Title: Bait
Part: 1 of 2
Rating: PG
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Pairing: None
Bait was written for The Brotherhood zine #7, published by Pyramids Press in May 2009. It was a delight to be asked and then have the story accepted for publication. It's all about the team.
John Sheppard looked up at the nearly full moon. Its light was as cold as it was bright. He'd known hypothermia was setting in even before he waded into the lake. The water wasn't freezing, but it didn't need to be. Ten degrees killed as effectively as zero, just slower. He hoped the actual temperature of the water was closer to ten than zero so he'd have a little more time. He knew, though, that if the guys beating the bushes around the lake didn't leave soon, he would lose the remaining feeling in his body, his grip on the tree holding him up, and his life.
He'd known people who died of hypothermia and experienced it himself once before. That seemed so long ago. So many people thought the desert was always hot. They'd be surprised just how cold it could get. It got cold enough to freeze you solid if you were stranded in the wrong place at the wrong time. People thought only bullets and bombs killed you there.
John jerked back to the present when the log beneath his feet rolled a fraction. Dammit, John, stay awake, he thought to himself. You're not dying this way. He clamped his mouth shut to stop chattering teeth threatening to give away his position even as he shifted to keep his head above water. Controlling the shivering was out of the question. The one good thing about being almost completely immersed in water was they wouldn't see it.
Growing numbness made it nearly impossible to feel the radio under his fingers. He tried to flex them but the movement amplified a deep ache in his hands and arms that set in soon after he entered the water. He kept opening and closing them with a sense of urgency. More than his own life depended on it.
His teammates were taking their own sweet time in signaling him. Since there was no indication they'd been captured or even seen, he hoped they were just delayed. They'd better just be late. Better that than…no, don't go there. They'll make it. John knew if he didn't get out of the water soon, late was going to be a very bad thing.
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Several hours earlier…
"Tell me again why you wanted to come here?" Sheppard asked as their boots softly crunched the frost damaged grass. It was early afternoon, the sun was already well past its zenith, but the temperature hadn't risen above a shiver producing chill all day, and it was dropping again. Even the heavy leather coats and hours of tramping around were barely keeping them warm.
"The Ancient database indicated there could be some technology hidden here. It seems the Ancients only had time to seal off a lab before the Wraith attacked." Rodney McKay scowled as he tried to warm his hands with his breath. Small puffs of vapor did nothing more than moisten his skin, making matters worse. "I knew I should have brought gloves. Did you bring a pair?"
"No, but you can't very well use the notebook with gloves on," Sheppard pointed out.
"Well, I won't be able to do anything if my fingers are frostbitten!" he grumbled.
"Stick your hands in your pockets."
"I'm looking for an energy reading, remember?" He waved a handheld sensor. When he didn't get a response, Rodney hunched over folded arms, trying to tuck the hand with the sensor into the crook of his elbow so the screen was visible. It was uncomfortable, and he soon abandoned the attempt.
The MALP hinted the ruins of the almost unrecognizable small city were once home to what the archeologists estimated had been more than 8,000 people. A dense, sub-tropical rainforest had long since grown in, around, and through the remains of buildings and public squares. Only narrow, winding and uneven paths remained of once broad streets.
The type of research being done was not clear but seemed to be something to do with solar energy generation. McKay perked up when he read the entries but did a fast boil when details could not be found. There was enough, however, to make him want to check it out. It seemed the Ancients were working on one hundred percent efficient photon gathering cells, or as near to it as possible. What Rodney couldn't discover, or imagine, was what they wanted it for. This was, after all, the race of beings who invented the ZedPM.
"We should have brought a Jumper," the scientist mumbled a few meters later.
"We would have needed to leave it at the Stargate, Rodney," Teyla reminded him. "There was nowhere to land outside its proximity."
She was right. The Gate was situated in a clearing but not a large one. It was free from trees and brush only because of the circle of heavy stones surrounding it measured at least fifty meters across. After that, the growth was uneven, but there were enough trees to prevent any landings. The city itself was a broken tangle. Trees of varying species and sizes were growing through the fallen roofs of many buildings, and stunted bushes squeezed through cracks in the pavement in most streets. Creeping vines hid walls, often to the point of making it impossible to see any details of the structures beneath.
"It looks like no one has been here in ages," McKay peered into a dark, half-blocked doorway.
"I'm not really surprised." Sheppard looked around. "The hospitality sucks."
