SGA FIC: FOREIGN CONCEPTS [PG-13]
Title: Foreign Concepts
Author: x-erikah-x
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence and torture
Word Count: ~26,000 and 11 chapters
Genre: Gen, H/C, Action, team friendship
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex and other cameos
Spoilers: Set at the end of season five, but no specific spoilers
Disclaimer: Stargate and its characters belong to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. No infringements of rights is intented.
Beta: Many thanks to wildcat88. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Author’s Note: At last, posting time! This is the most elaborated fic I have written and the one that took most for me to write. It’s a team-fic with plenty of whump for all, but heavily concentrated on a certain Lt. Col. Nothing new there, right? The full fic has 11 chapters, all finished and edited. I’ll post daily until it’s finished and I’m also working on a fic cover which will probably be ready on Sunday.
Summary: When the team first arrives on Milania, they are impressed with their level of accomplishment. The feeling soon fades when they discover how deep their xenophobia goes.
FOREIGN CONCEPTS
By ErikaHK
Chapter 1
John sniffed the air as he noticed something unlike the normal smog of the vehicles from Earth. It smelled like smoke, but slightly sweet, and it cast a yellowish tone to his surroundings. He looked around, taking in the perfectly circular plaza, the small brick constructions and the busy chatter of people going on with their business.
Ronon and Teyla were already beside him, also absorbing all the details of their new surroundings while Rodney stayed behind, complaining about pollution.
The gate was in the middle of a small commercial center that was covered with concrete and stone paving. There wasn't any vegetation, trees, bushes or even grass growing at the corners. Everything was perfectly clean and organized.
Men in uniforms were spread throughout the entire plaza. John rested his hands on his P90 and smiled as two of them approached at a slow and steady pace. The guards wore simple gray uniforms void of details. The small metal insignia over their shoulders and the caps on their heads were the only decoration that made them look official.
They stopped and bowed. "Welcome to Milania," one of the men said in a very serious voice. "I'm Officer Percle of the Outsider Visitors Managing Office. I need you to state your business on our world."
John smiled. "I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. This is Doctor Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan and Ronon Dex." He nodded at each team member. "I was told your people are looking for some new friends."
Officer Percle ignored the brief confused glance the other officer gave him. "I was informed that strangers would come in more frequently through the ring. You will need to sign the official papers to be allowed within our city. Our government office will want to speak to you."
"Just show us the way."
John followed as the two officers led them to a small concrete building close to the gate, the only construction in the entire plaza. Cold air from the inside blew in John’s face and he coughed from the thin dust coming from the unpainted walls. It seemed like they had barely finished putting it up and were already making use of it. He stepped in, stopping in the middle of an almost empty room except for the single metal table and chair..
"Officer Ferbes will arrange the documents you need," Percle said from the doorway. "When you are done, I will be outside."
John was slightly uncomfortable with the close attention Ferbes was paying to the four of them, eyeing them up and down, not missing any detail. John glanced briefly at his team then tried to smile, unsure if it would be the right approach. Ferbes didn't show the slightest hint of pleasantry and continued to stare and frown.
"State your business," the man finally said, blunt and rude.
"Uh, we'd like to see someone in charge, talk to your government and see if we can be friends." John rested his arms over his weapon in a casual manner.
Ferbes nodded and started writing on the papers in front of him. After a few moments, he raised his head again.
"How long do you intend to stay?"
John thought for a second then waved his hand. "A few hours, maybe a day."
More scribbling. John raised an eyebrow at his team.
"Who informed you of our world?"
John tried to be pleasant and smiled again. "Some trading partners from Lena."
Ferbes' frown deepened. "Lena was culled."
"Yes, the survivors are living with some friends of ours. They said your people were kind enough to take in some of them, too."
The team had also been told about the Milanians’ paranoia of strangers.
The officer’s scowl deepened, but soon his normal frown was back. He wrote down more notes on the papers.
"What is the purpose of your weapons?"
John kept his hands on his hanging weapon and shifted his feet. "Can't be too careful out there. You never know what you're stepping in. But they are for defensive purposes only."
