Hello Everyone, I'm back with a brand new fic…Well, not new really, I've been toying with this idea ever since "The Hive" aired. So anyway I'm hoping that it'll be a long one, and I would love to hear feedback from you guys. :D
Chapter 1: A Bright and Sunny DayAnother day, another briefing. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard thinks as he makes his way towards the briefing room. He quickly jogs up the stairs leading towards the control room and veers left into the briefing room. The ancient doors automatically swing open when they sense his approach. Already inside are his teammates Specialist Ronon Dex and the leader of the Athosians Teyla Emmagan. John quickly sits down as Doctor Elizabeth Weir, leader of the Atlantis Expedition, enters the room. She quickly nods to John, Teyla and Ronon and takes her seat. The team shuffles around a bit as they wait for the self-proclaimed genius Doctor Meredith Rodney McKay to join the briefing.
"So…did anyone catch movie night last week?" John questions to break the silence.
Teyla is the first to respond.
"Yes, I believed Major Lorne called it 'Anaconda,' although I must confess I was confused as to why your people enjoy watching others being devoured by snakes."
"The people on your planet have a weird sense of entertainment Sheppard." Ronon supplies helpfully.
His friends momentarily boggle John, and he casts a nervous glance at Elizabeth only to find her leaning forward in her seat, her arms folded on the table and her eyebrow cocked in amusement. As if to say You're on your own Sheppard. Once again his team is ganging up on him. John is only glad to have some sort of relief, as Rodney has still not arrived in order to make his own contribution towards the discussion. John took a deep breath and was about to respond when Rodney McKay came barreling in through the doors talking at a mile per minute. From what John was able to gather it had something to do with the conduits lining the Southern Pier that were damaged by the storm two years ago. They only just got to start repairs due to more pressing matters involving the Replicators.
"Rodney." John sighs as the scientist continues to speak at a phenomenal rate.
"Talking to her," Rodney snaps back, as he points with a frown towards his headset. After one more belittling comment at the poor scientist on the other end Rodney clicks off his headset and sits at the table. "So what were we talking about?"
John is quick to open his mouth to answer back with a witty remark, when Elizabeth beats him to the punch stating. "We were just about to start the briefing on today's mission, to MRX-P37." She quickly darts her eyes to lock onto John's daring him to add anything. Knowing when to stop John leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, smirking at Elizabeth who shakes her head and begins the briefing.
2 hours later
John and his team step through the Stargate to the world known as MRX-P37 or Kolona as the natives called it. The area surrounding the gate was lush with fertile fields of green grass surrounding it and the native flora, which resembled fir trees, creating a sort of pathway towards the village that could just be seen in the distance. According to their previous recon missions the people who resided here were friendly and open to trade negotiations. As the flag team of the off world travelers it was their job to make first contact and express an interest in trade. Elizabeth had instructed them to offer medical supplies and manpower, kindly offered by the Athosians, to aid the Kolonians in their struggles to rebuild their settlement after their latest culling. That was proven to be much more ferocious then the previous ones.
John instructs his team to move out towards the village. Unfortunately, the various pollens in the air soon begin to trigger an allergic response in Rodney as they walk towards the village.
"Argh, flowers why are there always flowers?" Rodney bitterly complains as he sneezes into his handkerchief.
Teyla sympathetically pats Rodney on the back as they continue walking, while Ronon and John share an exasperated look as Rodney continues to gripe and moan about his allergies and other problems. John soon tunes out his friend as he concentrates on getting to the village as quickly as possible.
John removes his sunglasses as they arrive in the broken remains of a once bright and cheerful village. The villagers are hard at work repairing their houses and other buildings. Although they are but a small farming community the village is beginning to look more like its former self. They are not waiting for long as a small, wizened man emerges from one of the completed huts. He hobbles towards them, a walking stick in one hand, and the other clutching the arm of a younger man, leading him towards the Atlantians. Both are tanned, the younger with short, dark and curly hair, and the elder with shoulder length, wavy, salt and pepper coloured grey hair.
John is the first to speak to the man, whom he believes to be the leader of the village. "Hi, my name is Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard and this is Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex and Doctor Rodney McKay."
The small man stumbles forward a few more paces before addressing John.
"Greetings, I am Tolan leader of this village and this is my son Roland," His wrinkled features twist into a smile and his watery eyes fix themselves onto the team's clothing. "You must have traveled far, I have not seen such clothes among the traders of this world, come join me for some tea and we shall speak of trade."
