Chapter 10- fear
"We have a problem", they were words John Robinson had said quite a few times on this journey. Maureen tried to catalogue all the potential problems in her head and failed, there were just too many. "What is it dear', she asked gravely. "The sensors are detecting ships" , John told her, then he added, "I think it might be them".
Maureen did not need to ask who them'' was, she knew all to well. They were the ones that gave her nightmares, the killers of this galaxy. "At the moment they are still several hours from this location, they are getting closer all the time though. We have to decide what to do Maureen", John said seriously.
They did not know how good the other ships sensors were, could they detect the Jupiter 2, it was a small craft compared to their own . In her head Maureen liked to think that if they did detect them they may just think the Jupiter was not interesting and keep on going. However they would know it was an alien craft and that may just be enough to warrant a closer look. "If we leave this planet now we may escape detection", John told her. "Or it could already be too late, we can see them, so they may also see us", Maureen remarked.
"Yes", John told her. "If we leave what are the odds we can outrun them", Maureen asked him. "We can't", John told her truthfully. "Thats what I thought", Maureen acknowledged. "If we knew how to use that gate we could just escape through there. But since we can't then I think our best option is to hide on the planet. We will need to get as far away from the gate as possible." Maureen took a breath, "I think it is time to tell Penny and Will everything darling". They have to know what they face". John had dreaded this day and had gone over in his head a million times what he was going to say. He had a feeling his well rehersed talk was going to end up being a total mess of emotion. 'Bring the children and gather just a few essentials we will tell them on the way", John stated. Maureen hurried off to find Will and Penny.
xxxxxxx
Judy stopped and started at the massive body of water in front of them, she could see it glinting in the light of the lantern. It was hard to tell in the darkness how far that water stretched , maybe it was only a short distance or it could be many miles. Could they even get across while it was still dark, she wondered. Once the sun came up, it would be clear to everyone where they were if they were still on the water. "There is a boat", Doctor Smith told her . There was nothing to be gained by internally debating further, they just had to try and get as far away as possible. Together they untied the craft and carefully climbed aboard. "We will have to get across the water before it is light otherwise we will be easy to spot", Judy told Smith. Doctor Smith hoped that land was not too far away. They both sat looking at each other for a long moment, "do you know how to row a boat", they said at the same time. "I do dear, but it is hard on my poor back", Smith stated with a sigh. Judy almost groaned, she heard this excuse so many times before. He used it every`time there was something difficult to do. Then Don and her father would end up doing all the work. She could not let him get away with the attitude. "Yes and on mine as well. This is another time when we need to do this together Smith, or we will not get far", Judy told him rather firmly. It seemed to work. With a look of pain on his face Doctor Simth gathered up an oar. Judy took the other one and together they began to row.
They had been rowing for only about 20 minutes when Doctor Smith let go of the oars with a groan, "my back", I have to stop, he stated. "Alright, lets have a 5 minute break" Judy told him. They sat with hands at their sides staring at each other. Judy wanted to ask a few pointed questions of the doctor and knew now was the perfect time as he could not run away. He could refuse to answer though. She took a breath, "Doctor Smith, why did you listen when Don asked you to kill him. You don't usually bother to obey anything he had to say". Doctor Smith let silence fall between them. It was an awkward question and it had an equally as difficult answer. Don would know what that answer was and that was why he had been willing to get the Major out of the way. He had seen who he really was, and that bothered him. Judy could not see it yet, though she may know by the time their adventures together ended. "I don't know", he lied. Judy looked at him like she did not believe one word. "Perhaps my back is not as sore as I thought", Smith stated as he pulled on the oars and started to row again. Judy joined him.
Atlantis jumper
Teyla sat on the floor of the jumper with Don West beside her. She still had one hand resting lightly on his leg. She had a theory that they were anchoring each other in some way, her touch had awakened him and his had saved her.
"I have a feeling that as soon as I take my hand off you will fall unconscious and find yourself back on the hive ship", she told Don. Do not worry my consciousness will not be far behind", she told Don
Don was awake of everyones stares and the particular intense gaze of Rodney McKay.
He wished the man would stop looking at him. There was something about him that reminded him of Doctor Smith. He hoped that assessment was not correct, the world did not need more than one man like Smith.