"You will have to leave them behind," Ferbes said as he lowered his head to write.
"I... would be much more comfortable keeping them."
John glanced at his team, not expecting to have to leave all their weapons in some alien idea of a customs office. Of course, guns made some people uncomfortable, but John would rather have that than the other way around.
Ferbes raised his head. "Then you will have to carry the term of responsibility over their use and let yourself and the others be under our code of law if they are used illicitly."
"Sure." John grinned.
"Here are your documents." The officer handed them four pieces of paper. "You will need to present them whenever they are requested. Failure to present your papers will result in immediate arrest."
John took the papers and gave one to each member of the team. "No problem."
He turned and left the room, and started walking over to Percle at the edge of the plaza.
"I don't know if all this bureaucracy is comforting or aggravating," Rodney said. "What difference does it make if we have some ordinary looking papers with some scribbling on them?"
John looked at the paper on his hand. "If it makes them feel comfortable..." He placed it inside a vest pocket.
"I think they simply don't like us."
John noticed how some people scowled when they passed by. "Well, they have reasons to be paranoid, Rodney. Their world is waving a giant sign with 'cull us' written on it." Still, it worried him to see how deep the paranoia about outsiders went.
"Yes, a sign being carried by a weird looking car that releases more smoke than an old jeep that hasn't seen oil for years."
John smiled at Rodney's remark. The car behind Percle was weird looking. It was a cross between the trucks from the fifties and old classic carriages, completely painted white and without any other details except a door with no handle. John was mystified by whatever means Percle used to open it. John glanced at his team and followed Percle inside the vehicle.
The inside was a big open space with benches forming a 'U', and a lone seat in the front for the driver. John had to bend his head very low while standing and Ronon was so hunched it pained John's back to see it. They all sat next to each other, with Percle opposite them and the junior grade officer in the driver's seat.
The noise the car made while moving eliminated the hope of them having any kind of conversation. They traveled quietly, observing the buildings and movement on the streets while Percle stared at them from time to time. The houses were made of polished light brown bricks, and the streets were busy with people, mostly dressed in neutral browns. John didn't see any kind of decorations anywhere - no statues, paintings, or any bright colors. Everything was dull and a little depressing.
They drove for about twenty minutes, mostly in a straight line, making it easy for even Rodney to remember the way to the gate. They finally reached a more central part of the city, with taller buildings and people dressed in lighter colors. There was no mess, no disorder of any kind, and John had yet to see any children.
The car finally parked and the team climbed out. They were facing a tall white building that looked like a giant box with white walls and transparent glass windows.
Percle walked briskly then suddenly stopped and bowed his head in a quick motion. The tall woman facing him bowed her head graciously and smiled.
Percle stepped aside and presented them. "This is the chancellor's personal assistant, Kilaria. She will take you to see him."
John nodded. "I'm John Sheppard. This is Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan."
She straightened her long white dress and bowed slightly. "Welcome to Milania." She held her hands together in front of her. "This way, please, and I will take you to our chancellor." She stepped aside and waved them towards a corridor at the back of the large reception area. "We are looking forward to starting formal trading with other worlds."
The team followed her into a long corridor with a low ceiling and several closed doors.
"You have not had trading relations with other worlds?" Teyla asked while walking slightly behind John.
Kilaria didn't slow her pace or turn around. "No, so far our only need has been manpower for the most basic forms of labor, but we are self-sufficient in everything else."
"What’s changed then?" John asked.
"We have heard of people that have a lot to offer beyond what we are capable of producing. It is hard finding worthy trading partners; all worlds seem to be stuck in their development and have very little to offer us."
John nodded. "We understand that perfectly, but even less developed worlds often have something worth checking out."
They reached a stairwell and started going up.
"There are too many risks in traveling through the ring, and our government has always found that the benefit is not sufficient. We like to keep to ourselves." She briefly turned to John and smiled.
"Hopefully, both of our peoples can benefit from this change of policy," Teyla said.
After two sets of stairs, they were in an identical corridor and followed it to the end, only a few meters ahead. There was a glass door and a large office beyond it. Kilaria led them inside and a tall man rose from behind his desk.
