Dr. Tarzan

Katrina was punished

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:39:09 GMT

Katrina was punished by tying her to a tree next to the gate the morning after the foriegners had left. It was considered one of the higher punishments. You were forced to live in nature without any food or water and slowly die for treachry. This was what she was told she ahd committed.

"They are those who forced us away from our paradise. They deserved the punishment," Hegi had told her. He had been facing away from her as he was ashamed to have her as a daughter. "For your sins you will have to pay penence to the Daii and pray they forgive you." They never forgave. All who were given the punishment died.

Katrina did not cry because she knew that would be seen as a sign of guilt and she would be shunned even more. She could only pray that someone would come though the gate and save her before she did die. Kalar who was assigned to tie her to the tree looked on with sympathy. She had been one of those who hadn't known about the plot against the foriegners and didn't believe Katrina had harmed thier people.

She planned on coming late in the night and sending Katrina to another planet to be safe from her father and the elders who had given her this punishment. However, she hadn't expected it to be so soon that the foreigners would arrive and turned in surprise when the gate started to operate and John Sheppard, Aiden Ford, Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagen walked out.

And they did not appear to be happy.

The ceremonial feast was an elaborate affair

Sat, 03 Sep 2005 16:21:33 GMT

The ceremonial feast was an elaborate affair, just as one might think such things would be. Different colored mosses, some of which where phosphorescent (which the botanists would kill to get a good look at), draped the tables and doorways. Succulent odors drifted from the various foodstuffs laid out on the table and just a general air of festivity filled the room.

Radek was feeling just a little bit overwhelmed at all the commotion, generally preferring to keep to himself—or at least to people he knew longer than a few hours, and the others were all sitting at a separate table, with Hegi. The scientists of Beshar had insisted that he eat with him, and because he did not wish to insult them, had agreed.

Still, he found himself enjoying the company and the food. They were a friendly people who easily smiled and told jokes, and Radek gradually began to relax as they spoke of their various fields, and even some personal subjects.

“So, are you mated, Dr. Zelenka?” Kalar, a lovely young woman with dark eyes and hair asked, sounding casual, “I only ask because you are so quiet.”

Radek stiffened slightly and opened his mouth, surprised at the question. He looked at the others, uncomfortably aware of all eyes upon him. “No,” he managed to say at last, “I am not.”

He took a quick sip of his wine (at least, he assumed it was wine…it had a similar taste and smoothness of a good white zinfandel) and looked down at the table, completely missing the significant glance and sly little smile Kalar exchanged with the others. When he looked back up, she was smiling in a congenial, almost maternal manner. Much the same way Elizabeth—no, Dr. Weir, not safe to think of her as Elizabeth—gave. He tentatively smiled back and took a bigger drink of the wine.

“Well, on Beshar, we go to a Matchmaker, who pairs us with one who is most compatible,” Toka, an older gentleman with graying brown hair put in, “Kalar and I have been mated for two seasons now.”

“Congratulations,” Radek said, a strange feeling coming over him that they were just making small talk to keep him busy. He mentally shook his head and dismissed the thought. For what would they need to keep him busy?

“Thank you,” Kalar responded, taking a sip from her own glass, “You should not drink too much,” her eyebrows raised and she indicated Radek’s almost empty glass, “Our cooks have prepared a special drink in honor of you and your friends and our trade agreements. It would be an insult if you did not drink all of it.”

Radek immediately stopped drinking and craned his neck around to catch at least a glimpse of the others. He could see the top of Ronon’s head, but nothing else, and he gave a little sigh.

“Don’t worry,” Toka assured him, “We will show you the proper way to imbibe when the time comes.”

Again, that odd feeling washed over him, and this time he wasn’t so inclined to push it aside. However, before he could think further on it, a loud gong was sounded and the entire room fell silent.

Following the gazes of his table companions, Radek looked to the front of the room where Hegi was standing, a beaming smile on his face.

“As you all know, this is our annual Founders Feast, celebrating the day we came to a world that was a paradise. While we have a greater understanding of technology than our ancestor’s did, we still have respect for their traditions.”

There was a moment of chaotic sound as everyone cheered and banged on their tables and stomped their feet, then silence fell once more as Hegi raised his hands.

“Today, we not only celebrate our good fortune at living another year here, but our good fortune in finding such wonderful trading partners as these.” As he spoke, his hands indicated his own table, which Radek still could not see. “And,” Hegi’s hands pointed toward Radek, “brilliant men such as Dr. Zelenka.”

Again there was a moment of cacophony, before the room descended back into respectful silence.

Hegi smiled. “In honor, we have prepared a special mixture, one we do not normally indulge in because it is so rare, just for our guests.”

