CHAPTER 11: Fading Like Stars

Lives were fading like the stars of dawn. Unlike those stars, however, those lives would not return at dusk. The forest fire was beyond control by now, as choking dirty gray clouds of smoke rose into the blue sky above. A thin hazy layer of gray lingered beneath the forest canopy, casting an ominous presence upon an already unsettled land.

The living population of Herac was dwindling. Had the team known the current standings upon arrival, they would have found it steady at a pathetic three hundred. That number was dropping faster that the sun's position in the sky.

The saddest part was they were once a thriving population of well over a million. What had happened to these people since the Ancients left the Pegasus Galaxy? How could one society, seemingly untouched by the Wraith, diminish so drastically?

-------o-------

For the past hour, Teyla had been slowly tracking through the underbrush alongside the shore. It was safer under the cover of the foliage, she discovered. She stood out like the contrasting black of the rock against the fine white sand mingling with it on the beach.

There were three men stalking her silently. She knew of their presence for some time now. Determined, she prepared herself for the imminent attack. There was no way she was going to fail in her mission to return to her teammates. Not on this day.

-------o-------

"Come down you cowards." Ronon called through gritted teeth to the three crazies perched in the tree. His piercing gaze frightened them, and they dared not make a move. Except staying still had always been a challenge for them. So when one twitched, Ronon jerked, faking a move to come after them.

One crazy none too eloquently crashed down onto the lower branches, scrambling for purchase. Wide eyes stared back. A satisfying smile spread across the Satedan's split lips.

"Take me to Rodney and I promise not to kill you." Ronon demanded, taking on a more serious expression. He couldn't promise not to harm them, but he refrained from reassuring them into false ease. Ronon wasn't known for his patience, after all. And these crazies were trying it to the very end.

Ronon sniffed in frustration and churned his lips before finally muttering, "Please."

-------o-------

"Death." Risha stated in a saddened voice of acceptance, her eyes focused downward.

Risha was huddled into the smallest form she could make her body, her arms wrapped tightly around her folded legs. Unshed tears rimmed her expressive eyes as she rose her face to regain eye contact with Rodney.

"What? Where? Who? Is Sheppard okay?" Rodney's heart slammed into his ribcage with alarm. He struggled to stand but found weakness still prevailed. Instead, he edged closer to Risha, noting her cautious reaction as he closed in on her personal space. "Please, just tell me what you know." He begged unlike he had ever begged before.

"White sand. Black rock. Night sky." Risha rattled off in an almost preoccupied voice and slowly enunciating each of the following words: "Ancient touch."

This stilled one Dr. Rodney McKay. Like reading off a recipe handed down through generations and generations, Risha had listed the very ingredients (however abstract in terms) that comprised of one ZedPM. The thought process of this woman was as complicated and fleeting as that of a schizophrenic. Speechless, Rodney couldn't respond.

"They come for me now." Her eyes fell once more upon the dirt beneath her bare feet. Despair plagued her beautiful features and for once, Rodney realized it was an opportune moment to reassure this strange woman in the only way he knew best.

"Not if I have anything to do with it." He puffed an air of superiority and feigned confidence, breaking out a small smile. "I'm a genius after all."

Risha peered at him timidly, a small smile of her own forming upon her lips.

-------o------

Roshan had been quite busy, and lucid, for that matter. Skillfully avoiding the majority of the massive fire plaguing their land, he was currently tracking down the remaining survivors of the plantations. He knew he would have little luck. From the body count thus far, nearly all lives had been claimed. It saddened his heart, but he knew there was nothing he could have done.

After all, his main focus was to protect Risha, no matter what the cost. It had been his purpose since the two of them had learned to walk. Risha, on that note, had been crippled from birth, thus walking had been forever a challenge. But he never saw it that way: her flaw was a blessing and it would serve its purpose some day. He taught her to walk in her own way and to see things that others did not see. Roshan and Risha had always been a team. Nothing would separate them, he promised her. Not even death.

As he stepped soundlessly through the underbrush, he saw a flash of white cloth. He needed no further confirmation: it was a governor. There were probably three left, by his count if none yet remained somewhere beyond the canopy of the jungle. This one, he knew was seeking something very precious, very rare. Risha.

