Chapter 4
"What do you see?" Rodney asked Ronon.
"Trouble." Ronon put the binoculars down and looked at Rodney. "How many does that thing say?"
"It doesn't say anything, really. It does show about one-hundred people behind that ridge. Another twenty or so over there." He was pointing to low hills to their south. Sand kicked up behind them and swirled in the wind, indicating movement.
"Why would they trek all the way out here, across a desert, to face down an embedded society?" Rodney looked at the LSD again.
"I don't know. Wanna go ask them?"
"Not really."
"Well, I do." They started to scoot back from the edge of the cave high above the desert floor. Ronon smiled grimly at the lookout, who had noticed the group at first light.
"Do you think they're here to parlay or lay siege?" Rodney asked.
"Parlay?"
"You know, talk, like the pirate movie. Jack Sparrow? Ringing any bells?" explained Rodney. He stood up and brushed the dirt and gravel off of his clothes.
Two of Miorga's people slipped into their place to keep watch. Ronon handed them the binoculars.
"Then why didn't you just say talk?" Ronon deadpanned. "Anyway, we expected this." He stood up and started walking down the tunnel. "Come on; let's go parlay to Sheppard and Teyla."
"That's not how…oh, never mind."
Ronon grinned to himself. Flustering Rodney was always a good distraction. He needed a distraction before all the rest of this nightmare would begin.
They followed the steeply descending passage back to the main tunnels used by the residents of the Colony. They entered the medical ward a few minutes later. There were three other patients in the room besides Sheppard and Teyla. They were on the other side separated from his two teammates.
One of the two assistants to the Primary, a young man named Palimiyo, removed a thermometer from Sheppard's mouth. He scowled as he looked at the numbers. "You are not afflicted with a fever, but you say you feel a little light headed?"
"Yes," Sheppard mumbled. It was barely audible past his little corner of the ward. He looked exhausted and rooted to the bed.
"Your injuries are looking better so far. No infection. All shrapnel has been removed. You say you're having a hard time breathing too?" Palimiyo asked as he made notes on a pad.
Sheppard nodded weakly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ronon saw Rodney tense. Ronon was trying to keep his own emotions under wraps. Teyla also listened intently on the other side of Sheppard, schooling her reaction.
The young assistant saw them and brightened. "He's doing pretty well. I'm going to get the Primary so she can check him out." He gave one last bright smile and left the ward to go look for her.
"Can't breathe?" McKay squeaked at Sheppard. "What does he mean by that?"
Sheppard looked kind of pinkish, sort of flushed, maybe. And as Ronon looked at Teyla, she did too.
"Just not feeling real good after getting blown up, Rodney." Sheppard took a labored breath. "Maybe it's all the junk I inhaled."
"Maybe," agreed Rodney. He sat down on the stool. "Anyway, we've got company outside."
Ronon sat on the other side. "What happened at the meeting, Sheppard? Teyla?"
He knew that the reason the people had tracked them down had to be from the meeting in Buur. Rodney had probably worked this out as well. It really was not that hard to figure out, even for a genius.
"Garris Vrenk has sided with some new friends," replied Teyla. "His second mentioned others-- others who are not the Coalition. They are the ones who bombed the street we were on. Of that, I am sure. This was a ruse from the beginning."
She sat on the side of her bed and looked between the two of them. "What has happened?"
Rodney fidgeted with his hands. "We've got a committee outside. Not sure what they want, but Ronon wants to go out and talk to them."
Sheppard cocked a disbelieving eyebrow at that.
"Listen and walk away is more like it." Ronon checked for his gun. "Stun them if necessary."
"How many?" John asked, all business.
Rodney and Ronon exchanged glances.
"A few," answered Rodney.
"About 120," corrected Ronon.
"We can't…" Sheppard tried to sit up. "We can't let…"
"Lay down," ordered Rodney. "We don't have any confirmation on what they want."
"It would be us, Rodney," John said and tried to sit up, again.
Rodney glared at him, again.
"You're right, Colonel Sheppard," Miorga interrupted as she stood in the doorway. "Garris Vrenk has waved the blue, so to speak."
"Waved the blue?" Rodney looked between Miorga and Ronon.
"White flag," explained Ronon. "Blue means a new day, a fresh start."
"He sent a messenger and wants to speak with a representative from Atlantis and our Chieftain."
"I'll go," said John, struggling to sit up one more time.
