Chapter 11 – The Sparring
Long Sleep hissed at the display and the sensations the Hive provided to him. The damage from the first two activations of the new drive was proving ridiculously difficult to repair.
The exterior hull had taken the greatest damage, so they had taken time to grow it even thicker. Long Sleep shifted his gaze along the numbers and the new weight ratio of the Hive. The hull was now three times thicker than any hull before and should, theoretically, hold up far better in the next jump of the new drive. The interior of the Hive though was another issue.
Separate from the physical stresses of the new drive's activation on the hull, the radiation being continuously emitted by the drive was having a significant impact on the internal structures of the Hive. The damage was affecting everything on a cellular level, limiting the Hive's ability to heal itself.
The increased nutritional fluids were helping, and his genetic splicing technique had repaired large parts of the veins and structural webbing through the central core levels of the Hive, but he couldn't stop the cellular weaknesses resulting from the radiation. Like the skeleton of his own body, the Hive's basic structural stability provided the base for the webbing, flooring, hibernation cells, and was supported by the veins, fluids, and tendonous flexibility for the ship to function. The stresses of the two jumps had added pressure throughout the Hive and thin lines of weaknesses were still detectable on scans despite the repair work.
A fellow Keeper stepped up to Long Sleep's side. "The main vein fluids have been increased."
Long Sleep nodded. "With time perhaps it will be enough."
"Are you certain about the damage?" The other asked.
Long Sleep glared round at the warrior and the stupid question. "You can see for yourself," he indicated the displays and the connection they all had with the Hive's basic intelligence. "The radiation from the new drive is permeating every level, every cell."
"Our Glorious Queen will protect us," the warrior replied.
Long Sleep frowned at the male's pallid face. In the last few hours he'd noticed that most of those around him had started to develop a slightly clammy look to their skin and a dullness to their eyes. It had to be the radiation.
Long Sleep had worked long and hard on the repair work since the last jump, but had taken time to sit and rise into the healing empty network that gave him some replenishment. By repeatedly sinking into that part-hibernation state, he kept reinforcing the wall around his thoughts and willed more life-force throughout his own body, working to help repair the affects of the radiation on his own cells.
But the others, he wasn't sure if they could do the same, didn't think to, or were too sick to try. Either way, the affect was obvious on the other warrior before him. The pallor of his skin and the faint frown of confusion across his previously clear thoughts, were just as worrying as the Hive's status. If the Hive was to stay in one piece, he needed capable Keepers around him to help.
Long Sleep turned back to the glowing hologram that displayed the weakened lines throughout the Hive. He had to do something, but, other than getting the Hive Primary to turn off the new drive and give the Hive time to heal properly, he was unsure what to do.
"It will have to be enough," the other Keeper stated, "there is not much longer until the next attack-"
Long Sleep swung round towards him. "When?"
"They are preparing the drones and warriors," the warrior replied. "The next jump with the drive is soon."
Long Sleep frowned. "When were we told this?"
"The Queen's command," the warrior replied. "Did you not hear her?" He frowned, his focus sharpening for a moment.
"It must have been during my short hibernation," Long Sleep quickly supplied his excuse.
The warrior nodded, his weakened mind accepting the answer.
"When is the attack?" Long Sleep asked, but he was already searching the ship's database on the console under his touch.
The answer shocked him – it was simply stupidity!
"That is not enough time!" He said angrily and disconnected himself away from the console.
He marched away towards the doorway out.
"Where are you going?" The other Keeper asked, sounding worried at the prospect of being left to monitor the Hive's systems alone.
Long Sleep didn't answer him though, instead he strode angrily out the door. There were a surprising number of warriors and drones moving through the halls, presumably heading for the fighter bays to run the standard checks before a culling. Long Sleep didn't bother to ask any of them, for the same dulled and unhealthy pallor showed across all the warriors' faces and the drones' minds felt slower. Moving like half emptied vessels, they were simply going where ordered.
Long Sleep headed the opposite way to them, pushing against the flow to make his way through the Hive to the ship's central command.
