APPEARANCES CAN BE DECIEVING.
A/N this is for TJ, who fed my habit for me . With thanks to TJ and Kodiak Bear for doing such a great beta job. For all you Carson fans out there...
Summary: if you live in the Pegasus Galaxy and find something interesting…leave it alone!
Part One.
Carson Beckett woke slowly, and lay for a few minutes enjoying the sheer luxury of being able to wake up under his own steam. All too often his alarm calls were panicked shouts for a medical team; not usually conducive to a relaxed and undemanding lifestyle. He lay quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the silence and watching the shadows of the trees on the roof of his tent, as they swayed gently in the breeze.
A few minutes were all he was given though. Pressure from his bladder made getting out of his nice, warm sleeping bag an imperative. Sighing, he slid out from the comfort, and hurriedly dressed in the morning chill. Once outside, it was worth it. The sun (or this planet's equivalent) was rising in Technicolor glory, and the air smelled fresh and clean, like the glens of home. Inhaling deeper, he was able to detect the welcome aroma of coffee, or at least, the Pegasus Galaxy's substitute which, (and he wouldn't admit this to anyone) he actually preferred.
After taking care of business, he wandered over to the fire, intending to help himself to coffee, only to find the pot empty.
"Pot's empty, sir," called Simons, the soldier currently on watch. "I was just going down to the stream to refill it."
"Och, it's nae bother. I'll go. My legs could do with a stretch." The stream was only a hundred yards or so away from the camp, and its musical tinkling had helped send Carson off to La La land the previous evening; he would quite like to have a wander down and check it out. Maybe there'd be trout, or something. Humming softly, feeling truly relaxed for the first time in a very long while, he lifted the pot from its stand, and ambled down to the water.
They had set up camp in an exceptionally pretty place; the flood plain of the stream which he was nearing now. Looking back, he could see the tents snuggled into the shelter of the forest; near enough to be protected from the cold winds that seared down from the distant mountains, but far enough that if any large and hungry creature decided they'd make a good lunch they'd have ample warning. The Stargate, large and imposing, stood on a raised dais at the far end of the meadow.
There were a few tents in a semicircle around the campfire. Major, or rather Lt. Colonel Sheppard occupied one, and so far hadn't made an appearance, while Teyla occupied another. Dr. McKay had thrown up his hands in mock horror at the proposed trip, stating he'd prefer to stay where there were proper toilets. In reality there was so much work to occupy him since the Wraith attack that he would have been hard pushed to get away, so Sheppard had taken pity on Rodney, and had dragged Carson along instead. Much as he'd protested at the beginning, Beckett was now thoroughly glad the Colonel had insisted. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed home, but this little trip had made him feel like he was back where he had grown up, and it was doing his weary soul good. They were here to survey the planet as an alternative Alpha Site, and so far all the signs were looking good.
The musical sound of water flowing over rocks stopped his musings, and he knelt down to refill the Billy, scooping up some water to splash on his face at the same time. The water was cool and refreshing, and banished the last remnants of sleep from his mind. He reached to fill the pot, dipping it into the clear water when something caught his eye.
Carefully setting the container down, he knelt to get a closer look, eyes widening slightly. In the grass at his feet was a strand of something gleaming, caught in the rays of the morning sun. The strand was a filament about as thick as copper wire and iridescent in the early light. The colours glowed as if they had a life of their own. Wonderingly he put a hand out to touch it, and from that moment of first contact, he was lost.
The filament felt smooth and cool on his fingertips, like satin flowing through his hand. As he touched it, tiny particles not much bigger than molecules passed through his skin, and entered his bloodstream, filling him with a chemical compulsion, overcoming his innate sense of caution. Beckett wasn't aware of all this. All he knew was that he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to find out where this filament had come from, and what it was. No longer completely under his own control, though he didn't know it, he grasped the silken thread, marvelling again at the ever-changing colours coruscating along its length, shimmering in the sunlight. He could see that it trailed through the grass, and went into a stand of trees away from the campsite. Unaware that he had even moved, he found himself standing in the cool shade beneath the trees.
