Hello friends! We are about to go off script here with a completely original adventure for Kai and John. I hope you enjoy it, I would love to hear what you think. I usually take feedback into account as I continue to write so don't be shy!
Happy Reading!
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Kai and Teyla were sitting in the conference room, waiting while Beckett spoke with Sheppard and Weir in private. Kai could hear their conversation if she focused. They would have had to go to a different level for her to not, but she politely pretended she couldn't.
"Well?" John asked, glancing back towards Kai. "Did you clear her?"
Beckett sighed. "Well she passed," he said begrudgingly.
Weir frowned. "Why do you not seem happy about it?"
Beckett looked at their leader and shook his head. "Because I'm honestly not."
"You said she passed," John defended. He was anxious to get in there and make a plan to find Ford. The more time that went by the harder it was going to be to find him. The trail was already nearly two months cold.
"Aye she did," Beckett agreed. "But you have to understand her pain tolerance is incredibly high Colonel. Almost as high as yours."
Weir frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "What exactly are you saying?"
"I'm saying Doctor Weir, that I can tell you what the scanners tell me, which is that she is mostly healed, but I can't tell you definitively if she's in any kind of pain. She's determined to go and no test I have administered seems capable of proving she is unfit."
Elizabeth looked torn, but John nodded. He had told Kai she would need to pass Beckett's test to go and she had done just that. He was a man of his word, although he couldn't help feeling like she had cheated the system. He didn't want her hurt, but he had recognized the gleam in her eye. Kai was determined to go.
"We'll take it under advisement," John told Beckett.
"See that you do Colonel," Beckett challenged begrudgingly. The Doctor had come to care for Kai. She had some incredible abilities and he didn't want to see her exploited for what she could do. She wasn't a weapon, she was a woman and he didn't have a problem saying that to anyone who needed to hear it. Even if it was the Colonel.
"Thank you Carson," Weir said giving him a knowing look before she and the Colonel walked into the conference room.
Kai was seated in one of the chairs with her hands folded on the table in front of her. She and Teyla had been sitting together in companionable silence while they waited. Teyla never admitted it, but Kai was fairly certain she knew when Kai was eavesdropping.
"It seems you've passed Beckett's exam with flying colors," Doctor Weir said, arching an eyebrow as she took the seat across from Kai.
Kai nodded, looking unsurprised.
"So," Elizabeth said. "Colonel Sheppard tells me you might have some contacts who could provide information regarding Lieutenant Ford's location."
Kai shifted in her chair. She needed to be clear about what type of place this was going to be, but she needed to do so without entirely scaring Doctor Weir off. It was likely their best chance of finding him. "There's a planet it's...well we might be able to...barter for information."
Elizabeth frowned. Kai was always very deliberate with her choice of language and she had been hesitant over her use of the word barter. "Like establish trade?" She asked. Any contacts from Kai's past would certainly be of questionable moral background. Elizabeth wanted to make sure they had all the facts before they got too far into this.
"This is not the type of place you set up trade," Kai said carefully.
"It's the type of place you go when you need to buy something like Wraith enzyme?" Sheppard asked leaning forward eagerly in his seat.
Kai nodded, peaking up at them through her lashes. "Exactly."
Weir looked back and forth between them. "Look," She said briskly. "I'm not sure how comfortable I am with some kind of black market-"
"It's fine," John responded quickly. He wanted to stop Elizabeth from saying no. Sometimes she could get locked into an answer before they had a chance to get all the information and this sounded like the best chance of finding Ford. "I'll take a team and-"
"It's not that type of place either Colonel" Kai said interrupting him.
"So how do you propose to get the information?" Weir asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Kai pressed her lips together. This was the part of the plan that might end up being potentially dangerous. "I am owed by one of the proprietors of one of the...establishments," Kai explained carefully. "I'll go, cash in my favor, gather what information I can and return."
"If this was a place you frequented in your..." Teyla hesitated. "Previous career," she finally found the words. "Isn't there a risk that the leaders of your planet would discover you are still alive?"
