SOaF:TW: Chapter 4
Sep. 2nd, 2004 02:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luciazephyrHmmm....
*sneaks online to post*
Title: Turbulent Winds
Author: Dr. Zephyr Tanaka
Rating: PG
Pairing: None. Sorry, shippers and OTPers!
Summary: When the team arrives on a desert world, the people of the oasis village invite them to stay. But should Atlantis ally with the people who perform what they call the Gecenadi Ritual? Say hello to tons of problems like a new ally, a huge new responsibilty, a misunderstood enemy, and more. (CHAPTER THREE --- "Tornado of Trouble".)
Standing Outside a Fire
Book One --- Turbulent Winds
Chapter Four ::: Tornado of Trouble
---Dealing with Akito---
"You know... I've been thinking." McKay said loudly so his voice would carry to Sheppard in the pilot's seat after they rematerialized on the other side of the event horizon. Sheppard bit his lip to cut off a groan of frustration.
"McKay, I'd be astounded if you ever stopped in you lifetime."
"Cute. But anyway, you do realize we're defying a direct order, stealing a Jumper, and annoying another group of aliens just for a girl's life, whom we hardly know?" he frowned, as all the weight of their actions landed on him, making his shoulders slump slightly at the thought of it all.
"Yeah, I am aware of that." Sheppard replied, forcing himself to focus on his piloting rather than the subject matter. "I also don't think its that astounding, doctor. We did this before recently for a bunch of misguided delinquents."
"More like children with suicidal traits, but we had more than one life then." the Canadian rambled a bit.
"No use trying to play the man-who-doesn't-care, McKay." the major allowed himself a smug grin. "You're the one who convinced Dr. Beckett and then stunned him."
Rodney grumbled, "You'll never let me live that down, eh?"
"Nope. Get ready to go, people. I've found a perfect little landing place." the PJ descended on a small circle just outside the torch-lit area, nearly silent. He mentally order the ship to stay cloaked before climbing out of his seat and leading his team out.
They now noticed how dark the sky was, feeling slightly worried. Rodney flipped open the sheath on his watch, checking it. "Two hours to the ceremony." he voiced softly, twisting his wrist to close the velcro cloth on the face again. "We should get moving, Major."
"Where do we start?" Ford asked, taking a few steps forward, seeing the orange fires of the streets to the forward left. "This place is pretty big."
Teyla, on the other hand, pointed to the right. "I believe this way leads to the temple, Major." she observed, looking over her shoulder at Sheppard for confirmation.
He merely nodded and set out that way, his team in tow. Unwelcome nervousness skittered around his stomach, though he wasn't sure why. 'What I'm doing is right.' he told himself firmly, face set stoicly. 'Saving an innocent civilian is right.'
---`
Their steps made no sound as they reached the temple, all being as silent as possible. Ford and Sheppard held their guns in attack position and Teyla kept her finger on her own weapons trigger. Ford jumped to the other side of the temple door and in a synchronized motion, he and Sheppard peered around the corner to see inside. The passage was dark, the wall's lamps low on fuel apparently. They inched down the hallway, turning the flashlights on the 90s to good use.
AG1 entered the temple, still silent and Teyla walked to a wall after making sure no one was nearby and used her people's lighter to fire a few touches on. Sheppard smiled gratefully at her and began sweeping all corners of the large room and adjacent ones as well.
Storming footsteps came from one, someone clearly aware of their presence and not happy about it. Trained on the door, it swung open to admit a furious looking Akito dressed up in his deep green ceremonial garb and gold headdress. He narrowed his dark eyes at them, looking impossibly different from the person they knew before just a day before. "You. What do you want!?" he roared, striding over to them, all previous fear gone. He stopped a yard away from them, gripping his staff tightly, though looking like he'd sooner use it as a club than to walk.
"Where's Sheedra?" the Major growled out, not bothering with false pleasantries this time.
"She is yet indisposed, Major." Akito snapped back. "I think it is best you leave now. My guards shall be here shortly to deal with you and lead myself and the sacrifice to the ritual site."
Sheppard turned to Ford. "Go watch our six, Lieutenant." the youngest of them bobbed his head once, leveling a steely glare at the Elder before following orders and walking to the door. John turned back to Akito. "If you think your people will catch us, you're stupid. Where is she?"
"You will get nothing from me." the old man hissed back, bringing himself to his full height. Teyla rolled her eyes and walked up to him, grabbing him by the neck. He twitched once before his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed against her. She set him on the ground not-so carefully and looked at her companions.
"He was not going to tell us anything. Sheedra is probably behind the door he came out from."
Sheppard nodded. "Sounds good." He jogged to it and tried the door handle. Locked. He groaned again in frustration and raised his foot and kicked it. The wooden door shuddered once and popped open, swinging open easily. "Let's go."
