Part 2
Aiden Ford watched as Kolya allowed the creatures to feed of the wounds he’d inflicted on John Sheppard and fought the urge to put a stop to it. There was only so much blood in the human body, and Ford knew Kolya would have to call an end to it soon, or risk Sheppard’s death before they had the information they needed. Ford tilted his head slightly, watching the colonel’s face as the Traxians bore deeper into the wounds.
The first ones, on his arms had all but disappeared under the man’s skin, but he could still see their outline as they fed on Sheppard’s blood. “How long will you allow them to feed?” Ford asked.
“Why? Are you having regrets, Lieutenant?” Kolya asked.
“I’m not a lieutenant anymore and no I don’t have any regrets. I made my choice and no matter what Sheppard and the others think of what I am now I’ll continue to grow strong. I simply want to point out that he only has so much blood and those things are getting plump,” Ford pointed out.
Kolya stepped up to the bed and knew Ford was right. There really was no choice, but to remove them before there was irrevocable damage and Sheppard succumbed to shock and blood loss. He reached for the knife and slowly placed the tip where he could see the Traxians mandibles working as it’s razor sharp teeth fed upon the colonel’s body. He made a second cut and reached inside, latching onto the creatures head. “Well, Colonel, I guess you have a reprieve…for now.”
John heard the hated man’s voice and fought the mounting nausea that churned in his gut. He forced his eyes open and felt the man’s fingers reach beneath his skin. His teeth clenched tightly as Kolya began pulling on the first Traxian, tearing it form his body as if he was plucking a splinter instead of a live creature. Sheppard continued to scream, the sound mixing with the ululating screeches of the Traxians.
Michael watched Kolya, enjoying the pain that he was causing Sheppard as one by one the Traxians were pulled free and dropped into a metal container with a sickeningly bloated squelch. The Colonel remained conscious; aware of exactly what was being done, yet unable to stop it. Alone and in pain, John Sheppard might just understand how he felt, but that no longer mattered. What mattered was revenge, and that would come only when they had what they needed from their captive.
“Well, Colonel, I must say you’re either stronger than I gave you credit for or incredibly loyal,” Kolya said once he’d removed the final Traxian and looked at Sheppard’s bloodied wounds. There were exactly one dozen wounds, one for each of the creatures, and Kolya knew they would not heal easily. The Traxians left a chemical at the base of the wound when they fed on live bait and it would affect Sheppard’s natural healing abilities for several days. The wounds themselves would remain moist and if this was a normal feeding for the Traxians, they would feed again and again on Sheppard’s body. Perhaps, once he had the information he required he would place Sheppard in a box with the Traxians and watch as they fed upon his body.
“Go…to…hell…” John managed and swallowed several times in an effort to get his rebelling stomach under control.
“Well, I do have things to discuss with my colleagues so we will let you rest…and rest you should, Colonel, for I…or rather we have only just begun.
John watched the trio leave and renewed his struggle to escape, but the restraints held him fast and he was suddenly very aware of how vulnerable…and naked he was. Kolya had left him nothing, not even his dignity and right now that was worse than the throbbing pain centered around the wounds to his body. He knew he had to escape, but right now he was too damn tired to think, let alone act. A voice followed him under a hint of a smile formed on his bruised face.
‘You promised you’d follow us through, Sheppard, and I’m not letting you back out on that promise…’
“I h…hear you, Rodney…got…got promises to…to keep,” Sheppard mumbled, but only the Traxians heard and their bloated bodies convulsed in their cage as they fought to escape.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney McKay shot bolt upright in his bed and cried out, his hands brushing away at whatever had caused the vivid dream. Something was eating at him, and he needed to get the creatures off, but there were so many and his mind would not release him from the nightmare until someone latched onto his arms and held them tightly.
“Rodney, it’s a dream, Lad, come on now before you hurt yourself,” Carson Beckett’s voice was heavily accented and filled with worry as he fought to control the fear stricken man who seemed to be trying to rid his body of something only he could see.
