The flight did not seem to take as long as Forrest had stated, but it had been an experience John would not forget anytime soon. He had seen many things out here, away from Earth and it's standards of realistic. Nothing destroyed that more than the dragon he sat on. Watching ahead as Malco dropped into the vast landing platform at the base. Running along the ground before coming to a stop. Dazar repeating the same landing that ended up being much smoother than it looked. It was considerably colder here, as the dragons gathered close.
Forrest swung down from Malco's neck, looking around as she scratched him affectionately above his eye. "Thank you." A sharp chirp responding to her as she then walked back to where Rodney was sitting in the saddled "That was insane!" he said as he looked at his hands that seemed to glow a shade of red from the constant stream of cold air hitting them. "Is there anything warmer I can put on for the way back?" She shook her head, as she began to unstrap his legs from the saddle "If you can find some, feel free." She turned, looking at John and Ronon as they too dismounted from their saddles. "I have no idea where the cells are here but finding them should not be too hard for you all, sounds like you are used to hunting for them."
Rodney dropped from the saddle with his bag and jumped back as Malco shrank down before him. He was small now, the size of a large cat. Saddle and all now the same size. Dazar repeating the same, process as they looked around the base. "They can shrink the saddles?" John asked as he watched Dazar jump onto Forrest's shoulders. "The leather we use for the saddles is bio-compatible to the dragons. there are sensors on the underside that sort of match the dragon's body to the saddle. Anything within the leather when it is attached to the dragons will shrink. So far, the only thing that can't shrink with a dragon is another living thing." She explained as she watched Malco glide onto John's shoulders. The man glancing upwards as the dragon held to his vest, the animal was lighter weight than he expected as it held to him. "It is easier for them to stay with us shrank down. Not all the halls and rooms will allow a full-sized dragon to travel within them." He nodded, looking around the large stone base "Well Rodney?"
The scientist was silent, as he stood working on one of the scanners, before turning around and looking at one of the buildings. "That way, picking up power readings. I don't think I can get you an exact room, given that the pulse is still knocking out my gear." The four looked at the building before John started to walk forward with Malco on his shoulders "Good enough for me, let's go." Quickly followed by Ronon as Forrest looked nervously around her, "You okay?" to her surprise, it was the scientist known as Rodney that spoke to her. Considering most of his comments had been rather annoying, it took her by surprise." "I'm fine, just been a while since I was here last." She explained as she walked carefully behind him. The anxiety-ridden man was growing on her, as much as it pained her to admit it to herself. The entire group of people had started to grow on her.
She was more and more curious about them, where they came from, who they were. From what all they had told her, of the place they lived and the world they came from, it sounded like a fiction book. She wanted to know more. See all of what they told of, and have proof for herself. She watched them as they walked in front of her into one of the long halls. Able to feel the warmth of Dazar's body as he held to her back. The flashlights on their weapons filling the room as they walked along. She felt somewhat useless, not knowing what exactly they were looking for or how she could help. "So, why are the power cells so important? I understand they power your city, but you seem to be surviving without them." She directed it at Rodney, who glanced back. "We have power yes, but not enough to power shields, dial the gate home, even keep weapons online." He was quick in his response to her, apparently not in the frame of mind to share much information. She didn't speak anymore but stayed close to the group.
* How things going Cas?* May as well check back in on how things were going at home. * Decent, he has not keeled over yet.* She had to appreciate her partner's sarcasm. *Well that is good. We are in the base; they think they know where the cells are.* able to feel a moment of excitement from him. *I will let Carson know; we have been touring the university. He is quite a curious one; he is catching on fast. Though I am about to make him start hauling this whiteboard around.* She laughed a bit out loud, causing Ronon to glance back as they moved down the hall. She said nothing, but smiled *well, if he is willing to learn then teach him.* She could feel Castiel roll his eyes, but the conversation stopped at that.
John paused as the group came to a secondary set of doors that seemed to lead down a flight of stairs. "That looks promising." He said as Rodney walked forward to the door. "It seems to be still locked up, should not be hard to by pa-" he was cut off as Malco and Dazar dropped off of Forrest and John's shoulders. Both growing to the size of a big cat, the brothers, moved towards the doors. Each one grabbing one side of the door frame, their claws cracking into the metal as they leaned backward. The shrieking and snapping of the metal filling the room as they pulled the doors apart, and dropped them off the hinges. "or do that." Rodney muttered as the dragons shrank back down and returned to the shoulders of their respected person. "I like that way of doing things better," Ronon said as he walked through the destroyed doorway. "Of course you do Chewy." John quickly following after as they moved down the stairs.
