Getting Forrest to focus had been more of a struggle than anyone had anticipated, as they worked to get her from the jumper bay to the conference room. The pair seemed to bounce from window to window, eyes wide as they looked out across the city. *This is insane*, Castiel nodding his head in agreement as Carson stood next to them. "We can show you more later, but we need to talk to Dr. Weir." He said as the others waited. Sighing deeply, she turned to follow. "So, I have one question. You all refer to one another often by your title and last name. Why is that?" Carson had no idea how to explain that to her, as they joined the others walking up the stairs into the gate room. "Just a formality I guess." She was silent for a moment. "On Loonrian, your title is used very rarely. The day you get it, when you first introduce yourself, signing your name, and then when you die. The rest of the time our first names are used." She explained as she looked around the room, watching as people somewhat paused to look at Castiel and herself. "They are all so curious." "Well, no one has exactly seen something like Castiel before." They walked past the control room, Forrest looking around at the technology around her before she was led into the open doors of the conference room that then closed behind her.
Inside, Dr. Weir and Tayla stood waiting. The pair eyeing Forrest and Castiel curiously as the group began to move around the long table to sit down. John and Carson were staying up for a moment with Forrest. "Elizabeth, this is Forrest Atla and Castiel. Forrest, Castiel, this is Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Tayla Emmagen." John said as he looked at the pair. Dr. Weir about to speak but cut off as Castiel hopped down from Forrest's shoulders, growing himself up to his tiger sized form. Nodding his head respectfully before Forrest spoke. "It is an honor to meet you, Cas says thank you for your hospitality." She said as she looked around the room, most everyone inside eye's locked onto them. "Well, it is nice to meet both of you, welcome to Atlantis. I am not sure exactly what all has happened, but I look forward to hearing it from all of you." Her eyes bouncing from John to Carson, who obviously had something to do with the pair before her, John she expecting it from, but not Carson. Beside her, Tayla was more focused on Castiel. Who was contently standing next to Forrest. His bright blue eyes looking around the room with intense curiosity. "While I do have things to ask of you Forrest, for now, it will be best if I talk to my team about what has happened. Tayla, if you would please take Forrest and show her around a bit." Carson suddenly realizing that the long smears of dried blood still showed on Forrest's silver hair probably did not give the best first impression. "I'm sure you are tired Forrest, I will be happy to show you around a bit while they talk. Forrest nodded, looking at John. "Don't worry too much, you and Tayla will probably get along very well." "Thank you so much." She said as Castiel once again shrank back down, setting himself on her shoulders.
Tayla smiled, as she walked past the group and towards the door. While she was unsure of Forrest and Castiel, the pair seemed somewhat overwhelmed that she fully understood. "I'll find you later," Carson said with a smile as Forrest turned to follow after Tayla. The pair slipping out of the conference room door while the others stood in silence. Weir turning to take her seat, the others following suit. "Okay, start to finish tell me everything that happened." She said folding her hands on the table. Waiting to hear who would talk first.
The pair of women laughed a little as they walked through the city, John's prediction of the pair getting along well accurate as Tayla showed her the main features of the city. They had gone out on one of the piers, allowing Castiel to grow to full size and Forrest to grab all her bags from the saddles before he shrank back down. Leaving Tayla rather impressed, and nervous all the same time. Tayla explaining the general idea of the city, while Forrest did the same regarding who she and Castiel were, and their way of life. While Tayla was curious as to what had happened to bring the pair here, she knew soon enough John, and the others would fill her in. Right now, though, she found Forrest to seem genuine in her intentions, as she looked around the city with a sense of wonder. As people ran into them, word spread of Castiel. Who had at this point managed to end up on Tayla's shoulders; but she did not mind. She found the animal breathtaking with his colors and patterns. "So, I was able to see you have blood in your hair?" She half asked as she looked at the crimson streaks in Forrest's hair. "Oh, I guess that is left from yesterdays emergency." She explained, though not going into depth. Tayla did not pry, as she led Forrest down the hall towards her quarters. "I can guess you have not had a hot shower in a while?" She asked as Forrest laughed, "A year or two, had to shut that down to save power." She explained as Tayla opened the door. Leading the pair inside her own quarters before speaking, "Well, there is enough power here for that. You are welcome to use mine if you want. They are probably planning exactly where you will be staying." She explained as she sat down on the foot of her bed, Forrest nodding her head as she looked around the room. Tayla had explained her people, and Forrest already wished to meet them on the mainland. "Thank you so much, you have been so kind to me." She said as Castiel glided down to Tayla, sitting next to her. "You are very much welcome; I know how it feels to be here for the first time. The bathroom is just over there; I can wait out here for you." With a deep sigh, Forrest nodded and walked away to the bathroom.