Note: Just a quick thank you to everyone who has left reviews for this fic. For those who are listed as guests and not logged onto the site, I am afraid I cannot respond personally to your reviews, but I do read every one and I am grateful for each. Thank you for your support and I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying this new fic. So here's another instalment...
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Chapter 9 – The Arrival
Cowen's fist pounded so hard on his desk that everything on it rattled and jumped several inches across the surface.
Ladon held his reaction inward, as everyone had to do around their Supreme, and easily angered, Leader.
"That is unacceptable!" Cowen stated angrily to his crowded office.
The news had just arrived, fresh from Second City, that there had been another uprising. Though far smaller, it had struck a significant blow. As was common in all major cities on Alliance worlds, there was a small Enforcement building in the Second City, which held a small office that worked as a liaison between local police forces and the greater Alliance wide Enforcement system. The rioters had set the Enforcement building alight.
It was clearly a precision strike by Kolya, chosen to significantly harm the Genii Government's reputation. The Alliance tended to keep out of local governance, but with the Enforcement building still smoking, the arson would draw harsh and intense study of Cowen's handling of the ongoing civil unrest.
And Cowen was not happy about it.
He had called all his senior officials and department heads into his office, packing them all in together to demand action.
"Double the patrols in Second City," Cowen ordered with a snort as he sat back in his large dark office chair.
"We have already doubled them," a very brave Commander General Reed supplied. Martel Reed's large and greying beard hid most of his expressions, but no one doubted the man's opinions on matters military. One of the longest serving Military Commanders, he was highly respected, even by Cowen.
"Then double them again!" Cowen ordered angrily.
"The more soldiers we have put out on the ground, the more the retaliation grows," Reed replied. Ladon felt the entire crowded room grow tense at the very honest and direct summary of recent events. No one else would have the nerve to point out that very obvious fact to Cowen, but Reed was practical and direct.
Cowen turned in his large chair and glared up at Reed stood to his immediate right. "You suggest that we withdraw and let the rioters rule Second City?" He asked with clear disgust.
"I am simply stating that increased patrols are not solving the problem," Reed replied, his tone a perfect balance of calm and respectful.
"What," Cowen spat, "would you suggest now then?"
"A heavier surgical attack," Reed answered. "Individual house searches and interviews."
The atmosphere again shifted in the overly warm office around Ladon.
Such 'interviews' would not involve simple questions; Reed was suggesting interrogations of the Second City's populace.
Ladon angled his head to look through the avenue of heads and shoulders towards his limited view of Cowen. The Supreme Leader was silent, his eyes lowered, thinking.
Was he actually going to authorise the interrogation, and likely torture, of their own people?
"Would such an approach not provoke further retaliation?" Someone asked carefully from the far corner of the room.
"Not responding resolutely would send a far worse message," Reed was the one to answer the question. "We can start with the families of those currently held for engaging in the last two riots."
Their families?
Ladon closed his eyes and took a breath.
This was the plan – to push Cowen into aggressive and poor actions that would turn the populace against him - but interrogating, and probably torturing, innocents? This was not the Genii way.
There was also the worrying possibility that such interrogations might be successful and reveal connections to Kolya. Maybe even back to Ladon himself.
There had to be another way to divert Cowen's attention and help hold off on such aggressive actions.
"Our covet teams are already questioning those in holding," someone reported.
"And now is time to extend such questioning to their families and to make sure that the citizens of Second City are fully aware of what is happening," Reed responded. "They will confess on those responsible in no time."
"They haven't done so thus far," someone else put in from Ladon's left. "Thanks to this morning's attack, we now have Alliance Enforcement watching us with a heavy eye. What will their opinion be if we start using harsher handling on our own populace?"
"It will show that we are responding decisively," Reed countered.
"Why not invite Enforcement in to join in the hunt, use their resources?"
"No!" Cowen cut into the discussion. "I will deal with this."
Ladon held his breath. Cowen was going to do it – he was going to start herding up his own people. Innocent families.
"People are seeing the faces of those starting these riots," Cowen jabbed at the surface of his desk, "and I want names by the end of the day. Commander General-"
"If I may?" Ladon interrupted Cowen's order quickly.
All eyes and heads turned towards Ladon.
"I have an alternative idea," Ladon supplied, his voice surprisingly calm despite the pounding of his heart.
"Who said that?" Cowen demanded, his eyes scanning the full office. "Ladon?"
"Yes, Cowen," Ladon shifted a little so that Cowen could see him better through the tight press of people, which was assisted by the fact that all those around Ladon were now clearly leaning away from him. Ladon had purposefully picked a place in the room where he would not be obvious to Cowen during his rant, but now he was actively stepping into Cowen's angry spotlight. It was risky, but Ladon couldn't let Kolya and Cowen push the Genii into torturing their own.
"What is it?" Cowen demanded.
"If we are after those responsible for starting these events," Ladon replied, his mind working quickly, "we have to consider that they may have purposefully not made any connections to others in Second City. They may be operating from some of the other cities, entering Second City only to create problems and then leave."
"Someone will know who they are," Reed argued.