"This is Chancellor Kirple." Kilaria walked towards the chancellor and turned. "This is John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagan, representatives of their people."
The chancellor was a middle aged man, with a few gray hairs shining among the black ones.
He bowed his head in a short move. "Welcome to Milania." He waved at some cushioned chairs around a long table and sat at the head. The team followed and sat down next to each other, followed by Kilaria who sat opposite them. "I was told that you learned about us from the Lenans. Is that correct?"
John folded his hands over the table in front of him. "That's right."
"Unfortunate fate their world suffered," the chancellor said in a tone that suggested it was a mere pleasantry rather than genuine concern. "We took some of them in as a way of starting our new ways of increasing our contact with other worlds."
"That was very kind of you, Chancellor Kirple." Teyla bowed her head politely.
"I imagined that keeping a good reputation would be of great importance when trading with foreign worlds. Perhaps even draw attention from likeminded people, such as yourselves." He kept his voice neutral and his tone even. "What people do you represent?"
"We are from Atlantis," John answered. "We have a lot of contact with other people, but we rarely find planets with your level of... accomplishment." He quirked one side of his lips.
"Yes, I think it rarely happens with the Wraith awakening so early this time, and the ones that manage to achieve technological advancement keep quiet out of fear." The chancellor leaned forward. "But I recently found that if we try to cooperate with each other, we could accomplish great things together. That is why I recently implemented a new governmental policy, a very risky one, to try to make new contacts."
"Why risky?" Rodney asked a little bluntly. "I mean," he said as he waved his hand, "of course you would be afraid to come forward and draw too much attention to yourself, but cooperation would mean benefits for both, including defensive purposes."
Kirple nodded. "And I agree with that. But the problem is that our people are somewhat stuck in their fears and are having difficulties accepting this sudden change." He turned to John. "We have been having problems integrating the Lenans into our society and even had some violent incidents regarding prejudice against offworlders."
John raised an eyebrow.
"That is why I decided to go several steps further and start immediate diplomatic talks and trade relations with other worlds. If my people see how beneficial this kind of relation can be, maybe they will open their eyes to the future."
John smiled. "Anything we can do to help. Just show us what you have to offer and what you need and we'll take it to our leader."
Chancellor Kirple breathed a sigh of relief. "Very well. I will first start with our needs, if that is acceptable to you."
John nodded.
"Our greatest concern at the moment is regarding medical knowledge. A grave problem struck our city after the arrival of the Lenans. Many of our people have fallen incredibly ill and many have died."
John frowned slightly. "Really? What kind of disease?"
The chancellor cleared his throat. "It has symptoms similar to an illness we have in Milania, but much more aggravated than normal. Which is part of the problem, you see. Because it starts so similar to a common disease, many take their time in seeking medical help." He lowered his head briefly. "And when they do, it is already too late to have anything done."
"If you have any information about this disease for us to take to our doctor..." John said while waving his hand.
"I can do better," Kirple said. "I can take you to our healthcare center to show you personally." When Rodney opened his mouth, looking distressed, the chancellor hastily added. "It is not contagious if you do not touch the wounds directly."
"Uh, wounds?" Rodney stuttered.
"It causes blisters in the skin, a very common symptom from our Red Vernon Disease, but in time, these blisters rupture into bleeding wounds. Eventually the patient dies from blood loss."
John mentally agreed with the face Rodney made.
"Okay, this is what we are going to do," John started. "We are going to call our doctors and then we can go to this hospital. They can have a look at it and see if there is anything we can do to help. Then we talk about what you have to offer us. Deal?"
The chancellor rose to his feet. "Agreed."
###
Percle held his hands behind his back while he waited for Supreme Commander Dorr. The commander's office was large and heavily decorated with useless memories of the past. There were paintings on the walls, one on each, except for the back wall which had two. He wondered how the commander worked with such distractions around. Was he not disturbed by the dead eyes staring at him?
When the door behind him opened, Percle continued at attention and did not turn. Supreme Commander Dorr circled him and sat in the chair behind the desk. Percle let his eyes rest on the wall behind his commander.
