ACT 1 – DISCOVERY
Chapter 16 - Introductions
The Chamber was functional, in that it had space and two benches on which to rest. The entrance doorway wasn't locked, but there were at least four Drones stood in the corridor outside.
It wasn't technically a prison, but it was as close as it could probably get in Long Sleep's opinion.
That he and Mind Song had remained in here for at least a day cycle on Lost Lineage's ancient Hive without a single visitor made him wonder if it was also something of a test. Whether it was a test of him and Mind Song and their intentions, or a test of New Breath's behaviour, wasn't clear. Still, the fact that he and Mind Song had essentially been ignored during the hyperspace flight so far was actually somewhat positive.
Lost Lineage could easily have had them killed after he'd shared with her his memories of facing the mind of the Skerti Queen.
He'd been very careful about how he'd presented the memories, ensuring only the actual experience of dealing with the Skerti Queen had been shared. His fear and shock mixed into the memories had been real enough, but he'd kept his thoughts out of the memories; especially considering his own involvement in crippling the Hive within the Armoured Herd's territory and alerting a Queen Killer to the Skerti' true identity.
Lost Lineage had asked him how he'd withstood the Skerti Queen's mind, to which he'd simply replied that his mutation had likely provided him some protection. Lost Lineage had seemingly accepted that explanation, though her sneer had been insulting, but it had been evidence enough that he'd been able to successfully control what he'd shared with her.
And since that encounter after the gathering, he and Mind Song had been brought here to this empty dull Chamber and ignored since.
He'd not been able to feel Lost Lineage's mind focus on them at any point, though occasionally New Breath's mind brushed against his and Mind Song's, checking they were still alive. It also helped confirm for them that she was still alive as well, for this Hive was far from a safe place for the young Queen.
As strong and powerful as Lost Lineage clearly was, this was far from the secure potential home Hive that he and Mind Song had sought. They had had high hopes that Sharp Claw would have welcomed them into her Hive, but Lost Lineage and her uniform lineage crew were certainly never going to do that. Lost Lineage's unpredictability and unconcealed disgust for their mutations only added to that conclusion; however, for the time being, there was little they could do but hope that the Warrior Queen would be successful in her plan to ambush the Skerti.
Until that was hopefully achieved, there was nothing much to do but wait.
Still Long Sleep had occupied his time well enough. He'd found his way into the Chamber doorway's control panel without cutting any sinew or membrane, managing to ease open a small gap at the side of the panel so that he could gradually access the inner workings of the controls and power conduits inside the wall. Just accessing it had been time consuming without harming the membranes, but he'd learnt a great deal already. For just like its outer hull and heavily matured internal structure, this Hive's technology was surprisingly intact. There was no sign of any repairs to the door's controls or the power conduit inside, not that such a location would likely sustain much damage over time, but it was still very informative and seemed to confirm his ongoing theory.
A theory that didn't quite make sense in light of this Hive being run by a Warrior Queen, but the evidence could not be ignored; evidence that suggested that this Ancient Hive had seen little battle, perhaps none at all. Given its age and Lost Lineage's presence, that made little sense.
Unless Lost Lineage had found the Hive abandoned, so it wasn't originally her own?
Or she had kept it hidden away, untouched for generations of batches. That would explain what he was seeing in the door's control panel. On all Hives now, such panels were strengthened and reinforced against tampering from the invasive methods of the Armoured Herd's Queen Killers. From the early days of the Queen Killers it had become clear that old control panels and database interfaces could be easily overcome by the enemy Prey. A doorway like this had been found to be vulnerable to a simple blade thrust into the panel, which would disrupt the power conduit and open the door or webbings easily; which was why all such panels were now layered with reinforcing sinew and membranes, not that it stopped all tampering, but it was a basic level of protection used by all Wraith kin now. But not on this Hive. Instead, this one was unchanged and vulnerable.
That suggested either Lost Lineage hadn't been informed of such protections against the Armoured Herd, or she preferred to keep her Hive as original to its formation as possible.
Both theories brought up interesting questions.
Reaching awkwardly inside the slimy confines of the wall, Long Sleep slid his fingers gently around behind the webbing enforcement around the power conduit and his fingertips finally brushed against the Hive's main interface line running through the wall. There was no interface panel inside this Chamber which would allow him and Mind Song access to the Hive's database, which was clearly on purpose, so he'd had to go seeking for the line in the wall. It had required an odd angle to hold himself with his entire lower arm inside the wall and his wrist turned backwards to slide his fingers between the membranes and conduit lines. Still it had occupied his time and he'd not alarmed the Hive so far.
If he had the right equipment, he could now easily splice in a connection to the interface, but he had nothing to do that. Plus that would likely be detected and possibly seen as 'aggressive' behaviour by Lost Lineage. But he knew where it was now and, should the opportunity and equipment arrive, he could easily splice into the interface line.
As well as easily open the door if it was locked on them.
