I was originally going to tweet this but it became a much longer story the more I thought about it.

Several weeks ago I read this Alice fanfiction by a buddy of mine http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5678379/1/Dirty_Little_Secrets Afterwards I felt rather odd. I actually cried, especially in the end when she said that some of the secrets were hers.

Perhaps simply because I sometimes feel like I have so many of them. Really if you think about it I don't. So many people know bits and pieces. So many know the secrets, just not one person knows them all.

I got off topic. Anyways. Today I came back to the story and re-read the first authors note which said something about postsecret. Like any other teenager I googled what I didn't know. (so many stories there btw) got linked to their site, and realized something.

For weeks I had a postsecret postcard sitting in my desk. But I never sent it. Its interesting how life works like that.

Not sure what this blog post is really about,
KMP

Happy birthday- to me

:-)

It is my 16th birthday. Some of you are saying, "Wow, she's that old already?" That would be my family, and then others are going, "What? She's only 16?" That would be my internet buddies, specially the squirrels (shoutout to Katie who have me a Squirrely happy birthday!)

OK, now a few things. A. No I don't feel any different. Does anybody feel different on their birthdays? B. No, I am not getting my license for a few weeks. I still need a few more hours. And I am not getting my own car. I just got my own phone, that's a big enough step for me :-)

And I would now like to mention a few people who have made big impacts on my life since I turned 15 last year.

Real Life people that I know-
My youth pastor, Rick. He's taught me to watch, and kept me going more than he knows.
Scott. He made sure I laughed.
Amelia. She's a better friend that I deserve.
My mom. Enough said, I can't even begin to list everything she's done.
Jay. Who has also taught me so much about myself. I can't even list that either.
All of the Squirrels. They let me rant on Dgeek (when it was up and running) and more recently on twitter, and have always been ready with praise, hugs, and wagon wheels.

And with the mention of the squirrels I transition into "celebrities" I put that word into parenthesis because my celebrities are often not everyone elses.
Kaleb Nation. Who inspired me to write again, has given me more laughs and good times than any other youtuber (this includes EIP)
Chris Batey, AKA creator of NaNoWriMo. His awesome story and personality kept me going during November and showed me that writers can be totally awesome people.
Whoever created MLIA. There are so many depressing days I am not sure I could have gotton through without hitting something without that site.
I guess since I mentioned MLIA, I have to thank the creators of Twitter, Facebook, and Facebook. Or youtwitface.

I think that is all. Random fun. Go read my dramatic fanfiction! http://www.fanfiction.net/~kmpeterson

KMP

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN AUTHOR IF...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN AUTHOR IF...

You talk to yourself a lot.

You talk to yourself about talking to yourself.

When you talk to yourself you often talk to yourself like you're talking to someone else.

After uttering a profound piece of wisdom like that above, you stare at the cookie in your hand with awe and say, "Wow,this stuff is great for sugar highs...'

You live off of sugar and caffeine

You'll check your e-mail every day of the week and then disappear off the face of the earth.

You're e-mails tend to be pages long and incredibly random.

When replying to an e-mail, you'll never actually address the point of it.

You tend to collect Bic Stics off the ground like picking pennies off the ground.

No matter where you are in a room you never have to get up to find a pen/pencil and paper.

The letters on your keyboard are wearing off.

Your friends and family think that you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

People think you have A.D.D.

You think it'd be cool to have A.D.D.

You constantly start talking in third person, present or past tense.

You start thinking about making lists like this and start giggling for no "apparent" reason

Your friends stopped looking at you funny when you laugh for no apparent reason a loooooong time ago.

And FINALLY, the one way to tell if you're a good writer: You failed English 101.


Well, 15 of these apply to me ;-)

KMP

Brief post- Travian

If you follow me on twitter, you probably know that I play a browser MMORPG called Travian, and have been on server 6 since it was started up about a month or so ago. Well my villages are going to die thanks to a user called ShadowSniper, number 20 in the entire game. (Me being only about 2000, this is pretty impressive that I ticked him off that much)

Anyways, on with my thrilling tale of internet harassment. I took over a 15C, which is this kinda rare plot of land with 15 wheat fields instead of the usual 6. This is what made the dude angry. Apparently, even though it was right next to my central village, because its within the 30S radius of him, it was his, despite him not having claimed it. He told me to stop developing it or I would be eliminated.

So, I halted any progression on the little village, and instead in my central village started to build an army. Once I had about three hundred troops, I decided to start redeveloping my little village.

Took the idiot over a week to notice, and my army has doubled since. Now I have ten attacks from all of his villages bearing down on me. This means over 10,000 troops. So, I am an idiot because my 600 can not stand up to 10,000. (There are no miracles in a game on the internet) and muahahaha. There is my fun little tale that nobody really cares about, but I thought I would tell it anyway.

KMP

Rant- Youtube, Music, and Vidders

Be warned of a rant. Most of you won't even understand what I'm talking about I'll try to explain it, but this just ticks me off.

So, many of you know I make videos for youtube, called fanvideos. Well sometimes there are complications where the music companies don't like us, and they mute our videos.

Now most of us post, "WE DO NOT OWN THE MUSIC" we give credit to the companies, and claim no copyright infringement intended, but they still mute us. ITS FREE ADVERTISING!! I have had multiple people tell me, "Never heard the song before, its great!" I have even had one user tell me she bought the CD, and now its one of her favorite artist. Don't believe me? Check out GabrielPryn's comment on this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkVMZtdL7Ik

Proof. Both me and my mom can witness to the fact that now we find most of our music from fanvideos. 9/10 of the songs that I got for Christmas I first heard on a fanvideo, or the artist. If not for fanvideos I would not have found Three Days Grace, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Breaking Benjamin, Safety Suit, Secondhand Serenade and so many others.

And yet they keep muting us. Vidders work hard on their videos, and if they are like me, they choose the song for a reason. Something about it spoke to them, and they matched it with that fandom for a reason. In my mind, it is a great compliment both to the fandom, and to the artist to be paired with that fandom. I personally think long and hard on what songs I choose, each one is chosen carefully, and then I usually print out the lyrics and listen to the song several times over before editing.

So there is my rant. About stupid youtube, and stupid music companies. We are free advertising, and paying you a huge compliment by using the music. Nearly all of us give the proper credits either in the video, or in the sidebar. So why do you keep muting us?

Extremely pissed off,
KMP

Note; LonseomeMovieAngel, this is for you girl. Your videos are brilliant, don't let the idiot companies stop you.

formspring.me

Ask away. http://formspring.me/fangrl

Experiment part 9

Final part with an Alice fanfiction that I am still updating.

Hatter watched it rain. We watched as the dark clouds poured their sorrow onto the city. It had been raining for two days. Three days since he had last seen Alice.

She’d gotten stuck at a competition for her students in a town over a hundred miles away. The rain had flooded so many roads that she’d gotten stuck there. He knew she was safe, they were staying in a high school gym that was high up, but he missed her.

Desperately. He had to keep reassuring himself that she was fine, and he would see her soon. But as he watched the rain fall he couldn’t help feeling that twist in his stomach that he felt when he wasn’t by her.

Two Days Later

The rain stopped finally. But the roads were still flooded. Hatter found himself constantly pacing his apartment. Alice called every night, but her voice just wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

Two More Days Later

It was eight o’clock and Alice hadn’t called. She called every night at seven. Hatter was watching the phone, willing it to ring. He called Carol, “Have you heard from Alice?”

“No. She said something about maybe getting out of the gym today, but that’s all. Why?

“No reason.” Hatter quickly hung up not wanting Carol to worry. Out of the gym. He looked out the window. It had started to rain again.

Damn.

The next two hours he broke two tea cups, and one of his cupboard doors. Where was Alice?

By eleven he was about ready to go out and look for her, flooded streets be damned. But he heard a knock on his door.

He pulled the door open, ready to tell Mrs. Johnson that he would keep it down, but it wasn’t his landlady ready to scold him for tossing furniture about.

It was Alice.

Much in the same way he had first seen her, just in different cloths. She was shivering in a wet pair of jeans and his purple jacket.

“Alice.” He breathed.

“Hatter.” She replied simply.

Without even thinking he pulled her into a long kiss. Her lips were wet and tasted of rain.

After a minute she pulled back, “Gonna let me in?” She asked.

Hatter pulled her over the threshold. He kicked the door shut before slipping the wet coat off her shoulders and onto the floor. Her skin was cold and as he kissed her again she whispered his first words to her in this world, “I missed you.”


Hatter was watching TV curiously when Alice dropped in with groceries.

“Hey! Whatcha’ watching?”

Hatter’s eyes remained focused on the TV as he replied, “Some kind of freak show.” Alice looked at him and he went on, “Its called ‘Primeval’”

“What?”

Alice went over and looked at the television. As she did so a somewhat badly animated dinosaur appeared on screen. She watched curiously for a minute, “Why are you watching this?”

“It was on BBC. I’ve been watching it since I’m supposed to be from England. But most of this stuff is mad as a box of frogs.”

“Then why do you keep watching it?”

“Wait just a second you’ll see.” Hatter pointed at the screen. Alice watched for another minute and then she saw why Hatter was paying such close attention.

“It that?”

“Well, it may look like me, but it isn’t!” Hatter said.

Alice stared at the screen, “What’s his name?”

“Connor.”

“The actor not the character.”

“Oh, I think that its Andrew something or other.”

“Interesting.” Alice watched the screen as ‘Connor’ ran across the screen. The shot was slowed down as he ran, dripping. Alice smiled and Hatter looked at her.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just.” Alice paused not sure what he would think, “He’s kinda hot.”

A/N. I was bored and watching Primeval. What can I say ;-). Real Quick, I just want to establish a few baselines for these drabbles.

1. No real plot from chapter to chapter, unless they are labeled (respectively) part 1, part 2, ect.

2. Alice lives in New York. I’ve read fics with NY, LA, even Chicago, but in my head she’s in New York.

And 3. Hatter and March’s past relationship was not sexual!!! (sorry, but that just annoys me)


“The clockworks not ticking properly. Why is a raven like a writing deck?”