"Sir."
Supreme Commander Dorr took his time before speaking. "Officer Percle. I have been informed of the strangers that came to Milania to talk to," he paused purposely, "the chancellor."
Percle lowered his head to look at his commander now that he was allowed. "Yes, Supreme Commander. I personally drove them to the Government Building."
"I was also informed that it was proposed that they heal Red Vernon Disease as part of an accord between both peoples."
Percle tried to hide his surprise, but could not help the scowl on his face. "That would be a problem, Supreme Commander."
"Yes, it would." The commander folded his hands over his desk. "We are too close to lose it all now. Things need to get worse before they improve. Only then will our people see how low the chancellor has gone and we will be able to stop this nonsense."
"I agree, sir."
"I will trust you, Officer Percle, to deal with the outsiders. Follow the laws of our Founding Fathers."
Percle nodded. "It will be my pleasure, Supreme Commander."
###
The four foreigners were already outside the Government Building when Percle arrived. He climbed out of the transport and walked over to them, one single nod inviting them in. They went inside without questioning.
The leader, Sheppard, always had a smile ready on his lips, trying so hard to be pleasant but accomplishing only revulsion from the citizens around him. The smile of an outsider. How could anyone trust it?
He was followed by the fat man who was living proof of how incapable of controlling their impulses the offworlders were. Everything about him was a testament to that - the way his hands moved, the way his eyes moved, the way he walked, the way he scowled when he saw something that didn't fit his strange ways.
Then the woman went in. She was small and showed too many of her body’s curves. She bowed her head politely. She smiled pleasantly. A soldier. A female soldier. Percle couldn't be more repulsed.
The big man entered last. All harsh and impulsive. A man who acted before thinking. The hair was as big as the man. Staring at it only brought one word to Percle's mind. Unhygienic. Percle recognized the insignia on his neck and scowled. Their world had deserved that fate.
When Percle locked the door with the gas canister inside, he felt relief.
After the strangers fell unconscious, Percle entered the transport and drove.
###
TBC...
Chapter 2
Author: x-erikah-x
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence and torture
Word Count: ~26,000 and 11 chapters
Genre: Gen, H/C, Action, team friendship
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex and other cameos
Spoilers: Set at the end of season five, but no specific spoilers
Disclaimer: Stargate and its characters belong to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. No infringements of rights is intented.
Beta: Many thanks to wildcat88. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Author’s Note: At last, posting time! This is the most elaborated fic I have written and the one that took most for me to write. It’s a team-fic with plenty of whump for all, but heavily concentrated on a certain Lt. Col. Nothing new there, right? The full fic has 11 chapters, all finished and edited. I’ll post daily until it’s finished and I’m also working on a fic cover which will probably be ready on Sunday.
Summary: When the team first arrives on Milania, they are impressed with their level of accomplishment. The feeling soon fades when they discover how deep their xenophobia goes.
FOREIGN CONCEPTS
By ErikaHK
Chapter 1
John sniffed the air as he noticed something unlike the normal smog of the vehicles from Earth. It smelled like smoke, but slightly sweet, and it cast a yellowish tone to his surroundings. He looked around, taking in the perfectly circular plaza, the small brick constructions and the busy chatter of people going on with their business.
Ronon and Teyla were already beside him, also absorbing all the details of their new surroundings while Rodney stayed behind, complaining about pollution.
The gate was in the middle of a small commercial center that was covered with concrete and stone paving. There wasn't any vegetation, trees, bushes or even grass growing at the corners. Everything was perfectly clean and organized.
Men in uniforms were spread throughout the entire plaza. John rested his hands on his P90 and smiled as two of them approached at a slow and steady pace. The guards wore simple gray uniforms void of details. The small metal insignia over their shoulders and the caps on their heads were the only decoration that made them look official.
They stopped and bowed. "Welcome to Milania," one of the men said in a very serious voice. "I'm Officer Percle of the Outsider Visitors Managing Office. I need you to state your business on our world."
