Chapter Two – Strangers

The decision to help the stranger that McKay had sent their way had been a difficult one to make, but they couldn't in all conscience leave the man with a Wraith tracker in his back, even if he had a jamming device for the time being.

After the device had been removed and Ronon Dex had recovered from the surgery, Elizabeth called a meeting to try and find out more about Rodney and his whereabouts. She knew that Sheppard had already gotten most of Ronon's story from him as well as shared some of their own, but this would be a more formal debrief.

She made sure that John, Aiden, Teyla, Carson and Bates were present. Dr Simpson, who had taken over Rodney's position both as Chief Science Officer and a member of John's team, was unable to attend as she was busy trying to come up with a solution to the rapidly approaching hive ships that were just over two weeks out from Atlantis.

"So, how exactly did you meet Rodney?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was on a planet, recently culled. Saw his ship. Recognised it as being Ancestor technology. Seen paintings of ships like that."

"Is that why you approached him? Because of the jumper?" This was Sheppard.

"Yes. Watched and waited. When I saw only one man, who was ill, I knew I could get him to take me elsewhere. The Wraith were coming, a ship might be useful against them."

"He was ill? What was wrong with him?" Beckett couldn't help but ask.

"Tava sickness."

"Tava sickness?" Elizabeth repeated, looking to Teyla when Ronon didn't elaborate.

"If the tava beans are not stored correctly, or are stored for too many years, a mould will form on them. The mould makes whoever eats them very ill for several days. While the illness is not fatal in itself, without help a person will die. It is common for the sick person to not eat or drink unless aided."

"Causes fever. Makes them vomit. They sleep a lot and when awake are not aware of much. He was lucky I helped him."

"You chose to help him?" Elizabeth pressed him.

"Told him Wraith were on their way and about the tracker. He used the jumper to jam the signal. Was able to fly us through the Ring." Ronon shrugged.

"Self preservation," Bates stated. "No point taking you to another planet if the Wraith would just follow."

Ronon nodded.

"So when you arrived at the new planet, I take it he became very ill?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. I had to stay with the ship or else the tracker would transmit our location, so I helped him. Figured if he could jam the signal using the ship, he might be able to make something portable to jam it as well. Either way, I had to stay with the ship."

"So you made sure he survived." Elizabeth nodded, understanding it was a matter of survival, something Ronon was obviously skilled in to have been hunted for seven years and still be alive.

"When he recovered he tried to stun me. Didn't succeed." There was a look of wry amusement in Ronon's eyes. "Think I frightened him."

"Can't imagine why," muttered Carson.

"He wanted me gone so he made the jamming device so that I wasn't tied to his ship. Told me about Atlantis. Said you would help and want little in return, if anything. Information about him most likely."

"He didn't tell you what had happened or why he was alone?" Sheppard asked.

"No. I asked. Wondered if you were the good people he made you out to be, why he wasn't with you. He wouldn't tell me." Ronon shrugged. "I saw hurt in his eyes and didn't push."

There were some exchanged glances at the last statement. They still didn't understand why he had betrayed them so badly, but it seemed that Rodney was regretting it.

"Don't know what he did or why, but the man feels lost, alone. I could see it," Ronon added, wanting them to understand the pain he'd seen in McKay's eyes.

"We've heard that he trades information, such as engineering concepts, for supplies. Do you know any of the worlds he's trading with at the moment or where he went after dropping you off on Keras' world?" Bates asked pointedly.

"No. He didn't make that mistake, knowing I was coming here. Smart, even if his survival skills need work. The world we met on was dead, culled months ago. No survivors, or those who did had long left. He was looking for items to use or trade; scavenging. Told me he prefers to trade, but will take what he needs when he comes across a world like that. Also said he's had some run-ins with less than friendly locals, but didn't give details."

"It sounds like he's managing to survive on his own then," Carson said, relief in his voice; confused though he was by the betrayal, he didn't want to hear that Rodney had died out there, alone.