As he stepped out of the sweeper tunnel, now higher up into the Hive, he was greeted with busy activity that confirmed that preparations were indeed underway for the next activation of the drive. Long Sleep noticed that the warriors up here looked fresher in the face, but he could still see the faintest touch of dullness to their eyes.
As he entered the central command area, he had to dip under a membrane that was drooping low, dying. Long Sleep frowned at the membrane, noting it as another matter his team would have to address. Keeping the Hive in one piece was becoming harder with each passing moment.
But, he had a more pressing factor. The Hive Primary was stood centrally, the large hologram display glowing and turning before him.
Long Sleep headed directly for the big warrior. "Primary," he called.
"What is it now?" The large Hive Primary demanded without looking away from the hologram.
Long Sleep knew he had become a pestering voice for the Primary, and though it drew perhaps too much attention on him, Long Sleep still had to do what he could to protect the Hive.
"The next jump is too soon," Long Sleep objected straight away. "The structural weaknesses need more time to repair."
"You have had the time you requested," the Primary stated, still not looking round.
Long Sleep held his frustration under tight control. "The damage is taking longer to heal," he informed the idiotic creature. "You will have seen the scans."
"Our Great Queen has ordered the attack plan to continue."
Long Sleep moved around the consoles to place himself in the Primary's view. "If the damage continues, the ship will become structurally unsound."
"The hull has been strengthened; it will not give way."
"True enough, but we need to do the same for the internal structure," Long Sleep argued.
"The Hive will heal itself stronger," the Primary took something from a drone, looked at it and then nodded. He was not giving even part of his attention to the problem.
Long Sleep stepped directly into the hologram putting himself right in front of the Primary. "And if the Armoured Herd are there? Weapons fire will only speed up the damage."
The Primary finally looked Long Sleep in the eye. "Our Great Queen's mission is more important than our individual survival."
Long Sleep willed himself more patience. "And if the Hive is destroyed, so will be our Great Queen."
The Primary angled his head. "Your fear for our Great Queen is commendable," he stated, but his tone and attitude implied he was questioning otherwise.
"We cannot lose her powerful new lineage mix by a foolishly early attack that could lose the Hive," Long Sleep tried next.
"Our Great Queen will escape in her emergency vessel if the damage becomes too great," the Primary dismissed the concern.
This was going nowhere.
"I need another daily cycle," Long Sleep begged.
"The Queen has decreed our next attack is to proceed as planned," the Primary looked away. "Go back to your station and keep the Hive together. That is your function to focus on."
"Could my team at least feed?" Long Sleep tried next. "The radiation is-"
"There is no radiation," the Primary interrupted loudly.
Long Sleep set his sharp front teeth against his inner cheek to hold in his logical arguments at that stupidity. The Primary was not going to be persuaded – he was a stubborn overly muscular slow-thinker. The arguments had not worked before and they would not work now.
"Yes, Primary," Long Sleep replied automatically and lowered his eyes. There was nothing to be gained in dealing with the Primary any longer.
Long Sleep stalked away.
"Mutant?" the Hive Primary called out.
Long Sleep stopped, hating the term for him, but turned back to the Primary.
"You are not to walk into this section again," the Primary ordered. "Your place is to serve our Great Queen from the fluids and membranes of your station as Keeper."
There was nothing worthwhile to be achieved up here anyway.
"Yes, Primary," Long Sleep agreed and turned away. He worked to wrap up his angry thoughts tightly within the walls of his mind.
However, around those protective walls, he became aware of the Queen's mind suddenly focusing on him, all the way from her throne in her Chamber. He must have drawn her attention with his argument with the Primary. Long Sleep quickly let his worries and fears for the Hive's survival flood forward, diluting his deeper worries. He felt the Queen's mind touch the fears, tasting them.
Then he felt her touch grow, sinking in through those worries, sliding in so easily, as only a Queen's touch could do.
He felt true fear then that she would hear his true thoughts; that she would learn that he suspected her to be as mutated as he was seen to be.
And yet, even he could not resist the beautiful pleasure of the touch of a Queen's mind. He felt his own desire and desperateness to serve her rise instinctively. He had to physically stop as he left the central command area, supporting himself against a wall as the Queen's power flowed around him, feeling, touching, and soothing his fears.
