Evelyn POV
Once landed, we were led by a security force member through a very modern looking city until we were approached on a garden lined path by a tall brunette woman. She smiled fondly at us before putting her clipboard down and resting it in front of herself
"Welcome to Olesia, I am Marin," she greeted and then gave us the bow of her people. I assume anyway, as the security members all did the same greeting when we exited the Jumper.
"I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard," he introduced and then pointed to each of us. "Tela Emmagen, Dr. Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex and Captain Evelyn O'Neill."
"Please follow me," Marin instructed and we trailed after her.
"Are you sure you're alright?" McKay asked Ronon. He must have been wondering the same as I had. The arrow went through his leg and out the other side. Even the toughest soldier was bound to be in pain. But I suppose, Ronon was used to keeping calm and carrying on.
"I said I'm fine," he grumbled and I elbowed him.
"Oh yeah? Well if you're such a big tough guy why don't you prove it?" I said and he raised a brow. "Piggyback?" I reached my arms out and he laughed, throwing me over his shoulder instead and I squealed. I playfully beat on his back until he spun around and put me on the ground again.
"I told you two I was fine," he said and then pushed further ahead, limping towards the building we were being escorted to.
"I sent a security detachment as soon as we detected your presence on the island. The prisoners there can be quite hostile," Marin told us, smiling softly at Ronon and I's antics.
"Yeah, we definitely got off on the wrong foot," Sheppard replied.
"Prisoners?" Teyla asked.
"Yes, the island's a penal colony. The prisoners usually don't cause much trouble," Marin explained, smiling. "As long as you don't try to land there."
"Well, you could put up a sign," McKay joked and she grinned.
"The Stargate is on the island. Does this not affect your ability to trade with other worlds?" Teyal asked.
"Yes, of course. As a result, we have needed to be almost entirely self sufficient," Marin said.
"Then why put a prison there?" Sheppard asked.
"I believe the Magistrate is better suited to answer these questions. He's very eager to meet you," Marin replied. Odd.
Once we made it to the Magistrate's office I spent my time hanging around behind John and Teyla. There was something odd about this guy that I didn't like. Maybe it was just because he was a born and raised politician.
"Your ship is a most intriguing design. I must admit, I'm surprised to find others in this galaxy whose technology rivals our own. Aside from the Wraith, I mean," the Magistrate said.
"It's funny, I was about to make the exact same comment," McKay said, he had his arms resting 'at ease' behind his back..
"Where do you come from," the Magistrate asked. I watched John shift slightly, looking at the group beside him before swiftly covering.
"Until recently, Atlantis," he answered.
"The ancestral city?" the Magistrate said.
"Yeah. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Wraith a short time ago," Sheppard explained.
"How tragic.." the Magistrate responded.
"Yeah, we're pretty broken up about it," Sheppard said.
"We are part of a small group of people that were able to escape," Teyla supplied.
"How fortunate for you," the Magistrate said.
"Yes, yes. Very fortunate. Look, getting back to the technology thing. I'm just curious. How have you been able to make such advancements without the Wraith stepping in?" McKay asked. That was a good point. From the reports I'd read most societies here didn't really pass the Victorian era. To find a city as advanced as ours was remarkable.
"The Wraith have chosen to leave us alone," the Magistrate explained and I raised a brow. Sheppard looked beside him at Teyla and Ronon, as if trying to see if they could believe what the Magistrate had just said. I was having a hard time myself.
"Why?" Sheppard asked.
"I don't know," the Magistrate said, and I didn't believe him in the slightest. He knew, and I suspect it had something to do with the island full of prisoners right by the gate that had no DHD.
"They've never come here?" Ronon asked skeptically.
"The Wraith have been here many times," said the Magistrate, beginning to pace in front of his desk. "but with the ancestral ring on the island, the Wraith have always been, uh… how shall I put this? Satiated with the prisoners living there. The Wraith have no need to venture any further."
There it is. I soured immediately. They were fine because they happily sacrificed their convicts to the Wraith. I guess it's a good thing they don't have Geneva out here. These people might be playing civilised but they certainly lacked a humanitarian aspect of their culture. I saw McKay and Sheppard exchange a glance, they were thinking it too. McKay looked appalled, and Sheppard angry.
