Unfortunately I do not own Stargate Atlantis, though I wish John Sheppard was up for grabs!
Renegade Revenge
Chapter One
John, Teyla, Rodney and Ronon sat at a table with the Chancellor Pontu and four members of his immediate staff sharing a meal to celebrate their new trade agreement. It had been a long, tedious afternoon of negotiating a the trade deal with the honorable Lafodi people. The previous years' trade agreement had needed revisions for both the Atlanteans and for the Lafodi.
With the technological advances the Atlantis botanists, engineers and scientists provided, the Lafodi crops had increased expotentially. With the proper irrigation and fertilization techniques, the soil became ideal for cultivation. The resulting bumper crops, which held many different varieties of fruits and vegetables had the Lafodi people ecstatic.
Before meeting the Atlanteans, the Lafodi barely grew enough for their own needs and what little they could afford to part with, they used for trade. Now, the abundance was equivalent to winning the lottery. They had ample supplies for themselves and more than enough for trade.
Over the last year, Atlantis also had its own "growth spurt". The population had increased by twenty per cent. The increase in population on Atlantis was putting a strain on their existing food supply, hence the need for a new trade agreement.
The Lafodi were acutely aware of their good fortune in meeting and trading with Atlantis. The negotiations had been long and tedious, only because Chancellor Pontu and his committee kept on insisting on a very generous offering to Atlantis' favor. It wasnt that Atlantis didnt need the food, but it was their policy to always negotiate a fair trade. They never wanted to be in the position for being accused of taking advantage. The afternoon had been spent with Teyla trying to even out the trade so that both sides benefitted equally. The Lafodi had proven to be a valuable ally and over the last year, steadfast friends.
John was very relaxed as he sipped the local equivalent of wine. He rolled the liquid over his tongue, relishing the flavor he compared to a fine Merlot. He was enjoying the one small glass of wine he would allow himself, since technically he was still on duty. He took another sip and rejoined the jovial conversation at the table. Teyla smiled at him, she was happy to see him so relaxed and comfortable.
The SGA-1 team had been the initial team when they first encountered the Lafodi. From the very first meeting, John had been pleased. These people were honest, hard-working, humble and generous. They had a high level of morality though they were not closed-minded or prudish at all. Lafodi was one of John's favorite offworld places to go, as it was for the whole team. Lafodi was reminiscent of an English village with thickly thatched roofs over handsome homes ranging in sizes from large cottages to more sizeable two story homes, all contructed of stone with wood accents. The roads and village square paved with cobblestone.
The SGA-1 team had been invited to stay the night at the home of the Chancellor. His home was a short walk across the square that was central to the village. The stately, spacious home reminiscent of an English Tudor, had several bedrooms that had been turned into guest rooms after the Chancellor's children (all 8 of them) had moved out to start their own families. John and his team has stayed there more than a few times in the past and each of them relished the huge soft, thick feather beds that furnished each bedroom. The home itself exuded a warm and comfortable, cozy atmosphere, thanks to the added touches from the Chancellor's talented wife, Elke.
As the dinner came to an end, John was anticipating another good night sleep like he had enjoyed each time they had stayed over at the Chancellor's insistance. The SGA-1 team always politely turned down the offer, while secretly waiting for the Chancellor to insist they accept his hospitality. The Chancellor was always amused that he needed to insist, knowing how much his friends enjoyed the lush beds. Without fail, their comfort and good rest during the night was always the foremost topic the next morning. The Chancellor and his wife were proud and humbled by their obvious enjoyment.
A thought came to John and he smiled. He would talk to Chancellor Pontu and ask him who made the beds and find out if he could make a personal purchase of one. His bed on Atlantis was comfortable, but it was too short and was only a single. Maybe that would solve his insomnia-he would definitely ask. Why had he never thought of that before!
After such a pleasant evening, the SGA-1 were relaxed and enjoyed the short walk to the Chancellor's home. They met one of the Lafodi patrolmen along the way, who was on duty patrolling the immediate area surrounding the square. Other patrolmen were on duty throughout the village and beyond. Crime was not really a problem, but the village was open to a fair bit of off-world traders who came and went freely. The Lafodi made sure to protect their own.
Chancellor Pontu greeted the patrolman cordially and was assured that all was well. The patrolman was new to the force, having only been employed less than one cycle. His nervousness at meeting his superior was apparent, though no one noticed the set jaw and tense stare the patrolman had when his eyes fell on the Colonel. After saying their good nights, the group continued on toward the home.
Once inside, the Chancellor asked if anyone wanted anything before retiring. "I know you all must be very tired. If it pleases you, you all may use the bedrooms that you have guested before. Elke has already turned down each of the beds. It is my pleasure to have you as our guests. Please enjoy our hospitality and treat our home as your own." They all bid each other a thankyou and a goodnight and headed to their respective bedrooms. With the village well patrolled, the team wouldnt need to take turns standing guard.