Though, since he was here…
He stretched his arm further into the wall, getting as much of his fingers around the interface line as he could. It required him to press his entire front up against the inner wall of the Chamber, the wall warm against his cheek, but he could now subtly sense the basic consciousness of the Hive running through the interface line's neurons.
He cautiously extended his mind, edging gently towards the psychic perimeter of the Hive's primitive intelligence. There was a risk in this, for it was possible that the Hive would be as aggressive as its Queen, as had apparently often been the case with old Warrior Queen grown Hives, but if he was careful, respectful…
Behind him, the steady repetitive footfalls of Mind Song's pacing paused and restarted.
The pacing was a new habit of Mind Song's, no doubt born from his years of imprisonment in tiny cold Prey cells in which it had been the only way for him to exercise his limbs.
Glancing awkwardly over his shoulder, Long Sleep watched Mind Song approach one side wall, pause and turn, and resume his pacing towards the other wall. To any looking in, they could easily interpret the pacing as a sign of agitation, such as what Prey did when held prior to feeding. But that was far from the truth with Mind Song, for it was not agitation that was driving his steady pacing, but cunning.
Even though they both kept their minds away from the psychic network with two Queens on the Hive, Long Sleep could naturally sense some of his Batch Brother's mind while so close to him. He could practically feel the turning theories and strategies playing out in Mind Song's thoughts. Occasionally Mind Song's posture would change with his pacing, his arms resting against his back as he walked, or he would reach up a hand to stroke his chin or wave a hand through the air thoughtfully. Mind Song's intelligence had always been a remarkable thing to observe, but Long Sleep knew that these silent, yet highly mentally active planning sessions could go on for hours or days.
Leaving his Brother to his theorising, Long Sleep eased his mind a little closer to the Hive's consciousness.
"Careful," Mind Song warned without pausing in his pacing.
Long Sleep smiled against the wall at the evidence of how easily his Brother could sense his mind in turn, and nodded outwardly without turning his head.
The Hive's consciousness became a little clearer, as if Long Sleep were easing up to it over a rise in a landscape, peering out to observe it. Like its outer appearance, the Hive's mind felt big and old. Yet, also strangely quiet and restrained.
It had been a long time since Long Sleep had worked on a Hive this ancient, but he did not recall them being quite this way. Usually living so long and interacting with so many minds developed the Hive's basic consciousness more than this. But this Hive seemed almost plain in its workings. As if it was simply going through the standard motions of its existence but little else.
Perhaps the lack of battle experience had not matured it like other ancient Hives?
Or…perhaps it had had little interaction with its Queen?
He eased his consciousness a little further towards the Hive and felt it register him. He held still, waiting to see if he had pushed things too far.
The Hive's consciousness met his with a fuller press of awareness, seeming a little more active now and interested in him. Such exchanges were very basic, but after his experience of how the Skerti-captured Hive had called out to him, Long Sleep had begun to wonder how 'basic' Hive consciousnesses really were. So he made sure now to project respect and appreciation towards the Hive. After all, it was surely almost as old as Wraith kin themselves!
The Hive responded with a sense of pleasure and abruptly the interface against his fingertips felt warm. It was granting him access even without an interface panel.
He heard Mind Song's pacing stop abruptly.
"It's allowing me access," Long Sleep reported, his cheek plastered tightly against to the wall.
"Without an interface panel?" Mind Song's voice moved closer.
"Strange, but," Long Sleep extended his awareness a little further. Without a proper panel to interpret the database, he couldn't use it, but he sent appreciative feelings towards the Hive. "It is almost as if the Hive is rather starved of attention. Relatively ignored."
Like a lonely operative, simply doing its duty.
"Perhaps not 'pure' enough for Lost Lineage?" Mind Song considered.
"Or not Wraith kin?" Long Sleep speculated. "To her it is simply technology perhaps."
Mind Song made a murmur of consideration. "Can you learn anything else from it without alerting anyone?"
Long Sleep had never attempted to access a Hive this way and his Keeper skills suggested it wasn't possible. "Not without splicing in an interface panel or control… Unless I could…"
He shifted his mind alongside the Hive's, reaching out carefully under the wider concealment of the Hive's consciousness, seeking out what he could of the Hive as a whole. The faint edges of the Wraith kin onboard became vaguely discernible.
"Be careful," Mind Song repeated from behind Long Sleep's shoulder.
"I will do no more than this," Long Sleep assured him. "But, it feels as if the Hive is well stocked with Drones and Warriors, a full complement, perhaps even-"
Something new flickered into awareness within the psychic space of the Hive. A single mind reaching forward.
Long Sleep quickly withdrew his connection from alongside the Hive's consciousness.
Had he alerted a Keeper, someone watching over the Hive…?
"What is it?" Mind Song asked, close and worried behind his shoulder.
"A specific mind in the Hive is aware of me," Long Sleep withdrew his arm from the wall and stood back from it as he quickly fortified his outer mind.
The other mind withdrew a fraction though, seemingly respecting the defences.
Interesting.
"Lost Lineage?" Mind Song asked worriedly.
