Disclaimer: Talonians and Hanks are mine, SGA, unfortunately not
Thanks much to Kormiic. This story would never exist without her.
Lochness
"Elizabeth, you have to be kidding! Why me?" cried McKay.
Elizabeth Weir had just told him that he would be taking the children of King Heron on a trip. "Because he wants you. His son is interested in Ancient technology and his daughter would like visiting a planet other than hers. She'll be his successor he wants her to be educated."
"Well, they want to go to another planet, so why not just Atlantis?" He didn't like children. They asked stupid questions and complained about anything.
"They were here already. I promised them a flight in the Jumper. You can land and have a picnic or something. Their nanny will be with them."
Rodney quirked an eyebrow, his interest momentarily piqued. "Nanny? How old is she?" This might not be so bad after all.
"She's sixty-five, Rodney," answered Elizabeth with small grin.
The eyebrow returned to its original, irritated position."Oh."
"Heron believes you are best-suited for this. You know Ancient technology and you can use it."
"Sheppard or another pilot can do it," he tried.
"Sheppard can fly with Jumper but you know its inner functions. And the boy, Jano, is very smart and he surely won't be interesting only in Jumper technology. You're always asking for more opportunities to fly."
"Yes. But not with two whiny children behind my back."
"My God, Rodney. It will only be one day. Do you remember the planet with the lakes? The planet was nearly covered by them." She looked to her computer.
Rodney nodded his head. "Minnesota."
"What?"
"M6X-551, " he recovered hastily. "No signs of civilisation." Minnesota was what Ford had named it. Before...
"Exactly. You'll take them there tomorrow morning, let them wander around, and in the evening you'll bring them back again."
"Ok." McKay finally conceded grumpily. He wasn't enthusiastic, but Elizabeth had a point. He did know the most about ancient technology in this galaxy. And they were royal family after all.
"Tell me more about them," he asked slightly more willingly.
"Thanks, Rodney." She smiled appreciatively and continued. "The Talonians are important allies. They have food, weapons, and highly advanced medicine. Now, the children are twins; the boy is Jano and the girl is Jena. They're both twelve."
"That'll be fun to remember," he commented with irritated sigh. She ignored him and continued.
"Their nanny is called Sorya, and I think you'll find her very... charming. I'd like to send one more person with you."
"What about Sheppard?" Rodney blurted out, but Weir only smiled.
"Nice try. But he goes to Earth today to report to General Landry. He won't be back until after tommorow. And Teyla with Ronan are busy on the mainland. As you know, we have several new members with us that arrived on the Daedulus. Corporal Hanks is one of them. You will have him under your command, and he will take orders from you. He is only your back up." Great, another kid to take care of.
Rodney sighed. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow at 0700. Try to get some sleep. I have a feeling it'll be a long day for you. And do remember, Rodney, they are royalty. Jena is ten minutes older than Jano, which makes her heir to the throne. Try to be polite," she said, an amused undertone in her voice.
"Yes, yes, Elizabeth. Thank you for the advice," he replied hurridly before turning to walk away. Elizabeth smiled to herself. A little lesson in diplomacy wouldn't do him much harm either. Let's hope he doesn't ruin this aliance with his charming personality.
xXxXxXx
McKay arrived in the Jumper Bay at approximately 0630 only to find two hyper children, an old woman and one very nervous corporal already standing beside Jumper.
"I see you couldn't wait," he commented dryly, and to his surprise, the old lady, Sorya, came over to him.
"You must be Doctor McKay, our pilot. Is this," she pointed at his beretta, "really necessary?"
"We are flying to another planet, madam and I believe it is very necessary." He took yet P-90 from the box. "It's good to be ready." He turned to young corporal. Oh god, he looks younger than Ford. The memory of the former member of his team sent a sudden chill through his body. He missed him and it hurt.
"Who're you?" he asked blandly, looking at the young man and for the first time noticing the scared expression on his face.
"Corporal David Hanks, sir." McKay only nodded before moving on to his next question.
"And how old are you?" The scared expression was quickly replaced with confusion.
"I am nineteen, sir."
"So young and in the SG program already?"
"I was the best in my class," answered the young corporal proudly.
"You came here directly from school? Have you ever been on another planet before? Excepting Atlantis, of course."
"No sir. Dr.Weir thought this would be a good excercise for me."
"Fine, " McKay huffed. "But don't expect any excitement. This will be a very long day with two kids and their nanny." He looked them over and was caught off guard when Hanks smiled. The corporal had heard legends about McKay. Cynical, egoistic and arrogant but the best at what he did, and a good person underneath his sarcastic front. It would be an honor for him to go on his first off world mission with this man.
McKay spoke again,bringing him out of his dream-like trance. "So listen to me, everyone. You will do exactly what I tell you to do. We are going to another planet and it is always dangerous. This place may be deserted but you can be never careful enough. Now get to the ship." He began his way to the Jumper ramp, but Sorya stopped him.
"You are scaring children. You didn't have to say that."
"I'm only doing my job. Playing chauffer to a bunch of campers wasn't exactly in my job description, but at the moment it's what the leader of this expedition wants me to do, so it's exactly the thing I will do. And I expect you to do the same when I tell you to do something. So take it or leave it." She eyes narrowed at the condecension in his voice, but she said nothing.
"And now if you will do a little favor for me and board the Jumper." He motioned toward the ramp and she entered, head held high. He rolled his eyes and silently followed.
