Authors notes:

1) A big thank you to Suzotchka for taken her time out to Beta read this for me, much appreciated.

2) This is revised & edited version of The End of the Road/The Invasion begins. I've put it down to one story with a new title The Path Not Taken. Watch out for hints of what's come.

3) Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last version and I hope this reads much better. Enjoy.


THE PATH NOT TAKEN

Chapter One: -

Atlantis control room:

"Control room this is Sheppard we are coming in hot and we might have company get ready to raise the gate shield once we are through!" He shouted over the Atlantis comm.

"Company?"

But before John could respond to the unexpected voice, he and his team Rodney, Teyla and Ronon came through the gate, firing at something at the same time. Within seconds white light followed them through, its eerie glow lighting up the entire room. The light softened and formed into that of a large bird creature, it was almost bigger then Stargate itself, which had now shut down. It made a threatening gesture at the team by squawking a loud pitch noise; it sounded hawk like and flapped its 'blue electrified' wings wildly. The group continued to fire at it but the bullets had little effect as they bounced off it harmlessly or passed straight through and the empty shells clattered to the floor. Even blasts from Ronon's gun dissolved on touch.

Whilst firing his P-90 John called out to the technician. "Put the city under Lockdown, we can't let this creature get any further." By now more security men both from Atlantis and the Daedalus had joined in to stop it.

"Don't let it touch you." Shouted Teyla but the warning came too late.

Sensing the combined 'threat,' the creature had flown over Sheppard's team and kicked out with both it 'claws,' striking down two of the security men behind them with what looked like lighting blows. It then headed towards the closing doors. Forming the right shape it flew through the gab before they sealed shut.

"Crap, open the control room door…" It was then John realised who was currently in charge.

"Colonel, when did you get here? Where is Dr Weir?"

"Colonel Sheppard. I told Dr Weir to take some time 'off,' she looked like she needed it. Where did that thing spring from?"

"Explain later, we have to stop it before it does any harm."

"Does any harm, it's already killed two of my men."

Listening to the conversation Rodney jumped in speaking as loud as he could over the noise of gunfire. "Trust me Sir I believe they are only stunned."

Teyla then joined in. "And I think it's more scared then we are." Followed by Ronon.

"Which might make it more of a threat."

Considering what is taking place Rodney couldn't believe Ronon just said that and mumbled at him. "Oh, that's right state the obvious why don't you."

But Ronon was quick to react and answered back. "Well if you hadn't disturbed the creature in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Hay blame me for a change, who's idea was it to…"

The intercom crackled into life, which silenced the pair of them.

"Dr. Weir to control room, what the hell is going on? Why the lockdown?"

Before Caldwell answered he indicated to Sheppard and his team to carry on.

"We have a security breach…" came Caldwell's response.

Those were the last words Sheppard heard before leaving the room. Rodney on the other hand remained behind to coordinate the search on the main scanner.

South Pier:

"Some kind of creature has breached the control room. With any luck, it's stuck between closed doors near the Control Tower."

Weir heard Rodney's voice cut in.

"Negative sir, look's like it has breached those as well, it's heading towards the South Pier."

"How, the hell did it manage that?" She asked, before Caldwell could say anything.

"My guess is, that it's using its energy type thing to short circuit the control panels. If it can do that I'm attempting to re-open the doors before it leaves me with a load of repair work to do."

Elizabeth heard Caldwell cut in. "Rodney are you sure that's wise?"

"No I'm not but if the doors and bullets can't stop it, I very much doubt anything can."

She heard Rodney carrying on, advising Sheppard and his team of its moves.

"Look I'm at the South Pier, I'm heading back to the control room."

Rodney piped in again. "Elizabeth, you might want to take the other route, I'm tracking the creature and it's not far from your location… it's sure moving fast. Sheppard's team, are not far behind it, he's informed me they are gathering supplies.'

"How close is it?"

"Not far, at least three doors away, no make that two doors from your current position."

"Make that one I can see light coming from around the corner." With that she dashed back the way she came not chancing a second look back.

"Tell them to hurry." With that she terminated the connection. 'So much for a quiet run' she thought to herself.

Somewhere between Control Tower and South Pier:

"Sheppard this is Caldwell, you might what to pick up the pace a little it's heading towards the South Pier, Dr Weir is in that vicinity."

"Understood, we've picked up our supplies from the armoury with any luck something we have will stop it." Sheppard was staring at the Wraith stunner he was holding when he terminated connection.

South Pier:

Taking the other route back to the control tower Elizabeth headed towards the nearest transporter. Coming towards the end of the corridor she took a right. She heard the sound of the creatures high pitched squawk and saw the corridor was slowly filling up with light. She didn't wait for it to catch up and rounded another corner this time to the left. She could now here gunfire and Wraith stunners echoing the hallway and Sheppard's voice over the noise. "The Wraith stunners are working it's slowing down." With that she heard the clatter of P-90's followed by the constant burst of stunners.

Now outside the transporter she was about to reach for the controls when the sound of its flapping wings made her turn round. For some reason it seem to calm down and the electricity that ran through its form began to die down. Sheppard who was now standing behind it with the others, took advantage of this and fired three multiple blasts; each one hitting its target. The creature reacted turning blue for an instant and the electricity in it spiked again and it advanced forwards. Lorne's team showed up next to her and they began firing stunners too.

The creature was constantly hit on both sides, it seem to waver under the strain turning full blue with every other hit, of attacks and the electricity from it was fading. After the constant bombardment the creature faltered it slowly made a threatening gesture at Lorne's men before continuing its previous advance. For a brief moment out of the corner of her eye Elizabeth could have sworn she saw a ghostly image of Rodney by her side. As Lorne stepped in the creature's path but he was knocked away with a bolt of electricity produced from a swipe of its claw.

In a state of panic without looking to see what she was doing, Elizabeth tried to fumble for the elevator controls but by the time she found the switch it was too late. As the doors hummed open, there was a flash of lighting and the whole area filled with that eerie light and then it faded out and the creature was gone. Sheppard's team could then see the aftermath of what happened.

TBC