Issis and the Warriors of Thoth
By EchoTango
Part 9
After that mission, Jayne was considerable less guarded though she refused to discuss her home world. John, unfortunately, understood very well the need to protect her people given the small sampling of what she had shared with them that night.
It was on GBX-402 that everything John thought he knew fell down around his ears.
The world was low tech and agrarian based like many of the worlds they had visited. It did however host a bustling marketplace filled with hundreds of vendors from those selling luxury fabrics to arms dealers of which John took careful note. It was always good to know what you may be up against out there. Fortunately, there was not too much available that his Marines couldn't handle.
They had split up, Ford, Teyla and Jayne going to look at the livestock available for sale and John and Rodney perusing the remaining wares just to see what was available.
"Oh, look Major, they have sweet sand."
"You want to buy sand?" John asked, curiously, studying the small bins that had captured Rodney's attention.
"Idiot, don't you ever pay attention. Sergeant Poloski promised he'd make cake if we brought back the ingredients and this may look like your favourite beach but it tastes and smells like vanilla," Rodney told him excitedly bouncing on his toes.
"Still haven't found cocoa, uh?"
Rodney's enthusiasm flagged slightly.
"No, I would prefer chocolate but no luck yet, but hey cake is cake, right?"
John snorted, if they didn't find a supply soon there were going to be many unhappy scientists when the chocolate and coffee finally ran out. There would be a lot of unhappy civilians and by association a miserable military.
Suddenly Rodney tensed up, his eyes going wide with shock and John could just make out a faint dinging coming from Rodney's pack.
"McKay, what is it?"
Rodney didn't answer him right away but instead focused on the piece of ancient tech he had pulled from his pack.
"Something I've been playing around with," he told John as he slowly turned around "that would help us detect Wraith communications. Thought it might prove useful in the field, give us some warning."
Rodney hesitated only for a moment before he started walking headlong into the crowd, head buried in the data pad in his hands. John did his best to clear a path yanking the scientist to an abrupt stop as he was about to turn around a blind corner.
"Stay here," John told him as he slipped the safety off the P-90 and carefully looked around the corner in question.
Partially hidden in the shadows he could just make out a figure and gasped when the figure moved out into the light and he could see that it was Jayne and that in her hand she held what looked vaguely like Wraith tech.
John allowed Rodney to take a brief look.
"Rodney, are you sure?" John asked almost pleading.
"Yeah, and from what I can tell there are data bursts coming and going," Rodney told him, a stricken look on his face.
John was disappointed at Jayne's lack of reaction to stepping through the gate and facing a squad of marines, weapons readied and pointing straight at her. Some part of him had been hoping that they were wrong. That she would offer up a simple explanation.
"McKay, get the device," John ordered harshly before he gestured for Jayne to be escorted to the brig.
It was going to be a long night, no it had been a long night and John's attempt to get a few hours sleep before the early morning briefing was futile.
This was his entire fault. He had brought her home and even though he had doubts, he hadn't followed up on them. She was an enigma from the start and obviously, if he had been doing his job alarm bells would have been going off well before this. That fact that they hadn't done so scared him.
He lay in bed mentally tracing the swirls in the bronze and grey ceiling of his quarters for a while before he gave up and headed down to the labs knowing that Rodney would still be there.
"It's not Wraith," Rodney told him even before he had fully entered the room.
"Well that's something."
"Yeah, well, what it's not is about all I have at this point."
Rodney looked beyond tired, as John knew he would be. The lab was empty except for the piles and powerbar wrappers and used coffee mugs that littered the counters. In a few hours, the scientists who preferred the morning shifts would begin to arrive.
"It's not ancient, or Asgaard or Gou'ald. It's made of an alloy we've never encountered and the whole thing is completely unlike anything I've ever even heard of before much less seen."
"Can you take it apart?"
Rodney grimaced and took a deep breath, which to John's dismay he let out in a great sigh and instead rubbed at his eyes.
"Oh, believe me Major, we've tried, oh we have tried. As much as I hate to admit it I've done all I can here. I don't have any more answers. Hey, where are you going?"
"To get some answers."
He had made his way down to the ancient holding cells in record time, his anger and frustration building with every step. He hung onto it and nurtured it because he would need it to pull off what he had in mind.
