"That's impressive…"
Ronon Dex had found everything about the Ancient's city of Atlantis – what little he'd actually seen – impressive. He'd been impressed by the intelligence of those living there, as well, and was more than impressed by Colonel Mitchell – although she was still something of an enigma to him, especially after the story he'd been told by Rodney McKay. But the Light Ones were something entirely different – and far more awesome than he wanted to admit. He just couldn't help himself, though.
He'd had his doubts when the Atlanteans had walked with him and the Light Ones up to a balcony that overlooked the city. Had raised an eyebrow when the Light Ones had undressed – although the others didn't seem to be surprised at all – and had waited to see what would happen.
He couldn't help the involuntary step he took backward when where Kale had been standing only an instant before there was now a huge wolf-like creature. The change had been instant. One moment the guy had been standing there, the next the wolf was. There was no melting into another form or anything like that. And it was impressive. And mind-boggling.
Weir wasn't the only one to smile at the reaction. They were, of course, used to the change, although no less impressed. Just not so surprised.
"Char? Will you show Mr. Dex your other form?"
The Light One nodded, and an instant later where he'd been standing there was now a huge raptor. A bird. A real one, too, complete with huge feathers and a vicious looking beak that looked like it could cut him in half with a single snap.
"Not bad, huh?" Mitchell said from her position beside him.
Dex nodded.
"Very impressive," he repeated.
"The bird form won't do us much good," Melony said as Kale changed back into his normal form and Char followed suit only a moment later. "But their wolf forms are fast and deadly, and should be enough to give us the advantage – even over the psyched out cats."
"They can all change into wolves?" Dex asked.
Mitchell nodded.
"It's natural for them."
"Plus they'll make great guards if we stay overnight," Sheppard said. "They're a lot better at sniffing out trouble than any of us."
"I bet."
What a magnificent ability.
Weir smiled; not at all surprised that Dex looked a bit thunder struck. She was glad they'd decided to give him a demonstration well before they left. That would give him time to get used to their abilities.
"Colonel Sheppard, gather the supplies your team will need."
Sheppard nodded, looking at his watch. There was about two and a half hours before they were going to leave, and that would be plenty of time – as well as enough time to get a bite to eat.
"Ronon?" Melony said, looking over at him. "I need to talk to you before we go, if you don't mind?"
He shook his head as the others started to file off the balcony, Kale and Char carrying their clothes. Instead of following, he waited, wondering if she was going to try and tell him to stay behind when they all went offworld.
"What's on your mind?" he asked when they were alone.
"The Light Ones."
"What about them?"
"There are a few things about them that you're not aware of yet that you need to be before we go offworld with them."
"Like what?"
She paused, trying to figure out how to bring it up.
"You know what a pheromone is?"
"Yeah."
"Well… these people have tons of them – and they exude them like we sweat."
"So?"
"So the pheromones in this case are ones that will tend to make the unwary or unaware more aggressive – among other things."
"Like?"
Bah.
Just tell him, Hot Shot, Talon said; amused that she was embarrassed about the subject.
"They'll have an effect on your sex drive if you're not paying attention…" she blurted.
He stared at her.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not only towards them, but towards the people around you."
"I'm not attracted to any of them."
Melony smiled.
"Probably because they only brought males…"
"The females do it, too?"
The females do it more, Talon said.
"The females are even more potent than the males," she repeated. She smiled, remembering the way Sheppard and McKay had acted while they were on the Light Ones' home world. "If you have any question about that, ask McKay or Sheppard."
Ronon nodded, watching her with an odd expression that plainly told her he was about to change the subject.
"He told me some interesting stories about you, Colonel Mitchell…"
"Sheppard?"
"No. McKay."
She groaned inwardly, fairly certain where this was about to go.
"Like what?"
"You have a creature living inside you – which is why your life force is so much more potent than those around you – except for the Jaffa."
Melony nodded.
"That much is true."
"When we first… met… you spoke with a much deeper voice…" This was more of a question than a comment.
"That wasn't me. It was Talon."
"The creature?"
"He's a symbiote. In exchange for sharing the use of my body, he takes care of healing me, and making sure I stay healthy."
"Which is why you recovered so quickly and I'm still aching…?"
"Yes."
"What does he want?"
"The same things that I do." She looked at her watch. While she would have been willing to tell him the story – and she was going to have to have a talk with Rodney I Can't Keep My Big Mouth Shut McKay – she had a few things to take care of and wanted a chance to talk with Carson. "He's an intelligent being that just happens to need a host, that's all."
"And because of him the Jaffa believe you to be their goddess?"
She frowned, wondering when Rodney had had so much time to gossip.
"No. It's a long story, Ronon," she said. "Come with me, and I'll try to tell you some of it while we go get you a backup weapon…"
He nodded, and the two of them headed for the door.
"It all started when I was leading a team called SG-2…" she said as the door closed behind them. And as they walked – slowly – she started to tell him the story. Some of it, anyways.