Chapter 2:
John and his team were sitting down across from Katara and her friends. John and Teyla were conversing in hushed whispers while Ronon lay back, staring at the ceiling and Rodney was thinking hard and staring into space.
Aang was watching them silently while Sokka fidgeted with his boomerang. Aang tapped Sokka without taking his eyes off of the odd looking group. Sokka looked around at Aang.
"What?"
Aang glanced at Sokka. "Where do you think they're from?" he asked, looking back at the team. Sokka looked up from his boomerang and shrugged.
"No idea. I haven't seen anybody like them before, have you?" Sokka asked, looking to Aang. Aang shook his head.
"Nope." Aang said and they fell silent. Katara walked over with Toph and sat down next to Aang. She looked confused and curious at the same time. She looked to Aang, her chocolate brown hair falling over her face, and she brushed it away.
"Have they said anything?" she asked in a hushed whisper. Aang shook his head. Katara looked apprehensive.
"You don't think it's a good idea to have them here?" Aang whispered back. Katara bit her lip.
"It might jeopardize our mission to find Appa. What if the Dai Li kicks us out?" Katara asked.
"Or worse, imprison us for saving the prisoners from going to jail." Toph said. Katara shifted guiltily in her seat.
"Relax guys. We don't even know what they've done; they could be framed for all we know." Sokka said, at ease. Katara didn't look reassured.
A noise turned Aang and the others to the team's attention. Their leader had cleared his throat, and was looking expectantly at them.
"Hello," Katara said slowly. One of the men, the muscular, intimidating one, chuckled slightly. The leader looked at her, but not harsh. He looked kind and curious, also a little mad.
Sokka sat up. "Okay," he said, businesslike. "Katara, Toph, and Aang, this is John, Teyla, Ronon, and Ricky." Sokka said and the man at the end of the couch looked up sharply.
"Ricky?" he said. Sokka looked down at him blankly.
"Yeah, Ricky." He stopped and the team was just staring at him. "What? That's what you said!" Sokka said, and Sheppard laughed.
"It is not! It's Rodney! Dr. Rodney McKay, for your information." Dr. McKay snapped. Sokka rolled his eyes.
"Okay, okay. Sorry, it's Rodney." Sokka said, and Katara leaned forward.
"What's a doctor?" She questioned him, and he looked at her quizzically. Teyla stepped in for him.
"A healer. He's not really a healer, but he specializes in subjects where that name means the rank of —"
"Of how smart one is. I have a very high degree for your information." McKay said with a satisfied smirk.
Toph laughed. "Someone's got a big head." She mumbled and Rodney glowered.
"We thank your friends from saving us from those men," the Teyla said before any of it could turn into a debate. Katara smiled at them.
"No problem," Toph said, kicking her feet onto the coffee table. Sokka nodded.
"What were those men after you for anyway?" Sokka persisted once more. John Sheppard looked at his team. Teyla nodded.
"We didn't do anything wrong, your people didn't believe us when we said we came through the Stargate." Sheppard began. Katara exchanged glances with Aang and Sokka.
"The what —?" Sokka began.
"It is a circular device that transports one to another planet. It's a few miles from this city, have any of you—?" Teyla said, but they were shaking their heads.
"That would stir up the Dai Li. They wouldn't want their peace to be ruined in this town; they are very...protective over that." Katara explained. Sokka was looking at the team, a new expression on his face.
"You're saying this thing is real?" Sokka asked eagerly. Sheppard nodded. Toph snorted.
"Come on, they're delusional. If that were true, why hasn't anyone we know discovered it yet, huh?" Toph demanded. Sheppard looked towards her.
"Because they probably weren't looking for it. We can prove it to you, if you would like." He said, and Toph only stared at him.
Katara spoke up. "Toph, how can they be lying?" Toph looked at her sharply, her black hair dangling in her eyes. "Listen; look at how they are dressed. They definitely don't look like they belong here, do they?" Katara asked Toph.
She snorted. "How do you expect me to know what they're wearing?" she demanded. Katara blinked.
"Oh, well, you can sort of feel what they are wearing, can't you? You know well enough they aren't from here." Katara said, recovering. Toph shook her head.
Sheppard looked sharply at Katara. "What do you mean?" he asked her. Katara looked at him, then to Toph.
Rodney sat up so suddenly that Ronon looked at him in alarm.
"She's blind." He said in a low voice. Toph looked sharply at him.
"What makes you think that?" she snapped. Rodney stared at her. He got on the floor, on his knees and held up four fingers in front of her face.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked, Teyla nudged him reproachfully. Toph's face looked annoyed.
"Four. What other stupid tricks would you like to try out?" she asked. Rodney looked surprised. Katara gently put his hand down.
"Toph is blind; she's a little touchy on the subject. She can sense with her feet when she earth bends." Katara explained.
"I can sense the vibrations with my feet, really any part of my body." Toph corrected icily, looking towards Rodney.
"Hold on a minute, what is earthbending?" Rodney demanded. Everyone looked at Rodney, the other side staring at him in shock.
Katara cocked her head. "You...you don't know what bending is?"
Sheppard shook his head along with Ronon and Rodney. But Teyla looked awed and amazed.
"Then it is true! I never dreamed that any of this could be real— the Ancients," Teyla explained to Sheppard and the others. "This is the weapon they were talking about! How they planned on destroying the Wraith," Teyla said eagerly. Her eyes were wide with excitement.
