Part 7

Nekra moved as quietly as he could down the long and winding passageway that lead towards his section. He carried an inconspicuous looking container under his arm and slung over one shoulder was a small cube shaped object that bounced with every lolloping step he took. His thoughts drifted back to his encounter with the head keeper the day before. It had been a close call, so apart from providing the necessary food and water Nekra had steered well clear of enclosure 42. B'Zarrn had asked him far too many unnecessary questions regarding the creatures care, but Nekra had been fairly certain he hadn't been seen doing anything he should not have. When he had mentioned the dark haired one's ill health, B'Zarrn had appeared totally uninterested making Nekra suspicious of his involvement. In fact, he had seemed somewhat surprised that the creature hadn't died yet.

The whole incident had meant that he would have to be extra careful in future regarding his interaction with the creatures. He was only thankful that B'Zarrn had not removed him from their care, as he still intended to try and communicate with the dark haired one. Furthermore, he still had to smuggle more medicine to him as one doze would not be enough to counter the infection. Hence this early morning visit.

Arriving at the hatchway a few minutes later, Nekra carefully double checked to see if any other keeper was nearby. The area seemed deserted and quiet apart from the Sintra birds who were singing to welcome the beginning of a new day. It was a noise Nekra loved to hear as it conjured up visions of thick lush forests teeming with life. Not that he'd ever seen anything like it other than from the history files of their home world. Although the bird song was music to his auditory sensors he often wondered if the other inhabitants found them too loud and annoying. Sometimes he would notice nearby creatures covering their ears in an effort to deaden the sound, and that included the noisy one in 42.

oOo

John woke abruptly, surprised to be still alive. He remembered panicking somewhat just before darkness had claimed him. Yet when he really thought about it, it had not been the darkness of unconsciousness just the normal need for sleep. He tested his feelings and although the pain was still evident, his back felt less tender and the fever seemed a bit lower so it appeared the medicine must be helping. Now he wondered just how long he'd been asleep and what time it was. Once again he had no means of knowing. It was still very quiet apart from the joyful bird sounds, so probably early in the morning.

He lay still and quiet for a moment until his extra sensitive ears picked up a slight clicking noise, followed by a rustling sound that seemed awfully close to his sleeping platform. John tensed and his heart began to thump as his mind conjured up all of sorts of horrors brought upon by the memories of the alien lab. If it wasn't for the bird song he could well imagine he was back there. Relief came when he heard Rodney fussing. Then the rotten smell he'd come to associate with the aliens assaulted his nose, meaning one was nearby.

Rodney confirmed it a short while later when he said. "Oh thank god! You've brought back the cleaning machine. I promise I wouldn't touch it again."

Nekra finished stowing away the Opi machine and cocked his head. The noisy one was making his sounds again; it was almost as loud as the birds. Nekra still hadn't a clue what he meant but with the aid of the recording cube, the great computers should eventually work out their language. He had switched the device on as soon as he had entered the enclosure. The more sounds it managed to record, the better. The noisy one would certainly help in that direction.

In the meantime, Nekra needed to get more medicine into the sick one. He held up two vials containing the liquid medication and vaguely wondered what the creatures had done with the injector. They seemed to understand him because the noisy one picked up a play object and quickly retrieved the necessary item, which had been cleverly hidden within. More proof of their intelligence. When another string of loud sounds came out of the creature's mouth, Nekra looked at him in a perplexed manner and squawked.

"It needs to be sterilised." Rodney repeated. "Oh for heaven's sake, this is just so frustrating."

"Getting worked up about it ain't gonna help."

"I know that, Ronon, but..."

"Rodney, don't draw attention to what he's doing. Just trust him." John whispered. He wasn't feeling so hot all of a sudden and he realised his pain was slowly escalating. From what Rodney had said he guessed the alien was here to give him another dose. He certainly wouldn't say no but hoped it wouldn't knock him out like the last time.

Rodney reluctantly slid the injector toward the alien's seven toed feet. "Don't blame me if you get another nasty infection from the unclean injector," he informed Sheppard.

Before John could reply, Teyla said. "Rodney, I believe the alien is fully aware of the need to sterilize."

Rodney looked up to see a blue hand carefully wiping the tip of the injector with a wad of cotton like material before clicking a vial into the chamber. "Oh, forgot it's pressure control, so I guess it won't harbour quite so many bad germs as a needle would," Rodney observed.

"Right now I really don't care." John whispered.

Teyla looked at him with concern. "Has the pain returned, John?"

John slowly nodded. "Yeah, wasn't so bad when I first woke but now it's getting..." He winced as another wave of pain rippled through his back.

As if Nekra had understood John's words, the alien approached and swiftly injected his arm. He repeated the procedure with the other vial and gave a short whistle. John nodded his thanks and waited for the medication to ease the stabbing, throbbing pain.

Teyla noticed the alien looking around as if checking for the all-clear before he indicated the container of ointment she was holding. She quickly opened it and then proceeded to cover John's back wounds. She was pleased to see that the infected sore seemed a little better this morning, not quite so inflamed and swollen. Nekra nodded his head and left with another sound.

The ever observant scientist was quick to observe. "Umm...wonder what that box shaped object was?"

John murmured. "What box?"

"The black cubical object he had slung over his bony shoulder."

"Maybe it's his lunch box." Ronon suggested.

