A/N: Any and all feedback is welcome. Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews my work.
Just a quick clarification. I do understand that some story decisions I make may upset some people.
I am sorry but that can't be helped.
Chapter Four
Night was falling, yet Sheppard and his men remained in position surrounding the Bola Kai camp, waiting for their opportunity to strike. Sheppard had decided upon a more covert action after spying Teyla in the Bola Kai camp, tied up and seemingly unconscious. He had explained his plan to Ronon, who appeared to be unhappy with the tactic but a curt nod signalled he understood and would be ready.
"You're sure you remember the signal?" said Sheppard worriedly.
"Yes" replied Ronon.
Barely reassured, Sheppard nevertheless trusted his Satedan friend to get it done. With a final faint smile, Sheppard began his covert approach toward the settlement, making his way straight towards Teyla. Reaching her without being spotted, he quickly checked for a pulse and found a strong one. Without hesitation, he grabbed his combat knife and cut through the tough bindings that held Teyla against the post. As he did so, she began to stir.
"John?" she queried, her eyes barely open.
"Yeah its me, we need to be quiet here" he replied in a hushed tone.
"John, you should not have come for me. It is a trap." she proclaimed.
Before Sheppard had a chance to turn around, a clubbing blow hit the back of his head and he instantly lost consciousness. Teyla watched as he was dragged away, powerless to prevent the half dozen or so Bola Kai from taking Sheppard out of sight. She tried to get to her feet anyway but was held down by a rather large and intimidating figure that was familiar to her. He had been the one who had grabbed her as she returned to the Athosian village.
Ronon looked down upon the Bola Kai settlement, a look of concern etched upon his face. A young lieutenant stood besides him, sharing the same look of concern for their commanding officer and friend.
"What now sir?" the lieutenant asked.
"Now, we wait." said Ronon.
- - SGA - -
John began to wake, his head still throbbing from the blow he had sustained earlier, though how much earlier was a question he needed to find the answer to. Opening his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar place, no doubt the prison where the Bola Kai kept the Athosians. A quick glance around the room confirmed his thoughts, a dozen or so Athosians were crammed into a room no bigger than a maintenance closet on Atlantis.
"Teyla?" he called out weakly, eager to make sure his friend was unharmed.
"I am here John" she replied, squeezing her way past her fellow Athosians and towards him.
"How long have I..." he started but soon stopped, a jolt of pain rushing through his head.
"About two hours."
"Good, then we're still on schedule."
"On schedule? For what?" enquired Teyla.
John did not answer but instead struggled to his feet and pushed his way through the crowd. He had been out for longer than he hoped but there was still time enough for him to complete his part of the plan. On cue, two menacing Bola Kai entered the building and brandished their primitive weapons at the Athosians, some of whom cowered from their captors. Sheppard and Teyla stood defiantly, refusing to bow down to fear.
"These two, bring them" said one of the figures, as another handful of Bola Kai entered the room to fulfil his order.
Sheppard and Teyla were dragged to the centre of the settlement and thrown to the floor at the feet of a towering warrior, wielding a far more ornate sword than his fellow Bola Kai. Sheppard quickly deduced that they had been brought before the chief, probably for judgement and punishment all rolled up in one. Sheppard did not stay on the floor and rose to his feet, drawing a look of ire from the chief, who ordered he be shoved back down to the ground.
"You...sit." he barked at Teyla as he pointed to a rather crude stool next to what was likely his "throne".
Teyla looked to Sheppard for guidance on whether she should resist. A slight shake of the head was enough for her to take her seat willingly. The chief's attention then turned back to Sheppard and a malevolent grin crossed his face.
"You...fight." he said.
What seemed like the entire Bola Kai settlement hooted and howled with joy at the utterance of the words. They had formed a wide, irregular circle around Sheppard; a fighting circle. Sheppard got to his feet and turned to face his enemies, still defiant. His opponent stepped out from the crowd, one of the guards who had dragged him before the chief. With a sneer, he cast down his weapon and decided to even up the fight.
"Show time" said Sheppard, under his breath.
- - SGA - -
Ronon watched through the oculars as Sheppard went toe to toe with the Bola Kai warrior, each man delivering devastating blows to the other. Ronon now wished he had been the one to get captured so that he could demonstrate the fighting prowess of his own people. But alas he was forced to watch from the sidelines, silently cheering as Sheppard gained the upper hand on his opponent and then delivering the knock-out punch. But something was off with Sheppard's movements.
Sheppard raised his hand, ostensibly as a sign of victory but this was the signal Ronon had been waiting for. Over the radio, he ordered Major Lorne's team to go, finally enacting the plan he and Sheppard and put together on the fly. Giving another signal to his own men, Ronon began to creep slowly but surely towards the settlement, his anticipation for battle beginning to break through his unnervingly calm exterior.
"Lets do this."
- - SGA - -
Sheppard stood over his unconscious opponent, a sense of satisfaction the over-riding feeling, beside pain. His opponent may have been defeated but it had come at a cost. Not only had he sustained at least one broken rib but the sneaky bastard had managed to stab him covertly with a hidden blade in the early stages of the fight. Sheppard was not going to show any sign of weakness however, as he stood and stared at the chief, baiting him to fight himself. Sheppard knew for his plan to work, that all the attention needed to be on him.
"Is that all you've got?" he said mockingly.
The chief looked back him, pondering his next move. Then as the sudden realisation of an idea lit up in his mind, a sinister smile erupted upon his face.
"Jarn!" proclaimed the chief and the entire village fell quiet.
Sheppard turned to see why. From the crowd stepped forward what could only be described a giant of a man. Easily seven-feet tall and as wide as a small car, he grinned menacingly at Sheppard, whose eyes opened wide with both surprise and apprehension. He had not expected this. With a weary resignation that he was about to get his ass kicked, Sheppard decided attack was the best form of defence and charged straight at the giant.
His body tackle shook the giant but had not taken him off his feet like Sheppard had hoped. Seeking to maintain any slim advantage from his surprise attack and before the blood loss became too much, Sheppard launched a flurry of blows against the rock-hard midriff of Jarn, who showed no sign that the blows were having any effect on him.
As Sheppard launched another tired barrage, Jarn grabbed hold of his incoming arm and with a hefty blow of his own, crashed down upon the exposed limb.
The crack of bone being broken was too much for Teyla and she turned away, not wishing to look at what was about to happen. The cries of pain from Sheppard were enough to convey the severity of the situation and his injuries. She had already lost one man she had cared about, she could not witness losing another. It was at this point she heard it, the sound of gunfire in the air. Thank the Ancestors she thought
- - SGA - -
As Sheppard was fighting a giant even Ronon would struggled to match up against, Major Lorne and his team had silently overpowered the few Bola Kai who remained guarding the Athosians.
"Lorne to Ronon" crackled the radio.
"Ronon here."
"Mission accomplished sir. All captives have been extracted from the enemy compound. Awaiting the go signal." said Lorne.
Ronon paused for a moment as he drew his own side-arm, ready to bring the pain upon the Bola Kai. He had seen these savages inflict pain and suffering upon his friends, now was the time for retribution. His anger was almost palpable as he lifted the radio back to his mouth.
"All units, go!" he shouted before dropping the radio and charging towards the camp.