"Doing some good too," Ronon added. "Told me of a world he visits often, where he had saved some people from the Wraith. They were culling two of the neighbouring villages but the one he was in was a lot smaller, about fifty or so people. He did something with the cloak on his ship. Extended it to cover a small area. Managed to cram some onto the ship, others had to stand outside within the cloaked area. He trades with them often, helping them but taking only what they can spare in return. He's a bad liar, so I know this was true."

"Did he tell you the gate address or the name of this planet?" This was Ford.

"Wouldn't tell it you if he had. Don't know what he did, but I know he saved those people and he didn't have to help me. Could have given me the jamming device and took off, but he didn't. Said the device could be damaged; be better for the tracker to be removed. Whatever he did, he saved me from running. Man needs a safe place to hide. I would honour that."

"He betrayed us," Elizabeth said. "We still don't know why."

Flashback

The planet was known to the locals as Shaltere and was populated by a few thousand people, called Gra'ans They said that the name came from an old dialect no longer spoken on their world and meant 'together' or 'friendship'. Certainly, the people seemed friendly enough, at least at first, talking of trade agreements and a sharing of technology. The Gra'ans had a technology similar to the level of the Hoffans, which so soon after that disaster, not to mention the Genii one as well, was making Sheppard a little twitchy.

"It is rare that we receive visitors on Shaltere, even rarer that we find people with something we feel is worth trading for. Our society prides itself on its self-sufficiency and most of what is offered to us is not required. Knowledge, however, is something we always seek. To us, knowledge is valued highly," the Gra'an leader, Governor Kylun, explained to the team as they walked through the early-industrial city. "The study of the stars has long fascinated us, along with the world about us. One of our latest and most prodigious projects to date is the use of water to produce electricity. We have high hopes of replacing the wood burning generators that choke the air."

"Hydroelectricity? We could help you with that," McKay spoke up. "Maybe with other forms of producing electricity as well…"

"Like solar panels," Sheppard cut Rodney off before he offered them a nuclear power plant. Not that he would, well, not if he'd learnt anything from dealing with the Genii that was. Nuclear bombs, nuclear power plants; not much difference in his mind, though there could be in McKay's.

"Yes, yes, like that," Rodney scowled at the major.

"That would be wonderful. You have mastered this technology yourselves?" Kylun asked excitedly.

"To a large extent, yes. Are you building a dam to store the water? That would also mean that the water arrived with a high pressure which would allow you to extract more energy from it…"

"You must talk to our lead engineer, I'm sure he would be better able to answer your questions. I could arrange for you to see him now, if you would like," Kylun offered.

"Yes, yes, that way I can see what information you're lacking."

Although Sheppard wasn't keen on splitting up the team, he could see the wisdom in this. The sooner McKay ascertained where the Gra'ans were with their technology, the sooner they could work out what they had to offer them in trade.

"Ford, go with him. I want radio contact every hour."

"Yes, sir." Ford looked less than thrilled by his orders, but tagged after McKay and one of the Governor's attending minions as they strode away.

"So, what can you offer us in return?" Sheppard asked, as he and Teyla followed Governor Kylun to a meeting room to discuss potential trade agreements.

They had been negotiating for less than half an hour when a messenger entered the room and spoke quietly but urgently into Kylun's ear, before leaving quickly. Kylun gave a sign, and he and his attendants rose up, producing small hand guns from beneath their cloaks.

"Hey, guys, if we said something to offend you…" Sheppard started to say while checking out the weapons and assessing the threat they posed.

"It is time for you to leave," Kylun stated.

"If there has been some misunderstanding…" Teyla said in her best diplomatic voice.

"The only misunderstanding is of our own making. We value knowledge and it is clear to us that Dr McKay has much of this. He will remain here and share it with us."

"Ah, now, that's a problem," Sheppard said, standing slowly. "We'd rather take him back with us."

