You're Not Alone
Her feet hit the log hard and she used it to propel herself a few yards through the dense forest. Arms and legs pumping in sync she increased her speed ducking and weaving her obstacles. She could hear her enemy fast approaching she needed more speed but her body would not comply. That was when she felt it the first wraith stunner hit her she stumbled at first before regaining her balance and turning on her heal. She figured she was going to have to shoot this one out, she pulled her powerful gun from it's holster on her hip and aimed it at the spot where the shot had come from a gratifying grunt came from the spot where she had just shot the wraith. She pulled up her gun to shoot the next wraith but before she could shoot him another wraith blast hit her, she when down and the last thing she was briefly aware of before she blacked out was the sound of gunfire.
Colonel Sheppard was leading his team, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan and Ronon Dex through the dense forestry of P3X-908 yet another seemingly uninhabited planet that was on the Atlantis database. McKay was waving around a device he had in his hand,
"The forest is too dense I can't pick anything up on my sensor,"
"Well then Rodney we'll have to explore this planet the old fashioned way," Sheppard joked,
"Ha ha your hilarious. How long have we been walking for?"
Teyla glanced at her watch, "Five minutes,"
"Really feels longer,"
"Stop complaining McKay,"
In the middle of the chatting they failed to notice Ronon had stopped walking,
"What's up Chewie?"
"I can here shots. Wraith stunners." with that Ronon took off into the forest,
"Oh do we have to run?" McKay wined as the others took off after the Satedan. Ronon was far ahead to the others and was first to see the wraith he pulled out his gun and shot the first he saw which went down quickly with the force of his powerful gun which was set on kill he quickly turned at took down the second wraith that was leering over something. He spotted a third wraith but discovered it was already dead with a huge burn wound on it's chest. Just as he was about to find out what the wraith had been fawning over Sheppard and Teyla caught up with him,
"There already dead," Sheppard complained,
"You should run faster," he kneeled down and picked something up, "They were trackers,"
"Trackers? As in the wraith that hunt runners?" Teyla asked,
"Yeah," he grunted,
"I don't see a runner,"
"He went in that direction," Ronon answered pointing his arm east,
"Let's go find him then,"
"Sheppard, he's not going to want our help,"
"That dose not mean we should not offer it," Teyla intervened.
Ronon began tracking the runner just as McKay caught up with them, his breathing erratic and his face red,
"What did I miss?"
Ronon ignored him and headed off to find the runner while Teyla and Sheppard filled in McKay.
Astrid walked quickly, as quick as she could without passing out, she still had the aftereffects of the wraith stunner but she wanted to get away from the other people as soon as possible. It wasn't that she wasn't grateful for their intervention because she was but she would not bring her curse down on anyone else. She was planning on heading east on the planet then doubling back to the Ring on the Ancestors to find an uninhabited planet where she can hide from the wraith for a little while. She headed through some more thick foliage when she herd something make noise, something that wasn't her. She pulled her gun out and pointed in the direction of the noise but her vision was blurring and she could barely see a foot in front of her. Ronon peered around the tree he was using for cover the runner wasn't male as they first assumed it was a woman. She was almost as tall as he was with black hair in tight braids, she was wearing a tight leather shirt not too different to the ones Teyla wore and tight trousers and boots. She also looked like she was on her last legs her gun was even shaking in her hands. He out his gun back into it's holster and moved out of his hiding place to speak to her but Sheppard beat him too it,
"I'm Colonel John Sheppard I'm an explorer. What's your name,"
She met his eyes unsure if she could actually speak because she was so out of sorts, "I'm Astrid,"
"Well it's nice to meet you Astrid do you think you can put your gun down?"