Long Sleep frowned. "No, it's definitely not a Queen," he was sure of that. "But it doesn't seem like the others onboard."
No, it felt more like a shining sparkle among the thick drab sensation of the Hive's uniform inhabitants.
Easing himself up a little towards the network, Long Sleep risked tipping a little up into it. It was risky with so many potentially hostile Wraith kin onboard and if Lost Lineage was still using the psychic network like before the age of the Mind Invaders…
No, the network was empty, though he could feel Mind Song on the edge of it, aware that his Brother's attention focused away, standing guard physically and mentally while Long Sleep worked.
Easing up a little further, Long Sleep sensed the other mind again, which itself eased up into the network.
The mind was wrapped up carefully, but the edges of it felt inquisitive.
"He is aware of us, curious about us," Long Sleep reported out loud for Mind Song.
"A familiar mind?" Mind Song's slightly distant voice asked.
"No," Long Sleep frowned from behind his closed eyelids. "And it's a little different…" he struggled to understand what he was aware of about the other mind.
"Not of Lost Lineage's line?"
"Definitely not," Long Sleep shook his head. "Or," he considered, "if he is, he is a mutated version of her line."
"That would likely be unacceptable to her," Mind Song dismissed the notion.
The other mind shifted, opening up a little, though moving very cautiously, but it was enough for Long Sleep to grasp little flashes.
"He is warning us," Long Sleep realised. "I think he is a prisoner onboard."
"A captive?" Ming Song's voice moved closer.
"He feels under threat, watched."
"Can you tell if he's been here long?" Ming Song asked.
Long Sleep sent as close to a question as he could risk on the edge of the network. The longer they communicated this way, the greater the danger of detection was becoming.
The mind responded though, a sense of nervous defensiveness and conflict in him.
But, behind the emotional state, Long Sleep could sense a sharply intelligent mind.
"He is a mature Warrior," Long Sleep reported. "Not as old as us, but mature. He feels…weary and…alone."
Mind Song murmured a sound that seemed rather sympathetic to Long Sleep's ear.
The other mind shifted, nervous, watchful.
"I think he is about to retreat. I'm sending him our gratitude for the warning." Long Sleep sensed it was received and the other mind withdrew, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. "He is gone."
Long Sleep eased himself down out of the network and took a moment to reinforce his mind's outer defences again before opening his eyes.
Mind Song was stood opposite him, his mind clearly turning behind his eyes. "Interesting," Mind Song uttered, the sense of fascination clear in his voice and expression. "A prisoner of Lost Lineage's, taken from another Hive most likely. Perhaps even Sharp Claw's?"
Long Sleep considered the theory and his Brother. "You are thinking he may be the source of Lost Lineage's information on the Skerti? That her story about finding a recording device on Sharp Claw was false?"
"Or a half truth," Mind Song considered. "She has certainly gained access to Sharp Claw's satellites, but something doesn't ring true of Lost Lineage's tale."
Long Sleep nodded, aware that had been itching at Mind Song for the last day.
But Mind Song wasn't pacing anymore, now he was stood very still, his mind moving rather than his body. "I think it is likely safe to assume that Lost Lineage does not tolerate those not of her lineage on this Hive-"
"Except we are onboard," Long Sleep pointed out. "As are New Breath and her Drones."
"And for now we have a use to her," Mind Song pointed out, "Something Lost Lineage needs from us and New Breath."
"Perhaps she is aware that I did not share everything about the Skerti Queen?" Long Sleep suggested. "Our minds are not open to Queens like others, so she may suspect I have more information."
Mind Song nodded. "So she tolerates our mutations onboard her unscarred Hive for now, and tolerates this other Warrior. Which means he has value."
"Which means he likely has value to us as well," Long Sleep finished the thought.
Mind Song nodded. "And he is clearly interested in us."
"Perhaps seeking allies and a way off this Hive?" Long Sleep speculated. "And possibly open to sharing his knowledge in return for our help."
"We need to make direct contact with him," Mind Song decided with a nod.
"That isn't likely given our own 'restriction' to this Chamber."
"We will have to wait for an opportunity," Mind Song considered. "For now, see if you can keep brief regular contact with this captive Warrior, keep the communication open."
Long Sleep nodded as he headed towards one of the benches to rest.
"And," Mind Song began pacing again, "perhaps we can create an opportunity…"
00000
He hadn't been able to stop watching the clock, well his watch, all morning. Normally Rodney could blink and miss a morning when he was working, but this morning had felt more like a whole weekend the way it had been going. Of course that hadn't been helped by the Ancients' logs still refusing to give up anything concrete about where Janus had hidden his bat cave.
If Janus hadn't actually appeared in person to Sheppard, Rodney seriously doubted there even was a secret lab in the city. But Janus had apparently shared his big secret, but not the where it was. That was if it had really been Janus who had shown up to talk to Sheppard and not some other Ancient in disguise. It seemed a very valid theory to Rodney, but it had been repeatedly shouted down by everyone any time he brought it up.
