It was getting dark, as the three made their way deeper into the city. The sun now nearly blocked by the buildings that were somewhat still upright. The temps were dropping drastically as they moved about the rubble, looking for any sign of the doctor, or the dragon. There were no noticeable signs, and everyone was starting to feel the fatigue from the amount of climbing they were doing.
"There is no point in this. Now I want to find Carson and save him as much as all of you but, Odds are he has been fed to that dragon's kids or worse" McKay said as he stopped walking. Looking at the other two. "Seriously Rodney?" Sheppard spun around, glaring at the scientist. "We have had much worse odds of finding someone, you know he is stronger than he looks" The pair glared at one another before Sheppard turned around and kept walking forward. Grimacing slightly as he noticed his breath starting to fog in front of him.
"Carson!" He called out as he kept walking forward, clicking on the flashlight on the end of his gun. McKay behind him muttering to himself as he half kicked a rock out of his path. Ronon was ahead slightly, having managed to climb up onto a chunk of rubble. Looking out across the large town square like area before them "Doc!" His voice was booming over the area as he tried to see any movement in the fading light.
Forrest had slipped out of the main doors of the University. A small glowing orb lamp in her hands as she stood for a moment on the giant front steps. The doors were always partially open since closed would look suspicious to her. She looked out into the now darkening streets. Already able to feel the cold sting on her face. * Wish me luck* She thought as she began to walk down the steps, able to handle Castiel's slight unease in the back of her head.
She was able to hear the yelling quick, as she walked down the ruined street towards the town square. A coat wrapped around her as best she could. She was nervous, as she began to move closer to the voices yelling out her charge's name. He said they shouldn't be too trigger happy since she was not a threat, but it did not reassure her much. She paused, able to hear them just around the corner of the building beside her. With a deep breath, she walked out into the street with her lamp.
"Hello" She called out as she rounded the corner, able to see one flashlight now pointed at her. Sheppard was instantly on point, with Ronon above her. "Don't Move" The voice behind the light demanded as she looked forward, slowly lifting her hands up. "I mean no harm, I came looking for you," She said as she watched the light approach. Able to now see another figure walking behind it. The large man that had been standing on top of the rubble dropping down to the ground and moving towards her right side. "She is not armed" the voice rough and thick compared to the other.
Sheppard lowered the gun down but kept the light pointed in her direction. "Who are you? Why would you be looking for us?" He had no idea there would even be a live person in the area, and now she had him rather curious and concerned all the same. Forrest slowly lowered her arms back down, holding her lamp close to her body. "My name is Forrest Atla. I came out here looking for you since Carson said you would be, and Castiel was able to hear you near us." The three men seemed to pause, glancing at one another as they moved closer. "You say, Carson?" McKay had finally spoken up, looking at the women in front of them "About yay high, black hair blue eyes, sounds a little funny?" Forrest looked at him a bit strangely, then nodded "Yes, I have him resting and recovering now in my home."
Sheppard let out a sigh of relief as he looked at her "Well Forrest, I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, over here you have Ronon Dex, and this guy behind me is Doctor Rodney McKay" he explained as they all gathered round Forrest. Most the natural light now was gone. "We can talk more about who is who later, we need to get back. It is only going to get colder here. Please follow me" She did not wait, simply turned around and began to walk back down the street towards the university. Sheppard was quick to catch up. Staying close "So um, were you able to get Dr. Beckett away from the animal that took him?" She only laughed slightly, shaking her head "I am sorry for what Castiel did. He really should have come back and brought me over to your ship. He tends to act first ask questions later. Castiel brought your doctor to me to fix up. He was able to tell he needed medical care. I assure you, Castiel did not harm him. Scare him, yes, but not harm."
Sheppard's stride shortened for a moment, able to feel the stare of Ronon and McKay behind him "Well. I guess maybe we owe Castiel a thank you then." Forrest remained silent, *I am on my way, keep yourself small please and make room inside for three more people to stay* She felt the warm glow of Castiel's happiness *of course" She led them back towards the stairs of the university. Able to tell the three were curiously looking at the building "It was my people's only university. Thankfully, it was pretty much left alone when the ships came" she explained as she slipped into the door "Leave the door as is please."
