Part 2
“Bishop, it looks like they are more advanced than we thought,” Hicks said as the radio signal changed and a male voice echoed through the speakers.
“This is Starbase Atlantis…”
“Are you going to establish contact?” Bishop asked as the message was repeated several times.
“I guess there’s not much choice,” Hicks answered and pressed the buttons that would establish a link with the Starbase. “This is the Sulaco.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Dr. Weir, they’re answering.”
“Patch it through the speakers,” Weir ordered.
“This is the Sulaco.”
“To whom am I speaking?” the woman asked as the station grew quiet.
“Marine Corporal Dwayne Hicks.”
“Marine corporal?” Bates said incredulously, growing quiet once more as Weir re-established the connection.
“Corporal Hicks, where are you stationed?”
“Who is this?”
“This is Dr. Elizabeth Weir of Starbase Atlantis…”
“Ask him where they’re from?” Bates said and returned the glare Sheppard sent his way.
“I repeat where were you stationed and what planet are you from?”
“We’re from Earth…”
“No way!” McKay said, shaking his head in confusion. “It’s not possible.”
“Rodney, be quiet!” Weir snapped.
“Hello, Atlantis, did you copy?”
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that last transmission?”
“I said we were pulled through a wormhole…I know how that sounds, but it’s what happened. We request permission to land?”
“Permission granted,” Sheppard said with Weir’s approval. “We’ll bring you in from here.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hicks turned to look at the android as their ship’s engines cut out automatically and the computer announced that they were being guided in by an outside source.
“Do you trust them, Bishop?” Hicks asked tiredly.
“I don’t know, but they certainly do sound authentic,” the android answered.
“In that case I’d better see if there are any uniforms available to fit over these,” Hicks said and stood away from the console. “Come get me if they need any other information.”
“I will,” Bishop assured him. He’d heard stories about Atlantis and the Pegasus Galaxy, but his only references mentioned travelling by Stargate, that had been well over two centuries ago and he thought all Stargates had since been destroyed because of the possibility of an invading force of creatures that were supposed to suck the life from its human victims. He searched the files in an effort to access the files and search for the names of the creatures, but the input he had was inaccessible from this console.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Major, I’m coming with you,” Weir stated when Sheppard chose a squad to accompany him and Bates to the Stargate landing zone.
“As head of security, Dr. Weir, I think you should remain here. We don’t know who we’re dealing with,” Bates said.
“Thank you, Sgt Bates, but I’m going,” Weir assured him and followed the group out of main operations. She knew they’d be meeting up with Teyla Emmagan and Dr. Carson Beckett because it was standard procedure now that they knew about the Wraith and their capabilities. Teyla could sense the creatures and was often called upon to use that ability to find the enemy within the city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Newt, honey, it’s time to wake up,” Hicks said softly and waited for the child’s eyes to open. When they did he saw fear and hope warring for dominance within the depths and wished he could do something to ease what the girl had gone through.
“What’s wrong?”
“We’re about to land…”
“Home?”
“No, I’m not really sure where we are, but the people are friendly and they’ve given us permission to land. I thought you’d like to get dressed before we meet them.” Hicks passed her a pair of pants and a shirt that would be much too big for her, but they’d find some way of making them fit for now. “Do you need some help?”
“I’m not a baby,” Newt said accepting the clothes and jumping down from the bed.
Hicks watched her closely; a half smile on his face at the thought of the resiliency children seemed to have. He knew Newt was going to grieve in her own way and when the time came he would be there for her, but for now he gave her the space she needed and hoped they’d both find a new life waiting for them, or the possibility of returning to earth. By the time the child returned they’d docked with whatever technology was available on Atlantis and they moved to meet their hosts.
Bishop was in the landing bay when they got there and noticed how the child’s hand found its way into Hicks’ much larger one as they moved to face a new life. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be, right, Newt?”
“Affirmative,” the child whispered and moved a step closer to her protector as she saluted him.
“You heard her, Bishop,” Hicks said and watched the android’s hands working the controls. The doors slid open revealing a group of people with weapons drawn and pointed in their direction. “Dr. Weir?”
