Hibernation13
"So you are suggesting that there had to be something here, before life was taken and seeded from Earth?" Carson asked, warming to the topic.
Moira nodded. "Yes. There had to be some sort of primitive life forms, at least. Don't you agree? This galaxy had to be able to support life, or else the Ancients wouldn't have bothered to seed it, much less remain here. Perhaps the life devolved to a point of no return, necessitating the introduction of life forms from the Milky Way."
"Or conversely evolved to a higher plane of existence superseding all known types of life. Like the Ancients did. Their ultimate goal of ascension."
"Maybe. I suppose they even evolved out of their enjoyment of a fantastic fudge."
"Moira," John snorted, catching himself. Tensing.
She smiled. "Sorry, John. Still," she resumed seriously, "there had to be life here, before. Maybe it went extinct. Or was killed off by something calamitous. If these planets couldn't sustain their own ecosystems then they would never have been able to sustain ours. Unless they just happened to be remarkably similar."
"And if they were that suggests a convergent evolution on a planetary scale," John noted, gesturing with his fork for emphasis. "But they must have terra formed some planets. What are the odds of every planet here being habitable compared to our own galaxy? Of course the Stargate network allows us to travel great distances between worlds, but now that you mentioned it we haven't really encountered any alien species, so to speak. Except for the nasty ones. That bug we can't mention, for one. And the Wraith, of course. And Moira's little enzyme."
"True, only at a micro bacterial level. You know, colonel, you may be onto something here. But this is not my speciality," Carson averred.
"Nor is it mine," Moira agreed. "I'm no astrophysicist, but–"
"Really? Never would have guessed that," John quipped.
Moira glared at him. "Stop fudging around, John, this is serious!"
He laughed, lowered his fork. "Moira, don't!"
"Does every planet have a Stargate?" she asked.
He considered. Sipped his water. "Yes. Some are in space and not even on the planetary surface, but yes. I think so. As far as I know. I'm no astrophysicist either."
"That's a shocker, colonel," she jested, making him scowl. "When we compared the two Wraith genome sequences there were significant differences. Not only because of the ATA gene but other changes as well. Do you think one of those could be–"
"Of course! Why didn't I think of that!" Carson exclaimed. "In some ways ours are mirroring their development, minus the ATA gene, thank goodness! But they are still on the same technological level."
"Maybe, maybe not. Their Atlantis was more advanced in many ways. We should assume the same for their Wraith, but you're right, they are on similar pathways like we are with that other Atlantis. Except for the ATA gene. And other things. And if they are using it to not only extend their lives but to–"
"It's the only thing that makes sense, for them to develop it at all. The question is why. Colonel?"
Both turned to John. He was looking from one to the other, frowning. "I think I preferred it when you talked in shorthand. What is it, exactly?"
"HIT. The hibernation inducement trigger. You speculated that the reason could be not only for extended life of both the host and the prey but for travel."
"I did?" He considered. "Oh yeah, I did." He smiled. But frowned, eying Moira. "The question is travel to where? Earth?" The word sent a chill down their spines, imaging it.
"God I hope not," Carson muttered.
"Or somewhere else," Moira mused, chewing on her lower lip a moment. "The only way to Earth is here, right? So what if it's not Earth."
"Then where?" John asked.
"I have no idea." She sighed. Pushed. "Scoot! Scoot, would you? I've got work to do, unlike you, apparently. John!"
He sighed. "Fine, fine." He scooted, letting her escape the table. "Where are you–"
"All this talk of fudge has made me really want some. Fudge, John, just fudge!" she insisted to his sudden smile. His playful smirk.
"Watch your language, Moira," he chided.
"Hilarious, John. You–"
"Hey, Moira, I might just be in the mood for a really, really delectable fudge. Are you up for it later, baby?"
She sighed, shook her head. But smiled. "The question is, sweetie, will you be?"
"Absolutely, sweetheart. You–"
"Behave and stand down, colonel, before you fudge yourself silly again."
"Not myself, no," he retorted with a smile.
"John!" She sighed at his laugh. Left the two men.
Carson shook his head. "The two of you are quite a pair," he commented.
John shrugged. "Yeah, I guess we are, Carson."
"I haven't seen you laugh like that in quite a while. Maybe never, come to think of it."
"Well, Moira knows how to push my buttons," he vaguely explained.
"I see. I'm glad, John. You two seem very happy together."