Blobs of green went up and down moving slowly. Blackness everywhere else. Two stout men pranced around a chair singing, “The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all his might he did his very best to make the billows smooth and bright.”

At the word bright the cattle prod was stabbed into Hatter’s side again. The electricity burned his skin, and left his sides aching. He screamed. Then they took it out and continued to dance around him.

“But mother Oyster winked her eye and shook her heavy head. She knew too well this was no time to leave her oyster bed.” This time the prod want into his neck. Hatter couldn’t even open his mouth this time, and blood started down his shirt. He could feel it oozing. Warm and slick.

“But answer there came none. And this was scarcely odd, because, they'd been eaten, every one!” Dee finished the song, “Poor little oysters. Just like your little friend, she’ll be sucked dry.”

Hatter pulled again at the chair at the mention of Alice and this time Dee swung the stick at his head, “None of that!” Before the stick could hit him though Hatter yelled.

And awoke.

He was sweating, and breathing hard. Gasping Hatter stumbled out of bed. “Just a dream.” He said. He went into his bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. No blood pouring down his neck. No bruises. He felt his ribs, nothing but scars from the original memory of the dream.

Hatter knew it was over. He knew that Dr.’s Dee and Dum were on the other side of the Looking Glass. Probably locked up by Jack Hart. He knew that Alice was perfectly safe at her own apartment right now. Probably fast asleep.

But he couldn’t shake the feelings of needing to see her.

*-*-*

The wind blew through the trees. She was standing clutching a purple coat to her chest. She could hear birds, but no Jabbawok Thank God.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

She heard footsteps and turned, “Hatter?” She called. A figure stepped out of the trees.

It was Jack.

“Where’s Hatter?”

“Dead.”

“Dead?” Alice started to breathe fast, “What?”

Jack stepped toward her, and as he did the sky turned black, “He was caught in the city. He’s dead. Now you have to choose me.” Jack reached out a pale hand for her and then

Alice awoke. She looked around herself. “Just a dream.” She whispered. After a moment of silence she pulled the covers closer to herself, “Hatter is perfectly fine.”

Another moment of dark silence. Alice sighed at the ache in her chest. This wasn’t going to go away. It never did when she dreamed of Wonderland. The pain stayed there until she saw Hatter.

She glanced at the clock, 4:07 Hatter would be asleep, surely. He’d told her to always call if she needed him no matter the time, but she didn’t want to bother him.

Alice made it to 4:09 before throwing the warm blankets aside. No way was she going back to sleep. She might as well get up. The hardwood floors were cold as she slipped into the kitchen. Her phone was sitting on the counter and as she made a cup of tea it glared at her.

“He’s sleeping. You don’t need to wake him up because you had a bad dream.” Alice told herself.

Then it started ringing. In a flash Alice picked it up, already knowing by the ring tone who it was, “Hatter.” She breathed.

“Oh. I didn’ think you’d be awake.” Hatter said, his accent making Alice’s heart feel a tad warmer.

“Bad dreams.” Alice said truthfully.

“Me too.” He said softly.

“Ten minutes?” Alice offered hopefully.

“I’ll make tea.” He confirmed. She slid the phone shut, already smiling and grabbed some shoes. Hatter’s apartment was only a 2 minute walk away.

A/N More fluffy goodness! I can’t help myself with these two. They’re just so... well, I don’t have the words to describe it, but you’re reading this so you must know what I mean. If you want more, hit the button below :-) Sorry! Had to re-upload this one. I accidently uploaded half of it, lol

“I am telling you, there is no better way to find a duck.” Hatter said stepping out the elevator to the 3rd floor of his apartment building.

“Are you serious?” Alice asked, following him out carrying a pizza box.

“Alice, would I ever make a joke around you?” Hatter looked at her seriously before turning to his door, “I-” He stopped frowning.

“What?” Alice asked.

He reached forward and pushed the door with one finger lightly pushing. The door creaked open. “Alice, luv’ you may want to put that box down.” Hatter said right hand tightening into a fist.

“Did somebody break into your apartment?” Alice asked setting the box on the floor.

“I would say they still are.” Hatter said ear at the crack in the door.

“What makes you say that?”

There was a sudden crash from inside Hatter’s apartment. “That’s why.” He whispered.

“Well you think we should call the cops?” Alice whisped, moving in next to him. He looked at her.

“We took down the entire monarchy in Wonderland. Fought off an army of Suits. I think you and me can handle a couple of thieves.” Hatter looked at her, hair sticking up from under his hat.

There was another crash and Hatter swore, “What?” Alice asked again.

“I think that was my favorite tea cup.” Then Hatter shoved the door open and went into his apartment. Alice followed, arms out in an offensive position.

Sure enough there were two scrappy thieves going through Hatter’s cupbards. Hatter grabbed one by the scruff of his neck, “Oi!” He yelled.

The other turned around, and upon seeing his partner being held off the ground by a man in a hat started to run out, but Alice swung out an arm, throwing him onto the ground. The 2nd robber groaned and stayed down.

Alice turned her attention to Hatter and the 1st one. Hatter had him pressed into the wall about two feet off the ground. The man was staring a somewhat amused Hatter in the face.

“Now then, you think you can just break into me ome’ and take whatever you want?” Hatter looked down at the broken dishes, “That was my favorite tea cup.”

“I’m sorry!” The thief choked out.

“I’m sure you are. Now get out.” Hatter threw the man onto the ground and he scrambled out.

“You too.” Alice said to the man lying at her feet. He heavily sat up and managed to stumble after his partner.

“That really was my favorite tea cup.” Hatter said angrily. “No idea where I’ll find another one like it.” Alice just laughed.

“Wha’?”

“Two men break into your apartment, and all you’re worried about it a tea cup being shattered?”

“Its not like I’ve never been robbed before Alice. I used to be a conman remember. Plenty of people thought it would be fun to break into my Tea Shop. I’m just glad they weren’t here when you and I were... otherwise occupied. That might have gotton messy.”

Alice smacked the side of his head, stealing his hat, as he grinned and went out into the hallway to get the pizza. “I might just kill them now.” Hatter called from the hallway sounding even more annoyed than the business about his cup.

“Why?”

Hatter walked in holding a crushed pizza box. “Bastards.” He muttered.

A/N- I guess this might have been slightly O.O.C. But I wasn’t sure how exactly Hatter would react to walking in on his apartment being robbed. Specially with Alice. Still it makes me laugh to think of him only being upset about his favorite tea cup.

Alice stepped into her apartment, clutching a brown paper bag full of groceries. As the door banged shut behind her she walked forward to put them on the table. She glanced at the clock, 6:47. Hatter would be here in 43 minutes. That ought to give her just enough time...

38 minutes later and she was dressed and had food cooking in the oven. It had been a year since Alice had stepped through the Looking Glass, falling into Wonderland. One year since she had walked into his office in a “very wet dress”

It was that dress that she was wearing now, thought not so very wet. Along with raspberry tights and a pair of high-heeled boots. Her mother however, was gone for the night, she had promised Alice her privacy for tonight. Hatter was coming over, then Jack and Duchess were coming over shortly after.

At precisely 7:30 Alice heard a light knocking. She went to the door and instantly smiled.

Just as she had worn her original outfit from a year ago, so had Hatter. Loud shirt barely concealed by a brown leather jacket. She wondered if he had kept the body armor underneath that as well. With Jack coming over it wouldn’t surprise her...

He also held a single light purple rose. Without even speaking he offered it to her. Hatter seemed unsurprised by her outfit, looking over it appreciatively as she took the rose.

Unable to help herself Alice asked, “Would you like a cup of tea?”

Hatter grinned, “No thank you.” Then he stepped into the apartment. Alice went over and pulled out a thin vase for the rose. Then she put it on her desk in her room. For some reason the rose felt private, and she didn’t want to flaunt it.

When she came back into the kitchen, Hatter was standing by the over peering into the warm box. “Smells good.” He complimented before the door it and turning to her. When he turned his gaze to her face, Alice was already smiling.

Hatter did that to her. One look and she was smiling. Which in turn made him smirk. He glances at the clock. 7:37.

“I reckon we got bout’ ten minute fore Jack gets here.” He said.

Before you could say ‘funky monkey’ Hatter and Alice had crossed the length of the kitchen to press themselves together, like any pair of lovers alone in an apartment would.

A few minutes later there was a loud knock. Alice pulled herself away from Hatter and realized he had picked her up and put her onto the kitchen counter. His jacket had also found its way onto the floor but his hat, while slightly astray, was still on his head.

Hatter groaned, “Do we have to let him in?” He whispered, lips still only a few inches from Alice’s.

“Hold on!” She called to the door, then she stole one more kiss from him, “Yes. Now let me down.”

Hatter reluctantly pulled away from the counter, he picked up his jacket as Alice slid off the counter and straightened her dress over her raspberry tights. There was another knock and she moved quickly to answer the door.

Jack was standing there in dark jeans and a red shirt. Next to him was Duchess, her blond hair in perfect curls and wearing a gold ring on her left hand. Alice didn’t mention it, she saw this coming a long way off, but she did feel a twinge of hurt at it.

“Ello!” Hatter greeted them from a few feet behind Alice. She stepped back to let Jack and Duchess in.

“Hello Alice.”

A/N OK, I had this done a week ago, but it would not upload for anything! So its not my fault this took so long to upload. Lots of love, KMP P.S. Special thanks to Hyattch; Raspberry and UppityWomyn; Incomprehensible


Alice surpressed a grin as she watched a dozen people clad in white uniforms fight each other. One in particular stood out.

Alice had always kept a strict dress code in her class, but this one had managed to wear a hat in class. Not only that, but somehow it managed to stay on no matter what.

It might have had something to do with the fact that his opponent was being flattened time and time again. Alice had paired the Hatted man with a black belt, who had laughed at the opposition.

“You can’t be serious? A white belt?” He asked incredulously, laughing all the while, “You hate this man or something?”

Alice did her best not to grin at Hatter, who looked insulted, “No, just trust me John. He’s got one hell of a right hook.”

A/N yey for mini chapter.