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, looking at the three ZPMs that Rodney had placed before her during their story. It was a lot to take in, even more so when there seemed to be two definitive sides on the entire mission. Carson and John against Ronon and Rodney, a combo she had never expected. "I still feel like we should not yet trust her, you should have a guard with her and Tayla now. That dragon could easily kill her." Ronon glaring across the table at John. "I don't think we need to do that. She treated us with the hospitality we need to return that." "Besides, I doubt either of them would want to cause harm." Carson sating as he leaned forward in his chair. "Twitterpated much." Rodney muttering to himself as he looked up. Elizabeth sighed, "Well, considering there was a casualty that was not one of you, and we now have three ZPMs I can say I agree we do owe them." Ronon sitting back in his chair with a growl. She ignored him she looked at them all. "It sounds like right now there is a lot of potential, but I think its best to rest on it. I will be talking to her and Castiel tomorrow hopefully. Carson, go make sure she did fix you." Ronon shook his head, "We have no real idea what she is capable of, why am I the only one worried about that?" "Because you are the only one with that mindset." John arguing as the two looked at each other. "If this goes south, don't say I did not warn you." Elizabeth shaking her head, before speaking once more. "I guess you can go play with the these." Motioning to the ZPMs on the table as she looked to Rodney. The scientist standing and gathering them back into his bag, as everyone else began to stand up. "We have a lot to plan for now and discuss. Be ready for it." She said dismissing them all. Carson standing, getting ready to leave when she spoke. "She needs a place to stay, is there still an open room near your quarters." The doctor paused. "yes I believe so." "Perfect, find them and show them there. You have spent the most time with the pair; it will probably be best to have you close by." She explained, Carson agreeing to the idea before turning and walking out of the room heading to the infirmary. Leaving Elizabeth who was already becoming lost in thought on the situation. She was not angry, but not exactly thrilled about their new found guests, but right now they would be staying here till there was time to discuss things for the long term.
Hot water had not been something Forrest had experience for so long, and it left her feeling quite a bit better. Maybe because her body was sore, perhaps because she was so used to being cold, she did not know. But Tayla had been so kind about the offer, allowing her to take as much time as she needed. Her silver hair now in a long braid, and her clothes fresh. Castiel even had enjoyed the warmth; his mint colored mane now holding a beautiful shine. They had left, Tayla wondering how much longer it would be till the others were done with their meeting. Either way, their destination was the mess hall. She figured the duo would be hungry, with no knowledge of what they had been used to. The trio talked like they had known each other a lifetime. For Forrest, it was her first female human contact in years. It felt refreshing. As the two rounded a corner, Carson popped up around another. "Tayla, Forrest, I was just looking for you." He said as they came to a halt. "Dr. Beckett, is the briefing over?" Tayla asking, "Yes, if you like you can go find Ronon and the others. Where were you heading?" "I believe the mess hall right?" Forrest said as she looked over. "That is correct; we were on our way there." He nodded, before smiling lightly, "I can show her, plus I also know where you will be staying here." He explained as Tayla listened. "Thank you, Doctor, I would like to go hear the story myself if that is okay Forrest?" She nodded, "You are fine, Probably a better one from their point of view." Tayla smiled, "Then I will see you later." As she turned and walked back the way, they had come.
"So how did it all go?" She asked as Carson began to lead her once more. "Good I mean, right now Dr. Weir agrees with the decision to bring you here. Ronon and Rodney are not exactly excited." She nodded, as Castiel hopped over onto his shoulders happily, while still strange he was starting to get used to it. "I figured that last part; I don't blame them too much though. Maybe they will change their minds later on." She said as the pair walked into the mess hall, heads turning to Castiel who sniffed at the air. "Smells amazing." "Trust me, the food back on Earth is even better, here we have to keep things a bit more simple." "Hot fresh food is hot fresh food." She joked as she followed after him. Castiel jumped down, his body growing once again as he grabbed a tray as Carson had, the entire room suddenly silent. "Sorry about that." *seriously you could have just shared mine..* *I wanted my own.* *these people are not used to what you just did* *Have to start them somewhere.* She glared at the dragon's head, as one of the cooks nervously placed the food on his tray. Carson trying to not laugh at the entire situation. How many would believe them if he told them of the pair? He led them to one of the tables, sitting down near an end as Castiel sat on the floor next to them, sitting up with his tray on the table. "How was Tayla? You both seemed to be getting along well?" Forrest laughed, as she tried to figure out where to start with the amount of food she had. "She is amazing, very welcoming. Her people sound so interesting it would be great to go see them soon." She explained as she began to eat. "She is lovely, kind person. Colonel Sheppard was right when he said you two would get along. But she can drop most the Marines here, so I am a wee bit scared of her." He stopped, looking across at Forrest who was wolfing down the food. "You are gonna make yourself sick eating that fast." She looked up at him, "I know.. And I honestly do not care at all. This is amazing." Castiel was calm, eating slowly shaking his head at his partner. "I see you got the blood out of your hair." She smirked, "Yeah did not realize it was there. Great first impression." He shook his head. "There have been worse around here trust me." Most the room was still curiously watching Castiel, who paid them no mind.