"For now we do not even know what they look like," Ladon argued back. "How can we interrogate effectively if we do not even know the targets?"
"What then do you suggest, Ladon?" Cowen asked, annoyed, but listening.
"A more advanced approach," Ladon answered. "Improved surveillance will capture footage of those responsible and allow us to target and trace the specific individuals."
A few heads nodded at the idea, clearly leaping on the alternative suggestion.
"We already have cameras on every street corner and these criminals are simply destroying them, blocking their frequencies, or concealing their faces too effectively," Reed replied for Cowen.
"I am suggesting satellite surveillance," Ladon put in. "We can turn one of our orbital sentry satellites round and observe Second City in real time."
Cowen's look of frustrated annoyance shifted to interest in an instant.
The populace of Second City would not be happy about being spied on, but it was a far better option that torture.
"And this surveillance will be able to distinguish individual faces?" Reed asked with a frown.
"No, but the latest resolution will be able to separate individuals. We can simply follow the targets through the City from orbit until we can tie in their location with working cameras on the ground," Ladon supplied. "Then we can use the military facial recognition systems to identify them."
"And if they are using blocking frequencies on the ground cameras?" Reed asked, but he sounded more interested than argumentative now. Ladon knew fully well that Kolya's people could block most of the camera frequencies, because he had been the one to supply the tech to Kolya, but he also knew that it might be necessary to sacrifice a couple of Kolya's loyalists on the ground. If any of them were captured, Ladon knew that they would never give up anything on Kolya, unlike the general people of Second City. It would be worth it to safe those innocents in this growing war.
"We can coordinate with ground forces to intercept targets directly," Ladon supplied.
"Finally," Cowen exclaimed loudly, "someone with an intelligent suggestion. Turn the satellite now, Ladon, and get a team working on real time observation, day and night."
"Yes, Cowen," Ladon nodded, surprised to have convinced Cowen so quickly.
"Shall I still increase the patrols?" Reed asked.
"No," Cowen answered. "Have them on standby to act on surveillance intel," Cowen ordered. "I want the highest penalties for anyone behind these treasonous riots, even those putting up the posters, and I want all those arrested to be paraded on show for all to see."
"Yes, Cowen," Reed nodded.
"Now all of you get out!" Cowen ordered angrily. "I don't want anyone else back in here unless they have something positive to report to me."
The office door was thrown open and everyone started crowding quickly through it, eager to get out of Cowen's line of sight.
"Ladon, stay," Cowen ordered.
Ladon schooled his features carefully as he turned back towards Cowen's desk and waited as everyone else escaped.
The room emptied, Commander General Reed the last out, and the heavy door was shut, sealing Ladon in alone with Cowen.
Cowen looked up at him from his wide backed chair, leaning against one armrest as he assessed Ladon. The Leader rarely had anything but a sour look across his features of late.
"How's your sister?" Cowen opened with. "Dahlia?"
"She is well, thank you," Ladon replied. Was the inquiry designed to show honest interest or as a subtle threat?
"That was good thinking about using the satellite," Cowen said, the compliment surprising Ladon, but then he had worked hard to be a quiet but useful man for Cowen. It had perfectly placed him for what was to come.
As long as Cowen didn't suspect anything.
"Thank you, Cowen."
Cowen shifted slightly in his throne-like chair and contemplated the nails on his right hand, picking under one with his thumb. "Second City worries me, Ladon."
That was clear enough to anyone, but Ladon kept silent.
"My concern is if this unrest grows out of control, like a disease ravaging our people in Second City. If the illness grows too extensive, a more decisive cure may one day be required," Cowen stated, his eyes rising to Ladon.
"A cure?" Ladon asked, uncertain.
"Something that will end the disease in it's entirely. Something that will send a final and clear message to the other cities, both above and below ground," Cowen answered.
"What kind of message?" Ladon asked, though he suspected that he already knew the worrying answer.
One of Cowen's eyebrows lifted with a flicker of annoyance. "One that will make sure that no one else decides to try to spread dissention, drugs, and violence against the rest of the Genii people."
"With the surveillance, we can hope to target those responsible-"
"And if that fails?" Cowen interrupted. "What else is on that satellite?"
"It is a purely surveillance and sensor platform," Ladon answered, struggling to hide his growing concern.
"Is there the potential for more up there?" Cowen asked. "Perhaps something from our military hardware that could be focused down towards Second City."
Ladon felt a cold sensation pass over him. "Something like a missile?"
"Can it be done?" Cowen asked.
Ladon's brain turned, working on the technical problem as much as the ethical. If he gave Cowen the ability to target their own people from space...
"I suppose it could," Ladon considered out loud. "But, the satellite is not designed to take such a payload. I would suggest a specifically designed military satellite." That would take time to build and deploy at least.
"How long would that take?" Cowen asked.
"With enough resources and supplies, perhaps a few months."
"Make it in two weeks, Ladon," Cowen ordered.
There were more than enough excuses and honest reasons to object to that deadline, but Cowen was not in the mood to hear them. Ladon would have to play the game for now.
