AMONG THE STARS - by NotTasha
PART 3: IRONSPOT
"Drop your weapons!" the larger of the two men ordered as he came into view.
"Hold it!" Sheppard shouted almost at the same time, aware that Ronon would have mowed the two down in an instant if he hadn't been commanded otherwise. Behind him, the Satedan growled unhappily and McKay made a sound that was rather like an "eeep!" Teyla remained silent.
"Put 'em down!" the big man ordered again – he was built rather like Ronon, a little bit shorter, and a little bit broader. He had fine, stringy black hair tied in ponytail, and a rough beard. The other man was skinny and short, all sharp angles, with red curly hair that fuzzed like a halo around his head.
The big one scowled and repeated, "Drop 'em."
"You do the same, and we'll think about it," Sheppard returned, holding his weapon on the bigger of the pair. John didn't have to look at the others – he knew they held the same pose, that they had equally divided the targets.
"This is our vessel," the smaller man said in a reedy voice. "This is our place and we're not letting you in without a fight!"
"You're not taking what's ours," said the big one.
The two men hadn't fired, and really didn't seem to be planning on doing so. Sheppard regarded them. No, they were just protecting their home, the same as he'd do if someone dropped into Atlantis unexpected. Sheppard realized that they were the invaders in this situation.
John lowed his aim, saying, "We're just travelers. We saw the station and wanted to check it out. We didn't think anyone was here." He resisted the urge to throw McKay a disgusted look. No, his attention stayed on the larger man. The muzzle of the P90, although lowered, could quickly be raised again.
"We just want to download some files," McKay said helpfully from behind him. "And to check out your power source because, if it's a ZPM, we could be put to use elsewhere, that's for sure. Because, honestly, we need a back up ready and available, and I'm kind of thinking that the one you have is almost empty anyway, so maybe…"
Ronon hissed out a "McKay!" to warn the scientist to silence. McKay, dutifully, quieted.
The two men looked confused.
"We mean you no harm and our mission is peaceful," Teyla said sweetly, lowering her weapon as well, "We would like to trade."
"Trade?" the smaller one said, trying to gaze around the four to see into the jumper. "What d'ya got?"
"We have little of trading value with us at this time," Teyla continued in her calm and understanding voice. "But we would be willing to return with what is agreed to as an acceptable exchange."
"You have food?" the redhead asked.
"Some," Sheppard responded. "Not a whole lot. We can get more if that's what you're after."
Still, the smaller man didn't react to that news. He seemed intent on looking into the jumper. Sheppard shifted uncomfortably, as if to obscure his view.
"It's of the Ancestors, isn't it?" the redhead asked. "Made by 'em, wasn't it?"
"The jumper?" McKay returned, jerking his head back toward the rest of the ship. "Oh yeah, the Ancients knew what they're doing. I know it looks like a flying Winnebago, but it's fast as anything. I've been through every inch of this ship and…"
"McKay!" Sheppard stopped him.
"Yes, yes, shutting up."
Ronon's aim never wavered from the bigger of the two men. He locked his gaze on the other, and they regarded each other across the narrow space.
Beside him, Teyla kept her weapon pointed at the smaller man, while McKay haphazardly did the same.
"You know about Ancient technology?" the smaller man asked, his gun falling to his side.
"Rix!" the other man called sharply.
"Listen, Zeno," he said, nodding toward McKay. "Maybe he could fix the Ironspot. If all they're looking for is the database, they can have it, right?" He paused, watching Zeno as Zeno kept his gaze on Ronon. "That'd be worth it."
"And the ZPM!" McKay added. A growl came from Ronon, but Rodney went on, muttering, "We'd at least like to look at the power source for this station." He glanced to Sheppard, unable to catch his eye. "It would be a good thing to know about, wouldn't it?"
"We should let them look," Rix placated Zeno. "If they can fix the ship, we could get out of here."
This news seemed to sit well with Zeno. "How long would it take?"
With a disgusted huff, McKay explained. "I have no idea. I'll have to look at this ship before I can give an ETA."
Zeno crinkled his brow at the unknown acronym, as Rix said quietly, "We could leave this place if he fixes it. We could… go."
Zeno blinked at that, and then said gruffly to the others, "We're in charge. You do as we say."
"As long as you let us get at the database and the power source…" McKay haggled.
"How 'bout we call it a 'partnership'?" Sheppard countered. "You have something we want, and apparently we have something you want." And he nodded toward McKay. "We work out a bargain."
Rix seemed excited about this prospect, but Zeno regarded them with a narrowed gaze. "You don't go anywhere in the station without one of us," Zeno told them. "You play by our rules while you're here."
Sheppard flashed them a 'trust me' smile, and said, "No problem."
Rix and Zeno stepped back, letting Sheppard and Teyla through, followed by McKay, who tripped on the entrance to the station, barely catching his balance before stumbling forward. He looked toward Ronon as if expecting a helping hand. None was forthcoming.
