2: Introductions

{Shelter Cove, California}

[Jennifer's POV]

Her head was on a swivel the entire time she was brought around the complex. She'd never seen so much metal in one place, let alone so many people in such a deserted place. Granted, she'd lived in Wyoming in the boonies there, so it shouldn't be a huge surprise to her. Her foot bumped against a door jamb, nearly skipping herself right into the room. Thankfully, her face just planted right into a firm chest.

"She's already a tipping hazard, General. Are you sure this is the one the file talked about?"

She heard the grumbles and managed to pull herself out of the arms of the man currently holding her up. She adjusted her glasses and looked at the very obviously militarian man in front of her. She saw taut muscles against a deep olive green t-shirt tucked into a pair of Army Combat Uniform pants, which were further tucked into a pair of boots. He had dark hair, brooding hazel eyes, and a clean shaven face. If he'd gotten it any cleaner, she was sure he would sparkle like the metal flooring after a good waxing.

"That she is. Meet Miss Mack. She's agreed to take a tour of the complex before deciding for sure if she's going to stay and help us. I expect you to be on your best behavior, Colonel." Whitaker spoke, standing beside her.

Jennifer crossed her arms over her chest, taking in a breath. "Thankfully I know about some parts of the military. If that's how warm you're going to be, I'd hate to see when you find the one you want to be with." She told him, shaking her head before moving to sit down at the conference table. She could see the looks exchanged, the Colonel's look of skepticism while the General held a smirk.

When both of them sat down, another gentleman came into the conference room, holding a slim folder. "Here's the papers you requested, Colonel. I did the best I could with what I could remember." The General nodded and motioned for him to sit down.

"Alright, before we show you the main interest in this program, Miss Mack, let's talk a little more about it. Colonel?" General Whitaker looked to Frost, who rolled his eyes a little bit before looking to Jennifer.

"I'm sure you've seen the news talking about Project Stargate. It's been all over the news for two years straight now that it's coming back online. Bottom line is that we dial in on our little computer, the circle starts turning and lights come on. We walk through the magical water and boom, new planets, new weapons, new evils."

Jennifer raised her brow, watching the Colonel talk about the program, though labeled as a project by hotshot media. Her head then turned to the new guy, watching him as he spoke.

"It's more than that, Quinten. Y'see, there's new resources, new places that we can use to try and make things better for us living here and maybe forge alliances with other races!"

She watched the Colonel roll his eyes, then turned towards the General as he spoke.

[Quinten's POV]

She looked like such a nerd. And he was already bored with trying to give her any more information that the two headhunters would have already given her. How hard was it to believe that there was a giant circle that teleported people across the galaxy? Quinten sighed and let his mind fade back into the conversation at hand.

"-and weapons, and find a good point that we might be able to bring our people to, our populations to in case of an invasion."

He watched as Jennifer nodded slowly, her lips moving to the right to create a dimple. She was a little on the heavy side, mostly around her middle. She was at least twice the size of Jenkins, who weighed a good buck fifty, if that. She had long hair that she'd scooped into a ponytail. Her glasses were thick rimmed, which only sold him on the notion she was a super nerd. The only thing he did like on her was the soft coloring of her eyes. They were almost a blue and gray combination.

"Shouldn't we be worried that, if we do get invaded, and we do get to the new site, that we'll ruin the planet the same way we've already done to Earth? I mean, all the trash, the waste… The killing of the o-zone?"

Even her voice was grating on his ears.

"Look miss hippy," Quinten started," only the select few will be able to go through the Stargate to the beta site. I don't know what you're so-"

"So you're saying that the military, the wealthiest, the democratic parties, and only those that can afford to reserve their spots in case something were to happen would be the only one's allowed past the first gate?"

How did this tubby little hippy give him a glare so full of ice? Weren't fat chicks supposed to be like Mrs. Clause and be jolly?

"That's not what I-"

"It was hidden behind your words. Next time, try thinking first before you let that monkey brain of yours decide to just flap your lips."

He heard a snort from his left side, making him turn his head to see Jenkins trying the hardest he could to not burst out laughing. He sent him a glare and Jenkins cleared his throat.

"They're going to do a lottery, like they did in World War two. They'll have the social security numbers ran and each person contacted individually to be taken through the gate." Jenkins explained, making Quinten sigh through his nose. That bit of information seemed to settle little miss tubs for the moment.

"Alright…" He watched her finally speak after a few minutes. "What's the next step in this process? I don't quite understand why you need me."

Whitaker opened the folder and held out a sketch. Quinten watched as she took it, looking it over with a raised brow.

"Sargeant Jenkins?"

Jenkins shifted and looked at her.

"The most recent world we visited isn't what was originally showed to us. It was supposed to be a planet called Abydos. We found a completely different planet full of lush greenery and a little area with some carvings. Before I had to hightail it off the planet, I just remember that carving into the column I was looking at. We… Don't know what it is."

Quinten watched her purse her lips and look between the three of them. "Really? Because… Even without telling me that story, I was going to ask why you needed me to look at this drawing." She shifted and he frowned more.

"So… What is it?" He asked, tired of playing the waiting game.

Jennifer rolled her eyes and looked at him with bored eyes. "Hey, smartass, I'm being recruited for your team. You might want to pull that stick out of your ass for at least two minutes." Jenkins snorted to that. "This is the emblem of Zeus."

The room was quiet for a moment.

"Zeus…" Quinten spoke slowly.

He watched Jennifer nod. "Yes. Zeus. Greek God of Thunder, throws the thunderbolts… Father to Hercules in Disney's Hercules animated film?"

"What… Does that mean that we found it in ruins?" Jenkins asked.

She looked over the emblem again before speaking. "It was probably a temple for worshipping Zeus. Zeus likes his praise, even if he's really just a big horndog. I mean, anything that was literally living and breathing, he was determined to try and knock it up."

"A temple for worship…" Jenkins spoke softly, tapping his chin.

"So he's got a big ego. So what? What about the things I saw? Something in gold and red." Quinten wanted answers. At least she seemed to be answering parts of it.

"Well, without actually seeing what you saw, I'd hazard a guess that it was a chariot. One ridden into battle." She shrugged. "There would be at least a dozen or so for warriors. Zeus wasn't one to always wage a war so, for all I know, it really could have been Ares, the God of War."

"Wait… Two gods?" Jenkins asked.

Jennifer rolled her eyes before leaning in and speaking to the three. "Greek mythology is based around a polytheistic religion. They worship many gods and goddess who each have their intended purposes to help the people believe. If you saw chariots, it was probably Ares, the God of War and son of Zeus and Hera, queen of the Gods."

"You're… Going to need to explain more."

[Half hour later, Jennifer's POV]

She rubbed the bridge of her nose after removing her glasses. "Look, I know it's a lot of information, but if I could see what you guys saw, I might be able to help more. I can't do much without actually physically seeing it for myself."

Everyone looked at each other, as if I'd said something remarkably strange. Then, with a nod shared with them all, they got up and she followed suit.

"You leave in an hour. Hope you're ready for the first ride, kid."

"If anyone's the kid, it's you."