Remember, Never to Forget---4
PG-2743 was nothing spectacular to Major Evan Lorne and he knew coming here was a long shot from the very beginning. Teyla and Ronan had both seen Rodney hit the destruct button and witnessed John Sheppard's final seconds before the alien ship disintegrated. No matter how badly they wanted to believe the colonel was alive, there was too much evidence to the contrary. They'd been searching the market, but had yet to find the dealer McKay had been speaking with when he thought he'd spotted the missing colonel.
"Major, there doesn't seem to be anything new here," Lieutenant Anna Sanders tol him. She had a great deal of respect for Major Lorne and would follow the man through hell and high water without question, but this felt like a fool hardy expedition.
"Meeks said McKay was checking out a table with unique items…that usually means something that fascinates McKay's overactive mind," Lorne told her. "Take Norris and check out the tables along the back row. I'm going to talk to a couple of the merchants near the east gate."
"Yes, Sir," Sanders said and motioned for Norris to follow her.
Lorne made his way through the throng of people who were buying and selling shouting out bids and taking credit for making the biggest sale of the day. He glanced left and right, amazed at the wide selection of wares being offered from table to table. He spotted several garishly decorated vendors trying to get the buyers to notice their tables, and shook his head, smiling as he passed a pretty young red head female who danced in an outfit similar to the ones worn by belly dancers on earth. Ignoring the beautiful performance he moved to a table that caught his eye.
Lorne moved past the dancers and waited to speak to the man who was busy hocking his wares to a young couple who seemed quite interested in the vials and beakers the merchant was selling. Something told Lorne this was the right table and he pretended to look at something that resembled one of the first microscopes he'd ever used. It was so out of date that it was considered antique in most circles and probably worth more money than he earned in a year.
"They are spectacular aren't they?" the merchant asked when he noticed Lorne's interest in one beaker in particular.
"Yes, they are."
"These are all made by hand and the intricate designs are of my own creation. Each piece takes several hours to carve and then must spend just the right amount of time in the hot box in order to crystallize. The one you are looking at is one of a kind as are all my pieces," the merchant explained.
"You do good work…a friend of mine was here a couple of days ago and he was interested in one of these, but he left in a hurry…"
"You mean that crazy man who was hollering about seeing someone?"
"Yes, I was wondering if you saw anyone that day."
"I see lots of people every day. It comes with the territory. We set up this market here because there are many people who travel through the crossroads and they wish to buy little trinkets," the man told Lorne.
"Did you happen to see the man my McKay saw?"
"Maybe…just hard to remember considering how many people come by this place," the merchant said rubbing at his whiskered chin before holding out his hand.
"I have ten Shoclaws, but you don't get them until I get some answers," Lorne told him and saw the greedy man's smile disappear. He reached inside his backpack and pulled out several pictures, each one was of John Sheppard taken at different intervals over the last six months. "Take a look at these and tell me if you've seen him in the market."
"Is he worth a lot of Shoclaws?"
"No, but he is a friend and if you help me find out if he is here then I can promise you more than ten Shoclaws," Lorne answered.
"I am not sure, but I can find out if you leave these with me. I am traveling deep into the mountains and will return in two lunar cycles. There are people in the mountains who would know if he is here or if he ever was here," the merchant told him.
"But you never saw him?"
"Not that I can be sure of…but he does look familiar and is coloring would be desirable to High Priestess Shazzia of Denubia," the man answered. "She can be very good to her slaves…"
"Slaves?" Lorne snapped.
"Yes, she deals in slavery and has been known to keep several men as her own personal slaves. If your friend is with her he may not want to be rescued…"
"John would never stay with anyone without checking in with his team," Lorne said, turning when he heard a familiar voice.
"Major, we didn't find anything. No one seems to have seen or heard anything about Colonel Sheppard," Sanders told him.
"Colonel…you never said anything about him being in the military," the merchant snapped.
"Does it matter?"
