They had flown in the night before to a US military base someplace in Colorado. The group was told little to nothing other than it would be an expedition with the US heading it up to another galaxy. They were only allowed one personal item and to make plans that they might not return. The seven Korean men knew it was a great honor that their government had chosen them. Yet, the nerves were noticeable by the three military personnel. Lieutenant Major Jeon Junkook was more than aware of the nerves the four scientists and medical personnel were feeling. He remembered the first time he did a mission and how scared he was. “We will be there soon. Once there we will rest and tomorrow we help the other teams gather equipment before we head out.”
He watched the head scientist nod his head quickly before looking away. “Right. Okay then.”
When Jungkook looked at Major Jung Hoseok and Lieutenant Park Jimin he could see them both smirking at their leader’s attempt to set everyone at ease. Instead of responding he shut his eyes and leaned back hoping to get some sleep before they landed.
Once they hit American soil things happened quickly. They were quickly ushered off the plane and into a small room with bunks. Not enough for them all to sleep and Jungkook found he was grateful for the rest he got on the plane. The military was asked to debrief in a room while scientists and medical staff were in a different one. His English came in handy when he was observing the crowd of military around him. He noticed there was at least one military officer from most of the major players. Russia, England, Spain, Italy, France, China, India, and Australia were all present. He was sure there would be more arriving but for now, they were assigning teams and those who were present were able to select their own team. For obvious reasons, Jungkook chose to lead his team and filled it with his people. As did most of the other nations. The countries that did not bring a full team were then assigned to other personnel from countries near them or those that could speak their language.
After their debriefing, they were dismissed and Jungkook’s first priority became finding the other teammates. “Find the scientist we need to meet back in the room to prepare for tomorrow.”
He watched as Hoseok and Jimin did as he instructed, fanning out to locate their four missing teammates. After a few minutes of wandering, he ran into Lieutenant Ford, “hello! Are you lost?”
Jungkook smiled at the man in front of him, “no I was actually looking for my lost scientist. Do you know where they might be?”
Ford laughed, “yes the scientist split up into their specialties some went down here to look at the equipment that should be taken when we go through the gate.”
Jungkook followed the man as he led him down a corridor with many different offshoots and directions. Eventually stopping in front of one before he scanned in his badge to open it. He was sure it was the only time the man had stopped talking. “Are any of these yours?”
He looked inside and immediately spotted one of the scientists Taehyung he thought? Turning he smiled and said, “yep that one over there is mine.”
“Excellent alright well just holler if you need help finding your way back.” Jungkook nodded at the man before he turned his head near his scientist. Once he was next to him he cleared his throat. The man immediately looked up round glasses at the tip of his nose. “Oh, Jungkook-ssi or do I call you Lieutenant Major Jeon?”
He smiled tightly, noticing as others were stopping their work to watch the exchange. “Either is fine. Are you close to being done?”
The man looked down at his equipment and tilted his head side to side a few times before looking back up, “I will be in about 10 minutes.”
Jungkook just nodded before he stepped to the side to wait. “Oh, you’re waiting right! Okay, let me then…”
He withheld the sigh that wanted to escape as well as the eye roll. Instead, he stood back against the wall and watched the commotion pick back up as the scientists in this room were packing maybe medical equipment. Jungkook couldn’t be sure but they sure were a lively bunch. Laughter and volume increased as the time slipped away. He was just about to reapproach his person when he watched the man clap his hands and turn to him with a boxy grin. “Alright, Jungkook-ssi I am done let’s head back.”
Before he could react the man turned to the others and started a round of goodbyes that lasted another 5 minutes. It appeared that this scientist was definitely a friendlier one. Jungkook escorted him back to their room without any difficulty, much to the man beside him’s amazement. Which he continuously discussed during the whole walk back. About his lack of spatial intelligence and how he hoped that there weren’t a lot of hallways where they were going or he would get lost. Honestly, Jungkook tuned him out for most of it as it appeared that the man did not need feedback in order to continue on.
He unlocked the door and opened allowing the man, “Taehyung we were getting worried.”
To enter before him. The man now known as Taehyung rushed to the other man in the room and hugged him, “sorry Hyung I had to make sure that all the research equipment was packed appropriately. Didn’t want to get to Atlantis only to discover we left behind slides or something.”
That made the head scientist laugh brightly. “Tae you know we can always borrow whatever equipment we don’t have from others right? This isn’t a solo us vs. them mission.”
Jungkook looked up at Hoseok who shrugged his shoulders, “Well actually Namjoon-ssi it would be better if we didn’t owe or rely too heavily on the others. There is a limited supply of things and I would rather not be the group that has to depend on others. Just in case they do not want to help us.”
He watched as the man frowned at him, “but this whole expedition is to unite us isn’t it? After all, aren't we called the United Earth Nation?”
Jimin laughed at that, “oh that’s rich. We might be going in as one team but I guarantee the moment we get there we will not be acting like one.”
“That’s not very united of us. I liked the group I was with. They were very helpful and friendly. We had a good time tonight working together.” Tae turned and looked at Namjoon. “I think we will be fine, Hyung. It’s the military that will have to learn how to play nice together.”
A snort made Jungkook glare at the beautiful man who had apparently already claimed his bunk. “Fat chance of that ever happening.”
“That is not why we wanted to gather you all back together. When we go through the gate tomorrow we will be a unit. We were given the green light to work as a research/military team even in the city of Atlantis. From this moment out we will be known as SGA - 7.”