“Eating me…God…help me…”
“Rodney,” Beckett tried again and called for the nurse to bring him a sedative. “Rodney…listen to me…”
McKay thought he heard someone calling to him, but the creatures were burrowing under his skin…biting him…draining him…killing him and he could not answer. He fought to breath, felt something enter his arm and renewed his efforts to get free, but the hands that held him were too strong and he dropped back against his pillows as the nightmare rushed from him and left him gasping for air.
“Car…Carson…”
“Rodney, are you with me now?” Beckett asked, relieved when McKay looked directly at him. There was none of the fear he’d seen there a few seconds ago, but he knew whatever Rodney had experienced in his dreams had followed him into the real world.
“We have to go after him,” McKay managed, glancing at the others in the room before his eyes came to rest on Ronan Dex.
“Rodney, right now you’re in no shape to go after anyone,” Beckett lightly scolded.
“You don’t understand, Carson, they’re doing things to him. Hurting him…and he’s not going to be able to wait for us,” McKay told them, unconsciously rubbing at his arms as if there was something there.
“How do you know…”
“I don’t know, Teyla, it’s like I…it’s like Sheppard is trying to reach out for us, but he’s weak. Kolya is a mean bastard and we all know what he did to Sheppard the last time. If the wraith hadn’t reversed the effects we wouldn’t even be having this conversation,” McKay could feel whatever was in the shot Beckett had given him and felt his mind beginning to drift. “I promise…promise not to…to give up until I find h…him…”
“Rest, Rodney, we’re not giving up either,” Beckett vowed, and turned to see the others watching him. “He’s going to be fine, but he needs to rest. So do the both of you and I’m not in the mood for arguments right now. I’m as worried as the rest of you about Colonel Sheppard, but there’s nothing either of you can do to help right now.”
“We know you are, Dr. Beckett,” Teyla told him and sank back onto the pillows, but sleep would not come easily as she thought about the people of Atlantis and how much their lives had been changed since first encountering the Wraith.
Beckett turned the lights down low and made his way toward his office to finish the reports he’d started before McKay’s cries of distress had reached him. He sat down and ran his fingers through his hair before picking up the pen he’d dropped on the floor. It had been a gift from John Sheppard when he returned from one of his off world missions and was rarely out of Carson’s pocket.
Sheppard had saved his life on more than one occasion and had proven to be a good friend. The colonel would often come down to the infirmary just to talk and Beckett smiled at the thought of what the others would think if they’d known about Sheppard’s visits. Most people knew the man had an adverse reaction whenever he was a patient, and would be somewhat surprised to find Sheppard in Beckett’s office by choice.
Carson thought about Elizabeth Weir and knew the woman had a lot on her plate since taking over the Atlantis mission. It had come as a surprise to find Colonel John Sheppard not only had the ATA, but it was so strong in him that everything seemed to come naturally to him. He could activate anything he encountered on Atlantis without as much as a second thought.
‘Except for that elusive turkey sandwich,’ Beckett thought and leaned back in his seat. He’d often thought about Aiden Ford and what had become of the young lieutenant who’d been so enthusiastic about the trip to Atlantis. Ford had told him how Sheppard had simply thought about certain things and they seemed to appear, but no matter how hard he’d tried, Sheppard had failed to produce a turkey sandwich or any other food for that matter.
A slight smile formed at the thought, but quickly disappeared in the wake of the fact that Sheppard was missing and in the hands of his worst nightmare. ‘Hold on, Colonel, we’ll find you lad,’ Beckett said, giving up on the idea of working on the files. There was no use when all he could think of was the wraith that had fed upon Sheppard because Kolya had wanted information.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
John Sheppard knew only one thing as he fought his way back to consciousness and that was movement not only caused pain, but renewed the nausea that churned in his gut. He could hear small sounds, but he could not turn his head because of the strap across his forehead. Little chittering noises came from the bottom of his bed and again he tried to lift his head, becoming frustrated when he could move nothing but his fingers and toes. Something sharp dug into his ankles, and he cried out angered at being so helpless.