"We are. Very. Despite everything. Maybe because of everything. We are."
"John! John! I need to see..." Moira's voice trailed off as she skidded to a ungraceful halt. Everyone turned in the control room, stared at her as her insistent voice fell into silence.
John smiled. Strolled towards her. "Moira. What do you need to see?"
"Um, it can wait, sorry, I was just...sorry," she stammered, embarrassed, backing up.
He pursued, a smile on his face. Voice lowering. "What do you need to see, baby? Please, please tell me this is a surprise ordnance inspection, or a new fudge you want to try."
"John!" She laughed. "No...I..it can wait. Sorry!" She turned, headed quickly away from the amused audience. Berating herself for her impulsiveness.
"Moira!" he called, pursuing. "I will follow that pert little ass, baby, so you may as well complete that sentence."
"That's harassment, Sheppard!" she flared over her shoulder.
"So it is, baby. No, it's appreciation. Walk faster," he teased, on her heels now as she entered their room.
She whirled to face him. "John, I need to see the flash drive."
He paused. Merriment fleeing. "No."
"What? John, this is important! I think, I could be wrong but I think there could be a fourth message on the–"
"Don't care. We're done with that, Moira. With him."
"John! It could be important! I need to see that flash drive. There may be more information about that planet, the enzyme, the HIT, the–"
"I said no, Moira. I don't care if there's a fourth, fifth, or hundredth message on there! Mission is over, Moira. Case closed. End of story. We are moving on."
She sighed. Stepped to him but he folded his arms across his chest. Implacable. Stern. "John, be reasonable." He was silent, watching her. She touched his arm. "Sweetie, we are past it. All of it. But there could be more information on that flash drive and we need to access it now."
"I said no, Moira. No. Read my lips. No."
She replied tartly, "I'd rather kiss those lips. Erase this obstinacy, colonel. Hmm...how can I get past that gruff, stubborn, Alpha male exterior?"
"You can't. So no. You won't seduce it out of me either, baby, so do not even try," he warned gravely, but hoped she would try. Anticipated it. "Not even your pert little ass will make me budge on this."
She smiled, tilted her head. Glanced down at his crotch. "Really? It won't make you budge at all? Oh John..." she purred. Kissed him. "But it will make you hard, won't it? So hard..." She smirked, turned away from him. Sashayed a few steps and leaned over. Looked back. His stubborn expression had not changed, nor had his determined stance. "No? Hmm...maybe these pants aren't snug enough?" She undid them. Unzipped. Stepped out of her shoes and slid the pants down to her ankles. Stepped out of them. Wiggled her rear, exaggerating her movements. She looked back at him.
He was watching. Gaze glued to her rear. The shapely curves enfolded in the violet satin. He was smirking but still unmovable. Expression turning stern once more as her gaze hit him.
"No? Damn...I must be losing my touch. Let me see..." She ran her hands down her back. To her rear. To grasp, squeeze, murmur. Slid the panties down a little. A little, giving him a peek of flesh and curves. "It still feels pert. What do you think, John? John?" She looked over her shoulder. He was gone. "John?"
"Hold position, baby!" he called from his room.
She smiled. Wondered what he was doing. What he was getting. She pulled up her panties. Frowned. "Sweetie? The only hard thing you are packing had better be the flash drive."
He laughed from the other room. She frowned. Leaned over to grab her pants. "I said hold position, although that one will do very nicely too," he teased, moving towards her.
She whirled, pants in hand. Laughed. John still wore his black t-shirt, but his pants were gone. He wore the boxers with the green soldiers on them. The bulge all too evident of her success. "John? That had better be the flash drive, damn it."
He smiled. Moved to her. Bare feet silent on the floor. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her. "You know I can't resist that pert little ass, baby, so yeah, we can call this a flash drive. We can call this whatever you want, as long as you do call it." He grabbed her rear, squeezing to make her squirm. "And this ass is very pert, don't you worry. Very, very, pert. And completely fudgeable."
She laughed, shoving. "John! I was teasing! We are not fudging right now! I need the flash–"
"Later. No." He kissed her again. "I want a fudge, baby, a fudge to end all fudges. We can look at the flash drive later, okay? Right now I want to fudge, fudge, fudge. Moira, let's fudge ourselves silly, shall we?"
She laughed. Kissed him. "Oh John! Fudge me, sweetie!"