Angela! Yes! Party!
Notes: Don't think about it, ok? Thanks :)
Chapter the Fourth: You can't always get what you want.
Teyla stood between Rodney and Ronon, watching as the latter open the box that had been placed before him. He had only to touch it for the lid to lift and a holographic image to appear. It showed a large animal, four long horns sitting atop its head. It ran on five legs as thick as cider barrels, the lonely front one looking more decorative than practical, and its width seemed equal to twice Elizabeth's desk.
The cling-cling of metal tubes colliding drew Teyla's attention back from the image. Akhos' voice boomed over the sound.
"The Prime-Tasking of the First Dyad will face a herd of Trucks."
"Did he say Trucks? Those things are called Trucks? No, no, no. I don't want to be on Ronon's team! Can I change team? Hey! Hello! Can I change team?"
Sheppard quickly restrained Rodney, getting him under control with a cutting jibe. Teyla returned her attention to Akhos.
"You! Prime-Tasking of the Last Dyad! Open your Seeker's box!"
"Is that me?" Sheppard asked Akhos the Thirty-seventh, which was not as fruitful as one would imagine. Receiving a glazed gaze in response, Sheppard turned to Teyla. "That's me, right?"
"I believe so." Teyla nodded, as indulgent as always when faced with John Sheppard's incomprehension in the face of other world's customs. She had understood, from Akhos' earlier instruction to his son, that women were not highly praised. If Ronon and Rodney were paired as the First Dyad, then she and John were the Last Dyad, and she was certainly not the Prime-Tasking, for she was neither man nor impressive in stature. Another clue had come from the crowd, the men occupying the frontal seats while the women were left to stand at the back, the very far and high back. She gave a thought to the impressiveness of John Sheppard's stature as opposed to Rodney McKay's, but went no further. She had visited those thoughts already and had moved past them as she grew to see these men as brothers.
"Here goes nothing." Sheppard bent forward and laid a hand on the box, just as Ronon had done. The lid lifted and a hologram appeared. This one depicted large concentric circles, one inside the other, all sporting a door upon which rested Ancient symbols. It seemed to be a puzzling challenge and Teyla breathed easier. The colonel was good with riddles, when they did not pertain to human beings, always figured them out in the end.
Akhos allowed the crowd to show their appreciation before speaking once more. "The Prime-Taskings have been granted their Tasks; let us see what the Sub-Taskings will bring upon them! You! Sub-Tasking of the First –"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Open the Seeker's box," Rodney interrupted loudly as he bent forward, reaching out for his box. Unsurprisingly, the lid lifted and a hologram appeared. Contraptions, devices, and boxes were pilled high in a stony room, none of which Teyla recognised, though she had no doubt Rodney would succeed in his Task, whatever it might be. It was apparent in his satisfied demeanour that he had every confidence in his abilities.
The crowd approved of the Task, and Akhos declared, "The Sub-Tasking of the First Dyad will find the Core of Stone and allow it to operate once more."
Rodney huffed a little laugh. "Not so bad, give me five minutes with those."
Now came Teyla's turn. She allowed Akhos to say his piece before placing her hand on the box. Her hologram depicted a raging river over which hung a taut rope.
"The Sub-Tasking of the Last Dyad will cross the waters of the Floritan, without a drop of its purest liquid being wasted on her. She will take the vial, as offered by the Masterich, and return with an offering. Akhos the Thirty-seventh will now bring the Wheel of Tasks to its resting place." Akhos the Taskmaster waited for his son to un-slouch. Waited, and waited, and waited. "AKHOS the Thirty-seventh will NOW bring the Wheel of Tasks to its RESTING PLACE!" He waited, his face growing redder with every passing second.
Teyla watched, amused, as Akhos the Thirty-seventh continued to examine the Masterich's daughter, eyes hidden under his wispy brown hair. She grew further amused, as did Sheppard who chuckled softly, seeing Akhos the Taskmaster grow redder under the Masterich's glare.
"AKHOS THE THIRTY-SEVENTH!"
The young man called jumped, startled, and drew his gaze away from the maiden to rest it on his father.
"You will now bring the Wheel of Tasks to its resting place."
