Stargate Atlantis: Fool's Gold2
"Fight? Excuse me?" John quirked a brow, eying the woman in front of him who was perfectly calm, perfectly mild, but a gleam of anticipation shone in her eyes. The crowd did not seem surprised, in fact they appeared relieved.
Teyla took his arm and drew him away from the people. Ronon and Jason followed. She freed his arm to face him. "You do not think I can defeat him?" she asked, amused at his reaction. She had thought he had learned to stop underestimating her.
"No. In fact I am sure you can win, it's not that. But let's face it. Halling's a pretty big guy. Someone might get hurt," John temporized, but it was clear his concern was all for the woman in front of him and not for Halling.
"I have fought larger," Teyla reminded. "Do not be concerned, colonel. It is a ritualistic fight. No one will be seriously injured."
"I see," he replied, unconvinced. "So it's like counting coup."
"What?"
"Never mind." He glanced at Jason, who nodded, understanding the cultural reference, but Ronon appeared baffled. John looked at Teyla. "Are you sure you are up for this? I mean you have a kid now, and a—"
"Having a child has not hampered my abilities or my skills, I can assure you, John! Do you truly believe I am less of a warrior because I have a baby now?"
"No, in fact I think you are more of one now," John backpedaled at the ire of the woman in front of him. He held up his hands in surrender. "I'm just saying that maybe, just maybe your skills might be a little, tiny, inconsequential amount lacking since we've been gone and you've been busy with the baby and all and that OW!" The blow was unexpected, swift and sharp and John fell to his knees, thigh stinging. "Or not," he corrected as he stumbled to his feet.
Ronon snorted amusement, but as Teyla glared at him he sobered, revealing his open hands. Jason wisely kept silent, kept his expression neutral. He knew better than to mess with the Athosian woman. Apparently the colonel had to learn that lesson again.
Teyla glared at John. "Do not underestimate me, colonel. We will learn about the Wraith but first I must prove worthy to continue to lead my people. These are our ways and I will honor them as will you, whether you approve or not."
"I didn't say I didn't approve. I'm just concerned is all and I think we could use the time more wisely by getting the intel we need. Can't you just have a vote or something?"
"A vote? No. This is our way, colonel, and you will just have to be patient."
"I guess it sure beats the endless campaigning of an election," John muttered, earning a quick smile from Jason but continued bafflement from Ronon. "Never mind," he sighed. For once he missed the sarcastic input from Rodney.
"What weapons will you use?" Ronon asked, returning to the matter at hand.
"Sticks and knives. Hands and feet. No guns," she noted, casting a disparaging glance upon the weapons the men held. "If you will excuse me I must prepare."
The men watched her be escorted to a building by a group of women. Halling was being escorted to a separate building by the men. A quiet has descended upon the village, but at least the air of hostility had somewhat diminished.
John shook his head. "Now I've seen everything."
"I say we get the information we need and go. If we shoot a few that should prove Teyla's right to lead them."
"I can't tell if you're kidding or not," John remarked, eying the Satedan but the big man's expression was completely serious. Until a slight smirk tugged the corner of his mouth.
"Sir? I'm detecting a very faint energy reading but it's not from the settlement," Jason said, frowning at the scanner in his hand. He turned it this way and that, tapped a few buttons. "I can't isolate the source but I can determine a location."
John took the scanner, also frowned. "Damn. We need Rodney and of course he's not here. Major, you and Chuckles here check this out and radio me if you find anything. I'll stay here to um to um, to cheer Teyla on."
Jason smiled. "Don't forget the pompoms, sir."
"Cute. Get going."
"Yes sir. This way." Jason glanced at the Satedan, taking back the scanner from John before he walked briskly towards the tree line.
"You sure about this?" Ronon asked. He eyed the village, the people that were starting to return. All seemed serene once more, but anticipation was palpable.
"Yes. Don't worry. I'm sure this will be resolved quickly and we can go home for lunch. If not…" He patted his P90.
Ronon smiled. "Good thinking." He followed after Jason and quickly overtook the man.