John smiled. "I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. This is Doctor Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan and Ronon Dex." He nodded at each team member. "I was told your people are looking for some new friends."
Officer Percle ignored the brief confused glance the other officer gave him. "I was informed that strangers would come in more frequently through the ring. You will need to sign the official papers to be allowed within our city. Our government office will want to speak to you."
"Just show us the way."
John followed as the two officers led them to a small concrete building close to the gate, the only construction in the entire plaza. Cold air from the inside blew in John’s face and he coughed from the thin dust coming from the unpainted walls. It seemed like they had barely finished putting it up and were already making use of it. He stepped in, stopping in the middle of an almost empty room except for the single metal table and chair..
"Officer Ferbes will arrange the documents you need," Percle said from the doorway. "When you are done, I will be outside."
John was slightly uncomfortable with the close attention Ferbes was paying to the four of them, eyeing them up and down, not missing any detail. John glanced briefly at his team then tried to smile, unsure if it would be the right approach. Ferbes didn't show the slightest hint of pleasantry and continued to stare and frown.
"State your business," the man finally said, blunt and rude.
"Uh, we'd like to see someone in charge, talk to your government and see if we can be friends." John rested his arms over his weapon in a casual manner.
Ferbes nodded and started writing on the papers in front of him. After a few moments, he raised his head again.
"How long do you intend to stay?"
John thought for a second then waved his hand. "A few hours, maybe a day."
More scribbling. John raised an eyebrow at his team.
"Who informed you of our world?"
John tried to be pleasant and smiled again. "Some trading partners from Lena."
Ferbes' frown deepened. "Lena was culled."
"Yes, the survivors are living with some friends of ours. They said your people were kind enough to take in some of them, too."
The team had also been told about the Milanians’ paranoia of strangers.
The officer’s scowl deepened, but soon his normal frown was back. He wrote down more notes on the papers.
"What is the purpose of your weapons?"
John kept his hands on his hanging weapon and shifted his feet. "Can't be too careful out there. You never know what you're stepping in. But they are for defensive purposes only."
"You will have to leave them behind," Ferbes said as he lowered his head to write.
"I... would be much more comfortable keeping them."
John glanced at his team, not expecting to have to leave all their weapons in some alien idea of a customs office. Of course, guns made some people uncomfortable, but John would rather have that than the other way around.
Ferbes raised his head. "Then you will have to carry the term of responsibility over their use and let yourself and the others be under our code of law if they are used illicitly."
"Sure." John grinned.
"Here are your documents." The officer handed them four pieces of paper. "You will need to present them whenever they are requested. Failure to present your papers will result in immediate arrest."
John took the papers and gave one to each member of the team. "No problem."
He turned and left the room, and started walking over to Percle at the edge of the plaza.
"I don't know if all this bureaucracy is comforting or aggravating," Rodney said. "What difference does it make if we have some ordinary looking papers with some scribbling on them?"
John looked at the paper on his hand. "If it makes them feel comfortable..." He placed it inside a vest pocket.
"I think they simply don't like us."
John noticed how some people scowled when they passed by. "Well, they have reasons to be paranoid, Rodney. Their world is waving a giant sign with 'cull us' written on it." Still, it worried him to see how deep the paranoia about outsiders went.
"Yes, a sign being carried by a weird looking car that releases more smoke than an old jeep that hasn't seen oil for years."
John smiled at Rodney's remark. The car behind Percle was weird looking. It was a cross between the trucks from the fifties and old classic carriages, completely painted white and without any other details except a door with no handle. John was mystified by whatever means Percle used to open it. John glanced at his team and followed Percle inside the vehicle.
The inside was a big open space with benches forming a 'U', and a lone seat in the front for the driver. John had to bend his head very low while standing and Ronon was so hunched it pained John's back to see it. They all sat next to each other, with Percle opposite them and the junior grade officer in the driver's seat.
The noise the car made while moving eliminated the hope of them having any kind of conversation. They traveled quietly, observing the buildings and movement on the streets while Percle stared at them from time to time. The houses were made of polished light brown bricks, and the streets were busy with people, mostly dressed in neutral browns. John didn't see any kind of decorations anywhere - no statues, paintings, or any bright colors. Everything was dull and a little depressing.