"We outnumber you and I assure you that our weapons are highly effective." Kylun gestured to his guards who grabbed John and Teyla and started to march them out of the room. They weren't disarmed, most likely meaning that the Gra'ans were confident they didn't need to. Which, Sheppard thought, could be a very bad sign. It would be better to come back with reinforcements later.

"Listen, you have no idea what you're doing here. We have powerful weapons of our own and we will come back for McKay. We've kind of gotten used to having him around," he said, the threat evident in his voice.

But Kylun and the guards took little notice of his continued threats, nor Teyla's, as they manhandled them out of the city and back to the gate.

Arriving at the gate, they saw a dazed looking Ford being held captive by three guards.

"You okay?" Sheppard asked, noticing blood down one side of the lieutenant's face.

"Yes, sir. Just a scratch," Ford looked contrite. "I'm sorry, sir, there were too many of them. They took McKay. I wasn't able to stop them."

"Yeah, not your fault," Sheppard reassured his second in command.

"Was Dr McKay injured?" Teyla asked Ford, throwing a filthy look at Kylun.

"I'm not sure. They were rather rough with him when they dragged him away."

"You will leave now," Kylun stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sheppard nodded to Teyla, who punched in the address and then sent her IDC.

"I wish I could say it was a pleasure but I'd be lying," John spat at the Governor. "And you can be sure that we'll be back. Believe me, you've made a bad mistake by making enemies of us."

His words, however, had no obvious impact and he turned away, disgusted and angry with himself for allowing this to happen. He led his team, minus one, back home.

End flashback

"I took a team back to retrieve McKay," Sheppard said. "He'd been beaten and was unconscious when we found him, but recovered quickly. Beckett released him to his room the next day."

"He seemed like his old normal self," Carson said with a sigh.

"He programmed a virus into the city's systems, causing a lockdown and interrupting primary controls. The Gra'ans were able to gate in," Elizabeth continued. "We were lucky they chose to stun anyone who got in their way instead of killing them."

"Some of us were able to avoid capture and eventually Simpson and Zelenka were able to override the virus and regain control of most of the city. The Gra'ans retreated to the control room to make a stand, but in the end they fled back to Shaltere, taking their dead with them. However, McKay didn't go with them and we were trying to locate him when he stunned a couple of guards in the jumper bay and stole one of the ships," Sheppard explained. "The jumper's dialling device overrode the control room's and we were unable to stop him leaving. He didn't go to Shaltere, but when we followed him to the planet he did gate to, he'd already gated out again."

"He betrayed you and left," Ronon stated.

"Yeah, and hell if any of us know why." Sheppard looked angry and puzzled.

"We'd like an opportunity to ask him," Elizabeth said.

"To kill him?" Ronon asked bluntly.

"No," she said, shocked at the suggestion. "We wouldn't kill him."

"Just lock him up for now and find out why he acted like he did," Sheppard said.

"Be better to leave him be."

"We can't do that," Elizabeth said. "If the Wraith get hold of him they could potentially get the location of our home planet from him."

"Not to mention what the Genii might do with him or his knowledge," Bates added sourly.

Ronon understood their dilemma, but he was not ready to give up the name of the planet in case it helped lead them to McKay's safe haven. Not yet, anyway. Whatever had forced him to betray his people, he was doing some good now, and he couldn't do that from a cell.

"What about you, Ronon, do have someplace to go?" Teyla asked.

"No, my home was destroyed by the Wraith," he said it as a matter of fact, pushing the grief down, hard.

"You are welcome to stay here, or there is always the mainland. I'm sure the Athosian people would welcome you," Elizabeth suggested.

"My people would be happy to welcome you," Teyla agreed.

"Need to think about it," he replied succinctly.

"Of course. In the meantime, I'm sure Major Sheppard can find a room for you," Elizabeth said, indicating the end of the meeting.

"He should be assigned a guard detail," Bates said.