Three broken doors later, Sheppard came to an unlocked one, breathing a sigh of relief and he opened it. It was some sort of study, rough bookshelves lining the walls with a makeshift writing desk against the farthest wall. They cautious stepped inside, sweeping their lights around. Nothing again. Sheppard turned to leave when Rodney grabbed his arm, pointing. "There." he said quietly and like magic, Sheedra appeared, sitting in her meditative stance on the top of the desk.
"Sneaky kid, this one." Sheppard commented dryly.
--A Not-So Smooth Getaway--
Sheedra, on the other hand, said nothing, lazily opening her golden eyes and uncrossing her legs to let them hang off the desk's edge. She was dressed up not unlike Akito had been, a pale yellow vest with long, lofty scarlet sleeves and puffy pants the tampered to her ankle. Teyla noticed first that her shoulders was showing, ready to be cut. She shook those thoughts from her mind, taking a few hesitant steps forward. "Sheedra, we came to help you." she spoke softly, bending slightly at the waist to look her in the eye.
"No."
Teyla blinked in surprise. "No? No, what?"
"You left me here with the Lord Akito. You cannot be here to help me now." she explained, a chilling hollow quality to her voice. She seemed to have completely surpressed her emotions while accepting her fate.
"That's not true." This time, it was Ford talking, drawing to him Sheedra's gaze. "We didn't want to leave you. We had no choice. Anyway, what's it matter? We can back, right?" he reasoned, smiling nervously at her. She titled her head, deep in thought.
"Why do you want to help me?"
"Because no child should have to do this, no matter the reason." Teyla continued insistently. "Will you trust us?"
Sheedra finished unfolding herself from her stance and hopped onto the floor. She nodded once, looking up at them. Sheppard grinned at her. "Good. Let head the Jumper. We can talk there."
---`
Sheppard retook his station once they returned, powering up the Jumper with a random thought. It raised up quickly, shutting the back hatch and heading to the planet's higher atmosphere. He kept it cloaked, letting it hover there and he rejoined the group by spinning his chair 180 degrees to see them. "So, what do we do now?"
"Well, do you have any family, Sheedra?" McKay asked the girl sitting cross-legged beside him on the passenger seat. in a unusually calm tone, without any of his snark present. "Anyone to take you in?"
She shook her head, looking hauntingly into his green eyes, making him have to swallow the uneasy lump in this throat. 'No child's eyes should look like that.' he thought absently. "I have none. My family died when I was younger."
"What about friends to take you in?" Sheppard questioned, leaning his chin into his palm.
"Once I was named the chosen for the Gecenadi Ritual, I was ignored by all those I thought wouldn't abandon me." she replied sadly, raising her hand to cover the bandana wrapped around her forehead. She gripped it, giving it a sharp tug to pull it off. Under, above her left eye, was a fairly large cut that obviously was infected by something. The area around it was a pale magenta purple tone. McKay gently held her chin, turning her face to his to examine it.
"Looks like any other infection, Major." Rodney reported after a second of observing. "Carson could fix her up in his sleep."
"What are we going to do about Weir, sir?" Ford said from across from Sheppard. "She definitely upset with us now."
"Yeah, I know. But not enough to leave us here." the man waved his hand nonchalantly, spinning to return to the controls. "We'll just make things up as we go." He steered the ship back down in a heavily angled dive toward the `Gate.
Ford, without being told, began dialing as they got back in range. The event horizon flushed, as usual and he fiddled with the EDO sender to transmit their identification. In the back, Sheedra stared open-mouthed at the ring of water.
She looked at Rodney, who was smiling at her fascination. "Is that how the Cuderi truly works?"
"Yep. Pretty neat, eh?" He leaned out to look at it. "We're just going to move through and appear on a completely different side of the galaxy."
Sheedra gulped slightly. "Does it hurt?"
"Nah, you won't feel a thing." he shook his head, leaning back again the folding his hands behind his head, feeling some of the tenseness in his muscles start to unravel.
That relaxation was short-lived. A moment after Ford sent the EDO, Weir's angry voice aburtly came in. Loud. "Major Sheppard, what have you done?!" Everyone jumped and McKay was physically jarred, looking like he'd received an electrical jolt. Sheppard dropped his desk on the control console, looking exhausted.
"Doctor Weir, mind letting us through?"
"No! Not until you explain yourselves!"
"Can't we explain when we get back? You can ask all of us and smack us around a bit for good measure." Sheppard commented hopefully, raising his head to look at the gate.
Weir was silent for a moment, though he could just imagine the look on her face. "Fine. Shields disengaged." she spoke, the sound of her teeth gritting audibly. Sheppard sent a reserved look to his team and their guest, going through the gate.
---Forgiveness and New Responsibility---
As they pulled back into the Jumper Bay, Weir and several military personnel filed into the room, looking up at them. John sighed for te umpteenth time that day, lowering his beloved ship to it's station. He looked at his team, an apology in his eyes. "I don't think the good doctor is very happy with us."