"I believe I have heard stories of this city," Teyla said. "It is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of the Ancestors. They are said to roam the city at dusk."
"What do you mean, roam the city?" McKay asked, both skeptical and slightly nervous.
"I do not know any details. There are many such tales." She shrugged.
"Well, I don't want to stick around to find out whether the rumors are true or not." He backed away from the doorway and looked at the sky. Thank goodness the sun was still quite high.
The going was slow. Just finding buildings that were still sound was nearly impossible. Most were in such a sorry state that only serious excavation equipment would give them access. One after another had collapsed in on itself or almost disappeared under the vegetation or both. It wasn't until they approached the far edge of town that they found a cluster of three buildings which were relatively intact and taller than all they had seen so far.
The structures formed three sides of a tiny square. The two opposite each other were two stories and the other was three. Each floor of the taller building was slightly smaller than the floor below, creating narrow ledges. Much of the façade survived, and little vegetation grew on the exteriors, which was remarkable. They were the most intact the team had come across.
"Why aren't these three falling down like everything else?" Sheppard studied the exteriors.
"How should I know?" McKay retorted. His eyebrows went up when the sensor he held chirped. He waved it back and forth. "Wait! It isn't much, but there is something here. Somewhere."
"Somewhere?" Ronon suspiciously scanned the area. There was no evidence of habitation, but something had caused the unusual difference.
"Any life signs?" Sheppard tried to get a glimpse the sensor.
"What? No. It's just us. Not even any animals large enough to be picked up. I haven't seen anything since we arrived." Rodney frowned and continued with some uneasiness. "That doesn't mean there aren't any insects or snakes or rodents."
"Rodney, try this one." Teyla peered closely at a grouping of indistinct markings on the edge of a doorway. She pulled away the dead tendrils of a small climbing vine and turned on the P-90 light to reveal a rectangular pattern of symbols. Centuries of dirt obscured the symbols.
"Why?" McKay walked over and squinted at her discovery. He added his own light. "Oh. Can you read it?"
Teyla pulled more of the vine away and brushed the panel with it. "It is definitely the writing of the Ancestors. I believe it is a warning."
"Warning? What kind of warning?" Sheppard shone his P-90 light into the open doorway.
"It is difficult to say. Much of the writing is too damaged to read."
A light breeze picked up, coming out of the north. Everyone shivered and tucked collars closer to their necks. A low, moaning sound began and grew louder and more mournful.
"What's that?" McKay twisted around, searching for the source.
The others scanned the area slowly. Ronon spoke first. "It's the wind."
"Yeah, there must be some formation in the ruins causing it," Sheppard agreed.
"Are you sure?" Rodney held up the sensor and pointed it in different directions.
"It is only the wind, Rodney." Teyla confirmed. "It may explain the spirits people speak of."
"Well, it is kind of creepy here," he continued to wave the sensor around.
"Alright, it's going to be dark soon." John stepped back from the doorway. He gauged the size of the square then started walking in the general direction of the Gate. "I think there's enough room to land a Jumper. Let's go home."
Ronon was already moving. Even if they found something, these outings were almost always boring. They rarely yielded anything worthwhile, like weapons.
"Well, at least it might not be a complete waste of time," Rodney said with more enthusiasm than he'd shown all day. "Wait..."
"What?" the Satedan said with mild irritation.
Rodney frowned at the sensor then held it up and out at arm's length. "The Gate's that way, isn't it?"
"Yes, just over two kilometers away." Teyla answered him.
"What is it?" Sheppard leaned closer to see the sensor.
"The Gate just activated. I wonder if it's Atlantis." A look of concern crossed Rodney's face. "No one else knows we're here. Do they?"
"Not unless you told them. Atlantis, this is Sheppard." John turned the gain on his radio up to maximum. "Atlantis, this is Sheppard. Do you copy?"
"Guess not." Ronon said. "Wraith?"
They looked at Teyla, whose eyes narrowed in thought. She slowly shook her head. "No. I do not sense any Wraith."
"I'm not getting any other energy readings so there aren't any Darts."
"Okay," John said. A straight run for the Gate was approximately twenty minutes away, easily done with the daylight left to them. Picking through the rubble and tangled undergrowth might cause some delay, but not much. He looked at Ronon and indicated an arc with his right hand that would take them on a slightly longer route. The big man nodded and silently headed off.
"Where's he going?" Rodney asked with alarm.
John kept his tone calm and quiet. "Keep your voice down, Rodney. He's just going to see who's come calling."