He couldn't help but drink it in, but tried not to at the same time. Like a drug, the mental touch called to him, promising to make every worry fade and every fear dissolve.
His fears for the Hive began to lower, his inner mental walls threatening to willingly collapse for a moment, but he quickly pulled his mind away, burrowing deeper inside the walls. Her tempting soothing continuing though, seeking and probing as much as it was assisting and seducing.
Long Sleep breathed loudly and focused on his part-hibernation technique, lifting his mind from the moment and up into the emptiness of the network. Desperate, he gasped up into it, like breaching the surface of a drowning pool.
Seeking around in that space, he reached out towards his distant Brother's mind and found it; he was so far away, but he was there. Long Sleep drank in that connection, drawing strength and regaining control. With each breath of his body, relaxed far away against the warm hallway wall, he was able to focus again. Everything began to ease and he was, once again, able to gain space between him and the Queen.
Control regained, Long Sleep allowed himself to return into his present situation.
The Queen's mind and focus were still partly on him, but he sensed that she was pleased with his new calm. He presumed that she thought herself responsible, and he was happy to let her believe as much. It was important that he not draw her attention on him again, for the power of her mind...
He quickly pulled his fearful thoughts back under control.
Mentally, he sent out some thoughts of gratitude towards her, and threw in some more worries for the Hive's survival. She seemed pleased and then withdrew her focus from him entirely.
It was like being released from under a great pressing weight and feeling instantly weightless.
He realised that he was all but slumped against the hallway's wall. Almost panting with exhaustion, he stood upright and looked back in towards the Primary working away, apparently oblivious. No, it was a good thing for Long Sleep to stay away from here. Matters were worrying throughout the Hive, but, up here, it felt polluted somehow.
Long Sleep quickly hurried away, his protective mental wall solidly in place again. Clearly he could not stop the next activation of the drive, so he was going to have to focus on keeping the Hive together as much as was possible. The Hive needed someone to look after its interests and he seemed to be the only one who truly cared.
But, should matters eventually fail entirely, he would need to make sure he had a plan in place. A way that, should all collapse around him, that he could find a way out of this prison.
0000
The report for the IOA and Earth Defence had taken a lot longer than John had planned, but he'd wanted to include every argument possible to help convince the IOA to take up the Elite's trade offer.
He had hardly believed his ears when Teyla told them the Elite would give them energy weapons tech. Ford might just get his space guns after all. It could be a real game changer for the city and for Earth. Sure they used any Wraith stunners they could get their hands on, but reverse engineering them had proven impossible apparently. John hadn't really paid attention to Rodney's prolonged and excessively boring excuses why, but it had something to do with the Wraith tech being organic based, and they weren't about to grow Wraith tech cells in the city.
So, if the Elite shared their versions, it would give Rodney and his fellow scientists all they needed. Homemade stunners – John couldn't even start on how it could change things. Even back on Earth it could change so much. Instead of guns, the military and cops could use harmless stunners. It could revolutionise policing and warfare on Earth, let alone here in Pegasus. He'd made sure to stress all that in his report.
He jabbed at a few more keys, putting in a few more commas to make sure the thing actually made sense. His reports about the Alliance and Elite had usually been long, but today's was pushing things. Maybe he was overselling it?
He frowned at the last paragraph again, reading it through as if the words might have changed in the few minutes since he'd last read it. He glanced at the time displayed in the corner of the computer screen. He'd pretty much finished the report an hour ago, but had turned to familiarising himself with his team's new mission tomorrow – babysitting Dr Lindsay on her weekly visits to M1K 177 to teach the locals there about new approaches to agriculture and fishing. Apparently the teaching classes were popular on M1K 177, but the reports he'd read from Lorne's team accompanying her made it clear that the mission was boringly simple. Though, the locals were friendly and, apparently, there was a good local inn where the team and Dr Lindsay were always given a meal. Lorne had warned several times in his reports not to drink one particular potent beer, so John had made a good note of that. No one wanted Rodney getting tanked on a mission.
Besides that warning, there was little else to learn. John had gone over the aerial scans of the short route to the village, making sure he knew the local terrain, but quickly he had returned to his report on the Elite deal. He'd added several more ideas and arguments, and a wealth of more commas.
