New Opportunities

Summary: An unemployed young woman answers a strange job ad, and it leads her into the Stargate program. Post-series, but the Stargate is not yet public.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea. And Rai, whose name is pronounced "Ray".

A/N: (This chapter has been edited slightly - fixed a typo and changed my OC's name as it didn't seem to fit her.) I love Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, but this is my first venture into the fandom. I just couldn't stop thinking about 'what if...?'!

oOo

Rai was there as soon as the library doors opened, as usual. For the last six months she'd come in every day, usually twice, to pour over the "help wanted" ads looking for a job - any kind of job. The librarian flagged her down and showed her the ad she'd found in the early paper.

Help wanted: Curious people; experienced campers; PA and Admin assistants; photographers; writers; pilots; all fields of science, agriculture, mechanics, engineering and anthropology; crafters and hobbyists; strong open-minded general workers. Additional languages a plus. Call...

Rai trailed off and looked up at the older woman behind the desk. They were acquaintances, having become fairly friendly over the past few years. At first Rai was a student finishing a degree as a medical lab tech, then she was a regular for fiction and an endless variety of how-to and craft books. The how-to books had gotten the friendship started. Mrs. Spenser had finally asked what in the world she needed with them all.

"My apartment is in a really old building," Rai explained with a smile. "So much needs fixing and my landlady is old and not very well off. If I can figure out how to do the work she will buy the supplies, and my rent stays low."

There had been plumbing first, then carpentry basics and electrical work. Then drywall and plaster repair, texturing, painting. Laying and repairing brick and stonework. Gardening. Small engine repair, then auto maintenance and repair.

Most of that was while she was working full-time as a lab tech, too. Then her hours were cut and she took a second job, and learned Spanish, Japanese, and some Chinese while working in various food services. After that she worked full-time for a while as a general worker at the small local airport and it was planes; flying, navigation, etc and she confided excitedly that she'd learned to fly and earned a pilot's license. Single engine, but instrument rated.

Then the economy crashed and first her jobs and then her unemployment dwindled away. She'd been living on savings and hope and the occasional day labor for months, taking in friends in the same position and figuring out how they could eat and get by on their pooled pennies. She told the librarian her learned skills and crafts had come in handy.

Now Rai raised her eyebrows with Mrs. Spenser over the wording of the ad.

"What in the world would one place need with so many types of people?" she wondered out loud.

"I don't have any idea, but I'd say you'd have a better than average chance at a job since you can meet several of the categories listed. You can even fly a plane!"

"Only small ones," Rai murmured absently, re-reading the ad.

"Well you should give it a shot. I would, if I wasn't about to retire."

"It doesn't even say where to send resumes or where interviews might be held. Or where the jobs might be."

Mrs. Spenser's eyebrows went up. "Does that even matter to you?" she asked.

"Well, no," sighed Rai. "Not really. Most of the friends I made since my grandfather died have moved away, so there's not much holding me here."

So she made a copy of the ad and took it to the little garden area in the courtyard of the library, and called the phone number listed.

"Personnel," came the single-word answer in a fairly pleasant woman's voice.

"I'm calling about the help-wanted ad," Rai began.

"Ah, good!" the voice exclaimed. "I have a few questions so I'll know where to connect you?"

"Um, okay."

"Thank you. First, where do you currently live?"

Didn't they know where they ran the ad? "Just at the edge of Ottawa."

"Canada?"

"No. Ottawa, Kansas. It's south and west of Kansas City." They ran the ad in Canada?

"Pardon me! So, Kansas...Ottawa. For which position or positions would you like to apply?"

"There are several I think I might have qualifications for, so maybe...three?"

"Good, good." Rai could hear keyboard noises. "Do you enjoy traveling or would you rather stay in one place?"

"I haven't traveled much but I enjoy it."

"Are you able to relocate if the job requires it?"

"Yes."

"Wonderful. Please hold and I will transfer your call."

"What?" Rai was too late, she could hear the tell-tale clicks of a phone transfer. "And why am I being transferred?" she muttered under her breath.

"So I can ask you more questions." An amused male voice answered, making her jump guiltily. "With so many positions placed in one ad we decided a little pre-sorting would help us out. My name is Eric, and I'm sorry if I startled you."

"No problem, Eric. I'm Rai."

"Good morning, Rai. So, you don't mind relocation and you enjoy travel."

"Yes, what little I've done so far."

"Where have you been?"

"Um, well, I grew up in New England with my maternal grandmother, then when she passed I came here to Kansas to take care of my fraternal grandfather. I've been to Florida on a road trip with friends, and camping in a couple of the national parks. That's about it."

"When you camped, was it in a tent or RV?"

"Tent." Why would that possibly matter?

"You've never been out of the USA?"

"No. Only in books!"

"So you probably only speak English?"

