A/N: Thanks to the lovely ladygris for beta-ing again!
Through the Fire by GraceW
~Chapter 2~
-82 hours earlier-
"Alrigh' ye two. Is it really that important that ye need to fight over it?" Carson Beckett had been listening to his two escorts debate baseball over the course of the ten minute walk from the stargate. As much as he tried to keep up and stay involved in the conversations of the Atlantis personal, the American baseball league was definitely not his forte.
"Of course it is, Doc. The World Series is one of the most important games of the year, and we have to miss it." Sergeant Travis Goldman argued. Baseball must have been very important for the Chicago native.
"Must have something to do with working in another galaxy." The sarcastic Sergeant Charlie Hof wore a grin that would rival any mischievous schoolyard boy.
"The White Sox are playing for the first time since 1959! We'll have it this time. I just know it." The young Marine bubbled over with energy and enthusiasm as he was given the chance to talk about his hometown team.
The Marines started on again about the White Sox and about how the Oakland A's did not make it to the Series, which happened to be Hof's favorite. Carson smiled a bit at their banter and went back to enjoying the scenery.
The Matacans were one of Atlantis trading partners, the ocean side village brought a number of different types of seafood that the kitchen staff got really excited about. They had even been taught how to prepare the foods, and their large fish Sonoria was a new favorite among the Atlantis personal.
The walk from the stargate had now taken them toward the ocean, the smell and taste of salt in the air getting stronger as they approached the town. They had traded medical supplies for food. Carson had come to help the healers in the town learn about the basic medical tools.
"Hello visitors! You must be Dr. Beckett." An older man greeted them as they walked into town. "Welcome to Mataca, we are very pleased that you are here. I'm Healer Wilm Adsen."
"Aye, I'm Dr. Beckett. We are happy to be here. Now, shall we get started?"
Carson followed Wilm into a nearby building, leaving the two Marines free to walk back to the gate and talk about baseball without interruption. There was a small group of people there, talking among themselves, but they all turned and smiled at their visitor. This looked like it was going to be a good group to teach.
Just about an hour after arriving, and only halfway into his teaching, Carson's radio buzzed once. Looking at his still eager audience, he said "Excuse me for just a minute, please."
He took a step out of the building, and looked out at the beach; the afternoon sun glinted off the blue water as he signaled back.
"Dr. Beckett, something strange is happening." It was Goldman, he sounded confused.
"Go on."
"About ten minutes ago, two men from the village dialed the gate to a planet of trading partners and walked through. But the gate has been active ever since. We can't dial out or shut down the connection."
"I really don't know what to tell you, lad. It might shut down after the thirty-eight minute mark."
"Alright, sir. Just wanted to let you know. Happy teaching. Goldman out."
"Thank you for tha-" Carson was interrupted by the eerie and familiar sound of Wraith darts descending from the sky. His blue eyes grew wide as many screams echoed through the streets and more than two dozen darts flew overhead. "Goldman! We've got darts!" Carson yelled into the radio.
"We see them! Get the villagers to the gate. I'm coming your way!" The quick-thinking Travis Goldman had already begun running when he clicked the radio off.
Carson ran back into the building. His audience was already standing when he entered the room. Talking quickly and loud enough for everyone to hear, Carson said "Quick! Wraith! Get your families and friends and get to the gate!" The group didn't need much encouragement and in a crazed scramble ran out to the streets.
The strange occurrence of the open stargate turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The Wraith would not be able to dial in and the people of this planet would be able to escape. Carson hoped and prayed that all the people would make it out, but there had to be other villages on the planet farther away from the stargate.
He ran to the center street shouting and herding the town citizens toward the gate. He felt a call to get people to safety. The darts flew over the town again, their beams taking dozens of unsuspecting people. Carson's heart broke each time villagers disappeared into the white of the culling beam.
The gate would shut down in another twenty minutes or so; many people had to get through before that happened. A cry reached his ears, and he turned. A young girl, maybe four years old stood next to a house, her face was red and covered in tears. Running over he picked her up. "I've got ye, sweetie. I'll get ye outta here."
The girl's sobs lessened but did not stop as she clung to his neck. Carson ran to the main road where the majority of people were running. He waved down a man and handed the poor child off, hoping they would both make it to the gate.
"Beckett!" Travis Goldman worked his way upstream, pushing through the frantic crowd. "Get back to the gate! I'll finish up here."
Carson's brows furrowed, concerned and confused. "But-"
"That's an order, Doc." Goldman's green eyes were unyielding and Carson did not argue further.
"Listen, son." Carson paused. "Be careful."
The sun beat down on his head as he began to run back to the gate. It should have been just about a kilometer away, but he was a medical doctor, not a bloody track star. More darts flew overhead, buzzing like angry wasps.
The gate was in sight, perhaps only a quarter of a kilometer away. Suddenly, an explosion hit the road about a hundred meters ahead of him. The darts had begun firing in a crazy attempt to stop the people from reaching the gate. Chaos, plain and simple, erupted among the escapees. Terrified screams reached his ears as villagers burned, bled and died. Family members watched in horror and tried frantically to find loved ones. Carson ran faster, hoping to help those who were still alive.
The darts flew over, scooping up those who had stopped to help, in addition to the burned and bleeding bodies of the victims. Carson ran toward the site, shouting at the people left standing there in shock. "Keep goin'! Get to the bloody gate!" A few of the more sensible folks encouraged the rest, and the scattered group took off running again.
The stargate was close; Carson could see the ripples in the puddle as multitudes of people ran though to safety. Sgt Charlie Hof stood near the DHD, waving people on, encouraging those who were lagging behind. Carson's heart lifted, they were almost there, and many people had already made it to safety. He jogged toward Hof, hoping to get the full story and then eventually get through the gate. The young Marine saw Carson in the crowd and gestured toward the gate. It ended up being the last thing he did.
The whine of the dart came right before the explosion. The Wraith's aim had been true, Hof and a number of nearby villagers disappeared in the bright yellow and orange of the explosion. Carson had a split-second instinct and put on the breaks, but the edge of the blast still picked him up and tossed him through the smoke filled air.
The Scottish doctor remembered the pain as he hit the ground, and then everything went black.
Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know what you think!
~~Grace :)
