Title: Always Hope
Author: stella_pegasi
Rating: K+
Genres: Action Adventure, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship
Word Count: 28,165 (8 Chapters)
Spoilers: None (set after Season Five)
Warnings: Brief sexual situation, implied non-con
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex, Evan Lorne, OC's
Summary: Another routine mission to open up relations with new worlds in Pegasus goes awry. SGA-1 discovers their friendly new allies are hiding a dark secret that could cost them their lives.
Disclaimer: I do not own them; I would have treated them better.
Author's Notes: Written for the sga-genficathon on Live Journal. Will post one chapter per day until story is complete. Feedback is always appreciated.
Here's Chapter Four…
Hope you enjoy!
Always Hope
By stella_pegasi
Chapter Four Resistance Rises
It was nearing dusk when the Atlantians finally received a visitor, the Lady Elradia. She swept down the stairs with an entourage of guards, but she approached the cell alone. She was over-dressed as always; wearing a straight, form-fitting dress of copper colored silk, her red hair pulled back with a heavy jeweled barrette.
"Well, what do we have here? She glanced around the Spartan cell. "I imagine that you would prefer the accommodations you had last evening, over these gloomy walls. I'll be more than happy to return you to those lush quarters, but first, I need some information."
McKay stood next to the bars, "Exactly what information, do you need?"
"Doctor, you need to tell me where Colonel Sheppard is hiding. The colonel's manners are certainly lacking; after the hospitality that we have given him, he has left us for those peasants."
Ronon stood motionless, leaning against the far wall of the cell. He gruffly replied to Elradia's demand, "Sheppard's dead."
A startled look flashed across Elradia's face; she recovered quickly to reply to Ronon's curt statement. "Dead, I hardly think so; I would imagine if the colonel was dead, the lovely Miss Emmagen would be quite upset. Since she appears calm, I believe that the colonel is hiding in one of the villages. I will find him." She turned to the guards.
"Take the large, handsome one to Ganan; he will secure the information we seek. Dr. Maxea is expecting these two; make certain he completes all the testing he wishes to perform. When they are done there, return them to the cell; they can wait for what is left of their friend here."
Elradia smiled broadly, an evil smile, at the three Atlantians. She walked toward the stairs as the guards unlocked the cell door.
John Sheppard emerged from the visitor's room after a two hour nap, and a shower. Dressed in the clothing that Maita borrowed from her neighbor, he would blend in easily with the villagers. The dark brown pants and vest, a white cotton shirt, and a tan work jacket fit him well; even the black boots fit comfortably. He was going to need to borrow a hat, he thought; his hair was hard to disguise. Entering the kitchen, he found four men sitting at the table with Desman.
"John, these are some of the men who are helping to organize our troops. Let me introduce you; Isaz Merchus, Douma Kesle, Musa Pesisa, and Wellen Soola. This is Colonel John Sheppard from Atlantis." Sheppard shook hands with each man, Desman continued, "Musa just arrived with news; please repeat what you have told us for the colonel."
"I just came from the village green; the Regent Guards posted a notice on the community board a short time ago. The Camati government has placed a large bounty on your head, colonel. However, the only way to collect the tender is to present you alive to the Regent Guards. Someone prefers to keep you around, at least, for the time being."
Sheppard had taken a seat at the table with the others. As Musa spoke, a vision of Lady Elradia floated through his mind. If anyone wanted him alive, it would be her; however, what she did with him after she found him was another story.
Soola added, "After the government announced the quarantine, many of us gradually became suspicious. At this point, we need to act, and act quickly. Nearly forty people from the five villages clustered near the city have disappeared. After Desman spoke with us this morning about what you have learned, we sent scouts to other villages. What we discovered is that people are disappearing all over Camati. Perhaps more than one-hundred people are missing."
"How many of your people are willing to stand with us against the city?" Sheppard asked.
"We have at least thirty people committed, at this point, John. By tomorrow morning, we should have many, many more volunteers. All that we have spoken to are very upset about what they are hearing." Soola reported, "I have been compiling the names and locations of the volunteers, and getting contacts in place. I am also putting together the names of people who have served in the military or with security."
Desman spoke, "John, the Elaia village council holds a monthly assembly to consider local issues; that gathering is tonight. We are attending, and we would like for you to accompany us. The people should hear the truth from you."
Sheppard nodded, "Let's go."