The truth was, he'd finished and he was hesitating to send his final copy ready for transmission back home.
Surely the IOA would take up the Elite's offer? What more could they ask for?
With a sigh, he saved his final copy and sent it to the right folder on the city database ready to be transmitted to Earth via Midway. He'd pretty much left it to the last minute.
There was nothing else he could do now, except get back to Teyla and Si. He shutdown his computer and set out into the city, making his way quickly out to the gym that had been set aside for the Marines to share some sparring time with the Elite.
John hoped Teyla was doing okay with him having been gone for the last few of hours. Not that she needed babysitting or anything.
He could hear the sparring long before the door into the gym came into view. The same long sparring session had happened the last time the Elite had visited, but, as John rounded the last corner, he could see that this time there was a far bigger audience. People were crowded around the outside of the open door of the gym, and, oddly, many of them were of the scientist variety rather than military. The clashing sounds of wooden weapons and bodies hitting the padded mats were fast and accompanied by loud cheers.
As he reached the doorway and pushed his way gently through the mass of humanity pressed up to the doorway, he could see that it was equally as packed inside the gym. Most of those inside were military though, and it sounded like they were watching a football match rather than sparring.
As John squeezed his way further in, he finally saw Si stood in the centre of the room on the mats, bantos rods in his hands as he faced off against the circle of Marines around him. John frowned at the bantos rods – they were his own practice sticks Teyla had given him. Presumably someone had pulled them out of the weapons locker for Si, who, being Athosian himself, probably preferred them to the Earth practice weapons.
John gently pushed his way right to the front of the circle of watching audience and saw that those sparring with Si – who were not only Marines but some of the city, Daedalus, and Apollo crew – all looked pretty exhausted. They were taking it in turns facing the Elite, though occasionally several of them were attacking as a group in an attempt to take down the big warrior. Si, in typical Elite fashion, was dealing with each attempt quickly and efficiently. John watched as Si blocked a swung wooden katana sword and brought his other bantos rod round and across the Marine's shoulder. The audience all reacted loudly, making sympathetic noises whilst also cheering.
Si, at least, looked like he had built up a good sweat, but he was clearly pulling his hits. As three Marines and one of the Daedalus crew all rushed at Si together, John watched, amazed anew at how such a big muscular guy as Si could move so quickly. Presumably that was what happened why you were trained to fight from a small child and honed your skills fighting Wraith every day. As Si' massive dark arms swung round, the bantos rods hit backs of arms, inner forearms, or legs, pushing each attacker out of range or to the mats in turn. The dance moved constantly, shifting across the mats to and fro as Si reacted and those on the mats scurried up and away out of range, or some of them tried attacking from the floor.
The audience greeted each hit, jab, and crumpling Marine with groans, shouted advice, teasing and the occasional clapping.
John watched as an exhausted looking Ford stepped forward, swinging a wooden katana sword with both hands while Stackhouse rushed at Si' middle, hoping to grapple him to the mats.
Stackhouse's attempt to push Si over didn't work at all and he simply ended up with both arms wrapped around Si' middle. Ford attacked, swinging the katana at Si, hoping to take advantage of Stackhouse's distraction. Somehow, Si stepped aside, Stackhouse being forced to move with him or tumble to the floor, and blocked Ford's attack.
Ford pulled back and struck again, while Stackhouse got a good grip on the back of Si' pants and wrestled around, hoping to dislodge Si' balance a bit. The audience all laughed.
Si, seeming to find the approach amusing himself, did the unexpected and dropped one bantos stick to the mat and used his free hand to grab and pull at one of Stackhouse's arms. Si simultaneously moved sideways as he pulled, and Stackhouse lost his footing. Fortunately, Si had hold of him, but he used that to swing Stackhouse around and into Ford.
The audience laughed and cheered as Stackhouse and Ford tumbled onto Lieutenants Miller and Torres who had been lined up to attack next. Most of the audience behind them just about managed to dodge away in time, all to more laughter. Everyone was clearly enjoying themselves.