"You see," John spoke with a deceptive drawl, making Jayne jump to her feet, "what they say about asking forgiveness is easier than getting permission is true."
Jayne's eyes narrowed as the possibilities went through her mind.
"What do you want?" she finally asked, "otherwise you'd just have done it."
"I want the truth. All of it and in exchange I will not drop you off on the nearest gateless world."
Jayne chewed on her lower lip in indecision. John waited silently, his heart rate slowing down as he pulled himself into full black ops mode. He had no problem with the thought of dropping her off alone into a lifetime of exile. He would have no problem doing more than that if it became necessary.
"You don't want to hear the whole truth."
"Try me."
"You won't believe me," she told him quietly.
"You'd be surprised; heck I'm constantly surprised, at what I've come to believe."
She looked up at him then and laughed. "You won't like it," she told him her eyes searching his.
Then she sat down on the cot and taking a deep breath she told him everything and she was right he didn't like it.
~ * ~
"It's Tokath," John interrupted as he slipped into the conference room.
Jayne had been released and had taken a few minutes to shower and change, which gave John a chance to bring the command staff up to speed.
Elizabeth turned to look at him, her eyebrows arched with curiosity.
"Major?"
"Yes, please Major feel free to interrupt," complained Rodney but without any real heat.
"The Tokath are the allies Issis found to help her and they've been watching us and helping us from the beginning."
"The mysterious rider," Teyla murmured "and the marketplace contacts."
"OK they've been helping us but why and can they do more," Rodney asked cutting to the significant part, in typical fashion.
"Why? Because they've sworn to protect the people of Pegasus and probably not a whole lot more than they have already done," Jayne told them as she strode through the doors.
"So I gather the Warriors of Thoth are nothing but a diversion," Elizabeth stated.
"Yes, the Lantean council had their suspicions and Issis used a little bit of misdirection."
"I am sorry for the subterfuge, Dr Weir, but secrecy and discretion is essential to the Tokath's survival and success."
"Are you Tokath?" Teyla asked for them all.
"No," Jayne told them looking pointedly at John, "they saved me from the Wraith and gave me a home."
"It was a Tokath that saved you and John though, wasn't it? That was convenient," Rodney said with just a touch of sarcasm.
"The Tokath have moles on every hive Rodney." John told him "and I'm kind of glad they do."
"Yeah, I guess."
"So the transmissions you received and sent," Rodney asked his head nodding in the direction of the communication device that now sat in the middle of the conference room table "they came from one of the Tokath spies?"
"Yes, and it was urgent, otherwise I wouldn't have risked detection as I did," Jayne told them with a frown, as she studied her hands as they lay on the table.
"What can you tell us about it?" Elizabeth asked.
Jayne looked up.
"Not much I'm afraid, it's all encoded. The Tokath will tell me only what they feel I need to know," Jayne told them unhappily.
"The council was not entirely pleased when I decided to stay on Atlantis," she added.
"So why did you stay, Jayne," Teyla asked gently, but before she could answer the communication device started to emit a quiet but persistent beep.
"I think I can put it on the overhead screen," Rodney muttered as he quickly typed commands into his data pad.
"Well, answer it," he ordered Jayne.
Jayne complied with no outward sign of trepidation.
As the visual came up on the screen, John barely recognized Secretary Baltos.
"Commander Chaillot?"
The Baltos they were talking to now was nothing like the one they had to deal with before. He was standing straighter and his voice had lost its whiney annoying pitch.
The nervous mannerisms, hand wringing, nail biting and the way he pulled at the ends of his sleeves and collar and the stupid pompous fake smile were all gone. His eyes reflected a self-assurance and quiet efficiency as he surveyed the occupants of the room as they one by one moved into his field of vision.
John's head whipped around and he stared at Jayne. She had told him what he wanted to know but apparently, there were details that he hadn't thought to ask. He wondered how many more of the Issians were not as they seemed.
"It's a pleasure to speak to you so soon Tomas."
I'm in no danger, John translated in his head, assuming that Jayne had actually been totally truthful with him.
"It has been too long. I was thinking of you just yesterday when I realized the ice flowers had bloomed."
Do you require extraction? John knew he was really asking in their simple but effective code.
"I always loved the ice flowers the best, they are so welcome this time of year."
No and you may speak freely, and John let out a sigh of relief.
