Meet and Greet (Kaylee/Open)

[Alexis Peterson]

Meet and greets, sitting down and having a cup of tea or coffee, maybe something to eat, and a chat, was common courtesy in most workplaces. However, when Alexis had joined the Stargate programme, there had been a briefing from a ranking officer, and that was it. Hence why it was now strange for her to be on her way to the main conference room for a relaxed meeting with all the newcomers to Atlantis. She was only there for a couple of weeks, but she’d be invited along anyway to meet everyone.

She entered the room in her casual wear and immediately made a bee-line for the coffee machine in the corner, making herself a coffee that was more milk than coffee. She appeared to be the first one there – she hated being late. Pulling out a chair, she sat herself down and began swivelling round in it, careful not to spill her coffee all over herself.

Atlantis was unlike anything she had even imagined, one of the largest Ancient complexes she’d ever seen. It was amazing to think that such an advanced race had once existed, and that humans may evolve to be like them someday – having the ability to ascend – only Daniel Jackson had been able to do it so far. Alexis was a lot smarter than your average person, with a great aptitude for learning, but she knew it probably wouldn’t be possible in her lifetime, especially when she was in a profession where every day could be her last. It was a risk they all took.

While she’d been daydreaming, other people had begun to filter into the room: quiet and stoic military personnel, nervous lab techs, among others. She signed a little and looked around at them all, trying to decide who she should strike up a conversation with first.

[Kaylee McKay]

Like a school of fish, Kaylee had followed everyone else who was attending the same meet and greet as she was, which to her felt odd. Maybe it had been the first time she’d arrived on Atlantis she’d been by herself, no other new personnel to tag along with her or to organize a meet and greet for, or maybe they’d noticed a lack of socialization between her and other staff, either way, here she was now, ready to meet and greet the new comers. Heading into the conference room she looked around and grinned, the pleasant aroma of coffee met her nose and gave her that warm comforting feeling.

Going for the coffee before anything else she grabbed a cup, filled it up and poured in a bit of cream, just to give it flavour, then glanced around. A few of the new faces looked familiar, but they hadn’t been on Atlantis long enough for her to remember names or to have been given introductions too. Leaning a little against a table she eavesdropped on a conversation that two girls were having, one was discussing how gorgeously good looking Sheppard was, while the other was trying to say Carson Beckett was better with his accent. Rolling her eyes she mumbled under her breath: “Now there’s respect” and took the first seat down she could, which happened to be the furthest one away from the girls. Taking a sip of her coffee she caught motion from behind her and turned to see a woman leaning back in her chair swivelling a little.

“Hey,” she said quietly as she sat her cup down, finally deciding to meet someone, at least this girl didn’t look like she was like the others. “Have you been on Atlantis long?” Damn. Should have introduced myself first, not jumped right in. Beginning to correct herself she sat up straighter just as the two girls from earlier broke the murmur of silence in the room by laughing loudly and trying to hush themselves as everyone turned to find the source of it. Kaylee caught the ending word of the sentence before they went quiet and flushed, they’d said McKay. Whether they were talking about her or her dad, it didn’t matter, the thought made her sick. Most people either disliked the man, respected him, or both, and young girls like that it was usually the first. Not many knew he had a daughter, as her dad himself was kind of struggling with it, but he was getting better. Glaring at the girls now, she tore her eyes away and cleared her throat.

“I’m Kaylee,” she introduced, not using her last name yet. “I meant to introduce myself first, sorry.” She gave the woman a tiny smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to contain her anger from exploding on the girls who’d just spoken her last name.