CHAPTER TWO
As soon as John and I got home I ran down to the nearest store and stocked up on the necessary female items and then I got side-tracked by the thought of never having coffee or chocolate again. Not willing to go without my two favorite caffeine addictions, I went to the gardening section and ended up buying over six hundred different packs of various different seeds including sugarcane seeds, flaxseed, coffee bean seeds, cocoa beans and seeds for lots of vegetables, herbs and fruits as well.
Getting back home I glanced at the clock and realized how quickly time was moving. Not wanting to take up time eating, I grabbed an apple as I moved past the kitchen and up the steps, my arms loaded with grocery bags. Dropping everything onto the floor beside my bed I went to my closet and pulled out two of the largest duffle bags I had and put them on my bed to be filled. Not wanting to forget anything important I grabbed a notebook and began to write a list of things I knew I wanted to take. Adding some random things to the list as they popped into my head.
Double checking my list I began to pull out my clothes starting with my favorites making them into outfits and rolling them up military style so they wouldn't take up as much space. With clothes now checked off my list I put an extra pair of combat boots and two pairs of tennis shoes on top of them and filled my shoes up with pens, pencils and erasers.
I made sure to put all of the seed packets in sandwich bags in case they ripped and stuck them between my tightly rolled up clothes. I still had quite a bit of room so I added some of my favorite books and all the how-to books I had bought on my way to the checkout counter at the grocery store earlier. I added the five books I had brought home with me, several pocket knives, and the 120 packs of gum and finally the first duffle bag was full.
Opening the other bag I put in all twenty of the notebooks I had bought and the five thick sketchbooks to make the bottom even before I packed all the female supplies I had gotten on top of them. Adding all of my paint brushes, paints and colored pencils I still had a nice amount of room to fill so added some of the small 3D puzzles I had never gotten to. I was so busy deciding what else to pack that I almost didn't hear John enter my bedroom.
"Wow. Definitely not planning to come back home then huh?" John asked slightly sarcastically as he looked between the full first bag and the half full second one.
"It's always better to be over prepared than under." I reminded him with a grin.
"You know I think the General underestimated just how much you could carry." John said, causing my grin to take a devious turn.
"Oh I'm sure he did." I replied feeling extremely mischievous as I looked over my list and added checkmarks to the things I had packed.
"So you're really excited about this huh? Possibly going to another galaxy?" John asked, something in his voice catching my attention.
"I am. You know how I've traveled the world, but everywhere I go it just seems like there's still something out there calling me." I replied.
"But what if your soul-bonds are here? Going on this trip means that you might never find them." John asked.
"We've been over this John I'm pretty sure it's ONE soulbond the words are just spaced far apart, and besides I'm ready and willing to miss meeting him." I snapped, then immediately felt bad for doing so.
"I'm sorry John it's just the whole soul-bond thing, well after seeing our mom wither away in her marriage to … him, who she only married because of their soul-bond it's … well it kind of turned me off to the whole idea. You know?"
"Yeah, that's how I feel about it too." John replied, sounding slightly relieved that we agreed on the whole soul-bond thing.
"You know J, there's always a possibility that our soul-bonds might be aliens." I said as the thought occurred to me, we stared at each other as we thought about that.
"Seven foot green men ." John said.
"With tentacles like an octopus for its face." I replied.
"And tiny T-Rex arms, that says, 'Take us to your leaders'." John finished before we both burst into laughter and John ordered us some Chinese take-out while I finished packing my second duffle bag, adding a backpack to my things as John begged me to bring some of his favorite movies and lots of popcorn packets as he was only allowed to take one personal item.
After eating we loaded up our things and John drove us to the base. After getting in the large slightly intimidating looking door John split ways with me since he had to get all of his weapons and gear while Doctor Weir, who looked quite amused when she saw how loaded down I was, took me to get my quick physical check over.
"Is this Randy Sheppard?" A random guy asked Doctor Weir as he came up to us just as I was standing up from the bed having finished giving blood.
"Yes. Randy Sheppard, this is Doctor Daniel Jackson, he's the foremost expert on the Ancients language." Doctor Weir said, introducing us before going over to the side to speak to the Doctor who had drawn my blood.
"So I heard you were a linguist? 10 languages right?" Daniel asked and I noticed he was holding a bulging backpack.
"13 actually but 3 are dead." I replied, having a feeling I knew what was coming next.
"Great. I copied all of my notes on how to decipher the Ancients language." Daniel said, handing me the heavy backpack.
"Great, thanks." I replied dryly. I was happy about getting to learn a new language but having the added weight of another stuffed backpack to my already heavy load of two very full duffle bags and singular bulging backpack was a bit of a downer.
"Yeah well- nice to meet you." Daniel said before quickly walking away. I could feel my eyebrow raise in question at his odd behavior before shaking it off and turning to Doctor Weir who had finished talking to the Doctor and started walking over to me.
"Welcome to the expedition Randy. You can take all of your luggage to the gate room and just wait there, it's almost show time." Doctor Weir said, giving me a smile and nod before she turned and left the infirmary.
Managing to pick up everything I followed the flow of people and I soon entered the gate room. Glancing around I spotted John and was about two feet away from him when I saw a stern looking man probably in his forties turn towards John and say loudly.
"Let me make myself clear, Major. You are not here by my choice."
"I'm sure you'll warm up once you get to know me Colonel." John replied as I stepped up next to him and bumped his shoulder with mine to let him know I was there. The guy looked like he wanted to say something but at that moment Doctor Weir spoke up.
"Can I have everyone's attention please? All right, here we go. We're about to try to make a connection. We have been unable to predict exactly how much power this is going to take, and we may only get the one chance at this. So if we're able to achieve a stable wormhole, we're not going to risk shutting the gate down. We'll send in the MALP robot probe, check for viability and go. Everything in one shot. Now, everyone of you volunteered for this mission, and you represent over a dozen countries. You are the world's best and brightest. And in light of the adventure we are about to embark on, you're also the bravest. I hope we all return one day having discovered a whole new realm for humanity to explore. But as all of you know, we may never be able to return home. I'd like to offer you all one last chance to withdraw your participation…..….Begin the dialing sequence."
Grabbing John's hand I held it tightly as butterflies filled my stomach, watching with wide-eyed anticipation as the large circular thing that was the Stargate began to move while alarms blared.
"Just remember who's giving the orders, Major." The Colonel said stiffly as he walked in front of us causing me to snap. In the sweetest most innocent voice I could muster I spoke up,
"That would be Doctor Weir right?"
The Colonel gave me a dirty look as he walked over to a group of soldiers wearing the same outfit as him while John squeezed my hand and snorted under his breath in amusement.
"Well he's definitely got a cactus where the sun doesn't shine." I told John not lowering my voice as the Colonel turned around not ten feet away and deliberately tried to stare me down.
"Randy." John said sternly with amusement in his voice as I glared back at the Colonel before very deliberately sticking my tongue out at him and then turning my back on him to focus on the spinning Stargate.