Major Sheppard grimaced, but nodded reluctantly.

"Just for a few days, until we get to know you better."

He shrugged. It didn't bother him, he knew if he needed to he could take out however many soldiers they sent to guard him.

Fortunately, he didn't need to, and over the next few days, he showed off his skills as a fighter, and at Sheppard's suggestion, he started to teach some of the soldiers better fighting techniques. By the end of the first week he had lost his escorts and gained a place on Major Sheppard's team, temporarily replacing the scientist, Simpson, while she concentrated on saving the city.

He'd heard that the Wraith were on their way and he wanted a chance to fight them. This place, these people, different though they were, offered an opportunity to win against the Wraith. He would help to defend it, and them, at all costs; even his own life.

After dumping the scary mountain man with the kids from hell, and he really hoped that his gut feeling that this Ronon guy was a decent person despite his appearances and tendency to capture wayward astrophysicists was right, he headed to Jefla.

He was always welcome here, with arms held wide and gratitude in the eyes of the villagers. It could be rather unnerving at times, but it was also a relief to have somewhere to retreat to when things were difficult or bad.

Since leaving Atlantis he had learnt to trade, which was not as easy as it sounded and was fraught with danger, as even friendly locals could turn on you if you weren't careful. He'd found the best thing he could trade was knowledge, such as sewage or irrigation systems, water pumps, better ploughs, and once how to build an arched bridge. Simple physics and engineering combined to make life a little easier, in return for food mainly, though sometimes clothing, trinkets he could trade when knowledge wasn't enough and occasionally an Ancient device or crystals that were of no use to the locals.

It wasn't an easy life and some planets weren't worth a second visit. Of course, every so often a world he'd traded with would be culled and he'd return to find ruins. Sometimes he could scavenge, sometimes he found survivors and that was often worse because he had little to offer them.

An increasing number of planets he considered friendly were being contacted by Atlantis teams and making trade agreements with them. Whenever he turned up after that had happened, he crossed the planet off his list, sometimes after having to escape. Atlantis hadn't put a bounty on his head, as such, but they mentioned him to their new partners as someone they wanted to talk to, and that could lead to over enthusiasm at times.

Jefla, so far, had never been visited by anyone from Atlantis, though he was afraid that might change. He could curse himself for letting the planet's name slip to Ronon, but consoled himself that he'd kept the gate address secret. He hoped that no one on Atlantis had heard of Jefla or knew where it was.

Still, it had been beyond stupid to have mentioned it. The planet was his one true haven, the one place where he knew he was always welcome. He'd saved the village from the Wraith; only one of three villages, but one more than would have survived if he hadn't been there.

Flashback

There were three villages on Jefla; Tren was the biggest and closest to the gate, Parlin was the second biggest and about four miles from the gate and Hinn was the smallest, more of a hamlet really, situated about seven miles from the gate. The villages were part of a co-operative, each supporting the other and working together for the good of all.

They were open to trade and he offered to design a better irrigation system for their crops, one that would be more efficient, saving them time and effort. In return, they would offer food and cloth. The food was for himself, the cloth he knew he could trade on other planets for more food.

Offered accommodation and meals in Hinn for the night, he retreated to his room after the evening meal to work on his design. A waste of his talents in many ways, but necessary for survival. He couldn't go back to Atlantis, not after what had happened. He doubted they would believe his explanation and this life was marginally better than being stuck in a cell amongst people he had once called friends.

Damn it, and that was what hurt most of all. Most of his life he had managed quite well without friends, real friends, not just passing acquaintances, and had convinced himself he was better off that way. And he had been, but on Atlantis he'd started to change, started to let people in. Started to care.

He thought he'd finally found a place where he fit in, where people were willing to put up with him, even to like him, maybe even to care about him and he'd responded by slowly letting down his barriers.

He should have known better; good things didn't happen to him, not without turning bad.