Experiment part 8

Following

“We could do pizza.” Hatter said seriously.

Alice looked as him as she said in an almost whistful tone, “And lots of other things.”

But before Hatter could scrounge up the courage to say something else a technician came up to them, “Alice, please.” He said taking Alice by the arm.

“Really? I was just-” Hatter tried to say something- anything to make Alice stay. Stay with him here. But she was already walking away. She glanced at him as she went home, but didn’t notice the miserable look on his face. He wanted her to stay.

He tried to think, there must be something! He took a deep breath but then, “Just force yourself to breathe!” The technician pushed her into the glass!

Hatter hear her manage half a gasp before she was through the horizon. The glass waved and then it was smooth again.

Another technician from the side watched on a monitor as Alice fell through the gap between world. There was a loud beeping from the machine.

Jack, who had watched Alice go through The Looking Glass went over to the technician, “What is it?”

“We sent her through too early.” The Technician said, tapping a few buttons.

“Too early?”

“The Looking Glass has been with and without power for too long. We didn’t realize that it needed to recharge before it could work at full capacity. The power reserves must have been empty.” Uh oh, geek speak. Hatter made his way over knowing that this couldn’t be good.

“What are you saying?” Hatter asked.

The technician sighed, “She went through before the looking glass was working at full capacity. When she reappears on the other side she is going to need medical attention, immediately.”

Hatter swallowed, “That’s not good.”

Jack’s face went hard as he turned to Hatter, “You need to go after her.”

“Wha’? Me?” Hatter looked confused, but even as Jack said it, it felt right.

“I can’t leave. And besides,” Jack paused as he grimaced slightly, “She doesn’t want me.”

“What do ya mean?” Hatter asked, “I thought you two-”

“She refused to be my queen. She said she wanted something else.” Jack knew it wasn’t a something but a someone. And that certain someone was standing before him, looking both confused and hopeful.

Hatter still paused though, what if she hadn’t meant either of them? Doubt still clouded his mind but then Jack spoke the words that would have made Hatter do anything, “She needs your help.”

Hatter nodded then, “All right.” He started forward but Jack stopped him.

“You can’t go through looking like, well like that.”

“What?” Hatter looked down at himself, not understanding.

“People don’t dress like that in her world. Or wear eye make-up.”

“But you just said she needed my help.”

Jack turned to the technician, “How long before she reappears on the other side?”

“An hour at least.”

“An hour?”

“Because of the power problems, and because there is a time difference between our worlds. A day here is only minutes there.”

“Oh.” Hatter wondered if he should have known this.

“Come. We have to get you changed.”

“All-right.” Hatter followed him, “But do I need a new hat?”


It turns out that it took three hours for Hatter to become “David.” Jack insisted that Hatter go by the name he was born with as the name “Hatter” would stand out.

Gone too was Hatter’s colourful wardrobe, replaced with a brown jacket, white shirt, and something that Jack called, “Jeans.”

Whatever they were, they were stiff and Hatter much preferred his purple pants. The things he was doing for Alice...

Among the other things to go was Hatter’s extravagant hairstyle. He had been subjected to a bath and then a firm combing by one of Jack’s wardrobe people. He had been horrified when she had brought out scissors and refused to have his hair sheared off.

“No way.” He said standing as far away from the woman as he could, “My hair stayes the length it is right now thank you very much.”

Then to complete the look he had taken a black hat. It wasn’t nearly as large or as brilliant as his old one, but it would do. He slipped it onto his head and then stood before Jack, “How do I look?” He asked, only half kidding.

Jack’s eyes went up and down Hatter’s length, “You’ll do.”

When they got to the glass Hatter asked, “How long’s it been?”

“Only a minute on her world.” The technician showed the two men a screen. It showed Alice on the ground.

Even though Hatter knew that he would be there in just a few seconds for her, it didn’t feel fast enough. Seeing her there on the ground... it physically hurt him.

“I’m going.” Hatter said stepping towards the Glass.

“Wait.” Jack stopped him yet again. He handed Hatter a leather wallet, “Take this. You’ll need it.”

Hatter didn’t even open the wallet, just slid it into his jacket pocket as Jack continued, “You’re going to have to take her to her mother. All right?” Jack pulled out a piece of paper with instructions.

“Tell her you are a construction worker. That you saw Alice run into the building and pulled her out. Its only been about an hour in her world since she left.”

Again Hatter took the paper from jack and stuck it in his pocket, “All right. Can I go now?”

“Just one more thing.” Hatter sighed, he needed to go already. “Good luck.”

Hatter paused, “Thanks.” And then stepped through the glass.

A/N- Wow! I wasn't expecting this many requests for more. And more you shall have. Thanks!

Gagh! Sorry it took so long for me to update. I got distracted by various shiny things.

I don’t own Alice, SyFy does. Though I wouldn’t mind a Hatter of my own ;-)

It was a rough trip, but not enough to make Hatter lose his hat.

He stumbled through the other side, nearly tripping over Alice. After a moment a suitcase followed him. He sprang forward to keep it from hitting Alice.

Alice. She was on the ground. Face pressed to the cold floor. Stashing the suitcase behind the mirror Hatter then bent down, “Alice?”

She didn’t move. The technician said she wouldn’t but it still hurt Hatter’s heart to see her unmoving. Even that night spent in the woods, he hadn’t seen her sleep.

“All right luv.” Hatter pulled out the paper and quickly read over the instructions. At the bottom was one final note.

P.S. Tell Carol your name is David

Whatever that was supposed to mean. What was wrong with Hatter? It was his name. But he would have to trust Jack. So long as Alice was okay.

Hatter stuffed the paper back in his pocket and picked up Alice. Putting one arm behind her knees and the other holding up her shoulders he strode purposefully out of the building.

Outside was dark and wet. Must have rained recently. Hatter turned left heading out of an ally and then another left and he headed down the New York street with a very pretty girl in his arms.

After passing one sign, Hatter was stopped by a woman with brown hair, “Alice?!?”

This must be Carol. “She ran into the building.” Hatter said, still holding her, “I followed her. She hit her head.”

“Oh my god.”

“I don’t- uh.” Hatter shifted Alice in his arms, “I don’t know where to uh-”

Carol already had her cell phone out. This was something that Wonderland did not have. They did have phones yes, but not cordless ones that could go with you everywhere.

“You can put her down.” Carol said as the phone rang, she was obviously a bit disturbed by a total stranger holding her daughter.

“I’m fine.” Hatter said, not wanting to put Alice down. Not back on the ground, “The ground’s wet.”

Carol closed her phone, “The ambulance is on its way.”

“All right.” So Hatter stood there for an awkward moment.

“So, what happened exactly?” Carol asked, looking a bit suspicious.

“I was working and I saw Alice run into a building that was condemned. I went in after her, its very dangerous, and she must have fallen.”

“Did you see a man with blond hair?”

“She must be referring to Jack,” Hatter thought.

“No.” Better for Alice to explain that one herself. “Me name’s David by the way.”

“David.” Carol muttered looking down the street. Hatter could hear loud sirens, “Well thank you for taking care of my daughter.”

The ambulance pulled up, and two men jumped out. Reacting instinctively, Hatter pulled away from them for a second when they went for Alice. Then remembering that these men were here to help Alice he let them take her weight off his hands. Immediately he wanted it back.

“Can I just-” Hatter paused, unsure what to say. How could he explain that he loved Alice when here he had only known her a few minutes. Technically they hadn’t even met!

“Just.” He repeated, hand out to the ambulance where Carol was getting in alongside her daughter in a blue dress.

Carol looked at him, but then her expression softened at the anguish and slight confusion in his eyes, “I’ll call.” She said, then the doors shut, the sirens blared, and the vehicle took his Alice away from him.

A/N I seem eternally doomed to short chapters. Apologies. And I think I will leave it there. A mini explanation, I hope you enjoyed it. Also, I don’t know if Alice lived in New York, but she struck me as a New Yorker.

Experiment part 7

The Visiting Son

Glee/Criminal Minds fanfic.

A/N I just recently got into Criminal Minds and Glee. This is just for fun, I thought how funny it would be to put Spencer into a situation with his mother being a cheerleading coach, especially with Sue being such a wack-job. I say that with the highest respect by the way, and mean no disrespect by calling her that. *fears for life* jk jk. So enjoy, as always I have no rights, and gimme feedback!

Sue Sylvester sat at her desk reviewing the latest comments on youtube from her last Sue’s Corner. These ranged from the typical fans saying she was a genius to various loser students saying she was “A freaking control freak that should be locked up”

“I’ll show you.” Sue muttered clicking on the username and proceeded to give all of their videos a one star rating. Which would be a damaging blow to this particular student’s ego, as they didn’t even have a rating on most of their videos. “I’ve been locked up and it’s not going to happen ever again.”

As she said this, Sue glanced at the clock, “Noon.” Time for her pills. Sue opened a side drawer and pulled out an orange prescription bottle, barely pausing to look at the picture of a young man with long brown hair and a goofy grin on his face, and if you looked at the very bottom of the picture you could see the edge of his mis-matching socks, one blue and one red.

Popping the two pills, Sue closed her internet browser and headed to the Teacher’s Lounge to eat her lunch and spy on various teachers. Most specifically that Mr. Schuester, him and his gang of mouth-breathing losers. Maybe he would give her something to squash him with today.

That thought put a smile on her face, and Sue headed to the lounge with a sly grin that sent a few students in the hall running. But just as she neared the open door there was a loud screech of feedback coming out of the intercom system, “Coach Sylvester please report to the office. You have a visitor. Coach Sylvester please report to the office. You have a visitor.”

Sue sighed, probably some reporter wanting her for yet another article. On her way there she stopped in the ladies room to make sure she looked ok. Last time a reporter had come in the middle of the day he had taken some horrible pictures of her. Later the man would be found hanging by his pants at the top of a goal-post. She insisted to her son later that she had absolutely nothing to do with it, despite him saying that it was awfully familiar to something that had happened to him when he was 11.