Ronon was the last to leave the jumper, keeping careful watch on the two men.
They were in a hallway, curved to match the disc shaped section of the station. The passage was wide enough that two could walk abreast, but the group moved in single file. Rix led the way, with Sheppard just behind him, then Teyla followed by Rodney. Ronon would have preferred to take the last position in the group, but Zeno had other ideas, so the Satedan kept close his team. Zeno hung back, then took up the rear, caging them in.
"I'm Rix, by the way, Rix Mills. The big guy is just 'Zeno'."
"Kind of like, Cher?" McKay asked, getting only puzzled looks from everyone except Sheppard.
"I'm Colonel John Sheppard. That's Teyla Emmagan, Dr. Rodney McKay and Ronon," Sheppard quickly introduced.
"Ronon Dex," the Satedan clarified, as if he wanted to ensure that Zeno knew he had more than one name.
"Excellent!" Rix responded. "Just glad to have some new faces around here. Come on, I'll show you our ship," Mills stated, as he moved down the hallway. "Then you can see the rest of this place. I can't tell you how glad I am to see you." He glanced over his shoulder and gave Sheppard a grin.
"I bet."
"We've been stuck here forever. Didn't have much of a chance of getting that thing flying on our own, and could only hope that someone would come by. How'd you get here?"
"I was about to ask the same thing," Sheppard returned.
"Escaping from the Wraith," Zeno responded from behind.
"Yeah," Rix quickly added, "We were evacuating this little crappy planet. I mean, who'd expect the Wraith to show up on that dirt puck, but here they came. People were grabbing up whatever transportation they could get. Me and Zeno ended up with the Ironspot, but it was too late." They moved through the hallway as Rix spoke, his voice animated. He ran one hand along the wall as he moved, following the curved space.
"Probably was for the best actually, 'cause the Wraith took out everyone still headed toward the Circle of the Ancestors. We got out after the Wraith left."
"How'd you manage that," Ronon asked, his voice low.
Rix smiled. "The Ironspot has a couple of good things going for it. It can hide."
"Cloaking device?" McKay asked hopefully.
Mills nodded. "Wraith were sitting right on top of us and they never knew it. They can't see through it, you know. Well, when they finally left, we left there and went to one place where we knew the Wraith wouldn't find us."
"This station?" McKay asked. "Because they wouldn't be able to see your lifesigns." He snapped his fingers. "Makes perfect sense."
"Would've been great if the ship didn't, you know, breakdown," Rix went on. "We barely made it here and the thing just tubbered out."
"Tubbered out?" McKay tried.
"It means that the craft would no longer function," Teyla translated.
"Oh," McKay responded. "Well, that was obvious."
"Left us stuck," Zeno grumbled.
"Well," Rix responded, sounding rather blasé about the matter. "Better in a box than under a tree."
The Athosian and Satedan nodded to the wisdom of these words, while Sheppard shot McKay a look. The Canadian could only shrug in response.
They followed the turned hallway. Ronon kept his hand near his weapon, uncomfortable with Zeno behind him. He walked, with his head half turned, watching the man who watched him with the same intensity.
"And how long have you been here?" Teyla asked.
Rix shrugged. "Longer than an Adruvio night," he said with a sigh. "Honestly, you kind of lose track of time in here. No day. No night. It all melds together."
"So, what have you been eating?" McKay asked from his position between Teyla and Ronon. "I mean, you gotta eat." He walked at a halting pace, pausing to examine the details on the walls. He brought a hand forward, almost touching an ornamentation, but stepping forward as Ronon pressed behind him.
"We had rations, but those ran out after a while. The Ironspot was stocked with plenty of tava meal," Rix explained. "It was part of a shipment being sent to one of the colonies. We lucked out when we grabbed it." He raised a humorous expression to his partner, and added, " 'Though I'm pretty sure Zeno would say otherwise."
"It's fine, Rix," the man returned, looking annoyed.
"Gives him gas," Rix explained to Sheppard in a stage whisper. "He blows up like a Matoo!"
"Enough of that, Rix," the tone had become darker.
" 'Course, that means I suffer, too, but…" and Rix gave a little shrug.
"What about water?" Sheppard asked, to change the line of conversation.
"Oh!" McKay stepped quicker to input what he knew. "The station is equipped with a waste recirculation system. All water is recycled." He flipped one hand as if to demonstrate some step in the process. "What goes in, must come out, right? So the 'out' liquids are simply recycled. It's a remarkable procedure that utilizes waste water from throughout the facility, sends it through a filtration and sterilization system which…"
"That's more that I want to know," Sheppard cut him off quickly.
"We have the same system… back home… for when …you know, our home isn't in its usual… ah, aquatic environment and…"
"McKay!" Sheppard shot back.
"Really, didn't need to know that," Ronon grumbled.
"Remind me not to drink any tap water here," Sheppard whispered over his shoulder to Teyla.
Rix blinked at them, not really sure what to make of the exchange, and then touched a door. It slid open, to reveal a room. "Here it is!" he announced, gesturing into the space.