"It might….there are many worlds that would pay dearly for military slaves. If his rank is known to be a powerful one he could very well be bought by the slavers and…well there are stories about how they torture military people for secrets. I'm not saying that's what happened to your friend…I'm not even saying he was here, but if he was and the High Priestess found out who he is he could be…well, let's just say it's not a pretty picture," the merchant told them.
"Where does the High Priestess live?" Sanders asked.
"She's an off worlder, but she visits the market every few lunar cycles. There is no way of predicting exactly when her next visit will be," the man said.
"Can you contact her?" Lorne asked.
"Are you kidding…she doesn't speak to people like me. I'll try to get an audience with her when she visits again."
"Will you contact us if she visits again?" Lorne asked.
"I guess...but how would I do that?"
Lorne quickly explained to the man how he could be contacted and felt a hint of hope that maybe John Sheppard was not dead. The problem was that meant that he was hurt or being held prisoner and unable to contact Atlantis. If he was alive, they'd find a way to bring him home. "Thank you, Mr…"
"People just call me Drakar," the merchant said.
"Thank you, Drakar," Lorne said, and rejoined the rest of his team as they made their way toward the gate.
Drakar waited for them to leave before closing down his booth. If the High Priestess' prisoner was Colonel John Sheppard then he stood to make a tidy profit with the information that he was military. All he had to do was contact the High Priestess and tell her he had information on the man who'd recently accompanied her on several trips to the market. He looked at the pictures clutched tightly in his hand and was glad he hadn't told the visitors that he had seen the man on several occasions. There would have been no profit in it for him and Drakar was a man who enjoyed making a tidy profit.
SGASGASGASGA
Rodney McKay looked up from the lap top and nodded a greeting to Teyla and Ronan as they sat opposite him. He'd been released from the infirmary after spending twelve hours there sleeping under the influence of one of Beckett's concoctions. Now he was going through his files, burying himself in Atlantis and the need for further information on the base's inner workings.
"Rodney, you never touched your breakfast," Teyla said, slapping Ronan's hand when the man reached for a piece of toast.
"He's not eating it!" Ronan told her, but turned his attention to the food on his own tray.
"I'm not hungry," McKay told her, reaching for the cup, frowning when he found it empty. "Teyla, would you mind getting me a cup of coffee?"
"Certainly…as soon as you eat a piece of toast," Emmagan offered. "We would want you going into hypoglycemic shock."
"I told you I wasn't hungry…besides I put milk and sugar in the coffee that should make it a complete meal in a cup," McKay sniped.
"I don't think Carson would agree with that…one piece…one cup of coffee," Teyla reiterated.
"No point in arguing, McKay…she's got a stubborn streak that rivals Sheppard's…" Ronan told him and looked at the other man when he realized what he'd said. "Sorry…sometimes I just forget…"
"We all do," Teyla said, relieved when McKay picked up a slice of toast and nibbled at the corner.
"I still expect to see him come through the door," the Canadian told them.
"I think we all do," the Athosian offered. "John was a good friend, Rodney…I know how hard it was for you to push that button."
"Do you, Teyla…somehow I doubt that," McKay said and leaned back in his chair before speaking softly. "John Sheppard wasn't just a friend, Teyla, John was a buddy and it's not often a man can say that. I know I can be obnoxious…"
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Rodney…"
"I'm being honest, Teyla, just ask Ronan and he'll tell you the same thing and that's okay. I was a loner most of my life and would have happily stayed that way on Atlantis, but Sheppard wouldn't let me push him away. He was subtle…"
"John Sheppard…subtle?" Ronan asked.
"I know those words don't belong in the same sentence, but he could be when he wanted to be," McKay told him. "Sheppard wouldn't let me away with having my eureka moments. If I said something was impossible he'd look at me with his eyebrows rising as if he could read what I was thinking. Did you know he took the Mensa exam and passed, but he never joined the organization…"
"What is a Mensa?" Ronan asked.