The guilt ate at him; he'd betrayed them. He knew it hadn't been his fault, and yet it still felt like it was at times, and the memories plagued his dreams often.

He'd lost everything; his home, his friends, his dreams. Now, all he had was a jumper, its contents and his knowledge, which was being wasted on simple things like this project.

He could never go home, whether that was Atlantis or Earth; he'd always be a refugee, a nomad, wandering a galaxy not even his own. He huffed a wry laugh at the poetic thoughts; how far had The Great McKay fallen?

The plans were almost finished when he heard a loud bell clanging outside. Not knowing what it was but feeling a dread enter his heart, he left his room and went downstairs to chaos.

"McKay, we must go, must hide, the Wraith have come through the portal," his host, a diminutive woman who claimed to be a healer, said urgently.

"How could you know that?" he asked sharply. "You're a long way from the gate, the portal," he amended quickly, knowing that 'gate' meant nothing to them.

"Tren lit the signal fire, and then Parlin did the same. We have people who watch for the fire at night and the smoke in the day, and whenever the signal fires are lit the bell is rung. It means the Wraith have come and we must hide and pray to the Ancestors for survival." While she was saying this, she was tugging him out of the house and into the street.

"Okay, okay, so do you have somewhere to hide?"

"No, we run into the forest and pray to survive."

"Well, that's not much good," he snapped, thinking quickly. "Look, there's what, fifty of you in the village?" The woman nodded. "Okay, get everyone to gather by my jumper, my ship. It has a cloak, a device to hide it from the Wraith. I might be able to hide you…"

"You could do that?" the woman asked with eyes wide in amazement.

"It should be possible."

The woman sped off to gather the fleeing villagers as he headed to the jumper parked a few metres from the edge of Hinn.

"Not room for them all in the jumper… so if I rewire the cloak…" he muttered to himself, not finishing his sentences as schematics and ideas passed rapidly through his mind. "Then I can extend it by a few metres, covering the villagers outside…they'll have to huddle against the hull and keep quiet if any Wraith come by…"

McKay reached the jumper and started work, frantically rewiring and switching crystals to achieve his end. By the time the first group of villagers arrived, he had managed to push the cloak out by two metres, and was watching the darts on the HUD.

"Keelie said you can hide us. Is this true?"

It was the village elder, er, oh right, Luther, like Superman's arch enemy, Lex Luther.

"Yes, this ship has a cloaking device that will hide it from the Wraith. You need to get everyone onboard that you can, especially the children, as those left outside will need to keep quiet if the Wraith approach on foot."

"Will those outside be safe?"

"So long as they stick close to the ship's hull and keep quiet, yes. You'll have to stress that to them."

Luther nodded and organised the people as they arrived into groups; those with very young children were crammed into the jumper along with as many others who would fit and the rest huddled next to the hull. McKay engaged the cloak and Luther reported to the villagers that when he stepped outside the cloaked area the people and the ship vanished from view. Rodney nodded when he heard this and then closed the rear hatch. He hoped that if any Wraith walked by that the jumper would muffle any sounds the children might make. It should do in theory, but he had no idea how good Wraith hearing was.

Hours passed and he watched helplessly as darts screamed over the villages, knowing that the people of Tren and Parlin were being taken and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He was acutely aware of the occasional cries of babies and young children being shushed by anxious parents behind him, the warmth of so many bodies in such a small space, the press of the people around him; his claustrophobia was threatening to panic him, but he breathed slowly, deeply and thought of wide open skies to control it, and pushed the feelings of guilt aside. He couldn't save everyone, but he could save this village, these people. It wasn't enough, but it was all he could do.

And then, after hours of fear and guilt and barely contained panic, the darts were gone and he felt able to lower the rear hatch.

"They're gone. Or at least, their darts are gone. I need to fly over the area to check for life signs, see if there are any Wraith left, or any survivors, but that will leave most of you at risk if there are any still around or they come back."

His statement was relayed to Luther outside who decided that everyone would move back into the village and that six of the men would accompany McKay on his search for life signs.

