To Seek Out New Life by slybrarian
Jul. 13th, 2007 12:57 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
slybrarian.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sga_flashficTitle: To Seek Out New Life (Strange New Worlds and Alien Geography Challenge)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
slybrarian
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Gen, more or less...
Series: Part of Dramatic Exit, more or less
Summary: Team Sheppard boldly goes, and some new life seeks them out.
Notes: Thanks toarchae_ology for betaing.
Team Sheppard exited the gate onto P9X-771 and John surveyed the area. There was a wide stone surface around them and a few broken columns, but the area had been overgrown, and the canopy from the surrounding trees stretched out high above them blocking most of the sky. Seeing no signs of trouble, he experimentally hopped a couple times before grinning broadly and making a longer jump that sent him gracefully arcing half-dozen yards towards the trees. "Hey, this is pretty cool."
Rodney rolled his eyes and started walking purposefully ahead. "Yes, yes, a half gravity. We were all at the briefing. Now, supposedly the control center for this manufactory is a few miles south of here, so -" He stopped and sighed as Ronon did a somersault past him to land next to John. "Are you two done?"
"Come on, Rodney," John said, jumping straight up and easily clearing Ronon's head. "It's not every day you visit somewhere where the gravity's so different than what we're used to."
"I agree," Teyla said. "I have been to many worlds, but on most your weight varies only a little. This is quite refreshing."
Rodney's face lit up at that, and he bounced just a little. "You know, I think you're right. This will probably do wonders for my back. Still, less play, more science, if you don't mind?"
John chuckled and lead the way, politely ignoring the way Rodney would occasionally skip a little. It was a remarkably pleasant day, with sunlight streaming down from the openings in the canopy to light the forest floor. There was a pleasant breeze running through the trees, birds were chirping, and there was no signs of either people or large animals, carnivorous or otherwise. When about fifteen minutes later they came to the edge of a small clearing, John looked up and stopped so suddenly that Rodney ran into him.
"What? What's wrong? Is there a ship or - oh." Dominating the sky was a waxing crescent that appeared far larger than the Earth's moon, crossed with thousands of bands that were shaded yellows and oranges and browns. Here and there swirls of storms were visible, and on the night side flashes of lightning could be seen in a few spots. Several much smaller globes could be seen in the sky, including one that was silhouetted against the great disc, and just barely visible was a ring of material that circled its equator.
"This isn't a planet," John murmured, entranced by the sight. "It's a moon."
For a moment, the others were silent as they looked at the sight, then suddenly Rodney fumbled out his scanner and started to poke at it frantically. "Oh no. Do you have any idea how much radiation that thing is probably putting out?"
"Rodney, calm down. If it was dangerous, the MALP would have picked it up." John shook his head and walked back into the woods, hoping there would be a better view at the Ancient outpost. After a moment the others began to follow him. Walking along, he said over his shoulder, "You don't need to be so paranoid. Honestly, is it really so hard to believe that we could have a normal mission for once?"
That was the point when the drop bear dropped out of a tree onto John's head, as drop bears are wont to do.
"Oh, god, get it off, get it off!" John yelled, stumbling around and flailing his hands as he tried to pull the extremely fluffy koala-like animal off. It chittered angrily and its stubby legs clamped down to keep it firmly in place no matter how hard he pushed or pulled, and he could barely even get a grip through its thick, silky fur. He heard Rodney shouting, followed by the distinctive whine of Ronon's blaster. "No, don't shoot it!"
"Hold still, John," Teyla said, and he froze where he stood, hand clenched at his side. She grabbed his arms to hold him steady as she eyed the furry beast. It hissed at her and showed no sign of letting go until she suddenly hit it square between the eyes. It squealed and John yelped as it squeezed even tighter before suddenly jumping to the forest floor and scampering up a tree. John fumbled for his sidearm, but he couldn't even undo the clasp before the creature had disappeared into the thick branches. The forest was still and silent again, broken only by the occasional bird call and the increasingly loud laughter of the other two men.
"Let me check you for injuries," Teyla said, guiding John to sit on a log while he glared at Ronon and Rodney, who showed no sign of quieting down.