Kai pressed her lips together grimly. It was a huge risk. She just hadn't anticipated any of them realizing it. She had never told any of them what would happen if The Grand Council found out she was still alive and hadn't returned. But Teyla always saw more than she let on. The only chance Kai stood was if she moved fast and didn't leave any clue about her affiliation with Atlantis. "I can manage," she promised quickly.
Teyla narrowed her gaze and Sheppard outright scowled at her. "You're not going alone," he said.
"Colonel I-"
"That's final," he growled. John's tone and posture made it clear arguing would do no good.
Weir leaned forward in her chair. "I agree. If you insist a full team is a bad idea then I will respect that, but the Colonel will be accompanying you," she said glancing towards Sheppard.
He nodded grimly. "And back up will be on stand by. Major Lorne's team plus Teyla," John added, knowing the newbies would need someone experienced in the Pegasus.
Kai looked mutinous for a moment but finally nodded. "Agreed."
"Good," Weir said standing. "Go see what you can find out," she closed her folder and stood, heading towards the door.
Kai stood more slowly.
"When should we leave?" Sheppard asked her.
"We have to change," she said firmly. "No evidence of the earth or Atlantis is safe on Lodan...so I don't know if you can..." she dragged of gesturing towards the Colonel's military clothes. She had never seen Sheppard look like anything but a soldier.
Teyla stood. "Lodan?" She asked in a carefully neutral voice. Her mouth tightened but she nodded. "I will assist the Colonel," she promised.
Kai 's eyebrows rose towards her hairline but she didn't comment. "Then I'll see you in the locker room," Kai agreed.
John and Teyla had been in the locker room for less than ten minutes when the door opened. John looked up and froze as Kai stepped into the brightly lit room looking entirely badass. She wore leather pants, knee high leather boots, and a fitted black turtleneck. Her scarf was wrapped around her hair, leaving a cowl loop hanging over one shoulder. She had put more makeup around her eyes than he had ever seen her use. Every one of her knives were visible leaving no doubt that she knew how to use them.
Her outfit hugged her curves, but it hid more skin than it showed. John was no stranger to being around beautiful women. Hell most of them usually came to him before he even bothered. But there was something about Kai, somehow she managed to push every button he had without even trying. He cleared his throat and reminded himself that he was commanding officer here. She was off limits.
Kai stepped into the locker room without looking up. She moved to the weapons rack and selected a belt that hung at an angle low on her hips and strapped a .9 mill into a thigh holster. John swallowed as she strapped another knife around her opposite thigh and one around the outside of one of her boots. When she straightened he looked away so he wouldn't be caught staring.
Kai turned, cocking her head to the side as she stared at the Colonel. "Is that it?" She asked Teyla in concern. Teyla hadn't managed to do much to make John Sheppard look less official. Being The Colonel was such an integral part of his personality it was nearly impossible to separate him from it.
Teyla sighed and shrugged. "Please," she said gesturing to the Colonel.
Kai walked up to him frowning. Teyla had him in his traditional black combats and boots, but she had added leather ties looped around the boots and halfway up his calves. He wore one of his plain black t-shirts which judging by what she had seen him wear was the only option he had that wasn't emblazoned with Atlantis and the U.S. Military. She had also wrapped both his arms from wrist to elbow.
Kai had chosen to wear her traditional Mortii gear, their best hope for the Colonel was to make him look like a bounty hunter. Nothing else would be believable. No Mortii would associate with an official from a known government. They were infamous for moving outside the law.
"Take your shirt off," She instructed.
John pulled back. "What? Why?" he sputtered.
Kai sighed. "Because if we go in there looking like officials or worse, easy marks, we either won't make it to the inn or we'll have to kill so many people along the way it will take all night," she explained as patiently as possible. "Now, please remove your shirt Colonel," she kept her voice as emotionless as possible.
When he hesitated another moment, glancing back and forth between her and Teyla a slow smirk stretched Kai's lips. "We can turn around if you'd prefer," she offered.
