A.N: Wow! This week's been absolutely insane! Mid terms, performances, psychopathic trumpeters… I'm amazed I'm still alive. Anyway, Thank you to the wonderful people who reviewed last chapter: Dr. Dredd (I'm sorry I forgot you!), Emma, theminority, Purple Yin and Rouge 1503 (btw, thanx for the recommendation. Loved it!).
Hopefully this chapter will answer at least a few of your questions. So I hope that you enjoy this, and I shall try update ASAP. But this week, I'm out performing most nights this week. So it shall be interesting to see if I come out in one piece. Ah well, now I let loose on the world the fourth chapter of this story. Chookas in all you do! -Starlite1.
Jeans and Genes Chapter 4- Oh look, More trees.
The jumper soared over the dense forest. Its four present occupants overlooked the stunning Vista with boredom. Seeing little other than trees on the last four planets did nothing to promote the flat, green land below them. A mountain would have provided some relief to the eyes, but sadly even that was denied to them.
Rodney finally reached his tolerance limit. And with a huff of frustration turned to the crates of scientific equipment in the rear. Randomly selecting one of the instruments, he began the recalibration process, even though he knew he'd fine-tuned it before they'd left. As his fingers worked through their mundane task, his mind wandered back to Atlantis. At present, Carson would most likely be poking some poor soul full of needles. Zelinka would be lost in something, whether it be his lab or in some reinvention of the laws of physics he was unsure.
As for Elizabeth, she'd probably be off solving the problems of the galaxy single-handedly. At the thought of her, his mind was off on a tangent. The memories of the woman who he considered his best friend played through his mind like a home video: Her smile, her eyes, the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, her elegant hands, the grace with which she carried herself as she walked into a room, the strength and energy that had emanated off her as she had stood on the balcony earlier that day, and the gentle sound of her voice telling them to all stay safe. A grin came across his face as he though of her standing in front of himself and the major, her arms folded across her chest, moving her slightly oversized shirt just enough to accentuate her figure…
But the shirt was his! It was one he'd thought lost when it hadn't come back with the last wash. At the time, he'd been rather disappointed at loosing it. But after seeing her wear it…
NO! Rodney remonstrated himself. There was NO way he was going there. Elizabeth Weir was so far out of his league that even the Stargate would have a hard time covering the distance. Anyway, he was more than happy to just be her friend, and it was something that he wouldn't trade for anything in this galaxy or any other. With that knowledge embedded firmly in his genius brain, he returned to his work, continuing with his daydream once again.
John Sheppard took one look at the expression on his scientist's face, and grinned. There were two thing in the universe that gave his friend that look: Snickers (Whether the cat or chocolate form was unimportant) and one particular diplomat who happened to be the leader of the expedition. At the moment, he was willing to put money on the latter.
Sadly, he knew he got the same look on his face when he thought of a certain Athosian who was currently sitting across from him…
Mustn't go there, buddy boy! He thought quickly. The second he did, that blasted look would come over his face, then she lock those gorgeously wondrous eyes on him, and ask what he was thinking about. There was something about her gaze that made it impossible for him to lie to her. So thus he had to spend the numerous jumper flight attempting to keep her from his mind, and trying to avoid the implication they brought with them.
Still, she did look nice….
"Major?" Damn. Caught!
Getting to the ruins that were their destination proved to be a difficulty. The forest's canopy was over thirty meters thick at the thinnest point, and in the area around the ruins, it was over fifty meters thick. Only by resorting to using the ship's weapons did the get though. Fortunately, it was worth it.
"Well, what do we have here?" John asked, sweeping his torch across the walls which had been locked in darkness for millennia.
"If you got out of the way, I could tell you!" Rodney grumbled, shoving his way into the room, "And to answer your question major, we have quite a lot of stuff."
John rolled his eyes, "Care to elaborate?"
"Let's see… We have something that appears to be a toy box, an number of what appear to be scientific monitoring devices, something that looks like it might just be a replecator-"
"Hang on!" for exclaimed, eyes widening, "Did you just say-?"