"Thanks for the help, guys," he growled. Ronon tried to look contrite and failed miserably; Rodney didn't even bother to try.
"I believe you are only bruised," Teyla said, running her fingers along his scalp. She suddenly stopped, and stepped back. It took a moment for John to realize, but she was definitely fighting a smile of her own. John quickly felt his hair, and after a moment felt a warm, wet, and sticky spot at the top of his head.
"What the fuck?" he spat. "That thing did not just - damn it!"
"Only you, Sheppard," Rodney gasped out, his face beet-red as he leaned on Ronon for support. "Only you could get, get molested by an alien koala bear."
"I believe it must have mistaken your hair for a mate," Teyla said, having regained her composure. John narrowed his eyes, but her faced remained serene. He stood up and started to stomp off towards the gate.
"We're going home!"
"What? Oh, come on, Colonel," Rodney called out. "What about the Ancient facility? We may as well go on, it's not like you have any dignity left to lose."
"Fuck you, McKay!" John shouted back, flipping him off. He didn't even look back to check if the others were following him. "The only Ancient thing I'm interested in is my shower. Lorne can search for your mythical facility. Its not like the database is ever right about them anyways. It's probably an ice cream factory or something."
John nearly threw Lorne off the control tower when he came back and reported he'd found a ZPM charger.
-----
ETA: Now with a companion piece: "And To Boldly Go
Author:
slybrarianRating: PG-13
Pairing: Gen, more or less...
Series: Part of Dramatic Exit, more or less
Summary: Team Sheppard boldly goes, and some new life seeks them out.
Notes: Thanks to
archae_ology for betaing. Team Sheppard exited the gate onto P9X-771 and John surveyed the area. There was a wide stone surface around them and a few broken columns, but the area had been overgrown, and the canopy from the surrounding trees stretched out high above them blocking most of the sky. Seeing no signs of trouble, he experimentally hopped a couple times before grinning broadly and making a longer jump that sent him gracefully arcing half-dozen yards towards the trees. "Hey, this is pretty cool."
Rodney rolled his eyes and started walking purposefully ahead. "Yes, yes, a half gravity. We were all at the briefing. Now, supposedly the control center for this manufactory is a few miles south of here, so -" He stopped and sighed as Ronon did a somersault past him to land next to John. "Are you two done?"
"Come on, Rodney," John said, jumping straight up and easily clearing Ronon's head. "It's not every day you visit somewhere where the gravity's so different than what we're used to."
"I agree," Teyla said. "I have been to many worlds, but on most your weight varies only a little. This is quite refreshing."
Rodney's face lit up at that, and he bounced just a little. "You know, I think you're right. This will probably do wonders for my back. Still, less play, more science, if you don't mind?"
John chuckled and lead the way, politely ignoring the way Rodney would occasionally skip a little. It was a remarkably pleasant day, with sunlight streaming down from the openings in the canopy to light the forest floor. There was a pleasant breeze running through the trees, birds were chirping, and there was no signs of either people or large animals, carnivorous or otherwise. When about fifteen minutes later they came to the edge of a small clearing, John looked up and stopped so suddenly that Rodney ran into him.
"What? What's wrong? Is there a ship or - oh." Dominating the sky was a waxing crescent that appeared far larger than the Earth's moon, crossed with thousands of bands that were shaded yellows and oranges and browns. Here and there swirls of storms were visible, and on the night side flashes of lightning could be seen in a few spots. Several much smaller globes could be seen in the sky, including one that was silhouetted against the great disc, and just barely visible was a ring of material that circled its equator.
"This isn't a planet," John murmured, entranced by the sight. "It's a moon."
For a moment, the others were silent as they looked at the sight, then suddenly Rodney fumbled out his scanner and started to poke at it frantically. "Oh no. Do you have any idea how much radiation that thing is probably putting out?"
"Rodney, calm down. If it was dangerous, the MALP would have picked it up." John shook his head and walked back into the woods, hoping there would be a better view at the Ancient outpost. After a moment the others began to follow him. Walking along, he said over his shoulder, "You don't need to be so paranoid. Honestly, is it really so hard to believe that we could have a normal mission for once?"