His mouth felt dry as he contemplated the task in front of him. This was not going to be easy. He braced himself
"Do it Teyla", Sheppard ordered. So Teyla lifted her hand from Don's leg. He simply folded like a house made out of cards, flopping to the floor unconscious. "Well that is one theory that was right. Now hopefully I will find his consciousness on the hive ship", Teyla remarked. She closed her eyes and stretched out her own thoughts. She soon found herself within the wraith hive ship. Instead of walking the corridors towards the main deck like she had planned, she found herself in another location. It was chillingly familar, in her worst nightmares. This was the place prisoners were taken to be suspended in web like containment until the wraith needed to feed. Ahead of her was one prisoner, a young man around 25 years of age. She tried to pull her mind away from this place by concentrating on the main corridors but found she could not. So she moved forward, through this horrible feeding ground. Rounding a corner she found Don West's presence, he was standing in front of another prisoner and seemed unable to move.
"No, she told him firmly, "do not linger here". Don just kept staring and did not move even when a wraith came and started to feed upon the prisoner.
On the floor of the jumper Don started to scream, a high pitched sound of absolute terror . The others had to put their hands over their ears. "It sounds like there is already a problem", Rodney stated unnecessarily . "Let's hope Teyla can stop him doing that or else we are in for an uncomfortable time", Sheppard told them all. He took a glance at his XO who was pale as he looked at his friend. He still needed to have a conversation with Evan about disobeying his order to draw his weapon on Major West. It seemed the more volatile Major West was not a good influence on Evan, though of course he could understand that you had to believe in and trust your friends. Still an order was an order and he hoped Lorne was not going to make a habit of disobeying.
Teyla could hear his scream in her mind. She grabbed hold of his hand, "stop it, take your mind away from here now. There is nothing you can do". "Don stayed in place, "there must be something", he challenged. "Don't you think I have tried", Teyla told him seriously letting him see the determination and sorrow on her face. "Yes I can influence them, stop them for a moment, but then their true selves just emerge again later and they feed again. I could mentally berate myself endlessly for my failures or I could use my gift to do what I can. Ultimately we need a long term solution and that it why I put my faith in Colonel Sheppard and the other Lanteans. I know it is hard but you need to come away. "
Don stayed a minute longer staring at the wraith and hearing the man's screams echo down the corridors. He really wanted to rip the wraiths head off his body, just so it might understand what its victims felt. But he could do nothing and that was frustrating as well as gut wrenching. So he gave into Teyla's pulling and let himself be led away. "That is why scream, you feel the wraith victims pain", Teyla told Don. "Yes and I am trapped by that pain and unable to move on", he acknowledged. "Perhaps the link is broken when the wraith ship moves out of range", Teyla told him. "Or I fall unconscious, because my mind can't handle the strain of being linked to that much terror", Don stated. He found it was beginning to make sense, though there was still a long way to go to understand what the hell was happening to him.
"Come this way", Teyla was leading him down a corridor. Wraith would walk past him and for a minute he would stop. 'I can feel what they do", he told Teyla. 'They have really violent thoughts . All they think about is their hunger" , he shivered. " You must learn to shut out their thoughts or they will keep crippling you." I cannot hear the wraith thoughts unless I chose to make contact. There we seem to be different." Try concentrating on me and not them", she advised . More wraith walked past and this time Don did not stop, his eyes were down on the deck of the hive ship and he refused to even look at the wraith. It seemed to help. "These ones are just workers going about average tasks for the hive. We need to find someone in command to give us the information we seek", Teyla told him.
They moved down another corridor and this time it was Teyla who stopped still, frozen by a dread as she recognised the wraith coming towards them. "It is him, the one who almost destroyed me", she told Don.
That wraith , unlike the others seemed to be staring right at them. "So you have come back", he said to Teyla, then he looked at Don, "and the other one as well". He stared at Don in an intense way and Teyla could feel the force of his mind directed toward the Major. "Block his thoughts', Teyla told him. "What thoughts", came back the surprising answer, I can't feel anything". "How come I cannot control you", the wraith growled, 'who are you, what are you". He glared for another long period throwing the full force of his mind at Don .