"Control room, this is Jumper One. We are ready to go," Rodney announced to his radio.
"You have green light. Be careful. And do try to be nice," answered Elizabeth's voice.
"I'm always nice." He heard her laugh.
"Yes, of course you are, Rodney. You can go."
"See you in the evening. Jumper One, out." He began dial the Gate and smiled to himself. He liked the feeling of ancient technology powering up under his touch.
He gently guided the Jumper through wormhole. It was a picturesque planet that reminded him strongly of Finland, where he had spent a summer as a teenager. But on this planet, there were hundreds if not thousands of such lakes. The stargate stood before one of the largest of these lakes. The scientists that had explored the planet earlier believed that there was life in them but they had yet to discover anything larger than plankton and bacterium.
Almost immediatly after emerging through the event horizon, Rodney circled slowly, before making to land the Jumper
"Why are you landing?" questioned the boy in dissapointment.
"We have specifically chosen this location because it's close to the Gate. It's less dangerous."
"But you said it's safe here," Jano replied.
"Yes, well we certainly hope it is, now don't we? It's just a precaution."
"But I want to see the whole planet." This came from Jena.
"Well, you won't." And that's the end of that.
"I am ordering to you," she yelled. That's enough!
"I don't know who gave you information, young lady, but I am in command here. And I say we're landing." She a small unidentifiable sound escaped from her lips before she began to speak again.
"But I am the Princess of Talonia and successor to the throne!"
"Maybe on your planet you are, but right here you only a little girl who should listen to the adult." Turning around, he saw that she wasn't far from tears. And suddenly he was sorry. She was only a little girl. But before he could say anything, Sorya spoke.
"Listen to Doctor McKay, Jena. He knows what is he doing. You can go walk when we land."
"I don't think that's…" He stopped talking when he looked at Sorya. She had made a compromise and knew what she was doing.
"Ok. But Hanks will go with you." Nobody said anything more so he took it as agreement.
The planet was absolutely beautiful. He wasn't the romantic type but there was something about this place. He breathed deeply as he watched children and began to prepare their picnic. Hanks stood near them and watched the surroundings, hand resting lightly on the butt of his weapon.
Rodney motioned for the nanny to come toward him. "Sorya, I think it would be the best if children don't go in the water. We don't know much about these lakes so it's possible there may be some wild fish or other unknown creature lurking beneath the surface." She nodded and went to tell the children.
When he went back to Jumper to cloak it, Jano joined him. "How does it work?" The boy looked at him with genuine interest.
"How does work what?" McKay asked impatiently.
"The Jumper. How does it work? And how does work this?" He pointed at the P-90 in his hands. Why not? He looks smart.
So he began to explain to the boy everything he knew. It was more amusing than he could have imagined. Jano was hanging onto every word, eyes wide with wonder, and McKay liked it.
Later that afternoon he sat with Sorya on the blanket, both watching the children play near the water.
"I'm sorry," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"What for?" asked the nanny, har gave never wavering from the children.
"For everything. I can be very contrary when I want to. And I want to most of the time."
To his surprise she smiled. "Jena is doing the same. Her father is expecting so much from her. But she isn't the type comfortable with leading so many people. Jano is better, but then he isn't under such pressure. You are doing the same. So many people depend at you and you don't want to let them come too close. It is typical for many such leaders." Well, it was interesting. And, as much as he hated to admit it, she spoke the truth.
He wanted to answer her, but he never got his chance. From the shore of the lake came a sharp cry of pain. McKay's tightened his grip on his weapon as he ran toward the children, Hanks converging from the other side. When they arrived, they saw several awful tentacles erupt from the lake. At the source of cry was Jena. One of the tentacle had twined around her ankle and pulled her directly into lake.
Hanks pointed his gun but McKay stopped him. "Don't shoot! You could hurt her!" They quickly waded into the shallows of the lake. Jano stood several meters from the shore, unable to move. Rodney pulled out his knife and hesitated, not sure exactly what he should he do. Noticing that Hanks beside him was preparing to do the same he raised his arm to stab the tentacle. But in that moment two more appeared and began to thrash them. Now he didn't hesitate. He picked up his P-90 and began fire at the same time as Hanks.
In that moment Sorya leapt to Jena and caught her wrists. Desperately, the girl began to climb from the water. Whatever the creature was, it was suprised by the sudden attack and let the girl go. But only for the moment. It began pull Jena deeper into the lake, and she fought for her life. Decisively, Sorya took the knife with which she had been prepared the picnic and ran into water, stabbing the tentacle which pulled the little princess. A horrible wail came out from the lake and the tentacles began to retreat beneath the surface.
McKay and Hanks stopped shooting and watched them disappear as Jena ran toward them. McKay barely had a chance to catch the running girl before he heard the sound again. And suddenly Sorya, still standing ankle-deep in the water, cried out and disappeared. Then there was only a horrible silence broken by Jena's muffled sobs. Her brother stood in the same place the whole time, numb with shock. McKay repressed a shudder and nodded to corporal.
Not trusting his voice to remain steady, he only whispered. "Hanks, take Jano from there." The shaken corporal nodded and walked toward the boy, his gun trained toward the lake all the while. He gently led him away and then returned to stand beside the shell-shocked physicist. doctor. McKay held a sobbing Jena and stared out vacantly at the lake, still not able to believe what he had just witnessed.