McKay stood first, tapping the door release. "Your ability to state the obvious never ceases to amaze me." he grumbled out. The platform hit the floor and he walked down the ramp. Weir stormed over to him and he rolled his eyes. Rodney opened his mouth to talk when he felt a tug on his jacket sleeve. He glanced down, meeting Sheedra's bright, eery golden eyes, wide and afraid.
"Rodney." Weir had the amazing ability to condense 'I am so angry at you, I may claw your eyes out with my nails' to a single name. Sheedra seemed to understand that as well, ducking behind the Canadian's legs.
"Evening, Elizabeth." he greeted, sending her a half-wave. "How are you?"
She turned away and began walking out the door again. "All of you to the briefing room." She tilted her head to look at Sheppard severely as he stepped out of the Jumper. "We'll all going to have a talk, AG1."
---
The doors slid closed with a barely audible hiss. The team sat around the table with Sheedra sitting again next to McKay, staring at the red surface of the table, a knot in her throat. She had been too hopeful again, her cynical mind told her in it's hissing voice.
Weir remained standing, walking behind each of them in a pace. They darted looks at each other covertly through the uneasy silence. "I hope you are aware of just how wrong you were this time." she circled to the opposite site of the table and leaned onto the table with her elbows resting on it. "I cannot count the number of times we've lost allies because of things like this."
"I can." the major whispered to Ford, getting a half smirk from his friend. He looked back up at Weir's face and colored red at her glare.
"I'd like a report on what you've done."
"Now?"
"Now."
Sheppard shifted in his seat, clearing his throat loudly. "Okie dokie. We went back to AGX-013 and landed the Jumper in a stealth. Snuck to the temple. Had a talk with the Elder Akito. Got the girl-"
"So this man who you called the most inhumane ... you know... you've ever met. He let you just take her?"
"That isn't exactly right, Dr. Weir." Teyla bowed her head slightly. "He was not going to co-operate."
"So?" Weir pressed, raising one eyebrow at Teyla. The Athosian coughed delicately.
"I knocked him out by pressing his pressure point on his neck." Teyla admitted quietly.
"Dear God..." Elizabeth flopped unceremoniously into the chair and dropped her forehead onto the table with a slight knock. "You knocked out their leader." she raised her head and focused on Sheppard. "You are never allowed to be a diplomat for any trade. Ever. Continue."
"Well, Teyla knocked the evil guy out, we searched the temple and found Sheedra doing her magic thing."
"Magic thing?"
"Our little friend here is very, very sneaky." Ford explained, smiling at the child in question. "We're not sure how, but she can became invisible."
This caught the commander's attention, her focus turning to Sheedra. "You can become invisible?" she parroted. Sheedra's eyes stayed focused on the table, her only response to the question a slight shrug. Weir rubbed her forehead. "Alright, alright. I assume you came right back after that? No one was hurt?"
"Nope." Sheppard confirmed. "Never fired a shot."
"Fine then." Weir stood again and the others followed suit. "Major, you stay here. The rest of you are, for now, excused." As an afterthought, she added, "Rodney, if you could bring our guest to see Beckett..." she focused on the source of her frustration. "You do speak, don't you?"
McKay leapt to the girl's defense, standing behind her and resting his hands on her shoulders lightly, bring in her gaze straight up to see his face, contorted in annoyance. "Doctor Weir." he began in a very grave voice, hazel irises narrowed and unforgiving. "This is girl who was supposed to be bled to death by now. If you would, please tell her about how her life is less important than trade relations with one tribe from one planet. Do try and avoid euphemisms, she IS only seven years old." Weir backed away a step at the sudden forceful words, staring incredulously at the Canadian.
"I... I didn't mean it like that."
"Whether you meant it like that is really moot point, Elizabeth. Case in point, that's what you decided." he responded in a very cruel, scolding tone. She closed her eyes and looked away, feeling the stir of regret in her chest.
"Dr. McKay, please escort the guest to the hospital wing." she returned, still looking away.
"Sure thing." he nodded once, tapping the girl on the shoulder and leading her out of the room and down the gateroom stairs. Ford and Teyla sent the Major sympathic glances, but also exited quickly.
A pause stretched between Weir and him, making him shift in place, fidgeting with his jacket sleeve.
"Was I wrong again, John?"
His eyes shot up to her face, seeing far too much hurt there. He swallowed. "You want the truth or for me to make you feel better?"
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I never wanted to make decisions like these. I wasn't expecting this."
"I know. You're not infallible, doctor. Stop trying to be." he stayed there for a moment before walking past her, gazing his hand on her elbow as a fleeting reassurance before exiting as well.
---
It didn't take long to arrive at Beckett's area, though it seemed ages with the silence he had to endure. He bounded thankfully into the room and called out for his Scottish friend.
It didn't take much more than that. Carson stormed out from behind one of the storage closets and towards Rodney, who's face fell into an 'oh shit' look. "Ah, hey Carson. Look, about the stun thing, I'm really sorry-" WHACK! "Goddamn!" McKay swore as Carson foot smashed into his ankle with a strength that belied the medical doctor's form. He slumped against the wall, balancing with his injured appendage clutched in his hands. "Ow, ow, ow, ow..."
