Disclaimer: They taint mine, never will be, too bad so sad.
The Pavilions of Hadrius
How she had weaseled out of this ceremony, he would never know. She had convinced Carson that she had a cold. She went as far as to carry a box of tissues around wherever she went.
"Can't go through the Gate if she's contagious." Carson stated so stoically.
Utter and total bull. She did not have a cold. They were ganging up on him again. He turned around and sullenly looked at the great big ring of contrivance. It loomed back at him.
"Et tu Brute?"
"What was dat Major?" Weir asked as she slowly approached him wiping her nose with a tissue.
Chaya. It all came down to his hormones and lack of judgment when it came to a mere goddess. They had not completely forgiven him yet but wanted to show they still trusted him. He cocked his head at her and narrowed his eyes.
"I know what you're doing. I'm fine. Yes she pulled the wool over my eyes but I learned my lesson." He faced the all-knowing eye again.
"Major, I can't go and risk spreading a contagion to our new allies. You need to take my place and apologize for the inconvenience." She drew her attention to Teyla as she entered the Gate room.
"Teyla make sure he plays nice with the other kids. Now stay safe." Dr. Weir ascended the stairs to the command deck. "Dial it up, and we will see you two in a day or two. Enjoy yourselves!"
With his back to her, he waved and stepped through. Teyla nodded respectfully and followed.
"How are you feeling?" Carson sidled up next to her.
"Much better now. It is a true miracle," Weir said with a wry grin tossing the tissue in the wastebasket.
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"Welcome to Parcini Major Sheppard!" Chief Elder Mirandau greeted them as they stepped off the Stargate platform. "We are most honored!" The leader smiled congenially at them.
"Thank you, it's an honor to be here," replied Sheppard with a forced grin of his own. "Dr. Weir sends her apologies for not being able to come in person." Sheppard then gestured to his companion, "This is Teyla Emmagan, leader of the Athosian people and a member of my team."
The Parcinese were another agrarian society. They traded with many peoples just not Teyla's. Sgt. Stackhouse's team had been the first to make contact. They found the society very friendly and very willing to trade for medical, scientific and agricultural information. Anomalous energy readings around the city were a plus as well. Negotiationsbegan and finalized quickly and easily. A larger contingent of scientists and advisors were allowed into the city and surrounding areas soon there after. Finally, a trading partner that seemed to be on the up and up. There was only one piece of the negotiations left.
Mirandau bowed to Teyla and returned his attention back to Sheppard. "Major Sheppard, your emissaries have been most enlightening. The knowledge they have imparted to our different committees has been very exciting." He led them away from the Gate while talking animatedly.
He directed them to a common meetinghouse in the middle of the city. They entered the one room building and sat themselves at a long low table. Mirandau and his council sat on pillows on one side as Sheppard and Teyla sat on the other.
"As we had Sgt. Stackhouse communicate, we have a ceremony that needs to be performed to quicken our agreement." He continued, "A leader must be presented to the Temple of the Protector for a blessing to be granted on the agreement."
Temples, he was not so sure about temples. A flicker of worry crossed his face.
"It is just protocol I assure you Major Sheppard. Many have stood before the altar and the Matriarch has always pronounced judgment favorably." Mirandau put on his most reassuring expression.
Quashing his own reservations, Sheppard answered as amicably as possible, "I understand and am at your disposal."
A broad smile showed the relief on Mirandao's face. "Excellent! We will call on you tomorrow at the rising of the sun."
Mirandau and Sheppard stood and bowed to each other. "My assistant Larin will show you to the guest house. Until sunrise Major Sheppard."
"Until sunrise Chief Elder Mirandau." Sheppard parroted.
They followed their escort to the guesthouse located next door to the common house. Larin bowed and left them in front of their respective rooms.
Sheppard whirled around startling Teyla, "OK, we need to contact Rodney and ask about the temple. I don't have real good luck with shrines, secret bunkers or temples."
"You are correct. They do tend to come back and …What is it Lt. Ford says? Aah yes…bite you in the ass," said Teyla with a proud smile on her face. She finally felt that she understood some of their colloquialisms.
"Oh he does, does he?" retorted Sheppard with a mischievous grin on his face. "Better have a chat with the young- soon to be demoted- Lieutenant."
Teyla studied his face for a moment, and then smiled. "You are joking, right?"
"Yes, yes I am." Sheppard tapped his radio. "McKay you there?"
McKay had arrived with the large group of scientists and other advisors from Atlantis. If the Ancient ruins were the equivalent of the dinner bell, then Rodney must be having a Pavlovian response. Reports had been coming back that there might be a huge power source located here. Unfortunately, leads were thin. Energy readings would flicker then disappear; mocking them. Of course, Sheppard was not going to let the head of the science department come alone, so he had assigned Ford to baby-sit, much to the chagrin of the young Lieutenant. Dire retribution would be heaped upon him if anything happened to McKay.
"McKay here. No, no, no, that is the rubble pile. Over there is the important stuff. Glad you could join us Major." McKay sounded as impatient and totalitarian as ever. "It seems the Ancients were here and for quite a while. Another culture lived here after that and built over the ruins. Then the Parcinese built over those."
"Fascinating McKay, but I need you to find out about the …" He looked questioningly at Teyla and snapped his fingers.
"Temple of the Protector," supplied Teyla slightly annoyed at the snapping.
"Yeah, what she said." Sheppard nodded thanks. Definitely been hanging around Rodney too long he thought as he looked at his snapping fingers.
"We haven't been allowed into the temples yet. They are waiting to allow us access after your little pagan ceremony tomorrow."
"Be nice McKay," Sheppard said back. "Can you at least get a little intel on the ceremony? You know our luck with these things."
"Agreed, we tend to find the poison apple don't we? OK, I'll see what I can find out in my abundant spare time. McKay out."
"Sheppard out."
He faced Teyla, "Why don't we get settled in and explore the town a little?"
Sheppard held out his arm; Teyla nodded; and they were off.