“Sonofabitch!” Sheppard cried when the creature seemed to be climbing his body and finally sat on his chest. There was no mistaking the humanoids he’d seen on PX713-29, and John grew hopeful when he looked into the soft turquoise colored eyes. The chittering sounds continued as the small being’s mouth moved side to side, but John could not understand what it was saying, if it was indeed speaking to him and not about him.
“I don’t know if you can understand me, but I need your help…could you…could you untie me…maybe get off my chest so I can breathe…please…please help me…just undo the straps,” Sheppard’s frustration mounted when the being shifted, digging claw like appendages into his wrists. He gritted his teeth and tried to ride out the pain and was shocked when he discovered he could actually move his arms and legs.
Sheppard again found the humanoid staring at him and held his breath when the creature touched his forehead, letting it out with a gasp of surprise and pain. There was no doubt that it was releasing him, but the sharp talons cut into his flesh whenever it touched him. The chittering noises continued and Sheppard realized it must be their form of communication as several more creatures joined in and seemed to be speaking with each other.
Sheppard tried to sit forward once he was free, but his body was suddenly shocked into a convulsion that raged from jagged nerve endings. The muscles in his neck corded and he tried to ride out the pain, but the creatures were not giving him a chance to adjust as they lifted him from the bed and stood him on quivering legs. His hands were clasped and he managed to open his eyes in time to see his benefactor staring up at him.
“Do you have a name?” Sheppard asked, shaking his head when it just stared up at him before pointing to the doorway at the back of the structure. “You want me to go that way?”
John heard the change in their sounds and knew something was setting them off as he was dragged by the smaller humanoids toward the open door and what he hoped would mean an escape route. He ignored the agony twisting through his body and prayed he had enough strength to get clear, but as they stepped through the gate those hopes were dashed as he looked up to find one of his worst nightmares standing there.
“Going somewhere, Sheppard?” Michael asked and reached out to latch onto one of the creatures who stood in front of the captive. He began to feed and smiled when Sheppard tried to save the smaller humanoid, but was felled by a blow to his lower back.
John couldn’t move as two more of the wraith hybrids pressed down on his shoulders and forced him to watch as Michael drained the life from the dying creature. His eyes filled with angry sorrow, but there was nothing he could do to stop Michael.
“Kill them!” Michael ordered.
“Run!” John screamed at the others and fought the wraiths that held him down. He heard gunfire and closed his eyes as several creatures were dispatched by the weapons Michael’s followers used. A hand clamped down on his chin and forced his head upward until he stared into Michael’s eyes. There was nothing, but hatred in the black depths and John knew there was none of the human side left as the wraith smiled at him and allowed the others to help him stand.
“Bring him along,” Michael ordered with a slight grin.
“You bastard!” Sheppard spat, his breath coming in hitching gasps as he tried to pull away from his captors.
“You killed them yourself, Sheppard, much as your kind kills everything it touches,” Michael spat without turning around.
John felt the bitter taste of bile in his throat and fought the urge to be sick as they stepped over the bodies that littered the ground. He could see several more creatures rushing over to their fallen brothers and sisters and wished there was some way to express his feelings. They looked at him with a mixture of sorrow and pity and John vowed he would make Michael and his followers pay. ‘I can’t bring them back, but I can promise I will stop it from happening to the rest of you,’ John thought and added it to the growing list of promises to keep.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
John’s life was quickly becoming a one way trip into hell and he had his very own version of Satan in triplicate. Michael had returned him to his small cell and left him alone with his thoughts and right now they were murderous. He wanted nothing more than to kill the trio holding him captive and make them suffer for what they’d done to not only him and his team, but to the little humanoids who had done nothing more than try to save his life.