In front of John, one of the Apollo crew and Captain Soto rushed at Si' turned back, but the big Elite swung round as he ducked, sweeping up his previously dropped bantos rod, and rushed at them instead. Surprised at that, the two quickly darted back and away. As Si tracked them, John saw the big Elite notice him and the guy actually took a moment to nod at him.
"Sheppard," Si greeted him like he wasn't taking on an entire room of trained military personnel.
"Having fun?" John shouted over the noise as Ford and Torres were up and ran at Si from the other side now.
"They're learning," Si replied as he swept his arms around, taking out Soto and cracking the end of one stick across Ford's upper arm. More applause roared up as the Apollo crewman managed to get under Si' guard and wrapped both his arms around one of Elite's shoulders in another attempt to get the man down to the mats. Si did stagger slightly, but then turned, dropped and rolled the crewman over and down onto the mats to a chorus of cheers.
John dragged his eyes off the action though, craning his neck to look around the room, trying to find Teyla. There was no sign of her.
He did spot General O'Neill though, who was stood at one end of the gym, in the front row of the tight press of the audience. O'Neill was shouting excitable suggestions and getting right into the spirit of the event. John edged his way around to him, keeping well away from the edge of the fighting so as not to get caught by a randomly thrown Marine or bantos rod.
"General," John announced as he slid into place next to O'Neill.
"Major," O'Neill looked round. "Got that report done yet?"
"Yes, Sir," John replied instantly. "All done."
"Good," O'Neill looked back to the fighting and joined the rest of the audience with an exaggerated wince. John looked round to see Stackhouse and Ford helping pull someone else off the mats. "This guy puts Jaffa to shame!"
"Yes, Sir," John agreed.
"I've got two hundred bet on him," O'Neill added.
"Oh," John nodded, and decided not to point out that betting was frowned upon by Colonel Carter. "Pretty safe money I'd say," he added. "You know where Elite Emmagan went?" He asked.
"Looking for the Mrs, huh?" O'Neill grinned and then shouted "Get in there Lars," across the mats.
"You get in there," the other military man shouted back across the gym.
Major Lars was a long time veteran of the SGC, so John guessed the two had worked together for a ton of years.
"Bad knees," O'Neill gestured to his legs.
"Sure, sure," Lars mocked back, but he was clearly looking for his moment to get back onto the mats around the ten or so personnel currently circling Si.
"Where is Elite Emmagan, Sir?" John prompted his superior again.
"Lieutenant Cadman took her down to the Infirmary," O'Neill answered over the dim and John's stomach dropped. Had Teyla been hurt? How was that possible considering her ninja warrior princess fighting skills? "Her pet dinosaur was due its medical check in with Doc Keller," O'Neill finished.
John sighed out with relief. "Right. Thanks," he replied. He should have remembered that Ketra was due to visit the Infirmary for a medical check at some point this afternoon. Dr Keller had requested to be able to check over Ketra on her first day just to make sure the dragon wasn't carrying any infections or parasites or something else that could be bad for the city.
"Good luck with the bet, Sir," John shouted over another loud room-wide cheer.
John edged his way back around the gym, watching as Ford, Stackhouse, and two from the Daedalus had formed a phalanx against Si, all advancing and then stepping back when Si threw a testing swing of a bantos. John had to grin at the clear enjoyment on everyone's faces.
He reached the doorway and looked back just in time to see Si break the stalemate by throwing one of his bantos rods at the tight group. The audience gasped and laughed at the result as John headed out; he had more than enough experience watching Elite fight and at being on the receiving end of Si' version of sparring. The big guy would win without question, but he appeared to be enjoying the sparring, if John was any judge. O'Neill would win his bet.
As John headed down the corridor outside, he spotted yet more scientists walking towards him, clearly heading for the gym because there wasn't any other reason for them to be in this section of the city. It occurred to John then that a large percentage of the scientists passing by were female, as had been the majority watching back at the gym's doorway. John looked back over his shoulder suspiciously; it seemed that perhaps Si was drawing in more admiring eyes than just scientific curiosity.
He could hardly judge, considering that he was marching quickly through the city to go find his gorgeous alien wife. Not that things were quite so romantically simple between them anymore. Romantically simple? Where had he gotten that phrase from?