John entered the bedroom and kicked off his boots, he unstrapped his thigh holster and laid it on the nightstand . He unclipped his P90 and shrugged the vest off, laying both on the chair next to the bed. He smiled to himself , satisfied with the day's success. He flopped onto the bed, face down and enjoyed the fluff of the feather mattress around his body. He was in heaven, the thought of getting up to shed his clothes and use the adjoining bathroom made him groan. He should have done that before he lay down. He was trying to muster the energy when he heard a familiar click. He started to rise quickly from the bed, but was pushed down. The business end of a gun was jammed into the back of his neck. "Dont move" an unfamiliar voice demanded. John eyed the distance to his gun lying on the nightstand. "I wouldnt even try if I was you" the voice threatened. John knew it was no good, the gun was to far away.
"Get up and put your hands behind your head"
John had no choice but to do as he was told. So he rose from the bed and laced his hands behind his head. Now, at least he could see his intruder, ah, intruders. Three well armed men were standing in the space close to the bathroom. John figured that's where they had been hiding when he entered the room. If only he had used the bathroom first! Damn!
They prodded him towards the door. The lead guy warned "Dont give us any trouble or your friends will suffer." John's gut twisted , he hadnt even had time to think about his team or the Chancellor yet. He was pushed through the door, down the hall and made to make his way down the stairs. He could see Teyla and Rodney were lying face up on the floor, hands behind their heads. Ronon was on the floor unconcious, sporting a fair sized gash on his head, blood was seeping from the wound. John counted eight more armed men guarding them with guns held ready. The Chancellor and his wife were sitting on a bench. His face reddened , a trickle of blood ran down one side of his face also. His wife Elke, holding onto his arm, obviously scared of the armed men.
"How did you get in here? Whatever you are up to, you will never get away with. There are guards on patrol. Let these people go and your punishment will be light" Chancellor Pontu started, but was caught off guard when two more men entered the room, one was the very guard they had encountered on their walk home. He walked behind the other who clearly was the one in charge.
He addressed the Chancellor "Good evening Chancellor Pontu. I'm afraid we must interrupt your evening." He faced John "And, the famous Lt Colonel John Sheppard. Your reputation precedes you-on many worlds." He withdrew the wanted poster the Genii had distributed a while back. "You should be honored by all the trouble we have gone through in planning this. When it was heard that Atlantis was helping the people here, my boss was patient, waiting for the right moment. He warned us that you are a very resourceful man, so I will remind you to follow my instructions or the members of your team will suffer." Now, join your friends and lie down on the floor, hands behind your head."
John stood defiantly, these wanted poster somehow still kept sticking like glue. Guess word was slow getting around from world to world that now the Genii and Atlantis were in a truce and now allies.
"Wait just a minute" John started. "Guess you havent heard, that poster there is no longer any good. Those damned things are still circulating, a year too late. The Genii and Atlantis are allies now. Those wanted posters were issued when Gowan was in charge, but Radim heads the Genii now. He won't honor that-" He didnt get any further when he was rewarded with a particularly nasty jab to his middle back with the butt of a rifle-type gun. The pain exploded through him, sending him to his knees, a groan escaping his lips before he could reign it in.
He heard both Teyla and Rodney loudly protest against his current abuse. Maybe they'd listen to Teyla, cause apparently Mr Lead Man (as John so aptly dubbed him) didnt appreciate what he was trying to explain.
John felt the cold metal of a gun press against his neck once again. Mr Lead Man growled "This is how it works. The next time you dont do as you are told, a member of your team will be punished." He looked over at John's team. "And-if any of you give us any trouble, HE will suffer for it. That includes you Chancellor."
He bent down to growl into John's ear. "Radim is a fool. Not all Genii agree with his politics, especially when it comes to his alliance with Atlantis!"
John was still trying to recover from the first brutal blow, when another blow sent him all the way to the floor. His hands were roughly pulled behind his back and bound. Mr Lead Man loomed over John and grinned as he pulled a syringe and a vial of clear liquid from his pocket and proceeded to fill the syringe with the vial contents.
John was still trying to come to grips with the pain he was in, so he could do nothing but watch out of the corner of his eye. A familiar feeling of dread rushed through him as he felt the burning flush of the syringe needle as it pierced through the material of his shirt and into his left shoulder. The last words he heard were from his captor " Oh Sheppard, a message for you from my boss- Commander Kolya. He says Sweet Dreams" John had enough time to formulate the "Oh, crap!" in his mind before the darkness prevailed.
TBC oh no-not Kolya! Hope you like this so far! Please review!