Teyla covered her laugh with a cough and John scowled at her. He jerked the t-shirt over his head and held it out to Kai, a defiant set to his chin.
Kai forced herself not to notice the way the Colonel's muscles flexed and moved as he removed his shirt. His chest was a wide expanse of lean muscle interspersed with scars that told the story of his life as a soldier. He had nearly as many scars as she did. He had a light dusting of chest hair and his dog tags rested in the hollow of his sternum over his heart. Unsurprising for someone as fit as he was he had defined six pack and there was another trail of hair that disappeared below his belt. Kai's eyes dropped to the V of muscle visible just above his belt and she forced herself to turn away. She didn't want to be caught staring. The Colonel was good looking, everyone including him knew that. His ego didn't need any help from her. She simply appreciated his level of fitness as a soldier. That was all.
Kai drew a knife as she took the warm material in her hand. She locked her eyes onto the black fabric and sliced off the sleeves. When she was done she looked back up. Sheppard had rested his hands on his hips as he glared at her.
"Hey," he growled. "That one was my favorite."
Kai arched a brow, holding it back out to him. "You have a favorite black t-shirt?"
"Not any more," he grumbled pulling it over his head.
She pulled down a shoulder holster and handed it to him while she picked up one of the older tactical vests and using her knife roughed it up a bit. "Leave it open so they can see the shoulder holster," she told him as he shrugged it on. "As many weapons as you can manage," she encouraged, "But..." she rose up on tip toes and gently removed the radio from his ear.
John went still as Kai's fingers glided whisper light across his ear. She was standing so close he could smell the light scent that reminded him of lavender and the ocean.
"Well?" Kai asked turning to Teyla.
"I suppose it will do..." Teyla said unconvincingly.
Kai nodded thoughtfully without taking her eyes off the Colonel.
"I'm right here you know," he said. "I'm not a piece of meat." He added defensively.
Kai snorted, but Teyla was serious as she turned to Kai. "Are you sure it would not help for me to come?" Teyla asked. "I've heard Lodan can be..." she shook her head.
"Best we go as a couple," Kai said. "It will be strange enough for a Mortii to travel with another. Adding a third will draw too much attention."
Teyla nodded.
"Let's go."
Weir was waiting for them in the gate room. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of Kai and John. They looked rough and dangerous; like they belonged together. Kai's entire movement had changed. She stalked through the gate room with a confidence she didn't normally show on Atlantis. John meanwhile had his usual confident swagger.
Elizabeth swallowed uncomfortably. She didn't like this. She wasn't sure which one she trusted to make sure nothing got out of hand. "Try not to get into too much trouble," Weir warned.
"No promises," John said flashing Elizabeth his most charming smile.
She gave him a warning look and his face fell.
"Major Lorne's team and I will be on stand-by," Teyla reminded them gently.
"You have the address?" Kai asked Teyla.
She nodded and headed up the stairs towards the control room to have Chuck dial the gate.
"Good luck my friends," Teyla called to them warmly.
Elizabeth stepped up next to Teyla and the two of them watched Sheppard and Kai step across the event horizon. Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest. "Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?"
"I am sure Kai and the Colonel can handle any problems they might encounter on that planet," Teyla responded soothingly.
"Yes," Elizabeth agreed. "But can that planet handle them?"
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The Stargate opened in the middle of a busy market the likes of which Sheppard hadn't seen in this galaxy. There were spices and food and every where people were selling anything you could imagine from simple farm equipment to weapons technology he had never seen before.
"Just scowl at everyone and try not to get knifed," Kai said wearily as she tucked her cowl across her face. She hated places like this, where the act became so important. While she had initially offered to go alone, she was grateful to have the Colonel at her back. It was so strange, after depending on no one but herself for so long how quickly she had grown accustomed to having someone she trusted at her back.
John glanced towards Kai. With the cowl covering the lower part of her face she seemed to wrap herself even more in her Mortii persona. He had never understood the cowl. It certainly didn't conceal how beautiful she was and it didn't provide any protection. He supposed it provided a certain amount of anonymity but Kai would attract attention no matter where she went.