John shifted on the small bed and frowned when he realized the wounds made by the leech like creatures were burning and he rubbed his temples in an effort to ease the pain growing there. His stomach rumbled and he tried to remember the last time he’d had anything to eat or drink and realized it had been at least a couple of days. As if someone had been reading his mind the cell opened and one of Michael’s followers entered carrying a tray that he placed on the floor, just inside the door.
The wraith hybrid left without speaking and John hurried to the tray and hoped it was something he could eat. The smell was amazing in spite of the mush like quality and blood red color. Sheppard lifted the tray, pointedly ignoring the pain fighting for attention as he settled on the bed and placed the tray alongside him. There was a contained that held a blue liquid and he sniffed at it, eyes widening in amazement at the pleasant aroma that reached his nostrils. It reminded him of the fruit punch his grandmother always made around Christmas time.
His mouth was parched and he lifted the container and took several sips before looking at the mushy substance in the small wooden bowl. He knew he had to eat, and it didn’t smell too bad, but he’d been without anything substantial long enough that his stomach rebelled at the thought of eating. There were no utensils and he lifted the bowl to his lips and used his bare fingers to scoop some of the mixture into his mouth. It tasted spicy with a hint off sweetness that bordered on sickening, but John forced the mixture down before turning his attention to the unknown juice.
John could almost hear Carson warning him to be careful of the things he ate, especially on worlds he knew little or nothing about. ‘I hear you, Carson, but I don’t have much choice,’ Sheppard thought and drank the liquid. It was cool and refreshing, again reminding him of his grandmother and John greedily drank every drop before placing it back on the tray. He licked at dry lips and frowned when a sharp pain in his gut threatened to take his breath away.
The pain didn’t last long, but something told him he should have heeded Beckett’s silent warning as a wave of knifing agony twisted through his stomach. He lay on the bed and curled into a fetal position as the door opened and Michael stepped inside. John could feel the wraith hybrid watching him and tried to speak, but he couldn’t breathe as his lungs constricted. He squeezed his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth in an effort to bring his body’s natural functions back under control, but the pain continued even as someone grabbed a handful of his hair and lifted his head.
“Now, Colonel, you know something of how we felt when Beckett’s retrovirus was forced upon us. This will not kill you, but I promise it is a lesson you will never forget and perhaps there will come a time when you will come to realize what your people did was wrong. You had no right to change who we are…”
“You fe…feed on u…us…we ha…have the r…right to pro…protect ourselves,” Sheppard ground out.
“And we have the right to feed whenever we need to,” Michael whispered, and held his hand in front of the captive’s face.
Sheppard’s breath caught in his throat when he looked at the razor sharp teeth and tried to pull away, but Michael held fast, pulling John’s head back until it seemed like his neck would snap.
“I could drain the life from you now and no one on Atlantis would ever know what happened unless I sent your shriveled husk back to them as a reminder of how low on the food chain your people are,” Michael vowed.
John struggled against the hold Michael had on his hair, but the pain was so bad it continued to suck the air from his straining lungs. There was no relief from the agony raging a war on his insides, but John continued to fight eve as Michael drew him to his feet. His hands came up to latch onto Michael’s arm, but the strength was not there and Michael laughed harshly as he held him so that their faces were less than two inches apart.
John’s stomach grew worse as the stench of Michael’s breath and body assaulted his nostrils, but he fought against the bitter bile rising in his throat. Without warning, the wraith hybrid threw him against the wall and he dropped heavily onto his bed. He tried to stand, but the world around him was no longer color, but a black and white haze that had a surreal feel to it and he allowed the darkness to reach up and pull him under.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Ronan Dex strode toward Elizabeth Weir’s office with one thought in mind. Somehow he had to convince her they needed to search for Colonel John Sheppard before it was too late. Four day had passed since they’d come back from the ill fated trip to PX713-29, four days in which the missing man was in the hands of a madman. He hadn’t been there during the initial contact with the Former Genii Commander, but what he’d seen in the latest meeting made his blood run cold.