"No! I have to get off this planet. The wraith,"
"We can help you," Teyla said, carefully approaching the girl,
"Teyla," Sheppard warned but Teyla just held a hand up to him,
"We have a doctor that can remove that device,"
Just as Astrid began to lower her weapon McKay came out of nowhere,
"Did you find the runner yet?" he bellowed, before he could take in the scene Astrid shot him and he went flying into a tree, stunned. Ronon chuckled,
"I like her,"
McKay groaned from where he had slumped at the bottom of the tree,
"She shot me!" he yelled outraged,
She shrugged her shoulders, "He surprised me,"
"Okay," Sheppard smiled at her, "McKay you alright,"
"Yeah," he groaned getting up slowly,
"Okay then we'll all go to the gate and you and Teyla can go and get Keller. Me and Ronon will stay with Astrid until you get back,"
"Who's Keller?" Astrid asked fixing her now less blurry eyes on Sheppard,
"She's our doctor she can get the tracker out of your back,"
"Doctors have tried before,"
"Our doctors are more advanced we can get the tracker out safely,"
"They took out mine," Ronon grunted approaching her,
She met his dark eyes with her piercing green ones, "You are a runner,"
"I was. These people helped me they can help you let them,"
She moved closer to Ronon so her face was inches from his and studied his face for a moment, "Okay."
A long trek back to the gate later Sheppard, Ronon and Astrid were sitting just out of sight in the foliage,
"So Astrid how long have you been a runner? If you don't mind me asking," Sheppard inquired,
She stared off to space for a moment, "Many moons,"
"And how long is many moons exactly,"
She met his eyes, "I was taken from my village at thirteen years of age as all our warriors are,"
"Your warriors?"
"Yes our people were known from having great warriors to defend us but we were culled during my training and the wraith took me they made me into this,"
"Right and how old are you now?"
"Twenty three,"
"God ten years,"
"What planet are you from?" Ronon asked,
"I fear I do not remember. It was a long time ago," she took a deep breath and regained her composer, "How long will it take for your people to return?"
"Depends on how long it take for Keller to get her stuff together and Woolsey has to clear it?"
"Woolsey?"
"He's sort of the leader of our people,"
"All of them?"
"No just the ones that are at the base,"
"Oh."
Silence fell over them for a while when they herd the gate start up, the three of them stood up and headed for the gate only to see a dart come through the gate followed by two foot solders,
"Wraith, I knew it was a matter of time before they found me once more,"
"So we kill them," Ronon suggested pulling his gun form it's holster. Astrid pulled her gun out and spun it expertly in her hands,
"I second that."
Ronon moved silently into the clearing followed by Astrid and Sheppard who immediately opened fire on the two wraith four more came running toward them only to be quickly mowed down by gunshots. The dart doubled back and flew over them to be met with two energy hits, one from Ronons gun the other coming from Astrids causing the dart to crash,
"Wow you too make quite a team," Sheppard commented, "I'm going to check out the dart you two stay here, wait for Keller and play nice,"
She looked at Ronon, "Play nice?"
He shrugged, "Keller should be here soon."
She nodded and they lapsed into a comfortable silence. Two minutes later Sheppard returned and the gate starting up just moments later and Keller, McKay and Teyla came through the gate,
"Hi I'm Doctor Keller. You must be my patient," she smiled and held out her hand, Astrid looked down at the womans hand and then back to her face unsure of what she could do, "Okay well lets get started before it gets dark. Where can I set up?"
"This way doc," Sheppard smiled waving his arm,
Astrid leaned closer to Ronon, "This going to hurt,"
He looked down at her, "Like hell."
Once Keller was all set up she signaled Astrid to sit,
"Okay so I'm going to give you a mild sedative to knock you out and then we can proceed,"
"No. No way I'm letting you knock me unconscious,"
"I can't do this while your awake,"
"Try," she growled,
Sheppard rolled his eyes, "Runners are all alike,"
Astrid looked up at Ronon hoping he would back her up,
"Look can you do it while she's awake doc?"
"Well I could but-"
"Good,"
Keller huffed, clearly unhappy, "Okay,"
Astrid reached back and undid the strings keeping her leather shirt together and kept hold of it at the front so she didn't expose herself she leaned forward and waited for the pain.
A/N Oooo it's got that new story smell. Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it and please review.