Sheppard looked from her, to Aang and the rest of them. He turned to Katara. "Would you like to explain this "bending" for us?" he asked her kindly. Katara nodded, still looking bewildered.
"Bending is a combination of martial arts and the elements. There are various techniques which are used on different elements. I can waterbend, Aang can airbend, and as Toph demonstrated to you, she can earthbend." Katara explained.
Rodney laughed. Katara looked at him, an eyebrow cocked. "I'm sorry," he said, his laughter abruptly stopped. "But that is completely ridiculous." Sheppard sighed and Ronon rolled his eyes.
"Come on, McKay, you saw what the Dai Li did." Sheppard said to McKay. He didn't answer.
"Did you not see Toph knock out those soldiers for us?" Teyla said sharply, looking at Rodney with hard eyes. Rodney sighed.
"I'm not saying it isn't true, I'm just saying it's ridiculous. Why would the Ancients want to create benders? How effective would that be against the Wraith? They can suck out the life out of you, can't they?" Rodney said looking from Teyla to Sheppard.
"Can somebody please tell us what the heck a Wraith is?" Toph asked, sounding irritated. Sheppard turned to her, but Teyla spoke before him.
"A Wraith is an evil monster that feeds on humans for food." She said darkly. Sokka looked shocked.
"They eat humans?" he said, looking revolted.
"Not exactly. They don't actually eat the flesh or whatever," Rodney said, leaning back and staring at the teens across from him.
"They have a sucker on their hand, and they place it right here," Sheppard pointed to his chest. "Then they suck the life right out of ya, until you're sucked dry and the only thing left is bones."
Katara, Aang, and Sokka looked horrified. Toph even looked revolted. "How could we not have heard of this?" Katara asked, shocked.
"This planet is protected by the Ancients. You would not have been affected by any of the cullings," Teyla said darkly. Katara swallowed.
"So...we're safe...right?" she said nervously. Teyla nodded.
"For the time being. This is why we came here, to form an alliance with your people." Teyla explained, glancing at Sheppard. He cleared his throat.
"But, as we can see, they don't really feel like cooperating at the moment. Any idea how we can fix that?" Sheppard asked, looking from Katara, to Aang, to Sokka, then to Toph.
"The Dai Li is the law enforcement around here, and their leader is Long Fe. Unfortunately, it takes forever just to get in with the King of Ba Sing Se." Katara said, looking annoyed and weary.
Sheppard sat up. "That won't be a problem. Can you lead us to the King?" he asked Katara. Katara looked surprised and then looked to Aang.
"You're going to try to get past the Dai Li?" Sokka asked eyes wide. Sheppard looked to his team and then nodded.
"We need to talk with some authority, other then the Dai Li." He said, and Teyla touched his arm.
"Should we not report back to Atlantis?" Teyla asked. Rodney nodded.
"We could try another way around to get to the King." Ronon said gruffly.
Toph turned to Sheppard. "Why don't you ask some other Nation's leader? Like..." Toph turned to her friends. "Who could they ask?"
Katara looked troubled. "I'm not sure. They could go to the North Pole, but that's half-way around the world. Aang, do you know anybody they could speak to?" Katara asked Aang.
Aang blinked. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "I — I don't know... what about...? No that wouldn't work. I think our only option is the Earth King." Aang said finally.
"We do have a puddle jumper right now, we could fly there." Sheppard suggested. "But we'd need someone to guide us. Teyla, how familiar are you with this planet?" Teyla moved her bright brown eyes to him.
"I know only of Ba sing Se. My father had to leave before he could explore anymore of the planet." Teyla said.
"About your father," Rodney began. "If this was the perfect planet, why didn't he bring your people here to live?" Teyla looked at him coldly.
"Our people refused to leave. Also, my father did not think it honorable to take away these peoples homes." Teyla said and Rodney fell into a silence, looking slightly abashed.
"We should head back to the puddle jumper if we want to get there quick. Rodney and Teyla, I want you to radio to Atlantis about our situation. Ronon, you're with me." Sheppard turned to Aang and Katara. "Do any of you know the way to the North Pole?"
Katara looked to Aang. "You need to stay here, to watch for Appa." Katara said, and Aang nodded. She turned to Sheppard. "I'll go with you." Sheppard nodded and he beckoned her to follow him.
Katara hugged Aang, and then waved to Toph and Sokka. She turned and Sheppard was on his feet, walking towards the door.
"Wait!" Toph said behind them. Sheppard and Katara turned, along with Teyla, Ronon, and Rodney who were already at the door.
Toph hopped off the arm of the couch. "You'll need an escort. I wouldn't put it past the Dai Li to stop their search for you guys," Toph said, walking up to Sheppard. He nodded in agreement.
"Great. Let's go then," Colonel Sheppard said, walking out the door.
Toph dragged Aang and Sokka while Katara walked with Sheppard.
They walked outside and Sheppard was assigning partners. "Rodney and Teyla, you'll be with Sokka and Aang. Katara, Toph, you're with Ronon and I. Remember, Rodney's team is heading to the Gate, and my team is heading towards the puddle jumper." Sheppard said, looking at everyone. They nodded.
"Great. Everyone, head out!" Sheppard said and he headed off with Ronon. Toph and Katara hurried behind them and everyone dispersed.