Fic: Chase the Morning {10/37}
Chapter Three: Home
Date: May 16, 5 A.I. [2005]
Location: Central Shopping District, Denver, Colorado
They took a beat-up, old grey van back to Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Sam at the wheel and Daniel sitting shotgun. The four Lanteans were arranged in the back, holding onto various straps and handholds. Jess chatted with Radek to keep his mind off the numerous potholes and bumps; the Czech was feeling mildly carsick. Rodney was uncharacteristically silent as they drove, ignoring Jess’ attempts to draw him into the conversation. He wasn’t looking particularly chipper, either, so the Texan chalked it up to queasiness, or perhaps he was merely discussing everything they’d found out that day with Teshryn, as was an occasional habit of his.
John was talking quietly with Sam and Daniel, trying to learn more about the SGC, when they finally reached the Shopping Center after about a half-hour. Everyone piled out, Radek and Rodney looking distinctly relieved that the trip was over. Jess dug out her Life Signs Detector- Daniel had returned it to her on the way back- and turned it on, checking the immediate area for others besides the six new arrivals.
‘Anything?’ John asked, idly checking his P-90.
‘Just us, so far.’ Jess replied, shaking her head. ‘We could try the radios.’
John nodded and keyed his radio. ‘Jumper One, come in; this is Sheppard. I repeat, Jumper One, please respond.’
‘Jumper One?’ Daniel asked, looking up from his examination of the Life Signs Detector in Jess’ hands. ‘You have more than one?’
‘There’re around twenty,’ Radek said. ‘We use about two at any given time.’
‘Do they have weapons capabilities?’ Jolinar asked as they walked on and towards shelter, just in case.
‘Very limited.’ Rodney replied. ‘Which is why we don’t use them unless absolutely necessary. Besides, that would get way too much attention from the Wraith if we tried attacking them with the drones.’
‘That’s understandable,’ Daniel said. ‘Any other surprises we should be expecting?’
‘Nothing too bad.’ Jess told him. ‘You’ll see when we get there.’
Suddenly, John’s radio crackled to life.
‘Jumper One to Colonel Sheppard. Come in, Sheppard.’ It was Lieutenant Newcombe, one of the Marines accompanying Ronon and Teyla. He was able to fly the Jumper via the retro-virus Carson had made after discovering the gene that enabled some of the Lanteans to use Ancient technology.
‘It’s good to hear your voice, Lieutenant.’ John said, smiling briefly. ‘What’s your position?’
‘Just coming in over the center.’ Newcombe replied. ‘We should be at the rendezvous point in five.’
‘We’ll meet you there.’ John told him. ‘We’ve got some new friends who want to meet Doctor Weir, as well.’
‘Yes, sir.’ The young Marine signed off, sounding mildly confused.
‘Let’s go.’ John told the others. They got up, Rodney muttering softly about his rest being disturbed.
‘What about the supplies we came for?’ he asked John.
‘They should be where we left them.’ Was the reply. ‘We’ll pick them up on the way.’
They made a detour to pick up the cache of clothes and other goods John and Rodney had gathered, and then went to the rendezvous point. After waiting for a few moments, the Jumper shimmered into view in one of the parking stalls. The back ramp lowered, revealing Teyla and Ronon standing there, P-90s at the ready. They relaxed when John walked up, his demeanor calm.
‘Hey,’ he said, nodding at the duo. ‘You guys get what we needed?’
‘Yep.’ Ronon replied. ‘Who’re they?’
‘Allies.’ Jess came up with Radek, slinging her pack off and onto the floor of the Jumper. She rummaged around in it and then pulled out her datapad. Tapping the screen a few times with the stylus, she turned to show Radek and Rodney what she had pulled up.
‘See, here are the schematics for the Jumpers.’ She said, leaning against the doorway. Radek and Rodney grouped around her, Sam and Daniel joining them after a moment. ‘The most people we’ve had in a Jumper at a time is eight,’ she gestured vaguely at the others with the slender stylus, ‘but we could probably fit two to three more. It might be a tight fit, but Atlantis isn’t too far away, so it wouldn’t be for long.’