Sheppard slipped into the door, followed by McKay and then Ronon. Shining the flashlight around the room as he kept an eye on Forrest's lamp. "It has proven to the safest place on Loonrian, for Castiel and me anyway. This way" McKay had paused, looking around at the large bookshelves of tablets that lined the main hall walls "Most of our people's data and information was untouched?" He asked Forrest, looking back at him "Yes, I have been maintaining it as best I can. Hoping I can keep it safe a little while longer." He nodded, his curiosity starting to get the best of him.
"Please come in here," She said as she reached the door to the place she called home. Holding the door open as the three made their way down the hall and slowly walked inside. Castiel turned and looked at them, holding a lamp in his paws as he sat next to Carson's bed. Instinct kicked in, as Sheppard snapped the gun back up to his shoulder and pointing it at the dragon "Colonel that is not necessary, he is harmless" The familiar accent filled the room as Carson looked at them from the bed. "Glad to see you all made it this far" Slowly lowering his gun down, Sheppard smiled "Well, at least we know now that you didn't get eaten," he said walking over to the bed, standing at the side "You okay Doc?" He looked up, with a slight smile "Sore, but alive. Forrest here was able to get the situation with my ribs fixed." McKay was walking over and looking around the dimly lit room "Well, did she use the least rusty scalpel on you at least?" the sarcasm thick as Carson glared at him. "Used better equipment than I have seen in recent times." He paused, looking over at Castiel who had been keeping him company. "I am sure Forrest has mentioned him, but this is Castiel" he explained as the dragon nodded his head politely. Sheppard looking at the dragon, and waved his hand slightly "Nice to formally meet you Castiel" While Ronon and McKay did the same.
Forrest made sure the door behind her was closed, looking around able to see that Castiel had already gotten a few extra places to sleep set up. *How has he been?* She asked as she let the four men start to talk. Starting to grab extra blankets. *Good, he says he is sore but nothing sharp. He is a rather curious person. I like him* Forrest smiled as she looked at her partner, *well, at least you are okay with him* She looked at the group who was happily talking about what had happened *Because we have to share things now.* They looked over as Castiel shifted, walking towards Forrest "Castiel can you run and grab some food from the lower storage room? Few cans should do just fine" She said as she reached under one of the cabinets and pulled out a small single burner of some kind and Hooked into some power tank. "You all are probably hungry, least we can do is offer you all something. Please make yourselves at home here for the night."
Sheppard looked at Forrest; she was small, maybe five feet tall. She seemed to have taken better care of herself than most people in the same situation. "Well, actually that sounds amazing thank you so much" McKay was the first one to speak as he moved away from the bed, finding himself a space on one of the larger chairs and happily reaching for one of the nearby blankets. She smiled, as she finished setting up the small stove. Pulling a few extra bowls from the same cabinet "Its nothing fancy, but with as cold as it is it hits the spot." "I'm sure it will be perfect." Carson's voice filling the room as Sheppard looked at the window. "Thank you very much, Forrest, for letting us stay here with you, and for fixing up Dr. Beckett up," he said walking over to the window, able to now see the small ice crystals forming along the edge of the glass. Ronon had moved one of the longer couches closer to the bed Carson lay in, sitting down but staying silent. She smiled, as she set the lamp she had been using down on the edge of a small table "the first rule of our medical code is 'All shall be helped,' It is no burden to us to aid you" As she finished speaking Castiel came back through the door. His tail shutting it behind him as he set down the large metal cans next to the burner. "Can you get the door sealed a bit, I'll start cooking" The dragon nodded, turning and grabbing one of the more ripped up blankets, cramming it between the door and floor.