After a quick glance over in the mirror Sue continued, glaring at Mr. Scheuster and Emma Pillsbury as she passed them. Maybe if she made it quick with the reporter she would be able to catch something juicy. The man always talked more around that little brain-damaged girl.

She barged right into Mr. Figgins office, ready to start the typical speech to the reporter who would jump up at her very presence. But when she burst into the room, the individual in his own portable chair didn’t rise to greet her. Instead he just wheeled around and gave a small smile, “Hi mom.”

A/N As always I have no rights to Glee or Criminal Minds. I plan on having this done by Halloween Enjoy! Oh, and I made up Reid’s statistics, they aren’t real! Lol.

“Spencer.” Sue said slowly, taken off guard. But then she quickly turned her attention to Principle Figgins, “I’ll take him to my office.” Not wanting to have a little family reunion in his office that could later be used against her.

Figgins looked disappointed at this turn of events, clearly having wanted to watch, but allowed her to turn around, and Spencer followed. Apparently “I’ll take him.” Didn’t mean she would actually push him.

But she stopped just outside the office door and grabbed the handles of his chair as he wheeled past her, “Thanks.” Spencer stretched his hands out awkwardly, as if propelling himself the few feet across the office had cramped his hands.

“Please Spencer. Don’t thank me. I can’t be seen walking with you next to me like you’re my equal.”

Spencer didn’t seem at all surprised by this statement, just pulled his hands away from the wheels into his lap, “You know Principal Figgins didn’t know you had a son.” He commented after a brief pause.

“I kinda wanted to keep it that way.” Sue continued to push him down the hall, glaring at a few students. Daring them to say anything. She wondered briefly how she was going to explain this one. She knew she couldn’t keep Figgins’ mouth shut anymore, now that her blackmail was no longer any threat.

“I was even more surprised that you went back to your maiden name. And using your middle name as you’re first one.” Spencer talked quickly, but not in a rude way, he was merely curious about why, though being a FBI profiler he had a pretty good idea.

“I didn’t want the students to be able to Google me easily.” Sue replied, not looking down at him.

“If they really looked hard enough they would eventually find the article from when you married dad. Then they would be able to go from there.”

“Well, none of those idiots have looked that closely.” She pushed him into her office and shut the door. “Not even any of the reporters.”

Spencer didn’t say anything about that as he wheeled himself into the center of the room, looking around curiously; eyes flicking from one wall plaque to another. “You know mom none of these awards are real.”

“Spencer, stop profiling me.” Sue slid into her chair behind her desk, “Why are you here?”

“What a son can’t just visit him mom?” He pretended to be offended, but smiled as he asked this.

“Not when his mom is the head Cheerleading coach at a High School. And what happened to your leg? You didn’t say anything about that in any of your letters or the phone call last week.” Despite her coldness, a bit of Sue’s maternal warmth leaked into this question.

Spencer grimaced, “Umm. I- uh, got shot in the leg.” He stumbled over the lie and she just have him a skeptical look, “You know, last time I told you ‘A Mother Knows’ when there’s danger around?” She leaned forward, “Well a mother also knows when she is being lied to.”

He reached up and scratched his head nervously, “Well, that’s the story that is going around.”

“Story?”

“Yeah that’s why I came here. I wanted to tell you in person.” Spencer paused taking in a breath, “I really broke my knee in a dance contest.”

“Spencer! You’ve got to be kidding me.” For his part, Spencer looked down at his lap, shamefaced, “You have three PhD’s and you’re telling me you broke your knee in a dance contest? Not only that but you’re lying to people telling them that you got shot?”

“Hey!” His head snapped up, “I did actually get shot, it just wasn’t that bad. That last part is not actually my choice. The CIA was having me do some side work for them.”

“I thought I taught you better than that Spencer. And what was the CIA having you do in a dance contest? What were you doing, Profiling Simon Cowell?”

“That’s American Idol mom, singing not dancing. Although actually 68 percent of American Idol Contestants actually do dance-”

“Same thing,” Sue waved her hand without breaking his eye contact, “What were you doing with the CIA?”

But before Spencer could come up some something to tell her there was a knock on Sue’s closed door. Spencer turned to look, so he missed his mother’s brief look of disgust, it was Mr. Shuester.

A/N Sorry that this one is so short, it just kinda turned out like that. Also, so you know, the reason for Spencer “actually” breaking his knee in a dance contest is because that is actually how Matthew Gray Gubler broke his knee, and I thought it would be funny. I have no rights to these characters and enjoy!

“Uh, hey Sue.” Mr. Shuester stuck his head in the door, not seeming to register the guy in the wheelchair, “I need my sheet music back.”

“Excuse me I am in the middle of a private meeting here,” Sue snapped.

“Mom, its okay. I’m going to be here all week.” Spencer interrupted her.

“No it is not okay Spencer-”

“Wait,” Mr. Shuester interrupted, “Mom?”

Sue had only a split second to think, deciding suddenly that this just might work to her advantage, “Yes, this is my son. Spencer.”

Mr. Shuester took an involuntary step into her office, “Oh, I didn’t know you had a son Sue.”

“Well that’s because Spencer doesn’t get much time off of work.” Sue straightened a little as she waited for the obvious question.

“Where do you work?”

Spencer opened his mouth, but Sue quickly answered from him, “He works for the FBI. Unfortunately it seems that it takes a serious injury for him to come visit his mother.”

“It’s not that serious.”

“Not serious, Spencer what would you call a gun shot?”

“Normal. You should’ve seen Hodge.”

“Spencer’s job can be very dangerous.” Sue talked to Mr. Shuester, and Spencer shook his head a little as she got up, “Now, what did you want?”

“My sheet music, what little you didn’t burn.”

“Burn?” Spencer looked a little alarmed at this.

“I’ll explain later. Its already in the piano room.”

“I looked.”

Sue looked annoyed and shuffled some things around on her desk before coming up with the music.

“Thanks.” Mr. Shuester took them from her, “And I’m going to have to borrow the cheerios after school, sectionals are next week and we’re having a dress rehersal.”

“Well you can’t have them until after four.”

Mr. Shuester looked like he wanted to argue this, but decided against it, “Okay.” Then he exited the room, flipping through the music.

Sue watched the door for a second, thinking before turning her attention back to her son.

“What did you burn?”

A/N Hopefully this longer one makes up for last chapter being so short. None of my ongoing story's have very long chapters, so I apologize for that, its just my style. I have no rights to these characters, only the situation I put them in. Actually I’m not sure that’s true...

After a few more minutes of catching up, Spencer left promising to return around four.

So now, here he was. Dr. Spencer Reid of the FBI watching Cheerleaders cry as he mother shouted at them through a megaphone from the bleachers above him. All the while shivering in a metal chair that seemed to suck the heat from his body. Fall was here and he hadn’t brought a coat.

“Slop! You’re going to be here for the next week until I see improvement!” His mother roared, slapping her clipboard on her thigh.

Briefly Spencer thought about calling her doctor and rescinding his approval of her moving to an outpatient program.

“I’m sorry Spencer. These girls need a firm hand right now and I can’t leave them.” She sounded sincere, but her body language didn’t change as Sue said this. He attributed it to not wanting to appear weak in front of her, what were they called? Cheerios? Why would you name your cheerleaders after a cereal?

“AGAIN!” She shouted from a few feet above him.

“I’m going to go inside for a few minutes.” He called up so her, “Warm up a bit.”

“Okay.” She tossed down her keys, “I don’t know how long this will be, so take your time.” She gave him a smile before turning her attention back to the Cheerios and shouting though her megaphone.

Spencer wheeled back to the school, flinching every time his fingers touched the frigid wheel. The door took a bit to open, but when he finally managed to get it open, the warm air made the trouble well worth it.

He wheeled himself a good twenty feet into the school before stopping to blow in his hands and rub them together. Gradually feeling returned to them, and suddenly he heard something,

“All right guys ready 5, 6, 7, 8.” It was Mr. Shuester.

Then Spencer heard the Singing. “Just a small town girl. Living in a lonely world.” His eyebrows came together, and he put his sleeves back over his hands to wheel towards the noise.

Just as a brief guitar solo started he pulled into an auditorium, “It goes on and on and on and on.” The couple danced together singing.

He paused at the head of the stairs leading down and watched the kids singing. The two leads and then the others behind them. When the song ended he smiled.

A/N OK this is where I wanted to end it, but since I was so mean with the last one, with it being uber short. Just imagine a pause right here. Go listen to Don’t Stop Believing and imagine Spencer watching it.

“Very good guys, I think we’ll lead with this song in the sectionals next week.” Mr. Shuester applauded them from a few aisles down, “Just one more time from the top.”

“Um. Mr. Shue.” The female singer stepped forward, eyes not on the teacher, but on Spencer.

Mr. Shuester turned to look, when he saw Spencer he looked surprised, “Spencer.”

“I’m sorry.” Spencer apologized, “I heard the singing and I came to investigate.”

“Well I guess that comes naturally in your profession.” Mr. Shue joked.

Spencer gave a small smile as Mr. Shue turned around, “Guys this is Spencer Sylvester.”

At the look of shock on the kid’s faces, Spencer felt the need to explain that, “Actually my name is Spencer Reid. I took my father’s last name.”

He got the feeling that this didn’t really help him much, the name Sylvester had done it all.

A blonde girl stepped forward, “You mean, You’re Coach Sylvester’s son?”

“Uh, Yes I am.” Spencer stuttered a small bit.

“Damn.” Another kid with a low Mohawk muttered.

“Yeah, nobody seems to know that around here.”

“Why?” The lead singer asked the question before he could stop himself.

“Finn.” Mr. Shue shook his head at the rudeness of this question.

“No, that’s ok.” Spencer waved his hand, “I think its because I’m not around very much. My job prevents me from seeing her very often and,” He glanced at Mr. Shue, “It takes and injury for me to visit.”

The teens didn’t get the reference from this morning, but they could see the wheelchair. After an awkward paused Spencer talked again, “You guys are good. I take it this is your Glee club?”

They all nodded, some smiling at the praise, others looking suspiciously at Spencer, “Yeah I used to be in Glee club.”

Full A/N at end. I have no rights, you all know the rest

“You were in Glee club?” The girl practically shrieked with amazement.