"Mensa means table in Latin and stands for a round-table society, where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational or social background are irrelevant. To belong to Mensa a person must have an IQ higher than most people…normally in the top 2 of the population," McKay explained and knew he'd lost the two people across from him. "All right…maybe this is a better explanation. You all know I believe I'm smarter…"
"Than everyone?" Ronan teased.
"No…well yes…most people anyway and I am in the top 2...now John Sheppard is…was equal to me in that sense, but he chose not to follow through and became a…"
"Soldier," Teyla said and saw the Canadian's shoulders sag.
"Exactly…he gave his life…I took his life, Teyla, and I wish to God I'd never heard of Atlantis because it would mean I'd never opened myself up to that kind of loss," Rodney said sadly.
"So you regret knowing him?" Teyla asked.
"No…God no, but I regret having been put in the position and if it meant John Sheppard would still be alive then yes, I would rather not have known him at all," McKay said.
"If what you say is true then I am glad you met John Sheppard," Teyla said and watched the eyes closely as she finished her thoughts. "I'd hate to think what you would have been like before you met him."
"Believe me my sister Jeannie could tell you some stories," McKay told her, closing up his laptop and standing up.
"Don't you want that coffee?" Teyla asked.
"I do, but I'll take it with me…there's something I need to do," McKay said and turned away before they saw the pain in his eyes. He stopped at Sheppard's quarters, amazed that nothing had changed and no one had requested Sheppard's things be removed. He stepped inside and spotted the items he was looking for leaning against the far wall. There was something he could do in John Sheppard's memory and it had taken him this long to remember a promise he'd once made to himself.
John had asked him to join him in a game of golf, although there was really no game to it since all they could do was hit the ball into the ocean. It was something that brought Sheppard some peace of mind and it was something he was going to do. He left his laptop on the bed and picked up the golf bag, it was heavy, but he placed the strap over his shoulder and left the room. He knew the colonel's favorite spot and quickly made his way toward it, nodding at several people along the way until he exited onto the deck overlooking the lower levels of Atlantis.
"I'll never forget, John," McKay said and placed a row of golf balls on the deck before reaching for one of the golf clubs. He wasn't sure which one was which, but it didn't really matter because they belonged to the man whose memory he was honoring. Rodney took a deep breath and lifted his face to the sun as he shouted four and hit the ball, watching as it sailed out into the ocean. He continued to hit the ball, unaware that he'd garnered an audience that included Elizabeth Weir and Radek Zelenka. There was sadness in their eyes, but there was something else to and most people would recognize it as finally saying goodbye to a departed friend. By the time he hit the last ball, Rodney McKay was shaken to the core. "Goodbye, Sheppard, I wish I'd given you the chance to show me the nuances of the game," he said and turned to leave, surprised to find over a dozen people standing there.
"Well done, Rodney, John would have liked this," Weir told him.
"It felt right, Elizabeth," McKay told her and lifted the bag onto his shoulder before walking back inside, a touch of a smile on his face.
SGASGASGASGA
Elizabeth Weir looked up from the papers she'd been shuffling as Major Evan Lorne knocked on her door. "Come in, Major."
"Thank you, Dr. Weir," Lorne said and took the chair she motioned toward.
"Did you find anything?" Weir asked hopefully.
"I found the merchant Dr. McKay was talking to when he thought he saw Colonel Sheppard. His name is Drakar and he thought the Colonel looked familiar, but he wasn't sure. He's taking the pictures with him to some kind of mountain retreat and is going to show them around. If it was John Sheppard then he's a slave to some high priestess there," Lorne explained.
"Not by choice," the woman said.
"No way, but until I hear back from him there's not much we can do," Lorne told her, shifting uncomfortably in the chair.
"You don't trust Drakar do you?"
"No, I don't. There's something sleazy about him…he knows more than he let on."
"Do you think he's seen Sheppard?"
"Honestly, Dr. Weir, I think he saw him, but without concrete proof I'd hate to get everyone's hopes up," the major answered.
"So Rodney wasn't seeing things at the market?"
