of times he'd gotten a similar order from Beckett or Keller, John gave in and did as Dr. Shannon requested.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Laura woke to discover six little warm bodies tucked all around her. "How did you all get out?" She'd secured them in the spare bedroom the night before going to sleep.
She heard Sheba chuff. The cat placed her hug head on the bed. "Morning," Laura mumbled giving the feline a scratch behind her ear.
One of the babies scuttled over to Sheba. Laura held her breath hoping the cat wouldn't eat it. Instead, it received a lick and a gentle nudge to stay put.
"Huh." Sitting up Laura stretched. "Your maternal instincts kick in?" If they had it would explain Sheba's almost motherly behavior toward the babies. Might also explain how they got in her bed. The cat may have carried them there. The edge was too high for them to climb up.
Sheba sneezed and padded out. No doubt to go outside to relieve herself. Or maybe hunt.
Shaking her head, she forced herself out of bed. Rain fell steadily on the roof. Six little bodies scrambled after her, their tiny eyes focused on Laura.
"Stay here. I'll shower first and then put you in the tub. How would you like that?" They huddled together. "I'll be back."
After a hot shower she pulled on a warm housecoat and partially filled the tub. She collected the babies and left them splashing in the water.
Breakfast came next. Laura selected a mix of fruit and nuts along with a nice hot cup of tea. She sat at the table eating when Sheba padded back in leaving muddy footprints on the floor. The cat dropped a reptile body on the floor.
"You killed it first right?" She didn't want a terrified dinosaur rampaging through her house.
Sheba glanced at her as if to say 'of course I did' before going toward the bathroom.
Laura began to laugh as she realized Sheba had brought the creature home to teach the babies how to hunt.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Hi Maddy."
She looked up from her plex where she'd been studying the Colonial language. It had proven more complex and interesting than she'd expected. "Hi Mark."
Her soldier boyfriend gave her a smile. "What's so fascinating?"
"The different words our guests use, like yahren for year."
"Oh." He cocked his head making him look totally adorable. "I kind of miss your babbling."
She hadn't expected to hear him say that. Maddy realized she'd relaxed around him and didn't feel the need to fill the silence with words. "Really? Because I could go on."
He laughed and shook his head. "I brought lunch." He held up a basket from which delicious smells escaped.
Jessie poked her head up. Maddy had forgotten she'd been sitting there all morning and blushed. The other girl had overhead their conversation.
"Go eat with your boyfriend," Jessie urged with a knowing grin.
Maddy slipped her hand over Mark's arm. "Too bad we can't sit outside."
Thunder shook the building. The rain pounded the roof.
"Empty office?" Mark asked hopefully.
"Dr. Quest is at home," Jessie helpfully informed her. "As long as you don't touch anything, he won't mind you using his."
"Thank you."
Jessie nodded.
Maddy led the way. He'd made himself at home she could see. The shelf contained a few pictures of the Quest family. His desk was completely bare.
"Does he actually work in here?" Mark wanted to know.
"He does. I just hadn't expected it to be this neat." Jessie sat down in the chair while Mark put the basket on top of the desk.
"Be right back." He grabbed a wooden crate and sat down. Opening the basket he unloaded the food.
He'd brought apples, which she loved, along with warm bread, some what looked like maybe cheese and two cold containers. She had no idea what drink they might contain.
"Dr. Jackson making any progress on the Colonial's language?" Mark handed her one of the containers.
"Better with Dr. Quest's help." She sipped the tart and yet sweet liquid. Reminded her of coconuts and strawberries. "He learned the language quickly. I understand his sons have as well."
"Talented family," Mark agreed biting into one of the apples.
She helped herself to a slice of bread. "Jessie is brilliant."
"That's the red head." He pointed back where she'd been working.
"Yeah." Maddy hated to admit the young woman was probably smarter than her. "I'd bet she's going to make some amazing discoveries."
"You're smart too, Maddy." He took her hand. "One of the many reasons I love you."
She squeezed his hand. "I love you too, Mark."