"Right, and we're just going to stand here and let you." Rodney put one finger on John's chest and pushed him back down.
"That's not fair," rasped Sheppard, glaring at the single finger that had subdued him so easily.
"I'll go," offered Teyla.
"Oh, come on." Rodney rolled his eyes at her. "Don't be stupid."
Realizing with whom he was speaking, Rodney blushed and began to fumble with words to correct his mistake. "I mean…" he said, weakly.
Ronon stepped in to save him. He, too, thought the both of them were being stupid.
"I'm going." Ronon stared down his three teammates. "McKay, there's no way you leave here. And you two…" He just snorted with enough disdain to make his point.
Ronon felt Miorga watching him.
"I had the same conversation with the Chieftain. I think it's going to be you and me, Ronon. Whatever the councils would have advised about all of you staying here became moot once Garris showed up on our threshold."
Ronon nodded, placed a hand on John's shoulder, and escaped through the entranceway before anyone could argue. He actually liked the thought of working with Miorga. It would feel like a little bit of home.
Rodney followed them out of the ward anyway.
Ronon did not turn around to look at him. "I'm not saying it again. You stay put." He kept walking down the corridor.
"But…"
"No." Ronon wheeled around to face Rodney. Rodney stopped abruptly. "You are the only one that is not expendable!"
Rodney stuttered, spittle flying as he searched for a response.
"No one here needs to know what or who you are to Atlantis," Ronon whispered, savagely. "You stay put and tell me what all those people out there are doing. I'm going to need your help."
"Oh, well, that I can do." Rodney started to back up to the entrance of the ward. "I'll just find out what's happening with John and Teyla first and meet you when you're ready." He disappeared through the doorway.
"Come on," directed Ronon. "Let's go find out what those idiots want." He stopped abruptly, realizing who he was talking to. "I mean…"
"I caught the idea," Miorga replied, amused. "I agree, let's go see what those idiots want."
The shadows cast by the lanterns kept hiding things. John knew they were there just as he had known a trap had been set on the crowded street- things sneaking around in the gaslight. He couldn't trust anyone but his team.
"I've got to go help, John. I won't let Ronon down. Or you guys." Rodney looked uncertain about leaving them. He kept glancing at the exit and making movements to go but stayed in place.
"I know, Rodney. Go."
Go-go-go-go- a voice tittered in his head.
"Good luck, Rodney," Teyla offered. "We will be fine."
"I'll be back," he assured. He took one last, long glance and trotted out into the carved-out corridor.
John and Teyla looked at one another and smiled. The Primary walked up soon after he left. Her two assistants scurried around in the background, packing things and moving items onto carts.
"What's going on?" Teyla asked.
"I have a feeling that the Chieftain and the defense council will want us moved to a more secured location. We're just getting ready." She took out an old-fashioned looking pair of magnifying glasses. "Let's see what is wrong with you, John. You're having problems breathing?"
"Yes." John felt his energy leaving, quickly. His team had been right to push him back into the bed-- damn them.
"Let's see what I can do. Then, let's get you something to eat and some water to drink."
John just nodded. His injuries throbbed and stung. They had some sort of topical pain medicine, but he really wanted the good stuff that only Jennifer could prescribe.
She reached for him and he flinched. He had the sudden urge to flee, runaway as quickly as he could. Of course, he was bed ridden at the moment, which made it nearly impossible. He channeled his reaction and allowed her start her examination.
The Primary poked, prodded, searched and listened. "There is only so much I have at my disposal here. If your people can get you out of here, that would be ideal. In the meantime, a meal and more of the pain salve. We'll also try a vapor treatment for your lungs after the move."
She moved over to Teyla. "Your head is doing just fine. The cut is healing nicely. Any dizziness? Nausea?"
"Light headed, as well," answered Teyla.
"Really? Hmm…As I told him, the ideal situation is for your people to get you. I know your medical facilities are far superior. There maybe something that I can't see."
"Maybe you will have to come and visit, sometime," invited Teyla.
"Oh, I think that I would really like that." She took off the crazy glasses and put them in her pocket. "For now, I'll make do."
She left to get their meal. Immediately, the shadows started whispering about the danger all around them-- especially, about how he could have prevented this by being more alert, more dutiful. His inequities had landed them in a pit of vipers.
"Teyla?"
"Yes, John."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything."
He could feel her eyes on him and the little flickering shapes danced just to let him know they were watching him too, jeering.
He fell asleep before breakfast arrived.