Yet still nothing happened."Then I have to just use you", the wraith growled turning his mind toward Teyla. She felt that pressure begin to mount again and made a choking gasp. "You will leave her alone', Don stated, grabbing Teyla firmly and holding on. Teyla found a barrier between her and the wraith. Donald West had the ability to shield both his mind and her own. Yet it was obvious he could feel some wraith thoughts.
"Reach out with you mind and find the information we seek", Teyla told Don. His mind rebelled at that because all he could see was death. He steeled himself and waded through the pain and misery that was the wraith's memories ,searching for specific knowledge."What are you doing, get out of my head", the wraith moaned. He was struggling like a fish on the hook and Don could feel how hard he fought. He was throwing every awful image of the atrocities he had committed into his mind. He should be screaming, begging for him to stop. But he could still not feel the pain. It was an odd feeling to be in control. He had to use this moment while he could. Teyla's mind went with him and the wraith's will melted away between the combined force to reveal everything.
Surfacing 10 minutes later, Teyla and Don had left the wraith unconscious on the hive ship and returned their minds to their bodies. Teyla kept her hand upon Don's shoulder, anchoring him.
"Well report", John Sheppard demanded. "We have the information you seek, plus more Sir," Don told him. "The wraith believe the people of the island planet have captured a Lantean and are awaiting his delivery on the funeral planet where you found me. They intend to extract the coordinates for Earth from that man's mind".
"There is another problem, in that their sensors have detected the Jupiter 2, and they are going to send another ship to investigate." Don found his voice trembling.
Rodney muttered, "a captured Lantean, well we know that is not one of us", he stated. "So possibly they already have a member of the Jupiter 2's crew", Sheppard stated, "they could have gotten separated somehow". He looked over at Teyla, 'the information gathering exercise seemed to achieve its aims. Though I am guessing there were some issues as Major West was screaming at one stage", he hinted.
"He has very little control and finds himself trapped by emotion. The screaming was when he witnessed the feeding process. Yet despite the fact he feels the pain of their victims, they cannot use mind control on him for some reason. He can also shield my mind with his own. So his gift is different than my own. It is powerful yet undisciplined. Even now I fear that if I take my hand away, he will fall unconscious again", Teyla remarked.
"You cannot go through the galaxy holding hands with him Teyla, we will need a long term solution". Major West you will have to try and keep your mind with us", Sheppard stated.
He wished it was really that simple. "I can feel them, it's like a thousand minds pressing into my own", Don told him. Rodney nodded, "the first time you felt them was when you left that desert planet. Everyone just made the assumption that what was happening was linked to the bite of that tentacle creature." Rodney grinned, "essentially you are a wraith detector and have amazing range, you reacted before our sensors detected the wraith". I would love to know how you make it work".
"Yeah well I love it to stop", Don remarked, he had already had enough of this conversation and wanted to get onto dealing with what they had found out. "Sir, we have two rescue missions to mount and we are still miles away from both locations. I fear that by the time we get there it maybe to late".
Sheppard nodded soberly, "I believe you are correct Major, we need to get there faster. So I think the moment has come to contact the Daedalus". We can take the jumpers on board then put together two teams".Unfortunately there are some disadvantages associated with using the Daedulus. It is hardly a discrete method, unlike the jumpers and so the wraith will take action against the ship", he warned
"I will need to go with the team that is helping the Jupiter", Don stated. He realised it sounded like he was giving his CO an order instead of the other way around. "Wherever he goes, I will also need to go", Teyla added. "Well we will sort this out on board the Daedalus", Sheppard stated firmly. He could not fault the Major for wanting to be there when his friends were rescued, but his manner was abrasive. Of course John reminded himself he had been effectively his own boss for 2 years now, so making the transition to obeying others without question was going to be difficult.
Sheppard contacted Colonel Caulwell and soon the giant form of the Daedalus appeared just a few miles away. "Wow, that is amazing", Don remarked as he stared at the ship. "Yes, she is remarkable", Sheppard acknowledged as he flew the jumper into the landing bay.
"You know those disadvantages I mentioned when using this method", Sheppard remarked, 'there is another one, Colonel Caldwell is my superior and sometimes he does not take to my plans all that well".
