Reworked Chapter 1 (again) to fix a few mistakes ... (Dec 2009)
Don't own SGA
CHAPTER 1: Taken
Stepping out of the tent the villagers set up for her to work in, the flap swung gently behind Jennifer. The night was warm and heavy with moisture - It may rain before morning - she thought idly to herself but not too soon as there were only a few passing clouds obscuring the deep black of the night sky.
Standing under the thin canopy of trees, she attempted to escape the heat inside, although the outdoors did not offer a respite to the sticky heat. Salty sweat beaded on the back of her neck and she pulled damp hair away sweeping it up into a ponytail with a little pink ribbon she kept in her coat pocket for just these occasions.
Nodding to the marine on duty, he stood alert, immobile, blending into the shaded corner of the tent and regretfully she couldn't remember his name. The marines came here with the medical team in order to instruct the locals on use of the medical supplies secured during negotiations for foodstuffs sent to Atlantis. The people of this planet were agrarian and had little knowledge about medicine, originally interested in the weapons the advanced team carried, the inhabitants conceded for medical supplies when a flu-like virus hit the little community hard - not the Hoffan plague - Thank God.
A cut tree a few feet away served as a waiting area and Jennifer leisurely made her way over there, weary with exhaustion. Most of the personal returned to Atlantis yesterday morning but she decided to stay with two of her patients, young woman who were alone, pregnant and expecting any minute. Jennifer worried over them and, though it may be a little ridiculous, it was in her nature to care for them even if their families would do the same.
Sighing, she plopped down on the far edge of the log and gazed into the dark, tucking a loose strand of hair under the pink ribbon. Quiet moments like this she would look in to the night sky and wonder which little pinprick of light could be the Milky Way.
The decision to take the Atlantis post still tugged at her conscience. Soon after her mother passed away, her research caught the eye of someone from somewhere and she had been politely asked to apply for a unique and fully funded research opportunity. At the time she just wanted to get away from the mundane hospital schedule and this opportunity was a dream come true so of course she applied for the position without knowing she had already been chosen. All she had to do was sign the non-disclosure agreement on the figurative dotted line, thinking - Colorado Springs is so far away – but nowhere in her wildest dreams did she believe that her signature would take her to another galaxy.
The base had already been established when she arrived on Atlantis, the scientist she replaced requested re-assignment, so the labs were set-up and there was a minimal amount of physical labor to get her work started. Part of her duties included shifts at the medical facility since she had the necessary experience - there was no getting out of it - though she preferred to work in the labs because she never really felt comfortable handling patients.
With the hospital behind her, Jennifer fell into her new role as lead scientist headfirst, consumed with cataloging all the wonders of the Pegasus Galaxy. It really was a-dream-come-true and with the whirlwind of activity she was giddy with pleasure. Then she met Dr. Carson Beckett and found him just as brilliant as all the things she was studying in the lab. Having more than just a little crush on the attractive, self-assured Scotsman, how many times did she worry was her hair a mess or did her breath smell okay? Being the Chief Medical Officer, Carson spent most of his time in his private lab sectioned off from the medical bay and it gave her an incentive to spend longer hours seeing patients.
The opportunity never arose to develop their relationship into romantic, Carson died doing what he did best. At the time, she was heartbroken and would have rather retreat to the scientist position except Elizabeth Weir appointed her acting Chief Medical Officer of the Atlantis Expedition. Until then, she had been just another superfluous figure in the background coming and going as needed and what little confidence she had gained under Carson's tutelage was shaken loose when Elizabeth lay near death in the Medical Bay. It was so like Elizabeth to take a chance on someone relatively inexperienced and Jennifer did all she could to save her, going so far to re-activate the nanites with Rodney's help to save her life. The ethics of it, or lack thereof, made her skin crawl.
The days seemed to fly by and Carson's friends accepted her willingly, though at the time she wondered if their friendship was something born from the expediency to fill the empty space Carson left behind. But it didn't matter anymore as time had proven Telya's smile was genuine and John treated her like his little sister. When Carson's clone was discovered, she speculated she could have a second chance with him, but that was far more complicated then it originally seemed and she refrained from fanning the spark that never happened. There had been a very short, intense liaison with Ronan but she ended that fairly quickly given his interest in her was primarily because she reminded him of someone else. Then there was Rodney … and maybe Rodney was more than a friend, but she sincerely believed he loved himself more.
Chuckling to herself, how disappointed her mother would be if she knew about her misfortunes in love? Still alone except for her father, he was so far away and she still worried about him, even though the last communication revealed he was definitely not lonely, enjoying his retirement with a new companion. Still, she felt supremely guilty for leaving him behind and contemplated resigning her post to return to earth, taking a monumental step back in her career. Continually struggling with the decision - however it boiled down - she believed whole heartily, should she resign her post at Atlantis, she would feel just as supremely guilty leaving her friends behind.
It was about two years since she had been thrust into the position of CMO and though she gained more confidence, making life and death decisions still made her hands sweat. But this line of thinking was getting her nowhere fast, there was no point to dwelling on her relationships or lack thereof, since it always left her regretful of what could be or what could have been if circumstances were different. Sighing, Jennifer tore her eyes from the inky sky.
From her seat on the log bench she could observe main throughway of the village. A neat and orderly place, it was well planned with a straight cobbled street and oil lamps lighting the pathway. The buildings were set back with little gardens in front for flowers and a tiny tomato-like fruit the locals picked and ate as they walked by. A small boy brought her a handful of the little fruits and while they looked like tomatoes, they tasted like strawberries. Of course, Jennifer was allergic to strawberries but she ate them anyway, grinning as she handed some candies to the boy. The boy ran off with a mischievous grin and she developed a rash but it was worth the trouble to put a smile on his face even though she had to douse her body in Benadryl.
The familiar ruffling of the leaves broke through the typical sounds of the woodlands as a light breezed picked up blowing across the clearing. The medical tent was set close to the tree line and the gentle wind carried the rich loamy sent of the forest. Un-zipping her jacket to let the light flow of air cool her off, Jennifer pulled the clingy pink cami away from her damp skin. The storm she had predicted earlier was probably on its way.
Among the ever-present sounds of the forest came soft clanking from down the cobbled pathway and the musical tink-tink drew her attention back to the community of brick and wood buildings. An old man was treading softly between the oil lamps. She saw him on several evenings, trimming the wicks and refilling the lamps, carrying oil in clear-glass bottles tied to his belt. The bottles clanked together rather dangerously despite his measured steps as he leaned heavily on a long wooden cane.
The old man waved a greeting to her as he leaned on the wooden staff. Lamplight outlined his puffy white hair like a halo around his withered face and Jennifer thought she should walk over and say a few pleasantries, introduce herself, maybe see if he needed her skills as a physician but she was bone tired and this was the first time she had been off her feet the entire day. Settling for a smile, Jennifer waved back and the aged man retuned to his duties, checking the oil in the lamps.
Perched on the bench, Jennifer scuffed her feet in the dirt. The grass had been worn away from the villagers waiting to see her in the tent and her black boots were dusty from the fine brown silt. Chuckling, sitting on the log made her feel like a child playing at being a woman as if she could put on a stethoscope and play at being a doctor. All her years she tended to pretty 'girly' things, prancing ponies, fluffy kittens and dolls with pink ribbons in their flowing golden locks. Sleeping in a tent, roughing it, and getting dirty was not her specialty but here she was sitting on a log at the edge of dark woods, tall evergreens stretching overhead, gently swaying with the slight breeze.
Reaching up, she absentmindedly yanked her ponytail free from her collar, the lock of hair coming loose again to tickle at her ear. Something in the air had changed while she was lost in her reflection. Still humid, the oppressive heat had not let up despite the soft breeze, yet something was not quite right. Glancing over her shoulder at the marine, he had shifted his position and was looking around intently, searching for something in the darkness, the P90 next to his chest, ready. Whatever had her on edge also had him unnerved. Uncomfortable, she too searched the darkened woods, unease creasing into her brow, back stiff with apprehension and she half expected a creature similar to a skunk to come waddling out of the woods to spray her with its fetid essence if just to break the tension.
A sudden stillness filled the air, the breeze waning into nothing. Slipping to the ground, Jennifer backed closer to the tent, the marine making careful watch of the area surrounding them. Within a few breaths it had become unnaturally quiet resembling the moments just before an earthquake, the silence screaming in her ears as if she had been listening to music way too loud. Searching the motionless forest, her breath sounded shaky and uneven to her ears.
The silence grew with an intense ringing, a buzzing sound she could not believe she was hearing. A cold rush of fear trickled down her spine, her heart caught in her throat while all rational thought left her mind. The hypnotic sound forced her eyes toward the sky and Jennifer held her breath gazing into the black abyss as the incessant humming drew closer, the marine joined her, horror clearly etched into the angular lines of his face.
Breaking above the trees, the shinny mass was dark against the sky until it moved above the village where the glow of the lamps struck the underside. Copper light flickered over its belly, the light dancing across the hull resembled flames licking a burning log. The display of flying fire was captivating and the consistent hum of the engines entrancing. Rooted to the spot, panic rose in Jennifer's throat and she stood paralyzed from the astonishing fluidity skimming just above the village.
"Dr. Keller, get into the woods!" The marine screamed.
Shoved hard from the side, Jennifer fell sideways to the ground, landing hard on her hip. She had the distinct notion the armed marine yelled her name several times, finally pushing her in a last ditch effort to break through her daze. But still she watched, shocked and unable to disengage her attention as the marine aimed his weapon and fired ineffectually at the Wraith Dart.
Passing over the village lightening fast, the Darts fired their weapons; low energy bursts ignited the thatched rooftops afire, and black smoke rose from the roofs, forcing the inhabitants out into the street. An eerie silence descended as the Darts made a wide arc before returning for a second pass over the rooftops. The night filled with screaming as the villagers stumbled out of doors clad in nightclothes and cloaked in blankets. Most were barefoot, crossing into the street carrying small children and ushering their elders. Looking around in confusion, the villagers coughed from the thick smoke pouring from the second story windows. Flames licked hungrily at wooden frames, lighting the street from above with a damning intensity as if the sun rose on a new but horrifying day. The apocalypse had come, the Wraith were drawing the population out to cull.
Bursting from a door, Major Lorne had been sleeping in a home set aside for the Atlantis personal and three other marines making up Evan's team rushed out behind, training their weapons on a passing Dart, the group firing in unison. Evan glanced back to the medical tent, his brown hair tousled, the light of the flickering flames outlining an anxious expression plastered across his tanned and handsome face. Obviously dressing in haste, his shirt was untucked, the black vest unzipped and the laces of his boots dangled troublingly between his legs. Catching his gaze briefly, she stopped breathing for just that moment, Evan's statuesque figure aglow, a solid shape among the fleeting backdrop of scurrying humanity and she wished he would rush over, scoop her up and carry her to the safety of the deep dark forest where they could have a few precious minutes alone like in some silly romance novel.
Shaking herself, Jennifer blinked - What an odd time to have romantic designs about Evan Lorne - she chided under her breath.
Lorne turned away to address an elder who had stepped up to him with his hands out and eyes desperate. The barrel-chested man's ivory nightshirt was torn open revealing a thick mat of dark hair, his graying brown beard dancing like a squirrel's tail as he spoke hurriedly with Lorne. The burly man made several pointing gestures towards the forest while Evan nodded his head in agreement. Turning, the elder bellowed over the screaming villagers gathering around him in search of hope in the bleakness of the night's events.
Too far away to hear what the elder was yelling, Jennifer watched as Evan broke away and jogged up the street to the medical tent, his forehead dripping with beads of sweat, face red from his proximity to the flames engulfing the homes. Lifting her stiff body from the ground, Jennifer met Evan as she approached, his breath was heavy and anxious but his speech was curt and decisive, a testament to his military training and experience. The young marine at her side snapped his back straight as if he were about to be inspected.
Evan pointed towards the heavily forested hill where the underbrush was thick and tangled. "There is a trail about a mile or so into the woods up that hill." Shifting his weapon slightly, he continued, "It leads to a group of caves they used to mine - it's away from the gate, so we shouldn't meet any ground troops the Wraith sent. We need to get the villagers sheltered there."
Then he was off, returning to the burning village, disappearing into the mass of people like the selfless hero of her romance novel and her stupor was broken. Moving with purpose, she attempted not to stumble over her own feet in haste - she had to get her patients to the safest place possible. The marine followed to the tent but the first of the homeless villagers reached them at the entrance, their bedclothes sooty and they cried wildly.
Another idea struck, leaving her cold inside.
Turning away from the tent flap and to the marine, "You should take them up to the trail and make sure the way is clear ... if Major Lorne was wrong … if they sent advanced guards before the Darts then the villagers escape route could already be blocked."
The villager's eyes grew wide with fear from her supposition and their hands stretched to the young marine, touching his uniform, begging for his help, willing to sacrifice anything to take them away from a possibly very short and miserable existence within a Hive ship.
Their newly designated leader looked uncomfortable, the marine shifting his feet said nothing, only nodded his agreement and headed into the woods, weapon raised and ready. The villagers followed him with trepidation, clinging to each other for comfort. Jennifer watched until he was lost in the underbrush before turning back to the flap.
Entering the tent, the interior was dark and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the muted light filtering through the heavy canvas. The lamps she left were extinguished and the cots empty, blankets hurriedly tossed to the ground in a bundle. A flash of movement in the corner drew her attention with a quick intake of breath and the two pregnant girls unfolded themselves from the knot they had woven into the fabric of the darkness. Their wide eyes glinted the dim light as they fumbled towards her. Jennifer reached to catch their hands, helping them waddle around the cots.
"What is happening," the first girl whispered, breathless from her pregnancy.
The terrifying visage of the village burning to the ground raged in Jennifer's mind, searching for a simple answer, she wished there was a way around the truth. Suddenly a weight fell upon her as if by pronouncing the nightmare would make it a frightening reality.
Instead of prolonging the inevitable, Jennifer whispered to the girls, "The Wraith."
A shuffling came from outside the tent and the flap flew back inundating the interior with blazing firelight. Momentarily blinded to the intruder, broad shoulders filled the entrance; the figure in the doorway was a black shadow against the inferno. Standing motionless for what seemed an eternity, the figure stepped inside with one heavy booted foot, his face caught the light and Jennifer see could see it was just a man - a human man - with shoulder length dark hair and a closely cut beard.
"Father!" came a strangled cry from her side and the second girl pushed passed to rush into the man's arms.
Clinging to each other, the girl burrowed her face into the man's expansive chest, sobbing frantically.
"Come, we must go," he said with a deep baritone voice.
Pulling his daughter through the flap, he motioned to the other pregnant girl. Staggering past her, the flap closed behind the trio, encasing Jennifer in the darkness once more.
The energy drained from her body and a moan spilled from her lips. Beyond the tent, fire crackled and the Darts hummed incessantly overhead. The terror was overwhelming and Jennifer stood paralyzed with silent whimpering unable to force her body into motion. Screams echoed through her ears, heightening briefly in intensity then they abruptly ceased. Stricken with the childish notion to grab a blanket and toss it over her head but some sane portion of her mind won over, urging her to leave with the rest of the villagers.
In the dark, Jennifer wiped tears from her eyes and her dripping nose was rectified with the use of her sleeve. Fumbling in the dark with raw, watery eyes, the basic first aid kit was near the flap where she left it and she stopped to fling the bag over her shoulder before pushing aside the fabric flap to survey the violently awakened night.
The closest buildings had been the first hit with the Dart's energy weapons and they crackled, the hungry flames gutting the structures from the inside. Surprisingly, a few villagers were left wandering the streets, dashing between the burning buildings, their bedclothes ripped and sooty as they cried out a name but, for all their efforts, no one returned their calls.
Chilled and frightened, she needed to go while the sky was empty. The hypnotic buzzing was distant and now was the time to leave while the Darts were regrouping.
Stepping from the tent, Jennifer kept low, searching the surroundings for movement. Luckily, the tent was close to the hill, the evidence of their departure was readily apparent and she worried that any ground troops would be able to follow them.
Setting off toward the tree line with her bag bumping the side of her leg, it threw her off balance and so, she skipped more than jogged the distance, determined to not give up her kit. Nearing the tree line, an ominous creaking with a sudden crash startled her. Turning back to the village, a ravaged building collapsed sending glowing embers skittering across the cobbled stones and a movement beyond the cinders caught her attention. A brown covering obscured a crumpled figure and curiosity compelled her step closer, abandoning her quest for the trees.
Hurrying across the clearing, the heat overwhelmed her senses. It was becoming harder to breathe through the thickening smoke and Jennifer raised her arm to shield her face as she drew closer to the crumpled figure lying on the stones. To her horror it was the old man who tended the lamps and he was struggling to rise with help from the long stick.
Considering her options, the way was treacherous, the buildings were beginning to collapse, and there was no way to gauge when the darts would return with their blue culling beams - but there was no choice, it was against her nature to leave someone behind. Eyes burning from the smoke, she picked her way across the littered street.
As Jennifer approached the figure, the old man reached out with one hand begging her for help. A tight smile filled his eyes when she reached to catch his hand and he grasped her hard, thanking her for stopping to help him.
His leg lay at an odd angle to his body and sliding the bag off her shoulder, Jennifer knelt next to him. The old man managed to squirm onto one hip and she helped him maneuver over onto his rump, gasping as the movement jarred his broken leg. Remarkably, the glass bottles somehow survived the incident and the liquid sloshed, reflecting the flames licking the buildings. Dangerous, Jennifer thought, quickly examining the leg, her hands gently probing around a swollen lump forming under his kneecap. Unzipping the kit, she rummaged through the contents coming up with the splint. The old man sat patiently while she worked and when she batted at a the hair tickling her cheek, he reached up to push it behind her ear murmuring in a raspy voice, "such a pretty, young girl." The observation made her chuckle as she surveyed her wrapping - not her best work - but she was pressed for time.
Shoving the kit to the side, Jennifer crouched next to the old man. Putting his arm around her shoulder she pushed hard, struggling, but they managed to make it to their feet, the old man leaning on her side. Unwilling to leave her kit behind, she slung it onto her shoulder. Seriously weighed down, they hobbled across the cobbled stones, trying to make their way out of the village and to the safety of the mines.
It was hot and the sweat dripped down skin taunt from the proximity of the flames. Swallowing thick mucus, her mouth was dry and her throat raw from the smoke. Moving around the rubble with the old man leaning on her was difficult. Breathing heavy and beginning to feel light headed, she wished the storm would hurry with cool rain to quench the flames and a breeze to clear the air but the storm did not come, and she staggered around a charred beam.
The old man's coat caught, tugging, the movement left him unstable, knocking into Jennifer and falling forward, pulling her down with him. The glass bottles did not make a miraculous recovery, shattering into shards and spilling their volatile contents onto the stones. Unlucky enough to fall onto the razor-like glass, it cut into Jennifer's shoulder wedging deeply into her soft flesh and she stifled a cry from the biting pain as the old man jerked to untangle his arm from around her shoulder. With her face pressed onto the stones, her cheek burned from the alcohol and her regulation coat soaked up the volatile liquid making her cough as the fumes entered her already smoke-raw lungs.
The old man threw his body off her, rolling over into a sitting position. Lying on her face for a moment, lightheaded, Jennifer steeled herself against the pain of rising. Finally, pushing herself up with a gasp, she leaned against her medical pack, cradling her right arm. The front of her coat was saturated with fuel, the place at her shoulder was a deep red with the heat of her blood pooling beneath the sleeve to run down her arm. Arching her neck in an effort to inspect the wound, no glass protruded from her coat, even if she could see any, extricating it would be dangerous and likely to cause more damage. But it hurt like hell, imagining embedded shards scraping against bone, Jennifer clenched her eyes against the nausea welling up in her stomach.
A scuffling noise brought her attention back to the old man, he had moved as well as he could and was attempting to crawl past the burnt out homes. The buildings were stone shells looking like giant beasts breathing smoke with mouths open to piles of smoldering charcoal.
"Jennifer!"
Someone called her name over the destruction and she perked up, searching for the caller. Straightening her back, Evan Lorne came down the hill, sliding through broken brush to stop at the edge of the woods. Drawing a breath to call back, the air caught in her throat when something caused Evan to raise his weapon. Ducking, Evan crouched low against a thick tree and Jennifer blinked several times, wondering - how strange - his figure seemed distorted as if she were looking at him through some old wavy panes of stained glass. The air seemed to vibrate with an odd humming and the realization dawned on her far too late – she was looking at Evan through a culling beam.
XXX
When Evan did not see Jen at the mines a dense knot formed in the pit of his stomach. The few remaining villagers straggled through the opening to huddle in the dark, their bodies pressed together like sheep. Searching through the newcomers, he sought out Lieutenant Davis among the villagers; he was stationed with Jen at the medical tent and should know where to find her. Spotting the lieutenant over the villagers' heads, his worry heightened, fearing the Doc had not accompanied the marine to the mine.
"Lieutenant! Where is Dr. Keller?" Evan's anxiety made his words sharp and clipped as he passed through the crowd.
Davis's back snapped straight, a strained looked crossed his brow when he realized the Doctor was not with the villagers. Swallowing, "I left her at the tent."
Fuming, Evan bottled up his frustration; it wouldn't do him any favors in this situation.
"Assist Lieutenant Marks with the villagers." Evan barked, determined to keep his anger under check.
Joining the soldier at the mouth of the mine, Evan crouched against the rocky wall holding out hope Jen would stumble through the underbrush. Even if she was on her own, there was simply no way she could have missed the path, the grasses were crumpled and branches overhanging the trail were bent and broken.
Staring out into the trees, he held his breath and listened, hearing only crickets chirping and a distant, yet ominous, humming of the Dart's engines.
Concern gnawed at his stomach, a clearing lay just outside the village, nestled between two ridges, the space open so carts could be drawn down from the mines and the path crossed directly through this clearing. Completely exposed to the sky, the Wraith quickly discovered this prime location and relentlessly scooped up escaping villagers with their culling beams. Surely she wouldn't step out into the clearing when a Dart was passing overhead? Jen was an intelligent and beautiful woman and he secretly cultivated a special fondness for her, but the thought of her standing alone at the edge of the clearing left him cold.
Gathering his team at the opening of the mine, Evan sent two of marines to watch for any movement in the forest, ordering Marks and Davis back into the mine to keep the villagers quiet; he was going to the town to search for the Doc.
~x~
Keeping low, Evan moved from tree to tree, close enough to keep a visual on the path, but far enough away so he would not be readily identifiable from the underbrush. Making his way through the brush was slow but he finally reached the bottleneck clearing. Stopping at the edge he listened, willing his breath to still momentarily. The only unnatural sound he heard was the crackling of the burning village over his powerfully beating heart. Taking a chance, he ran full out across the clearing, dropping to roll behind a thick tree. Again he stopped to listen, and though the air was still around him, he expected ambush at any time.
Nothing stirred and he moved on, pushing through the undergrowth until he could see the light of the fires. Holding behind a boulder outcropping, he scanned the town. The tent was dark and the buildings closest to the clearing were gutted, pockets of smoke rising from the smoldering embers. Some of the buildings farther on still burned, lighting up the sky with a hellish intensity and billowing thick black smoke to obscure the stars.
Lifting his rifle, Evan peered through the scope searching for any signs of life among the far buildings. The breath caught in his throat when he saw Jen there, struggling to carry another figure around a fallen timber. The brown clad figure seemed to stagger for a moment and fall into the Doc, the pair landing hard on the cobbled street.
Stilling the desire to rush over blindly, Evan surveyed the surroundings, listing for any sign the Darts would return. As before, the only unnatural sound he heard was the crackling of the burning village and he stood, jumping over the rock to land on the soft hillside.
Calling out Jen's name, the stones beneath his feet gave way and he slid down the rough slope. Catching his balance on the underbrush, Evan chided his stupidity and mentally regrouped, looking around to locate Jen inside the village.
She was sitting next to her pack and he waved to catch her attention. Jen glanced in his direction and he was about to scramble out of the brush when a humming assaulted his ears. Raising his weapon, Evan scurried behind a thick rooted tree. The nearby ridges must have masked the buzzing sound of the Dart as it approached from behind the hill. Luckily the underbrush prevented the Wraith from capturing him in its beam but Jen was out in the open. The copper underbelly glided over and the beam snapped on. Yelling her name, Evan watched helplessly as Jen disappeared into the blue ray emanating from the underside of the Dart.