"How was the flight?"
Weir was waiting for them in the Jumper bay, having been informed of their imminent arrival only minutes before and deciding that she definitely needed to know if Mitchell had mastered the Jumper.
"She's a natural," Sheppard said as they all walked off the little ship.
"Really?"
Mitchell made a show of breathing on her fingernails and buffing them on the front of her shirt, and Weir smiled at the show of confidence.
"Really," Sheppard confirmed, reaching out and cuffing Mitchell on the back of the head as he walked past her.
"Hey!"
"Don't get so cocky, Colonel. Remember, McKay here can fly one of them, too."
"That's right, I ca- hey..."
Mitchell grinned, running her hand through her short hair to make sure he hadn't messed it up.
"I'm going to go get some coffee."
"Good idea."
Weir nodded as well.
"So, are you planning on doing this Wraith hunt, then?" She asked, echoing the same question Sheppard had asked her only minutes before.
"It's necessary," Melony said, tired of defending her decision.
"What's the plan?"
Weir must have realized that she didn't want to argue about it, and probably realized that it wouldn't do any good anyways, so she decided they might as well talk over what Mitchell had planned.
"I figure I'll take one of the Jumpers to the planet that has the orbiting gate, go in cloaked – or whatever it is you guys call being invisible in the Jumper – land and see if I find me a Wraith. Preferably alone. Then see what happens."
"That's not much of a plan." Weir said.
Mitchell shrugged, and was quiet for a moment as the group entered the commissary and headed for the coffee en masse. Once they'd all poured themselves some, they went over and sat down.
"It's not as bad as it sounds, Dr. Weir," she said, shrugging. "From what I hear there aren't that many Wraith there – the ship's gone, after all – and I'll be careful not to take on more than I can handle."
"You know about their ability to mess with your mind?" Sheppard asked.
She nodded, smiling as Lieutenant Ford came over and joined them, sitting down next to Melony.
"How was the flight?"
"I wowed Sheppard with my amazing flying ability."
"Really?"
She gave him a mock scowl, "Don't look so surprised, Lieutenant. I'll bet there's some potatoes around here that you could be stuck peeling."
Ford grinned, and Melony turned her attention back to the question that had been asked.
"Yes, I've heard about the mind abilities they have. Talon should be able to sift through what's real and what isn't before it has a chance to confuse us. And they won't be able to get into my head for the same reason."
"Probably," McKay said.
She shrugged.
"Probably."
"When are you planning on doing this?"
"Tomorrow," Sheppard said, answering before Mitchell could.
"So soon?"
"No sense in putting it off any longer than necessary. I can fly the ship and use the technology. I'll spend the rest of the day getting my things together, and leave early in the morning." That way she'd be fresh.
"I could go with you," Ford offered. "To show you the way."
Mitchell shook her head.
"It's my dumb plan, it's my risk. But thanks."
Ford shrugged, and Melony finished her coffee.
"I'd better go get my things together. If anyone has any questions for me, I'll be in my room."
She stood up and left, and the others watched her as she vanished through the door.
"Does she even have a chance of coming out of this alive?" Weir asked, looking at Sheppard. It was Ford who answered, though.
"She'll be back," the young man said, confidently. "I've seen her in action – even before she blended with Talon. She's one of the best you'll ever see."
Elizabeth nodded.
"I hope so."
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
When she reached her quarters, Mitchell headed for the stack of boxes that were sitting against her dresser. These were mostly clothes and odds and ends, but there was also a small stack of devices that she'd brought from home. Things that she'd thought she might need – even though she'd never have dreamed she'd need them to hunt life-sucking aliens.
Better safe than sorry"Pretty much." She agreed, opening up the first case. This one held the charger for her zat – something that she wasn't going to need to take with her, but that she'd use that evening, just to make sure the weapon was at full strength. She set it up and put the zat in it, then turned back to the carton for the next item. She had a number of items that might come in handy – or might end up being completely useless – and she planned on having them all ready.
OOOOOOOOO
She lost track of time while she was making her preparations, and was actually startled when she heard a light knock on the door of her rooms.
"Come in!"
"Colonel Mitchell?"
It was really the last person she'd expected. She turned at the sound of the young voice.
"Jinto?"
He smiled, pleased.
"You remember my name."
"Of course." She couldn't help but echo his smile; it was such a cheerful thing. "What can I do for you?"
"Are you really going to go hunting for the Wraith?"
"How did you find out about that?"
"Teyla told my father, and I was listening."
"Ah."
"Can I come with you?"
"What?"
"Can I come with you when you go hunting the Wraith?"
"No."
"I'm not afraid..."
"You don't have to be afraid. You're not coming."
"But-"
"Jinto. Why on Earth would you want to come with me? The Wraith are dangerous, you know that, right?"
"You know it, and you're going after them."
"That's different."
"How?"
"I'm a grown-up."
Was she really having this conversation?
"I could help you."
Melony looked down into his eager face, and wondered what the heck she'd done to make the boy think this was a grand adventure.
"You can't come, Jinto." She said, sitting down on the edge of her bed, so she could be face to face with him. "What I'm doing is way too dangerous for you to come with me. I couldn't watch you and look out for the Wraith, too, you know."
"You wouldn't have to watch me. I'd stay in the ship. I want to –"
"No. You can't come." She put her hands on his shoulder, forcing him to look at her, demanding that he understand just how serious she was about this. "It's dangerous, and I won't risk you. You're needed here."
"But-"
They were interrupted by another knock on the door, and Mitchell was glad of the interruption. She stood up.
"Come in!"
This time it was Beckett standing there when the door opened. The doctor was surprised to see who was keeping Mitchell company, but he smiled.
"Am I interrupting?"
"No, Carson," Melony told him, waving him in. "Jinto and I were just talking."
"I was wondering if you'd had dinner yet?"
"Dinner?" Was it already that late? Where had the afternoon gone?
"Dinner."
"No." Perfect. She could use a good way to end this conversation, and this one was perfect. "Jinto? Do you want to come to dinner with us?"
Smiling at being included in something – although it wasn't what he'd wanted to be included in – he nodded.
"Do you mind, Carson?"
Beckett shook his head, wondering what the boy found so interesting about Mitchell.
"He's welcome to come."