Chapter 2: Just Another Day
Our goal was to find the crew of Atlantis. I thought it was a little crazy when I first heard it, and I still do to a certain degree. I mean you have to admit, a mythical lost city exists somewhere in another galaxy? Of course if you'd told me I'd be in a totally different galaxy and using wormholes to travel between planets like Caltrain stops six months ago, I'd have looked at you like you needed serious help. Of course, finding Atlantis and her crew was easier said than done. We didn't have a gate address, and even if we did, the major explained, there was probably a shield preventing just anyone from walking through and we didn't have a way to signal. Our best bet was to hope to run into one of their teams, while avoiding our former captors and employers. Not exactly a conducive situation, especially after we started exploring various planets and saw village after village and city after city in ruins, with no one around. It certainly gave both of us the creeps. Whoever could do that wasn't someone you'd want to run into in a dark alley.
Despite careful rationing, our limited food supplies soon ran out, since the major hadn't been able to take much when we made our break, and we were reduced to foraging. Luckily, both of had decent hunting and gathering skills, his from military training, mine from seasons when there was little work and too many mouths to feed. To this day I think some of my favorite memories were going out hunting with my dad, my four brothers, and various other male relatives. I think Major Andrews was a little surprised I was as comfortable as I was outdoors. I would have liked to be inside, in a bed and surrounded by take-out menus, but it also beat a bullet in the head. Sheer exhaustion soon took over as more nights than not, we filled out stomachs with hot water, tea if we were lucky to find something to boil. That I could handle, but sleep was fleeting as we worried about who or what might be out there, and neither of us allowed ourselves more than a few hours at a time. We both know if we ran into our old companions we'd be shot on sight, if we were lucky, and who knew if anyone we ran into might report us to them. The few dreams I had, were enough to wake me up in a cold sweat.
At first there were plenty of jokes about Fear Factor and Survivor, but the real reality soon set in. Entire days were spent in relative silence. Talking took effort, and there's only so much to talk about before you start telling the same story for the eighth time. There were certain issues we didn't discuss – basically anything to do with our lives back on Earth. The other subject I couldn't get the major to discuss was what had changed his mind. When I brought it up, there was a pained look in his eyes, and a distant, remorseful expression crossed his face. "I made a promise to someone," was all he'd say, with a glare that told me never to bring it up again. I didn't and he didn't press me further about my own past.
Anyhow, that morning started out as most mornings had for the past two months. I don't think any of us were really keeping track of the days now. Life had been reduced to build a fire, boil water, find something, anything to eat, sleep for a few hours, get up, keep moving, days were irrelevant. Life was a little brighter today, because we found some sort of waterfowl eggs, the first good protein in a couple days. Not enough, but at least enough to dull the hunger pangs.
"So Dr., when are you going to tell me why your parents named you Kyte?' asked Major Andrews.
That was one of the questions I had put in the category of "I'm not answering." He figured there was some interesting story to my name. There was, but I didn't feel like sharing.
"I'll tell you, either when we find Atlantis, or Cal admits they really lost Big Game," I joked to the man, who at least was from the East Bay. This little rivalry at least provided some amusement. He sighed and ran long fingers through hair that would never lay flat, even when unwashed for the weeks we'd been on the run.
"Try thinking positive," he suddenly snapped "We need to head out."
We fell into our usual solemn march, and trooped along, both lost in our own thoughts, until awe heard conversation. English. American slang. A signal from the major and I fell back into the brush, hoping this time…
From my perch, I could see four people, three men and a woman. Two of them appeared to be military, one in camouflage, the other in grey and black. The woman didn't appear to be military, still she walked with a cat-like grace. The other man brought up, or more precisely, lagged behind, complaining of hunger pains. All carried weapons. I heard safeties click.
"Identify yourselves," boomed Major Andrews stepped out, 9mm drawn.
Three of the four raised weapons to meet his. The apparent leader spoke.
"I'm Lt. Colonel John Sheppard, this is Major Lorne, Teyla, and Dr. Rodney McKay," spoke a dark haired man, indicating himself and his companions.
Andrews lowered his weapons. Slightly. I could see from the posture of his back he was both torn between relief and skepticism.
"From Atlantis?" spoke Andrews, his voice with an odd hoarseness.
"Yes?"
"You can come out now," whispered the major. "We've been searching for you. I'm Major Kris Andrews; this is Dr. Kyte Randall. We either came here or were brought here to search for Ancient technology by the Committee."
"The Committee?" the man identified as Lorne snapped.
"Yes. Tell Dr. Weir that Dr. Lowell was never satisfied with the agreements."
"You know of Dr. Weir?" asked Dr. McKay, a puzzled look on his face. Skepticism masked the faces of Sheppard and Lorne. The woman seemed to be taking it all in.
"Perhaps we should return to Atlantis and you can tell her in person?" she asked as if seeking to defuse and awkward situation.
"You don't know how long we've waited for that invitation," sighed Major Andrews. "You're going to owe me an explanation, Kyte," he added as aside.
I sighed. That appeared to be the least of my problems for now. The situation appeared to be tense and it appeared we were still at odds. Skepticism and silence hung heavy in the air and I was worried someone was going to start something. "Time for a little intervention." I pulled myself straighter and prepared to launch into bitchy mode. Not that I do it often, but it usually gets a response.
"Look, put us in cuffs or whatever. We can explain everything, whether it's from a conference room or a cell. I don't care. All I know is I'm supposed to be in San Fran in my molecular lab, being a good little post-doc. Instead I get kidnapped and hauled around some other galaxy because I have some ancient genetic sequence. I'm cold, tired and hungry. I want a hot shower, some coffee, and food that I didn't have to hunt down for starters. A pedicure be nice, too, if I'm not pushing my luck. Just about anything would beat the current situation." I glared at everyone. It worked.
You have the Ancient Gene?" asked McKay.
"So they keep telling me. Supposedly I also have a few more base pairs than I'm supposed to, associated with it. Either that or this some great joke," I continued in "my don't press your luck" tone.
"Fine, we'll take you back with us, but we'll have to collect your weapons, first. I don't like knowing that there are others from Earth here in Pegasus. I don't think Eliz – Dr. Weir will either," said Sheppard. I noticed his voice changed for a second. Interesting, but with his looks, I'm guessing that he could charm anyone. This Dr. Weir must be something else.
Lorne looked as if he wished he had a couple pairs of handcuffs, trying to keep his weapon trained on both of us.
Somehow a powerbar materialized in my hands and I was trying my best not to inhale it in one gulp. I shot McKay a grateful look, although the look that met mine was one momentary regret. I guessed this was a little out of character for him.
"It's about 2km to the gate over and down those hills," started Sheppard, scanning the surroundings with binoculars. "Oh hell, Wraith…"