“Corporal Hicks?” Weir asked, noting the bandages that covered most of the man’s chest and left side of his face. She wondered what kind of injuries lay beneath them and felt Carson Beckett move to join her.
“That’s right,” Hicks said as another man joined the woman just outside the door.
“Please, follow me,” Weir told her guests and stepped back to allow them to exit the ship. She quickly introduced the people who’d accompanied her and smiled at the child who seemed to be half hidden behind the marine.
“Thank you for allowing us to land, Dr. Weir. This is Rebecca Jordan and Bishop.”
“Hello, Rebecca, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Newt,” the child whispered.
“Pardon me?”
“Newt…nobody calls me Rebecca,” the girl said and clung to Hicks’ leg.
“Oh, I’m sorry…Newt,” Weir said softly, smiling at the child as she watched Hicks move slightly, showing his protective side.
“Corporal, perhaps you would allow me to take a look at your injuries?” Beckett suggested.
“Bishop took care of it…”
“I’m not a doctor, Hicks,” the android said simply.
“I can tell it’s bothering you, Corporal,” Beckett said.
“We can talk after Carson treats you, Hicks,” Weir told him.
“All right,” Hicks reluctantly acquiesced.
“I’ll go with them,” Sheppard said. He hadn’t said much during the initial meeting, but there was something about this man that he trusted. Whether it was the way he cared about the child or the fact that he didn’t seem nervous around them, the major didn’t know.
“As head of security…”
“Bates, I can handle this,” Sheppard said.
“All right, but I’m going to station a couple of men outside medbay!” the sergeant warned.
“Corporal, perhaps Newt would like to meet some of the children?” Teyla suggested.
“Newt?” Hicks asked and turned to see the child’s face and saw the fear in her eyes. “No, she stays with me.”
“All right, perhaps later,” Emmagan said.
“Carson, let me know what you find out,” Weir said.
“I will,” Beckett agreed and led the small group away from the ship. He saw Bishop press several buttons before following them and knew he was just being cautious and protecting their ship and belongings.
Hicks walked slowly along the corridor, amazed at the unfamiliar technology, but he knew he did not have much strength left. His chest and face were burning with an intensity that threatened to put him on his knees and he turned to the android. “Watch Newt,” was all he managed as his legs gave out.
Beckett and Sheppard reacted instinctively and caught the injured man before he hit the floor. Hicks’ eyes rolled back in his head as a soft whimper escaped his throat. Beckett could feel the heat rising from the injured man and knew they needed to get him to medbay immediately.
“Get a stretcher, now!” Beckett ordered and heard a flurry of feet as his order was carried out. He could hear the child crying as Bishop picked her up in his arms.
“Doc?” Sheppard asked.
“I won’t know anything until I examine him, but he’s running a fever and that means there’s probably some infection here,” the physician explained and looked up at Bishop as he asked. “What kind of wounds are they?”
“Acid from a Xenomorph,” the android answered.
“From a what?” Sheppard asked.
“A Xenomorph. It is an alien that bleeds…perhaps it would be best if I downloaded the information to your computer systems. I am an android and can interface with your systems.”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t allow you access to our computers…not until we know more about you,” Sheppard said as two of Carson’s team returned with a stretcher and they moved the unconscious marine onto it.
“I understand, but there are things Dr. Beckett should know about the acidic quality of the burns,” Bishop explained.
“Tell me what they are and what you’ve done for him,” Beckett said as they raced toward the medbay. He listened as Bishop explained the treatments he’d used and the antibiotics, but there was not much he could say about the burns themselves. The doctor hoped there was information the ancients had that could shed some light on the injuries themselves. Burns were amongst the worst things that could happen to a human and the pain could be unbearable at times. Beckett was already calculating what he could use and how much it would take to make this man comfortable if the injuries were as bad as Bishop told them.
Sheppard stopped the android from entering medbay because of the child. There was no way he would allow the girl to be exposed to the treatment he knew Carson Becket would be giving the marine and he could tell Bishop understood why he’d been stopped.
Newt clung to the android, her eyes tightly clenched as she thought about Hicks. He was all she had left in the world and she did not want to think about what could happen if he died. She’d lost her mother, father, brother and Ripley and now she could lose Hicks too.