John turned as the crowd was gathering again, forming a loose circle around a clear space where no doubt the combat would commence. "Nice day, huh? Good day for it." Silence as the crowd stood looking at him. "For a fight, I mean." Silence. No one could be lured into conversation. Not even a drink was on offer. "For ritualized combat." Silence as the crowd stood motionless, expectant. "For a…yeah, nice day," he sighed, rocking back and forth on his heels as he impatiently waited.
He really hated small talk.
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"Can you find this thing?" Ronon asked as the two men walked through the forest. Trees surrounded them, casting them in greenish gloom as the sunshine was blocked by the overhead canopy of leaves.
"Yes. I'm no scientist but I do have a basic understanding of how this works," Jason answered, indicating the scanner. "The Athosians do not use any kind of technology, do they?"
"No. At least they didn't before we left, but maybe that's changed."
"Were there many worlds out here that developed technology?"
"A few. You had to keep it secret though, from the Wraith. During their long periods of hibernation some planets would advance, but only to where they could conceal it."
"Like the Hoffans. Or the Genii. Or they made a deal with the devil, like the Olesians did. That must have been frustrating, to have your entire society halted in development. Here." Jason pointed and the two men followed a deer trail down a gentle slope. "The signal's a little stronger, but it's not a ZPM, at least it's not reading like a ZPM. If you don't mind me asking was Sateda like that?"
"Yes. You think your world is the first to develop beyond this?" He gestured, indicating the trees and the fields beyond them.
"No, sorry, I didn't mean that. If not for the Wraith I'm sure several worlds could have been comparable to ours, maybe even to the Ancients in terms of technological and industrial advances. I just find it rather strange that not many advanced to even the most basic standards of the Industrial Revolution, or developed locomotives or steam-powered engines or even the most basic of agricultural machinery and then the..."
Ronon sighed, realizing that this man might be able to match McKay for sheer verbosity about nothing that interested him.
Next time Sheppard would be the one to accompany the scientist, he decided.
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"And you're sure it's different?" Carson asked. For once he was out of the infirmary and in one of the biology labs in the lower levels of the city. It was quiet down here, peaceful. The sounds of bubbling water and the hum of the computers were the only sounds to break the monotony of silence. Scientists were coming and going, busy with their work.
Carson was in the back of the lab, beyond the traffic. Four grey walls and four grey towers overlook a space of flowers, cheery colors in an otherwise utilitarian setting that reminded him of a ruined castle. He shook the comparison from his mind, amused at his thoughts. The woman with him was certainly no beautiful princess to be rescued from a bower. He schooled his expression as she studied the slide in the microscope.
"Yes." Moira O'Meara sat back and turned the microscope for Carson to see. "The enzyme has been altered, probably by the Iratus queen bug and then by Todd's own antibodies as he was restored to life. The Wraith may have even altered it further but as you can see—"
"It's not the same," Carson finished for her as he peered into the lens. He sat back, thinking. "And the Wraith must have synthesized it for the treatment of the others to cure them and to save their lives or for mass production once they discovered its properties."
"Advanced abilities," Moira noted.
"Rapid feeding cycles and regeneration."
"Even possible immunity to the Hoffan plague."
"Uniting them for survival."
"Uniting them for a final conquest."
The two doctors eyed each other. The silence stretched, stretched.
"Do you always talk in shorthand?"
"What?" Carson turned at the irascible interruption. "Oh. Rodney. Lunch, och, sorry, I lost track of the time." He glanced at his watch, back to his friend.
"Yes, you did, and oh, thanks for noticing," Rodney snapped. "As it happens I don't have time to eat lunch much less suffer through your droning on and on about some new antibody or chemical analysis as I've got real science to do! Why are you hiding back here anyway?" he flared, glancing round the area. "It's not even a proper lab, let alone a proper work station!" He stormed out of the lab.
"Will he be all right?" Moira asked, staring after the angry man.
"Aye, love, he will be. He's more like himself now. I'll go grab a sandwich and appease him, just in case. Of course that means I will have to endure another lecture on quantum physics or how medicine isn't real science, but I'll manage."