Author's Note; To answer your question (from "i"), no. No one in any freaking universe is immune to Angel's mind powers. Also, meet Rodney!
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You got to admit, our lives are really pretty extraordinary. I mean, we have freaking wings for god's sake! And they're not just decorations either; they actually work. Another helpful side effect of having Avian DNA grafted into your genetic make-up is the fact that we're all much stronger then your average military combat instructor. (See Book 5 if you want to find out what happened). And to top it all off, we're pretty dang attractive, if I do say so myself. At least by normal human standards.
On the minus side, we have to take in more calories than a speed eater. Per meal. On top of that, we're all socially lacking. I guess it's because we lived in cages for all of our early life. The fact that the people who raised us we're the exact opposite of ideal, and the fact that we were chased by everything from mutant wolf-men to robots didn't help either. And let me tell you, saving the world is not as glamorous as the movies make it.
So yeah, our lives are just peachy.
Life on the Lost City of Atlantis seems pretty normal compared to us. If normal consists of half of all the people living here being scientists, and other half being soldiers.
Two of my most favorite types of people in the world.
But I digress.
We got to the mess hall and totally went to town on whatever food we could get our hands on. (What do you expect, we only had a relatively small plate of donuts in the last six hours.) "I hear the blue jello is particularly good," Captain Nate had told us when we got there. "You guys got ahead and help yourselves, I'll be back in about twenty minutes or so."
"Where are you going?" Nudge asked.
"I just have to check in with the director here. Again, boring protocol stuff," He said as he turned and walked out of the room.
"He said he needed to check in with the Director," Fang said worriedly, "Do you think Itex has a hand in this?"
"I don't know, Angel?" I said, turning to our resident human-bird lie detector.
"Don't worry, nobody here as anything to do with Itex," she said.
"Thank God," I breathed, "I don't think I could stand going through all that junk again. It was bad enough the first time."
"You said it," agreed Iggy. "Now let's get some grub, I'm starving."
We went over to were the food was and loaded trays as high as they could go (Fang made one for Total) and headed for a table to sit at. Then we jumped on our food like a bunch of starving vultures.
Which, to be perfectly honest, we kind of were.
"Well, it isn't the Ritz, but it's better than nothing," Total said before starting on his own tray.
"Nate was right," Angel said, "this jello really is good!"
"Really? Pass me some." Unfortunately, I'd forgotten to grab some for myself.
"Excuse me," a voice behind us suddenly said. "why do you have all that food?"
I turned around and saw a man (he looked about middle-age) holding a tablet PC, looking rather perturbed about something.
"Um, because we're going to eat it?" Fang said, giving the guy a patronizing eyebrow.
"I know that," the guy said, returning Fang's eyebrow with a 'Do I look stupid to you?' look of his own. "But you do know that only have limited supplies here?"
"No," I said politely. It was true, I really didn't know that.
"We only just got here," Gazzy said.
"Is there something we can help you with?
"Yes," the man said. "It is a well known fact around here that I am an avid lover of blue jello."
"OK," Iggy said, "and..."
"Look, I'm going to make this simple for you," he said. "I've been working all hours for weeks and and the only time in months and it gets gobbled up by-"
"Having a problem, Dr, McKay?" Nate was back. Has it been twenty minutes already?
"Good. Finally someone reasonable," 'Dr. McKay' breathed.
Have I mentioned how I've had very few (if any) good experiences with doctors of any kind?
"Actually, I might not be the best person to have here."
"Why not?" Dr. McKay asked, suiddenly getting worried.
"Because I'm suppose to be watching after these kids while they're here."
Oooh, burn!
"Well isn't that just great!" He said, throwing his hands in the air in an exasperated manner and stomping away.
"McKay!" Captain Nate called after him, picking up one of the jello cups, "I never said I was heartless! Here!" He tossed the cup to the disgruntled scientist, who caught it just as he turned around.
There seemed to be a little more spring in his step after that.
"What was all that about?" Fang asked.
"You mean Rodney McKay? Don't worry, he's harmless. He can a bit arrogant at times, but he's helped save Atlantis more time than you can count."
"He's confusing," Angel said, "I could barely understand anything I got from his mind."
"He's like that," Nate agreed. "Anyways, I've got things squared away with Dr. Weir, they've got rooms ready for you when you want to bed down."
"Um," I said, "who exactly is this 'Dr. Weir' person? What kind of doctor is she?"
"She's actually one of the few people here that don't have a scientific or military background." He paused, thinking. "I think used to help with difficult negotiations between countries."
Oh, that didn't sound to bad.
We finished eating and went to go check out the rooms we would undoubtedly be staying in for the foreseeable future.