He followed her, just off her shoulder. Kai moved differently here. Her muscles were coiled, like she was a cat poised to strike. She seemed aware of everything around them, though he didn't know how a place like this wouldn't be overwhelming to her heightened senses.
"How do the Wraith not know about this place?" John asked curiously as they moved past a stall selling weapons and another selling guns followed by one selling what looked like silk scarves.
"They do, but the resident population of Lodan isn't very large. They've culled here several times to my knowledge but it's not a place people live, it's a stop over. The market isn't permanent. If they were to come at even the wrong time of day the market would be empty and it would be a waste of their time."
John nodded as his eyes ran over the crowds surrounding them, he was on high alert as he watched people being pick pocketed and thieves stealing from the stalls. Fights broke out and people immediately stopped to begin taking bets on the winner. People were playing dice at another stall. And further down he actually saw a Wraith haggling with one of the vendors.
"Charming place," he said wrinkling his nose. It smelled like piss and day old vomit.
Kai led the way down the main thoroughfare, keeping to the growing shadows. Anyone who spotted her slipped to the other side of the street, giving her a wide berth. John found it interesting because she was not necessarily that imposing but it did mean they recognized her as a Mortii. He remembered Teyla asking if it would be dangerous if word of her presence got back to her people. Kai had never really answered. If the Mortii had a contact even half blind they would know she was here.
It was full dark when they went through a side door of a ramshackle building. Kai walked up to the bar and people slid away from her. John stepped up beside her confidently and he could feel the room's gaze on them. Now he understood why Kai had been so concerned about their appearance. Looking the part was half the battle in a place like this.
"Do they know you?" John asked, pressing against her, and dipping his chin so his lips were near her ear to ensure only she heard his question.
Kai shook her head. Her eyes ran over the patrons. It was impossible to tell if any of them were listening. She lowered her cowl and took another step closer to the Colonel. She pushed herself up on her toes and her lips hovered just over his ear. "This is how all Mortii are regarded," she whispered. "It doesn't mean someone won't try something. Taking a Blade from a Mortii in combat is considered the greatest honor. Most won't bother, but if someone gets too far into their cups..."
It took every ounce of self control John had to not shiver as Kai's breath fanned his neck. "Cowen," he growled as he remembered the Genii leaders interest in Kai. He turned to face her and suddenly they were only inches apart.
Kai nodded and she could see Sheppard's residual anger over what Cowen had done. It surprised her.
They stared into one another's eyes for a long moment before they both turned away. It was dangerous to be distracted in a place like this, but at least they were selling that they were clearly a couple.
The barkeep glanced towards them and without a word Kai laid coins on the bar. He reached for a bottle and her hand flashed, slamming her black blade against the top of the bar so hard it shook. John hadn't even seen her reach for it she was so fast.
John leaned his back against the bar and cross his arms over his chest keeping his eyes on the room. The bartender reached for another bottle, this one higher up on the shelf. He filled two glasses of the nearly black liquid and slid them towards Kai.
"I need information," Kai said casually.
The barkeep shifted uncomfortably. "I know nothing," he replied, his voice thickly accented. "I just pour drinks."
Kai cocked her head to the side as a brittle smile crossed her face. "Don't try that on me. You owe."
"Are you here to collect?" he asked, his eyes widening fearfully.
A slow smirk crossed Kai's face but it was like nothing John had ever seen before. This was cruel with the promise of violence. "One way or another," Kai promised him.
The man let out a shaky breath. "What do you need?"
"I'm looking for a man-" Kai started.
The barkeep's eyes flashed to Sheppard and he blanched at the possessive gleam he saw on the other man's face. "Seems you got one eh?" the barkeep laughed uncomfortably.
"This one would be looking to buy something he would call Wraith Enzyme..."
The barkeep shifted his weight uncomfortably.
"Everyone knows if the information exists you can find it," Kai continued. "My guess is that there was no enzyme here to be purchased. Once he found that out he would have wanted to know the address to a planet that guaranteed him Wraith...I want to know the address to that planet."
