Woohoo! I'm back to update, and I've got some serious plans here ladies and gents! I hope we'll enjoy the sweet chaos that will follow!
"I want you here tonight
I want you here
'Cause I can't believe what I found
I want you here tonight
I want you here
Nothing is taking me down"
-Damien Rice, I Remember
"In less than one week, the Avarian party will be arriving. How are preparations going?"
The meeting was going well. Everyone of importance was there, including all of Sheppard's team, as well as Dr. Beckett and Dr. McKay, as well as Colonel Caldwell. Elizabeth ran the meeting with the smooth aplomb she'd spent years perfecting. Teyla was the only one who noticed that though Elizabeth paced, she didn't go near Ronon's chair.
Teyla ignored that fact and responded to the question. "All the guest quarters have been prepared, and the food is even now being hunted and gathered."
Elizabeth nodded and turned her attention to Caldwell and Sheppard. "What about security?" Something about this question had Rodney chomping at the bit, but like a good little boy he waited his turn...though he did jitter in his seat excitedly.
Sheppard, sitting next to Rodney, resisted the urge to smack the nerdy doctor, and spoke up. "When Lorne's team returns from their current mission, they'll take over Gate security, and the rest of the teams will provide entertainment security."
Beckett posed the question on his mind. "Why do we need so much security?"
Elizabeth explained. "They are on their way to maybe becoming our allies, but we're no fools. They will not be given free reign over Atlantis. We'll keep them to a certain area of the city for least risk."
"Excuse me?" Rodney asked quietly, tired of being ignored, so they ignore him some more.
"The Daedalus will orbit the planet, ready for anything needed," Caldwell offered with a small smile. Ronon didn't like that smile. It was an appreciative smile, totally inappropriate for such a meeting. He felt the urge to hit the older man, but did not. Who said he didn't have self control?
Elizabeth nodded, and ignored the smile on Caldwell's part, the glower on Ronon's, and the googly eyes between Sheppard and Teyla. Personal relationships had no place in this room, her office. Not that she had a personal relationship with Caldwell or Ronon. In fact, neither of them had cause to be sparking at each other the way they were. Damn men.
"Excuse me?" Rodney asked louder, and Elizabeth had no reason to ignore him anymore. Sometimes Rodney was irritating, sometimes amusing. Guess what time this one was...
"Yes, Rodney?" She asked with a sigh, seating herself behind her desk and watching as the Doctor stood and placed small packets of papers in front of everyone in the room.
"I have some concerns about that wine they had everyone drinking. I don't think it should be allowed into Atlantis."
Sheppard was surprised. "Why? It was good."
"Yes, a little too good," Rodney said exasperated with a slight teacher disdain in it. Rodney talked to almost everyone like they were children to his teacher. If he'd ever been a teacher, God help the children he'd taught. "In large doses, Lechto Niote causes uncontrollable behavior, increased fertility, and blackouts."
Ronon grinned. "Like...alcohol usually does?"
Rodney glared. "Yes, but to greater extremes. I've been testing it, and if introduced into Atlantis, I doubt any security measures would be able to keep the Avarians anywhere. It's also highly addictive."
Elizabeth sighed. This explained those late night cravings she'd been having. Except, it wasn't wine she was craving. It was hot warrior flesh between her...wait. Where was she? "Rodney, that drink is a tradition for them. We can't refuse to allow them to bring it here."
"But-..."
Elizabeth put up a hand. "However...we can not drink it. Maybe we have a traditional drink ourselves? When they start to hand out the bottles, like they did on their own planet, security will take them, and we'll hand out our own drinks, explain that it's a tradition of our own. That should alleviate any problems to be caused."
Dr. Beckett smiled. "We have another problem. I'm out of contraceptives."
Elizabeth gaped, as did everyone else in the room. "Excuse me?"
Carson grinned sheepishly. "Completely. None."
"How is that possible?" Caldwell asked.
"As it is, 100 of the females in the City have come and gotten some. We were never prepared for that."
Suddenly, both Teyla and Elizabeth couldn't find anywhere to look. It was a wonder they didn't start whistling and edging out of the room. Rodney helped them though, and for once Elizabeth was happy he had a big mouth.
"I can explain that. Some of the members that went to Avaria brought back bottles of Lechto Niote, and it's begun to make the rounds in Atlantis. That's why there must not be anymore allowed into the general populace! We'd become slaves to the Avarians!"
Elizabeth ignored Rodney's screech and turned to Caldwell. "If you have any...contraceptives...you can spare, we'd appreciate it."
Caldwell, blushing, nodded. "Sure."
Elizabeth, not a little peachy herself, nodded. "Meeting dismissed."
Elizabeth remained seated whilst everyone filed out. Sheppard stayed behind to discuss something with her, and she had an idea as to what it'd be. "About security..."
Elizabeth put her hand up to quiet him. "Your team will be casually clothed and moving in the crowd."
"How many Avarians are coming?"
"Exactly thirty. Teyla's people are going to be there as well, and some of the personnel will be given time off to enjoy the party as well. During the day, we'll negotiate, at night, we'll party."
Sheppard grinned. "Sounds fun."
Elizabeth watched as he too left, and looked at her empty office. "It always does until someone loses an eye."
"Hey, Teyla!" Ronon called after his friend, who'd almost ran as soon as they'd exited the Control Room. This was the first time in a week she'd been without Elizabeth, and he without Sheppard, and he had an important question to ask.
"Yes, Ronon?" She replied with a smile, serene and calm despite having hurried along the hallway at a brisk pace for ten minutes.
"Do you know what this is?" Ronon asked, pulling the garment he'd found on his floor out of his pocket, where he'd taken to carrying it. Yes, icky, but damn...it comforted him.
Teyla regarded the stringed clothe with vague confusion. She didn't touch it, but she did study it from various angles. "It appears to be a hair tie. You just purchased it?"
Ronon grinned. "You could say that. Thanks anyway."
Teyla watched as Ronon trotted off with a grin she'd never seen before on his face. As soon as possible, she'd go talk to Elizabeth. Something told her that Ronon knew something he hadn't before, and Elizabeth wasn't going to be happy.