That was the point when the drop bear dropped out of a tree onto John's head, as drop bears are wont to do.
"Oh, god, get it off, get it off!" John yelled, stumbling around and flailing his hands as he tried to pull the extremely fluffy koala-like animal off. It chittered angrily and its stubby legs clamped down to keep it firmly in place no matter how hard he pushed or pulled, and he could barely even get a grip through its thick, silky fur. He heard Rodney shouting, followed by the distinctive whine of Ronon's blaster. "No, don't shoot it!"
"Hold still, John," Teyla said, and he froze where he stood, hand clenched at his side. She grabbed his arms to hold him steady as she eyed the furry beast. It hissed at her and showed no sign of letting go until she suddenly hit it square between the eyes. It squealed and John yelped as it squeezed even tighter before suddenly jumping to the forest floor and scampering up a tree. John fumbled for his sidearm, but he couldn't even undo the clasp before the creature had disappeared into the thick branches. The forest was still and silent again, broken only by the occasional bird call and the increasingly loud laughter of the other two men.
"Let me check you for injuries," Teyla said, guiding John to sit on a log while he glared at Ronon and Rodney, who showed no sign of quieting down.
"Thanks for the help, guys," he growled. Ronon tried to look contrite and failed miserably; Rodney didn't even bother to try.
"I believe you are only bruised," Teyla said, running her fingers along his scalp. She suddenly stopped, and stepped back. It took a moment for John to realize, but she was definitely fighting a smile of her own. John quickly felt his hair, and after a moment felt a warm, wet, and sticky spot at the top of his head.
"What the fuck?" he spat. "That thing did not just - damn it!"
"Only you, Sheppard," Rodney gasped out, his face beet-red as he leaned on Ronon for support. "Only you could get, get molested by an alien koala bear."
"I believe it must have mistaken your hair for a mate," Teyla said, having regained her composure. John narrowed his eyes, but her faced remained serene. He stood up and started to stomp off towards the gate.
"We're going home!"
"What? Oh, come on, Colonel," Rodney called out. "What about the Ancient facility? We may as well go on, it's not like you have any dignity left to lose."
"Fuck you, McKay!" John shouted back, flipping him off. He didn't even look back to check if the others were following him. "The only Ancient thing I'm interested in is my shower. Lorne can search for your mythical facility. Its not like the database is ever right about them anyways. It's probably an ice cream factory or something."
John nearly threw Lorne off the control tower when he came back and reported he'd found a ZPM charger.
-----
ETA: Now with a companion piece: "And To Boldly Go
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 05:13 am (UTC)*giggles* Thanks!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 01:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 06:25 am (UTC)And that was the point when I nearly died of laughter, as I am wont to do.
Too much fun! Poor John, even the local wildlife wants to mate with him ... or at least his hair.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 02:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 10:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 01:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 07:38 pm (UTC)*dies* Drop bears! Hilarious story, poor John. With hair like that, he can't help but attract the alien wildlife.
♥
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 01:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 08:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 01:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 08:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 01:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-13 09:37 pm (UTC)I quite liked the sky view too. For a galaxy in which they're always using the moon designation (M), it's strange we never seem to see anything in the sky.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 01:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-14 03:43 pm (UTC)*snort*
I'm laughing too hard to offer coherent feedback!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 02:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 01:21 am (UTC)HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
i am dying from laughing
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 02:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 03:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 01:51 am (UTC)*giggles* This is just too cute. Poor John, and he didn't get to bring the ZPM home. *LOL*
Anna
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-15 02:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-17 08:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-24 06:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-25 08:28 pm (UTC)"Terror in the Forest"
Date: 2009-04-24 06:00 pm (UTC)"Yes, Rodney."
"Yes you believed them or yes they were hot?"
Sheppard sighed.
I love this drabble! And the part where Teyla sighs at the end (just like John sighed in response to Rodney's very-Rodney questioning)... hee!
"We may as well go on, it's not like you have any dignity left to lose."
Date: 2009-04-24 05:52 pm (UTC)