“And thanks ever so much for that, but it’s a near-certainty that I’ve thought this through farther than you have, so kindly stop helping.” Still facing a less than receptive audience, McKay continued. “We can tell Kesun the truth. Since we don’t have taboos on touching Ancient objects, we discovered Lisera’s gene when she came to Atlantis. In Kesun’s mind, this will just confirm what he already believes, that there may be others who have the gene naturally. He’d have a good reason to test a lot more people.”
McKay hadn’t been kidding about thinking this through, but Dr Weir didn’t look convinced. “Touching the Shields would require them to overcome a deeply entrenched cultural taboo.”
“Which Kesun is already in favor of rescinding.” Sheppard drummed long fingers against the table top, considering. “He was also happy for Lisera to come here, citing the fact that Atlantis is a place where healers come from.”
“All of which fits in with our vaunted goal of not disturbing their delicate belief structure.” McKay looked at Teyla as if challenging her to disagree. “And if the Chosen do object, we’ll know for certain that they’re not the idealists they claim to be.”
The team members traded glances, weighing each other’s reactions. At last, Aiden spoke up. “I gotta say, Doc, you’re sneakier than you look.”
“No argument on that,” the Major agreed.
“Thank you. I try.”
Teyla still seemed uneasy, possibly more so than before. Dr Weir picked up on her discomfort immediately. “Teyla, don’t be afraid to say what you’re thinking. This may not have started out as the most democratic effort—” She leveled a stern look at McKay. “—but I want us all on the same chapter at least before we proceed.”
McKay spread his hands wide. “Yes, if you have a more palatable method of protecting these people from the Wraith, by all means.”
The Athosian continued to hesitate, her features set, but her eyes were turbulent. “I do not feel confident in this,” she said at last. “It is difficult for me to see the point at which an act of this kind ceases to be mere assistance and becomes interference. But I cannot disagree with the goal — to protect them from the Wraith.” She directed a pointed gaze at Rodney. “And while I do not agree with the manner in which the Chosen offer or deny protection from the Wraith, I do not believe we should blindly attempt to change these people’s way of life.”
“Then we proceed with caution. Let’s see how many undiscovered Chosen are out there before we make any bolder plans.” Dr Weir pulled another tissue from the box. “When you return to Dalera, demonstrate Lisera’s ability and approach Kesun with the offer to help test the populace. But that’s as far as we go for now.”
From his vantage point in the doorway, Carson Beckett watched his young patient devour her breakfast. Lieutenant Ford sat nearby, munching on an energy bar.
“Do you think there is food of this kind in the Enclave?” Lisera asked between bites. “Or such fine clothing?”
Ford offered a shrug, and Carson could tell he was marveling at the notion of infirmary scrubs being thought of as ‘fine.’ “I don’t know. I guess it’s probably pretty nice in there.”
“And I will see it with my own eyes.” The girl’s face glowed. “To think that I have lived eight seasons and never knew until now that I was of the Chosen! I know not how I have found favor with Dalera, but I give thanks for it.”
“Yeah, it’s a miracle.” Ford forced a smile. Lisera appeared too excited to notice his hesitation.
“You will visit me, won’t you, Aiden? I must find a way to show you the Enclave. Surely Dalera would not turn away a warrior of Atlantis.”
Carson decided to step in and rescue the Marine. “Looks as though you’re ready to go home, lass,” he said, moving into the room. “I’ve got you a pair of crutches — sticks to use if you have to walk. In fifty days that cast can come off, and you’ll soon be ready for dancing.”
Lisera bowed her head toward him. “I thank you, Doctor. All of you have given me so much.”
Perhaps he was imagining it, but her bearing seemed to have changed somewhat. Armed with the knowledge of her supposed birthright, Lisera drew herself taller in the bed. There was a spark of pride in the lass for the first time since she’d arrived.
Ford took the chance to stand up. “Lisera, I have to talk to Dr Beckett for a minute. We’ll be just over there, all right?”
When she nodded, he ushered Carson to an empty corner of the infirmary.
“What’s bothering you, Lieutenant?”
“It’s like she’s forgotten about how bad things were for her up until a couple of days ago.” Ford gestured uncertainly. “How can she really want to go back?”
“Lisera’s got reason to think things will be different now, at least for her.” Carson gave a wistful smile. “And no matter how extraordinary a place this is, there’s no substitute for home.”
The Lieutenant conceded that point, and the two men stood in uneasy silence for a moment. They hadn’t worked all that well together during the storm; both would confess to that, the doctor was sure. Somehow, though, they’d hammered out a truce even before the sun had broken through the clouds.
“You get homesick, Doc?” Ford asked.
“Aye, that I do,” Carson answered readily. “Terribly so, sometimes. Don’t you?”
“Sure. It’s just that you’re the only senior member I’ve ever heard admit to it.”
“They’ve all got their reasons, I suspect. Dr Weir won’t show it because of her position. Rodney won’t show it because of his personality.”
“What about the Major?”
“Most likely a bit of both.” As head physician, Carson had seen Sheppard’s personnel file, but it wasn’t his place to explain that the man hardly had a home to miss.
Ford nodded, glancing back at Lisera. “We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we?”
Carson sighed. “I hope so. I don’t much like the idea of allowing any kind of divine-right imperialistic nonsense to continue, I’ll admit. Part of my heritage. But they don’t pay me to make those kinds of decisions.”
“That would be the difference between you and me, Carson,” said Rodney, entering the infirmary with his mission gear. “I see no reason to let my job description dictate when I can and can’t point out the error of someone’s ways.”
“Packing lighter this time?” Ford asked him with a vague smirk.
“Is my hearing impaired, or am I getting a lecture on adaptability from a Marine?”
“Marines are the most adaptable people you’ll ever meet.”
“Ah, yes, of course. You’re equally capable of using either the big gun or the small gun.” Rodney cemented his last-word status by turning to Carson. “Is Lisera ready?”
“She is. Have a good trip.”
Carson gave Lisera a winning smile as the Lieutenant and Rodney wheeled her out of the room and toward the jumper bay. He didn’t feel he knew enough about the planet to hope for a specific outcome, so as usual, he’d settle for his comrades coming home without need of his attention. In the meantime, he had some genes to replicate.
Chapter Nine
As soon as the jumper exited the Stargate, John glanced over his shoulder. The expression on Lisera’s face was very different to the one she’d worn leaving Dalera just two days earferent to the one she’d worn leaving Dalera just two days earlier. Clean, well fed, and sporting a leg cast decorated with good wishes in nine different languages, she looked and sounded like a normal teenager, which was a very welcome change.
Beside him, Rodney was practically glowing with pride. Not only had the man been proven correct yet again, he was performing surprisingly well in his first-ever spaceflight lesson in the jumper. It was an impressive sight, he had to admit. There was a thin, almost transparent blue ring of dust surrounding the planet, contrasting sharply with the stark blackness beyond. And the stars — God, the stars. He’d never realized before his first jumper ride how many stars the sky could hold. Maybe there were a few pilots back on Earth who didn’t dream of exactly this opportunity, but John didn’t know any. The best perk by far of this galactic boondoggle was the chance to fly what, though might not be the sexiest looking thing in the air, sure as hell had to be the coolest.