Because of his actions, Kolya had alienated everyone on Atlantis and probably on the Genii home world as well. Now Sheppard was in his hands again and the man had no conscience, he’d kill Sheppard without a moments’ hesitation. Ronan took a deep breath before pushing Weirs door open and stepping inside. “When are you going to let us go after Sheppard?”
“Good morning to you too, Ronan…”
“Good morning…well?”
“Ronan when did Carson release you?”
“An hour ago...what does that have to do with searching for Sheppard?”
“What did he tell you to expect?”
“What do you mean?”
“Headaches? Weakness? Nausea?”
“I know what to look for, but I’m not having any of those things. Look, Dr. Weir, you know what Kolya is capable of and he won’t hesitate to kill Sheppard! I won’t let that happen.”
“Neither will I, but right now we have nothing to go on. Going back to PX713-29 is not an option so where do you suggest we start?” Weir snapped.
“Ladon Radim…”
“Radim has proven to be trustworthy, Ronan, and he can’t be held accountable for everything Kolya did or will do. I have teams looking for information on Sheppard and believe it or not Radim has asked to be notified when we find John so he can send some of his people to help us out,” Weir explained. “He has as much to lose as we do if Kolya isn’t stopped.”
“Does he? Kolya has Sheppard,” Dex told her and saw the look on her face that spoke of the pain she felt. Somehow he’d struck a chord with her and he realized she wanted nothing more than to get her hands on the former Genii commander.
“Ronan, we’ve been in contact with the planets Teyla has brought us to and they are going to keep their eyes and ears open. They’ll contact us as soon as there’s any news of Kolya,” Weir told him. “Meanwhile you need to take it easy…”
“When you find him…I’m going…”
“I wouldn’t dream of trying to stop you, Ronan,” Elizabeth said. She knew Ronan Dex had a lot of respect for John Sheppard and had formed a friendship with Satedan warrior. Ronan had reacted with anger when he saw the wraith feeding on Sheppard, they all had, but that was the first time she realized just how close the two men were. Their bond had become that of warrior brothers and there was a deep abiding respect that went with the relationship.
“He’s alive, but he won’t be if we don’t find him soon,” Ronan said simply before turning and leaving Weir to stare after him. Ronan was a quiet man, and he’d just bared a part of him seldom seen by anyone in Atlantis. She returned to her desk and the list of planets Teyla had brought them to and prayed there’d be news soon.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney slid off the edge of the bed and stood on his own two feet for the first time in several days. Beckett was finally setting him free, but only after he’d promised the physician that he wouldn’t go doing anything stupid. As if Rodney McKay ever did anything remotely resembling stupid, okay so let’s not count the personal protection device. That really ranked up there and he knew he would never live it down.
McKay reached for his shirt, crying out when the movement became a painful reminder of the injured ribs.
“Let that be a lesson to you, Rodney,” Beckett lightly chastised. “Broken ribs are painful and it’s going to take some time for them to heal. You need to rest and don’t do anything…”
“Stupid? I get it, Carson,” McKay snapped. “I don’t have any plans to go off world…and anything that requires my attention can be brought to my quarters.”
“Good,” Beckett said and moved to help the Canadian into his shirt. It took some doing, but he managed to get McKay into his clothes and walked him toward the door. Rodney could easily push his buttons, but there were times when he actually felt sorry for the man. Right now he felt sorry for McKay, simply because it looked like a man who’d lost his best friend, and Beckett realized that was closer to the truth than he thought possible. Sheppard and McKay had forged a friendship in spite of Rodney’s obnoxious need to remind everyone just how smart he was.
“We have to find him, Carson. John Sheppard understands who I am,” McKay said softly.
“I know, Rodney, and we will,” Beckett said, amazed at how much McKay had shown of himself with that simple sentence. He stood in the doorway and watched McKay make his way down the corridor, wishing he could do something, anything to help in the search for John Sheppard.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
John Sheppard no longer saw it as different aches because his whole body was awash with agony that had no starting or ending point. There was no longer any sense of his right arm hurting or his head pounding or his gut being on fire because everything had been rolled into one massive pain. John had no idea how long it had been since he’d eaten the tainted food, but he remembered Kolya visiting him and asking question after question about Atlantis.
