Author's Note: Thank you so much for all your reviews. Just be patient with Evie; I assure you she is well-rounded. And to you impatient ones: things are gonna get really good in the next chapter. I promise.
"Just a day job someone's got to do. It's kinda hard when everyone looks up to you. I try to make it look easy. Gonna make it look good. Like anybody would. I'm just your average, ordinary, everyday superhero. Trying to save the world, but never really sure. I'm just your average, ordinary, everyday superhero, nothing more than that. That's all I really am." - Steve Harwell, "Everyday Superhero"
Evie began her morning by reading through the notes she had printed out the previous day, before heading to breakfast. After getting a waffle and smothering it with maple syrup, she searched the mess hall for her best friend Summer. She saw her comrade sitting at a table by herself, reading a sci-fi novel.
Captain Summer Akerly sported wavy brown hair that fell a few inches past her shoulders. Her dark brown eyes twinkled every time she smiled, which was often, as she tended to see the good side of everything. Summer had infectious laughter and always managed to cheer up those who weren't in a good mood. She stood a few inches taller than Evie, but then almost everyone did.
Summer and Evie had been best friends since college. After they'd graduated, they'd both decided to enlist in the Air Force, realizing that civilian life wasn't all it was cracked up to be. They had been lucky enough to be assigned under the same commanding officer during their seven years in the service. When Dr. Weir had approached them about the Atlantis mission, both women had emphatically jumped upon the opportunity.
"Good morning, Tigger," Evie greeted her friend, sitting down in the chair opposite Summer.
"Good morning, yourself," Summer said, placing a bookmark in the pages of the story and smiling at her companion.
"So, are you ready to go to Libios?" Evie asked, stabbing a piece of saturated waffle and savoring the sugary taste.
"Michael didn't tell you?" Summer asked, surprised.
"Tell me what?" Evie asked, ravenously devouring another bite.
"That mission got postponed," Summer replied.
"What? Why?" Evie's waffle was momentarily forgotten.
"Dr. Weir wants us to go with Colonel Sheppard's team to M6X-412," Summer explained, her thumb idly rifling the pages of her book. "The DV that the MALP brought back indicated that the inhabitants could be hostile, so she wants to send two teams."
"You mean I read all of Stan's notes from their last visit to Libios for no reason at all!" Evie asked, irritated. She had a bad habit of letting little things like that get under her skin.
Summer laughed. "Poor baby. Dr. Weir says we'll go there sometime next week since it's not as high priority."
Evie sighed. "Fine. At least she isn't pairing us with Mason's team. I cannot stand that guy.
Summer nodded, equally grateful. "Well," she said, standing to leave, "I'll see you in the Control Room at 0930. Enjoy your waffle."
Evie nodded and returned her attention to her breakfast.
XXXXXX
When 0930 rolled around, it found the teams of Colonel Sheppard and Major Johnson gearing up for their mission. Major Joshua Johnson was a small, yet strong, African-American Marine. He had been in the Corps for ten years and had known Dr. Weir for twenty; she had personally selected him for the Atlantis mission. His head was shaved, and the lack of hair seemed to set off his chocolate eyes.
Securing his weapon by his side, Ronon waited silently for the others to finish getting ready. Looking up at Sheppard, he couldn't help but notice how the Colonel was apparently fascinated with watching Evie strap on her 9 mm. Ronon snorted. "See something you like, Sheppard?"
"Sorry?" Sheppard quickly yanked his attention away from staring at Evie.
"You should just tell her."
"Tell who what?" Sheppard asked, trying his best to play innocent.
"Brooks," Ronon replied, not falling for the act. "You like her."
"As a friend, yes," Sheppard responded a little too quickly. Ronon raised an eyebrow and smirked. Sheppard glanced over at Evie to make sure she wasn't looking their way, then he took a step closer to Ronon and whispered, "Is it really that obvious?" Ronon nodded; Sheppard sighed. "You know how people say that when you find something good, you should stick with it?" Ronon stared at him blankly. "Oh. Well they do. And I don't want to ruin the friendship."
Ronon shrugged and opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by Johnson asking, "Where is Michael?" Dr. Michael Murphy, the only member of Johnson's team not present, was a great addition to the Atlantis mission but had a slight problem with punctuality.
"Here!" called the young anthropologist, practically running into the Control Room. His pack was filled near to bursting and there were several notebooks poking out of the pockets. He had dark green eyes that peered out from behind a small set of rimless glasses. A few strands of his thick, black hair were constantly falling in front of his face, no matter how many times he swept them away. He was just a few pounds overweight, but Summer, who had been engaged to him for five months, claimed this just made him "a bigger teddy bear."
The planet was dialed and the pair of teams stepped cautiously through the Stargate. The Gate was in the middle of a clearing that was surrounded on three sides by tall forest. To the North, the explorers could see a settlement about a mile away. Keeping a hand on their weapons, they began walking.
They had nearly reached the city when a sudden voice startled them. "Halt!" The two teams looked up to see several men in uniforms aiming sophisticated-looking weapons at them. Their own guns were immediately trained on the men.
"Easy," Sheppard said, holding up a hand. "We come in peace."
"Did you come through the portal?" asked a tall, red haired man.