“Are you sure you’re Sue’s son?”

“Your Mom let you be in Glee club?”

Spencer suppressed the urge to laugh, “Well yeah. I mean I was only 11 at the time.” He didn’t mention that his mom actually had no idea he was in the club because at that time in his life she couldn’t tell December from July.

“11?”

“Uh yeah. I went through high-school quickly.”

“How quickly?”

Seeing that things might go downhill from here Mr. Shuester interrupted the interrogation, clapping his hands together, “All right guys come one we still have five other songs to rehearse.”

After a brief moan of complaint the teens headed off-stage to rearrange themselves. As they did so Mr. Shue headed over to Spencer, “Glee club really?”

Spencer laughed again, “People always find that hard to believe.”

“Well considering your mom...”

He nodded then after a brief pause, “Do you mind if I stay and watch?”

“Not at all. We could always use the feedback.”

So during the rest of the practice Spencer watched the Glee kids perform. Offering in a compliment and a suggestion or two when appropriate.

And as he watched Spencer was reminded of being in Glee Club in Las Vegas. He’d been small but had a high voice that proved useful when everyone else was going through puberty. Glee had offered a great release during High School and was one of the few fond memories he had of those years.

A/N I am a terrible terrible person. I intended this fic to be much longer, but I’ve run out of ideas on where exactly to take it. Also I am doing NaNoWriMo next month and don’t have time to finish it the way I would like. I am officially ending this here as it can be ended smoothly, but sometime in December I may come back and do some more chapters. Thank you all for subbing to the story and feel free to take out your anger in the reviews box.

Experiment part 6

Chapter 5: Hoverboarding

Hoverboarding was harder than it looked, but John Sheppard could fly anything. Or so he thought. It was easy to just stand on the board but without inertial dampeners it was hard to move the board without seriously upsetting your balance. Apparently only Nicole and a few of her friends had built inertial dampeners into their boards, so John’s didn’t have the modification,

“I think I’m getting the hang of this,” John said after an hour of slowly moving along the path he and his team had been following earlier. It turned out that the path took a roundabout way down into the gorge that he had fallen into. Suddenly, as they came around a corner he pitched off again.

The bracelets worked as advertised, kind of. They slowed his descent but he still slammed into the ground if he fell too fast. This time he fell into the trees, narrowly missing a giant, was that an oak? An alien oak tree.

He landed on his back and lay there for a minute looking up into the trees. The suns were setting, twilight was upon them. They had stopped at the Stargate and John had contacted Elizabeth. Nicole had made him keep it short and he wasn’t allowed to say anything about her and Sandra. Which struck him as odd, but he had merely stated that he had made contact with the people and would be staying longer.

“You all right Skywalker?” asked a voice that was becoming more familiar all the time. Nicole had been calling him Skywalker ever since his first fall. He was still considering calling her Princess.

“You know,” He started, “This is getting a little old,” He sat up to see her sitting on her dark board watching him teasingly, “The whole, me falling of every few minutes,”

“You lasted almost eight this time,”

“Oh ha ha,” He was only half kidding.

“It takes most people a while who aren’t Nox,” She was being completely serious now, “Still, you’ve shown much more progress than most in this past hour,”

“It sure doesn’t feel like it,” John began to sit up, making sure he hadn’t hurt himself.

Nicole smiled again, “Come on, we’re only a few more minutes away, hopefully you won’t fall again until we get there,”

“Within eight minutes?” He asked

She moved her head from side to side, “More like ten, but I have confidence in you.” John wasn’t very convinced. His board hovered next to him, having returned. He stepped on still willing to try.

They came into a small clearing about ten minutes later. There was a great grey rock face at the end of the trail. John stopped his board a little too fast and for a few seconds he nearly fell over. Then he regained his balance. He turned to see the other three watching, “What?” They averted their gazes to each other.

Nicole snapped her fingers and her board slid inter her shoes. The other two followed suit, dropping to the ground. John snapped his fingers too, and the board began to fold, but his feet didn’t have anywhere to stand when the board grew smaller than his feet. He stepped of onto the ground and had to wait until the board finished folding before he could pick it up.

He picked it up and put the now, very small rectangle into one of his vest pockets and after he looked around the clearing he then turned to look at the others. Nicole twisted to talk to Jacob, “See you at dinner,” Jacob nodded and then disappeared into the rock face. He literally walked through it.

Nicole gestured for John to follow her and Sandra. He approached cautiously. She shook her head and took his hand. She quickly pulled him into the very solid looking rock . It quickly became obvious that the rock wasn’t actually there.

When John was on the other side Nicole quickly dropped his hand. He looked around at the familiar looking room. It was an obvious Lantian design. Kind of like the Ancient outpost on Earth only much bigger. Two guards pointed stunners at them for a second before they recognized Nicole.

“Colonel Sheppard,” One said, both snapping to attention. John looked up automatically. Right she’s Colonel Sheppard too; this was going to take some getting used to he thought.

Nicole nodded at them, “Anything exciting happen?” She asked.

They both relaxed, “You mean beside what you did today?” The taller guard was smiling now. Sandra smirked and then tried to cover it with her hand.

“It’s not funny Sandra,” though Nicole was smiling too, “I’ll see you guys at dinner,” With that she started down a corridor. John and Sandra followed. A few minutes later she stopped outside a door.

Chapter 6: Big Explanations

It was exactly like the ones in Atlantis. She passed her hand over the consul and the door opened. It revealed a large room. It had three single beds two large windows that had window seats. There was also a desk against a wall with a Genii computer on it. Only more advanced, probably done by Nicole. Papers littered the area on and around the desk.

Nicole turned when the door slid shut and pulled out the middle crystal, “I don’t want anybody coming in,” She explained to John when he gave her a questioning look. Her demeanor changed completely. Sandra moved to the windows and closed the. Metal shutters coming on over them. It was dark for a minute before the lights turned on.

Nicole turned to John, “You can sit somewhere and wait while we do a quick sweep of the room,” She then walked back to the door and began to run her hands along the panels. Sandra was already doing the same to the windows. He looked around again and decided to sit on one of the window seats that Sandra had already gone through.

He watched as the two women searched the entire room. They were soon done. Sandra sat on the other window seat and Nicole sat cross-legged on the middle bed, “How many?” Asked Sandra.

Nicole held out her hand revealing two small discs, “Two, you?”

Sandra tossed one at her, “Just one,” Nicole inspected the discs and walked over to the desk. She pulled out a small pair of tweezers and began to pull them apart.

Sandra turned her attention to John, “How is Elizabeth?”

John shrugged, “Fine, Pretty happy,”

Sandra nodded, “Major Carter?” She continued to question John about various people from the SGC while Nicole took the small disks apart. Occasionally Nicole would join in, asking about somebody.

Finally Nicole was finished peeling apart the disks. She put the pieces into a small bowl and set it off to the side, “Finished.” She sat on the bed across from John

He decided now was the best time to ask questions, “Where’s my team? And why couldn’t I tell Elizabeth that you’re here?” Those were just a few of the many John had.

“If you had told Elizabeth that we were here she would have insisted we return. However if we went to Atlantis right then your team would have been killed. If we had explained the situation to her she would have sent in people to help us rescue them, but that would be translated as an act of war.”

“Where’s my team? Come to think of it why did you attack us?” The questions were spilling out now.

“They are being held a few levels down. Mel and I thought you were allies of Jonas, so we took you. The last thing he needs is more help.” Nicole’s face showed absolute revulsion at the mention of this man. Sandra’s did also.

“Who’s Jonas?” He asked.

Nicole and Sandra exchanged looks, “I suppose you’ve been too busy with the Wraith to know of him.” Said Sandra, still staring at Nicole.

Nicole got up from the bed and started to pace along the floor. When John started to ask again she held up one finger. He waited for a few minutes letting her think.

She stopped long enough to look at his face, as if trying to figure out what she should tell him. She found curiosity, and worry. She understood both. The worry for his team, she’d been through that countless times.

Sandra spoke, “Tell him the basics, then answer any questions he has.” Nicole nodded her head.

As Nicole began to speak she continued to pace up and down the room, “Jonas took us from the Milky Way about two years ago. He did business with the Goa’uld. Sort of like a bounty hunter sometimes. Other times he simply brought them slaves when they asked. An intergalactic slave trade. I was off-world when he came to the planet we were on. He took Sandra and I among other inhabitants of the planet. However, before we could be taken to a System Lord, a sun that we were passing by exploded, sending us into the Pegasus Galaxy. He started all over again. Only now he serves the Wraith and himself. Sandra, Jacob and I became a part of his personal servants.”

They both shuddered remembering days in captivity, “After about three months we managed to stage a rebellion and a few dozen of us escaped to these caves,” She stopped pacing to look at John’s face after a moment. Nicole continued, “Ever since we’ve been working to destroy Jonas and his trade. Our numbers have more than tripled over the past two years.”

She stopped talking and sat down on the bed, through with her tale. John started to talk, “Well we’re not allies of Jonas, if anything we’ll help you. We can return you to Earth. Help with your fight by providing supplies and manpower.”

Sandra cut in then, “Mel isn’t going to simply going to let you go,” She exchanged another look with Nicole, “We think that he’s a spy for Jonas. He “Joined” us only a few days after the initial escape. That’s why its been so difficult to bring down Jonas. His operation wasn’t very large when he first got here. Only a tiny fraction of what he had in the Milky Way. We could have taken out the group early-on but for some reason he has always been one step ahead.”

Nicole joined in again, “Now his operation has doubled in size compared to what he had back home. We’re not sure how, and every once in a while Mel disappears along with a few people for about two days. He’s do to leave soon.”

John was stunned. How could they have missed this? An intergalactic slave trade. This was huge. They had been fighting the wraith, and the Replicators, on occasion the Goa’uld.

Chapter 7: Plans

Nicole got up and began pacing again, “I have a plan, but you and your team are going to have to trust me. Tonight we’ll head to the Gate and you’re going to tell Elizabeth that you need a few days to study the people. When Mel leaves to report to Jonas we rescue your team and the seven of us will go to Atlantis.”