The governor was covered in black soot, sweat pouring down his reddened face in streams, his white robe stained with a myriad of colors…the most disturbing being red. The man would pause every so often, his dark eyes scanning the forest, the haze of the nearby fires hampering his efforts to see potential danger.

Roshan stole a few steps closer to the man's position. This governor would not accomplish his task. He would not allow it.

-------o-------

The first blow struck just below the back of her left knee. She stumbled, but in her years of training, she had grown accustomed to the unexpected. Instantly reacting, Teyla used the shift in balance to swing around and strike the stunned offender across his back.

However, there was more than one offender in her midst. The second struck her across the shoulder blades causing her to arch against the pain. The third offender seized her distraction by striking her across one cheek. The force of the blow caused her to stumble, turning toward the man behind her.

Sheer determination and skill became her savior as she quickly recovered. Teyla struck out at those attacking her utilizing her small size and agility. A spinning kick wrapped the first man around the trunk of a nearby tree. A loud crack could be heard as the man tumbled to the ground unconscious. As she completed the kick, she wrapped an arm around the second man, securing a head lock on him while making a fluid motion towards the third with her free elbow. Her blow planted firmly on the third man's nose, sending him stumbling backwards in alarm as blood flowed freely. The second man within her grasp choked and sputtered for air but she refused to let go. His arms swung wildly for purchase and he kicked at her. Teyla tightened her grip and with a sudden unexpected amount of strength, she shoved him towards the third man, sending both tumbling to the ground.

Breathing hard, strands of unruly hair in her eyes, Teyla wiped the sweat pouring down her flustered face. She narrowed her dangerous gaze down upon the two men struggling to untangle themselves.

She had seen these men before. They wore nothing above the waist, their feet bare. Contoured muscles framed their bodies. They were fighters: the same men that had attacked Ronon and the Colonel.

Like the whisper of a breeze, Teyla disappeared into the forest, racing to reunite with her teammates before she too became victim to the horrors of the day.

-------o-------

"Arghhhhh." Ronon grimaced. After five minutes of staring at his bloody left leg, willing it to move, he finally got his wish. Painful as it was, it was a hell of a lot better than remaining immobile. That was the ultimate torture, in Ronon's eyes: to be utterly helpless and dependent upon others. Not his style. Never was.

The crazies in the tree simply watched him in their odd existence, twitching with the leaves in the wind, muttering to one another. Roshan must've ordered them to keep an eye on the Satedan. Or so, at least that's what he thought Teyla said to him as he was wakening and she took off along the shore so many hours ago.

Where was she? Was she all right? Ronon smiled. Of course she was. He would never admit it, but more than once he left their practice sessions a little worse for wear. That woman could hit.

Ronon decided it was time to practice what Teyla preached. He wasn't going to let a little pain get in the way of finding his teammates and shielding them from harm. Tensing the aching muscles in his right leg, he suddenly bent his knee, sending a twinge of pain racing up his body. Scrunching his face tight, Ronon shifted and tested the muscles of his left leg, repeating the same process over in the same sudden manner. It was pure agony yet wonderfully satisfying at the same time. He was making progress.

-------o-------

Her eyes, one green, one blue, were softer than the sky and sea. Rodney found himself lost in them for only a moment. For the first time, she was allowing him to see the very raw nature of her being and her vulnerability. For everything in the universe, Rodney began to feel an overpowering will to protect this woman at all costs. It puzzled him and awed him all at once.

"They're coming aren't they?" Rodney confirmed, watching as Risha slowly nodded, her lower lip trembling.

"Why do they want to hurt you, Risha?"

She said nothing. Only stared deep into his eyes, making him even more aware of the need to protect her.

"We were strong once. Many lives. The skies and the rocks and the trees crashed together. Then came the poison. Many lives went away. Governors controlled our fates. Fed the fighters poison. Fighters went away too, when no poison remained. Governors made more. Wraith came first time. Second time never again. They died from us." The words spilled from her mouth in a rush, her eyes tearing and her lower lip trembling even more.

Rodney stared in stunned silence, his mouth hung agape.

