Visitors

Disclaimer: So very not mine.

Summary: Crossover between Stargate Atlantis and Power Rangers Dino Thunder. Secret identity meet military paranoia.

Warnings: Some swearing, a surprising amount of violence in later chapters.

Chapter 1: Suspicion

John didn't quite know what to make of their 'visitors'. No one was sure what to do with four high school students who'd fallen out of the sky when McKay had touched what appeared to be an Ancient refrigerator, but in hindsight was probably one of the predecessors of the Quantum Mirror.

Sure, the kids seemed to have stepped out of a Californian high school. The clothes were right, and the accents (though the tall kid in red kept slipping into a distinctly Australian drawl when he was worked up) and their utter bewilderment at finding themselves in the wrong galaxy. If they talked about cities that didn't exist – Reefside, Angel Grove, San Angeles – then it was only to be expected since they'd come from the universe next door. But there was something about them that made John itch, something that wouldn't let him relax.

There was no reason for it on the surface. The tall kid in red – Conner McKnight, he called himself, future David Beckham and let no one forget it – had the attention span of a gnat and no filter between his brain and mouth. He'd called Teyla a 'hot chick' within minutes of arriving and only John standing in the way had stopped him from getting thumped by Ronan.

Ethan James, the kid in blue, had a love for computers and snark that dreamed of one day rivalling McKay's. He'd cast such longing looks at the science lab, John had almost felt bad banning him and his friends from going in there. But McKay managed to do enough damage the way he was. John got a cold sweat thinking of McKay-lite wandering around the labs, touching alien devices and switching things on. With their luck, the kid would have the Ancient gene and accidentally blow them all up.

The only girl of the group had big eyes and a repertoire of snippy commentary to keep the others in line. Whereas her friends threw themselves into Atlantis enthusiastically, Kira Ford hung back. Elizabeth's continued reassurances that they'd get them home only served to make her more wary. John knew he should feel protective of her – he had a soft spot for little, spunky women – but something about her made him almost as uneasy as the others did.

The final member of the group was Trent Fernandez. He was affable and easy-going, and got along with everyone. He was polite and engaging with Elizabeth, admiring with the marines, and listened when the scientists gabbled on in their jargon. He made the hair rise on the back of John's neck, and his fingers cramp with the urge to reach for a sidearm.

John would have felt easier if the four of them were confined to quarters, but Elizabeth had balked at locking up teenagers for no other crime than being unwillingly sucked into another universe. She'd felt an armed escort was plenty until they figured out how to send them back to their own universe. Even Lorne – after bonding with Trent over water colours, the traitor – had agreed. John had looked disgustedly at his second in command and said: "Aren't you supposed to be head of security?" It was at times like this he missed Bates.

McKay, when John tried to broach his suspicions, had given him a look like he was crazy.

"Oh please. I'm not saying teenagers in general aren't evil – and just between you and me, that kid in blue has a real mouth on him –"

"His name's Ethan."

"Like I care. As I was saying, they're annoying and are on a constant sugar high, and we'll all breathe a little easier when they're out of our hair. But if you honestly think four teenagers have the brain capacity to engineer some sort of takeover, let alone carry it out in an organized fashion –"

"Alright, I get it. I'm backing off. This is me, backing off."

Ronan found John later, leaning against a doorway to one of the outside areas, arms folded as he watched the kids kick a ball around with some marines. John was fairly certain the marines were letting them win. The kids had scored three goals to the marines' one, and he didn't think any of them except Conner were really trying.

"Weir said you were sulking out here."

"I'm not sulking." John unfolded his arms, tucked his hands in his pockets. "I'm just watching the game."

"Huh." Ronan gave him the look that said 'I'm not buying it'. He leaned against the wall next to John, stretching out his long legs. "You don't trust them either, huh?"

John squinted at Ronan, gauging a potential ally.

"'Trust' is a strong word," he said slowly.

"The white one's a killer." Ronan said matter of factly. John looked back at the game.

"Which white one?" Conner was checking out his hair in his reflection in a window, while Kira was smiling reluctantly at something one of the marines had said.

"Him. Trent."

"Trent's not – oh." Ronan was referring to the clothes. "Yeah, he bugs me too."

Nothing more needed to be said. Ronan was good like that.

He and John stood in the shade of Atlantis' tower, watching the game.