"Well, I can speak Spanish fairly well, and I know some Japanese and Chinese - to speak, I haven't learned to read or write much. And I know a few words in other languages that I've picked up here and there. You know, the usual 'where am I' and 'yes' and 'no', like that."

"Did you take language classes? Is that how you learned?"

"No. I was working with some people who spoke them, and I picked it up."

"Wasn't that difficult?"

"No, not really. It was kind of fun."

"Okay... So you probably have an ear for languages. That's always good." More keys clicking, reminding her that this was about a job, not just chatting. "Are you currently employed?"

"No, not right now. I was laid off several months ago."

"What job or jobs have you held?"

Rai took a deep breath and listed off her various jobs, from housekeeping and home health aide for relatives, to fast food, medical lab technician, and on down to airport employee.

"What sort of things did you do at the airport?" Eric asked curiously.

"I was a general worker and did a little bit of everything. I cleaned, was a desk clerk, answered phones, drove fuel trucks, logged flight plans, helped the mechanics, carried luggage, occasionally cooked for or provided taxi service for overnight guests - you name it."

"Did you by any chance learn anything about flying?"

"Yes!" she laughed self-consciously. "I learned to fly. But just single engines."

"Licensed?" He sounded a little excited.

"Yes, instrument rated."

"Rai, do you consider yourself to be fairly open-minded?"

THAT was a different question! "Well, yes, pretty much. I believe in right and wrong, but I don't think I'm very judgmental."

Okay. You're in Ottawa... Do you have transportation or a way to get to Olathe, Kansas?"

She blinked. "Yes, Olathe isn't far away. My car will make it."

"Can you come to an interview tomorrow?"

"Um, sure."

"All right, Rai. Here's what I want you to do. Go home and make a list of anything and everything you know how to do - even if you're not an expert. Just to give us a place to start, you understand."

"Not really..."

"Training can and will be provided, but it will help if we know what you know."

"Okay."

"Bring your list and your resume. Do you have an e-mail address and a phone number where you can be reached?"

She rattled both off, spelling out the e-mail address, then her name when he asked for her full name.

"Right. I'm e-mailing directions to you now. Bring your resume and your list of jobs, skills, and even hobbies with you tomorrow. Casual dress is fine; dress for comfort because it may be a long day. In fact, you might want to bring an overnight bag with necessities just in case. If it gets late and you get far enough through the process they may want to put you up somewhere so they can continue the next day."

"Seriously?"

"It has happened, and it's better to have your own things than to be unprepared, right?"

"Yes, you're right. Thanks."

"Thank you, Rai. Don't forget to check your e-mail."

She must have looked a little shocked when she went back into the library because Mrs. Spenser immediately waved her over.

"What did you find out, dear? Was it a hoax?"

"No, I think it was legit."

"Already filled?"

"No. I don't think so."

"So why do you look so - puzzled?"

"I, ah, I think the phone call was like a first-level interview. But I still don't really know what the job is."

"Do you have to wait for a call-back, then?"

"No. Second interview is tomorrow, in Olathe."

"Really?" The older woman sounded excited for her.

Thinking quickly, she asked "Mrs. Spenser, can you print a list of all the books I've checked out?"

The librarian blinked in surprise. "I think so. For what time period?"

"For the last three years? But non-fiction only, if you can do that."

"Let me see. This may take a bit," she said, and went to her computer. Rai went to one of the public computers and logged into her e-mail. In a very short time an e-mail arrived and she printed it out.

It took an hour and $5.00 worth of printer paper, but Rai left with the printed e-mail instructions and a book list. It would give her a head start on her skills and hobbies list.

By the time she got home she was beginning to feel a little excitement and even more curiosity. Why would they want to know hobbies? The e-mail had the verbal instructions Eric had given her repeated and expanded upon.

#1 - Resume. Check. She had some already printed and slipped a fresh one into a large manila envelope.

#2 - Skills list. She sat down at her computer with her book printout and got started. It took a while, and for each skill or hobby that she listed she provided a rough skill-level rating - basic, passable, or good. She also briefly described what she'd used each skill to do. It ended up being quite a list by the time she checked it off the instructions.

#3 - Proof of citizenship, degrees, certifications, or licenses. That didn't take long. She had her birth certificate, her driver's license, high school and medical lab tech diplomas, her technician's certificate, and her pilot's license.

#4 - Business-casual dress, wear comfortable clothes. Walking shoes and pants recommended for women.

Also included were directions and a map for the conference center, with the request that all interviewees be at the location by ten a.m. Lunch, beverages, and snacks would be provided.

Curiousier and curiousier, she thought. Maybe it wasn't a single company but something like a job fair? She'd have to wait and see.