‘And if it gets too cramped, we could always throw Rodney out the back.’ Radek said with a grin. John laughed softly, shaking his head, and then went to check with the Marines in the cockpit. Everyone else piled in the back, arranging themselves the best they could. Rodney claimed one of the chairs, as did Ronon. The rest spread out, finding seats either on the benches or the floor. John took over at the pilot’s seat, and Lieutenant Newcombe joined Daniel, Sam, Radek, Teyla, and Jess in the back.
The Jumper lifted off smoothly and Radek, who was monitoring the power output on his computer, didn’t notice any particular strain caused by the two extra people. He told this to Rodney, who nodded absently as he dug through his own pack before swearing softly.
‘Damn,’ he muttered, slouching back into his seat.
‘What?’ Jess asked, looking up from her datapad. Outside, trees flashed by on the HUD as they passed shielded over the Rio Grande National Forest, which concealed the lake in which Atlantis lay.
‘I’m out of power bars.’ He replied, looking grumpy. ‘And I haven’t eaten since breakfast.’
Jess rolled her eyes, dug into her pack, and pulled out a cellophane wrapped object, which she then tossed to Rodney. He unwrapped it and sniffed at it suspiciously.
‘It’s not poisoned, McKay, neither does it have citrus in it. I don’t know why you’d worry about that, anyways; Teshryn should be able to protect you from anaphylactic shock in any case.’ She told him. Rodney frowned at her but took a bite of the food. His eyes widened as he registered the sweet flavor of what he was eating.
‘Where did you get this?’ he asked after finishing his mouthful.
‘I made it.’
‘What is it?’ Daniel asked, looking interested.
‘A honey-almond bar.’ Jess replied. ‘It was a recipe of my mother’s, but with a few tweaks. More cinnamon-sugar, for one thing.’
As they spoke, the Jumper slid smoothly under the lake’s surface, the shield shimmering slightly.
‘This is my favorite part,’ Newcombe said, grinning.
‘What?’
‘Just watch.’
Sam and Daniel moved forwards, standing behind the two front seats as John deftly piloted the Jumper. The blue-green dome covering Atlantis came into view, a silvery school of fish swimming briefly across the front of the Jumper. Jess heard Sam draw in a startled breath when the outside airlock cycled open, and had to hide a smile.
Remember our first time coming in? Anora asked. We were just as impressed.
We still are.
The Jumper slid easily in and the water drained after the airlock closed. When the inner airlock opened and the Jumper went through, it was Daniel’s turn to make a noise of surprise. The city lay before them, and there were a few people playing impromptu games of football, Frisbee, and soccer on the wide lawns of grass that stretched all around Atlantis. They looked up when the Jumper passed over, civilians and soldiers alike waving and yelling their greetings.
‘You weren’t kidding, were you?’ Daniel asked Jess, who shook her head. The Jumper entered the bay and settled in its spot. Outside, Elizabeth was waiting, along with Peter Grodin and Sergeant Bates.
‘Alright, everybody out.’ John said, getting up and opening the back hatch. Everyone got out and rounded the side of the Jumper, joining their welcoming party.
‘Welcome to Atlantis, Doctor Jackson, Doctor O’Neill. Colonel Sheppard called ahead and told me of your meeting.’ Elizabeth said, smiling and extending a hand. Sam took it, shaking it briefly.
‘You must be Doctor Weir. We’ve only heard good things about you.’ Daniel said. ‘As well as much about this amazing place.’
‘Would you like to see more?’ Elizabeth asked. Daniel’s face lit up at the suggestion, and Sam nodded. ‘I’ll have a few of our Marines show you around.’ Elizabeth turned to John and the others. Rodney was talking quietly with Peter, Radek and Jess; Teshryn and Anora occasionally coming to the fore and adding their opinions as well.
‘Debriefing in one hour,’ Elizabeth told them. ‘I’ll see you then. Doctor O’Neill, Doctor Jackson, if you’ll follow me, I can get that tour set up.’
The group dispersed, all heading to their various labs and posts to check up on what had occurred since they had left.