They walked in silence for several minutes, but Rodney became more nervous with each step. "What's taking him so long?"
"No talking, Rodney. Until we know what's going on, be as quiet as possible," John cautioned as he followed Ronon's path. McKay was close behind with Teyla on their six.
"But, what if I see something?" he hissed, both offended and suddenly fearful at the colonel's instruction.
Sheppard turned to the nervous scientist, his voice low but firm, "Just tap Teyla or me on the shoulder. Okay?"
Rodney compressed his lips and nodded, "Okay."
It wasn't very long before Ronon's shadowy figure approached through the darkening streets. Sheppard stopped and waved McKay and Teyla to him.
"Scavengers," He said a little breathlessly. "At least three dozen. Probably more. By the time I got there, some of them had dispersed. They're moving pretty fast."
"Are they dangerous?" McKay asked, nervously looking around then at the sensor in his hand.
"I'd say yes. They're like the Bola Kai, but worse. These gangs go from planet to planet, taking whatever they can get their hands on and killing anyone that gets in their way or just for the fun of it."
"They would've seen the MALP so they know someone's here." Sheppard shifted, scanning the area for any sign of trouble.
"Yeah, and they're looking for us."
"Great," Sheppard said under his breath. He looked at the sky. It was clear, but the sun was getting very low. And he doubted there would be much twilight. That was both good and bad. Darkness would help hide them from these men, but the whole area was littered with vegetation, the crumbling remains of buildings and holes where foundations had fallen in. They needed to negotiate the obstacles in the dark and without sound to get back to the Gate. Once there, well, they'd just have to wait and see.
"I'm not getting any life signs yet." McKay tried to boost the range on the sensor.
The colonel looked at the device with the critical eye. The range on it just wasn't enough to balance out the visibility of its light. "Turn it off."
"What? Why? We'll be able to see them coming."
"It's going to be pitch black soon. They'll be able to see it first."
Rodney sighed and reluctantly obeyed. He tucked it away in his tac vest.
"Ronon, take point. Teyla, stay with Rodney. I'll be on your six. Stay quiet. Let's move out."
McKay, knowing that was aimed at him, opened his mouth to respond but closed it again when Teyla tugged his arm. He turned to see Ronon disappearing into the trees along the designated path. The big man would sweep back and forth across their route to check for anyone moving in their direction. He would adjust direction in an effort to avoid any contact.
While staying closer to his teammates, Sheppard swept the rear. The sheer number of the scavengers would make their jobs tricky, if not impossible. He couldn't wait for darkness to fall. He didn't say it, but they all knew it was their best hope of surviving.
They were less than a third of the way back to the Gate when the sun set behind distant hills. The faint light filtering through the trees disappeared, along with almost all visibility. Faint starlight did little to help.
Ronon silently emerged from the gloom to stop Teyla and Rodney. A few seconds later, John approached from the other direction. He nodded in agreement when the Satedan held up four fingers and pointed toward the Gate then repeated the gesture, pointing in a slightly different direction. Sheppard jerked his head toward where he'd come from and held up three fingers. Teyla followed their gestures, acknowledging each one with a nod.
McKay watched the exchange with growing alarm then squinted into the darkness. He could barely see anything and heard less, which just served to increase his fear. If these two could appear out of nowhere without a sound, how many of the enemy were lurking nearby? He nervously clutched his pistol in its holster as he tried to find the men Sheppard and Ronon had seen.
Sheppard leaned close to Teyla and silently indicated a path through the trees. The line of broken walls would take them further away from the Gate in a larger semicircular route. She began to follow Ronon, who was taking point again and already moving. This time, though, he stayed only a few meters in front. Rodney was close behind her, and Sheppard brought up the rear.
John was tempted to just find a place and hole up but dismissed the idea immediately. The exact number of the scavengers was a big question mark, but he knew there were just too many for four, well, three and three-quarters, of them to deal with in this setting. Right now, the intent was to get to the Gate and then home. If that wasn't possible, the only option was to avoid capture until Atlantis decided they were late and dialed in. The cavalry would bail them out.
The going was maddeningly slow and not as quiet as it should be. It was nearly impossible not to step on fallen vegetation or stumble over the remains of the dead city. The minimal starlight coming from above offered no help. Each step had to be felt. They'd seen enough potholes and broken paving to know that putting their whole weight down too fast could mean falling or making a noise loud enough to bring a dozen killers to their location in seconds, with more close behind.