John and his team exchange confused glances at the old man's statement, but never the less follow him into the nearest house. Once inside the poorly lit building Tolan gestures them forward to sit at the table, as Roland disappears through another door, returning only a minute later with the tea.
"Thank-you my boy, some of you best yet." Tolan praises his son as he takes a sip of the tea.
John swirls the tea around in its small cup, the leaves sticking to the sides and giving off a strong smell. John grimaces remembering drinking the tea the Athosians made with some type of grass, native to Athos, he couldn't keep anything down for two days. Slowly John lowers the cup back to the table and addresses Tolan.
"If you don't mind me asking, how long ago was it when the Wraith attacked your village?" John questions carefully, Elizabeth would have his head if he were to offend potential allies.
"One lunar cycle, my people have been working quite industriously in order to rebuild what we once had, but I'm afraid you are mistaken Colonel about who is responsible for this atrocity." Tolan replies, sipping his tea.
The team simultaneously look up at Tolan, surprise etched onto their features. Recovering his voice Rodney speaks first "If it wasn't the Wraith then who could've possibly…"
"They were men," Tolan interjects "At least that's what we first thought, they approached us not from the Ring but the sky…at least that's what we assumed."
John and his team listen closely as Tolan gives what could potentially be intel on a whole new threat As if the Wraith and the Replicators weren't enough of a threat John thinks.
"They appeared out of nowhere in the village one day, the three of them dressed in white garments, two men a tall one with yellow hair, a shorter fiercer one and a woman with sandy brown hair and cold, calculating eyes. We were ignorant of their intentions; curiosity got the better of us. When we attempted to approach them the woman spoke in a foreign tongue into a band on her wrist. That's when the ships came," Tolan pauses in his speech to cough loudly, startling them.
"Please, tell us more of these strangers." Teyla speaks quickly and quietly to Tolan.
"And those ships." Adds Rodney.
"The ships descended from the sky, then they opened fire onto the larger areas of the village, the blasts hit all around us, destroying homes and killing many. The men disappeared, and only the woman remained calmly watching the destruction. Once it was over she walked up to one of the other men in the village and placed her hand in his head. It was obvious to us all that she was not human. Once she was done with him she removed her hand and turned to me she told me to tell others of what I had witnessed today, she said it was the beginning of the end, that the reign of the Wraith would end and the Replicators would take what was rightfully theirs." Tolan finishes gravely.
Everyone in the room is stunned; suddenly John leaps to his feet.
"I'm sorry Tolan, but we will need to communicate this with our leader. Lets go guys." John hurriedly speaks in one breath.
"Of course," Tolan replies "We will see you later for trade negotiations then?"
"Trade? Yes of course we will be back within the hour."
Tolan bids them farewell as the team make their way back to the Stargate.
"Can you believe that?" Rodney babbles, "The Replicators spared them to tell other worlds of their plan, it's so surreal. I mean what are they playing at?"
John looks confused, as do Ronon and Teyla and the rest of the journey back to the Stargate is made in silence. Once the Stargate is in sight Rodney rushes up to it to begin the dialing sequence. But before he can do so symbols on the DHD light up.
"Incoming wormhole!" Rodney shouts as he races back towards them and the wormhole is locked. With a terrible scream a dart comes racing through the event horizon, towards the village. The team raises their guns in order to fire upon the vessel. However, the dart is too quick and races towards the village, then unexpectedly it doubles back and releases a culling beam as it swoops towards them.
"Scatter!" John yells, pushing Rodney towards the tree line as the dart closes in.
Ronon and Teyla race towards the trees firing their weapons as they went. Terrifies for their teammates, as the dart gets closer. Rodney barely manages to escape the beam, as he dives out of the way. John was not as fortunate. Once getting what it apparently came for the dart then races through the still active Stargate. Fear and horror etched into his features Rodney scrambles towards the DHD before the Stargate disengages. Just as he arrives the wormhole disengages and the symbols disappear before Rodney could see.
Panting Ronon and Teyla rush up to Rodney, now looking thoroughly lost.
"Did you get it?" Ronon pants as his reaches Rodney.
When he doesn't respond Teyla asks him "Rodney did you see the symbols?" The Athosian looks concerned for her friend as he fails to speak.
"I-I…No. Look we need to get Zelenka out here, with a jumper. We need to hurry there's no telling where that dart went or where it's taking Colonel Sheppard!"
Nodding in agreement Ronon walks up to the DHD and dials Atlantis.
So what do you think? :D Nothing but good things I hope. I really need feedback on this guys, I'm not really sure where this is going or what you guys want so pleassseee R n R. :D please.