The young man nodded and set to his work
"Once Akhos the Thirty-seventh has returned, "Akhos the Taskmaster said, glaring in the directing of his son, "he will accompany you to the edge of the Tasked Woods and set you on your way. For now, please, stand below the Masterich and allow the crowd to bless you with their offerings."
They did as was asked. Sheppard led the way, his casual swagger sending the women in a fit of giggles and whispers. Rodney followed with much less grace. Teyla observed the people in the alcove and Ronon closed the march. One they were standing below the alcove, the metal tubes where dropped to the ground in a loud clatter and colourful objects appeared in the hands of the men. The women continued to eye Sheppard and Ronon as one would a particularly appetising meal.
Teyla soon discovered that the colourful objects were a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as one landed squarely on Rodney's chest.
"Hey! What's your problem?" Rodney moved to stand behind Ronon, who moved a step to the right in time to allow a juicy purple projectile to hit Rodney in the stomach.
Very soon, they were all covered in different food.
"This is the weirdest place we've ever been."
Teyla had to agree with John's evaluation. "Yes. I have never heard of such a wasteful practice."
Ronon was licking his fingers as Rodney tried to avoid a fleshy orange fruit. "Orange! Orange! Help!"
Ronon, in his beastly manner, picked up a bit of the fruit from McKay's vest and brought it to his mouth. This gave Rodney pause. "Eew! What's your problem!"
"Not orange. You're safe," he said, nodding. When Rodney turned away in a huff, Ronon smiled wickedly.
John returned his attention to Akhos when he rose and spoke. "I, Akhos the Taskmaster, declare these Taskings ready! Akhos the Thirty-seventh will now lead them to the Tasking Woods."
"They're not really creative with the names, are they?" John asked Teyla, who smiled in response.
Akhos the Thirty-seventh beckoned to them and they followed.
As they left the arena, Akhos' voice could be heard. "Place your bets! You have only a short time! Come one come all and place your bets! Who will be victorious? Who will suffer a tragic death? Who will complete their Tasks! How many reminders will they require?"
"Tragic death!" Rodney said, turning wide eyes to his Prime-Tasking.
"We won't die," Ronon said in a conspiring tone.
Rodney nodded. Akhos the Thirty-seventh led them to the edge of the woods and turned to them. He handed the Prime-Taskings, and ignored the way Rodney quickly snatched it from Ronon's hand, a small slab of stone or what resembled stone, and explained what they were expected to do in a bored voice. "These are the Tasking Woods, etched on stone. You will follow and find you path. The first task encountered will be the Sub-Tasking's duty, for there lies the greatest chance of failure and the Prime-Tasking should be given a chance to do his duty without burden. Once you have accomplished your Task, the way will be shown to you. Trust the stone; it is your greatest ally."
He turned to leave, but seemed to recall a detail. "Prime-Taskings are forbidden to harm the Sub-Taskings. Protect them if you can, for there will be great reward for Dyads who return complete. Now, go forth and conquer." He turned and walked away. He froze, turned around and walked back to them, fishing for something in his pocket. He retrieved a small vial and handed it to Teyla, a weird look upon his face. "You will fill this with the water flowing through the centre of the Floritan and offer it to the Masterich." Akhos the Thirty-seventh took a step forward, bringing him in Teyla's personal space. "You can return it to me; I will see it gets to the Masterich."
Teyla took the vial as well as a step away from the young man who was dubiously flirting with her. He smiled once more before finally departing. They waited for him to turn around, but he didn't, disappearing into the stone arena that stood a few hundred metres away.
"Ok, that, that was so not good."
"You figured that out just now, McKay? Did the locking us in a black rocky hole not do it for you?"
"Can I switch teams," Rodney answered, giving Ronon a wary look. "I don't think he fully comprehends how important I am."
"You'll be fine. Ronon won't hurt you." Sheppard gave Ronon a telling look. "Stop making him freak out. I know it's fun, but he won't be any use to you if he's scared out of his mind that you'll cut his throat, alright?"
"Right, that's right, listen to your leader. No throat cutting. In fact, no harming whatsoever of the scientist. The scientist is precious, you want the scientist to live."
"Scientist. Live." Ronon grunted for effect. He frowned at Rodney.
Rodney took a step back.
Sheppard gave what he thought was a stern look and growled, "Ronon."
Teyla shook her head and sighed. Men.