He figured that was giving Major West a warning not to get to mouthy with Caldwell.
Indeed Don could tell the type of officer Caldwell was just by looking at him. Colonel Sheppard gave him a brief 10 minute briefing of the events that had taken place and their current issues. "So will you need to have the infirmary available for Major West", Caldwell asked. "Since his problem is not medical, then no, I would like to use one of your labs", Rodney requested. "That's not a problem", Caldwell said. "You can take Major West with you".
Ah, thought Don, he was being sidelined already. Tred carefully now ,he told himself. "Sir", now that a good start he figured, "I was hoping to be part of the mission to retrieve the Robinsons and the Jupiter 2"."Really, Major you are not on offical duty. In addition to that a team member who could pass out at any moment can put the rest of the team at risk. Although I understand Colonel Sheppard's decision to bring you along, since you and Teyla got the coordinates of the Robinson's location from the wraith we do not need you to show us the way any longer." You can spend the time with McKay". That sounded like a clear order and he knew Calwell just expected 'yes sir' to follow. It was time to push his luck.
"If I were the Robinson's I would leave the ship and find somewhere on the planet to hide. There are several places where even the best sensors cannot penetrate, that was another reason we chose to stay on that planet. We could not hide the Jupiter in those locations, but they are suitable for people. I could lead you to those places quickly. So having me as part of the team would prove to be a tactical advantage, sir", Don stated.
Caldwell gave him a rather sour glance. "You can show us all those places on a map Major, your presence is still not necessary. Now I believe I gave you an order to go with Mc Kay."
Don stood his ground, "Yes I can show you, but you do not know the Robinson's, or they you. They are fleeing for their lives and they will not know friend from foe. They would however recognise my voice. Sir, their ability to get out of this alive will increase if I am with you. Please can I be part of the team", Don added the last bit in pleading tone. He was aware of course that Caldwell may not bother to listen to him.
"Not another one", Caldwell sighed audibly glancing at Sheppard. He looked Don up and down. Of course he was not inclined to listen to this upstart Major, yet he did raise some valid points. Just like Sheppard he had a way with words, he was also as dangerous when it came to wild plans. Still they did need every advantage they could get. "I agree Major that your presence may help the Robinson's but it will not help us. Still there is a lot of terrain to cover and your umm abilities with the wraith may be helpful. But you have to be in control. You have until we are in orbit to find a way to stop falling unconscious. That is not a long time", he warned.
Don knew that Caldwell thought that he had set an impossible goal. "Now Major I believe you have pushed your luck enough for one day. "Obey my orders now and go with McKay to the laboratory or else McKay might visit you in the brig." Ouch, thought Don, that was clear enough. He did ultimately want to be in control of his gift and he did not want to cause others harm. So following this order was definitely the sensible thing to do. This time he knew that he had to be sensible, time later maybe for the reckless bit. "Yes sir", he stated as he hurriedly followed the scientist with Teyla close behind still holding his shoulder. Beckett also went with them as a precaution. He knew the types of things McKay did often led to medical issues for others.
Don sat as far away from McKay as possible in the laboratory, which was not easy as the place was not large. "Okay lets go with what I have already worked out", Rodney told him. He would keep it as easy to understand as possible. "As I said you are a wraith sensor. That gives you the ability to know they are coming closer to your location. What you are picking up on from the wraith are essentially random thoughts. If an alien was listening to our chatter, it'd be about food, sex, entertainment, arguments, a whole lot of information and it would be overwhelming for them. Wraith of course are different, their thoughts are aggressive and your mind is rebelling. However when they directly attack you, there is some sort of defence system in place in your mind that will block that attack"' So if you regard any wraith contact as an attack you should be able to stay conscious". There thought McKay a problem that had lasted almost two years solved in just a few minutes. He felt proud of himself.
Don frowned at him, "That might be so Dr McKay but then the wraith would also sense my presence a lot earlier and any team I was with would be under attack. I believe the advantage in this gift is the wraith not knowing about it until it is too late."
Rodney stared, he had a really hated it when military personal were smarter than he anticipated.
"I believe that control is still the issue", Teyla told them. "If you practice a few times trying to draw your mind away from the wraith you may get enough control to not fall unconscious".