The door they met at the end of the stairs was unlocked, allowing them to walk effortlessly into the large room. It was as if they had taken a small child into a candy store, Rodney nearly running to the large central terminal. "This is it, it reads as the source of the pulse." He said as he began to work on the large console. Forrest smiled, as she walked around the room slowly looking at the old display screens and data terminals. She never understood why, why this amazing military unit never fought hard when the Wraith came. The upper class had fled here, yet even they did not survive. "Why would the Wraith you speak of not take the power cells? They came here, so why not take them?" Rodney did not respond. Instead, John walked over to stand next to her at one of the terminals. "We don't know, but they may not have known what they were. Not have needed them, or even know they were here." He said as he looked down at her. "You okay with this?" her eyes met his, as she thought. "I have been alone the past ten years of my life. I watched my people partly destroy themselves, and be destroyed by another. I have many questions I may never have the answers to, but I have the chance to help your people, for you all to stay alive, and help others too."
He had not expected that answer from her, but he did not get a chance to respond as Rodney filled the room with his voice. "Bingo!" They all turned to look, as the console began to light up slightly, lifting upwards with a slight twist. "Holy shit." Rodney was buzzing around the terminal like an angry bee. They all moved back to the terminal, Forrest not fully understanding why the three men were suddenly so bright in the eyes. "three… there are three ZPMs right here." He sounded like a child, as he looked at the stored stained glass cylinders. "These two are just being stored, not in use at all." He explained as he pointed at the lower two in their small containers. "Then this one.. is the one producing the pulse." Forrest looked at the cells, the way the upper one glowed gently as he began to fiddle with it. "So, how big of a deal is it that there are three?" Rodney finally paused, looking at her for a moment. "A huge deal, this enough to take one back to Earth and keep two on Atlantis. Maybe let the Daedalus take one. This means easy contact with Earth, all sorts of things really that you won't understand." She glared at him from across the terminal "Try me." But he said nothing as he slowly lifted the top ZPM from its housing. It stopped glowing as he held it in his hands. "That should take care of our little pulse problem." He said as he knelt, placing it into his backpack. The other three stood watching as he looked up again. "May take me a bit to get these other ones out of the housing." He explained as he continued to work on the terminal. *, let our guest know that it may be a bit longer, but that we have found the cells and Rodney is working on getting them out of the housing. * checking in with Castiel as she leaned against the wall. Able to feel the dragon's happiness and understanding as they started to wait.
It was nearly three hours later by the time Rodney placed the third and final ZPM into the backpack. Happily closing it up and slinging it over his shoulders. Forrest had found a spot on the floor, with Dazar having grown a bit to allow her to lean against him. She looked up with groggy eyes, having fallen asleep waiting for the man to finish his work. "Time to go?" he asked as she stretched her back out, and stood from the floor. "Yup, he has them all out." John moving towards the entryway with Malco on his shoulders, followed by Rodney. Ronon looked down at her, as he waited. Dazar shrinking back down to hop not onto her shoulders, but Ronon's. "Why is he on me?" The man's deep voice taking her by surprise once again. "He must like you; dragons tend to be excellent judges of character." She explained as she walked ahead of him. The dragon lowering its head next to Ronon's, its green eyes looking into his own. "Guess that's a good thing."
They walked outside from the compound, the sunlight harsh against her eyes Forrest took a deep breath. The fresh air a comfort from having been in the storage room the past few hours. "Guess all that is left is to fly back." She said as she watched Malco and Dazar hop to the ground and grew back into their standard size. Shaking their heads and stretching their wings. John paused, allowing Forrest to stand by his side. "You know, they are magnificent. I would never have expected to ever find something like this out here." She glanced up there, watching as Rodney began to obsessively attach his backpack to Malco's saddle. "Well, you can check that off your list then." She joked as she began to walk forward towards Malco, resting her hand on his black neck. She was able to see Rodney now strapping himself back into the saddle. Dazar landing just beside them as the others began to get ready to mount up.