There was nothing in the e-mail about bringing an overnight bag but Eric had made it a point to mention it, so she pulled out her backpack. She chose what to wear - her favorite black pants and a nice blouse. Her walking shoes were actually ankle-high black suede hiking boots, but they had good soles and were very comfortable even if she was on her feet a lot. Into the tote went a new, nice-looking pair of cargo pants, a knit tunic, socks and underclothes, and a tank and sleep shorts. After a few moment's thought she added her e-reader and her current crochet project. She left a space for her toiletry and makeup bags, then took a shower. She plugged in her phone to charge and went to bed early but laid awake a while, wondering...

She was up before the alarm, having slept lightly. She was too wound up to eat so she dressed and finished packing her tote, grabbed an oatmeal cookie and her water bottle, and gave herself plenty of driving time.

The map led her to one of the new conference centers on the outskirts of the city. She was early but not the first to arrive; there were a few people just inside the doors waiting for their turn at a check-in table. Everyone was being asked to sign in but keep their resumes and other paperwork for the time being.

The three people at the sign-in table were clean-cut and neatly dressed with a vaguely military air. As each applicant reached the table the first person would ask their name and have them sign in on a clipboard. The second would look it up on a small laptop and say a number, then the third person would write the name on a sticky name tag and direct the person towards a meeting room.

When it was Rai's turn, the second person, the one on the computer, looked up.

"Rai Taylor? Pilot's license?"

Rai nodded. The third person pressed a button on his lapel before handing her a name tag. Before she could move, another man in his late 20's or early 30's hustled up.

"Rai, right?" he asked, offering her his hand. "I'm Eric. We spoke on the phone yesterday."

"Oh, yes, Eric. Nice to meet you in person." And it was. He was nice looking and again there was something about him that made her think 'military'; maybe it was in his bearing. He led her away from the table in the opposite direction from where others had gone.

"Don't I need to go with..." she pointed vaguely behind them.

"Oh, no. Anyone with any flight experience goes this way first. We haven't gotten very many."

He led her to a small room with a few people sitting around a round table. There were several lean young men and an older woman with blonde hair just starting to go white. They all stood up.

"Ma'am? This is Rai Taylor. She has a pilot's license – single engine, instrument rating - the one I spoke to yesterday."

The woman nodded, smiling warmly. "Thank you, Eric."

Eric nodded to the woman, smiled at Rai, and left.

The woman turned her smile to Rai and extended a hand. "Hello, my name is Alex. Won't you sit down? May we call you Rai?" Rai nodded and they sat, the men following suit a moment later. "Eric was excited about your call yesterday. We haven't gotten many pilots."

"My license is only small single-engine planes," Rai said. "And I don't have a lot of airtime."

"That's not a problem. The aircraft we use are a little different anyway, so you'd still need training. May I see your papers?" she asked, motioning towards the manila envelope Rai carried. Rai handed it over and waited while Alex looked through them. Then Alex took up where she'd left off. "Our company has developed an unusual type of aircraft very few people have seen yet. It is very safe and generally easier to fly. We've used them for years but anyone we hire will have to train no matter their level of experience."

Rai nodded. That made perfect sense.

Alex went back through Rai's skills listing, slower this time. "You've collected quite a list of skills here, Rai. I'm impressed."

"I'm not an expert at anything on there," Rai told her. "Mainly I learned what I needed to keep our building functional. My skill level is basic to passing on most of them."

"Your building?"

"Apartment building - my landlady's. She elderly and not well off."

Alex's mouth quirked up a little. "So you probably didn't even get paid?"

"Well," Rai mentally squirmed a bit, "she let several of my friends move in, and there were times we didn't have all the rent. We did what we could to help out, to work off the difference. It has worked out fairly well so far but it's getting tight."

Alex nodded in understanding, then returned her attention to the papers. After looking through them once more she slipped them back into the envelope and returned them to Rai. "We have a flight simulator here. Since it's just us for now, would you like to give it a try? This is *not* a test; as I said, anyone hired will have to undergo training before they actually fly. But the simulator is kind of fun."

"Sure, I'd love to." Rai loved to fly but air time cost money. Simulators, at least the good ones, usually cost money too.

Alex nodded toward one of the younger men. "Jon? Would you help us with the simulator?" Then to Rai she confided, "I'm not that great. Jon can show you the basics and let you give it a try."

Jon offered his hand with an engaging grin. "I'm Jon. And you're gonna LOVE this!"

The simulator was dimly lighted and boxy on the inside, making her think more of a van than an airplane. The controls were odd, too. But the seats and the yokes were familiar, although some other instruments seemed to be missing. They sat down and Rai looked for straps.

"No seat-belts," Jon said. "No keys, either. Check this out." And with a smirk he pressed one hand to a glass plate on a console that protruded slightly between the seats. The plate flashed with blue-white light, then turned pale green and the panels lit up. A screen came on where the front windshield ought to be, with a simulated airport ground view. "These things can almost fly themselves," he continued as he took the yoke. "As long as you know what you want the craft to do, you'll be fine."