John opened is eyes and looked up at the man he’d once called friend and felt saddened by the events that led to the changes in him, both physical and mental. Ford’s eyes were dark and cold now with none of the warmth and humor that had once been there. Sheppard held his breath and finally managed to stand up and face Ford only to have the man shove him back down.
“What the hell did you do that for?”
“Because I could, Colonel,” Ford answered with a grin. “That’s the best thing about all this…or should I say one of the best. I can do what I want…when I want…and to whomever I want. There’s no one to tell me what I do is wrong…simply because there is no one powerful enough to make me back down…”
“Aiden, listen to me,” Sheppard said and managed to get into a sitting position once more. “Beckett’s been working on the enzyme’s affects and he’s hoping he can…”
“Can what, Colonel? Turn me back to what I was so that you can order me around? I don’t think so…never again. I’m strong and I can do anything I want!”
“Aiden…”
“No!” Ford spat and grabbed Sheppard around the throat, squeezing tightly as he lifted the colonel to his feet and smiled. “I will never be that Aiden Ford again! I am stronger and better than I was then and I’ve learned some new things, Colonel. I’ve learned to enhance the enzyme and make it’s affects last longer.”
“What happens when Michael and the other Wraith find out what you’re doing? Do you think they’ll just let you keep harvesting the enzyme?”
“It doesn’t really matter what they think…they can’t touch me…they need me,” Ford said.
“Aiden…come back to Atlantis…don’t give up on us…”
“Why not? It seems to me that you gave up on me! You left me to die in the hive ship, but I survived…on my own and I’m going to continue to survive…on my own!” Ford said and used his strength to show Sheppard exactly what he could do. He lifted his former commander off his feet, tightening his grip on Sheppard’s throat and threw him against the wall.
Sheppard fought to stay conscious, and stared up at the man who continued to stand there. “Aiden, we…you and I are friends…I know y…you’re not in c…control right now, but y…you will be and some…day you’ll be that Aiden Ford again…the one I’m proud to c…call friend…”
“No! That’ll never happen!” Ford said and strode out of the cell, locking the door behind him.
It took several long minutes before Sheppard could breathe again and he slowly sat up, cataloguing the injuries caused by his latest encounter with one of his captives. He tried to remember exactly what it was they wanted, but right now all he could think about was a nice hot bath, a shave, and a warm bed. He slid down on the cot and closed his eyes and thought about his home and the people who lived there. Were they searching for him? Would they even know where he was when he didn’t even know? Given time…would they give up on him? God, he hoped not and finally let his mind go, it was easier than dealing with the pain.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
The small species John had first encounter on PX713-29 were nomadic creatures known as Venites, who traveled easily through timelines and dimensions. Their true shape was hard for most creatures to see and that was the reason they’d chosen this form when entering this dimension. They looked for uninhabited planets and lived there until they were discovered before quickly moving on. They seldom interfered or got involved with the beings they encountered and would have done the same with these people except that there was something to be said for the humans they’d met.
Colonel John Sheppard had made an impression on them when he’d first stepped through the stargate and they’d sensed something of the ancients in him. The others, Ford, Kolya, and the wraith had attacked before they could speak to Sheppard and his fellow humans and taken the opportunity away from them. They could understand the language spoken, but did not speak to the trio who attacked Sheppard and taken him prisoner.
Sheppard was injured badly and many of them wanted to help him, but there were those who continued to speak of non interference with other races. Their fellow travelers, whose shells now lay withering in the compound, had lived for hundreds of years and adhered to that philosophy, but for many Venites it was time for a change. Their language sounded more like a series of clicks and beeps, but it was a complex series of noises that when put together with certain inflexions made sense to others of their species.