Shaking his head at himself, he stepped into a transporter and was delivered back into the Central Tower. A short walk, at a measured casual pace, and he headed into the main entrance to the Infirmary.
He had almost expected an audience in here too, all wanting to see Ketra, but instead it just looked like a normal day. Well, apart from the collection of military staff off to one side, all sporting a range of bruises and cuts – causalities of Si even when pulling his hits.
John gave them some amused smiles as he passed by, clocking names so he could tease them later. He got a good glare from Sergeant Becker, but John just grinned back and the guy rolled his eyes and smiled.
There was still no sign of Teyla though, so John continued on further into the many linked rooms of the Infirmary. Ahead, he spied Lorne, part of Teyla's guard detail, but he was leant casually against a cabinet and chatting up a nurse. Evan saw John approaching and immediately pointed off to the left, indicating where John should be heading. Clearly it was all was very relaxed here.
John decided to leave Evan to his flirting without comment, for now, and headed off to the left, entering the room that housed the Ancient beds with the full length scanners. And there was Teyla, sat beside one of the medical beds, Carson, Doc Keller, and Cadman with her. They all looked very relaxed, just sitting and chatting.
Cadman and Teyla spotted him first, both sat with the best view of the entrance. John instantly assessed Teyla's expression and could see that she was very relaxed, even openly smiling.
Carson looked round over his shoulder and smiled at John too. It was good to see the Doc out of his medical side room so much more now. The left side of his body still looked slightly raw, but it was healing up so well. Nothing was going to save him from the lifelong scars, but, with the Elite Healers' help, he was healing faster and better than predicted.
A long white strap ran around Carson's back, connected to the thick plastic brace around the top of his right upper arm. His cast had come off recently and he was now sporting the plastic look. But, the new addition was Ketra, sat with her chin on Carson's right knee as he stroked her velvety head.
"Looks like things are a lot more relaxed in here than in the gym," John announced as he arrived, feeling faintly like a third wheel entering into what looked like a nice chilled group chat.
"Honoured Elite Si still kicking everyone's asses, Sir?" Cadman asked with a grin.
"He sure is," John grinned back.
Ketra, hearing his voice, had lifted her head from Carson's knee and stretched her long dragon neck towards him.
"Hey, Ketra," John smiled as he stroked her head and scratched around one ear. "Everything go okay with her health checks?" John asked, mostly towards Teyla.
"Aye," Carson was the one to answer. "She's done wonderfully." Ketra returned her attention back to Carson and delicately rested her chin back onto his knee as he stroked her head.
"Looks like you've got a fan there," John noted, a little surprised.
"Ketra is a very good judge of character," Teyla put in, seeming just as relaxed herself, one elbow leant on the Ancient medical bed beside her.
"Thank you, Luv," Carson smiled back to her. "Ketra is a fascinating creature."
"She has been very accommodating," Dr Keller put in next. "We managed to get her onto a bed and run the Ancient scanner over her."
"Really?" John asked, surprised Ketra had been so willing.
"Interestingly," the Doc added, "the Ancient database recognised her species and pulled forward records we hadn't previously noticed."
"It appears that the Ancestors were aware of Ketra's species' ability to sense the Wraith," Teyla supplied.
"It seems they were studying her species not long before the war forced them back to Atlantis," Carson put in next. "The Ancients' research shows that Ketra's species' ability is not due to the same gene that Honoured Elite Emmagan carries," Carson explained. "Instead, the Ancient scientists concluded that her species have a natural 'psychic ability' anyway which happens to allow them to detect Wraith."
"Psychic? As in just sensing the Wraith or psychic as she can read my mind kind of way?" John asked with a touch of concern.
Carson smiled, as did Teyla across from to him. She really did seem very at ease here, but then she had some history with Carson, since the Doc had been the one to treat her after Iketani had stabbed her. Teyla had asked after Carson many times since he'd been hurt, and she had been partly responsible for the Elite Healers visiting Carson to this day to help him recover.
"The Ancients' research implies they have more of an empathic sense of each other," Carson replied. "The Ancients seemed interested in that ability generally outside of Wraith detection. Maybe it was part of their ascension research."