That was when the bang hit her ears, and continued. The gunfire starting as the dragons ducked low, their wings lifting as it began. "What the hell is that?!" Rodney yelling before grabbing ahold of the saddle as Malco shifted, his wing moving up to act as a shield while Dazar lunged forward into the fire. The roar shattering the air around them. "I have no idea! There was no one here last time!" She yelled as she kept her body behind Malco's foreleg. John leaned over the neck of the dragon, returning a burst of fire as he watched Dazar slam into a tipped container, sending two men tumbling before pouncing onto them. "Jesus." He muttered as he looked over at Forrest as she spoke. "Well, not this time." She felt horrible, having gotten them into this kind of situation. "The dragon's scales are bulletproof to an extent! They can keep taking this fire!" She yelled before running to Rodney. "Ronon get in the saddle with him please!" Her command polite, as the large man looked at her then John before leaning over and under Malco's wing to return a few shots. "Just get on!" John yelling as once again leaned over, see the now torn in half bodies of the men Dazar had pounced on, watching as the dragon grabbed a hold of another and shook violently, splitting him in half before letting both halves fly. "Our take off is not going to be nearly as smooth as before. Strap yourselves in and be ready to take off." She explained as she watched them cram into the saddle. Hands finding any hold on the leather available. "John get on the neck saddle, Dazar is holding fire you guys go we will be right beh-" She was cut off when she heard the hiss and snap of a plasma bolt. Then it hit them; a pain filled wail filling the air. Dazar suddenly fell behind them, the red blood smearing across the stone floor, As he slid to a stop. "Oh, no.."
She ran without thinking, straight for Dazar. His wails filling the air but weakening with each moment. "Dazar shrink!" her call meeting his ears as the dragon shrank down to the size of a house cat. She scooped him up, able to feel the ground shake as Malco moved closer to them. "Forrest I think we need to go now!" John having managed to get himself into the front saddle. The shots ringing out around them as she carried the wounded dragon, "Take him!" She said handing Dazar up to John before climbing up and into the saddle. "Malco go!" She screamed as she moved into the saddle with John. He handed the wounded Dazar forward, allowing Forrest to place the dragon safely between her body and the saddle.
Rough was an understatement to the take off they performed. Malco running hard and half climbing some of the buildings to put something between them and the shots. He got to the wall, diving off the edge and taking flight into the trees. Putting some space between them before lifting away from the tops of the pines. Everyone was taken back, silent as they began to fly southward. John looked backward, able to see Rodney and Ronon holding on tight and how green the scientist's face was. Looking forward, he was able to feel it. Something thick, hot, and wet against his leg. Shifting he was able to see the crimson blood flowing down Malco's neck and onto his pantleg. "Forrest how bad is he?" He yelled over the wind. She glanced back "Lean back a bit; I can try and get a better look." He did as told, slowly leaning back In the saddle to allow Forrest a chance to look at Dazar. She already knew it was bad, and the amount of blood flowing was just confirming her fears. She leaned back more, pulling her coat off and quickly wrapping it tightly around the dragon's midsection. "Thought you said they are somewhat bulletproof." "Bullet yes, not a Plasma." She said as she leaned forward, holding Dazar close again. "Malco, I hate to ask, but we need some speed." Her call heard as the dragon's wings began to beat harder and faster. The air hitting harder as he gained speed. Forrest ran her hands up and into Malco's mane. She knew he was scared, his little brother not in the best of shape. *Castiel I need you to pull all the surgical gear to the main hall. Dazar is hurt, and things will need to happen fast.*
Meanwhile, the pair had happily found themselves in one of the small sitting areas in the library. Carson holding some of the medical tablets as Castiel napped on one of the chairs. The dragon shot upright, awake in an instant causing Carson to jump. "What?" The dragon getting up and quickly running to the whiteboard. "Dazar has been injured; we need to gather things from the surgical rooms." He wrote it down quickly, looking at Carson. "Who is hurt, I can't understand the name." He was worried now. He had no idea who was hurt as the dragon looked at him, noticeably frustrated. Then finally, he wrote a large D on the board, pointing at it. Having somewhat caught onto some of the letters they used having looked at their gear. Carson tipped his head slightly to the side, "Dragon? Dazar!" Realizing that the green marked dragon had been hurt. "Show me what all you need to gather, I'll help you prep for him," Castiel said nothing as he took off, running down the halls with Carson following. *we are on it, we will have everything ready in the room.* His thought went with no response, only a wave of fear flowed into his mind before fading into nervous background noise.