"You said there is a place for me to stay here?" "Yes, there was a recent opening near where I stay. Weir suggested that one, that way I am close by if you need anything." She paused, looking up at him "Thank you." It was genuine; she was somewhat relieved to know he would not be far away. While Tayla had shown her quite a bit, she already had a feeling that getting lost would be a common thing for her. "They are nothing fancy, but still comfortable." "Carson we lived in a hospital room for the past ten years, an upgrade is an upgrade." He laughed a little. "Good point, I requested a radio for you as well. I am not sure when you will get that. Then you can get a hold of anyone if need be. " She nodded, appreciating the kindness. "I do not know, what I can do to repay all of you for bringing me here. You did not have to do that, and I am sorry if it got you in trouble in any way." He shook his head. "You got us the power source we need. That alone gave you the right to be here. Your friend sacrificed himself to get them. You do not need to do anything in return." She sighed, looking down at her now empty plate and over to his half gone one. "I hope I can at least help, here for everyone." "I'm sure you will, it may take a bit for my nurses to get used to Castiel, but they can manage." She laughed "I feel like there are quite a few people who are going to have to figure out how to manage" "You have no idea." They finished eating, taking their trays over to the bins they went in before walking out of the mess hall, Castiel quickly shrinking back down and perching on Forrest's shoulders.
There was a silence between the pair as they walked, partly because all three were exhausted. Forrest having not slept at all the night before, and Carson having drifted in and out of it. "Well, this here is mine." He said as he stopped in front of a set of sliding doors. "If you ever need anything at night, just come knocking. I tend to sleep light." She smiled, looking at the door and then to him. "Thank you; I will feel bad if I wake you up though." "Its no problem. Promise." He said as he began to lead her down the hall, "Rodney is a story down below me if for whatever reason you can't get a hold of me and need something. He is an asshole, I'll be the first to admit it. If anything he can get a hold of someone else." He explained as he came to a stop at another door, Running his hand over the glowing blue crystals. "Here we are." She followed him inside, Castiel jumping off of her shoulders and onto the floor were he grew once again. "Does not have a balcony sadly like some of the others. But the big windows are nice." Forrest set her bags down at the foot of the bed, looking around the room then to the windows. "Those are good enough for me." She said as she stood at one of them, looking out at the beautiful city and the water around it. "I have never seen this much water before." He looked out the window next to her, " 90 percent water I believe they said. This planet." She smiled, as she looked out the window at the setting sun, she had never seen anything like it before as it began to dip into the water. "This is perfect, thank you so much." She said as she turned to look at the room once again. "It is better than I could imagine, I remember the military men who would come to the University for information, the way they talked they were crammed 5 to a room with bunk beds." "Not like that here, this place was designed to hold so many more people; we maybe fill a quarter." He paused, as he looked at Castiel who had hopped onto the bed and happily laid down on it. "I should probably let you both sleep now, you have had less than me recently." She nodded, as she walked to the door with him. He stepped out of the doorway, looking back at her. "Goodnight Forrest." "Night Carson." The door slid between them, not able to hear his footsteps as he walked away. She turned to Castiel, who had happily made room for her on the bed. *I think we found the right place Cas.* she sat down next to him, scratching him behind his hears. *I do believe you are right.*
Well, that concludes book one! Oh, the places they will go!
Remember, I try to update and post Mondays and Thursdays. These are the days i am not in a tractor, and have a good internet connection ;3 I wish I could offer more often ones. But as Spring starts and water comes on, my time is pretty limited.
You follow on me on Tumblr as the-speaker-of-the-beasts Be it updates, hints or even some art I manage to get commed.
Book two will be starting on Thursday folks!