"Yes, Cowen."
"And I want only your closest and most trusted working on this," Cowen stated. "Commander General Reed will be able to quickly provide you with the military hardware you require for the build."
Ladon nodded.
"And I want an update on turning the surveillance satellite within the hour," Cowen ordered next as he sat forward, his attention switching to something on his desk.
"Yes, Cowen," Ladon bowed his head and left quickly.
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He shouldn't feel nervous. It wasn't like Teyla hadn't visited before, or that Atlantis hadn't hosted Alliance and Elite guests before. Teyla had been here several times and had stayed during the Non-Aggression Treaty negotiations, so it wasn't like it was something new.
It didn't really make any sense why he was feeling anxious.
John pondered a better word for the anxious anticipation in his stomach as he stood in the open doorway that was the adjoining link between Teyla's quarters and his own new quarters.
Her room beyond the doorway was ready and waiting for her, empty apart from the basics, the promised kettle and mugs, a mattress on the floor for Ketra, and a tall vase of brightly coloured flowers added by the botany department early this morning.
The empty room felt poignant and he wasn't overly sure why; and why he had been standing here a good ten minutes looking between the empty room and his own cluttered and busy room separated by this single door.
A quick check of his watch told him that he wasn't going to be able to stand around indulging in his unease much longer – he needed to be up in the Gate Room ahead of Teyla's arrival time. But, just one last check couldn't hurt.
He moved into her room and reached out to run one hand along the bare surface of the side unit, checking no dust had appeared overnight. He rarely dusted his own quarters, but he'd been up late last night wiping everything down in her room, wanting to feel useful. It had been roundabout midnight that he'd decided her quarters were just too plain for her. In her Alliance quarters in both Tjaru and on the Sythus, she had blankets, wall hangings, and cushions adding colour and Athosian style brightness. Her new quarters here were far too bland and uninviting, so he'd headed up to the newly established trading stockroom. They had been storing crates of random stuff in the large room to be traded with Athos and other new trading partners, and Colonel Carter had given him free rein to select anything in there that he felt might be nice for Teyla's quarters. So, he'd spent a good hour digging through the stockroom's many crates looking for something to brighten up Teyla's room.
He'd finally found a couple of crates full of blankets and lengths of fabric intended for trade with Athos, which he kind of remembered Woolsey discussing with Elkaska. John had gone through it all, awkwardly trying to refold large curtains and swaths of cloth that he'd extracted from the crates, until he'd found his choice.
It was a large bright Mexican style blanket, and it had instantly given her quarters some much needed cheerful colour.
He soothed the folded blanket, pleased with his choice still. On impulse, he picked it up, shook it out and spread it over her bed. He then changed his mind and turned the blanket widthways across the bed to give a band of colour across the plain military bedding instead. He wasn't sure if that was any better. Clearly interior design wasn't his forte.
He was wasting time on tiny details; he was just nervous. Which was crazy because she'd be fine staying here, and he was looking forward to seeing her.
He checked his watch again. He hadn't wanted to head up to the Gate Room too early, as the IOA crowd were nearly always hanging around up there and they liked to make small talk with him. He didn't mind the General, of course, and he was kind of used to Woolsey now, but the other IOA members liked to ask his opinion on every little detail about the Alliance. How was he supposed to know how they trading in grain? Ask him how to fly an Elite starship and he could help, but not how the Alliance High Council might react to new grain imports.
One last check around Teyla's room and he finally left it alone and headed back into his own room. He repeated his standard ritual before an Alliance meeting and stood in front of his mirror. He smoothed down the front of his standard Atlantis uniform, which was freshly laundered and pressed, and he tugged on the end of his sleeves to pull out some creases.
"Okay, you can do this," he told his reflection. "No sweat."
He turned away from the mirror, slid his sidearm into his holster, and left his new quarters with a determined, and hopefully casual looking, walk. It was only when he was halfway down the corridor outside that he realised that he hadn't shut the adjoining door between his and Teyla's quarters. He stopped in the middle of the hallway and considered going back.
Teyla had left the door between their adjoining quarters on Athos partly open when she'd shown him around there. Besides, it would probably be more inviting for her to see the door open at first.
Did he want the door between their rooms to be 'inviting'? Because that brought up a ton of other questions.
He checked his watch – he was going to be late if he went back.
He'd leave it. Let the door be open, let things fall as they may.
He had no idea what the hell that meant and what he even wanted to happen between him and Teyla anymore. When had things gotten so complicated?
They loved each other, they were married, so why was this so difficult?
He shook his head sharply to clear away the distracting thoughts.
"You okay, Major?" A voice called from behind.
John looked round quickly to see Major Lorne smiling at him.
"What you doing up here?" John asked as Evan fell into step with him.
"Just checking out the routes to your wife's quarters," Evan supplied, and though John knew it was because Lorne's team were to be part of the Elite's guard detail during their stay, Evan had used a suggestive tone.
John tried to smile at the joke, but it felt more like a grimace.
"The whole city is buzzing about the Elites' arrival," Evan continued.