As one of the oldest Venite, Lo’ra’tek was now given the task of making a decision about Colonel John Sheppard. They could help him, but not physically because they could no longer chance being caught by Sheppard’s captives. He knew some would be angered by his decision, but most of his fellow travelers would be in full agreement with his decisions. He quickly used the clicks and beeps to explain his plan and walked away before giving anyone a chance to speak up. He walked to the area where the dead Venites lay in the sun and closed his eyes. It took several moments for his energy signature to release itself and move away from the body he’d been inside.
Lo’ra’tek could see the others and they could see him, but to anyone else he would appear as a simple flash of light that undulated as it moved. He nodded to the others and moved to the cell housing John Sheppard and slid beneath the door. Once inside he moved to the human who had strong ties to the Ancients and possibly be a direct descendant of those who were the first travelers.
It took several attempts, but Lo’ra’tek finally managed to break the language barrier and speak to Sheppard. “Colonel, I have come to tell you that we are going to help you, but it will be some time before your people get here. There is nothing we can do to help you physically, but I am leaving now for Atlantis and I will give your people the coordinates for this planet. I am not sure how long it will take, but they will find you. Do you understand, Colonel?”
“Yes,” John whispered, frowning when he realized he seemed to be talking to nothing, yet there was something there, just at the edge of his vision. “Talk…talk to Rodney…McKay…”
“Rodney McKay,” Lo’ra’tek repeated and wished there was some way he could ease Sheppard’s pain.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney McKay’s dreams were troubled in spite of the medication Beckett was giving him. He gave up on sleep and moved to his desk and hoped he could get his mind off John Sheppard. He’d promised he wouldn’t give up, but with each passing day and no word on the missing colonel, McKay was finding it hard to keep that promise. He looked at the clock and realized the rest of Atlantis was still in darkness, while his room was bathed by the light cast by his laptop.
Rodney ran his fingers through his hair and blinked several times in an effort to clear his vision. Several times he’d thought he’d seen something moving just outside his range of vision, but it disappeared as soon as he looked directly at it. He placed the heels of his hands against his eyes and rubbed them in an effort to clear the cobwebs and rid his eyes of the images that shouldn’t be there.
“Rodney McKay…”
“What? Who’s there?” McKay asked, searching his room, but finding nothing out of the ordinary except an oddly shaped undulating glob of light in the corner. He reached for the alarm, but the next words made him sit up and listen.
“I am called Lo’ra’tek and I can help you find John Sheppard…”
“Oh, God, where is he?” McKay asked.
“There is a planet that is shadowed by several others and is not always visible to the naked eye. It has a gate, but it does not always work because of the gaseous outer atmosphere. It is not a planet where living things can thrive, but there are areas that can support life. John Sheppard is being held there.”
“Can we use the gate to get there?”
“It is possible, but we have no idea what effect travel through that gate would have on your kind. Kolya and the others…”
“Others? I thought it was just Kolya?”
“Kolya…Michael…and Ford…”
“Sonofabitch! I need to tell Elizabeth and the others. Where did you say this planet was? How long will it take us to get there?”
“I will show you on your laptop, but we must hurry,” Lo’ra’tek told him.
Rodney moved out of the way and watched as a series of numbers and words appeared on his screen. They were coordinates and a gate number, but his visitor was adamant about the dangers of using the gate to travel. It would take them several jumps in one of the Puddle Jumpers, but they could be at the coordinates in less than twenty four hours. “We’re coming, Sheppard, just hold on a little longer.”
“You will help him?”
“Yes…can you…are you going back?”
“Yes,” Lo’ra’tek assure him and was relieved that this man seemed to understand that they had to move quickly.
“Tell him…tell him he has a promise to keep,” McKay said and grabbed his laptop, ignoring the pain that flared from his broken ribs. He raced past the energy figure and hurried along the darkened corridor toward Elizabeth Weir’s quarters, hope flaring in the wake of the news he had to impart.
PART 1 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5 / PART 6 / PART 7 / PART 8
Authors Appreciate Feedback. Email Winnie.