"Well, that would explain why you put the prison there," Sheppard said.
"The island has been a penal colony for hundreds of years. It's location there has benefited my people greatly," the Magistrate responded.
"Not all your people," John argued.
"I assure you, only the most violent criminals are sent there… as you discovered," said the Magistrate.
"It's a good crime deterrent," Ronon said.
"Crime is virtually nonexistent on Olesia," said the Magistrate. "Unlike the prisoners, we pride ourselves on being a most hospitable and civilised people." I seriously doubted that. Classist snobs. "Come, let me give you a tour."
Sheppard nodded once and we followed the Magistrate out of the room. The city was pretty, it was very green and had lots of beautiful gardens around, but I found myself having a hard time appreciating it when I knew these people were just letting other human beings be murdered by the Wraith to save their own skin. Regardless of if those people happened to be prisoners, it was wrong.
"This section of the city is devoted to scientific research. Our scientists have recently attained success in the enrichment of a fissionable, yet not radioactive, material to be used in generating power for the city," the Magistrate told us. That could be pretty helpful for my project, in fact, it would probably blow my power project right out of the water.
"Fissionable yet nonradioactive? Well, that-that-that's… is that even possible? What kind of material is it?" McKay asked.
"It's an ore extracted from a mineral found on our planet. It's quite volatile, yet yields great promise," he told us. "I'd be very happy to show you the laboratory."
"I'd be very happy to see it," McKay replied.
"I'd be very happy to go back to our ship. Our people are due to check in with us in a little while over radio. I'll have to get back within range," Sheppard said. I also wanted to go home. And I was pretty sure I had an idea about that mineral ore the Magistrate was so proud of.
"You can link with one of our radio relay stations. There should be enough power to reach the island, if that's your concern," the Magistrate told us.
"So we'll be speaking privately?" Sheppard asked. I doubted it.
"Of course," the magistrate told us and I saw John and McKay look as skeptical as I felt.
He then had security officers escorte us to a reception room where they had prepared and laid out food. I watched Ronon and McKay examine the food while I perched on a chair halfway between them and John. I smiled to myself when I saw Ronon start to fill his pockets and McKay stuffing his face.
"And you believe they might be willing to share some of this mineral?" Weir asked through the radio.
"Well, they seem open to it. They don't get many trading opportunities coming through the gate," Sheppard replied.
"Sounds promising," Weir replied. I still didn't think we knew all we should about this mineral. They mentioned it was incredibly volatile.
"There is however, the minor moral hiccup of their formof capital punishment," John said.
"I'm sorry?"
"They have an island, it's like their own version of Alcatraz, where they send the worst criminals," McKay explained, walking away from the food table and over towards John.
"Think Australia in the late 1700s," I said and I heard her snort.
"And the gate is on the island so…" John tapered off.
"So the Wraith feed on the prisoners?"
"Yep," John said.
"Talk about cruel and unusual punishment,"
"I prefer lethal injection, although I do have a certain fondness for the electric chair. Call me a romantic," McKay joked and Sheppard chuckled.
"The Wraith get what they want, and the Olesians get left alone. I'm surprised it works," Ronon said, biting into a piece of food.
"He did, however, say that only the most violent criminals get send there, and that is has been this way for hundreds of years," John assured, and I bit my lip. Something about this whole thing still seemed wrong.
"Do you kill all of your violent criminals on Earth?" Teyla asked and I scratched my ear and shot her a sheepish look.
"Certain countries, yes," McKay said, looking at Sheppard.
"Do we need to get into this now right?" Sheppard asked.
"Well, we do if we plan on doing business with these people," Weir said. "I want to know more before I jump to any conclusions."
We signed off and finished up in the reception room they'd set up for us. Heading back to the Magistrate's office was the last thing I wanted to do, but sometimes doing uncomfortable things came with this job. I just didn't realise it would be greasing palms with politicians.
"We were able to speak with our people, thank you," Sheppard told him.
"Of course," he replied.
"If you're open to it, we'd like to discuss possible trade opportunities," Sheppard said.
"We are very open. I'm sure there is much that we can learn from each other," he said.