"Ford needs to stop winding everyone up with the promise of space guns," John muttered as they started down a staircase together.
"If we can get our hands on even a fraction of what the Alliance has," Evan repeated the standard excited ideas that had been circling the city these past weeks.
"I know, I know," John nodded. "But, the Elite aren't exactly the types to share their toys with others."
"You and Colonel Carter will convince them," Evan patted him on the back of his shoulder.
"No pressure," John muttered.
"If nothing else," Evan added, "we've got the promise of some serious back up if the Wraith ever attack us directly again."
John winced inwardly to think back to those dark days when the Wraith had laid siege to Atlantis during their first year here. They'd lost good people. If Elizabeth had survived she would have loved the conference on Athos. She'd have been right in there, talking to as many different leaders as possible, learning about all the different cultures.
"Imagine if we could have Alliance energy weapons on the Daedalus and Apollo," Evan continued as John set the pace down the stairs. "With the Asgard shields and beaming technology, we'd really show the Wraith how we can fight."
John nodded as they turned out of the stairwell and headed towards the nearest transporter. "The only way I can see the Alliance, or even the Elite, trading those kinds of weapons is if we give them the Asgard shielding, and the Asgard have forbidden us from sharing their tech."
As the doors to the transporter opened, two Marines stepped out.
"Majors," the Marines both nodded as John and Evan gave them space to exit.
Sumner had regular patrols going around the towers, but especially this one as it now housed some of the IOA and, very soon, Teyla and Si.
"Maybe we could share some of the Goa'uld shield tech," Evan suggested. None of this was new in the many long and, sometimes heated, discussions that John had sat in on between the IOA, General O'Neill, and Colonels Carter, Sumner, Caldwell, and Ellis.
"Yeah, maybe," John agreed, but he wasn't convinced that it would be that easy. Trading blankets, food, and medical supplies was one thing, but weapons dealing was another.
The transporter delivered them into the Central Tower and it was far busier here, with shift changes and a large proportion of the military personnel heading up to the Gate Room. John and Evan joined the line heading up the main metal staircase and John was grateful for the distraction of the additional noise and conversation around him.
He checked his watch as they finally reached the busy Gate Room. Ten minutes to go until the dial in was due from Athos.
The IOA group were all already on the main floor of the Gate Room, all dressed in their best and, fortunately, all chatting among themselves. Sumner was stood nearby with Colonels Caldwell and Ellis, keeping an eye on the personnel all arriving into the large room. John spotted Ford and Rodney stood to one side.
John headed towards them, but Sumner abruptly stepped into view, his uniformed shoulders filling John's path. "You took your time getting here, Major," Sumner stated.
"Sorry, Sir," John replied immediately. "I was just checking over Elite Emmagan's quarters." It was true enough.
"Good," Sumner accepted the explanation quickly and even with a touch of what sounded like approval. That was really starting to freak John out. Out of all the Colonels here, Sumner seemed to be the one who was consistently stating how good the new contract was and that John had done the right thing.
"Colonel Carter wants to see you up in the Control Room," Sumner stated and turned away, his focus returning to barking orders at other people. "Let's have some proper lines, people!"
John looked back towards Ford and Rodney, seeing that Cadman had arrived too now. He caught their eye and tilted his head up in the direction of the Control Room. Cadman and Ford both nodded they understood, while Rodney just frowned and muttered something round to Ford.
John checked his watch yet again as he pushed his way through several dense lines of Marines, and hurried up the wide central stairs.
Colonel Carter was stood in the Control Room next to Chuck's station, the two of them discussing whatever was displayed on the laptop in front of them. John headed towards them, but Carter spotted him and angled her head to one side, indicating the walkway to her office. John obediently headed that way.
"See what you can do about the rota, Chuck," Sam told the technician and then moved around the Ancient console to join John as he walked across the room.
"Colonel," John greeted her as she reached his side, and she kept walking towards her office, so he kept up with her.
"Major. Everything ready for our guests?" She asked.
"Yes, Ma'am," John confirmed.
"Good," she replied as they walked, but her attention was drawn away as she peered down into the Gate Room, no doubt checking everything was in hand, and then she checked her watch too. "I just wanted a quick word with you before we all get distracted."
"Sure," John agreed, having no clue what she wanted to talk about, especially so quickly.
As they stepped onto the walkway from the Control Room to her office, she pulled up and turned towards him. Clearly they were far enough away from everyone else to talk. John held his hands behind his back and waited patiently.
"John," she started, "I know that you're due to return to your standard duties tomorrow, but I'm looking at rescheduling a few things."
"Okay," John wasn't sure where this was going.
Her large blue eyes shifted off him down towards the Gate Room and back again. "It seems that some people are concerned," she said carefully, "about your safety on off-world missions."
John frowned. "They want me grounded?"
"You are an integral part of this new contract with the Alliance, John. If anything were to happen to you-"
"So, they want me sat in my quarters all the time?" John argued.
"I have, and will continue to, point out that you are an active member of the military, not a politician, and the marriage contract makes it very clear that the contract will still hold if something were to happen to either yourself or Elite Emmagan," Carter answered him.