“Seven?”

“You, your team, Sandra, Jacob and I. We are the only remaining people from the Milky way.”

John only had to think about that aspect for a minute, “Okay. I’ll cooperate, under one condition,”

Nicole eyes grew guarded, “And what is that?”

“You tell Elizabeth everything,”

“Did you not hear me earlier Skywalker?”

“If we explain to Elizabeth she’ll understand,”

Sandra scoffed, “You don’t know do you?”

John turned to her, “Know what?”

Nicole glared at Sandra *You’d better shut it* The force of Nicole’s thought betrayed her anger. Sandra just snickered.

John draw back from the sudden wave of anger that went into his own head, “What was that?”

Nicole turned to him, “You have the Gene?”

“Yeah,”

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, “Nicole put the crystal back in.”

Nicole grimaced. John recognized the voice even without the anger, Mel. Nicole got up from the bed and walked over to the desk, “Hold on,” She called.

Sandra quietly got up and whispered into John’s ear, “Keep quiet and remember, no Earth remarks,” Sandra quickly moved to the bed where Nicole had been earlier as she walked over to the door. John noticed the bowl of parts in her hands.

Nicole put the crystal back into the panel and opened the door. It revealed Mel flanked two guard-like looking people. He wasn’t beet faced anymore, just a little annoyed.

Nicole held out the bowl that contained the pieces of the circles she and Sandra had discovered earlier, “I believe these are yours,”

Mel stared at the bowl for a second. John was surprised when he coolly said, “You are mistaken,” John had expected another child-like tantrum.

“Ah,” Nicole obviously had been expecting this answer, “Then you won’t mind this,” She dumped the bowl’s contents onto the floor and stepped on the pieces, “Just in case my taking them apart didn’t do the job.” There was a hint of challenge in her voice and John would be willing to bet that is was in her eyes too.

Mel ignored the pieces that were now ineffectual bits of dust, “I was wondering if you were going to take your guest to the training grounds. What is his name by the way?” He pretended to be curious.

John got up and stood next to Nicole in the doorway, “John Sheppard,” He was pretty sure he was not supposed to use his rank. That would probably give away the fact that he was Earth military, “I am curious where my friends are,” John thought it was best that he saw them before they gave they’re plan away. Even if he didn’t totally know the plan. He figured that he would somehow be able to talk to his team and together they could figure out what to do.

“Of course. They are in the southern caves about ten minutes away by hoverboard,” Mel answered appearing not to be surprised.

Nicole jumped in next, “Why don’t the three of us go visit his friends so that John can be satisfied that they will not be harmed, and then meet you at the training grounds?”

Mel lowered his head in a way that reminded John of Teal’c from home, “Very well. However dinner will be served in a few hours. We won’t have time to do much more than sparring.”

“I’ve already given him a small session in hoverboarding. He’s about as good as I was.”

Mel laughed lightly, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes. John began to realize that this wasn’t a real conversation, but more like a chess match. A game.

“Well I will see you and your guest at the grounds,” Mel strode off flanked by his two body guards.

After they turned the corner Nicole exhaled, “I have to admit that was clever, but now we’re going to have Mel at the grounds at the same time as us.”

“Then why did you invite him?” John asked

Nicole turned into the room, “Because that’s how you play the game.” Sandra was under the middle bed digging out something.

Chapter 8: Discoveries

“Got it,” She exclaimed holding a stuffed bag made from leather pieces. For the first time John examined their clothing. Both had on long leather pants. Then they had rough looking tan shirts. Nicole had a leather vest that matched her pants.

Nicole smiled at Sandra’s bag, “You know if we use what we have you’re going to have to make more tonight.”

Sandra shrugged, “I’m sure John will want to know how to make it anyway. Remember the first time you had some?”

Nicole groaned, “Yeah maybe we should give him half a dose,”

“Give me what?” John was getting sick of this back and forth talk between the two of them that he couldn’t understand.

“Have you ever met and Ancient?” It wasn’t exactly the answer John had been looking for. He was getting sick of that too.

“Yeah,” Six long months with a bunch if them trying to ascend.

“You know how they have cool abilities? Moving things with their minds, healing abilities? Well this serum gives us these abilities for about forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Depends on the bloodline of the person and how strong the gene is.”

“Cool,” John couldn’t even begin to state just how “Cool” that was. It could give them a serious advantage over the wraith. Beckett was going to have to examine the serum the second he got back to Atlantis. Come to think of it, Beckett would probably be one of the first to use it. He would love being able to heal his patients in a blink of the eye.

“It takes ten to fifteen minutes to take effect. I’ll administer to you before we leave for the training grounds.”

Sandra tossed a needle to Nicole who took it and tapped to get rid of any air bubbles. The serum was a gold color. She stuck it into her arm and injected herself. Sandra did the same.

“Hold on, why can’t I have some now?”

“Because we need to go, and it can be very…” She drifted off for a second, “Powerful the first time,” John thought about Nicole’s grimace and wondered what she had done to herself, or somebody else.

Sandra transferred some more of the items from the large bag into a smaller one. Each was wrapped in the same rough cloth that made up their shirts. When she was done she said, “Ready,”

Nicole turned to him, “You’re going to want to ride with me. It’s going to get dark soon and you’re not ready to try boarding in the dark.”

“Fair enough,” John agreed. He wasn’t nearly confident enough to try riding at night, yet.

Nicole nodded her head at the door. Sandra walked out and John followed. The halls were fuller now. People walked past some smiled and greeted Sandra and Nicole, others ignored them completely. Though more smiled and spoke John was still slightly disturbed by the blank or sometimes hostile faces.

After the third hostile one he turned raised his eyebrows at Nicole. She pursed her lips, “Some of Mel’s followers don’t like me,” She lowered her voice to a whisper now, “We are split almost evenly, that’s why Mel doesn’t challenge me and I don’t challenge him. Neither one of us are entirely sure what the outcome will be. That and our numbers will literally be split in half. We tolerate each other,”

Nicole stopped speaking as two more people walked past. They both smiled and greeted her. She smiled and replied. When they were gone she began speaking again, “We’re pretty sure that most of his followers don’t know about his true allegiance, just those within his inner circle. After I visit Atlantis I plan on overthrowing him and putting someone who I trust at the head.”

She didn’t say what she wanted to do after that but before John could ask they came to an open door. Dusk was upon them. Both of the suns were setting in a glorious painting of reds, oranges, and yellows. Nicole stared at the sight for a moment, “The sunsets are brilliant here,” She spoke more to herself than John. He had to agree though. They continued to stare at the sight each was wrapped in their own thoughts.

“All right, the southern caves?” Sandra broke the moment of awe. Both of them looked at her. Nicole nodded.

John got onto Nicole’s board again with her and after a moment the three of them shot of into the trees. They were moving a lot faster now that Nicole and Sandra didn’t have to wait for John. John had to learn to anticipate Nicole’s moved to dodge the trees. There were times when he could feel how close the trees were. Only an inch or so away.

Though John couldn’t see a path of any kind, but both Nicole and Sandra seemed to be following one. It took them eight minutes by John’s watch.

He knew they were nearly there when Nicole began to slow. He saw light appear in the trees before them and she stopped and lowered the board the few feet down to the ground.

When Nicole hovered an inch above the ground John jumped off and took a step away as she snapped her fingers. Sandra was a few feet away already on the ground.

Nicole took the lead and walked toward a group of people standing next to another rock wall. There were four of them each carrying a different weapon. One woman had two Bantos rods. The other had a Genii gun. One of the men had what looked like Ronon’s gun and the other a sword.

Both guns were pointed at the three of them and both hand weapons were spun and ready until the guards recognized Nicole. They all relaxed their weapons, but were still tensed. Three brought their right hands to their brows while the other just stood there.

Nicole brought her own hand to her head and the three relaxed. One stepped forward and greeted them, “Colonel.” He nodded at Nicole. Then he looked at John, “Is this the one who fell?”

Nicole nodded. The man examined John for a second. Then he directed his gaze to Nicole, “Mel said you would be coming,”

“He wishes to see his friends.”

The man nodded and then returned to the other three guards. One was staring at John and the other two were watching the other guard. He nodded and one of the women pressed a button on a band on her wrist. The rock wall rippled in front of them like somebody had thrown a rock into a puddle of water. When it was done the wall looked the same.

Nicole nodded at the wall and John tentatively followed her.

A/N And this is the rest of what I have. Like I said in chapter 1, if enough of you like it, I’ll continue it, but otherwise this is just for the person who wanted what I have :-)

Chapter 9: Friends

John passed through the fake wall into what looked like a larger version of the cell room that was in Atlantis. Instead of only one there were four separate cells. Ronon, Teyla, and Rodney were in the one closest to them.

They looked over at John and his new friends. Rodney ran as close to the wall as he could without touching the forcefield. “Sheppard.” He cried. “They caught you too?”

“Not exactly.” Said John, “You see-”

Nicole cut him off, “Wait a sec.” She and Sandra did a sweep of the room similar to what they had done in their quarters.

“You don’t think he’d put them here too do you?” asked John.

“He knew we could tell your friends our plan and he had time.” Pointed out Sandra.

“Got one,” Nicole held out a device similar to the ones found in her room earlier. She dropped it onto the ground and crushed it with her foot.

Rodney kept harassing John with questions. John simply ignored him and regretted that he hadn’t brought a lemon with him. Teyla watched John knowingly, while Ronon stared menacingly at Sandra and Nicole.

John examined the wall and ceiling while they completed their search. Altogether they found four devices. Each was immediately crushed into the ground and then tossed into the force field that kept Rodney, Teyla, and Ronon in their cell.

“All right we should be clear now,” Nicole said taking another glance around.

“Can I speak now?” asked Rodney sarcastically.

John got fed up, “Look she doesn’t have to be helping us-”

Nicole cut him off, “It’s okay Skywalker. I would be doing the same thing.”

Rodney snorted, “You told her your name was Skywalker.”

“Actually I started calling him that after he kept fall-”

This time John cut Nicole off, “No need to go into that right now. Basically she’s from Earth.”