"Well, Dr Elizabeth Weir will be the one to begin official negotiations with you. That's really her thing," Sheppard told him.
"I'm looking forward to meeting her, and the start of a promising friendship," the Magistrate said and eventually dismissed us. We made out way quickly back to the Jumper and got settled in. I climbed into the back of the Jumper and settled where I'd left my bag. We were over the water before I finally relaxed.
"Seriously, am I the only one creeped out by that guy?" McKay asked.
"Politicians, Rodney, they're all creepy," Sheppard dismissed.
"I wouldn't say you're the only one, O'Neill practically ran out of there," Ronon chuckled.
"Something didn't seem right," I replied. "And about that mineral ore, I've been wondering if that's what the prisoners used in those slingshots. The Magistrate did say it was incredibly volatile and could be found in the planet's surface."
"Magaret Thatcher wasn't creepy. Okay, well, maybe a little. She resembled an aunt of mine, same hair style, facial structure, only my aunt was much taller and remarkably hirsute. Oddest thing, she had to shave twice a day," McKay said, ignoring me.
"How would the prisoners have access to that kind of thing?" Sheppard asked.
"I mean, they weren't always," I shrugged. "I imagine they learned about it before trial and brought the knowledge there. I suppose it doesn't really matter, it's not like we'll be seeing them again."
The Jumper gave a sudden lurch as something made contact with us and I was thrown forward a little. I pushed myself back up the seat, making for the seatbelts we'd installed and strapping myself in.
"What was that?" Teyla asked.
"They're shooting at us," Sheppard said.
"The prisoners?" Teyla replied.
"With what?" said McKay.
"Cloak the ship," Ronon ordered.
"I can't. We took some damage. We'll be lucky to make it to the gate," Sheppard explained and I took a deep breath. I made a point not to crash when I was a pilot and hadn't had one since my Blackhawk went down.
"You're okay," I said to myself quietly.
"Well, how close are we?" McKay asked.
"Close enough to dial," Sheppard said and I breathed out again. I was desperately trying to ignore what was happening in favour of focusing on my breathing. I could hear Teyla dialing and the ship lurched again. We took more damage and I could feel my stomach threatening to purge itself. I thought I was over it. I didn't think I was this bad.
"That was close," said Ronon.
"Get ready to send an IDC," Sheppard said. We took another hit and we started losing altitude, descending immediately and very quickly towards the ground. "I've lost control systems. Hang on."
I grabbed hold of the shelf above my head, bracing myself for impact before my fingers slipped and I was ragdolled forward on impact. I felt the air get knocked from my lungs and my chest burned. I let out a cough and stayed still for a moment, struggling to get my breath back. I tried to settle my breathing, I was okay. We'd crashed but I'd made it. I reached for my seatbelt release and stood on shaky legs. Walking forward, I turned towards the cockpit. Everyone was out.
I reached Ronon and put a hand on his shoulder. I checked his pulse, he had one. I shook a little as I walked forward, reaching for Teyla. I shook her a little and she groaned. She sat up and reached for her head, touching the blood.
"I am alright," she told me and I nodded. I moved out of her way and she pushed herself up to a standing position, going over to see McKay.
"Oh.." Ronon groaned.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"I think I chipped a tooth. Did I chip a tooth? Am I bleeding? Because I'm a high risk for endocarditis," he said and I touched John's shoulder, gently shaking him. He groaned, just as Teyla had.
"John?" Teyla asked. He winced, he seemed to have a little difficulty breathing, like he'd also been winder in the crash.
"That was, uh… not one of my better landings, sorry," he said.
"The gate should still be active for a few minutes," Ronon said.
"Alright, let's go," John agreed.
I helped him up and moved forward to the exit door of the Jumper. I reached for my pack and my rifle, getting ready to release the door. As soon as it opened I heard the sound of cheering prisoners and cocked my rifle, immediately letting off a few shots and knocking down the people running for me. Quickly, we were surrounded and Sheppard put an arm out, signalling to all of us that we were surrendering.
"Hi folks, I hope I didn't crash land on anybody," Sheppard said as Ronon and I held our weapons up in surrender. I glanced behind me to see McKay and Teyla doing the same.