If they didn't find anything after another day, he'd mention the theory again. After all, yesterday had heralded absolutely nothing useful and that was with Sheppard helping out all day. Rodney had no idea why Sheppard had joined in 'to help' yesterday, since he usually spent his days off golfing or fishing or other roguish activity he deemed fun. For some reason though, yesterday reading through Ancient logs had been the most interesting thing Sheppard could find. He'd certainly muttered and complained about it, but it had at least livened up the research lab.
Today though it was just Jackson and him again, Sheppard back playing usher for the Elite Surfer Dude and his visiting scientists. Scientists doing far more useful and interesting stuff that reading through Ancient diaries.
If he wasn't so determined to make sure he was the one to find the Janus bat cave, Rodney would have been regularly visiting the research rooms out on the pier to make sure Zelenka was doing a proper job without him there.
But Carter had banned him from doing that.
Plus, Sheppard was right that whoever found Janus' bat cave was going to be mentioned in all the official reports and get the credit, so...
But that wasn't so important right now.
Well not this morning anyway, because he had his date booked with Katie and a question to ask her.
He'd stewed over the decision for the last two days, but had decided it was worth making the proposal without a ring. It was just a circle of metal anyway, not the whole point of the thing. He'd get something for her next time he was on Earth, something with a small conflict-free diamond.
He checked his watch again.
He'd set himself an exact time to leave so that he picked Katie up at the correct time from her lab today. He'd been so busy lately he couldn't actually remember the last time he'd actually managed that, so today he'd made sure to tell her he would definitely be there.
He just wasn't sure where exactly he'd ask her the question…maybe right away in her lab? Her fellow botanists all seemed to have the same lunch break, so the labs would often empty out, so he'd have time and space there maybe. He certainly didn't want to ask such an important question in a hallway or, god forbid, in the Mess Hall with so many eyes watching them.
Unless that was something Katie might like? The whole 'on show' big proposal?
Except, usually you had a ring for that kind of thing and it would look weird him getting down on one knee without anything in his hand.
Wait, was he going to get down on one knee? His knees had been aching a bit lately so he wasn't sure that would be the best thing, besides it brought up the lack of ring thing again…
He looked at his watch.
Two minutes to go.
Wow, his palms were sweating.
Really sweating.
He wiped them on his pants as he glanced over at Jackson, but the Archaeologist was focused intently on reading directly from the Ancient screen, showing off his fluency in the Ancient language. Though, Rodney was pretty sure it was cheating if you had been living among actual Ancients when ascended.
Rodney checked his watch again, waiting through the last few seconds...
It was time.
He could do this.
"Right," he declared confidently as possible as he stood up from the laptop, "I'm, ah, going to go have lunch."
Jackson looked up and round. "What?" He asked, seeming confused by the concept.
"Lunch," Rodney repeated. "I can go eat lunch."
Jackson had been having dinners with Carter and General O'Neill after all, though admittedly he'd always come back to work late. Rodney always made sure he stayed as late as Jackson though, but he suspected Jackson was doing more reading in his quarters…
"Of course," Jackson replied. "It's just you've never actually, willingly gone," he gestured in a flowing movement towards the lab's open doorway, "out before now."
"I have," Rodney objected. "Besides, it's not like we've found anything so far today."
"We found that reference from one of Janus' lovers," Jackson disagreed as he held up his yellow legal pad; the man was so analogue. "'An isle of solitude within the city walls'," Jackson read out the ridiculously weak bit of 'evidence'.
Rodney tried not to roll his eyes. "Please, that could just mean he was hard to talk to; people say things like that about me all the time."
Jackson gave him a doubtful look over his glasses.
"Look, I've got something I need to do," Rodney confessed and this talk was holding him up. He checked his watch: he was now a minute behind when he'd planned to leave.
"Sure, Rodney. I'm not your keeper," Jackson replied.
"Exactly," Rodney nodded as he glanced to the waiting doorway.
His hands were feeling really sweaty again and he was rubbing them together like some sort of movie villain or something.
Maybe he was rushing into this conversation with Katie? Maybe he should wait to get a ring, or bring up the subject of marriage more subtlety? Sheppard had certainly been shocked at Rodney's plan, and presumably Katie might be too, but then wasn't that the point of proposals? For it to be a surprise?
Though there was nothing set in stone for him to ask her today.
Or at least discuss it with her.
Alternatively, he could wait until they found Janus' bat cave…
No, he was just nervous.
He could do this.
"Rodney?" Jackson called sharply.
"What?" Rodney looked round. Had he found Janus' lab? If Jackson had, that would be an excuse to call off the date…not that Rodney wanted to call it off…
"You're just standing there. You okay?"
"Yes, yes," Rodney smiled, trying to make himself look casual. "Of course. I'll um," he indicated the waiting doorway, "go then. Leave you to it."
Jackson nodded, frowning at him.
Rodney headed quickly for the door, pausing to turn back to him. "I've got my radio on, so if you find anything…"
"I'll call you," Jackson nodded with that frown that looked kind of suspicious.