He paused briefly to wonder at how he had got there, (this isn't right), a small voice whispered in his head, but before he had a chance to really listen to it, the filament seemed to jump in his hands, and afraid of losing it, he went on again.
oOo.
At the campsite, the rest of the team were emerging into the morning sunlight. All had slept well, and were feeling better rested than they had in a long time. Teyla put what they were feeling into words. "It would be very pleasant if this planet is found to be safe. It has been a long time since I have felt as pleasantly relaxed as this."
Colonel Sheppard finished stretching the sleep from his muscles and agreed. "I hope so, too. We could all do with some R&R in a place like this." He rubbed at his stomach. "Camping always makes me hungry. I wonder where the coffee's at?" He sniffed the air, turning to Simons who was busy banking the fire. "Where's the coffee?"
"Ran out, sir" came the reply. "Dr. Beckett went to get some more water from the stream."
Sheppard looked around, seeing no sign of the Doctor. Abruptly, he felt on edge, the good feelings of a few minutes earlier dissipating rapidly. Something didn't feel right. "How long ago was that?" he asked.
"About ten minutes ago, sir."
"And you don't think it's strange that he hasn't come back yet?"
"Well, he's only just over there…" The marine trailed off when he realised that Dr. Beckett was nowhere to be seen in the direction he was pointing. Simons looked abashed. "Sorry, sir, I -"
"Never mind. Teyla, do you think you'll be able to track him?"
Teyla nodded her affirmative. "Right," continued the Colonel, "Simons, get a hold of Atlantis, let them know we may have a problem." The young marine saluted hastily, and fled the short distance to the Gate, preparing to dial Atlantis. Sheppard strode back to the tents, awakening the rest of the team as he did so. He'd learned early on that things never went as planned in the Pegasus Galaxy, and he could feel trouble brewing.
The two remaining marines stumbled from their tents, sleepiness evaporating when they caught the look on their CO's face. "Rowley, Hudson, full gear, meet me at the stream in five minutes, you're with me."
The two disappeared back into their quarters to get kitted out. Sheppard and Teyla zipped up their vests, and collected their own weapons, Teyla matching Sheppard's stride as he headed off back to the stream.
oOo
Carson found himself at the entrance to a dark-looking cave. The entrance was high, and the gossamer filament disappeared inside, becoming lost in the darkness. He hesitated for a moment, as if unsure, and then stepped from the light.
Inside was cold and damp, and the space felt cathedral-like, even though the ceiling and far walls couldn't be seen. There was a moist, earthy smell inside the cavern that Carson didn't much care for, but again, that strange compulsion pulled him forwards, deeper into the cave, hands still grasping the filament, using it now as a guide through the gloom.
Finally, the desire to keep going ended, and it seemed to Beckett as if he were awakening from a deep sleep. For the first time since touching the alien strand, he was actually conscious of where he was.
"What the bloody Hell?" he thought, as he dropped the silken thread, and hastily turned round. The entrance glimmered in the distance, and, feeling unnerved, he started to walk towards it. Trouble was, he couldn't move his feet. They felt…enmeshed in something. He tried pulling them out, almost tipping over in his efforts to raise one foot then the other from whatever it was that was holding them. He had a sudden unwelcome feeling that tipping over would be a very bad thing to do. Very bad indeed.
Carson paused for a moment, his struggles tiring him, and then he became aware of a dry rustling noise, as if a breeze were stirring long-dead leaves, and his mouth suddenly felt very dry. He wasn't panicking, no, not yet, but he was dimly aware of his heart rate accelerating and his breath coming in short pants as he redoubled his efforts to free his feet. The – restrained feeling was creeping up his legs, and vague visions of Wraith tic-bugs flashed through his mind. He was horribly aware of how alone he was here, isolated away from Colonel Sheppard and help, and that realisation did nothing to bolster his spirits.
A feeling that he wasn't alone caused him to straighten up sharply. He could see no one, but the feeling persisted.