The trip to the village meeting house took only a few minutes in the small vehicles. They entered the building quickly, finding about thirty men and women inside. The mayor started the proceedings as if were a regular monthly meeting, until interrupted by a new arrival. They spoke briefly, and the mayor addressed the group.
"Kevor informs me that everyone who is present has been identified as one of us. We sent scouts to observe the Regent Guards, and we have also confirmed that the same number of guards, who entered Elaia this morning, have left. We should be safe to speak freely. Desman Lemér, please come forward with our guest."
Sheppard and Lemér joined the mayor on the dais at the front of the room. Lemér introduced Sheppard, who proceeded to recount what he knew about the circumstances in Watira to the villagers. When the colonel finished, one of the men in the audience ask what his plan was to fight the Regent Guards.
"I'll be honest with you; I'm still working on a plan. I wanted to have my people with me when we went into the city. Rescuing them is my first priority; then together, we go after the Regent, and stop this madness. Does anyone know the location of where they are holding my team, and possibly Desman's son?"
A man standing along the wall spoke up, "Colonel, your people are probably being held in the security building. There are holding chambers in the basement, and the Regent Guards are headquartered in the building."
"Any idea about the layout of the building and what surrounds it?"
A woman sitting in the first row replied, "Colonel, my sister's husband, Petre Mór, can answer your questions. He served as a Regent Guard until they were married three years ago. Let me just say that, he felt the Regent was untrustworthy, and decided to leave. I am certain he will be more than happy to help put an end to this."
Desman asked her, "Laveria, can you have him come to my house tonight?"
She nodded, "Yes, they live in Corma, but," looking at her husband, "we will leave now, to tell him." The couple rose to leave the hall.
"Tell him to be careful and be on the look-out for guard patrols. If anyone asks, he's coming to my house to play marquay." Laveria nodded at Desman, and the couple left the assembly.
The next hour was spent determining how information regarding the mission plan would be assimilated to the people. Sheppard sat back, watching Desman, and the men he met in the Lemér home, as they took charge of the planning. In the very short time he had known Desman; he had gained tremendous respect for the Lemér family. He suspected that McKay had felt the same strength of character in Desman's son that he felt in Desman. McKay would react to that trait in Banar. It was likely why the scientist had become so concerned about the situation.
"Colonel, we are finished here, and ready to return to the farmhouse. Unless there is anything else you need to say to these people. Have we covered the situation well enough?" Desman had joined him, sitting down on the front bench.
"I think we informed them about everything we know. I'm ready when you are." The two men rose, and said their goodbyes, heading into the dark night.
The four men Sheppard met earlier at the Lemér's departed before them. Desman assured him the men would have supper at home with their families, and return to his farmhouse later in the evening. The reputed game of marquay was providing cover to explain why several people were visiting the Lemér's that evening. Sheppard questioned his new friend about the marquay, and how it was played. It could be a good game to take back to Atlantis.
Desman laughed softly. After he turned onto the main road, he answered Sheppard, "Marquay is a game that my wife would prefer I avoid playing. I often lose a fair amount of tender when playing the game. Marquay is a card game; one must get certain combinations of cards, sets, we call them, in order to win. Usually, we offer tender as an incentive to play; winning a little extra tender is always a good thing."
"Marquay sounds a bit like a card game we play, poker. Believe me, Desman, quite a bit of 'tender' or money as we call it, can be lost playing poker, as well. I think we definitely need to learn each other's card games." Sheppard was smiling, a bit mischievously.
"Poker sounds like quite an interesting game, John. I believe learning a new game would be fun for us. Personally, I would just love to play something that I might be able to win; that would definitely make Maita happy. You must tell me more about poker when all this is over."
"You only need to know one thing, Desman. Play poker with Dr. McKay; you have a guaranteed win."
"I now have all the incentive that I need to encourage me to rescue Dr. McKay." Sheppard chuckled at Desman's observation, and Desman started laughing as well. Their laughter abruptly stopped when weapon's fire hit the small car.
Desman, startled by the sound of the gunfire, briefly lost control of the compact vehicle. The narrow tires slid off the hard surface of the road, grating against the rough gravel that lined the roadway's edge. Wrestling with the steering wheel, he guided the car back onto the smooth surface. He glanced at Colonel Sheppard, who had drawn his weapon, and was peering through the car's windows, attempting to locate their assailants.
"John, where did that come from?" He was looking in the rearview mirror, as Sheppard was looking to the sides. In the dark, on a two-lane country road, it was very difficult to see anything past the light from the headlights. Desman answered his own question, as he spotted movement on the side of the road.