Teyla stayed near Rodney's left elbow. When necessary, she gently gripped his arm to signal him to stop. He was frightened enough to obey instantly and without a word. Jennifer told him about her encounter with the Bola Kai. If these guys were worse, he knew what capture would mean.
They heard a dull thud, immediately followed by muttered obscenities. There had been vague rustlings at various distances, but this was close. Too close.
They were in the middle of an area with less cover. John moved nearer to Teyla and Rodney. She was trying to back the scientist into thicker growth when he saw at least three figures moving towards them. John didn't think either was aware of the men when Teyla whirled around. Suspecting they'd been spotted, she pulled Rodney behind a tree. He stumbled over unseen rocks, falling against the trunk before scrambling behind it.
Sheppard was already moving and could now make out five men closing in. They were quiet, which was the only blessing. Hoping to keep noise to a minimum, he pulled the knife from its sheath on his hip. As he reached the first man, he caught a glimpse of a big shadow lowering another to the ground.
He slipped his hand around his target, clamping it over the mouth and pulling him close. The knife slid up and in, piercing the heart. A soft grunt was the only sound before the body went limp. He heard a muffled noise close by then it seemed one of the men decided it was time to shout for help.
"Samor!" Someone got out before he was taken down by Ronon. It was enough. They heard more voices and the sound of bodies crashing through the trees, heading their way.
McKay ducked too late to avoid someone flying at him. Only a huge, fast moving figure coming in from another angle prevented the collision that would have knocked him to the ground. The two disappeared from sight behind what he assumed was a fallen tree or wall. He twisted around when a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
"Get him out of here," John told Teyla in a low voice as he pulled his side arm out of its holster. The quarters were too close for the P-90.
"This way. Hurry," Teyla hissed in the scientist's ear. Without hesitation or betraying how badly she might want to stay and fight she guided him from the center of the melee, setting off in the opposite direction to the Gate.
The sounds of the approaching reinforcements spurred them on. Fire from Ronon's weapon and John's pistol gave them more speed. Rodney vaguely wondered why he didn't hear the P-90, but decided it didn't matter. He somehow found the means to stay on his feet and keep moving. He couldn't tell how long it was before Teyla slowed. When she turned to look back, he realized the gun fire had stopped, and the noise behind them was fast diminishing.
Rodney wanted to stop. He needed to stop, just for a minute. He was out of breath, and his heart was pounding so hard it began to hurt. The cold air he gulped in burned his lungs and throat. Teyla sensed his distress and slowed a fraction more. If either of them stumbled and fell, their pursuers could very easily locate them again. She knew they needed to keep moving, to put as much distance as possible between them and the scavengers.
When his heart rate and breathing were closer to normal, Rodney began to think straight again. They were going away from the Gate. Sheppard and Ronon were somewhere, possibly still fighting, captured, or dead. He strained to see or hear something other than his own breathing and the soft swishing of the foliage as he and Teyla moved through it. They were relieved when they left the edge of the ruined city and its hidden obstacles behind.
She abruptly stopped and maneuvered him against a massive tree, putting her fingertips on his mouth in a sign to stay quiet. Minutes later, he got the impression of movement nearby. His breath caught in his throat. The darkness was so deep now that only the vague silhouette of Ronon's size and hair identified him. The fact the other figure was not killed instantly confirmed it was Sheppard. It annoyed the astrophysicist that they found them so quickly and were no where near as out of breath as he was.
Sheppard and Teyla scanned the forest around them. Except for the cold breeze rustling the leaves, everything was quiet. After a minute spent listening and watching, Sheppard moved to stand next to Ronon, who was leaning against a tree. His voice was so quiet Rodney couldn't understand what he said.
"How bad?"
Ronon shook his head. "It's okay."
"No, it isn't." John had seen the knife swinging in the flash of his gunfire. He also heard the impact and grunt of pain. Ronon was able to deflect most of the force of the blow, but the knife still found his leg. John pulled a field dressing from a vest pocket and carefully opened it. "I need to know."
"Just bleeding but not bad. I'm fine." Ronon snatched the dressing and pushing aside his long coat, wrapped it high around his left thigh.
Rodney tried to see what they were doing but could make out only shapes moving against a dark background. He whispered hoarsely, "We can't stay here. How do we get to the Gate?"
Sheppard made a quick decision. He tapped Rodney's arm. "Give me your C-4."
"What are you planning?" Teyla asked him quietly.