"Okay, great," Rodney tried to smile again and quickly headed out the door.
He was now three minutes behind, but he could make up the time hurrying.
"I can do this," he whispered to himself as he power-walked towards the nearest transporter.
He made it there in good time, but his knees were definitely aching now, so kneeling for the proposal was definitely out of the question.
"I can do this," he repeated as he triggered the transporter's panel and the doors opened to the hallway which led to the area of the city dedicated to Katie's botany department.
The air felt different here, all the plants growing in the large side rooms altering the humidity even out here in the corridors. He had been the one to work out how to alter the city's atmospheric controls to accept the different humidity here and it was clearly still working. Not that he liked it so humid, but it was the tickling sensation in the back of his nose and throat that always worried him the most. One day they were going to grow some new dangerous flower here he just knew it, and he suspected it would be his response that would be the first warning sign.
A vaguely familiar colleague of Katie's walked by and said hi. Rodney wasn't sure of the woman's name so he just nodded back and focused on towards the far open door that should be where he'd find Katie.
He'd spent most of yesterday and this morning working out what to say to her, how to phrase it. He'd been tempted to ask Sheppard how he'd proposed to his first wife, but then guessed that wouldn't be the best example maybe. Anyway, he'd come up with some good phrases, a good starting sentence at least.
He'd reached the door to the main lab and paused outside, wiping his palms on his jacket.
He was feeling a little light-headed.
Another botanist abruptly appeared through the door, almost barging into Rodney.
"Sorry, Dr McKay, I didn't see you there," the man apologised as he danced quickly to one side to avoid the collision.
"Sorry, yes," Rodney found himself replying as he moved around the botanist and entered the lab.
As usual, the first large lab space was something of a jungle, all four walls hidden behind a range of varying shrubs, small trees, and masses of leaves.
And not a single person in sight.
His nose was definitely feeling ticklish now.
"Katie?" he called as he moved further into the lab, glancing around what looked like a small palm tree.
"I'm in here, Rodney," Katie's voice replied cheerfully from the next room on the left.
"Okay, great," Rodney called back as he headed towards the open side door, following her voice into the full to bursting plant cultivation room. This was her favourite room in all the city and he found her stood behind a large metal trolley that was covered with plastic plant pots and a large bucket of soil.
"Awesome," he added weakly as he headed towards her. "I hope you're hungry."
"Oh I am," Katie smiled as she topped up a pot with soil. It was a small green foliage planet, no flowers, so he moved closer.
"Yeah, me too. Very hungry. Hungry, hungry, hungry," he replied. The light-headedness was back.
"Are you alright?" Katie frowned at him as she rolled the trolley to one side.
"I'm fine," he confirmed quickly as he glanced away, peering back into the larger main lab. There was still no one else about, so they were alone.
They had time and privacy.
Only his mind had gone completely blank!
"Wow, this is much more, uh…" he muttered.
"You're sweating," Katie noted worriedly as she moved towards him.
"Am I?" Rodney reached up with his clammy hand to his now obviously clammy forehead. Just great. But she was looking at him so attentively and worried that he made himself focus on her sweet face. "I guess I should…just jump right into this." Yes, now was the time. "You know, rip the band-aid off, as they say," he smiled, but wait that made it sound like this was a bad thing. "Not that this is painful in any way. It's quite the opposite, actually," he corrected.
She smiled, clearly bemused by his obvious rambling. "Rodney, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," he insisted. "It's just I wanted to talk something through with you."
"Okay," she frowned delicately, seeming unsure.
"About us," he clarified. Her frown deepened a bit. "I know I've been very busy lately, but I think things have been going very well."
She nodded, though was still frowning slightly at him.
"So I was thinking that, perhaps," he struggled to remember the prepared lines he'd come up with, "it's time that we, you know, start entertaining the notion of moving things on to the next level as it were, between us. Maybe."
"The next level?" Katie asked.
"I just think tha-"
"Dr Jackson to Dr McKay," Dr Jackson's voice abruptly arrived in Rodney's ear. "Rodney, are you reading this?"
It was the worse timing ever.
Rodney reached up to his radio and tapped it awake. "Yes, Jackson, everyone can hear you," he pointed out the obvious.
"I think I've found something," Jackson replied quickly though, excitement obvious in his voice.
"What? Really?" Rodney frowned. "Like actually found where the lab is?"
"Yes, I think so; you need to get back up here. Colonel Carter, Sam, can you hear me too?"
"Yes, Daniel," Carter replied over the radio. "Colonel Sheppard is here with me; we're on our way to you now."
Which meant Rodney was definitely going to have to go too.
He looked to Katie and she smiled up at him, but her lips were pressed together and her eyes overly large. He knew that look; it was her disappointed but understanding look. He'd seen it so many times lately.
And now he was running off again.
"It's okay, Rodney," she said quietly so the radio wouldn't hear her.
"I'm on my way too," Rodney said into his radio and tapped it closed. It wasn't like he had any other choice. "I'm really sorry, Katie."