"A hauler just pulled onto the road from behind that grove of trees, they're directly behind us, their front lamps are off." Lemér pressed his foot harder on the gas pedal, increasing the little car's speed to the maximum.
Their assailants were traveling in the local version of a pick-up truck, and they were gaining on the small car. Desman was only a bit over a mile from his house, and apparently hurrying to get there. Sheppard felt that taking this fight to Maita and Jenesta was a bad idea.
"Desman, don't go home; find some place to turn off the main road. We need to find a defensible location." Sheppard barked out orders to Desman, as he took a shot out of the passenger window, trying to slow the truck down a bit.
Desman grunted in reply, and started scanning for a spot to turn off the road. A couple of Sheppard's shots had apparently struck the truck, resulting in the vehicle dropping back further behind them. That fact allowed Desman to slow down, and search more carefully for an escape route.'
The colonel was about to fire his handgun toward the truck again, when Desman pressed his full weight on the brake. The car quickly came to a halt, after sliding along the road several feet. Sheppard's body slammed sideways into the dash. Jerking the wheel to the right, Desman steered the little car off the roadway, bounced over a little ridge, and headed down a slight slope. The vehicle shook roughly, as it ran over rocks and tree limbs.
Sheppard tired to brace himself when he heard the brakes squeal in protest at being pushed to the floorboard. Still, the hasty stop whammed him into the protruding edge of the dashboard. Immediately, he felt a sharp, burning pain in his left side, and, from experience, was certain he cracked a rib. With little time to worry about an injury, the colonel pushed the pain away, and continued scouring the area visible in the headlights. They needed to find a place to hide.
"Over there, pull in behind those tall trees." He pointed to the left toward a long line of trees; Desman swerved the car in the direction Sheppard indicated. Once the car was concealed behind the trees, he slammed on the brakes, and the little car shimmied to a halt. Shutting off the ignition, he turned toward Sheppard.
"What now?"
"Out of the car, run toward those rocks." Sheppard's door was already open, and he was exiting the care somewhat gingerly. A soft groan escaped his lips, as he straightened up. His right hand, instinctively, pressed against the left side of his chest.
Desman reached under the seat, and pulled out a leather bag, retrieving a flashlight and a couple of other items from inside. He slipped from behind the wheel, and met Sheppard at the front of the car. He had heard Sheppard's groan, and assumed that the colonel was injured.
"John, are you hurt?"
"Banged up my ribs, I might have cracked a couple, but I'm OK. Go on; let's get some distance from the car." Sheppard started toward the shelter, groaning as he stepped on a rock, jarring his ribs. Desman slung an arm around the colonel's waist, helping support him across the bumpy terrain.
"Thanks." Sheppard's voice was quiet; he was scanning the path, looking for their attackers. "Toward the left rear of the car; I think there are two of them."
Desman was peering through the darkness trying to see either of the men. The darkness veiled everything for him, and he wondered if Sheppard had the eyes of an orla, the legendary night predator bird.
The two men had stopped at the car, and were searching inside. Their voices drifted toward Sheppard and Desman. The taller of the two pulled his head from the interior, "Well, they aren't here, so they've run. We got to find them; Lemér may have recognized my hauler. We can't let them get away. Besides, that Regent Guard said he would pay us double, if we found whoever was helping the man. That's some good money, Fale."
"Yeah, good money, we ain't getting, if we don't find 'em. Uh…which way do you think they went?"
"My bet is Lemér will head for home. His farm is just, uh, over that ridge; we'll head that way."
As they headed away from the car, Desman whispered to Sheppard. "Fale and Gorven, two young mechanics from the village; both been in a bit of trouble with the constables before. John, we have to stop them; they're headed for the house. Not only are Maita and Jenesta in danger…"
Sheppard finished his statement, "…but some of the others could be there already. Yeah, we don't need for these two to figure anything out. So, come on, let's go take those boys down."
Lemér helped Sheppard to his feet, and he followed, the colonel as they began stalking the two villagers. The two boys were sloppy, and were making a lot of noise. They were no match for a stealthy colonel and his companion, a former member of his region's military. After a few minutes, the older men were directly behind the two younger ones. Sheppard cocked his P-14, and pressed the muzzle against Gorven's neck. Desman pressed the end of his flashlight against Fale's neck. In the dim light, Sheppard saw Desman look at him, and shrug his shoulders as it to say, 'Well, what else was I supposed to use?' Sheppard liked this man, more and more.
