"We found the Jumper," Major Lorne reported over the radio as he landed the Jumper in the Jumper Bay. It had taken his team three days of searching but they had finally found their missing Jumper and two of their three missing people – he just hoped Sheppard had faired better than the Jumper and the two lieutenants.
With in a matter of moments Lorne was in the briefing room updating Elizabeth, Carson, and Sheppard's team on what his team had found. "According to the ambassador we spoke with Colonel Sheppard's Jumper was shot down by enemy fire somewhere in the Northern region of their world…right smack dab in the middle of a war zone. It took us three days and a couple of near misses ourselves but we finally found it." He handed some photos to those gathered around the table. "Both lieutenants were dead and there was no sign of Colonel Sheppard in the area."
"I don't suppose you were able to establish radio contact?" Elizabeth questioned setting the disturbing photos aside.
"No," Lorne shook his head. "Either his radio's been damaged or he's out of range."
"I should have gone with him." Rodney spoke absently, almost to himself.
"And done what McKay?" Ronon shifted in his chair not liking this inactivity. As far as he was concerned all of this talking was a waste of time that could've been used looking for Sheppard.
"I don't know…something."
"It's not your fault, Rodney. We could not have anticipated this would happen." Teyla quickly diffused the brewing argument between her teammates with practiced easy.
"Teyla's right, all we can do now is figure out away to find John and hope he's alright." Elizabeth agreed. "Major were you able to learn anything about this war?"
"Not much, just that Ambassador Lar's people have been fighting a war against what they call savage beasts for more than a couple of decades."
"Is the Ambassador willing to help us find Sheppard?"
"He's willing, but he may not be able to. His resources are extremely limited, and the situation on the surface is chaotic. But he's assured me that if his troops do find the colonel, he'll receive medical attention and be transported to the nearest command post."
"Let's hope he doesn't meet up with these savage beasts first." Carson spoke what the others were thinking.
"Let me go in there and find him." Ronon demanded. "I'll find him faster than the ambassador's men."
"I understand how you feel, Ronon, but let's take it one step at a time. Major I want you to contact Ambassador Lar, ask for any tactical support he's willing to provide, maps, weapons analysis, intelligence reports, anything. Before I risk anyone else's life I want to know exactly what we're getting ourselves into." With that Elizabeth ended the briefing.
--
John was really getting sick and tired of not waking up safe and sound back in Atlantis. Preferably in his own bed, but at this point he'd even take the infirmary. Sitting up he took in his new surroundings; yup just liked he'd thought the usual primitive human surroundings found on oh so many human-inhabited planets in the Pegasus Galaxy. At least he was in an actual building this time and not a tent that was always a plus.
"Finally you're awake," An excited voice spoke up. "I was starting to think you'd sleep through the whole war."
Glancing over his shoulder John spotted a young boy probably around nine or ten standing in the doorway. He was about to respond when the boy suddenly started rapidly asking all kinds of questions, kind of McKay like, only smaller.
"Come now Merkin give the protector a chance to get his bearings before you bombard him with questions." An elderly woman appeared behind the boy carrying a tray of food. "Forgive the young one, he is easily excited." She moved to set the tray on a small table indicating for John to take a seat. "I am Lenora."
"John," John cautiously started nibbling on the food. "And trust me I'm used to dealing with easily excitable people."
"By your coverings you are a fresh Protector, true?" Merkin slid into the chair next to John and started to reach for the tray of food only to have his hand swatted away by Lenora.
"I'm not a Protector," John shook his head. "I came exploring through the Ancestral Ring, my ship was shot down in the killing fields and one of your infantries found me, they gave me these clothes to wear."
"Did you face down the beasts with them?" Lenora questioned.
"I did." He saw no reason to lie.
"Then you are a Protector even if you claim not to be and are welcome among my neighbors."
"Thank you. That's very kind."
"It is no trouble. Do you need anything else? Drink? Warm coverings?"
"What I really need is to get home back to my people. Can you tell where the Ancestral Ring is?"
"I could but it would not be wise to venture there, it is in Ishtan lands." Lenora shook her head sadly.
"I know and I'm willing to risk it. I just want to go home." John silently pleaded with the older woman to understand.
"Very well I will tell you but it will have to wait 'til morning it will be dark soon."
"Again thank you, I appreciate all that you're people have done for me."
"Our pleasure. Come now Merkin let's give John some peace to rest." Lenora ushered the boy out of the room.
John gave it a silent ten count in his head and sure enough right on schedule Merkin's head popped back in the door way; it was kind of creepy how many similarities John was seeing between Rodney and Merkin.
"I just wanted to double check that you didn't need anything else." He glanced over his shoulder before fully moving into the room.
"Nah I'm good, thanks though." John smiled.
Merkin fell silent for a moment, biting his lower lip as though he had something to say but wasn't sure about it. "The Ishtans are beasts. I don't understand why they burn our homes, take our lands… why they wish us dead." He spoke a moment later.
"I don't either."
"When I grow bigger, I'm going to be a Protector just like my brother is now. Maybe you have glimpsed him; he's assigned to the 8th infantry."
"Are you sure he's with the eighth?" John felt like he'd been sucker punched in the gut; it was at times like this that he really hated war more than usual.
"Very sure my brother always tells me where he's assigned, have you heard of them?" Merkin moved back to the chair he'd occupied earlier.
"The infantry I was with was supposed to meet up with them."
"Why didn't you? What happened?"
"We were ambushed." John debated telling the kid the whole truth but decided not to. Maybe there was a chance that Merkin's brother had escaped the massacre or had maybe been reassigned and hadn't had the chance to tell Merkin yet. Yeah he didn't by that either, but couldn't bring himself to shatter the kid's world anymore than it already was. The next day John left Tiran feeling like an ass for not telling Merkin the truth, but couldn't see another choice.