“Newt, would you like something to eat or drink?” Sheppard asked and saw the head shake once as a soft sob escaped her throat. There was nothing else they could do until Beckett came out to tell them about his patient.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside the treatment room Carson Beckett worked quickly and efficiently with his team to make the Marine as comfortable as possible while they treated his injuries. They cut away the bandages, revealing the raw, damaged skin beneath and Beckett knew his thoughts on pain management had been way off. How the man had stayed on his feet was a testament to his training and his strength.
“All right, let’s get an IV started,” Beckett ordered and quickly ran through the best course of antibiotics and the strongest form of pain meds he had.
“What about the burns,” his assistant asked.
“We clean them with normal saline and wet/dry dressings. As soon as we can I want to start treatments to minimize scarring as well.” Beckett checked the monitors, shaking his head at the readings he was getting and wishing he knew more about the cause of the burns themselves. He knew Bishop had some of those answers and as soon as Hicks was stabilized he was going to speak with the android. “Android.”
“Did you say something?” Sarah asked.
“No, just thinking aloud,” Beckett told her as he checked to make sure the leads were attached properly. A soft moan from the bed told him his patient was coming to and he waited for the green eyes to focus on him. “Welcome back, Corporal…”
“Back?” Hicks asked, straining to put his jumbled thoughts in order. “W…where is this…who…”
“You’re on Starbase Atlantis. I’m Dr. Beckett and we’re…”
“Newt,” Hicks cried and tried to come up off the bed.
“Oh, no you don’t. Newt’s just fine…she’s waiting outside with your android friend.”
“Bis…Bishop?”
“That’s correct.”
“What hap…happened?”
“Well, since you’re not an android and have very human weaknesses your body decided it had enough torment and you passed out,” Beckett explained.
“Damn,” Hicks whispered and tried to touch his chest, but the nurse caught his hand.
“We’re just changing the bandages and making sure it’s properly treated,” Beckett explained. “Now, can you tell me more about these wounds? What is a Xenomorph?”
“It’s an alien creature we ran into on LV-426…”
“Okay, what is LV-426?” the physician asked.
“It’s a planet Weyland Corporation was trying to Terra-farm…”
“Terra-farm?”
“I don’t know much about it except it’s done by machines that turn un-breathable atmosphere into oxygen and allowing for terra farming.” Hicks explained, wincing as the nurse finished bandaging his chest.
“That sounds like science fiction to me,” the nurse said.
“Oh, and this place isn’t?” Beckett asked and turned back to his patient. “All right, now what about the burns.”
“We took a team to LV-426 to check on the terra farmers, but it was too late. They’d already found the ship and were infected. The Xenomorph’s lay eggs inside a human host and then break out through the chest when they’ve hatched. We found one colonist alive, but the creature was already breaking through,” Hicks explained, eyes closing as he tried to breathe past the horrific images flashing through his mind.
“All right, I think that’s enough for now, Corporal. I’m going to give you something to help with the pain and make you sleep.”
“No, Newt, need to make sure she’s okay,” Hicks said.
“I’ll have her brought in, but then you’ll need to rest. You said the burns were caused by acid?”
“Yes, I shot one of the aliens and its blood sprayed me…had on a vest, but the damn stuff burned right through it. Rip…Ripley and Bishop neutralized it, but not before I got burned.”
“Yes, well it is a nasty burn, but I think we’ll be able to minimize scarring. In fact you probably won’t be able to notice it unless you’re looking for it.”
“What about my eye?”
“It doesn’t look like the acid did as much damage as you might think. I’d like to keep it covered until the burns surrounding the eye itself are healed, but once that happens you should not have any problems. Sh, it looks like you have company, Corporal…”
“Hicks, call me Hicks,” the marine said, smiling as Bishop carried the child to his bed. “Hi, Newt.”
“Are you okay?” the child asked.
“I’m fine, Kiddo, why don’t you come over here and see for yourself.”
“I don’t want to h…hurt you.”
“You won’t. The doctor gave me something to help me feel better.”
“Will it make you sleepy?”