"Hello, boys; nice night for a stroll. Hand me the weapon." Sheppard could sense the fear that both young men were feeling. Gorven raised his hand that was holding the gun, and Desman grabbed it. Tucking the flashlight in the waistband of his pants, he pulled the rope he had grabbed from the leather bag earlier out of his coat pocket.
"Got a knife?" He held up the rope for Sheppard to see. "There isn't much rope here, but should be enough to tie these two idiots up."
Sheppard reached underneath his jacket, grimacing at the strain on his left side. He pulled his K-Bar from its sheath that he had attached to the borrowed belt. He handed the knife to Desman, remarking. "You must have been a boy scout." Noticing the confused look on Desman's face, he added, "I'll explain later. Let's get these guys tied up."
Once they secured the young men, Sheppard leaned against a large tree for a second, trying to catch his breath. The pain from his broken ribs was taking its toll on him.
"Desman, we'll leave your car here, and take the boys' truck back to your house. I'm thinking that your shelter might be a good place to keep these boys for a while." Sheppard could see the fear in the young mechanics' eyes; he added, "After we interrogate them, that is." Sheppard could see Desman grin. He definitely liked this guy.
"Rodney, could you get me a glass of water."
Rodney was leaning against the wall at the end of the narrow cell. He was too nervous to sit, and was tired of pacing the small space. He immediately stood upright, rushing the short distance to Teyla's side.
"Hey, are you ok?" He reached for the water pitcher, and poured a glass of water as he waited for her to answer.
"I have been better. That was a grueling physical, interrupted by a few well placed blows from the guards. It was, um, humiliating, to be examined in front of all those people." She struggled to sit up, with little success. Rodney sat down next to her on the bunk, and helped her up; she leaned against him.
Rodney spoke, "I can't believe the doctors allowed them to hit you. Can you imagine if Jennifer or Carson or any of our doctors had been there? They would rather die than allow anyone to be harmed."
Teyla's head was resting on Rodney's shoulder. I believe the people who govern Camati are without humanity. They traded their souls for vanity. They will use us for body parts; slowly taking pieces of us, until we are gone. That is, unless someone needs a heart or liver, and then they will take that."
Rodney didn't reply to her, and had yet to comment on the ordeal he had gone through with her. Both had been stripped, and placed on exam tables beside one another in the infirmary. There were at least ten people in the room while they were examined, and tests run on them by the Camati medical staff. She had been self conscious with the lack of privacy. Rodney was more than distressed. She would have to talk with him about the situation at some point, to assure him it was comforting he was with her.
"Rodney, Banar was in the infirmary; you couldn't see from where you were located. I overheard one of the medical attendants say that he was being prepped for some kind of testing. I am certain the patient in the bed next to him was a hybrid. When I tried to learn what was happening to him; well, that is when the guards hit me. I regret I was powerless to discover what they are doing to him. Banar was very ashen and I am concerned for him, I am concerned for all of us."
Rodney was frightened; Teyla was the positive one, she kept their spirits up when they were in dire circumstances. Teyla giving up was completely out of character, but then this was a bad situation, a very bad situation. He heard noise from the corridor, and several guards appeared. Rodney realized that the bad situation, they found themselves in just became worse. The guards were half-dragging and half-carrying Ronon back to the cell. The door swung open, and the guards brought Ronon into the cell, and tossed him onto the bunk across from Teyla.
"Rodney leapt to his feet, grimacing from the pain in his hip. "What the hell did you thugs do to him?" The guard glared at him, and took a step closer to the scientist.
"You want some of what we gave your friend; I'll be more than happy to oblige you." The burley guard roughly pushed Rodney in the chest. Rodney fell backwards across Teyla's bunk; his right shoulder slamming into the wall. The guards laughed as they exited the cell; the clanging of the metal door reverberating after they slammed it shut.
Teyla rose from the bunk against Rodney's protest, and moved to Ronon's side. He was semi-conscious, and had been beaten severely; both of his eyes were swollen, his lips cut, his jaws bruised. Everywhere Teyla looked, he had a reddish purple bruise developing.
She ripped a strip of cloth from the bedding, asking Rodney to hand her the glass of water. Gently, she wiped Ronon's injuries with the cool, wet rag, as she and Rodney sat in silence. Both were sharing the same thought; they were hoping that Colonel Sheppard would rescue them soon.
End of Chapter Four