"Exactly," John nodded. They couldn't take him off duty could they? What would he do with his days? Sit in meetings? Never be allowed off-world unless it was to the Alliance? Never let him fly a Jumper again?!
"It's something that we're going to have to discuss further with Earth Defence and the IOA, but, for now, I have agreed to amend your missions somewhat."
"Somewhat?" John asked, frustrated annoyance replacing his previous nervousness.
"I've agreed to temporarily limit your team to missions to planets that we've already visited."
John worked not to roll his eyes as he understood what she meant. "Science missions?" He translated.
"Just for now, John. I've reassigned your team's mission tomorrow to Stackhouse's team, and your team will take over the usual scheduled visit at 11:00 escorting Dr Lindsay on her weekly agriculture and fishing education trips to M1K 177."
John held in the response he wanted to give. It wasn't the Colonel's fault.
"It's just for now, John," she assured him. "It's still off-world."
John had to grudgingly accept that.
"Colonel Carter," Chuck called from across the Control Room. "It's almost time."
Carter nodded across to the technician. "Thanks, Chuck." She looked back at John, and he thought he saw something rather like pity in her eyes. "It's just for now, besides there's plenty I need your help with here."
"Yes, Ma'am," he replied as she led them back through the Control Room.
"I know that we discussed that you're not expected to be with the Elite at all times of the day during their visit," she added to him quietly. "But, I'm hoping that, between us, we can work as something of a buffer between the Elite and the IOA."
"I think that's probably a good idea," John said, rather democratically considering the damn IOA wanted to clip his wings.
"As you've stressed in your reports," Carter continued as they turned down towards the main staircase into the Gate Room proper, "the Elite are purely focused on military aspects of the Alliance, and I'm not sure the IOA all appreciate that."
John nodded. The conference with its weeks of seminars and lecturers was okay with the Athosians and everyday people of the Alliance, but the Elite had a more military focus.
She stopped on the top step of the staircase and he held still with her. He glanced down into the Gate Room, the place overly packed with personnel lining the walls but leaving a wide open space in front of the Gate. Everyone was chatting away and there was an air of excitement in the room.
"This expedition," Carter stressed to him, and he focused his attention back on his superior, "was designed to find technology and allies that could help Earth and other worlds back home. If we can work this right, we might be able to fulfil that mandate through this new alliance."
"I agree," John nodded.
"If that takes a few months of reduced missions off-world," she gave him a soft smile, "it'll be worth it, John."
"Yeah," he agreed.
She held his gaze knowingly.
"It'll be worth it," John confirmed.
"Off-world activation!" Chuck shouted from the Control Room and the Gate Room was a sudden rustle of activity as everyone straightened up and the chatter dropped away.
The lights turned on the Gate and John made himself focus back on the present. He'd deal with the mission issue tomorrow. Right now, Teyla was incoming.
His mood lifted instantly.
"Everyone at attention!" Sumner ordered loudly as John headed down the stairs and into the audience watching the Gate lock and the wormhole explode outwards into the crowded room. He squeezed his way between shoulders and pushed out into the front, heading towards the waiting empty space in the IOA line that now stepped forward as the wormhole shimmered back into place. As John stepped up into his place, he glanced back to see that Colonel Carter was still waiting halfway down the stairs, her attention up towards the Control Room's balcony.
"Receiving Elite IDC," Chuck called down.
"Lower the shield and send them permission to come through," Carter called back to him and hurried down the stairs.
John smoothed his jacket down and focused on the watery circle across the room.
Colonel Carter reached his shoulder just as the surface of the wormhole began to flutter with the imminent arrival of their first visitor. John locked his eyes on the movement and, a split second later, Si stepped through.
Si was missing his usual bandolier of grenades, guns, and ammo around his wide muscular chest, but their absence only made the guy look even bigger than normal. Si swept his gaze around the Gate Room in a second, his dark eyes finishing on John as he strode forward. But, John's attention quickly switched to the next swirling shift of the event horizon and he watched as Teyla stepped into the Gate Room.
She was dressed in her favourite long brown coat, her hair was tightly braided back from her forehead and she held her chin high and proud. She was in full Elite mode, and she looked strong and beautiful.
Another shimmer of water and Ketra arrived a step behind Teyla. John felt and heard the instant reaction of the watching audience, most of them never having seen Ketra before.
Ketra, for her part, kept up with Teyla, but her long neck spines rose slightly from her neck as she turned her head round urgently, scanning the mass of strangers suddenly all staring at her. John moved forward quickly so that Ketra could see him in the busy room.
Ketra swung her head round at his approach but she instantly recognised him. The neck spines lowered a fraction, but her eyes were still wide and nervous. No one wanted the big powerful, Wraith-killing dragon nervous.
Teyla's hand came into view though and she touched her elegant fingers to Ketra's head. "At ease, Ketra," John heard her say as he reached them.
"Hey, Ketra," John said softly as he reached out a hand towards the dragon. The long neck spines lowered a fraction more as her soft warm snout touched against his hand and he reached further to rub his hand across her velvety head. Her colouring, usually a light silver when he saw her, was a dull deep grey. "Welcome to Atlantis," John told her.
