Fic: The Jumper Lesson (Gen, Lorne and Miko)

[wickedwords]

Title: The Jumper Lesson
Author: Rachael Sabotini (wickedwords)
Other Info: Gen. Lorne, Miko. 550-ish words
Summary: The flight instructor wasn't what Lorne had expected.

I was very lucky to get sherrold to beta this for me. (Thanks, hon.) Written for the sixth round of atlantis_lvw, where it tied for Most Favorite this round. The theme was 'falling', and we had a 600-word-count limit. In addition, the focus of the story had to be some of the secondary characters.


The Jumper Lesson

The flight instructor wasn't what Lorne had expected. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd expected when he beamed down off the Daedalus, but he knew this wasn't it.

For one thing, she wasn't even military.

"Hello, Major," the tiny Asian woman said softly. "I am Dr. Miko Kusanagi, and I will be teaching you about the puddle jumpers." She bowed slightly, looking at him over her coke-bottle glasses. "Follow me please." Turning sharply, she headed for the jumpers on the far side of the bay, her footsteps ringing in the nearly-empty room.

Lorne had to trot a little to catch up. "I thought Zelenka was the puddle jumper expert?"

"Yes, Dr. Zelenka is in charge of the jumpers, but he doesn't have the gene and so cannot pilot them." She nodded at one of the empty slots. "Most of the regular pilots are either off world, or helping the Athosians repair the damage from the wraith. We will join them on the mainland at the end of the lesson."

Lorne mentally shrugged. Sounded okay. "How'd you pull this duty anyway?"

She stopped, looking at him in confusion. "Colonel Sheppard asked me."

"No, no. I mean..." Lorne waved at the jumper bay. "How'd you end up piloting these things?"

"Ah!" With a sharp nod, Miko continued toward the far end of the building. "When we needed to evacuate Atlantis during the storm last year, everyone who could pilot a jumper was taught how to do so." She slanted a glance at him. "You are aware that not everyone with an ATA gene can operate every piece of ancient technology, yes?"

"Oh, yeah." Lorne's heart pounded. The largest part of the reason he'd wanted to come here was to pilot the jumpers, and if his gene didn't work on 'em....

"Only Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Beckett have managed the control chair, but most gene carriers can operate the jumper systems. My own skill is limited. I am unable to activate the weapons systems and I must concentrate to fly in a straight line." She gestured at the long grey ship in front of them, her hands in front of her, her eyes bright behind her lenses. "This is jumper six, but I call her Meiyo. She is the jumper that I have the strongest affinity with. " She lovingly brushed her hand over the metal plating and pressed her remote to open the rear hatch. "Please, come inside."

It felt weird, strolling into the jumper after her, watching all of the panels light up as she settled easily into the pilot's chair. Lorne angled himself into the co-pilot's chair, sitting down gently, mimicking Dr. Kusanagi's moves. As he laid his hands on the controls, he felt something surge around him and gave a sharp gasp; he could feel the ship pulsing around him, welcoming him as if it were alive. First touch and already, he was in love. "Sweet Jesus. This is so cool."

Dr. Kusanagi's eyes glittered mischievously as she looked at him. "I think she has fallen for you, too." She glanced at the HUD, and Lorne could feel her asking the hatch in the roof to open. "Perhaps you would like to try the ascent?"

Lorne couldn't stop grinning as the jumper headed out of the bay and began to rise.

Comments

[windmiran.livejournal.com]

Wow. Much love for this, and extra for it being Miko and Lorne. Fandom needs more people who pay attention to the secondary characters in a show.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Lorne's kinda a primary character for me, and I love writing about him. Plus Miko is so wonderful! She's the only woman gene carrier that we know about, and she really should get out a lot more. *g*

[flyingcarpet.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I love Miko here -- she gives off such an air of confidence, despite her own admitted lack of skill. And you managed to fit a lot into such a short section.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I love doing tiny, everyday scenes like this, so it's been nice being able to indulge that.

[miera-c.livejournal.com]

*squeak*

I love puddlejumper fics like this. Especially that give them something of personalities. And Lorne! *pets him* Lorne falling in love with one of the jumpers.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Lorne is so much fun! He's so fun to play with, and you know I can't resist the puddle jumpers. Thanks.

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

oh wow, this is AWESOME!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

As he laid his hands on the controls, he felt something surge around him and gave a sharp gasp; he could feel the ship pulsing around him, welcoming him as if it were alive. First touch and already, he was in love. "Sweet Jesus. This is so cool."

Squee! I love Lorne connecting with the jumper and knowing how ultra-cool flying her had to be. And Miko is nicely drawn.

I'm horrible at figuring out who wrote what but I read the challenge pieces, really liked this one and sort of hoped it was yours.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. *g* It's interesting to get the comments back and find out which things worked and which didn't for people. I never try to disguise myself, so I'm always certain that people reading just automatically know which one's mine. But there are so many people writing for it who are kind of stylistically similar, I can't say that for a fact.

Thanks!

[fairestcat]

I love Miko here. I really do.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

It's a lot of fun to write her and make her confident in her skills, as limited as she says they are. In my head, I have this concept of her downplaying her abilities a lot and making less of them, when she wouldn't be on Atlantis if that were true. So Sheppard sees and recognizes that, and just...ignores it. It's a little like how he deals with Rodney.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

This is so cool. I loved it.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

*g* Thanks, hon!

[megaloo13.livejournal.com]

I love that you had Miko teach Lorne how to pilot the puddlejumpers; I love anytime fandom makes use of the secondary characters like that. Beautiful characteration on both of them, I love how it reads as a snapshot of their lives on Atlantis. :)

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Both of them are such great characters, and I really want to know what happened to Miko after the siege. Thanks!

[wabbitseason.livejournal.com]

I loved this the first time I read this. It was fun seeing Lorne's expectations and how Miko handles the situation. By the time we see him on Atlantis, he's already familiar with the jumpers, so it's good to Lorne before he had gotten his feet wet, so to speak.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

We don't know when exactly Lorne arrive, but I'm guessing that he took the Daedelus run back from Earth with Sheppard, McKay, Weir, and Beckett, so he has to have had some time learning the city before he shows up in Runner. I love the thought of him all wide-eyed with wonder as Atlantis so surpasses his imagination.

Thanks!

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

Oh, this rocks like a rocking thing.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[shadadukal]

Ooh, this is love. Perfect little fic. :)

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks!