Violets in Vegas: Man in Black

It was a race now. A sudden race against time. All I knew was that I had to save Moira. I couldn't let anything happen to her. It was all because of me, again. Another woman would die because of my negligence, because of my stupidity unless I could get to her in time. A woman who had captured my heart, although I had never told her, was now in danger because of me. I had to shove all those emotion aside, all the guilt and fear and horror and just get there in time.

I had to get there in time…

6:45pm

"No! Damn it, I have to go alone!" Detective John Sheppard declared, stomping to his car.

"No, John! I am coming with you whether you like it or not! You can't face Todd alone and Moira may need medical attention! Use your common sense, man!" Carson Beckett was just as irate, just as worried.

John whirled, tempted to deck the doctor but he paused, thinking. "Fine. You take your car and stay well behind me! Got it? And don't interfere until there's a need! You still got that gun?"

"Aye, I have it. Let's go, then. Where are we going, exactly?"

"Just follow me!"

"And what about Richard? We just can't leave him there! He's got a serious cut and several bruises not to mention a possible concussion and—"

"Shit." John dialed, lifted the phone to his hear. "Who's this?" he snapped, hearing an unfamiliar voice. "Listen up, Sennet. This is Detective Sheppard. I've got an injured man at 21 Wind Chime Lane. Get here STAT and get him to a hospital. He's a witness in a kidnapping. And Sennet, don't delay or it will be farewell to harry for ya!"

Carson stared a moment, finding the last phrase odd, but he said, "care to tell me where we are going or should I just guess?"

"Just follow me!" John glanced at his watch as he got into his car. He glanced at the sky, stared a moment. Through the haze of smoke and the sparkling auroras he could make out the full moon. It appeared serene, a pale gem rising above the mess as the sun began to set. He peeled out of the street, driving as fast as he could through the residential areas. He thumbed his phone. "McKay!"

Rodney McKay was kneeling on the floor of the lobby. He plugged in the device he had created. It emitted a low hum. A light blinked. Rodney smiled, grabbing his phone as it rang. "There. This will interrupt the signal and buy us some time. I added an interface from Genii Industries."

"Genii who?" Evan asked. For some reason he didn't like the name.

"Genii Industries. They're a cutting edge company on new technologies. A little shady but what tech company isn't these days? Anyway it should boost the life of this thing and interfere with the signal, buying us more than enough time to reach it and shut it off for good."

Evan Lorne nodded, glancing round. "Good because we're about to get company!" He hefted his P90 and shoved Rodney behind the abandoned counter.

"What? What…Sheppard? Sheppard, we're under fire and—" A burst of P90 bullets cut off Rodney and he crouched as Evan sprayed a covering fire.

"McKay, are you sure about that eclipse? The moon looks fine to me!"

"What? The lunar eclipse is tonight, but it won't be visible in America! It's a central—"

"Don't care! I'll be there ASAP!"

"Sheppard? Sheppard!" Rodney swore as the call ended. He yanked out his own gun, slung the backpack over his shoulder. "We have to get going now!"

"Ya think?" Evan quipped, ducking down next to Rodney. He peered round as the lobby was filling with yelling people brandishing weapons. "Shit! Get ready to run for the elevators!"

"Are you crazy? They're way over there!"

"That's why I said run! Run!" Evan sprang up, peppering the advancing line with gunfire. He didn't like firing on civilians, had in fact refused to do so when he had been in the Air Force. But this was a different situation and these people were all too happy to fire on him. He risked a glance to see Rodney in a crouching run for the elevator doors. "Go, go, go!"

Evan followed, running backwards but he suddenly stopped firing as more gunfire erupted. This time it was behind the mob. Rodney was pushing the button frantically and the elevator was coming. Pleasantly chiming on its way down to them.

"Cease fire, major!"

"Caldwell!" Evan breathed a sigh of relief as the older man appeared, bearing a large Wraith stunner in his arms. A brace of men were at his back, all similarly armed and clad in TAC vests and camo gear. Their boots clomped on the floor as they advanced.

"Go! We've got your six! There could be more above us, though. Weir's started a floor by floor sweep but you need to get to the top now." The lights flickered and the men glanced up at the fixtures. Rodney eyed the machine but it was still working. Still humming, it's little light blinking happily.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Rodney stepped in, pulling Evan with him. The doors closed. Rodney pressed the button and the two men began the long ride up to the very top of the observatory.

John floored it. He pressed his foot to the gas pedal and the car sped along the roads. Every time it hit a bump it flew up into the air but John didn't slow, not a moment. The desert sped by him, waves of brown and olive as the sun was beginning a lazy descent behind the hills. The sky was a firework of orange and purple. The moon could be seen through the murk, but the shape of the eclipse was all wrong and John wondered at it. He wondered if Rodney had been mistaken. If he wasn't that meant something else was obstructing the view of the moon. It wasn't a comforting thought.

Something about the moon was bothering him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He wasn't an astronomer, but a pilot, or rather he had been one and something in the sky wasn't right. Apart from the auroras and the smoke and the sudden early sunset something was amiss. He frowned, not able to figure it out just yet. He had more immediate concerns.

There wasn't time for stargazing.

He glanced into his rearview mirror. He could just make out Carson's battered vehicle following at a slower pace. Keeping a good distance as John had ordered. Despite wanting to go alone he was glad of the doctor's presence, in case Moira had been injured. Or worse. John tried not to imagine the worse and concentrated on his driving. The car's headlights shot amber beams along the dirty road. Illuminating his destination.

A coyote ran across the road. John almost hit it but the animal ran quickly. The car's headlights played across its gray fur and lanky form before it was gone. John's heart was racing, but not from the near collision. All too well he could imagine what Todd had done to Moira to get that taste of her. All too tell he knew what she had endured, however briefly.

He vowed she would not endure anything worse. As he had.

He forced himself to be calm. To think rationally and to eliminate all emotions. He needed to figure out the best approach. He debated whether or not Todd was alone. He knew that several men had snatched Moira out of her home, and probably they would still be with Todd. Perhaps to ambush him once he arrived. Unless Todd's hubris deemed them unnecessary and he expected to handle John all by himself.

John hoped the space alien was that arrogant.

John needed to figure out the best way to get Moira to safety and out of Todd's clutches. He knew she was bait. He knew she would be collateral damage to Todd, as she wasn't his main objective. John was his main objective.

John considered how to get Moira to safety and then, only then could be relish the deed he had wanted to do since day one. The thing he had been longing to do ever since he had first laid eyes on this space alien. Ever since he had heard it say his name in such savoring, musical tones. Ever since the alien had taunted him with poetry and riddles and then with dead bodies littered around the city. Around his city like so much trash.

John knew exactly what he had to do. He was anticipating it, actually.

He would kill Todd.