When the pain subsided a bit, he raised his head to look at his 'friend'. Carson was grinning so widely, it looked like his face would stay that way. "You know what they say about paybacks, eh Rodney?" he snickered a bit at the other's horrified, overdramatic jaw drop before turning his attention to the newcomer, who was watching with rapt interest. "Hello, dear. Who might you be?" He knelt down so he was at her eye level, smiling in his most reassuring way.
"Sheedra." she whispered, ducking her head. He reached out and ran his fingers over the sore on her forehead. She flinched a bit, nerves still on edge. He clucked his tongue and picked the slight child up like she weighed nothing from under her arms and carried her over to the exam bed. He sat her there and rolled over his favorite lab chair, whistling a bit as he shuffled around the table for his tools.
Rodney, noting he wasn't getting any sympathy this time, hobbled over and took the next bed over, watching Carson work. "Can you fix her?"
The Scotsman cocked a grin. "In my sleep. It's just your everyday infection. I bet even her own people could of cured it, had they gotten irked enough to." He began cleaning the wound with a liquid, warning Sheedra in an undertone it would sting. She bobbed her head once, holding completely still as the alcohol-based med cleaned out the cut. He rubbed a smoky gel onto it after and wrapped it up in a cotton patch, securing it in place with medical tape. He smiled again at her, pronouncing her was finished.
"Excellent timing, since we have some matters to clear up." Dr. Weir's voice came from the door. Rodney and Carson blinked up at the American, who walked over to them. "What to do about Sheedra."
"Nice you've finally noted her name." Rodney spat under his breath, still slightly upset with the woman. She ignored it.
"Eh, I'm afraid I don't follow, ma'am." Carson frowned.
"Sheedra looks about seven, maybe eight. She needs a guardian." Weir elaborated, quirking her eyebrow at the two men.
"Why not have her live on the mainland with the Athosians?" Carson suggested.
"I don't want to burden them. After all, they are sharing half their crop with us by their own free will. It'd be rude to ask them to take care of her when she is own responsibility." she reasoned back.
"Fair enough. So what then?"
"I was thinking that, as a slight reprimand for disobeying direct orders, maybe AG1 should be her guardians." she stared at McKay, who's eyes widened.
"Ah... er... eheh..."
"No objections then? Good." Weir beamed. "Consider yourself an informal family to her as of now, Rodney, along with the rest of you."
'Oh crap.' McKay groaned. He caught the child's eyes, which held a new spark of... something akin to hope in them. 'This just gets better and better.'
---Author Notes---
Heh heh. McKay said 'eh'. Heh.
The following:
'The girl who was supposed to be bled to death by now. If you would, please tell her about how her life is less important than trade relations with one tribe from one planet. Do try and avoid euphemisms, she IS only seven years old.'
That speech of McKay's was based off a musing of one of my reviewers in an email conversation. Eri, thank you again! You've got some awesome ideas!
Anyway, I think I did good timewise on this chapter, all things considered. It is a long one, people.
Not much to say about this one. I'm not content about it, but oh well. I'm just wrapping book one to a close in preparation to book two.
Anyone interested in giving me tips to make a website? (i.e. what service to use and some tips in HTML) I want one to archive this monster of a fic. Also, anyone want to be really sweet and draw me a cover to fit this one? As in, book-cover-ish piece? Anyone who wants to, feel free to sketch one up and email it to me. If you need hosting, check out www.photobucket.com. They has 100% free hosting and no ads. Nice site. Easy site.
Speaking of fanart, Erisinia won some serious kudos from me by doing a realistic sketch of Sheedra Zephyr. It's nice. Uber-nice. Check it out here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Lucia_Tanaka/ErisiniasSheedraFanart.bmp
It looks better full-sized, but photobucket hates big pics.
Back to the fic.
Next chapter is essentially a long, fun filler that sets up for the next book, where the plot really kicks into high gear. It may be from Sheedra's POV (the chapter, not the second book), but I'm still debating that. What I do know is that we get some serious background on our new gal, the main baddie of the next book, and some nice foreshadowing of her dynamic with our dear Dr. McKay. The chapter will be called "Settling in with Sea Airs", to continue my purposeful tread of wind-related chapter titles. Be honest, how many of you caught that? Didn't think so. *smug grin* That tread will continue with the other two books. See, Turbulent Winds had a wind theme fittingly, so the other two will also have element-related titles for me to annoy you with. Any suggestions for the next book's element? I'm thinking maybe storms, but anyone else got a better idea, lemme know.
Anyway, that's all for this AN. See you in the next, and final chapter! Thanks for sticking with me this long, and keep reviewing!
~Dr. Zephyr Tanaka
Check out teh c00l new LJ icon. Uber, ne? Fits me well. ^.^ *loads Mr. 9mm* Geek with a gun.
