The village was deserted. Lorne frowned as Ramirez and Miller spread out to check the perimeter. There wasn't much here beyond several small farmhouses and a well, but there should have been people as well. Their absence concerned him. Within fifteen minutes, Miller and Ramirez had circled the village. Miller shook his head as he approached. "There's no one. Not even an animal."
A low moan came from between two houses. Lorne held up a fist. "Hold on." He listened for a moment and heard it again. "Over here."
Ramirez and Williams took up defensive positions while Lorne and Miller approached the bundle. A woman, about thirty, lay in a corner. Her brown dress was even darker thanks to dirt and body fluids that had soiled it beyond hope. Lorne wrinkled his nose at the smell and waited while Miller knelt over her.
Jason touched her forehead and started. "She's burning up."
Lorne moved in closer, ignoring the smell. The woman blinked slowly, her face covered in sweat and dirt. She looked like she'd collapsed right where she now lay. "Help." She licked her lips, and Lorne reached for his canteen. Miller held the woman's head and helped her drink.
"Where is everyone?" Lorne asked as gently as he could. He felt for her, but he needed to know why the village was abandoned. If the Wraith had set up a stronghold on this planet, they needed to know.
"Gone," the woman whispered. She tried to lift her hand but failed. "Inland. Away from . . . ." Her eyes drifted shut.
"Sir?" Miller eyed him. "She needs medical attention, and whatever did this to her could still be here."
Lorne nodded. "Let's get her back to Atlantis. Maybe Keller can help her." He suppressed the urge to speak of Grace. This kind of thing was what she used to do back on Earth, and she'd be right at home in a setting like this.
Ramirez came around the corner. "Sir, found something."
Lorne looked at Miller. "Stay with her." He followed Ramirez to an area outside of the village where the ground had been turned. "Graves."
"A lot of them. Too many, if you ask me."
"Okay." Lorne looked around. "Something happened here. The woman back there said that everyone had gone inland. Maybe to get away from what killed everyone."
"Or to get away from what made that woman sick?" Ramirez walked back to where Miller waited.
Williams knelt over the woman with Miller, but neither man moved. Miller looked up as Lorne approached and shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir. She went into convulsions while you were gone."
Lorne considered his options. He could leave the woman here or he could take her back to Atlantis. He looked at Miller. "You know how to get DNA?"
"Yeah."
"Do it."
"Yes, sir."
Less than two hours after he left Atlantis, Lorne returned, carrying blood and tissue samples from the dead woman. He reported in to Mr. Woolsey and took the samples to Dr. Keller. She agreed to work on them and told him that it was time for his team to wait.
A day later, Lorne joined his team, Sheppard's team, Mr. Woolsey, and Dr. Keller in the conference room. Keller looked tired, and McKay gave her a cup of coffee. Lorne settled in a chair between Miller and Sheppard and looked at the computer screen Keller had set up. "What are we looking at, Doc?"
"A virus." Keller pointed to the screen. "It's similar to the various flu strains we have back on Earth, but it's different. More virulent. And extremely resistant to all but our strongest antibiotics. I also think this is manmade. I won't know if it's a naturally occurring disease until I go back to the planet, treat a few of the sick, and do a few tests."
Woolsey held up a hand. "Wait a minute. Not only do we have to think about these people, but we have to think about us."
"Well, I could give our teams the flu vaccine. It showed signs of slowing the progression in simulations." Keller shrugged. "Beyond that, I don't know."
Lorne leaned forward. "Let's consider the threat to the planets that trade with these people. If one representative comes through the gate, he could carry this disease back to his home. Not to mention the people that moved inland. They could carry the disease with them."
Keller nodded. "We've seen diseases back on Earth where someone could be a carrier and not even know it."
Woolsey considered their words. "If we send someone to that planet, it could be a one-way trip. We don't even know the origin yet." He studied his hands. "On the other hand, we did promise the Planetary Coalition that we would take a more active role in the affairs o the galaxy. Okay. Dr. Keller, you accompany Major Lorne and his team back to the planet and see if you can figure this out. If necessary, we'll send supplies through the gate."
Keller nodded, but Lorne held up a hand. "With all due respect to Dr. Keller, I'd like to request Dr. Edgington on this. Field research and relief work are her specialties, and she has years of experience under her belt. Dr. Keller can assist her from here."
Woolsey agreed. "Get Dr. Edgington prepared. Good luck."
Lorne pushed away from the table, thoughts whirling. He had enough trouble ignoring Grace when he was on Atlantis. Being thrown together in this manner, with Miller in the mix, was not how he wanted to spend the next few days.
SGA SGA SGA SGA
Grace sat back from a microscope as the lab doors opened. She looked up as Dr. Keller and Lorne walked in. Jennifer gave her an encouraging look, and Evan appeared hesitant.
Keller walked over to her. "How do you feel about returning to your roots?"
"I'm sorry?" Grace eyed Lorne.
He moved to Keller's side. "We have something of an epidemic on another planet. Your experience in relief work would be a big help."
Grace looked at the sample under her microscope. The offer appealed far more than sitting in a lab somewhere. But it also meant that she'd have to spend an unknown number of days with Evan and Jason, watching people possibly die. Just the idea made her slightly queasy.
"Hey." Lorne leaned close, and Keller left them alone. "I know things between us aren't exactly the greatest. But I need you on this."
"And Jason?"
"I don't know." He held up a flash drive. "Please."
Grace stared at him. She'd wanted to resolve the issues between them for some time, but she wasn't sure how. This could be the opportunity she needed to do just that. Maybe, somewhere away from Atlantis, she and Evan could finally sit down and truly air what was on their minds. She smiled and took the flash drive. "Give me an hour to pack what gear I'll need. The remainder we can call for when I get to the planet and assess the situation."
He let her take the drive. "Thank you."
She smiled as he left and looked around. Excitement coursed though her, and not all of it related to her love for her work. Somehow, this moment had the feel of one that changed a life forever.
~TBC~