That shut Rodney up for a few seconds. He stared dumfounded at Nicole, “Earth?”

“Yeah as in the planet we live on,” John hinted. Rodney continued to stare.

Nicole spoke, “Colonel Nicole Sheppard at your service.”

Rodney’s dumfoundedness grew, “The Nicole Sheppard? The one who disappeared almost two and a half years ago?”

Nicole nodded and Rodney gave a small laugh, “Elizabeth’s going to flip.”

Nicole rolled her eyes. John looked at Rodney, “You know her?”

“Well I know about her. She was supposed to be the Military leader of the expedition. Until, that is, she disappeared off-world.” Rodney gave John a look that read, “Shouldn’t you of all people know that?”

“And then the systems sun exploded.” Nicole finished for him. “I know.”

“Well how did you get here?” asked Rodney.

“The sun exploded while we were entering hyperspace.”

“Oh. Yeah that would do it.” Said Rodney. It had happened before to Sg-1. He remembered Colonel Carter’s mission reports.

While Rodney looked thoroughly convinced, Ronon did not, “So are you going to let us out of here?” He growled.

Nicole shook her head, “I can’t. Not until Mel leaves.”

“Who’s that?” Teyla inquired from behind Ronon, who was now glaring at Nicole.

“I guess you could call him my partner slash vice president.”

“He’s the one who decided to kidnap us.” John put in.

Nicole looked a little guilty as she admitted, “Well, actually it was a joint decision.”

“Why?”

So Nicole gave the same explanation she had given John. Starting with what had happened earlier with John tripping over Ronon. Rodney had laughed at this part, while Teyla looked concerned, “It is a good thing you were there. You saved his life.”

“Well it was kinda my fault he was there to begin with.” Nicole stuttered. John noticed that Nicole was somewhat uncomfortable whenever Teyla spoke to her, and saved that information for later.

She breezed over the part about John falling all the time, knowing that she might need it as blackmail someday.

When she finished about the slave trade, Teyla spoke, “We once suspected that this was going on.”

“We did?” John exclaimed.

“Not Atlantis. The athosions. You see there have been rumours about people going missing. We just assumed that it was the Wraith, but now that I know about this I am not so sure that it was the Wraith.”

“Sounds like Jonas.” Nicole sneered, “Using the wraith as a cover. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in leage with them.”

“More wraith worshippers?” Rodney whined.

Experiment part 5

Slave Trade

A/N- I wrote this over two years ago, and put up the first few chapters. It didn’t get any kinds of views/reviews until a few months ago so I dug it back up. I don’t know if I’ll ever finish it just to warn you, but the reader wanted all that I had. So here it is. If enough people like it I might finish it...

Chapter 1: Another Planet

“Remind me why we didn’t just take the Jumper?” Complained Rodney after about thirty minutes of walking along the trail. There was a sea of trees on one side and a high, rocky ledge on the other. It would have been claustrophobic if not for the brilliant sunlight that came from the planet’s two suns. Rodney wished some of the sunlight could go away. He was sweating like crazy.

John, who hadn’t even broken a sweat answered agitated, “Because Rodney, the jumpers are stretched a little thin right now and it’s our turn to walk.” And you need the exercise. He added mentally.

“Well couldn’t one of the inconsequential teams have walked?” Rodney’s gargantuan ego was annoying the crap out of John right now. Ronon too, who was contemplating using his stunner. Teyla, however, was watching him closely knowing what he was probably planning. All it would take is one second. Ronon’s fingers started to reach automatically toward his gun that everybody wanted.

Teyla reached out a hand and placed it gently on his shoulder, “Ronon.”

“What?” She gave him a knowing stare. Had he been anybody else, Ronon would have cringed. But instead he just pulled his hand reluctantly away from the weapon and continued to survey the area in front of him. Teyla brought her hand back to her own weapon. Had either one of them looked back at the ridge along their right side however; they both would have a reason to pull out their guns.

There were four people along the ridge watching them. They were lined along the rock. Each ducked down low. The woman at the end got up and stealthily ran down the line. She tapped each person on the shoulder as she ran past them. They then rose and followed her to the red haired man closest to the group of strangers.

They clumped together. Two men and two women. The tall white haired woman, who had been at the end of the line held some sort of authority or respect from the younger woman and short man. The second man, the one in charge, looked annoyed at her presence.

He gave out orders to the other three mentally using a private channel in case any of the strangers had the gene, *Jacob I want you to lure them to the ledge.* Jacob, the short man nodded.

*Sandra, I want you to get into the trees with your stunner.* Sandra nodded too. She looked to be much younger than the other three, only twenty perhaps.

*And Nicole.* the white haired woman whom he obviously disliked cocked her head to the side slightly her eyes still intent on the strangers, *You’ll carry the woman and the scientist back to the caves.* Nicole turned and flared her nostrils in annoyance. She saluted him partially out of old habit and sarcasm.

“Stuck being the pack mule again.” she thought to herself as Jacob and Sandra started up their hoverboards as quietly as possible. *Be Careful* She said to Sandra and Jacob leaving Mel out of the mental loop. They both smiled at her and took off. Mel might be the commander of their rebellion but Nicole was the one everybody liked.

Mel and Nicole moved farther along the ridge to keep the group of strangers in sight. After a minute Jacob contacted them, *Ready.* then after another minute came Sandra, *Ready.* Mel turned to look at Nicole, “No funny business just grab the woman and scientist and go, understand?”

Nicole rolled her eyes internally, “Yes Sir.” She was being completely sarcastic now. Nicole then jumped, snapped her fingers, and turned her board on. *Go.* She told Jacob this time allowing Mel to hear her also. Mel activated his board and they watched as the team from Atlantis fell into their trap.

Ronon was the first to see Jacob and, after he shot a stunner at them, so did everybody else. Jacob then turned into the trees and ran straight to the place where Sandra was waiting with her stunner.

Nicole and Mel followed, several hundred feet in the air. Ronon was at the head of the Atlantis expedition followed closely by Colonel Sheppard. Teyla and Rodney brought up the rear a little while behind.

Ronon was right on Jacob’s heals until suddenly they came to a cliff and Jacob ran right over it. From their vantage point Nicole and Mel saw his board activate saving him from a deadly fall. Done with his part, Jacob headed down the gorge to circle back up later.

Nicole’s eyes turned to the strangers. Ronon stopped at the edge of the gorge and for a precarious moment almost fell over. Just as he righted himself, he was shot with Sandra’s stunner. His body fought for a moment and then crumpled near the edge.

*Nice shot.* Nicole complimented her and then John came running. He didn’t see Ronon though and tripped right over him, into the chasm that Ronon had barely managed to avoid.

A/N- I have no rights as always

Chapter 2: Falling

Nicole stared at Mel who made no movement. He caught her gaze shook his head at Nicole.

For a brief moment she thought about letting the man die. She thought about obeying her commander for once in her lifetime and letting him fall. But she wasn’t about to start obeying now. Then she disobeyed Mel and dove after the man.

“Nicole!” He roared at her but she had already made up her mind. The wind tore at her hair and the string that had been holding it back, fell away letting her inhumanly white hair free. She reveled in the speed of the fall; wind was everywhere pulling at her and her small board.

Nicole saw the stranger a dozen feet below her and increased speed coaxing as much as she could out of her little engines. They began to scream as they were pushed farther than she had ever dared before. Suddenly a wind current flipped him around so that he was face up as he did his weapon was flung away into the wind. She was close enough to see his face, exhilarated he showed little fear. This was obviously not his first free fall. It appeared that he too was reveling in the wind.

He saw her and reached out his hand, Nichole lunged and grabbed his forearm. His hand quickly grasped hers as well. The second they both had a reasonable grip she killed the brakes and their descent stopped wrenching her shoulder out of the socket. She gave a small scream. He was heavy!

She quickly grabbed his other arm and said, “Hold onto my other hand my shoulder’s out of the socket,” He obliged. For a minute they both hovered there. The sudden stillness was bizarre, “Alright I’m going to take us to a cliff and pop it back in,” Nicole said wondering briefly why she was explaining herself to this man who they had intended to stun and then leave only a few minutes ago.

“Okay,” He said clearly wondering why she was explaining herself too. He stared at her hair for a second then dismissed it. Nicole quickly looked away from his features and at the rock face. There was a small cliff only a few feet away.

She quickly moved her board directly over the cliff, “Okay let go,” He released his handhold and dropped a few inches to the ledge. Nicole righted herself and then snapped her fingers. The board folded and slid into her shoes and then she dropped a few inches onto the grey ledge. It took a second for regain her sense of balance.

Nicole flexed her fingers, “Nice grip,”

He smiled, “Nice rescue,” he inspected her as she inspected him. She had windblown, snow white hair and, even with the blinding suns, very pale skin. He was tan with short, messy, black, hair. It was almost funny how contradictory they were. He was looking at her as if he was trying to figure out where he had seen her before. The strange hair was oddly familiar.

Nicole pretended not to notice and asked, “You know how to pop a shoulder back in place? If not it’s going to be a real pain in the butt to do myself,” She spoke from experience.

“Yeah I know how,” He moved to help her and she jumped when he touched her arm. He frowned internally, “This is-”

“Going to hurt like crazy. I know, this is about my fourth dislocated shoulder,” On this arm she added mentally. She sighed, and gritted her teeth, “Alright,”

He grabbed her arm, twisted, and pulled. She gritted her teeth and sucked in a breath. The shoulder stung with pins and needles. Really sharp really big needles. To distract her he said, “So, now that I have successfully fixed you. Want to enlighten me with your name?”

Nicole held up one finger, her face was twisted in concentration. Jacob and Sandra were harassing her with mental probes on the network. Her pain had sent a mental flash across the network. They thought that she was dead, having gone splat into the bottom of the ravine “Shut up!” She cried in desperation out loud. John gave her a funny look and she ignored him.

She decided to send out her message on the local link so that everybody would know she was okay and so she wouldn’t have to establish a private link with Mel. *I’m fine you guy’s. My shoulder dislocated when I caught him. The stranger that fell just popped it back in* She glanced at him now. *I’ll bring him back up to the ledge. Mel you can scream at me all you want then* She stared at the rock face as she sent out her message. She was unaware of John looking around wildly.