"Ketra has always appeared quite attuned to those around her," Teyla said. John had to agree; he'd seen for himself how Ketra reacted to Teyla's moods. If Teyla was stressed, he'd seen Ketra get restless and she often seemed to try to comfort Teyla.
John looked down at Ketra where she was sat, her eyes closed and that strange bubbling sound that was her version of purring was rumbling from her throat, as Carson stroked her head with his unscarred right hand. John imagined that moving that previously broken arm, the top of which was in the brace, couldn't be all that comfortable, but Carson was smiling down at the dragon.
"And she's healthy otherwise?" John checked.
"Absurdly so," Keller answered. "She has a fascinating nervous system and what appears to be an entirely new type of skin cell that allow her to change colour the way she does.
John nodded, noting Ketra's mid-silver colouring. It wasn't the brightest he'd seen it, but she was clearly happy enough. "When she's in dark grey mode that's when you've got to be careful." He remembered how deadly she could be against Wraith.
"We suspect the colouration changes are used not unlike chameleons back home, as both camouflage and as a way of communicating," Keller suggested.
"Dr Keller showed me images and videos of your planet's chameleons," Teyla told him, "they are very sweet."
John had to smile at that. "Sweet, huh?"
Teyla smiled back.
"That led on to a whole discussion about dinosaurs," Cadman put in. "Since that's what General O'Neill keeps calling Ketra."
"Fascinating creatures," Teyla agreed. "It is shame that none are left on your world to study."
"Actually, we did find that planet where there was something like a T-Rex," John looked at Cadman.
"M1M-316, I think," Cadman replied.
"Yeah," John nodded and looked back to Teyla. "It tried to eat McKay."
She smiled again, knowing how he liked to tease Rodney. "I am glad that it was unsuccessful."
"Speaking of eating, the welcome dinner starts in an hour or so," he noted to Teyla. "I thought that might give us time to take Ketra for a walk on one of the piers?"
Teyla smiled and began to stand. "Yes, that would be lovely." She looked to Dr Keller. "Do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, Honoured Elite," Keller replied as she stood up. "The blood tests for the both of you were all fine, the DNA test of Ketra's blood is just for research and I know that Dr Petri is excited to see the results her meeting with Ketra tomorrow."
"Of course," Teyla replied. "If possible, Ketra and I could visit you again tomorrow Dr Beckett?" She asked Carson as he stood too, though with a little more effort. John suspected Carson was tired; it was probably good that the chat was over so the Doc could get back to some resting.
"Please, call me Carson," Carson smiled at Teyla. "And yes, please come by any time," Carson told her. "I welcome the company, and perhaps we could look at Ketra's DNA results together."
"I look forward to it," Teyla smiled back and John saw her reach across and gently touch his forearm, just below his brace.
Carson smiled, clearly appreciating the kind touch, though John felt a stupid little flare of something that made him want to make a joke about Carson keeping away from his wife. He didn't though.
"It was lovely meeting you, Ketra," Carson said down to the dragon as he stroked from her snout to her ears. "I shall see you tomorrow."
"Thank you for bringing her in," Dr Keller said to Teyla, though it had been required.
"Thank you both for your time," Teyla replied as she led Ketra away from the two Doctors, smiles back and forth.
John turned and walked with Teyla back through the Infirmary, Cadman following behind. Lorne saw them coming and said one last thing to the petite nurse before turning towards them. As Evan joined their little group, sliding into place beside Cadman, John glanced at the departing nurse and then back to Evan with a knowing look. Only, Evan responded with a pointed look towards Teyla's back.
John frowned at that, and Evan grinned and shared a look with Cadman.
John glared at them and focused forward again. He needed to remember the two were close enough behind to hear anything said.
Out of the Infirmary, John smiled at Teyla beside him. "Everything go okay in there?" he checked, just to be sure that she hadn't been hiding anything back in there out of politeness.
"Yes, Dr Keller was very kind and very patient with Ketra," Teyla replied. Ketra had resumed her place walking directly behind Teyla, her snout practically tickling the backs of Teyla's knees.
"Thanks for agreeing to the checks," John told her, aware of every word he picked. He felt like Evan and Cadman were assessing everything now. Or was he just being paranoid?