He stepped forward, letting the others in. The room was large and open, with a 'garage door' at the far wall. In the middle of the room was a strange looking craft, and the colonel furrowed his brow, trying to figure out exactly what it was. It was ugly as hell, with something that looked like a crane tucked up on top, and weird engines on the sides that didn't quite fit with the rest of it. But in spite of the unpleasant looking bits, there was something familiar about it.
"Hey!" McKay called as he followed. "That's… that's…"
Rix smiled, saying, "I know, more haffette than bloxel, huh?"
"What?" McKay shot back.
"He meant…" Teyla paused, searching for the best translation. "…it is a mixture of several things."
"That's an understatement," McKay muttered as he strode toward the thing. "But it's a jumper, isn't it?"
"Jumper?" Rix repeated.
"Our ship…" Rodney gestured in the direction of their ship. "We call them 'jumpers'." And he winced a little at that term.
"Ah yes, well it was… once," Rix responded brightly. "I guess…"
The ship seemed to be pieced together, a hodgepodge of several technologies. The basic shape was a jumper, but here and there other bits were globbed on in a rather haphazard fashion.
It looked as if it had been cut down and reformed at some point. The graceful and practical engines had been sheared off the bottom of the craft and replaced with something that bulged obscenely. There were other strange and bulky protuberances that had been welded to it, resembling tumors.
Sheppard had never considered that the puddlejumper was a 'beautiful' ship, but after gazing at the monstrosity before him, he had to admit, the jumper was a sweetheart of a craft.
McKay made his way to the open rear gate of the ship and poked his nose into it, frowning at the mess inside. The original seats had been torn out, and replaced with thick, padded chairs – the rest of the space was open cargo area. There were strange boxes adhered to the ceiling and wires ran along the interior.
"What did you do to it?" Rodney gasped, looking at Rix as if the man had just gutted a living being.
Rix held up his hands. "Oh, it wasn't me! We found it this way. I'm surprised we were able to fly it at all!"
McKay looked scalded as he stomped around the area. "What is this here? Genii tech? And this bit over here probably came from Hoff. Why would anyone replace Ancient technology these substandard devices? Wraith? Is this section from a Wraith ship? Why would anyone want to do something like that?"
"So people could fly it," Zeno answered from near the back of the ship, where he stood, watching Ronon. The Satedan remained outside the ship as well as Teyla and Sheppard had moved forward.
"Oh," McKay said with a nod as he squatted down to look under the 'dash'. "No ATA gene." He made a disgusted sound as he saw only more bastardizations of the graceful technology.
Rix squatted down beside him. "But you can fly the ship of the Ancestors?" He glanced first to McKay and then to the others. "You are capable of operating their technology?"
"Well," McKay returned. "That's rather obvious. I mean, we did manage to get here, didn't we?"
"That's enough, McKay," Sheppard ordered him.
"That must be something," Rix said wistfully. "To be able to fly one of these crafts as they were meant to be." He opened his mouth in a wide smile. "I bet you could activate EVERYTHING on this station!"
"Yes," McKay said, not even trying to sound humble.
"That must be something… something special." Rix said, shaking his head in wonderment. "We've heard stories of people who are capable of doing this. I thought that maybe it was just flabbet and babbet."
McKay was too interested in poking about in the Ironspot to pay Rix much attention. "Hmmm," he said in return.
Not sure what to think of that retort, Rix asked, "Can you fix it?"
"It's a mess," McKay told him unhappily. His voice raised in irritation as he stated, "I don't know how someone managed to get all of this stuff patched together, and I don't YET understand how it all interacts. I need more time."
"But you can fix it?" Rix asked excitedly.
"I said, I didn't know how…"
"He'll fix it," Sheppard assured. "Now, what about that database and the power source. Think you can show us those?"
Rix nodded happily and stood, slapping his knees. McKay continued to poke at the underside of the control panel.
"He stays here and gets to work," Zeno told Sheppard, nodding to McKay's hunched form.
McKay smiled smugly at them from his position at the control panel. "I'll work a bit here. You go check out the rest of the station. Let me know what you find."
"Yeah, fine," Sheppard replied.
Rix made his way from the cockpit of the cockamamie ship. "Come on. I'll show you," he said, indicating Sheppard.
The colonel turned to Ronon, giving him only a look. The Satedan nodded.
McKay went on as he puttered, "Just find the control room. I should be able to tap into the database pretty easily – as long as it's not in the same shape as this…" and his expression became a dour as he regarded what he was faced with in the ship. "Oh, and the ZPM…"
"Yeah, we'll check it out," Sheppard promised.
"We will inform you concerning what we find," Teyla assured and she stepped from the Ironspot with the colonel, following Rix from the ship.
Ronon remained in place, aware of Sheppard and Teyla following Rix from the room, but his attention was on Zeno – who, in turn, kept close watch on his two charges.
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TBC - they seem like nice guys