Day 55, morning; Jumper 8; Attn: Rodney, Radek, NPCs [F]

[selen_arolas]

Selen relaxed as Radek and the others stepped into the jumper. There was still risk of discovery, but much less here than out in the larger room. He took Lahimi and Demming and walked to the front of the jumper, seating Lahimi in one of the back seats. "You will need to sit with Droskan," he told Demming. "'Ferda' will be sitting beside Lahimi

Comments

[dr_r_zelenka]

Radek had hardly missed his glasses when accompanying his 'entourage' through the city corridors, but he missed them sorely upon entering the jumper. The jumpers were where he worked; he knew them more intimately that anyone here -possibly anyone living today. Not being able to see those intimate features felt wrong.

Even without his glasses, there was no mistaking Rodney's distinctive silhouette in the pilot's seat, and it was immensely reassuring. Radek did not speak to him as he took his place, feeling compelled not to 'break character' till they were out and away, but there wasn't much to be said anyhow.

The whole situation was so surreal. Here was Rodney as a jumper pilot, Radek as a hunter gatherer, and there were all these children... He'd think he was dreaming if he had ever in his life had a dream so strange as this.

[selen_arolas]

Selen heaved a sigh of relief as their jumper finally lifted off and turned around and gave Radek a smile.

"Father," Lahimi whispered urgently, wiggling in her seat. "I need to make water."

Selen frowned. "Did your brother not take you to the water room before we left?"

"I did not need to go then."

Selen sighed. "You will just have to hold your water until we land. It is but a short trip. And I will take you behind a tree as soon as we land."

She made a face. "But it will be cold!"

Selen couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, my child, it will."

[dr_r_zelenka]

Radek laid a hand over his face at the child's request. It was so very typical... and it was going to be part of his life for the near future. Soon enough he might be the one steadying Selen's little girl as she squatted behind a bush. He suppressed a shudder. What had he gotten himself into?

"If..." he hazarded. "If you think she will not be able to wait, there might be some sort of... container in the back, with the supplies." As long as he could stay here in the front while she 'took care of business.'

[selen_arolas]

Selen considered and shook his head. "I believe by the time we located such a container and arranged for her to use it safely, we would likely be there or nearly so."

Lahimi looked at him with large eyes, but Selen looked away so as not to be moved by his daughter's distress.

"When we get there, Doran will lead you into the woods as soon as it would not be noticed by any Lanteans. I will meet you there when it is feasible. Firi has agreed to watch my children and several others have agreed to raise my tent." He gave Radek a smile, glad that his people had accepted his lover so readily.

[dr_r_zelenka]

Radek thought of waiting in the cold, snowy woods for as many hours as it would take for those from Atlantis to finish helping the Athosians set up camp and leave. If he'd been allowed to be among those helping he'd at least have the certainty that the work would keep him warm and help the time to pass quickly, but instead he would be hiding -forced to wait in idleness. He reached for the extra heavy coat someone had given him (he'd been the recipient of so many gifts lately, he could no longer keep track of all of the gifts or the givers) to put on once they reached the mainland.

"It is going to be a long, cold wait, I am afraid," Radek said unhappily. "I will be very glad when it is over."