They found no Wraith but over twenty children, all under the age of three, scattered over the two destroyed villages. Homes were found amongst those he had saved and he was finally able to rest, though his dreams were full of cullings and death.

End flashback

He'd stayed to help them for a few days, but their undying gratitude, while refreshing, was also overpowering. Over time a compromise had been reached between them. The villagers would provide a safe place for him to rest as well as food, and he would provide items and information to help them rebuild their lives.

This time when he returned he gave them some cloth he'd traded for and then went to find the healer, Keelie.

"Rodney, it has been many days. I began to fear you would not return," Keelie said as she greeted him in the Jeflan way; a low nod of the head. He returned the greeting.

"Yes, well, I was unwell," he muttered. "Tava sickness, apparently."

"You did not know of it?"

"No, unfortunately."

"You truly are not from these worlds to know nothing of that. You are over the worst of it I see, though you still look pale and weak. Surely someone must have helped you. Alone, the sickness can kill."

"Yes, someone helped me, I helped him in return and we went our separate ways. I just wanted to make sure that, well, that what he told me was true and that I won't suffer any long term effects or illness or…or anything," he said in a rush.

"Once the sickness is gone it is gone. Unless you eat mouldy tava beans you will not become ill again or suffer further problems. But you are still weak from it and you will sit down while I make you some healing broth."

"No, no, that's alright. I'll, ah, need to see Luther about…ah…something," he backed away, having once partaken of one of her healing broths before and he really didn't want to ever taste something that foul again.

Keelie pulled herself up to her full height, all of four foot nothing, if that, and crossed her arms, glaring up at him.

"You will sit down and you will drink the broth I make you," she said sternly, tapping her foot and waiting, as if talking to an errant child.

And damn it if he didn't find himself sitting meekly down. How had this slim little old woman gained such control over him? She looked like a gust of wind could blow her away, but in fact he knew she was far stronger than she looked and certainly more fierce than her appearance suggested.

She reminded him of Carson at times, not the he liked to dwell on that much.

Once satisfied that he was doing as he was told, she turned to her stove and started making the broth.

"So how long will you stay this time, our eternal wanderer and friend?"

"A few days," he started to say but was interrupted by a huff of annoyance from Keelie.

"No, you will stay longer this time. Until I am sure you have regained your strength. A few weeks should do that."

"Look, Keelie…"

"No, do not start with me. You know you will not win." She flashed him a winsome smile and batted her eyelids at him coquettishly, making him roll his eyes.

"Fine, I'll stay, just… stop flirting with me. You're old enough to be my mother."

"Ah, if only I was younger, I would not let such a good and handsome man go."

He groaned and placed his head in hands.

"You should not wander so, Rodney. There are many young females in this village. I am sure one of them would take you in."

"I'm not the marrying kind," he said firmly. "And you know what I'm like with kids." He shuddered. "Little horrors, every one of them."

"It is not good for someone to be alone."

"I'm not alone when I'm here, am I? And I come here often."

"Even so, there is a sadness and a loneliness within you. I think perhaps that is part of why you will not settle. You miss your people, your past. Can you truly not go home to them?"

"I told you, no. It's just not possible and it's not something I want to talk about. I'm fine and I'd thank you not to interfere with things you don't understand." He stood to leave, always feeling troubled when Keelie started with this type of talk.

"Please, Rodney, forgive me. I am an old woman who cannot help but interfere at times. Please, stay, I will talk of other things."

He sat, more tired than he wanted to admit. The talk turned to more mundane things; the project to build more housing as Jefla had recently taken in a few refugees from other worlds, the need for more labourers in the fields which led to him offering to design better ploughs and possibly some form of simple harvester, and he told her a little of his travels.

The broth was every bit as disgusting as before, but he drank it down at her unrelenting glare.

And he spent three weeks in the village, helping with their various projects while regaining his strength.