He felt Ketra relax a little bit more under his hand and, happy she wasn't about to attack anyone, John lifted his attention to Teyla. By moving forward to reassure Ketra, he had ended up standing a lot closer than he had intended during this whole official meet-and-greet, but it felt natural enough with Teyla. She seemed to feel the same because she smiled warmly back at him, but her eyes quickly shifted away to his left.
"Welcome again to Atlantis, Honoured Elite," Colonel Carter spoke loud and cheerfully from the left, and John looked round to see that Carter, General O'Neill and Colonel Sumner had all moved forward with him, the IOA forming a second line behind them.
Teyla inclined her head to Carter. "Thank you for receiving us," she replied, sounding more like her Dad than an Elite.
"You both know General O'Neill, Colonel Sumner," Carter began the usual introductions, which was a bit ridiculous because everyone knew each other.
Teyla exchanged nods with the men, and then Carter started introducing the rest of the IOA lot, maybe more for Si' benefit.
As the nods and pleasantries were exchanged, John returned his attention to Ketra, who had shifted forward so that her shoulder was faintly touching against the outside of his leg. He stroked her back, again aware of the tension in Ketra's body. She was looking off to the right and John glanced that way to see that she was watching the Gate Room's guards who were stood close to the wall, P90s held low. John couldn't be certain, but had to wonder if it was the guns that had Ketra watching them cautiously. Could she recognise the P90s as weapons?
"Hey, Ketra," John whispered to distract her, rubbing right along the top of her back, which he knew she liked. It worked as she looked round, her orange eyes swivelling up to look up at him. He scratched around the back of one of her ears and felt her relax again.
"And, of course, Major Sheppard," Carter finished the introductions, drawing John's attention.
John looked up from Ketra to Teyla and Si. "Hey," he said with probably far too much informality.
John noticed that Sumner was frowning down towards Ketra, but John kept his hand on Ketra's warm head.
"Sheppard," Si replied to John.
"Honoured Elite," John replied more formally, and then turned his smile to Teyla.
Teyla's dark eyes met his and then she was turning further towards him, lifting her hands towards his shoulders to initiate the traditional Athosian greeting. He was used to the forehead touching thing on Athos, usually exchanged it with her at least once for each of his visits, and, if her family were around, he had to do the same with all of them too. It was traditional and a sign of respect, but for some reason he hadn't expected the greeting here and in front of everyone.
But he quickly stepped further towards her, brushing his leg against Ketra slightly as he moved but she didn't startle. He touched his hands on the outer edges of Teyla's strong shoulders and felt hers land on his, and he leant his forehead forward towards her.
"Honoured Husband," she said as their foreheads touched, which they held for a moment and then lifted apart again. It had felt like a little quiet intimate moment for them despite all the eyes watching, and, for perhaps the first time, John kind of understood the tradition a little better.
"Honoured Elite," he smiled at her as they dropped their hands from each other. "Welcome back to Atlantis."
She smiled at him again, but it was once again that polite smile that she gave when there were others around. She broke her gaze from his, glancing down to check on Ketra briefly as she turned back towards Carter and the others.
As she turned, John saw her Elite mantle fully settling back over her, her chin lifting and there was a subtle flex to her jaw as she turned to the others. Knowing her as well as he did now, he realised that she was tense, nervous perhaps. Which kind of made sense, he realised, as she was about to stay in essentially a foreign city for a whole week. Even for an Elite warrior, staying here, mostly by herself, was well out of her comfort zone. Like him, she preferred action over polite political meetings. Plus as much as he loved Atlantis, this wasn't a place she knew well.
He knew what that was like, spending days in unknown territory, depending on people he hardly knew. How many times had he visited Athos now, or joined her on a dangerous mission into places in the Alliance that he had no clue about? He knew what it was like to be so out of your comfort zone that you ended up living with people from another galaxy.
The revelation that she was feeling uncomfortable kind of made him feel better though – this wasn't just a boring side trip for her; it was a big thing for her too. He made an instant promise to himself that he'd make sure she felt at home during her stay, that he'd stay with her as much as he could, and suddenly Carter's suggestion of a reduced workload this week felt easier to accept.
"And this would be Ketra?" Carter asked, everyone's attention shifting John's way again; he should really be paying attention to what was going on. Fortunately, they were all focusing on Ketra, who was now looking back up at them as if she was part of the conversation.
"Ketra," Teyla said down to the dragon as her golden fingers touched against Ketra's head, "these are our new friends."
Ketra looked from Teyla to the leaders and didn't look overly convinced.
"We haven't altered the today's schedule from that we agreed," Carter continued, seeming unconcerned about the big reptile frowning up at her. "But, I thought it would be best to first show you to your quarters and ensure you have all you need for yourselves and Ketra," Carter said, striking a perfection balance between professional and friendly.
"Thank you," Teyla replied with a smile, but her spine was still super straight.
"And we can check through your weapons," Sumner put in.