“I think so,” Hicks said and smiled as the others moved away to give him some privacy with his charge.
“Does it still hurt…I was scared…”
“Hurts a little, but not as bad as before. I’m sorry I scared you, Newt.”
“Y…you won’t leave me too will you?”
“No, Newt, I’m not going to leave you,” the marine said and used his good arm to pull her into a hug, smiling as he heard her stomach grumble. “Sounds like you’re hungry.”
“A little, but I want to stay here with you.”
“That’ll be kind of boring since I’m going to be sleeping.”
“I could watch you and make sure nothing gets in here,” the little girl whispered, fear evident in her voice as she searched the area surrounding his bed.
“There aren’t any of those creatures here, Newt.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, the doctor never heard of a Xenomorph.”
“There could be other monsters.”
“Yes, there could be, but I don’t think anyone will let the monsters in here. Dr. Beckett and his people seem really nice.”
“John is too.”
“John?” Hicks asked, smiling at the child’s use of Sheppard’s first name. Newt seemed to have found a friend here in spite of her own protests.
“Major Sheppard. He’s really nice and he said he’d make sure nothing happened to you.”
“Do you trust him?”
“Yes,” Newt said with childlike innocence.
“Then there’s no need for you to stay here when you could be having fun. I thought I heard someone say there were other children here…wouldn’t you like to meet them?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to leave you alone,” Newt said.
“I won’t be alone, Kiddo…”
“That’s right, he won’t be. My staff will be here to make sure he’s well taken care of, Newt,” Beckett told her.
“Can Bishop stay too?”
“I’d rather Bishop stayed with you, Newt,” Hicks said.
“Then I’m staying here!” the child said.
“Hicks, perhaps Newt could go with Teyla and Bishop could stay here and tell us everything he knows about the Xenomorph. Teyla will take good care of her,” Sheppard said upon hearing the new dilemma.
“Is that okay, Hicks? Teyla’s nice.”
“That’s fine, Newt,” the marine said tiredly. Whatever Beckett had given him was working quickly and the pain that had been screaming through his jagged nerve endings had all but disappeared.
“I think he’s just about asleep, Newt. Now why don’t you go with Teyla and get something to eat and have fun with the other children,” Beckett suggested.
“Will he be okay?”
“He’ll be fine when he’s had some rest…off with you now,” the physician said. He waited for Teyla to take the girl outside and turned his attention back to his patient. He ordered a variety of tests including blood work to make sure they were dealing with everything in the best possible way. Finally done, Beckett left the marine in the capable hands of his team as he went to speak with Weir and Bishop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During the next three days Hicks began to show signs that the infection was easing off and was sitting up in bed when Newt came to visit. The child seemed to be adjusting to her new surroundings and Hicks was glad she had made new friends. Sheppard, Weir, McKay, and Beckett had been in to see him and they’d spoken of many things including the Starbase and how they’d wound up here. The marine knew about the Wraith and the ongoing war against them, and had been offered a position in the military, much to the displeasure of Bates. He’d been shocked that not only had they traveled through space in a wormhole, but somehow they’d also been transported back in time. The Weyland Corporation was only a small insignificant company, not the conglomerate it was destined to become. He’d talked to Bishop about the possibility of warning the company of their possible future, but there were too many variables that could easily shake up the past if they tried to interfere with the future.
Hicks looked up to see the Android studying a computer screen and smiled at the almost human expression on the synthetic’s face. Bishop was amazed at the technology of the Ancients and had even been helping with some of the hard to access programs and was proving to be a valuable asset when it came to Atlantis.
“Hicks!” Newt said and bounced onto the bed.
“Hey, Kiddo, are they treating you right?”
“Right as rain,” she returned and smiled as she hugged him. “We’ve been playing hide and seek and wraith and…”
“Whoa, Kiddo, Wraith?”
“That’s what they call it, but I told them I don’t like monster games so we don’t play it much cause they mostly don’t like them either…mostly.”
“The Wraith are pretty scary, but Major Sheppard and his men can handle them.”
“Are you going to help Major Sheppard fight them?” Newt asked.
“Maybe…if they want me to. Would you like to live here, Newt?”