"It's fine, Rodney. We can have lunch together another day." But she looked down and away.
He felt like the worst boyfriend; and it wasn't exactly a new feeling.
He hadn't even gotten to ask her…maybe he should…? No, this should be a proper conversation, not something hurried and half-hearted.
Plus, the others were all heading to Jackson now and he would probably be last there…
"If it wasn't that we were looking for this big important lab," Rodney explained.
"I know," Katie nodded. "You have important work to do."
It was important work, especially if Janus' bat cave really did hold the 101 on the Skerti. The sooner it was found the better…
"I'll see you tonight?" He asked as he took a couple of paces backwards towards the door. "If we're not still lab hunting… I mean Jackson might not even have actually found anything useful."
Katie smiled at his weak joke, but it looked forced and uncomfortable.
"If that's the case, I'll be back soon and we can have a late lunch," Rodney offered as he took another step back towards the door.
"Of course," she replied. "But obviously we all want you to find Janus' lab."
"True, yes," his shoulder bumped into the doorframe. "I should get going," he moved into the doorway properly. "I'll see you as soon as I can."
She smiled. "Good luck."
"Thanks," he smiled back, except she looked strangely far away across the small lab space between them.
He turned and headed away through the main botany lab and out into the corridor.
He just hoped Jackson had actually found something.
0000
Seeal was really looking forward to the morning's trip out of the Facility with Amel. Not only was she going on a shopping trip with a female friend for the first time in awhile, but she was finally going to go visit the jewellery metalworker that Oneakka had recommended to her to repair her old necklace.
After she'd retrieved her old case of things from Zio's shop, she'd not worn the old tarnished necklace again, fearing the old battered chain would finally break. There were far too many places to lose the necklace in the Facility if it fell off, and, if it happened in the Hydroponics Bay, she'd not put it past one of the goatlings to eat it. They were weaning off Belka's milk and hadn't quite yet leant what they could and couldn't eat. The necklace was so old she wasn't entirely sure it would survive a trip through a goat's digestive system, plus she couldn't imagine it would be good for the goatling involved.
Still, she'd put on the old necklace today, having to inch the broken chain down over her head to get it on. She'd decided to wear a slightly lower cut top today so that she would be able to judge how long she wanted the replacement chain, and she just hoped that Oneakka was right that the metalworker would be able to clean up the old pendant. Regardless as to its monetary worth or quality, the pendant meant a lot to her, so she'd keep it even if the metalworker declared it unsalvageable.
That aside, she was looking forward to the trip with Amel anyway. They'd managed to get in some more of the project research work last night, since Oneakka hadn't been all that talkative at Late Meal and had left the Canteen for his quarters early. After an afternoon with the goats, she could appreciate the evening ritual of visiting the Hydroponics Bay again hadn't been necessary, so she'd met up with Amel again. They'd actually gotten most of their ideas for their presentation sorted, so today felt even more available for fun rather than work.
Plus it would help stop her worrying about Oneakka too much. He'd been pretty quiet during Late Meal, a depressed air lingering around him. She and Massa had kept the conversation going, Oneakka occasionally drawn in, but it was clear that cleaning up the goat enclosure hadn't been enough to pull him out of his brooding. After he'd left, she'd asked Massa if this was normal for him, to which Massa had simply replied that Oneakka didn't take failure very well. Of course not passing his medical review wasn't a 'failure', that was the wrong word, but she'd understood Massa's point. That was clearly how Oneakka was viewing things, but he just needed to come to terms with the reality of where he was in his recovery, and hopefully he'd be back to his usual self soon.
Still, she'd made sure to send Oneakka a text link this morning wishing him luck for his early rehab appointment for his new recovery plan. She'd had back a simple reply, and, very obviously, no emergency Portal address test. She'd tried not to worry about that.
He was a grown male – an Elite Warrior – he'd be fine.
Amel was certainly contrasting cheerful company this morning, which was partly explained by her 'nice chat' with Edfu yesterday. Apparently Amel approved of his eyebrows even more now that she'd seen them up close.
"I've put a list together," Amel stated as she pulled a personal electronic pad out of her full, brightly bedecked bag. A Recruit rushing closely by in the busy corridor almost took Amel's elbow to his middle, but Amel didn't seem to notice the emergency footwork the Recruit deployed to avoid injury. "Here," Amel passed over the pad.
Seeal lifted the offered pad, tapping the screen awake as they made their way out of the crowded corridor into one of the Facility's interconnected lobbies. Keeping half an eye ahead to ensure her path was Recruit-free, Seeal scanned down the list. "Hanging thing?" She queried one entry.
"I was thinking of finding some things to hang from my quarters' ceiling," Amel explained. "Something decorative and colourful."
"I see," Seeal nodded, recalling she'd seen items like that on some stalls before. "I think I've seen some long chains with beads and little mirrors on them in a stall in the main marketing hall on the station."
"That would work," Amel smiled animatedly as they crossed the middle of the lobby. "Are items very expensive on the station?"