John had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. It was Sumner's job to do the security thing, especially since there'd been so much negotiation over exactly which weapons the Elite could bring and how many.
"Of course," Teyla agreed instantly.
"If you'd like to come this way," Carter turned, indicating the free space through to the usual exit out of the Gate Room.
Teyla moved forward with Colonel Carter, Ketra following right behind her knees. John fell in behind them, walking by Ketra's side really as they moved between the smiling nodding audience and into the corridor beyond.
It was kind of odd for John to see Ketra walking through Atlantis, not just because she was an alien dinosaur walking the hallways, but she kind of represented the two separate sides of his life that were now fully entwined. It was nice, but it also felt a little weird. Ketra seemed to think it odd as well, as she kept her head low, stalking along right behind Teyla's knees, so close that, if Teyla had to stop suddenly, Ketra would simply collide into the back of Teyla's legs.
Glancing back over his shoulder, John saw that Si was right behind him, walking with General O'Neill. Behind them, Sumner and Ford were next, and John could just about see the red of Cadman's hair behind them.
John looked forward again, though aware of the General talking with Si behind him.
"Weather good on Athos this morning?" O'Neill asked, attempting small talk with the rarely talkative Si. John knew the two had talked several times at the Conference, though he'd not been part of the discussions.
"The rain had stopped," Si supplied.
"Good, good," O'Neill replied. "Rainy season there, right?"
"Yes," Si replied.
"You get full on monsoons there?"
"Occasionally."
There was a beat of silence behind John.
"You know, you remind me of a good friend of mine," O'Neill stated. "Very succinct fellow; you'd like him."
John tuned out of the conversation as Ketra had abruptly stopped and was sniffing at the base of one of the Ancient water-filled columns that Teyla and Carter moved around. John had never really worked out why some of the columns had water in them, and whether it was decorative or was part of the plumbing here.
"Come on, Ketra," John called to her, and she lifted her head obediently and hurried forward again, sliding back into close quarters with the back of Teyla's legs.
Teyla glanced back and down to check on Ketra and then looked at John. He gave her a reassuring smile and she smiled back, so he got the impression that his smile had been helpful.
Carter reached the transporter first and triggered the doors open. John wasn't sure how they were all going to get in, but he moved in close to Teyla, making sure he was the one pushing Ketra gently against the transporter's wall. O'Neill and Si stepped in to join them and the transporter was immediately stuffed full.
"We'll see you in the other tower," Carter called over the men to the others outside.
Then the flash of the transporter filled the tiny room and the doors opened behind Si to reveal the next tower. Ketra had tensed against John's leg when the transporter activated, so he looked down, Teyla doing the same next to him and they both reached to Ketra at the same time.
"It is alright, Ketra," Teyla assured her.
"You'll get used to it," John added as they moved out into the new corridor outside.
The transporter doors shut and a second later a bright flash shone through the muted window panels in the doors and they slid open to reveal a faintly concerned looking Sumner, with Ford and Cadman behind him. Clearly Sumner hadn't liked being a step behind. John had no idea what Sumner thought Teyla and Si would do in the few seconds he wasn't near them.
"Your quarters are up several floors," Carter instructed them. "There are quarters that would be suitable closer to the transporter, but the rooms further up are far nicer and the view is spectacular," Carter dropped into small talk with Teyla again as everyone followed them.
John found himself next to Si this time and he looked up and round at the now very familiar man. "How's the Sythus' repairs coming along?" John asked.
"Good," Si replied.
That was the conversation done then.
"Are you going to join the planned sparring sessions?" Si asked, shocking John for a second. Si, making small talk?
"I might stick my head in," John considered. He had no plans to let Si beat him up again in front of everyone. He'd already been on the receiving end of Si' version of sparring on two major occasions and he wasn't about to do it again by choice.
Si grinned, as if he understood what John was thinking. They were heading up the staircase now, Ketra managing the steps without pause ahead of him and Si.
"Hey, I've proven myself to you enough times," John pointed out to him.
"You need more practice defending yourself in hand-to-hand combat with a Wraith," Si replied.
"I've had far too much experience of that already, thanks," John responded. "Though I enjoyed the Sythus training sessions, and Ford and I shared what we could remember with the others here."
"Good," Si replied, sounding pleased.
"But I know that a lot of the Marines are particularly looking forward to you sharing your 'experience' again," John added.
"Will there be an opportunity to visit the ships Colonel Caldwell and Colonel Ellis command?" Si asked next, chattier than John had ever heard him. John was also kind of impressed at how easily Si had memorised the Colonels' names.
"Maybe," John replied. "I'll mention it to Colonel Carter for you." Maybe the Elite were interested in talking about the Asgard technology already.
Teyla and Carter had reached the level of the quarters, and John followed Ketra out into the corridor, where he caught sight of the two Marines he'd bumped into earlier. One was stood nearby across from the door that led into Si' quarters, and the other was further down the hallway, outside Teyla's quarters.
"These is your quarters, Honoured Elite Si," Carter triggered open the first door. "If it is alright with you, General O'Neill and Lieutenant Ford will show you round and check your weapons."