He eased the yoke back and they 'took off'. As he maneuvered he did some explaining/teaching. There were no foot pedals or flaps, and the aircraft was capable of vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter or Harrier jet. Jon brought it back around to 'land', turned it 'off', and said "Your turn!"

He said he'd talk her through it and proceeded to give her calm, clear instructions for each step. He seemed inordinately pleased when the palm-plate flashed blue-white before it turned green, but went on smoothly. Her first maneuvers were a little jerky but smoothed out quickly as she got the feel of the controls. She followed his directions - turn, climb, dive, hover (that took a little practice), etc - then landed with only the slightest simulated bump.

"That was cool!" she breathed, giving the yoke an absent minded little caress as she stood to follow Jon back out of the simulator.

There were several more people in the room wearing name tags now. Alex looked over and Jon gave her a thumb-up and a grin.

"She's a natural."

After the flight simulator Rai rejoined the main group of interviewees in a large classroom-like meeting room. There they filled out something that was between a questionnaire and a test. Rai suspected it tested for logic and maybe had some psychological factors, as some of the questions were phrased as hypothetical "what would you do" kinds of things. She thought she did okay although there was still no hint of what the job or jobs might entail.

Lunch was a catered buffet of sandwiches, salads, and fruit. Everything was very good and thankfully her nerves and her stomach had settled enough to let her enjoy her food. She sat with a group that had been around her in the meeting room and Eric came by.

"I don't suppose you can give us any hints as to what all this is leading up to? Rai asked him with a little smile.

"Nope," he answered cheerfully. "But I cantell you, whatever you're thinking, you're probably wrong."

"Wonderful," muttered one of the others at the table.

"Oh, I don't know," Rai said with a half-laugh. "I've got a pretty active imagination!"

Eric laughed. "Then you'll probably like it," he said enigmatically as he moved on. "Good luck!"

As the afternoon progressed there were more 'tests' and after each one they were separated into successively smaller groupings. Finally, around six in the evening, there were only ten people left in the last room Rai had entered. They all looked at each other curiously before sitting down to wait. They didn't have to wait long before an older man came in. He had gray hair, scars on his lower right arm, and the now-familiar military bearing. He wore a name tag that said "Reynolds".

He smiled at the group as he stood before them.

"Congratulations on making it this far. I'm sure you're all bursting with curiosity by now, and we won't leave you in suspense much longer. As some of you may have guessed, we are made up of both civilian and military personnel. From this point forward, what you will see and learn is classified and you will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Be aware that it is completely binding from the time you sign, and it will be strictly enforced.

Once we've taken care of that, the rest of our interview process will be held in a different location. Transport to and from is provided. If you brought an overnight bag, please go get it now and return to room 101. Anyone who chooses not to continue is welcome to leave now, no questions asked. For those who choose to continue, the NDA's will be at the door of room 101, and once everyone has signed one and logged in we'll head out. You have thirty minutes. If you have anyone waiting for you at home you might give them a call. Once we leave you will be out of touch until tomorrow afternoon."

Rai had a close parking spot and took a few minutes to call her landlady and one of her roommates and leave a message that she'd be away at least overnight, they might not be able to reach her, and that she'd call again when she knew more. Then she grabbed up her tote, locked up the battered old car, and went back inside. It appeared everyone else came back, too. The NDA's were handed out. Rai took the time to actually read it and it was pretty blunt: Any information you learned from this point forward in time was classified and was not to be spoken or written about in any location other than those specifically deemed secure, under penalty of imprisonment. She signed it, turned it in and signed a log-in sheet, then went back into room 101.

The people she'd met in the pilot's room and several of the other test administrators had come into the room and stood together in an open area at the front of the room. The woman who'd been collecting the signed papers outside the door came in, tucking the NDA's into a file, and nodded.

Reynolds raised his voice only slightly to get everyone's attention.

"Congratulations, everyone. Those of you in this room have passed our screening and can consider yourselves hired from this point, unless you decline – but we're pretty good judges of character here and we've only been wrong once so I'm not too worried. This will not be a typical job. It will take you incredible places, but from what we've seen of you most of you will thrive. Nothing I can tell you will prepare you so I'm not going to bother with that, I'll let you see it all for yourselves.

Please pick up your belongings and gather up here in the front of the room. Don't be shy, step in close, inside the blue line," he indicated a line of tape on the floor.

The interviewees looked puzzled as they complied, and the others looked...smug.

"We are heading out," Reynolds said, grinning broadly. "Prepare to be amazed."

Then he touched what Rai had thought was a tiny Bluetooth headset on his ear and said, "We're ready."

And the room disappeared in a flash of white light...