"I'll draw away as many as I can and keep them busy while you three head for the Gate." He took the block of explosive and stuffed it into his tac vest. "Teyla, you can plant a couple of charges that will distract whoever is guarding the DHD when you get there."
"Sheppard." Ronon growled.
"We're not leaving you behind." McKay whispered.
"You're not leaving me behind. I'll catch up. I'm just going to run interference."
"Sam will send help when we don't get back."
"We're not even overdue yet. It's going to be at least another two or three hours before they dial in. There're too many of these guys, and odds are they'll find us again before that." He peered into the darkness for hints of movement. And, he thought, Ronon could bleed to death before help arrived.
"I'll do this. I'm better at it than you." Ronon reminded him.
"I know, but not with that hole in your leg," he said with finality before pausing again for several seconds to listen and look around. "I'll keep them busy until you're in position. Signal me with three clicks on the radio when you're ready to dial out."
"Where will you be?" McKay asked with alarm.
"Right behind you." John lied knowing he would more than likely be too far away. These guys would hunt them down if they had the chance. Someone had to draw them away. "When I respond with two clicks, set off your charges and go.
"Sheppard…" McKay started hesitantly.
"I'll catch up, Rodney. There's no time to argue. It looks like a moon is coming up so it's going to be easier for them to find us." The forest was dense, but not enough to hide them from so many sets of eyes. He gave a quick glance skyward. There was a definite change in the shadows, and it was becoming possible to distinguish one tree from another. "Which way you going?"
Ronon growled. "We'll circle out to the right then hook left around the back of the Gate and come up from the other side."
Sheppard asked. "How long do you think it will take?"
"It'll be four or five klicks, so…" he glanced at McKay "…about an hour."
"Okay. Move out." John didn't want to ask if Ronon could make that distance. He knew the wound was more serious than the Satedan was willing to say, so he'd just have to give them as much time as possible. "I'll be right behind you."
Teyla hung back as Ronon and McKay started off. Her voice was barely audible. "John..."
"Get them home. I'll be there, but if I can't, I'll respond with three clicks then two. That means bring back a Jumper load of Marines and find me. Go." He melted into trees and was gone.
Ronon heard them whispering, angrily pushing his hair back. The knife had gone in deep, and the bleeding cut was going to slow him down. It could leave a trail of blood that a good tracker might be able to follow if it was found. He watched as his friend disappeared into the shadows. Moving on his own, he knew Sheppard should be able to stay out of reach while he lured most of them away, but knowing that didn't help.
He began to lead McKay and Teyla in the arc that would take them some distance around the Gate. It was going to be a while before they'd be in position. The sooner they got moving, the sooner they'd be back with help. Half a dozen men were already dead, but there was at least a couple of dozen were left, all wanting to kill them.
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Sheppard moved as quickly as he dared. He headed back to the area of the fight. Low, angry voices told him the bodies had been found. He listened for movement, pinpointing their number and locations. Several of them were bunched around the bodies with a few more roaming nearby, using the light from the rising moon to search the area.
"This was not the work of one man," a deep, knowing voice observed.
"It doesn't matter, Samor. We must find them and kill them." Grief made the next voice guttural.
"No, Dar. It doesn't matter who they are. They will die. I promise revenge for our brothers." The steel hard coldness in the voice made Sheppard grimace.
John wedged a chunk of C-4 into the crease between the trunk and branch of the tree hiding him. After carefully pressing in the detonator and pulling the tab, he maneuvered around to a position on the other side of the group. He knew the charge probably wasn't close enough to do a lot of damage, but he needed to unsettle them even more.
He had to work fast, knowing they might be joined by even more and he was far too close. John planted another wad of C-4 but didn't activate the detonator. He took a couple of deep breaths then set off the first charge.
The explosion wasn't big, but the results were grimly satisfying. Screams of pain and rage were soon followed by shouts coming from men rushing to the sound of the blast. Why was it, he thought to himself, that people run to explosions?
John barely had time to pull the tab from the second detonator and slip away before two men hurried by. He pressed the button to detonate the second charge as soon as he was clear.
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Rodney jumped at the first explosion and stopped to search for its location. Teyla grabbed his arm and urged him forward with a sharp tug. He only glanced back at the sound of the second blast. He swore under his breath at Sheppard's recklessness and hoped this insane plan worked.