~Lucia
~Dr. Zephyr Tanaka
*sneaks online to post*
Title: Turbulent Winds
Author: Dr. Zephyr Tanaka
Rating: PG
Pairing: None. Sorry, shippers and OTPers!
Summary: When the team arrives on a desert world, the people of the oasis village invite them to stay. But should Atlantis ally with the people who perform what they call the Gecenadi Ritual? Say hello to tons of problems like a new ally, a huge new responsibilty, a misunderstood enemy, and more. (CHAPTER THREE --- "Tornado of Trouble".)
Standing Outside a Fire
Book One --- Turbulent Winds
Chapter Four ::: Tornado of Trouble
---Dealing with Akito---
"You know... I've been thinking." McKay said loudly so his voice would carry to Sheppard in the pilot's seat after they rematerialized on the other side of the event horizon. Sheppard bit his lip to cut off a groan of frustration.
"McKay, I'd be astounded if you ever stopped in you lifetime."
"Cute. But anyway, you do realize we're defying a direct order, stealing a Jumper, and annoying another group of aliens just for a girl's life, whom we hardly know?" he frowned, as all the weight of their actions landed on him, making his shoulders slump slightly at the thought of it all.
"Yeah, I am aware of that." Sheppard replied, forcing himself to focus on his piloting rather than the subject matter. "I also don't think its that astounding, doctor. We did this before recently for a bunch of misguided delinquents."
"More like children with suicidal traits, but we had more than one life then." the Canadian rambled a bit.
"No use trying to play the man-who-doesn't-care, McKay." the major allowed himself a smug grin. "You're the one who convinced Dr. Beckett and then stunned him."
Rodney grumbled, "You'll never let me live that down, eh?"
"Nope. Get ready to go, people. I've found a perfect little landing place." the PJ descended on a small circle just outside the torch-lit area, nearly silent. He mentally order the ship to stay cloaked before climbing out of his seat and leading his team out.
They now noticed how dark the sky was, feeling slightly worried. Rodney flipped open the sheath on his watch, checking it. "Two hours to the ceremony." he voiced softly, twisting his wrist to close the velcro cloth on the face again. "We should get moving, Major."
"Where do we start?" Ford asked, taking a few steps forward, seeing the orange fires of the streets to the forward left. "This place is pretty big."
Teyla, on the other hand, pointed to the right. "I believe this way leads to the temple, Major." she observed, looking over her shoulder at Sheppard for confirmation.
He merely nodded and set out that way, his team in tow. Unwelcome nervousness skittered around his stomach, though he wasn't sure why. 'What I'm doing is right.' he told himself firmly, face set stoicly. 'Saving an innocent civilian is right.'
---`
Their steps made no sound as they reached the temple, all being as silent as possible. Ford and Sheppard held their guns in attack position and Teyla kept her finger on her own weapons trigger. Ford jumped to the other side of the temple door and in a synchronized motion, he and Sheppard peered around the corner to see inside. The passage was dark, the wall's lamps low on fuel apparently. They inched down the hallway, turning the flashlights on the 90s to good use.
AG1 entered the temple, still silent and Teyla walked to a wall after making sure no one was nearby and used her people's lighter to fire a few touches on. Sheppard smiled gratefully at her and began sweeping all corners of the large room and adjacent ones as well.
Storming footsteps came from one, someone clearly aware of their presence and not happy about it. Trained on the door, it swung open to admit a furious looking Akito dressed up in his deep green ceremonial garb and gold headdress. He narrowed his dark eyes at them, looking impossibly different from the person they knew before just a day before. "You. What do you want!?" he roared, striding over to them, all previous fear gone. He stopped a yard away from them, gripping his staff tightly, though looking like he'd sooner use it as a club than to walk.
"Where's Sheedra?" the Major growled out, not bothering with false pleasantries this time.
"She is yet indisposed, Major." Akito snapped back. "I think it is best you leave now. My guards shall be here shortly to deal with you and lead myself and the sacrifice to the ritual site."
Sheppard turned to Ford. "Go watch our six, Lieutenant." the youngest of them bobbed his head once, leveling a steely glare at the Elder before following orders and walking to the door. John turned back to Akito. "If you think your people will catch us, you're stupid. Where is she?"
"You will get nothing from me." the old man hissed back, bringing himself to his full height. Teyla rolled her eyes and walked up to him, grabbing him by the neck. He twitched once before his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed against her. She set him on the ground not-so carefully and looked at her companions.
"He was not going to tell us anything. Sheedra is probably behind the door he came out from."
Sheppard nodded. "Sounds good." He jogged to it and tried the door handle. Locked. He groaned again in frustration and raised his foot and kicked it. The wooden door shuddered once and popped open, swinging open easily. "Let's go."
