And then there was fic! --->face_of_joe reply

Sep 06, 2008 13:13

        John had never been to a place like this before; it wasn’t exactly what he was used to on a day to day basis. Most of the planets they frequented on Atlantis expeditions were, to say the least, less than technologically advanced. It’s not that he minded the nights off-world, sleeping in puddle jumpers, military tents, or even under the stars for that matter; he was used to it, and even found it calming. It felt like camping. John always loved camping.....and ferris wheels. But that’s another story.

This planet was a whole different ballgame.  It had been a run-of-the-mill recon investigating a high energy signal on a densely forested planet until they crested the top of a steep hill. Below them in a large valley was a city of massive and grand proportions. What appeared to be a crowd of flying cars tipped them off from a distance: this was a highly advanced civilization, comparable in technology to Atlantis. The look of excitement on Rodney’s face said he was eager to take a look; He began walking down the slope; concentrated on the city below.

“Uhh...Rodney? Where do you think you’re going?” John asked.

“What...What do you mean? I’m going down THERE! Don’t you see what this is? It could be the ally we need to defeat the Wraith!... And that architecture has similarities to the Ancients!”   He proceeded down the slope without permission.  This particular SG team has never taken orders well.

John followed because he couldn’t argue with McKay on this one. He was tentative to venture on-foot into an unknown city, but Ronan’s heavy footsteps behind him reminded John that he had a weapon-wielding space-cowboy-pirate-esque alien as well as a stick-fighting-warrior-princess-esque alien in tow. Funny...a few years ago he would have found that thought ridiculous; now it was comforting.

Just a few hours later the team found themselves in a massive hotel suite, surrounded by bouquets of exotic space flowers, gold-leafed furniture, and more than one massive fruit basket. Rodney dug into the welcome baskets with gusto.

“Hey! They have Guangoes on this planet!” he said with juice dribbling down his chin.

***

The team had been welcomed to the city and encouraged to explore as much as they liked. It seemed too good to be true, and John became suspicious, but it turned out the people of the planet were looking for an ally against the Wraith as well and were eager to befriend the Atlantis travellers; As such, the mayor of the city had set them up for the evening with premium accommodations in their most prestigious hotel, The Revelstoke.

“Is it just me, “ Mckay had whispered to Sheppard, “Or are aliens always naming things after places in British Columbia???”

“I wouldn’t know” John had replied with a slight smile, “I’m not the Canadian here eh.”

***

Each member marked their own territory in the four- bedroom hotel suite. John had picked his room, the one with the claw-foot bathtub and giant balcony. He made his way to Rodney’s room and found the scientist in his bathroom.

“Mckay!!!” John shouted as he witnessed Rodney stuffing shampoo, soap, towels ( the entire contents of his washroom actually) into his pack.

“What? Haven’t you ever been to a hotel before? They expect you to take this stuff. It’s practically a rule. Here.” Rodney said as he passed john a silver tray. On it was a water decanter and 2 crystal glasses.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to take the dishes, Mackay.” John said sternly.

“Oh stop being such a worrywart and put it in your pack, will you? I don’t have room in mine for it.”

John rolled his eyes at Rodney and reluctantly he walked back to his room. He wrapped the glassware in his socks and extra tee-shirt and carefully placed it in the top of his pack. Rodney owed him big.

***

The next morning after trade negotiations were discussed and an alliance was formed between the two cities the team gathered their gear together and began the walk out of the city and toward the gate. They were halfway toward the valley’s edge when an alarm sounded shrill and loudly behind them.

“I’m guessing that’s not a farewell  alarm....” mumbled John.

“Let’s get out of here.” Ronan suggested as he looked back toward the city centre and saw police vehicles flying out from behind a tower.

They broke into a run and nearly made it to the outskirts of the city before the police caught up with them. The vehicles touched down in a circle around the group and the mayor of the city emerged.

“You have made a formidable enemy Colonel Sheppard! This crime you have committed will not be forgotten. If you return to this planet at any time you will be shot down before you can reach the city limits. Be gone and never return!”

***

A bunch of hand towels, soap, a bath robe and a decanter set. This is all it took to destroy the most promising alliance the team had ever negotiated.  They had learned that theft of hotel items is an offense of the highest order on that planet. If you were to steal a handkerchief as a citizen staying in the hotel, you would be executed for crimes against the state.

“They take their toiletries seriously.” Rodney had joked to Weir in an attempt to draw the attention from himself and his role in the dissolution of the alliance.

John set his pack down on his bed and began to unpack from the disastrous mission.

“All Rodney’s fault...” He thought to himself. “I’m not even going to let him talk me into stealing a freaking Q-tip next time!”

If only out of spite, John placed the decanter set on his night table beside the picture of himself and Evel Knievel.  It remained there until its mysterious move to Samantha Carters office the next year. John casually asked her where she had gotten such a nice decanter set while in her office one morning. She gave a look that was half appreciative and half uncomfortable,

“Oh that...Rodney got it for me; for my birthday.”

John gave some inaudible answer, probably a “That’s nice”, or, “very nice of him”, and he quickly made his way to McKay’s lab....

“This is war!” John declared to himself as he made his way to the next floor, “And Rodney is going to be a casualty!”

Funny how attached one can get to an inanimate object; especially one kept out of spite.

***I Don't own any of the characters (sigh...I wish....) .They are all property of MGM; Just so ya know.

john sheppard, fic, atlantis

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