They were actually pretty nice as far as alien rooms went. It was rather roomy (a major plus), but just enough not to make us feel caged in. It didn't have that many windows however (a major bummer), so it didn't make my "Top Ten" list of best places to spend the night.
"Not bad," Fang said. "Roomy."
"Except there aren't any windows," I reminded him. "How are we gonna do an Up and Away if we can't even leave the room?"
"There's actually a bunch of other windows and doors all around," Captain Nate said, "though I don't quite know where you'd go. The mainland takes forever to get to, and that's in a Jumper."
"Mainland," I asked, "you mean we're on an island?" I turned and tapped Fang on the chest, "Here that Fang, we're finally on an island in the middle of nowhere."
"I guess you could say that," Nate shrugged, "the city is about as big as an island. Didn't anyone explain that to you guys?" Fang shook his head.
"Nobody told me anything," I said. Then I thought of a certain curly haired, blonde mind reader who might be holding out on us. "Angel, did you know anything about...Angel?"
Sure enough, Fang and I were the only non-Humans left in the room.
"I think we lost someone," Fang said dryly.
"No freaking duh!" I snapped. "Weren't you keeping an eye on them?"
His sorrowful, apologetic look told me that he'd forgotten to do just that.
"I guess I'm still trying to get use to this place," he said.
Great.
"How about you soldier boy?" I snapped at Captain Nate.
"Me neither," he said with kind of a half shrug.
"Captain Foster Nathaniel Falcone," a voice said from his earpiece.
"Here," he said, tapping his earpiece in return.
"Could you come to the control room, please. It seems you've lost track of your charges."
"On my way," he sighed. Then, turning to us (that's me and Fang), he said, "I think I know where the rest of your flock is."
Oh. Joy.
After we'd gathered the rest the of my over-zealous Flock from the Stargate control room I decided to take them outside and have a little...talk with them.
"What were you guys thinking!" I shouted. "You don't just go running off in an alien city, there could be any number of booby traps or security systems that could be a thousand times worse than what we dealt with on Earth!"
"It's OK, Max," Angel said reassuringly, "we didn't go near anything dangerous."
"And how exactly do you know that?" I asked incredulously.
"People's minds," she said grinning.
I really hated that girl right now.
"Regardless, you all shouldn't have wandered off. Do you want to get thrown out off here?"
They all looked shameful.
"And where did you two go anyways?" I asked, singling the two primary troublemakers out of the group instantly.
"We were trying to find the munitions room...," Iggy said.
"Cause they took all our other stuff back at that mountain place," Gazzy added.
"But when we ask some of the gaurds where it was they just told us no and brought us to their control room."
"I was going to talk with the fish here," Angel explained.
"Nudge?" I aksed hesitantly.
"I was just trying to find a bathroom to fix my hair," Nudge prattled, "'cuz all this moisture in air is totally making my hair go all frizzy, and then I ran into this woman (she was really cool, I liked her), and we were talking, and she told me a lot about the city, although she didn't use any contraction. It was kind of weird, talking to someone who says 'cannot' or 'will not' instead of saying- Mmmmffff!"
I swear, if Fang wasn't my boyfreind, I would have kissed Iggy right then and there.
Speaking of Fang...
"And where were you this whole time?" I said, turning around and glaring daggers at him.
"I was ringht next to you," he said. "Remember?"
"Oh, right." I guess I got kind of carried away.
"I was with Angel the whole time," Total barked. "Honestly, I'd have rather stayed in the Mess."
I was about to glare at him when I heard the door slide open behind me.
"Are you guys alright out there?" Captain Nate called from the doorway. "I just got a call from Dr. Weir saying she wants to see you."
"What now, 'Fearless Leader'?" Fang asked, apparently waiting for me to give one of those executive orders I'm known so well for giving.
"Tell Dr. Weir we'll be there soon," I said, drawing mixed reactions for the Flock. I half turned to them and said, "Right now, I think we all need to stretch our wings a little."
Almost immediately the Flock did an Up and Away. Fang hung back, but a nod from my head towards the slowly shrinking Flock told him to make sure they did get to far again.
"Wait," Captain Nate said, his voice thick with urgency, "there's something you should-"
"It'll half to wait," I said as unfolded my wings. In less than a minute I was in the air, zooming towards six dark spots that were hovering against a uber clear, cloudless sky. Like migrating birds, bound for the greener fields and placid lakes of northern spring time.
Hey, what do know, my muse does work here.
Author's Note; I have a convenient excuse! I can explain why the way I'm writing the SGA characters doesn't line up picture perfect with the way they are on the show! You ready?
Because this is the way the Flock (or at least Max) sees them!
Pathetic, I know, but it does make sense, right?
Right? *sweatdrops*
(Did you find my homage to Saint? I'll give the answer in the next chapter.)