"Not too bad, though some of the fixed shops and luxury goods are pretty pricey," Seeal considered as she read the rest of Amel's list, which included cushions, mugs, tablecloth, sequined blanket and wall hangings. "But I think you'll find most of this stuff in the main marketing halls."
She was expecting the jewellery metalworker to be expensive though. Oneakka said the male had a fixed shop and workshop on an upper level of Saoka's station, so clearly the metalworker was good at his work. Well, that Oneakka recommended him said that much already. Though, thinking about it now, she wasn't sure why Oneakka even knew a jewellery maker. She'd never seen him wear any jewellery himself, though she'd seen some Elite, both males and females, wearing some so it wasn't a taboo thing for them. So, she guessed maybe Oneakka had used the metalworker for his old Ugun jewellery collection.
Either that or maybe he gave jewellery as gifts. Such as to female people, like Pampata in the past.
She quickly pulled her wayward thoughts away from that particular subject matter as she handed Amel's pad back to her. Pulling out her own pad, she tapped into it to consult the currency she had budgeted for today's visit. Given how all Elite staff received room and board as part of their wages, she was surprisingly well paid for her project work here. She'd not spent much of it either, so she had amassed quite a bit, and that was not including the hard currency she'd retrieved from Zio's shop…or that was tucked away in her other hiding places. So she could afford to pay the metalworker whatever he'd charge for cleaning her pendant and buying a replacement chain.
"It's busy this morning," Amel muttered as they headed out of the lobby and into the corridor that would take them to the last lobby before the docks.
Seeal slid her pad away and considered the Recruits flowing through the hallway around them. "I think it's a new training cycle for them, so they're probably all relaxed after passing assessments."
They all certainly appeared in high-spirits, loudly cheerful as they moved in their little groups of friendships. None of them paid much attention to her anymore. She'd used to be avoided like she carried a plague, especially after 'the incident' when a group of Recruits had jumped her, but apparently she had just become a regular figure in the Facility now.
Which was good, she guessed.
"Are you looking to buy anything today?" Amel asked. "Besides a new chain for your necklace," she indicated the pendant.
"Not really," Seeal considered. "Just see what's around. There's some good food stalls there."
"Ooo, yes, we should go to several of them."
They'd reached the outer lobby in which she had met Oneakka two days ago for their trip to see Jin. That had been a really nice day, and she just hoped Oneakka would return to that former cheerful relaxed state soon.
The Recruits had thinned out here and she looked towards the lobby's two central display pillars…and her eyes landed on Oneakka!
Surprised to see him here, she pulled up.
He was walking down through the lobby between the pillars, looking just as bored and introverted as he had yesterday. Maybe he'd been off-world? Though, he'd had his rehab appointment an hour or so ago, so that didn't make sense. He didn't seem dressed for going off-world either, wearing casual black trousers and one of his unnecessarily distracting tight short-sleeved tops.
Shifting to the left to catch his eye, she fixed her attention solidly on him, trusting his ability to sense her focus. He almost immediately noticed her and looked surprised to see her too, but he adjusted his path towards her and Amel.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked him once he was close enough.
"Walking," he answered with the same sad and grumpy tone he'd had yesterday. "Part of my new recovery plan," he said with clear resentfulness. "I have to walk around the entire Facility twice a day now and practice just standing still," he muttered, clearly unimpressed with his new rehab plan.
She made sure not to in anyway smile at the sulky look on his face and the fact that he, a big strong Elite warrior, had to work on 'just standing still'.
Oneakka's gaze slid to Amel, who Seeal realised he'd probably never met.
"This is my colleague from the computer project," Seeal quickly introduced her, "Amel…?" She couldn't remember all the other names.
"Anoush Amel Agapanthus Aedia," Amel stated formerly, her eyes wide as she looked up at Oneakka. "I am pleased to greet you, Honoured Elite." She bowed her head formally.
Yes, she'd definitely not met Oneakka before.
"Amel this is Honoured Elite Oneakka," Seeal told her. "We're friends," she stressed gesturing between her and Oneakka, because that always needed explaining. People got that same weird look in their eyes when she talked with Oneakka so directly. And, as Elite went, Oneakka was at the more intimidating extreme and civilians usually tried to stay well away from him. Though the exception had been on Bakhau the other day, but Oneakka had explained the Bakhau attitude towards the Elite. She'd still been pretty surprised at how relaxed he'd been at so many people touching their fingers to his back and shoulders as he passed by. A little Bakhau girl had even given him some flowers.
Which he'd given to her to carry and not asked for them back, so she'd put them in her quarters.
Oneakka nodded his head politely to Amel and Seeal could see him assessing her new friend.
Though hopefully not in a 'finding Amel attractive' kind of way.
"The electrical engineer from Ridd-Ellma?" Oneakka asked Amel.
"Yes, Honoured Elite," Amel smiled at him.
Seeal was pretty sure she saw Oneakka's gaze briefly move up to Amel's eyebrows, but then his blue eyes were swinging back to Seeal.