"Alright, I will try that", Don agreed. "You had better try it sitting down Major, falling to the floor unconscious may aggravate that head injury". Don had forgotten about that, it seemed like years ago that they had found him. He sat on the floor. "Ready", Teyla asked as she prepared to lift her hand. Of course he wasn't, but he really had no choice, so he nodded. She lifted her hand.
After 5 times of falling unconscious and no progress in being able to gain control it was Beckett who had called a halt to that experiment. He could tell by the look in West's eyes that he had a headache.
"I guess I will be stuck on this ship", Don remarked. He was probably going to be unconscious the entire time as well, because Teyla would go with Colonel Sheppard. McKay who had been muttering to himself most of the time they practiced, turned to him, "you have never actually had close contact to a wraith the entire time you have been in the pegasus galaxy", he observed. "No, I told you that", Don acknowledged, "I hate to think how bad its going to get for me when I do meet one close up. Probably my body will react in an even more violent way".
"Ah but there you are wrong", McKay stated, "you have a defence system remember and it would make sense that this system would keep you safe if the wraith were in close proximity, like on the same planet."I don't think being unconscious would be safe, so perhaps that will not happen".
Teyla nodded, "he could be right Major West". Don knew the Robinsons had kept moving because of his supposed illness, not risking staying too long in one area. They had avoided ever getting dangerously close to the wraith that way. So he had never found out what would happen if he and the wraith were actually on the same world.
"Colonel Caldwell does not seem the type who will just take your word that I will be alright if the wraith are also searching for the Robinson's on the forest planet, he's going to need evidence". How are we going to get that", Don pointed out. Teyla, took a breath, "that wraith who attacked us will still be unconscious on the hive ship". We left him in a place where he may not be discovered for hours. So if Caldwell beamed him over here, the wraith would not even know he was gone. We could test the Major's reaction".
Beckett grimaced, "who wants to ask him about that crazy plan". "Not me", Don stated, "I think he has a definite mindset that I am not to be trusted."I will ask him", Teyla stated firmly.
They listened while Teyla put forth the plan. Caldwell did naturally resist the idea of having a wraith on his ship but he was also a military man that could see the long term benefits in perhaps making use of West's abilities.
The wraith was beamed over and a whole security detail stood by to take action in case he awakened.
Don got his first close up, real life look at their enemy. The stories about vampires he had read as a child sprung into his mind. The wraith looked almost peaceful as it lay not moving in the infirmary. Don was under no illusions that this being was safe to be around, he had after all shared his memories.
He could feel Teyla's hand on his shoulder. She must be mentally bolstering him or else he would probably already be unconscious . "Do it Teyla", he told her. "I already have Major", came back the reply. It was only then that Don realised the hand on his shoulder belonged to McKay. He was standing there directly beside a wraith and felt nothing. "Well that idea works. But once the wraith leave the planet I will most likely just fall unconscious again", he told them.
"Maybe not, if we were involved in a battle your mental defence system would probably keep you conscious for that as well", McKay stated. "I would rather not test that one", Don stated. "None of us want to, but it may just come to a battle", Teyla stated. The wraith do want the coordinates to Earth badly and will die trying to overpower us".
Don swallowed, he felt like he was about to walk into a fire. "Are you going to be alright", Teyla asked him quietly. She was not asking about his physical state he knew. "I suppose so", he answered honestly. He hoped the military training he had within him surfaced and gave him some mental fortitude. Teyla accepted that answer.
Caldwell had watched the entire proceedings with the wraith on a view screen so knew that their experiment had been successful. "Alright, you have a go on your missions Major". I will let the Colonel work out the teams".
Okay thought Sheppard next problem, he needed two teams and both had to have pilots capable of using the jumpers. The ships ability to be cloaked was an advantage they could use on both missions. Ideally he also wanted two senior officers and normally that would be himself and Major Lorne. He would choose the Island planet mission for himself as it had a higher chance of being problematic. The Robinson mission could just be search and rescue . So he should put Lorne in charge of that mission. But could he work with his best friend and if necessary dampen down any wild tendencies that came into Major West's mind. It was time to have a little chat with his XO. He would make his decision after that.