Sheppard finally let himself sit down, realizing that in reality, this girl was no threat. If she were, they would all the dead by now. Plus, in a destroyed world sharing food was a good sign, at least in his experience. "So um, how exactly do you and Castiel here work together?" he asked curiously. Watching as she opened the cans and poured them into the large cooking pot. "Well, simply put Castiel and me are a bonded pair. We have a mental link that allows us to communicate over a great distance, feel one another's emotions, and work together." Castiel now began to walk back over to Forrest, shrinking himself down a bit more to be the size of a medium dog, curling himself around her in a tight ball. McKay looked on curiously. The concept pretty strange in general. Sheppard nodded his head, somewhat allowing himself to relax as the smell of what seemed to be chicken-like filled the room. He could still feel the room cooling, but not nearly as bad as outside had been. "Well um, Forrest can you tell us what exactly happened here? I mean, if you are okay with telling it" "Yeah and if you know were any Zero Point Modules are" McKay piping up, only to be met by Carson's snap "not now Rodney" he quickly was silent, able to feel the Doctor's glare.
Forrest looked at them all, now able to feel all eyes on her as she began to pour the hot liquid into the bowls. "Well, if you want to know the entire series of events the way I see them, I am gonna have to give you a bit of backstory." She said as she began to hand out the bowls. Sheppard happily accepting one and passing it over to McKay while Ronon did the same for Carson. With everyone happily holding the hot bowls in their hands, Sheppard nodded "well, we are gonna be here all night, tell as much as you need." He said as he propped his feet up on the nearest table.
Forrest smiled, as she turned off the small cooktop. Castiel moving as she stood and put it away and taking her spot on one of the beds. The dragon curling around her with his head in her lap. "The people of Loonrian were a brilliant, and logical race. We were technologically inclined, but we still had our issues. There was a total of eight cities, right now we are In Southios. The capital city is north of here, called Cathkarta. From there all Cities are connected by the large road systems all connecting to the capitol. Now, the social structure of our world is not the best. You see, you had the elite upper class. These were our leaders, lawmakers, bankers, some scientist, and doctors. They were royalty in a sense. Held all the power. Then the middle class were most the doctors and researchers, teachers, builders and such. Average people. Then the lower class, or the Slums as they were called. These were your factory workers, farmers, just general low-end jobs. They lived in poverty" She explained as she began to feel all their eyes on her at once "13 years ago, things were starting to get a bit uneasy. You see, it had been nearly 80 years since the last time the city walls were expanded to allow for the growing population. Even with the limit of two children per couple we were still growing too fast to keep within the walls. Things were getting cramped, but even then, the government would not allow us to venture into the undeveloped wild for risking extreme damage to the ecosystem of our world. Claiming that outside the walls was dangerous, and unsafe. Naturally most believed this. But there were just too many people within the current limits. Quickly the military had to start to patrol the walls, making crossing them a crime punished by death." She explained as she gently pet Castiel's mane along the back of his neck.
"The issues grew, before long the government had no choice. They did not openly admit to this, but we are sure of the truth to it. For some reason, the women of the planet started to not conceive. Some that did found themselves having miscarriages within a month. No one could explain what was happening to the population. It became worse and worse. Soon enough it was determined that there was only a ten percent chance of conception for our entire population. It was then that broadcast was made by someone. No one knows who, but they explained that the government had somehow used the power cells that powered our world to send out some radiation that was causing the female population to become barren." "Wait, power cells can you explain those a bit mo" Rodney was cut off again, this time by Ronon hucking a small pillow to the doctor's face. Forrest laughed lightly at the response, before continuing "It caused worldwide panic and chaos. The lower class quickly rising and starting to riot. No one knew what to do. It was nothing but violence. The violence that lasted nearly three years. Our people were in a constant state of civil war as the lower class longed to take control from the upper. It was when the last uprising happened that things took a much more drastic turn you see. The capital city of Cathkarta was stormed, thousands of people flooding to the capitol tower where the power cells were known to be held. Once the government realized that they could not hold the tower, they did something no one has done before in our history. They removed the power cells from their housing and flew them to a military base, about halfway between there and Southios. Taking them there to hide them away from the general population, as the base could only be reached by flight. It kept them out of the population's hands, and them in control."