"So they caught you, finally. I find it somehow disturbing that it took them this long. Are you sure you don't want to come home?"
"Tomas," Jayne said in a warning tone "just tell me what is so urgent that you risked my exposure."
"Queen Siroth is on the move and she's headed right for Atlantis with Quara and Erith trailing not far behind."
"How many and when," John demanded moving to stand beside Jayne.
"Three hives and they should appear on your long range sensors in three or four of your solar cycles."
"Tomas, how…"
"The council has authorized me to send your team to Atlantis and everything we have on the three hives in question but that is all, Jayne," he told her cutting her off, "I am sorry but the council feels any further assistance risks exposing them to the Wraith."
"I understand, tell Jyle to retrieve the remainder of my belongings. I'm sure the council will be just as understanding."
"As you wish, Commander," he told her with a crisp salute as he broke off the connection.
Elizabeth rightly broke the stunned silence in the room.
"Folks you all know what to do. Report back here in four hours prepared for a strategic planning meeting. Jayne, please stay I have some more questions I'd like to ask."
~*~
The Wraith had finally come and they had fought, destroying Siroth's hive in the process. The other two had limped off hopefully to brag triumphantly that they had destroyed Atalantis at last while in fact she hid safely beneath the cloak Rodney had managed to erect. John would feel better once the Tokath network had confirmed it for him. At least they had a little bit of time to regroup and get more reinforcements now that they were back in contact with Earth.
He still remembered the relief he felt when the Daedalus crew that had appeared before him in a flash of white light. That the cavalry had come with a ZPM meant that more than a few of them had survived to tell a tale.
The last group of Wraith that had beamed into the city had been neutralized and his marines were doing a final sweep. Ford was in the infirmary overdosed on the feeding enzyme and Teyla was busy helping the Athosians settle back onto the mainland where they would bury their dead.
They had lost good people over the last few days; too many.
All John wanted to do was coral Rodney to bed and then he could stand down with the rest of the expedition as ordered. He had looked everywhere and he couldn't find him. He wasn't in the lab, his quarters, the infirmary, the mess or in any of his regular or special haunts.
Rodney had been flying high on the stims Carson had given out and he was due to crash. Zalenka had already gone down hard. He wasn't answering his radio and it was possible that he had already crashed somewhere. John knew that he would not be able to rest until he knew for sure that Rodney was OK.
The last thing he expected was to step out of the transporter in time to see a fresh faced marine raise a weapon and shoot at him. Everything after that instant was drowned in a pool of blinding light.
John woke up to find himself with his hands and feet securely tied off and with someone kicking at his boots and that someone just would not shut up.
"No, Major," the voice told him urgently, frantically "stay on your back."
John fought the darkness and then with a struggle opened his eyes and blinked. It was Rodney.
"McKay? What the hell?"
"Zat."
"What?"
"Zat weapon. You were hit with a Gou'ald Zat, Major. Come on, wake up and get with the program," he told him while he kicked at him some more.
John moaned and with Rodney's help, he was able to sit up and see why he had been instructed to stay on his back. Strapped to each of their chests was a detonator and he knew by the pulse pattern of the flashing light on it that it was armed and on standby. It wouldn't take much C4 to punch an irreparable hole through his chest.
"Oh, shit."
"How succinct of you."
"Can you disarm it?"
"Right I will disarm it with my teeth and for my next trick I'll tie a maraschino cherry stem into a knot with my tongue."
"Stay still."
"What are you doing," Rodney squeaked as John sat on his lap and attempted to undo his belt.
"Remember that belt I gave you to replace the one you lost on B5T-411. It was a Marine's belt. Would you quit squirming?"
"Right, I get it. A devil dog belt. Hidden compartments filled with deadly weapons. Oh God, give me a minute," Rodney whimpered.
John was about to reply but stopped what he was doing and gasped softly when the marine who had taken him down strolled into sight. Not as young as he had appeared at first glance, but still a fresh, innocent face and with his freckles and short cropped red hair he was the picture of mom's apple pie.
"You see it too, uh?" Rodney asked, the warm breath in his ear sending shivers through John's body.
"Milos," John whispered.
John's eyes widened and he redoubled his efforts when he saw the golden, glowing eyes of the snake turn towards the figure coming through the door.
"Dr Hunter Flynn."
"Milos. It has been a long time coming."
