Just Charlie Chapter Two
Just Charlie
Chapter Two- Beautiful Architecture
Rating- PG
After the initial tour, opening statements, and quarter assignments came the job assignments.
Major Krythan Nicohls was anxious and annoyed.
They had gone through thirty different scientists because they couldn't keep up like Doc McKay did and her team was in just as much trouble, if not more so cause they were the one's usually bailing out the premier team anyways.
Apparently McKay was a hard act to duplicate.
So, imagine her surprise when Col. Sheppard told her that there was a scientist, a mathematician, who wanted a permanent field team position. A Mathematician who was recommended by McKay, was a friend of McKay.
So when she saw the awestruck curly haired, short, waif like man, she was surprised.
What surprised her more was he was muttering about the structures, their shapes, purpose for them and the like. She could see how he would be friends with McKay, they had the same eye for detail.
She smiled, hopefully he would be able to handle all of this better than the others, it'd be a shame to lose someone who seemed so interesting and willing to go out in the field. Now all she had to do was make sure he didn't die, otherwise she'd face McKay's wrath.
Hopefully, they'd finally establish a permanent team-hopefully Cortez and Donahue would like him and not haze him . . .too much.
Charlie was fascinated.
The pure geometry of the buildings, they were almost perfect.
Oddly enough, he'd never felt so at home. The hum of the city, the buildings, the power that surged through its systems; it was all so breathtakingly beautiful. Now he just had to see how he felt about living here and working with his new Team.
A Team. Dear God he was excited, he got to go through the stargate to other planets, got to make trade agreements and forage for ancient technology and power sources.
This . . . This was his new start, he was beginning his own life, not just what others wanted from him. He made the choice to come here, this decision was his and he'd be damned if he chickened out at the threat of death and danger. He would no longer do anything and everything just to make his big brother or father proud, this was all for him.
Doctor Rodney McKay and Lt. Colonel John Sheppard watched as Major Nicohls walked up and looked at the buildings through the window with Doctor Eppes. They waited with baited breath as the two just stood there, unable to hear what was going on but each anxious for this to work out.
Krythan was a good leader, she cared for her people and tried her damnedest to do right by them and if she couldn't she did what was best. She had high expectations but given what they did, those expectations weren't unreasonable. The stress of being on an off world team was great and many scientists couldn't handle it unless they only did it part time, but she needed someone to be with her on every mission, some one she could trust at her back during combat and to give her accurate information.
Charlie was a brilliant Mathematician who could do amazing things with his genius. He had three degrees; Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. He had worked for the NSA, CDC, FBI, and various military factions. He was brilliant, energetic, and a damn good shot. He wanted the freedom and the ability to go out in the field, to do the work and not just crunch the numbers. He had the strength to say what he believed was right and act on it. He needed someone to push him forward and count on him for the hard things in life not just what he was best at-he wanted to be needed for more than just math.
Now all that John and Rodney could do was hope that these people together was a winning combination. Who would have the same, if not similar, chemistry as their own did.
Krythan stood next to Dr. Charles Eppes her arms folded and her hip cocked to the side against the wall as they stared at the horizon together.
"It beautiful, isn't?"
Charlie was momentarily started by the comment, he hadn't noticed her stand beside him.
"Yeah, it is. I never knew something like this could exist."
"That what could exist? Being here in another galaxy amongst the remains of those before us? The raw beauty of the architecture? The angles? The technology? The primal thrum of energy coursing through our-your-home?"
Charlie turned to the woman beside him. Her brown hair was cropped long enough to be held back, but was short enough to be out of the way. She had pale skin and high cheek bones with the palest blue eyes he'd ever seen. They were like ice as the bored into his own, searching for something he wasn't sure of.
He knew who this was, he'd seen Major Nicohls service picture, but it didn't prepare him for actually meeting her. She was more harsh seeming in person.
"All of the above, Major. It's everything I could have hoped for and more when I decided to come here."
She continued to looked at him, still trying to get a feel of his personality.
"This place is new, something you've never seen or experienced before, Doctor Eppes. There is so much here you've never experienced and you won't anywhere else. You have to fight to survive, it's tough. You think you can handle it?"
Charlie turned back to the view of the setting sun against the water.
"I've been coddle or restrained by my family and the government for so long. I have had to shoot to kill before, only once, but I understand that being in the field will cause me to more than likely shoot even more people. I've always done things because they want me too, not because I want to do it.
"I've gone against serial killers, murderers, rapists, and bombers before. I've made tactical decisions for the US military. I've been shot at by snipers. I think I will be fine in the thick of things, too.
"I will be honest and say that I will probably need more training from you and your team before we go on a mission. But I am willing to work hard to go. I wont be just a trailing scientist who will hide behind you when it gets tough, I'll help fight back."
Krythan stared at his profile for a bit longer before he saw her smile at him from the corner of his eye and it caused her face to transform from cold and calculating to warm and caring.
"Good. Hope ya know how to get up early then, Eppes. Training for our off world team starts at 0600. We'll meet ya in front of your room"
She clapped him on the shoulder and began to walk away as he turned to watch her.
Things here were interesting already.
Rodney and John sighed as they watched the end of the exchange.
So far, so good. Now they just had to see if he survived the training.