Three broken doors later, Sheppard came to an unlocked one, breathing a sigh of relief and he opened it. It was some sort of study, rough bookshelves lining the walls with a makeshift writing desk against the farthest wall. They cautious stepped inside, sweeping their lights around. Nothing again. Sheppard turned to leave when Rodney grabbed his arm, pointing. "There." he said quietly and like magic, Sheedra appeared, sitting in her meditative stance on the top of the desk.
"Sneaky kid, this one." Sheppard commented dryly.
--A Not-So Smooth Getaway--
Sheedra, on the other hand, said nothing, lazily opening her golden eyes and uncrossing her legs to let them hang off the desk's edge. She was dressed up not unlike Akito had been, a pale yellow vest with long, lofty scarlet sleeves and puffy pants the tampered to her ankle. Teyla noticed first that her shoulders was showing, ready to be cut. She shook those thoughts from her mind, taking a few hesitant steps forward. "Sheedra, we came to help you." she spoke softly, bending slightly at the waist to look her in the eye.
"No."
Teyla blinked in surprise. "No? No, what?"
"You left me here with the Lord Akito. You cannot be here to help me now." she explained, a chilling hollow quality to her voice. She seemed to have completely surpressed her emotions while accepting her fate.
"That's not true." This time, it was Ford talking, drawing to him Sheedra's gaze. "We didn't want to leave you. We had no choice. Anyway, what's it matter? We can back, right?" he reasoned, smiling nervously at her. She titled her head, deep in thought.
"Why do you want to help me?"
"Because no child should have to do this, no matter the reason." Teyla continued insistently. "Will you trust us?"
Sheedra finished unfolding herself from her stance and hopped onto the floor. She nodded once, looking up at them. Sheppard grinned at her. "Good. Let head the Jumper. We can talk there."
---`
Sheppard retook his station once they returned, powering up the Jumper with a random thought. It raised up quickly, shutting the back hatch and heading to the planet's higher atmosphere. He kept it cloaked, letting it hover there and he rejoined the group by spinning his chair 180 degrees to see them. "So, what do we do now?"
"Well, do you have any family, Sheedra?" McKay asked the girl sitting cross-legged beside him on the passenger seat. in a unusually calm tone, without any of his snark present. "Anyone to take you in?"
She shook her head, looking hauntingly into his green eyes, making him have to swallow the uneasy lump in this throat. 'No child's eyes should look like that.' he thought absently. "I have none. My family died when I was younger."
"What about friends to take you in?" Sheppard questioned, leaning his chin into his palm.
"Once I was named the chosen for the Gecenadi Ritual, I was ignored by all those I thought wouldn't abandon me." she replied sadly, raising her hand to cover the bandana wrapped around her forehead. She gripped it, giving it a sharp tug to pull it off. Under, above her left eye, was a fairly large cut that obviously was infected by something. The area around it was a pale magenta purple tone. McKay gently held her chin, turning her face to his to examine it.
"Looks like any other infection, Major." Rodney reported after a second of observing. "Carson could fix her up in his sleep."
"What are we going to do about Weir, sir?" Ford said from across from Sheppard. "She definitely upset with us now."
"Yeah, I know. But not enough to leave us here." the man waved his hand nonchalantly, spinning to return to the controls. "We'll just make things up as we go." He steered the ship back down in a heavily angled dive toward the `Gate.
Ford, without being told, began dialing as they got back in range. The event horizon flushed, as usual and he fiddled with the EDO sender to transmit their identification. In the back, Sheedra stared open-mouthed at the ring of water.
She looked at Rodney, who was smiling at her fascination. "Is that how the Cuderi truly works?"
"Yep. Pretty neat, eh?" He leaned out to look at it. "We're just going to move through and appear on a completely different side of the galaxy."
Sheedra gulped slightly. "Does it hurt?"
"Nah, you won't feel a thing." he shook his head, leaning back again the folding his hands behind his head, feeling some of the tenseness in his muscles start to unravel.
That relaxation was short-lived. A moment after Ford sent the EDO, Weir's angry voice aburtly came in. Loud. "Major Sheppard, what have you done?!" Everyone jumped and McKay was physically jarred, looking like he'd received an electrical jolt. Sheppard dropped his desk on the control console, looking exhausted.
"Doctor Weir, mind letting us through?"
"No! Not until you explain yourselves!"
"Can't we explain when we get back? You can ask all of us and smack us around a bit for good measure." Sheppard commented hopefully, raising his head to look at the gate.
Weir was silent for a moment, though he could just imagine the look on her face. "Fine. Shields disengaged." she spoke, the sound of her teeth gritting audibly. Sheppard sent a reserved look to his team and their guest, going through the gate.
---Forgiveness and New Responsibility---
As they pulled back into the Jumper Bay, Weir and several military personnel filed into the room, looking up at them. John sighed for te umpteenth time that day, lowering his beloved ship to it's station. He looked at his team, an apology in his eyes. "I don't think the good doctor is very happy with us."