Several of the cooks walked from the kitchen area, carrying large bowls of an unknown amber liquid and set two to each table, one on each end.

“So, let the ceremony begin!” Hegi announced and walked back to his table.

The volunteer servants had, while everyone had been engrossed in Hegi’s speech, switched the wine glasses out with thick, large, opaque goblets. Radek couldn’t see inside at all, unless he tilted the glass, but as no one else seemed to be touching theirs, didn’t want to risk insulting anyone by doing so.

“To honored friends,” Kalar said, taking the dipper from the bowl and filling Radek’s goblet. She then did the same with those who sat next to her, the toast different for each person. “And now,” she held her goblet in two hands and Radek swiftly did the same, “We drink.”

Radek drank the liquid down, grimacing at the slightly bitter taste to it.

“Do not drink!” a hysterical voice called, just as Radek had finished, “it is a trick!”

Radek looked around with wide eyes to see the same girl from earlier that day running towards the front table. Several people, including Kalar and Toka looked around in confusion and began muttering amongst themselves.

Heart pounding, Radek waited to see what would happen.

Several minutes later, Hegi, arm around his daughter’s shoulder, hissing something in her ear, left the room and the conversation returned to normal.

“Katrina,” Kalar said, that same maternal smile on her face, “is young and has a very active imagination. Her father and older siblings have encouraged this since she was never able to know her mother.”

“Ah,” Radek said, but he simply couldn’t relax. Had Sheppard and the others also drank the liquid?

~*~

John frowned as Hegi walked out with his daughter, whose name he now knew was Katrina. They hadn’t yet drank the liquid, because Hegi had been making an elaborate ritual of filling the goblets. Making sure no one was looking, he discretely emptied the thing, noting that Teyla, Ronon and Ford did the same.

He decided they’d finish their meals, find Zelenka and leave. Hegi was most likely telling the truth about Katrina making up stories about such things because she wanted attention, but John didn’t trust the man one hundred percent. Too many bad things had happened on these expeditions for him to just dismiss the incident out of hand.

Radek Zelenka was typically not an off-world type of guy

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:59:01 GMT

Radek Zelenka was typically not an off-world type of guy but after Rodney had managed to infuriate the locals he was charged with the duty of checking out the technology they wished to share and report back to Atlantis. So far it had been a fairly easy expedition and the technology was indeed interesting and would benefit the city.

Currently they had just finished the tour of the science facility. Radek was pleased with the technology and his ability to study it in the near future but throughout the entire tour one of the chief’s daughters had watched him with a worried look on her face. Perhaps she was worried he would start a fight like Rodney did. He did not know, but it was slightly unnerving.

“Come, have a meal with us before you go back to your city.” Hegi, the Chief, said as he led them through the exits and down the path towards the main village. “It is our annual founder’s day feast and we always cook more then enough for the village.” Radek looked back to see Sheppard looking a little reluctant and he really couldn’t blame them. Ceremonious feasting had never really turned out good for AR-1. Aiden Ford was looking like he was ready to bolt to the gate as fast he could. Teyla and Ronon on the other hand seemed as calm as the weather.

“Sure, Hegi.” Teyla answered, “We would be happy to.” That seemed to please Hegi and he said nothing more as the group traveled down to the village. Radek looked over at the as of yet unnamed daughter and saw her glancing at the group with the same worried glance. He seemed not to be the only person who noticed because Sheppard walked over and began talking to her in low tones. Unfortunately Radek could not hear them and by the time he had gotten close enough to hear them, Hegi had walked up to them and spoken to his daughter in an unknown language and pulled her away. It was odd, but it could have been their cultural oddities.

~*~

John Sheppard really wasn’t into staying for festivals anymore but given the look Teyla had given him, it was a good thing to stay and enjoy the festivities. After all, not all of them could be disguises for agendas by the locals. Some people did simply just have large meals and celebrated.

Looking around he noticed that the daughter (at least he thought it was the daughter) of the Chief looking at them with a worried glance. He walked over to her, walking beside her for a few moments in silence.

“You know, we aren’t going to hurt anyone or have another agenda.” He said softly.

“Oh, I know. It’s not me or my people that I worry about, Colonel Sheppard, but...”

“Katrina! Tikt ki teril?” Somehow Hegi had snuck up behind them and started to speak in a language that obviously was the native language to the village. John couldn’t understand it

“Nadi, Tian, Nadi.”

“Hit, ui riki fi.” As Hegi pulled the girl away she turned and mouthed something to him, but he couldn’t pick it up much. All he could get was don’t.

Just to see if this works...

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 03:52:11 GMT

That's right...we're actually going through with this. No turning back now...lol