Jungkook passed out the new symbol badges to the team that would attach to their jackets. It had the unit they belonged to and went under the South Korean flag. “For now get some sleep we meet at 0800 hours in the gate room.”
He saw Hoseok and Jimin playing paper rock scissors for the last bunk as he slid back against the door to get comfortable. The concrete was cold through his pants and he knew he wouldn’t last long like this before he would have to get up and move. “Here”
Jungkook looked up to see the main scientist on their team Kim Namjoon holding his hand out to him. “I know the floor can’t be comfortable. We will double bunk and Hoseok said he was fine bunking with Jimin.”
He motioned with his head to the bottom empty bunk. “There is still a free bed for you.” Jungkook took his warm hand and allowed the man to help him up. When he rose they were so close their breath mingled before Namjoon turned red and stepped back clearing his throat. Before he made his way over to the bunk where a much smaller man was already curled up in. Refusing to think further on it he went to the empty bunk and laid down allowing his body to relax into what sleep he could get. After all, there was no telling when the next time would come that he could sleep comfortably. Who knew what was on the other side of that gate.
The next morning the team is up and in the cafeteria by 0700. Jungkook wants to laugh at how his team is ready, refreshed, and chatting away while the team of scientists were sitting quietly, still trying to wake up. It amused him with the reversal of roles. Luckily it lasted long enough for them to finish eating, clean up their room, and make it to the gate room in time to find their baggage. They were quickly informed of what equipment they needed to make sure they made it through the gate safely. Jungkook assigned each scientist military personnel and he took the head scientist. The beautiful man from last night might be a little puffy from lack of sleep but he was still catching attention from both men and women in the other expedition teams. So, Jungkook made the ultimate decision that he would also be joining Namjoon in his smaller team.
They gathered together as a small dark-haired woman walked through the crowd and stood on the metal ramp the silver gate behind her dark. She started her speech making sure to speak clearly and slowly for the other nations to have their interrupters express what she was trying to get across.
“Alright, here we go.” Jungkook looked around as a bunch of people lets out nervous laughter
“We are about to try to make a connection. We have been unable to predict exactly how much power this is going to take and we may only get the one chance at this, so if we are able to achieve a stable wormhole,” she paused waiting for the interpreters to catch up.
“We are not going to risk shutting the Gate down. We will send the MALP probe through, check for viability, and go. Everything in one shot.” She paused making eye contact with those around her.
“Now, every one of you volunteered for this mission.” Jungkook snorted in his head at that. No one from his country volunteered and he highly doubted anyone else’s countries had either.
“And you represent over a dozen countries. You are the world’s best and brightest; and in light of the adventure we are about to embark on, you are also the bravest.” From the corner of his eye, he watched his team of scientists stand up a little straighter and he tilted his head down to hide the smile.
“I hope we all return one day having discovered a whole new realm for humanity to explore, but as all of you know, we may never be able to return home. I’d like to offer you all one last chance to withdraw your participation.”
Jungkook could see a few of the groups in front of them looking around to see if anyone took her up on that offer. When no one stepped up he watched their new leader Dr. Weir smile up at the control room behind them. “Begin the dialing sequence.”
He watches as she walks off the ramp toward the control room. He turns to double-check the equipment they are in charge of. When he looks back he sees that Hoseok is staring at the gate. Jungkook turns and looks at it watching as it spins and turns blue. After a moment of admiring it, he turns back and snaps his fingers at Hoseok. “Double-check your equipment.”
Once Hoseok is doing that he turns and looks to make sure Jimin is as well. Satisfied that his team is preparing they wait for the next round of instructions. The gate shoots out a blue like substance that suspense in mid-air before sucking back in forming a water film over the circle of the gate. They will apparently be walking through that to get to whatever is on the other side. Jungkook watches as a robot on wheels rolls up the ramp and through the water substance disappearing.
After a few minutes, he sees the main military leader for the US barking a command, “Let’s go people. We don’t know how much time we got.”
Jungkook watches as he begins to walk towards the ring, “Security teams one and two you’re up first. All other personnel will follow on our signal. Once on the other side, keep moving and clear the area. On my lead.”
Before he can go much further Jungkook smirks as the small woman rushes past and yells in a firm voice that she will be going through the gate with the Colonel together. He has to say he enjoys the confidence of their leader. It didn’t hurt that the military man in charge was irritated. He had never been a fan of Colonel Sumner. Jungkook turns back to his team to get them ready to head up the ramp.
“Everyone is ready?”
“Yes sir,” he hears Hoseok and Jimin reply.
Taking a deep breath he moves them into line with the others so they can start moving as soon as they are given the okay. When he turns his head he sees a very pale Namjoon clutching tightly to his dolly full of boxes and chest. “Hey, Dr. Kim it will be okay. This is going to be a smooth ride. You won’t even feel it.”
Namjoon turned to look at him and gave him a weak smile before straightening his shoulders and looking into the blue. They hear over the intercom, “expedition team. Move out!”
Lieutenant Major Jeon Junkook starts walking up the ramp with the Major from England they both nod at each other before they walk through the blue water like substance weapons raised. Jungkook trusts Hoseok and Jimin to be his middle and rear making sure their whole team makes it through. For now, he has one responsibility to protect those behind him. Get his team through be the first, be the leader get to the other side in one piece, and secure their position. Once they are safe he will allow himself a moment to be in awe of what is happening and what all of this means for them as men and as Koreans.
Comments
Post a Comment