McKay stood first, tapping the door release. "Your ability to state the obvious never ceases to amaze me." he grumbled out. The platform hit the floor and he walked down the ramp. Weir stormed over to him and he rolled his eyes. Rodney opened his mouth to talk when he felt a tug on his jacket sleeve. He glanced down, meeting Sheedra's bright, eery golden eyes, wide and afraid.
"Rodney." Weir had the amazing ability to condense 'I am so angry at you, I may claw your eyes out with my nails' to a single name. Sheedra seemed to understand that as well, ducking behind the Canadian's legs.
"Evening, Elizabeth." he greeted, sending her a half-wave. "How are you?"
She turned away and began walking out the door again. "All of you to the briefing room." She tilted her head to look at Sheppard severely as he stepped out of the Jumper. "We'll all going to have a talk, AG1."
---
The doors slid closed with a barely audible hiss. The team sat around the table with Sheedra sitting again next to McKay, staring at the red surface of the table, a knot in her throat. She had been too hopeful again, her cynical mind told her in it's hissing voice.
Weir remained standing, walking behind each of them in a pace. They darted looks at each other covertly through the uneasy silence. "I hope you are aware of just how wrong you were this time." she circled to the opposite site of the table and leaned onto the table with her elbows resting on it. "I cannot count the number of times we've lost allies because of things like this."
"I can." the major whispered to Ford, getting a half smirk from his friend. He looked back up at Weir's face and colored red at her glare.
"I'd like a report on what you've done."
"Now?"
"Now."
Sheppard shifted in his seat, clearing his throat loudly. "Okie dokie. We went back to AGX-013 and landed the Jumper in a stealth. Snuck to the temple. Had a talk with the Elder Akito. Got the girl-"
"So this man who you called the most inhumane ... you know... you've ever met. He let you just take her?"
"That isn't exactly right, Dr. Weir." Teyla bowed her head slightly. "He was not going to co-operate."
"So?" Weir pressed, raising one eyebrow at Teyla. The Athosian coughed delicately.
"I knocked him out by pressing his pressure point on his neck." Teyla admitted quietly.
"Dear God..." Elizabeth flopped unceremoniously into the chair and dropped her forehead onto the table with a slight knock. "You knocked out their leader." she raised her head and focused on Sheppard. "You are never allowed to be a diplomat for any trade. Ever. Continue."
"Well, Teyla knocked the evil guy out, we searched the temple and found Sheedra doing her magic thing."
"Magic thing?"
"Our little friend here is very, very sneaky." Ford explained, smiling at the child in question. "We're not sure how, but she can became invisible."
This caught the commander's attention, her focus turning to Sheedra. "You can become invisible?" she parroted. Sheedra's eyes stayed focused on the table, her only response to the question a slight shrug. Weir rubbed her forehead. "Alright, alright. I assume you came right back after that? No one was hurt?"
"Nope." Sheppard confirmed. "Never fired a shot."
"Fine then." Weir stood again and the others followed suit. "Major, you stay here. The rest of you are, for now, excused." As an afterthought, she added, "Rodney, if you could bring our guest to see Beckett..." she focused on the source of her frustration. "You do speak, don't you?"
McKay leapt to the girl's defense, standing behind her and resting his hands on her shoulders lightly, bring in her gaze straight up to see his face, contorted in annoyance. "Doctor Weir." he began in a very grave voice, hazel irises narrowed and unforgiving. "This is girl who was supposed to be bled to death by now. If you would, please tell her about how her life is less important than trade relations with one tribe from one planet. Do try and avoid euphemisms, she IS only seven years old." Weir backed away a step at the sudden forceful words, staring incredulously at the Canadian.
"I... I didn't mean it like that."
"Whether you meant it like that is really moot point, Elizabeth. Case in point, that's what you decided." he responded in a very cruel, scolding tone. She closed her eyes and looked away, feeling the stir of regret in her chest.
"Dr. McKay, please escort the guest to the hospital wing." she returned, still looking away.
"Sure thing." he nodded once, tapping the girl on the shoulder and leading her out of the room and down the gateroom stairs. Ford and Teyla sent the Major sympathic glances, but also exited quickly.
A pause stretched between Weir and him, making him shift in place, fidgeting with his jacket sleeve.
"Was I wrong again, John?"
His eyes shot up to her face, seeing far too much hurt there. He swallowed. "You want the truth or for me to make you feel better?"
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I never wanted to make decisions like these. I wasn't expecting this."
"I know. You're not infallible, doctor. Stop trying to be." he stayed there for a moment before walking past her, gazing his hand on her elbow as a fleeting reassurance before exiting as well.
---
It didn't take long to arrive at Beckett's area, though it seemed ages with the silence he had to endure. He bounded thankfully into the room and called out for his Scottish friend.
It didn't take much more than that. Carson stormed out from behind one of the storage closets and towards Rodney, who's face fell into an 'oh shit' look. "Ah, hey Carson. Look, about the stun thing, I'm really sorry-" WHACK! "Goddamn!" McKay swore as Carson foot smashed into his ankle with a strength that belied the medical doctor's form. He slumped against the wall, balancing with his injured appendage clutched in his hands. "Ow, ow, ow, ow..."