"Again I'd hate to get people's hopes up," Lorne told her. "I'm supposed to hear from Drakar when he returns, but if it's okay with you I'd like to take a team and see if we can't find this retreat on our own."
"Who would you take with you?" Weir asked.
"Ronan...because there's no better tracker in Atlantis and Teyla because of her ease with the people in this galaxy," Lorne answered.
"What about Rodney?"
"I doubt he'd be able to concentrate if he knows why we're going…"
"If he finds out the reason you're going…there'll be no stopping him," Weir said.
"I know… that's why I was hoping there'd be some life and death problem that requires his immediate attention," Lorne suggested.
"I'll see what I can do, but Rodney's not that easy to fool," Weir said.
"Does this mean I have your permission to take a team to PG-2743?"
"Yes, but don't be surprised if McKay gets wind of it and asks to tag along," Weir said by way of dismissal. She thought about the memorial service they'd had for Colonel John Sheppard and how hard it had been to finally admit that he was lost to them forever and sighed tiredly. Was it possible the Memorial service had been premature? God, she hoped so because if it was Atlantis would someday welcome home a missing son.
SGASGASGASGA
John waited with the other slaves as their new owner examined each one before motioning for them to get dressed in the simple garb that marked him as property. It consisted of black pants with a drawstring at the waits and a cream colored tunic that hung low enough to cover the drawstring. There were socks and boots that came up above the ankle and had laces to tie them in pace. John sat on the edge of his bunk and dressed quickly before taking his place beside Tyrel. The young Goliaden was terrified, but he'd managed to control his emotions and stood tall next to John and the others.
"Eyes forward and listen well because I am not a man who likes to repeat himself. My name is Hawk, but each of you will call me master and learn that it is an honor to be in my presence. I am not just the ruler of this world, but the owner and that means my word is the law. If you think you can escape be my guest, but be warned that you will pay dearly for the attempt….I neither forgive…nor forget and I promise you will not like the punishment."
John lifted his head and looked at the man who was speaking and knew he would never bow down, simply because it was not in his nature. His eyes met the obsidian depths of his 'master' and saw the hint of humor on the man's face.
"I know there are those of you who will fight me and I welcome this as it shows character," Hawk said and stood in front of the smaller human. "Take John here…he doesn't have any memory of his life before the High Priestess rescued him, but I would be willing to bet he's a skilled fighter and has never bowed down to anyone. Isn't that true, John?"
"Who are you that I should bow down?" John asked coldly.
"I am your rightful master. I know you understand the terms Alpha and Beta and that on your world you would be considered the former, but here, in my home I play Alpha to your Beta and order you to kneel before me," Hawk ordered.
"Go to hell!" John spat.
"I have no idea where hell is, but it doesn't sound pleasant and I do enjoy pleasure," Hawk said and walked behind the human slave. He placed a hand on the man's neck and began to put pressure there, slowly, painstakingly pushing the slave to his knees. "I will bend that stiff neck of yours until you admit who is your rightful Lord and Master."
"Never hap…happen," John snapped, but he was driven to his knees as the powerful hand pressed against the muscles in his neck, easily proving that Hawk could make him do as ordered. He felt the others watching him as the darkness surrounded him, but he would not give in and soon felt his body dropped like a stone in water as the man slowly cut off his air supply. The hand left his neck, but he couldn't move, couldn't breathe, but he lifted his eyes and met the obsidian depths once more and thought he saw a hint of pride in the man's face.
"So, you will not bow down easily, John, but there will come a time when you will realize your true place in life," Hawk said and bent down to pick up the slave. He'd used a technique he'd learned early in his life, one that could incapacitate the victim for several hours, yet he would be aware of what was happening around him. This slave was indeed and Alpha, but in this world there was only room for one such being and he'd long ago proven that he was indeed an Alpha male. He lifted the slave into his arms and gently cradled him against his body, smiling at the look of horror in the human's eyes. This man was special, but he would have to learn who his true master was and Hawk had a feeling it would take more than a few broken bones to prove it.
TBC