"Yes. We're…explorers," Sheppard explained.
"We shall see," the man, apparently the leader of the group, shot back. "Lower your weapons." Realizing that they were outnumbered two to one, the two teams slowly eased their weapons toward the ground. The red haired man grunted a few commands to his men, and the soldiers were soon escorting the explorers through the streets of the city. The armed militia led them to a large building with impressive architectural design. The carrot-topped leader spoke to one of the armed guards standing by the entrance and then ushered the Atlanteans inside.
"Wait here," he ordered, then disappeared down a corridor. There was the faint sound of a door opening and closing. The group waited impatiently for about five minutes, then they heard the door opening again. Red returned, this time joined by another man. The new gentleman was very short; his head, covered in ebony curls, would not have even come up to Teyla's shoulder. He had beady blue eyes that were overwhelmed by his enormous, bushy eyebrows and the little black mustache above his lip immediately made the American team members think of Charlie Chaplin. "I present to you Lord Stefan," Red said, gesturing with his hand to the round little man.
"Welcome to Emaria!" Stefan greeted with a broad smile. He clasped Sheppard's hand. "I am Stefan Emeniei, ruler of this humble city. This is Jakof Marong," he gestured to Carrot-Top, "Captain of the Emarian Militia."
"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard," the pilot replied, shaking the man's hand. He quickly introduced the other seven.
"It has been so long since we have had visitors," Stefan said. "From where have you come?"
"A, uh, galaxy far, far away," Sheppard answered with an easy grin.
"And what brings you to Emaria?" Stefan asked.
"We're explorers," Sheppard stated simply. "And always looking to trade."
"You are looking to form an alliance with us?"
"Yes, sir," Sheppard nodded.
"Wonderful." Stefan truly seemed overjoyed. "But let us talk negotiations later. Would you like to see the city?"
"That'd be great." Sheppard nodded.
"Come," Stefan said, taking the Colonel by the elbow and leading him toward the entrance of the grand building. "I will show you myself."
The city of Emaria wasn't very large, only covering about two and a half square miles. Stefan showed his guests the highlights of the metropolis. The team ascertained that the Emarians were fairly technologically advanced, although not as far as Earth, and nowhere near as much as the Ancients. They seemed to be a very civilized people, and for the most part, peaceful. The DV that had been taken by the MALP had shown the soldiers having target practice near the Stargate, and after what had happened with the Genii and the Sudarians, Dr. Weir didn't want to take any chances. So two teams had been sent. Now, however, the Atlanteans decided that there was nothing to fear.
While Stefan Emeniei was addressed as "Lord", he didn't rule over his people like a king or a tyrant. He functioned more as a magistrate, and it was obvious that the Emarians loved him. The Emarian society was mainly agricultural, and there were many different crops that were grown, as well as an assortment of odd-looking livestock; Summer had been fascinated by the three-eyed "cow" creature. Atlantis would definitely benefit by becoming a friend to and trade partner of the Emarians.
As Stefan led his guests down one of the streets of Emaria, a young woman walked by, leading an animal that was nearly a carbon copy of an Earth donkey. When Sheppard saw Rodney staring at the creature, he couldn't resist teasing his comrade. "What are you doing, Rodney? Checking out her ass?" he asked with a grin, gesturing to the mule look-alike. Rodney gave him a look.
Before returning to his office to do "lordly" things, Stefan extended an invitation for the teams to dine with him that evening. The teams accepted, saying that they would first radio their base and report back. "Excellent," Stefan said, shaking the hands of Johnson and Sheppard once more. "In the meantime, I'm sure the inhabitants can show you around further, if you wish."
"Thank you, sir," Johnson said, and with that, the team began exploring the city in more detail. Michael was, of course, examining everything, talking to the inhabitants, and scribbling notes in his journal as fast as his hand could write. Summer and Evie, seeing a group of small children playing on the street, decided it would be fun to teach them hopscotch. While the others wandered off in various directions, Sheppard and Johnson talked with Jakof, learning more about the Emarian militia and the fascinating weapons they had.
At 0200, the appointed time to report back, Johnson went back to the gate, taking Ronon with him. After hearing the good news, Elizabeth stated that she would arrive at 0600(with an escort, of course) to join Lord Stefan for dinner and to negotiate an alliance and trade agreements. She was the diplomatic one after all.
Shortly after Johnson and Ronon left, Sheppard bid Jakof and the militia men adieu until later that evening. He walked over to where the children were playing and watched in amusement as Evie demonstrated the game to the little ones. Summer was playing dolls with two of the smallest girls.
Evie picked up the stone and began hopping back to the beginning. "Oh, snap!" she muttered as she landed back at the start.
"Something wrong, Lieutenant?" Sheppard asked.
"My belt just broke," she answered in frustration, grabbing the waistband of her pants to keep them from slipping. "Can I borrow yours?"
He laughed and answered with a smile, "It would go around you twice."
She sighed. "Do you want my pants to fall down?"
He paused, formulating his response in his head first. With a boyish grin he asked, "Is this one of those questions where I lie so you don't slap me?"
With a coy smile, Evie replied, "If you didn't outrank me, I just might. Sir."