“I’d like that, but only if you and Bishop were staying here. I don’t want to l…lose you.”
“You won’t, not if I can help it. Major Sheppard and Dr. Weir have offered me a job here and we can make it a home.”
“I’d like that…could I…”
“Could you what, Newt?” Hicks asked.
“Could I call you Daddy? Would that b…be okay?”
“If that’s what you want, Newt.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all,” Hicks said, hugging the child close as Weir, McKay, Beckett, Sheppard, and Teyla Emmagan entered the medbay.
“I must say you’re looking much better today, Hicks,” Weir said.
“Thanks to Dr. Beckett,” Hicks said. The bandages covering his eye had finally been removed and his vision was gradually clearing.
“Newt, would you mind going with Teyla for a little while?” Weir asked.
“I just got here…”
“I know, but we won’t be long and then you can stay as long as you want,” the woman said.
“It’s okay, Newt. You go ahead and when you get back maybe you could convince Dr. Beckett that I need a chunk of chocolate cake with ice cream…a big chunk so we can share.”
“Okay,” the child smiled and hugged him as she tested their new relationship. “Daddy.”
Hicks smiled as he released her, the word bringing a new joy to his heart as he watched her skip along beside the Athosian. His heart felt lighter than it had for ages when he realized he had a family…a child and he was responsible for her from here on out.
“Hicks, we have some news for you,” Sheppard said and pulled a chair closer to the bed.
“What kind of news?” the marine asked.
“Do you remember us talking to you about the Ancient Gene?” Beckett asked.
“Vaguely,” Hicks answered.
“There are very few who have the ancient gene and those who do are able to manipulate many of the technological designs within Atlantis,” McKay explained.
“What does that have to do with me?” Hicks asked and saw the smile on Weir and Sheppard’s face, while McKay seemed more subdued.
“It seems you have it,” Beckett told him.
“Me? How?”
“We have no real explanation for why some have the genes and some don’t,” McKay explained.
“So what does this mean?” the injured man asked.
“It means that you’re going to be a big asset to us and we’re hoping you’ve decided to join our team,” Weir answered.
“It’s a place to start, Hicks,” Sheppard said. “You’d have a place to live and plenty to eat and drink and a place for Newt to grow up with other kids.”
“It sounds perfect,” Hicks answered.
“Not quite,” Beckett said. “You’d have to be available for Rodney’s tests and believe me he can be a bit of a…”
“Perfectionist,” McKay interrupted.
“Nag,” Sheppard supplied.
“Tyrant,” Beckett teased.
“I am not a tyrant!” McKay snapped and heard the others chuckle. Folding his arms across his chest, McKay smiled as he realized he could very well be described as all of the above, but these people knew him and understood why he was the way he was and they accepted him for that.
“I’ll do anything I can to help,” Hicks assured them.
“Very well,” McKay said. “As soon as Carson releases you we’ll work on several tests.”
“See, a tyrant,” Sheppard said.
“Okay, Hicks is still my patient and as such he needs his rest. Out with the lot of you and tell Newt she can come back in.”
“A big piece of chocolate cake,” Hicks said and smiled as Elizabeth Weir patted his leg.
“Rest, Hicks, and welcome to Atlantis.”
“Thanks, Elizabeth,” the marine said as the others left. For a few minutes he was alone in the medbay except for the nurse who was busy checking his IV. He had a family now, and no matter what the future held, Atlantis was his home. Sighing contentedly he watched Newt hurry toward him carrying a plate with the biggest chunk of chocolate cake and ice cream he’d ever seen.
Bishop watched the two humans as they devoured the sweet confection and laughed when some spilled onto the bed. A week ago they’d been fighting the Xenomorph infestation, now their battle had shifted to Atlantis and The Wraith, but at least they had each other. With him there to watch over them he hoped they would live long, happy lives.
“Home,” the android whispered and realized the other two had heard him as they repeated the word and motioned for him to join them. Indeed, they had come home and they’d found a new family that welcomed and accepted them.
Hicks relaxed against the pillows, content in the knowledge that they were no longer alone and their future rested here on Atlantis.
THE END
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