A few minutes later, Ronon suddenly froze, his hand outstretched to stop his teammates. He pulled the scientist into a dense cluster of trees and Teyla followed. They heard the sound of someone, no, several people, approaching from ahead and to their right. He cursed the rising moon that was making it easier by the minute for the observant eye to see movement among the shadows.
The snap of a twig told them the men were just meters away.
"I told you they didn't come this way. We need to find Samor," one of the men whispered.
"Quiet," another cautioned. "I thought I heard something."
"I didn't hear anything."
"Shh."
The men stopped so close Rodney was certain they would be seen. He swallowed convulsively, trying not to hyperventilate.
A muffled bang startled them. It was definitely further away than the first two and seemed to come from the city.
"Come on!" One of them shouted as he took off, the others following.
Ronon remained motionless for a full two minutes. These men might be inexperienced with high explosives, but they weren't stupid. He needed to confirm they were quite alone. Finally satisfied, the only nearby sound was from the wind in the trees, he nudged them forward and resumed the wide arc to the Gate.
Teyla watched the dark shadow of Ronon's back with growing concern. Their pace was slow out of necessity, but he was favoring the wounded leg heavily and breathing hard for the relatively minimal effort.
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John stayed close to two of the men trying to find him, waiting for the right moment. He needed just enough room for them to get a good look at him. They were quiet but nervous after the blasts. The moon was high now enough to see it. A quick glance up confirmed it was nearly full and big. He reckoned it was a third larger than Earth's moon, or a hell of a lot closer. At its zenith, it would be like an enormous spotlight, and even Ronon would have difficulty escaping detection.
He got closer, listening intently for any one else nearby. When he was certain they were alone, John stepped out of the shadows with his P-90, set to single shot, raised.
"How 'bout that moon?"
The pair spun around.
"Here!" One of them shouted, bringing up a compact crossbow. John fired his weapon twice. The first shot hit the one with the crossbow in the chest, killing him instantly. Aimed to injure, the second hit the other man in the shoulder. He wanted the wounded man to give his friends the direction their assailant took.
John didn't wait to see if that happened. The shots and cries for help produced the desired results. He heard several men plowing through the trees and brush as he made for the city center.
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Ronon's head jerked around. The sound barely carried on the cold air, but he knew it was Sheppard's P-90. He cursed himself as he turned back to focus on the task at hand and keep himself from stumbling. The knife wound hurt like hell, and blood was still oozing from it with each step. Sheppard had given him a job, and he was going to complete it. Then, he would come back.
"Ronon," Teyla whispered.
He stopped and leaned heavily against a large tree. Teyla looked around slowly then moved to stand next to him. She motioned for Rodney to join them. It was now obvious that the Satedan was in trouble, and they were still almost two kilometers from the Gate.
"We need to keep moving," Ronon growled impatiently.
"I know, but you can hardly stand," Teyla whispered. "I will take point. Rodney, will you help him?"
"I don't need…"
"Do not argue." She exchanged a look with Rodney, as he moved to wrap an arm around the Satedan's waist. After one more careful look and listen, she moved off.
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John pushed up the sleeve of his jacket just enough to see his watch. More than forty minutes had elapsed since he left his team, but he didn't expect them to reach the Gate in under an hour. He shivered as the cold air reached under his collar. Here and there during the chase through the forest to the city, he made just enough noise to keep his pursuers on the trail. Now, he stood on the ledge of the third floor of the building on the square. The shadow cast by the still rising moon was barely dark enough to hide him. The breeze changed direction soon after sunset, a fact for which he was grateful. He didn't need prying eyes looking for the source of the moaning sound. He glanced up to see his cover was quickly disappearing.
The position gave him a wide enough view to count at least twenty figures moving through the ruins and brush. He could hear more that were hidden by the forest and ruins. They were spread out in pairs across a wide line. Moonlight brightened the small puffs of their steaming breath. Close enough. Sheppard detonated the five charges he hid amongst the rubble. It was the last of the C-4.
Among the shouts of anger and pain, one voice roared for silence. It was Samor, the one who'd earlier sworn revenge. "Find them! Bring them to me alive!"
"Okay. Time to go." Sheppard said under his breath. After a quick scan of the area, he edged to the rear of the building and lowered himself to the ground.
"There! I saw someone there!"
Crap, he thought as he raced for the trees. He could see shadows running toward the building. They were still about twenty meters away, but they were headed right for where he'd dropped off the wall. New shouts from his pursuers were too close, prompting him to change direction again. He had a suspicion that this was how the fox felt with a couple dozen hounds at its heels.