"It was very interesting to see the Ancestral scanners here," Teyla continued, unaware of his caution. "We have discovered something close to them in Alliance territory, but not able to scan the entire body like those here."
"Really?" John asked, feeling a bit weird about making small talk all of a sudden.
"It is very pleasing to know that Ketra truly is in good health," Teyla added, looking up at him with a smile as they walked. John got the feeling that she was reassuring him for some reason.
"Good," he smiled back.
She held his gaze for a second and then looked forward again. John did the same. He strained his hearing for a second to hear if Cadman and Evan were talking or listening.
There was nothing but silence as the four of them, plus Ketra, walked down the empty corridor.
John cleared his throat. "I, um, thought we could take Ketra along the North Pier, there's plenty of space there for her to run around and different levels she can climb on. No trees, though," he glanced back at Ketra, who was looking less relaxed out of the Infirmary.
"She should enjoy that," Teyla replied with a smile. "It will be nice to breathe some fresh air. I always enjoy the scent of the ocean here."
Okay this was more relaxed talk.
"Hopefully Ketra won't mind all the water," John added. He resisted the urge to look back at Cadman and Evan again.
"Did things proceed well with the meeting after Si and I left?" Teyla asked.
"Definitely," John replied. "I think everyone was surprised at how much the Elite are willing to share with us." He chose his words carefully, yet again navigating the political/work line versus their 'friendship'.
"The contract is important to the Elite," Teyla replied, her expression earnest. "Despite the complications of politics and trade, the Elite understand that Atlantis has to be as ready to actively engage the Wraith as possible. You are no good to us if you cannot defend yourselves adequately," she said with a smile in her voice.
John looked round at her, surprised at the sudden teasing tone. "You talking about Atlantis or me?" He asked, pushing one eyebrow up, Mr Spock style.
Teyla smiled and looked forward. "Perhaps both."
"Which is why I'm staying well away from Si during this trip," John returned. "He can beat up some other people for a change."
She grinned at that and John grinned back.
Then he remembered about the two sets of eyes watching from behind.
He schooled his smile and found himself peering back over his shoulder at the two shadows.
Cadman and Evan looked back at him with smiling eyes.
He looked forward again, only to spot two unwelcome people ahead.
Woolsey and Professor Morgan. John frowned suspiciously at the two who just happened to be standing in this corridor. They were both smartly dressed, presumably for the meal later, but that was a good hour away.
"Honoured Elite Emmagan," Woolsey smiled and bowed his head, Morgan doing the same.
"Greetings again, Mr Woolsey. Professor Morgan," Teyla responded, the polite political smile obvious across her face.
"I hope everything went well in the Infirmary," Woolsey asked.
"Yes, indeed," Teyla replied. "Ketra is very well."
"That is very pleasing to hear," Prof. Morgan smiled.
"We were just stretching our legs before the dinner," Woolsey stated as a weak excuse.
"We are taking Ketra for a walk on the North Pier," Teyla supplied willingly.
"Perhaps we could join you?" Woolsey suggested.
What a surprise.
John saw Teyla look at him out the corner of his eyes, but he kept his eyes on the two men. They were clearly looking for some one-to-one time chatting with Teyla away from the others.
"Sure," John agreed with what felt like his own very fake political smile.
"It seems to be a lovely evening out there," Woolsey stated as he turned and extended his elbow to Teyla.
Teyla, understanding the gesture because John had done it in the past, smiled at Woolsey and placed her left hand around his elbow. "I hope so as well," she seemed sincere as Woolsey led her forward.
John indicated the Professor to go ahead of him and then followed the three, glancing back at Cadman and Evan following behind him. Both of them had the same doubtful suspicious look at the IOA reps' sudden convenient appearance.
"Honoured Elite," Professor Morgan asked. "Might I ask, you mentioned that the Elite reach decisions via consensus."
"Yes, we do," Teyla confirmed.
"How many Elite warriors are there?" Morgan asked. "It must take some time to gather everyone's opinions on a subject."
They hadn't wasted any time.
So much for a nice quiet relaxed evening walk with Teyla and Ketra.
0000
TBC