The barkeeps eyes were wide and he began nodding too many times. "Yeah sure, I can do that," he promised.
Kai's smile was a dangerous flash of teeth. "Excellent, we'll wait," she said and she took the two glasses off the bar and led the way towards a small, private table at the back of the room. John didn't miss that the bar keep didn't move to touch Kai's money until they were well out of reach.
They sat at a table in the corner so both of their backs could be against the wall.
"Don't drink that," Kai advised. "It's called Euphor and can be very strong if you aren't used to it," Kai said sliding John's glass towards him.
"So that man owes you a favor?" John asked. He picked up the glass and sniffed it curiously. It didn't smell like alcohol.
Kai turned back to him she frowned when she caught him sniffing the drink. "I saved his life," she told him. "Try it if you like," she relented. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
John smirked at her challenge and took a small sip. It was good, but thick. It coated his tongue, and was sweeter than he expected. It tasted more like juice than any alcohol he had ever had. He arched his brows but stayed focused on their conversation. "I didn't think saving lives was your business at the time."
"It wasn't," Kai agreed taking a small sip of her own drink. "Unlike most Mortii I learned a long time ago that favors are useful and people can't repay them if they're dead."
John nodded. "No they can't," he agreed. Despite all she had shared with them, he still felt like he didn't know the first thing about what her life had been like before Atlantis. Every new hint just deepened the mystery. This was a side of Kai he had never seen before. It went beyond what she was like in combat. When she fought she let go completely, she was all fire. This was cold and calculating. He was glad no one else had come along. He knew how hard Kai worked to fit in and he doubted even Teyla would have understood this side of her personality as being a necessary evil.
They sat in silence for a long while as they waited for the barkeep to return. "So," John said, dragging out the word. "Exactly how hurt are you still?"
Kai glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but didn't respond.
John flashed her a confident smile. She hadn't actually thought she had gotten one over on him had she? "Beckett said you can cheat his tests, which is fine, except I need to know in case this," he said gesturing to the room around them. "Turns south."
Kai snorted and took another drink. "I assure you Con - Sheppard," she corrected herself. "You do not have to worry about me in a bar brawl, no matter what stage of healing I'm in."
John shook his head and stared down at his drink. Kai said it was supposed to be strong, but he didn't feel anything. He took another sip. "Let's avoid brawling if at all possible."
Kai stuck out her bottom lip and pouted playfully at him. "But I've been stuck on Atlantis for almost two months with nothing fun to do..."
John's breath caught in his chest as Kai stared up at him with that teasing glint in her eyes that promised so much more than he could imagine. The flickering candle light caught in her eyes and he wanted to reach out and touch her skin. It was physically painful to force himself to turn away.
"It was my fault," Sheppard said, taking a swig from his cup.
Kai glanced over towards him frowning as she failed to follow his line of thought. "I'm sorry?" she asked in confusion.
"What happened to you...with Ford...I should have stopped him, and I didn't."
Kai stared at Sheppard as the long moment stretched between them. "It wasn't your job to protect me Colonel," she said. She knew how seriously he took the safety of people he considered his. He took so much on his shoulders and she wouldn't let him take this too.
When John looked back at Kai his eyes were open and honest and more tormented than Kai had ever seen them. She had never had anyone look at her the way John did.
"It is my job," he corrected her gently. "And protecting you is part of it."
Kai stared down at the cup in her hands. "I should have been able to stop him."
"Zian-" he started but she shook her head and tipped her cup back, draining the last of it.
Kai could feel the first light tingling sensations in her fingertips that told her the Euphor was taking effect. She took a deep breath and turned back to John. "I guess we both need to find him."
John nodded, knowing neither one of them was going to yield on this point, so there was no point in arguing. He slung back the rest of his drink.
The door opened and they turned together to see the barkeep slip back inside. He caught Kai's eye and nodded meaningfully.
Kai rose to her feet and looked back at the Colonel. "Looks like he's got our planet."
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Hope you enjoyed it!