When the pain subsided a bit, he raised his head to look at his 'friend'. Carson was grinning so widely, it looked like his face would stay that way. "You know what they say about paybacks, eh Rodney?" he snickered a bit at the other's horrified, overdramatic jaw drop before turning his attention to the newcomer, who was watching with rapt interest. "Hello, dear. Who might you be?" He knelt down so he was at her eye level, smiling in his most reassuring way.
"Sheedra." she whispered, ducking her head. He reached out and ran his fingers over the sore on her forehead. She flinched a bit, nerves still on edge. He clucked his tongue and picked the slight child up like she weighed nothing from under her arms and carried her over to the exam bed. He sat her there and rolled over his favorite lab chair, whistling a bit as he shuffled around the table for his tools.
Rodney, noting he wasn't getting any sympathy this time, hobbled over and took the next bed over, watching Carson work. "Can you fix her?"
The Scotsman cocked a grin. "In my sleep. It's just your everyday infection. I bet even her own people could of cured it, had they gotten irked enough to." He began cleaning the wound with a liquid, warning Sheedra in an undertone it would sting. She bobbed her head once, holding completely still as the alcohol-based med cleaned out the cut. He rubbed a smoky gel onto it after and wrapped it up in a cotton patch, securing it in place with medical tape. He smiled again at her, pronouncing her was finished.
"Excellent timing, since we have some matters to clear up." Dr. Weir's voice came from the door. Rodney and Carson blinked up at the American, who walked over to them. "What to do about Sheedra."
"Nice you've finally noted her name." Rodney spat under his breath, still slightly upset with the woman. She ignored it.
"Eh, I'm afraid I don't follow, ma'am." Carson frowned.
"Sheedra looks about seven, maybe eight. She needs a guardian." Weir elaborated, quirking her eyebrow at the two men.
"Why not have her live on the mainland with the Athosians?" Carson suggested.
"I don't want to burden them. After all, they are sharing half their crop with us by their own free will. It'd be rude to ask them to take care of her when she is own responsibility." she reasoned back.
"Fair enough. So what then?"
"I was thinking that, as a slight reprimand for disobeying direct orders, maybe AG1 should be her guardians." she stared at McKay, who's eyes widened.
"Ah... er... eheh..."
"No objections then? Good." Weir beamed. "Consider yourself an informal family to her as of now, Rodney, along with the rest of you."
'Oh crap.' McKay groaned. He caught the child's eyes, which held a new spark of... something akin to hope in them. 'This just gets better and better.'
---Author Notes---
Heh heh. McKay said 'eh'. Heh.
The following:
'The girl who was supposed to be bled to death by now. If you would, please tell her about how her life is less important than trade relations with one tribe from one planet. Do try and avoid euphemisms, she IS only seven years old.'
That speech of McKay's was based off a musing of one of my reviewers in an email conversation. Eri, thank you again! You've got some awesome ideas!
Anyway, I think I did good timewise on this chapter, all things considered. It is a long one, people.
Not much to say about this one. I'm not content about it, but oh well. I'm just wrapping book one to a close in preparation to book two.
Anyone interested in giving me tips to make a website? (i.e. what service to use and some tips in HTML) I want one to archive this monster of a fic. Also, anyone want to be really sweet and draw me a cover to fit this one? As in, book-cover-ish piece? Anyone who wants to, feel free to sketch one up and email it to me. If you need hosting, check out www.photobucket.com. They has 100% free hosting and no ads. Nice site. Easy site.
Speaking of fanart, Erisinia won some serious kudos from me by doing a realistic sketch of Sheedra Zephyr. It's nice. Uber-nice. Check it out here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Lucia_Tanaka/ErisiniasSheedraFanart.bmp
It looks better full-sized, but photobucket hates big pics.
Back to the fic.
Next chapter is essentially a long, fun filler that sets up for the next book, where the plot really kicks into high gear. It may be from Sheedra's POV (the chapter, not the second book), but I'm still debating that. What I do know is that we get some serious background on our new gal, the main baddie of the next book, and some nice foreshadowing of her dynamic with our dear Dr. McKay. The chapter will be called "Settling in with Sea Airs", to continue my purposeful tread of wind-related chapter titles. Be honest, how many of you caught that? Didn't think so. *smug grin* That tread will continue with the other two books. See, Turbulent Winds had a wind theme fittingly, so the other two will also have element-related titles for me to annoy you with. Any suggestions for the next book's element? I'm thinking maybe storms, but anyone else got a better idea, lemme know.
Anyway, that's all for this AN. See you in the next, and final chapter! Thanks for sticking with me this long, and keep reviewing!
~Dr. Zephyr Tanaka
Check out teh c00l new LJ icon. Uber, ne? Fits me well. ^.^ *loads Mr. 9mm* Geek with a gun.
~Dr. Zephyr Tanaka