They drove for about twenty minutes, mostly in a straight line, making it easy for even Rodney to remember the way to the gate. They finally reached a more central part of the city, with taller buildings and people dressed in lighter colors. There was no mess, no disorder of any kind, and John had yet to see any children.
The car finally parked and the team climbed out. They were facing a tall white building that looked like a giant box with white walls and transparent glass windows.
Percle walked briskly then suddenly stopped and bowed his head in a quick motion. The tall woman facing him bowed her head graciously and smiled.
Percle stepped aside and presented them. "This is the chancellor's personal assistant, Kilaria. She will take you to see him."
John nodded. "I'm John Sheppard. This is Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan."
She straightened her long white dress and bowed slightly. "Welcome to Milania." She held her hands together in front of her. "This way, please, and I will take you to our chancellor." She stepped aside and waved them towards a corridor at the back of the large reception area. "We are looking forward to starting formal trading with other worlds."
The team followed her into a long corridor with a low ceiling and several closed doors.
"You have not had trading relations with other worlds?" Teyla asked while walking slightly behind John.
Kilaria didn't slow her pace or turn around. "No, so far our only need has been manpower for the most basic forms of labor, but we are self-sufficient in everything else."
"What’s changed then?" John asked.
"We have heard of people that have a lot to offer beyond what we are capable of producing. It is hard finding worthy trading partners; all worlds seem to be stuck in their development and have very little to offer us."
John nodded. "We understand that perfectly, but even less developed worlds often have something worth checking out."
They reached a stairwell and started going up.
"There are too many risks in traveling through the ring, and our government has always found that the benefit is not sufficient. We like to keep to ourselves." She briefly turned to John and smiled.
"Hopefully, both of our peoples can benefit from this change of policy," Teyla said.
After two sets of stairs, they were in an identical corridor and followed it to the end, only a few meters ahead. There was a glass door and a large office beyond it. Kilaria led them inside and a tall man rose from behind his desk.
"This is Chancellor Kirple." Kilaria walked towards the chancellor and turned. "This is John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagan, representatives of their people."
The chancellor was a middle aged man, with a few gray hairs shining among the black ones.
He bowed his head in a short move. "Welcome to Milania." He waved at some cushioned chairs around a long table and sat at the head. The team followed and sat down next to each other, followed by Kilaria who sat opposite them. "I was told that you learned about us from the Lenans. Is that correct?"
John folded his hands over the table in front of him. "That's right."
"Unfortunate fate their world suffered," the chancellor said in a tone that suggested it was a mere pleasantry rather than genuine concern. "We took some of them in as a way of starting our new ways of increasing our contact with other worlds."
"That was very kind of you, Chancellor Kirple." Teyla bowed her head politely.
"I imagined that keeping a good reputation would be of great importance when trading with foreign worlds. Perhaps even draw attention from likeminded people, such as yourselves." He kept his voice neutral and his tone even. "What people do you represent?"
"We are from Atlantis," John answered. "We have a lot of contact with other people, but we rarely find planets with your level of... accomplishment." He quirked one side of his lips.
"Yes, I think it rarely happens with the Wraith awakening so early this time, and the ones that manage to achieve technological advancement keep quiet out of fear." The chancellor leaned forward. "But I recently found that if we try to cooperate with each other, we could accomplish great things together. That is why I recently implemented a new governmental policy, a very risky one, to try to make new contacts."
"Why risky?" Rodney asked a little bluntly. "I mean," he said as he waved his hand, "of course you would be afraid to come forward and draw too much attention to yourself, but cooperation would mean benefits for both, including defensive purposes."
Kirple nodded. "And I agree with that. But the problem is that our people are somewhat stuck in their fears and are having difficulties accepting this sudden change." He turned to John. "We have been having problems integrating the Lenans into our society and even had some violent incidents regarding prejudice against offworlders."
John raised an eyebrow.
"That is why I decided to go several steps further and start immediate diplomatic talks and trade relations with other worlds. If my people see how beneficial this kind of relation can be, maybe they will open their eyes to the future."