Rodney rolled his eyes, "Yes. The food type. Frankly, I doubt it will rip itself out of the wall and begin attacking us. Now as to what else…" His torch flickered over to the other side of the room, "An ancient repository which you and I shall be staying well away from major. Now as to what else," All eyes widened at what the torch had hit, "What appear to be three fully charged ZPM's!"
John chuckled gleefully, "Talk about pot luck!"
"Are you certain?" Teyla asked.
Rodney rolled his eyes, "I obviously need to run some tests, but they look promising."
"Well, it may be wise to get these back to Atlantis ASAP." Ford said from his spot on the wall.
John shrugged, "Any objections?"
"None whatsoever." Rodney said cheerfully, "If we hurry, we should be able to get seconds on the main."
With a roll of his eyes, John began to bark orders, "Right, let's get the ZPM's and geek's gismos loaded up, and get home."
"Don't forget the toy box!" Rodney added.
"You have to be kidding me!"
"If I was kidding, you would know major. Anyway, we don't know if there is something in there that could be useful."
"How do you know that?"
"How do you know what the children of an extremely advanced civilisation did in their spare time?"
John gave him a stare of exasperation, "Fine. We take the toy box. But there is now way in HELL you're getting the repository."
"As much as appearances may deceive, I am not suicidal, and I would prefer to continue conversing in English rather than a dialect that hasn't been in wide usage for close to ten thousand years."
"Doctor! Major!" Teyla interrupted, "As much as I know you enjoy bickering, might I suggest that we head back to the jumper?"
"I couldn't have said it better." Ford muttered.
One they were safely in the air once more, with the ZPM's stowed away securely, their tempers began to cool. For some reason, everyone, including Teyla was feeling tense as a pack of whippets.
Teyla usually trusted her instincts. The times that they had lead her wrong were a drop in the ocean compared to the times they had saved her and her people. This time they were telling her that her family and friends were in trouble. Yet something about it felt completely wrong, and thus she chose to keep her silence.
Ever since they had arrived, somehow these people from across the galaxy had become a part of her family, her heart. In a way they were as special to her as the family she had lost to the wraith. She only hoped that they never encountered the same fate.
Her musing was interrupted by the major asking her something, "I apologise, major. My mind was elsewhere. Would you mind repeating the question?"
"I was just asking what you thought of this planet as a beta site for the city." John replied, a gentle smile coming across his face that made her heart unexpectedly begin to beat faster.
Looking out the window, she quickly assessed their surroundings, "In terms of defence, major, it is extremely viable. The dense forestry would prove confusing for any adversary. Yet I cannot give a full assessment until I have had more chance to survey this place."
John grimaced, "I thought as much. I think it could be worth it to spend an hour or two just having a look around. Any objections?"
"I would prefer to get these back to Atlantis." Rodney said, indicating the safely stowed power sources.
Before the major could complain, Teyla jumped in, "Maybe if Dr. McKay took the ZPM's back to the city, we could continue on to do a further aerial study."
Nodding to himself, he declared, "It could work. All parties would be happy. Any complaints?"
"None whatsoever." Rodney said, leaning back in his chair.
Five minutes later, Rodney stepped off the jumper, the ZPM's secured in the storage case clutched securely in his hands. John used the ship's DHD to activate the wormhole with its customary whoosh.
"Make sure you save us all some food! And, seriously, take care of yourself, Rodney." John said, sticking his head out of the ship.
"I'm only going home major. What could happen?" Rodney queried, before stepping through the even horizon. He felt the customary tingle of demolecularization, and the rush of adrenalins that always accompanied a trip through the gate. A moment later, he hopped through the other side, felt a blow to his head, and instantly fell into unconsciousness.
A.N: So what did you think? I really want to know if you like the direction this is going. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, but mean flames shall be used to start a fire during the blackouts we keep having at the moment. (Oh, and for burning Koyla's knix!)