"Where is Jayne?" it demanded, the deep Gou'ald tone, echoing throughout the room.
Hunter laughed mirthlessly and John knew why. Hunter had spent years impersonating another woman, the Goa'uld consort known as Jayne, waiting for Milos' return to claim her as his own.
"You don't get it yet, do you? Jayne's not here. Jayne is safe where you can never, ever find her."
"Tell me," it roared, as it grasped Hunter around the neck and began slowly squeezing.
"There are ways," it growled.
"I know. I look forward to them."
"Choose."
"What?"
"Choose, which one you wish to live, Dr Flynn," he told her lightly, his voice human again, holding up the detonator like a prize.
Hunter gaped as she looked in the direction he indicated and saw Rodney laying flat on his face and John struggling to get free.
"Do it," John ordered tightly "I've seen the eagle soar three times already." God he felt silly and hoped he had remembered the code words correctly but he didn't have time for anything more subtle.
It all happened in slow motion. Like in a surreal movie, time stood still. His movements were smooth and slow as liquid honey flowing in an exotic dance.
She is a cat, sleek and lean, black fur gleaming on rippling muscles. He is the eagle, wings spread wide upon the heat of the heavens.
His arm drew back and he threw the C4 packages towards the Gou'ald as it pressed both firing buttons, as John knew it would.
John flung himself on Rodney and Hunter leaped back and took cover behind a cloth-covered console. He tried not to think about the sticky bits that came down and spattered across his back but concentrated instead on hot showers and clean clothes and food that smelled and tasted like Earth.
~ * ~
"So you knew that Jayne was really Hunter Flynn and that she came from Earth and that she was putting herself out there as bait hoping to trap the system lord that had kidnapped her years ago. How could you not tell me?"
"I didn't know for very long and besides it was part of the deal Rodney. I gave my word."
"How did he get here anyways."
"Jayne, I mean Hunter doesn't know as they were all kept locked up tight and he's not answering any questions."
"Did you know that Milos was on the Daedalus?"
"Well, no. We expected him once word got back that Jayne was on Atlantis but we hadn't anticipated him moving that fast."
Rodney shuddered.
"I can't believe the Gou'ald made it to the Pegasus galaxy before we did. Do you think he loved her, the real Jayne, that is?"
"I don't know Rodney what it was but he wanted her badly enough that he put all his efforts into looking for her. Anyways she's safe and happy with the Tokath."
"Did they find out who the host was?"
"No, who knows what world he came from. That's my biggest regret, that we weren't able to save him."
Hunter came out of the conference room, swinging her carryall onto her back.
"You have everything you need?" John asks her.
"Yes, the Daedalus will bring the rest back for me."
"So, you're finally going home. Have any idea what you're going to do next?"
"No, I've some thoughts but I don't want to make any decisions yet.
"It's been a pleasure Major, Dr McKay," she tells them shaking each of their hands in turn before heading for the gate.
John and Rodney follow her down the stairs.
She suddenly turns around and kisses Rodney goodbye and then John, who having a bit of a warning kisses back.
"I'll miss you both," she tells them and then she's gone through the puddle and the wormhole closes leaving a silence so heavy John can feel it on his skin.
"Well, people you can go back to work now, show's over," Rodney bellowed, galvanizing the gate room staff back into motion.
"Do you think we'll ever see her again?" he asks John in a small, wistful voice.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll run into her, here and there. She has a double Doctorate, you know.
"What?"
"Anthropology and Egyptology."
"Uh, soft sciences."
"She was half way through an undergrad degree in physics when she taken."
"You bastard, you're killing me here."
John's grin faded quickly. "If she had been around, Dr Jackson would have had someone on his side right at the beginning. She was headed that way. They would have found the star gate a lot sooner. Who knows how things might have been."
"You OK?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I be?"
"Come on, they're having mac and cheese for lunch. Yes, Radek I am done playing kissy faces and how did you know anyways, do you have a live feed in the gate room or did the city's gossip mill finally crack the speed of light? Yeah, yeah, already, after I get some lunch."
Rodney looks at John his lips twitching with a suppressed smirk.
"What?"
"She kissed me first."
"I got tongue."
"Really?"
John chuckled and put his arm around Rodney's shoulder. "Well, I got as good as I gave. You know, I think we're all going to be okay," he told the scientist and this time he believed it.
THE END