Nicole sighed as she imagined what Mel was probably cooking up for her right now. She turned around, “I’m sorry what was it you asked me?” She drew her attention the stranger which she was going to get grilled for saving.

“Well first of all why don’t we introduce ourselves, I’m Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard,” His chest swelled a little at his rank. Nicole’s eyes flashed.

“Where are you from?” Her answer was not what he had expected. More like a, “Hello my name is,” La de da de da.

John decided to quote one of his favorite movies to break the ice, “A galaxy far, far, away,” The expression on her face turned to an unmasked surprise, “What?” he asked wondering why his answer had initiated such a reaction. It was just Star Wars, something she could have absolutely no clue about.

Nicole laughed quietly and pressed her finger to her temples, “After all this time…” she trailed of then came back. Her eye’s met his and she spoke, “Star Wars,” Now it was John’s turn to be surprised.

Chapter 3: Flying

“How did you get here?” asked John. He assumed that she was from earth. It was the only culture he had ever come across with Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.

“Long story, I’ll explain later.” John thought about objecting for a minute but she just plowed on, “All you need to know is that we need to get back up there and I’m going to get yelled at. Don’t tell them that where you’re from. Only Sandra and I are from earth. A few are from the Milky Way. Do not provoke Mel and if I tell you to do something please do it,” The worry on her face was clear. She pointed up to where he had fallen, “And It’s not exactly going to be a walk in a park.”

“Why can’t you just take me to the bottom and say that you couldn’t reach me or something?” He asked clearly not liking the way things looked.

Nicole sighed she knew this wasn’t going to be easy, “Because everybody already knows that I got you, and unless things have changed drastically since I left. You don’t leave people behind.”

John quickly realized that there was no way out of this, “All right how are we going to do this?”

“That’s the tricky part. In order to get up I have to go almost completely vertical.”

“Oh,” John could see the problem.

“You’re going to have to wear these,” She began to unsnap her heavy looking bracelets.

“I’m sorry but how are those going to help me?” he asked, wondering how bulky jewelry could solve his problem.

“They’re crash bracelets. The magnets will stick to the board and keep you from falling.” She said this as though it was obvious.

“Oh. What keeps you from falling then?” He asked still wondering how this was going to solve the problem. Sure he wouldn’t fall of, but she still could.

“The board is in my shoes. As long as we don’t ride for too long they’ll hold.” She didn’t look nervous about it so John decided that the odds of that happening were slim. He took the bracelets and snapped them on. They were really tight for a second and then they stretched until they were only hugging instead of strangling his wrists, “Now what?” he asked.

She smiled and then stepped of the edge of their ledge. A few seconds later she reappeared, her board activated. She moved swiftly, but carefully next to him hovering half an inch of the ledge, “Now you get on,”

John maneuvered himself so that he was on the board right next to her. She was in front of him and their bodies were very close together. He wasn’t entirely comfortable with this situation, but then she was very pretty.

She took his arms and wrapped them securely around her waist, okay now he was a tad bit nervous, “Okay, now follow my movement and please don’t let go,” She leaned back and the board moved slowly up into a vertical position.

His sense of gravity didn’t change though, “Inertial dampeners?”

“My addition. You would think that a race as smart as the Ancients would think to put inertial dampeners into a hoverboard.” They were climbing the rock face quickly now.

“This is surprisingly easy.” Said John. With the bracelets and the inertial dampeners it was only a matter of staying balanced on the board. And trying not to notice how very close he was to a very good looking woman.

Nicole smiled again, “Because I’m doing all of the work, if it weren’t for the fact that we need to get back on top of the cliff, I would show you what it’s like without me,” Although, she added mentally, it shouldn’t be this easy.

“Don’t think I can handle it?” He asked playfully. John Sheppard could fly anything.

“Not unless you have what we call the Ancient gene in you. It’s a protein that allows you to use Ancient technologies like this one,” She obviously didn’t know about John’s natural ability to use Ancient technologies, “Hold on,” She warned as they came to the top.

They shot up and then Nicole leaned far forward bringing the board to a horizontal position. Then she did a peculiar movement with her hand bringing the board to a stop, “Could you please get off?” she asked her lips were tight.

John stepped off. He watched as she then skyrocketed into the sky flipping the board That is cool he thought. They were going to have to become allies. He wanted one, badly. That thought was quickly yanked away however as a stunner was suddenly charged and put into his face.

Chapter 4: Small explanations

Nicole quickly appeared in front a few feet away, “Mel leave him!” She yelled furious. The man in front of him, Mel, was also clearly furious. Out of habit John raised his hands.

Nicole snapped her fingers and landed right next to Mel and John, “Leave him,” she repeated her tone menacing.

Mel’s face turned beet red and he exploded, “You have compromised us completely! Now we will have to take all four of them with us! You have allowed complete stranger into our midst. One that could be on Jonas’s side-”

She cut him off then, “You would have let him die. And his friend would have gone down to retrieve his body and then found our camp. Would you rather us bring him there or have him storm the place in revenge?”

John was surprised that Nicole spoke to Mel like that. Not that he wasn’t grateful. She seemed to have some sort of authority that Mel respected but didn’t like. What had she done to be able to speak up to him like that?

Nicole’s head was held high. She refused to stand down as Mel’s eyes bored into her. An unyielding rage fuming behind his face, “Fine you want to save him? You can keep him. He will be your responsibility. Anything that goes wrong because of him will be considered a traitors act, by both parties,”

Nicole stared into the depths of Mel’s coal black eyes, “Done.” Mel’s eyebrows shot up. He was surprised to have gotten his way so easily. He would have to watch Nicole and their guests very closely.

“The others have been taken to the south caves,” He said and then he walked off the edge of the cliff. Nicole let out a long breath and turned her eyes to the trees *It’s Okay guy’s he’s gone* She watched as Sandra and Jacob crept out of the trees. She was then distracted by John looking around wildly.

“What?” She asked puzzled.

“Did you hear that?” He said still looking around

“Hear what?” She asked comprehension dawning on her face.

“Somebody said ‘It’s okay guy’s he’s gone’” He looked at her.

“You have the Gene,” She said, “That’s why it was so easy on the way up.” When he didn’t respond she cried, “You knew that you do!”

“Do what?” Asked Sandra who was now within earshot.

“He’s got the Gene!” Nicole shrieked.

John wondered why it was so upsetting. He got even more suspicious when the new girl came up and inspected him carefully. Her blue eyes were looking for something. She picked up his hand and inspected his palm, “Naturally?” She asked. Directing her question as John.

“Um, yeah. Is that a problem?” He withdrew his hand from Sandra’s inspection. She then stared intently at him.

*Can you here this?* The words suddenly appeared in his head and he looked around again. Then back at the young girl in front of him, “You said that?” He asked bewildered. Her lips hadn’t moved.

She cocked her head to the side and then she walked over to Jacob and Nicole who were standing a few feet away, “Human, strong Ancient, but no Nox. It’s puzzling. There’s no tenna as far as I can tell,” She shook her head as she spoke.

“Perhaps we should take him to the testing grounds?” Asked Jacob quietly.

Nicole shook her head, “Not until we’ve explained ourselves. We’ll take him to the caves.”

“Look before you take wherever it is we’re going I need to check in with my leader. Our scheduled check-in was five minutes ago. If I don’t check-in she’s going to get worried and send in more people after us.”

“Who is it?” Asked Nicole her expression carefully guarded.

“Dr. Elizabeth Weir,” He said.

Sandra turned sharply to look at Nicole, “Elizabeth is their leader? They’re from Earth?”

“I didn’t exactly get a chance to tell you. I was trying to keep Mel for killing him thank you. But yes he is,” Nicole looked at him as she said this, and then asked Jacob, “Do you have any extra boards in you pack?”

He looked at her as if to say, “You have to ask?” and pulled off his pack. Jacob put his hand in and rummaged for a minute, “Here you go,” He held out a small, red, metal, rectangle and two more shiny crash bracelets.

John took them and nearly dropped the rectangle, it was so heavy, “What is this?”

“A board. A red one, nice color Jacob,” She complimented Jacob nonchalantly, while inspecting the board, “Put it on the ground,” She instructed, “Okay, now take a step back and snap your fingers,” As John obeyed the rectangle suddenly started to open. It unslid and unfolded until it became a slick, red hoverboard.

John whistled, “Nice,”

Nicole smiled remembering her first board only two years ago. It had been an exciting site, “Now give me my bracelets back and put on your own,”

John realized he was still wearing the bulky jewelry. He moved to take them off and realized he didn’t know how. There was no visible way to make them off, “Umm,” He started but then started to grow until they were big enough to slide off. His eyebrows shot up.

Nicole smiled, “Neural interface,” John recognized the word. Like what he had to do to make the Drone Chair work. He slid off the bracelets and tossed them to Nicole, “Hey what are your names?” He realized that he hadn’t asked yet.

“Colonel Nicole Sheppard, no I am not kidding, Sandra, and Jacob,” Nicole gestured at the other two as she said their names. John looked at her doubtfully. She sighed and pulled out a pair of dog tags. They read Nicole Cassandra Sheppard, Authentic tags.

“That still leaves you rank,” He said stubbornness kicking in.

“Well I was probably declared dead, but two and a half years ago it was Colonel Nicole Sheppard of Stargate Command,” Her eyes stared off into space for a few seconds, caught by whatever memories of her friends were flying by. The way she stated her rank and spoke of where she had been stationed said everything in a way she couldn’t.

When he looked at her his thoughts went to his own friends for the first time. He had completely forgotten about them, “Where’s my team?” He asked looking around as if he expected them to come walking out of the forest any second.

Nicole exchanged glances with Sandra, “They’ve been taking to the caves,” John looked confused, “Look, once we get to my quarters I’ll explain everything and how we’re going to get out of here,” She said this ominously, “First we need to teach you to board,” Her foreboding look turned to pleasure, as if she was anticipating the lesson.