John smiled. "Anything we can do to help. Just show us what you have to offer and what you need and we'll take it to our leader."
Chancellor Kirple breathed a sigh of relief. "Very well. I will first start with our needs, if that is acceptable to you."
John nodded.
"Our greatest concern at the moment is regarding medical knowledge. A grave problem struck our city after the arrival of the Lenans. Many of our people have fallen incredibly ill and many have died."
John frowned slightly. "Really? What kind of disease?"
The chancellor cleared his throat. "It has symptoms similar to an illness we have in Milania, but much more aggravated than normal. Which is part of the problem, you see. Because it starts so similar to a common disease, many take their time in seeking medical help." He lowered his head briefly. "And when they do, it is already too late to have anything done."
"If you have any information about this disease for us to take to our doctor..." John said while waving his hand.
"I can do better," Kirple said. "I can take you to our healthcare center to show you personally." When Rodney opened his mouth, looking distressed, the chancellor hastily added. "It is not contagious if you do not touch the wounds directly."
"Uh, wounds?" Rodney stuttered.
"It causes blisters in the skin, a very common symptom from our Red Vernon Disease, but in time, these blisters rupture into bleeding wounds. Eventually the patient dies from blood loss."
John mentally agreed with the face Rodney made.
"Okay, this is what we are going to do," John started. "We are going to call our doctors and then we can go to this hospital. They can have a look at it and see if there is anything we can do to help. Then we talk about what you have to offer us. Deal?"
The chancellor rose to his feet. "Agreed."
###
Percle held his hands behind his back while he waited for Supreme Commander Dorr. The commander's office was large and heavily decorated with useless memories of the past. There were paintings on the walls, one on each, except for the back wall which had two. He wondered how the commander worked with such distractions around. Was he not disturbed by the dead eyes staring at him?
When the door behind him opened, Percle continued at attention and did not turn. Supreme Commander Dorr circled him and sat in the chair behind the desk. Percle let his eyes rest on the wall behind his commander.
"Sir."
Supreme Commander Dorr took his time before speaking. "Officer Percle. I have been informed of the strangers that came to Milania to talk to," he paused purposely, "the chancellor."
Percle lowered his head to look at his commander now that he was allowed. "Yes, Supreme Commander. I personally drove them to the Government Building."
"I was also informed that it was proposed that they heal Red Vernon Disease as part of an accord between both peoples."
Percle tried to hide his surprise, but could not help the scowl on his face. "That would be a problem, Supreme Commander."
"Yes, it would." The commander folded his hands over his desk. "We are too close to lose it all now. Things need to get worse before they improve. Only then will our people see how low the chancellor has gone and we will be able to stop this nonsense."
"I agree, sir."
"I will trust you, Officer Percle, to deal with the outsiders. Follow the laws of our Founding Fathers."
Percle nodded. "It will be my pleasure, Supreme Commander."
###
The four foreigners were already outside the Government Building when Percle arrived. He climbed out of the transport and walked over to them, one single nod inviting them in. They went inside without questioning.
The leader, Sheppard, always had a smile ready on his lips, trying so hard to be pleasant but accomplishing only revulsion from the citizens around him. The smile of an outsider. How could anyone trust it?
He was followed by the fat man who was living proof of how incapable of controlling their impulses the offworlders were. Everything about him was a testament to that - the way his hands moved, the way his eyes moved, the way he walked, the way he scowled when he saw something that didn't fit his strange ways.
Then the woman went in. She was small and showed too many of her body’s curves. She bowed her head politely. She smiled pleasantly. A soldier. A female soldier. Percle couldn't be more repulsed.
The big man entered last. All harsh and impulsive. A man who acted before thinking. The hair was as big as the man. Staring at it only brought one word to Percle's mind. Unhygienic. Percle recognized the insignia on his neck and scowled. Their world had deserved that fate.
When Percle locked the door with the gas canister inside, he felt relief.
After the strangers fell unconscious, Percle entered the transport and drove.
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TBC...
Chapter 2