"Oh ha...ha, always thinking of your stomach."

"You can talk, McKay." Ronon growled back.

John listened to their friendly barter. It was somehow very comforting and as hard as he tried, the medication soon sent him back into the healing arms of sleep.

oOo

John slowly opened his eyes to the usual darkness, once again having no idea how many hours he might have missed in deep slumber. He tested his feelings and breathed a sigh of relief at being virtually pain free. His fever seemed to be down as well.

He lay there for a while listening for any sounds. It seemed awfully quiet, but surely he hadn't slept through the day and into the night. He hated being sightless as it gave him no perception of time or his surroundings. The sounds of his team were missing too. Not even the odd snore or cough. He began to wonder if everything had happened to them, which set off alarms of panic and worry. Anxious to find out, he propped himself up on his elbow and called out.

"It is okay, John, we are still with you." Teyla's sweet voice reassured him.

Hearing her comforting words, John relaxed and sank back onto the all too hard surface. "Sorry, thought you were gone. How long did I sleep?"

"You have been sleeping nearly all day. I believe it is now early evening, although it is hard to tell. The lights are a little less bright but they have not switched them off yet."

"Why were you all so quiet?"

Teyla sighed. "Rodney is sleeping already as he claims there is nothing better to do and Ronon was trying to meditate with me."

John smiled at that. "Ronon must be really frustrated by now, totally bored out of his mind with inactivity."

Ronon's disgruntled groan reached John's ears. "I most certainly am." He said no more and John guessed he might be in a bad mood.

"How do you feel, John?"

"The pain is..." Teyla suddenly took his hand and whispered that the alien was back before he could finish his sentence. John tensed a little as he felt the intrusion of the mental link. However this time clear words formed in his head, giving him quite a shock as it was totally unexpected. And although the words were not exactly grammatically correct, the understanding was clear enough. *Afraid be not. I...here help you.*

John sent a mental message back, keeping it very plain and simple. *Can you get us out of this place? We do not belong here. We are intelligent. Therefore we do not like being locked up and kept like animals without our clothing and equipment. Also I do not like this object, whatever it is.* He pointed to the disc on his forehead.

Nekra issued a shrill whistle, waking the sleeping scientist. He had been right all along, these creatures were highly intelligent. *I try. Sorry, understand I not why researchers not see you as no animals.*

John didn't know that Rodney had moved to his side until he asked. "What the hell are you doing? Why are you staring oddly into space?"

"Because the alien is communicating with me telepathically."

McKay replied, way too loudly. "Really! Just tell him we want out of here." Ronon growled in agreement and Teyla add her pleas. Now there was hope.

John assured his friends. "Already done so." He then concentrated and continued the weirdest conversation he had ever had, even though it was giving him a slight headache. *I am Colonel John Sheppard. The others are my team mates. Teyla Emmagan, Doctor Rodney McKay and Ronon Dex.*

Nekra had no idea what the words were as the translator program failed to recognise them. It came out gibberish but he guessed that maybe they were titles or names, so he supplied. *I Nekra. A keeper of you and other life finds. What life form you? *

John guessed he meant he was a zoo keeper and he wanted to know what species they were. *We are humans. Can you please get our things and let us go?*

*Not I. Me only keeper. Must try I in telling commander. He more power. Now I give drug. You...better yes? Only one more.*

John tried to work that one out. *Yes, I feel better but I need this thing off my forehead.* Again he pointed to the metal disc. *And please tell your commander we want to go back to our home planet via a Stargate.*

Nekra looked confused as the translator failed to recognise the last sound, he ignored it to say. *Monitor disc stay to talk you.*

*A monitor disc? And is this the only way we can communicate?*

Nekra looked sad. *Our speaking very strange for Lant and Nekra...different.*

John wondered why he had just called him a Lant, must be some weird glitch in translation, however that was being achieved. He decided to ignore it for now. *Yes, I get that. Is this disc making me blind or is there another reason?*

*I not know. Researchers may know. I give you pressing drug now. Then Nekra must flee before be seen.*

John guessed he meant an injection. *Okay, but please help us.* He felt the sight pressure of the injector against his arm before more words formed.

*Try I. Already help you. Head researcher want you not get better. Dead. He cut you up for study. Others, noisy one, younger ones safe.*

Cut up for study - that didn't sound good. Horror memories of the laboratory quickly sprang to the fore and John shuddered at the thought. Yet despite his grim outlook, John was relieved to hear the news concerning his team. He felt Nekra's touch leave his mind and presumed the alien had left. At least they had an ally now. Although they weren't out of this yet, not by a long chalk. Especially him it seemed.

"Well, what did he tell you?" Rodney got in quickly before the others could ask.

John got his voice under control for his teams' sake. "Not much to tell really. It's exactly as we thought. They think we're some kind of non-intelligent life form. You guys are safe for now but for some reason it seems they still have other plans for me."

Concerned, Teyla asked, "What kind of plans?"

John didn't want to alarm them, so he didn't mention the being cut up part. "I think they want to do more research on me."

No one had a reply for that, they all remembered how emotionally disturbed John had been when he returned from the last session. Their fear for him was evident as they looked at each other with concern. Of course, John never saw it as he filled them in on a few more details before the need for yet more sleep overtook him.

tbc

Wow thanks for all the lovely reviews of the last chapter. Things aren't looking too good for our Shep are they?