"Hello?" he called out. "Colonel Sheppard?" Briefly his hopes were raised, then dashed, when the only sound he heard was his own voice reverberating in the cavernous gloom. The feeling of being watched didn't go, though.
"Hello?" he tried again, feeling rather foolish.
"Hello," a strange voice answered him, and startled, he tried to whirl round, finding it impossible with his feet held so firmly. He watched, wide eyed as an apparition of loveliness drifted into his field of vision.
A humanoid creature, ethereal, almost transparent in the dim light, and seemingly as gossamer thin as the filaments of which she was composed, drifted to hover in front of him. She shimmered, casting her own ghostly light, and Carson realised he was gaping like the village idiot. He shut his mouth with a snap, and closed his eyes. Opening them again, she was still there. Finally he found the courage to speak.
"Who're you then?" he asked. "Was it you who brought me here?"
"My name, who I am, is not important," she responded, in a voice as dry as dust, and involuntarily, Carson shuddered. "And yes, I brought you here."
Beckett tried to move again, but still with no success. The tight feeling had by now extended up past his knees.
"Why me? What d'you want me for?" he asked, though he really wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. The creature shimmered again, colours flashing as she pondered his question. It would all have been rather lovely, mused Beckett idly, if he wasn't held so immovably fast, and felt so helpless.
Eventually, she replied, still in that dead, dry voice. "You are the first of your kind to come here for a very long time. We need to expand. We need to colonize. You will help us."
Beckett's mouth became drier if that were possible. "Expand?" he croaked, hating the sound of his own voice. "I don't understand," though he wasn't sure he really wanted to.
"We must move on, seed new colonies, grow." The coruscating colours dimmed a little as she finished speaking.
Beckett's stomach clenched. He really, really didn't like the thought of where this was going. He tried even harder to free his legs, but they were held tight, so tight he couldn't really feel them anymore.
"And suppose I refuse to help?" He tried to sound braver than he was feeling, even though he was sure he hadn't felt so scared before in his life.
The creature appeared taken aback, surprised almost. "You cannot refuse," she said tonelessly. You are here, it is too late for you now."
She reached out and touched him. Beckett would have cried out against the awfulness of that touch if he'd had enough spit to do so. Instead, he gave a strangled gasp, watching in horror as the creature morphed in front of him, colours fading, body thickening, changing until she became Carson Beckett, looking as solid and real as he was himself.
"No," he whispered, too horrified to do anything else.
She/he gave no answer, merely held her/his arms out wide and cooed; a deep guttural sound that set Beckett's teeth on edge. The dry rustling that had become part of the background noise increased, and then Carson felt as if his heart would stop altogether. The Beckett creature smiled his smile, and he saw hundreds, no, thousands of small scuttling creatures, shining, shimmering, crawling all over his doppelganger. The tightness in his chest increased as they ran from her to him. Dear God, they were all over him, myriads of little legs scampering, scuttling, busy weaving –
"NO!" he cried out, finding his voice at last, trying to beat the creatures off with wildly flailing arms. Another movement in front of him, and he looked up, up to see the Beckett creature morphing again into something out of his worst nightmares. A huge arachnid-like beast with wickedly sharp, pointed fangs reared up above him. He held his spider encrusted arms up to protect himself as the monster spider dropped, sinking her poison coated fangs deep into his shoulder.
And that, mercifully, was that, for Carson Beckett for a while, the spider monster and her scuttling minions spiralling away from him as he fell into the blessed darkness of oblivion.
The arachnid queen shrank, and morphed again into the shape of Beckett. She tried on the smile again for size, feeling the strange sensation of muscles bunching and moving in unfamiliar places. She looked down at the now unconscious doctor before her, and nodded approval at the thousands of little creatures that were busy encasing him in a silken cocoon. She reached down and plucked the communications device from Beckett's ear, and placed it into her own. She had transferred more than just his image into her consciousness when she had touched the human. Now she had his knowledge as well. Nodding her approval once more as the beautiful scintillating satin-like cocoon covered more and more of the human's form, she turned, and strode purposefully out of the lair, and into the sunshine.
TBC