"You're going somewhere?" He asked, his eyes briefly dropping down her and back up again, clearly registering she was wearing one of her more socialising tops.
"Yes, we're going to Saoka's main station," she explained. "Amel wants to decorate her quarters and I'm going to see that jewellery metalworker you recommended." She reached up, touching her fingers to her old battered necklace.
His eyes dropped to her hand and then quickly back up again. "Make sure you tell Khepri I sent you," he repeated his instruction from when he'd given her the metalworker's details weeks ago.
"I will," she nodded.
"You can use my discount rate then," he continued, his tone still oddly flat for him.
"Yes, I remember. How much is the discount?" She asked since he'd not clarified that before.
"A lot," he answered cryptically.
She frowned at that unclear answer. "How much jewellery do you buy from him?"
"He's made several Ugun recreations for me."
Ah, she'd been right then, it was Ugun related work. But, perhaps bringing up the subject of his destroyed homeworld wasn't the best timing today.
He looked aside, some particularly noisy Recruits passing by. They were loudly laughing about being late to a class, which was a serious mistake if you hadn't already checked there weren't any Elite around. Both the young males noticed Oneakka at the same time and suddenly getting through the lobby and to their class became exceptionally important to them.
"If you're going to be regularly patrolling the hallways of the Facility now," she smiled at Oneakka's profile as he kept his eyes on the disappearing Recruits, "I imagine Recruit behaviour is going to improve."
He looked back to her with a faint, strained smile at her joke. "It would achieve something," he muttered, a sad little frown forming as he let out a breath. "Enjoy your trip."
She felt instantly weird leaving him to his walking the Facility alone. Maybe he should get Belka from the Hydroponics Bay to walk with him, as the mother goat had used to do on the Sythus. Then he'd have company.
The urge to make him feel better was stupid because it was Oneakka. Sure he was annoyed and down about his medical review, but he wasn't the type to get properly depressed and lonely…was he?
"You could come with us," she blurted spontaneously.
He met her eyes, clearly as surprised as she was at the sudden invitation.
"You could walk around the marketing station instead of the Facility," she quickly reasoned. "Change of scenery and," she glanced around the lobby, "it would be a lot more interesting than here."
It was a very logical suggestion.
It had nothing to do with the silly little feelings that just couldn't seem to take Oneakka looking sad.
His gaze glanced briefly towards Amel. Oh yes, she was going with Amel. She probably should have asked Amel first if this was okay. Though it was just a shared Transport to the Portal and into the station; not shopping all together.
"I had been meaning to visit Khepri' workshop again," Oneakka considered.
"Perfect opportunity then," she leapt on that.
Was he agreeing?
"I'll have to get a weapon out of stores," he added glancing away to the side of the lobby where a glass-fronted door was the emergency weapons store. He didn't sound all that excited about the prospect, but he probably just needed some encouragement.
"Okay, we'll wait," she smiled.
With no further comment, he headed off towards the store to retrieve a weapon. She guessed there was some sort of law for the Elite about never travelling without at least one weapon.
She looked round to Amel quickly while he was gone. "I'm sorry, is it okay that he comes with us?"
Amel looked up at her with a smile. "Of course."
"He's recovering from a serious injury," Seeal found herself explaining. "It might be good for him."
Amel pulled a considering expression as she looked off to Oneakka and back. "I'm not sure, Seeal. He hasn't got very strong eyebrows."
"What?" Seeal frowned at the random comment and what Amel was clearly implying. "No, he's just a friend and there's nothing wrong with his eyebrows."
"Clearly not," Amel noted with feeling and then straightened her expression, which told Seeal that Oneakka was on his way back.
Seeal looked round at him, a borrowed holster around his hips into which he was sliding a stunner. However, she found herself focusing up on his eyebrows as he walked back towards her and Amel.
He had perfectly normal brown eyebrows, very well kept actually, that arched up over his eyes.
The eyebrows in question lowered and she looked down a fraction to see him frowning at her as he arrived. "What?" He demanded.
"Nothing, nothing," Seeal excused herself, realising she must have been staring a little too intently at him there.
The frown increased.
"We were talking about eyebrows," she explained.
Oneakka nodded, clearly understanding the link, his gaze shifting to Amel and definitely focusing on Amel's brow this time.
"Amel doesn't bend to the cultural expectation of Ridd-Ellma," Seeal explained proudly of Amel's lack of elaborate eyebrow length and decoration.
Oneakka simply nodded at that. "We should get a Transport," he suggested before turning to head in the direction of the docks.
Seeal frowned at that rather flat response and jogged briefly to catch up with him. He may have new daily walks to do, but he clearly wasn't walking slowly.
Falling into step with him, Amel on her other side, she frowned at Oneakka's rather dispassionate profile.
He noticed and looked round at her with another frown.
"It'll be nice, going off-world again," she said encouragingly.
He nodded and looked ahead.
Wow, he really wasn't himself. Clearly her arrival had been perfect timing, because he'd just have sulked his way around the rest of Facility in sad silence otherwise.
00000
TBC