"Secrets and Challenges"

Ch. 47

(PK3-510, Amazon Planet)

Stacey could smell the smoke of several bomb fires coming from a distance away. Major Lorne and Dr. Dexter led her and Teyla to the Amazon Village where Colonel Anderson and Dr. Jones were being held captive.

"So, how far is this village, Major?" Stacey asked.

"6 clicks from our current position," he answered.

Stacey groaned, "Great."

Teyla turned to talk to Stacey.

"You seem unwell, Stacey," she said kindly. "Is something the matter?"

"No, I'm fine," Stacey told her. "I just . . ." she sighed. "This is the first time I've been apart from Adam since he was born."

"Is Major Sheppard not a capable father?" Teyla asked.

"He's a wonderful father!" Stacey said. "It's not him I'm worried about."

"What is it?" she asked.

"I miss Adam," she told her, with a pouted lip.

"Buck up, Dr. Grayson!" Lorne said from the front.

"Oh, you just wait till you have kids, Major," Stacey told him knowingly. "When you have them, you'll want some alone time. And when you finally get that alone time, you'll miss the baby."

"Yes, when that day comes then that will be the day I will have lost my mind," the Major said sarcastically.

"Anyway, now that I do have the time away from Adam, how are you and Ford doing?" she asked, Teyla.

"We are doing well," Teyla told her.

"That's good," Stacey paused. "Guys we're being followed."

"That would be our friendly Amazon's" Lorne told her. "Keep moving. Stacey, keep an eye out, wouldya?"

"No problem," she replied.

Her eyes became orange. She could see 6 woman up, high, in the trees. Three on each side of the road. Stacey's eyes turned back to her normal green.

"Are they doing anything?" Lorne asked, after a several miles of walking.

"Yup," Stacey answered. "It's alright. They're just watching us. For now."

"Major Lorne, how far is it now to the Amazon Camp?" Teyla asked.

"Another mile or so," he answered.

"You can tell they don't use the Stargate much," Stacey said. This road looks like it hasn't been used other than us."

"Precisely my theory, Doctor," Dr. Dexter answered excitedly. "This world is untouched by the Wraith."

Stacey stopped.

"And you failed to mention this in the Briefing Room," she said.

The other three stopped as well.

"We didn't think it was important at the time," Lorne told her.

They started walking again.

(Amazon Village)

The group was welcomed with four Amazon Warriors holding a knife at the teams throats.

"This is Dr. Grayson and Teyla. Dr. Grayson is our leader," Lorne introduced. "We held our bargain."

"You did," a dark brown haired, light green eyed, tall women approached them. "Release them."

"Well, you know who we are. Care to tell my Second in Command and I who you are?" Stacey asked. The woman looked vaguely familiar.

"I am Inara, Queen of the Amazons," the tall woman told her.

Inara. That name seems so familiar to Stacey. She looks so familiar. Why? Stacey couldn't explain it. And this, quite frankly, scare her.

"We have prepared a room for yourself and Teyla, Doctor," Inara said.

"Call me Stacey, please," the blonde told her kindly.

"Very well," Inara nodded. "However, your other men will be placed in individual Holding Cells until our negotiations are finished."

The four exchanged glances. Stacey turned to Inara.

"I understand," she told the Queen stoically.

Major Lorne couldn't resist doing a double take. For a moment he thought it was Teal'c talking, Stacey sounded so stoic.

To be continued . . .