"Damn" Dr. Beckett's slight murmur hardly audible. Ronon, having now laid himself out somewhat finally spoke: "So all of this.. your people destroyed themselves in a civil war?" Forrest shook her head "if only it had been that nice" She looked down at Castiel, and then glanced out the window at the city ruins "Two weeks after the power cells had been removed they came. The long purple ships rained down by the thousands, destroying any fighters we could get air born. They were collecting people in the beams of white light from the ships and destroying buildings with powerful weapons. We stood no chance, even with our higher end weaponry. We were doomed, and I had one chance to get away. Flying was out of the question, only dragons without people on them were able to fly off. Castiel and I did the only thing that made sense for survival. We jumped the wall, like many others and ran. We ran for a solid day nearly before we stopped and hid. We found a downed tree and hit ourselves in it. The ships did not stop for nearly four days. We just stayed there, listening to them. We did not wander back to the city for a week nearly. By then, there were only a few survivors other than us. They opted to head north to the capitol. We didn't; we decided to stay here where we would draw less attention if they were to come back."
Everyone was silent for a moment before Sheppard spoke up "I'm sorry you had to go through all that. How long have you been alone here Forrest?" She shrugged, "ten years I think" McKay had a slightly wide-eyed look, when as Carson held a concerned one. "So, um, these power cells. Do you know what they looked like?" McKay asked, this time Carson staying silent. Forrest nodded, "Yes, they are a cylinder like object, they look like they are made of stained glass" She explained as McKay seemed to jump up "ZPMs, the power cells are ZPMs. So, Forrest, I can't explain the infertility part. But I am betting the reason the Wraith came after they were moved is that those Power Cells were keeping your people protected from them." "The things in the ships were Wraith? That is what they are called?" Sheppard nodding "Yeah, they are not the nicest bunch really" but McKay was still going "The reason your cities could not expand anymore is probably that the range of protection was maxed. Some kind of field, probably like Keras's people had." He explained. Sheppard nodding his head. Forrest looked over, realizing that Carson's eyes were once again closed. She smiled as she stood up walking over, taking the empty bowl from where he had set it at his side. He had simply fallen asleep, that was to be expected. "So what all does this mean exactly, and who exactly are you? Where are you from?"
Sheppard looked at Forrest, "We come from a city on another world, Atlantis" he explained, gauging to see if it rang any bells to her. "You came from another world? That is insane" she said as she moved back over to sit down with Castiel who was happily asleep. "Yes, we travel here through a device called a stargate. Allows us to go from planet to planet with our ship, or on foot." She sat cross-legged looking at them "You see, these power cells as your people know them as are what we call ZPMs. They are huge power generators so to say. They are the easiest way for us to power our city. We have been attempting to find more, and it sounds like we may have come to the right place." Forrest was silent as she sat thinking, looking up at them "Well, my people are long gone. We do not need them here anymore. I can easily get you there tomorrow to the base. It's about a half hour flight on dragon there" McKay seemed to almost wince and get excited all the same. "Is there a way to get there.. without dragons?" Looking at him she shook her head, "No, nothing too advanced works anymore here. How badly damaged is your ship?" He shrugged "It is not too badly damaged, it is really that one of the ZPMs is putting out a pulse that knocks down all the electrical systems of our ship. If we can get to those, and get the pulse stopped, we could easily get the ship back up and going again."
Forrest nodded, silent for a moment as she looked over to see the one known as Ronon was now asleep. "I see, well, I can arrange for us to be taken up there tomorrow. Castiel will go find Malco and Dazar in the morning, and we should easily be able to make it up there" Sheppard and McKay glanced over at one another, and smiled "Thank you, Forrest, that is very kind of you." He said as he finally let himself lay out fully on the couch "Malco, Castiel, and Dazar should be able to get your shipped turned over as well. Castiel had said that it seemed turned over." Sheppard laughed a bit, "Yeah that would be nice" Mckay had fallen silent, looking over he had wrapped himself in one of the blankets, and laid down. "We will be able to do all that in the morning, better rest now for we have a long day tomorrow then," She said as she leaned against Castiel's large body. His wing laying over her easily. *Do you think this is wise?" The dragon's voice filled her head as she closed her eyes *I do, they are advanced, and maybe just maybe.. they will take us with them* The dragon was silent, but a wave of uncertain excitement filled her head *Maybe, does not sound like a bad idea.*