"Agreed," Si replied and he strode forward confidently into his room, looking around with full intense Elite scrutiny. John saw the usual Elite electronic pad appear out of a pocket, no doubt scanning for any covert listening devices.
"Honoured Elite Emmagan, if you'd like to accompany us on to your quarters," Carter led Teyla on towards her room. "Once you are happy with your room, we have some food and hot drinks waiting for us in my office."
John followed them towards Teyla's door and Carter triggered it open, revealing the empty space John had checked on less than half an hour ago. As he followed the two women and Ketra inside, he moved round so that he could see Teyla's profile. He watched her look around the large room and saw the faint subtle smile cross her features – she liked the quarters.
"This is more than comfortable, thank you," Teyla confirmed with a smile towards Carter.
"The mattress on the floor there is for Ketra," John informed her. "I know it's not ideal for her, but it's the best we have that's comfortable."
Teyla looked away from the view outside the large window ahead of her and smiled at him. "It will be fine for her," she assured him. He felt okay that she was okay about it.
He wondered if she'd seen the blanket on the bed yet.
"Ma'am," Sumner entered into the nice moment, "if we could go through your things and check your weaponry."
That had actually been quite polite from Sumner, but John still felt his back go up.
"Of course," Teyla replied though, seemingly relaxed with the request.
She moved towards the empty space on top of the side unit that Sumner had indicated for her. Teyla set her bags down on the floor, Carter shifting aside to give Sumner space to be the one to check through everything. Teyla opened her coat and carefully and efficiently removed her stunner from her holster and set it down on the unit, then reached up to her shoulder and, with an easy and nonthreatening motion, she withdrew her single sword from its scabbard and laid it next to her stunner. She then set her boot on the nearby end of the bed and pulled out her long narrow knife from inside her boot and laid that on the unit top too.
Sumner picked up the Elite stunner with care, turning it over to make sure there was nothing unusual about it, checked the power reading on the side and then that the sliding button on the barrel was set to the Alliance symbol for 'stun' and not 'kill'. John watched as Sumner then checked over Teyla's sword, knife, and then he peered into her bags. Teyla reached in and pulled out two of the Alliance electronic pads. Sumner took them from her, but there wasn't anything to see to them, and he put them back down on top of her smaller bag.
"Anything else with you, Ma'am?" He asked, again oddly polite for the Colonel.
"My sensor pad," Teyla drew the small scanning device out of coat pocket and she triggered it awake and passed it to Sumner. She looked okay with it all to John's eye, seeming very willing with the Colonel.
Sumner tapped the sensor pad's screen with surprising familiarity, looking at its menu screen and then handed the device back to her. He didn't ask her to empty her pockets any further. He was clearly in a good mood.
"As was agreed," Sumner stated, "these devices are not to be linked to any city computer or terminal without direct and specific permission."
"Agreed," Teyla replied to him as she slipped the sensor pad back into her pocket.
"The stunner is to remain on its stun setting while you are in the city," Sumner added next.
"Of course," Teyla confirmed.
John resisted the urge to object to her interrogation. Teyla knew all this already, she had agreed to it all days ago. To stop himself saying something that would get himself in trouble, John looked round to Ketra, who was sniffing her way around the room. She had to be inhaling dust with her intense nasal inspection of where the floor met the walls.
"No stunner, or any weapon, is to be used against any member of this city, or any of its visitors," Sumner added.
"I understand, Colonel Sumner," Teyla answered. "Both Honoured Elite Si and I are willing to comply with your rules and regulations during our stay here."
"Thank you, Colonel," Carter finally joined back into the conversation, stepping forward and calling an end to the mini interrogation.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ma'am," Sumner said to Teyla though, and John looked round from Ketra with a surprised frown. Maybe Sumner had been replaced by an evil twin overnight. Or maybe this was the good twin.
"You serve your people well with your vigilance, Colonel," Teyla replied to him.
Sumner nodded and moved away, heading back towards the open doorway, outside of which Cadman was stood with her fellow Marine.
"Thank you for your patience," Carter said to Teyla.
"I am more than happy to comply with your security measures," Teyla replied as she reached for her weapons again, sliding everything back into place.
"I hope the room is adequate," Carter asked, gesturing to the quarters around them.
Teyla turned on the spot, taking in the large room and John smiled at her as her gaze reached him. Her eyes shifted away to the nearby open doorway into his quarters – she'd noticed it and probably guessed where it led. She smiled back to him and then her gaze lowered to where John could hear Ketra still working her snuffling inspection of the edges of the room.
"It is more than adequate, thank you," Teyla turned to Carter.
"Shall we head to my office and have something to drink?" Carter suggested.
"That would be lovely," Teyla smiled back politely. John wished that she could have time to just sit and relax in here first, that they could chat without all the watching military. But, that would have to wait until later, for now there was more polite talk and trade discussions ahead.
But, she was here. After all the weeks of planning by the IOA, too many meetings, and worrying Teyla wasn't going to be back from killing Wraith in time, she was finally here.
In the city and staying in their new adjoining quarters.
0000
TBC