"The wraith. Th…they're allergic to you?"

Risha nodded once in confirmation. A chill ran down Rodney's spine. The one weakness of the Wraith was as deadly to them as it was to humans. Things quickly pieced together for Rodney.

"Let me just…get this straight. A poison of some kind…from what you're describing…it must've polluted the water. That's why we're not supposed to drink it, isn't it? Maybe it was a combination of things, some type of chemical released into the water during some natural disaster. I'm guessing you lost a lot of people initially. And the effects were probably quite desirable if the Governors preserved it and gave it to the fighters. Probably exhibits some kind of properties that boost strength and stamina. And then the wraith came and found out you guys never really tasted that great to begin with. Perfect. We just found the cure to Wraith only it has the potential to kill us too. What else is new?!" Rodney drew in a breath after his long tirade, his face reddening from the lack of oxygen. Risha tilted her head at him, peering at him in wonder as he pieced together the mystery. For the moment, she seemed to have calmed down.

"Risha. What exactly does this poison do? Sheppard isn't going to die, is he?" Rodney asked, sudden alarm spreading across his features. He did not like the look in her eyes as response. It was a look of despair and regret.

"We can stop this. You have to help me. Please Risha." Rodney begged.

Her eyes shifted to something beyond Rodney and a small smile threatened to lift her frown. Rodney shifted to see what she was looking at and let out a small yelp.

Ronon stood before them, or rather rested upon a tree, out of breath. He smiled at them with his usual charm. Three crazies stood slightly behind him, fearful, yet in awe of the giant standing tall before them. Ronon had dragged himself from the shore to Risha's cove, tracking the way on his own as the crazies followed in wonder. Now, as he rested against the trunk of a tall spindly tree, he was thankful of his years as a Runner. Stamina and determination had gotten him here. And sheer stubbornness.

"What've I missed?" He quirked.

-------o-------

Things were clearer than they had ever been for Roshan. Even clearer than the darkest night sky with all the sparkling jewels he and Risha used to name. His mind was no longer cluttered like it usually was.

The governor was unaware of his approach.

Roshan wasn't much of a fighter. But he had always been clever.

The governor never had a chance.

-------o-------

The heat was almost as smothering as the smoke. Disorientation prevailed as he unsteadily trekked through the haze. His mind was numb, his body screaming from the abuse it harbored from his time on this planet. Screams of anguish and terror echoed in his mind. Paranoia clouded his mind. Someone was following him, he was sure of it.

More screams met his ears and he found himself racing forward, in hope of finding the source…in hope that he would be able to help. He crashed through the vegetation and entered into another clearing, his face showing the desperation he felt.

There was nothing there. No one. He was chasing ghosts.

Smoke entered his nostrils and he inhaled without intending. Heavy smoke entered his lungs: his eyes stung as his lungs burned. He coughed and spat. The crackle of fire brought his attention back to the forest around him. Wild tongues of flame danced in every direction. He was surrounded.

Panicked, Sheppard raced through the flames without a second thought, believing he'd find relief on the other side. No such luck. He encountered a thick wall of black smoke that sent him stumbling back towards the searing hot flames behind him. The world began to spin dizzily around him and he could no longer tell reality from hallucination. He fell as his body refused to support his weight any longer.

Slowly, he raised his eyes upwards. There amidst the fiery orange, was the one ghost that he thought had vanished for good. It stared at him, its mouth moving. Yet the only thing that met Sheppard's ears was the incredible roar of flame.

He lowered his head to the ground in defeat. Cool black soil and a fine gray dust…no…it was ash. He blinked, trying to clear his foggy mind.

Then nothing but silence and a refreshing wave of cool air that brushed gently across his bare skin.

The fire was gone, so was the smoke – but not the heat. He was insufferably hot. He was lying flat on the ground, the towering green canopy above obscured by a thick gray haze. There was nothing to meet his ears but an eerie silence.

This was his reality. His heart would race one minute, then slow to a crawl the next. His skin crawled as well, feeling clammy and slick. There was a slight tremor threatening to overtake every muscle in his body. A throbbing pain began to announce itself in his left temple. Every inch of his body felt bruised and broken.

What the hell had happened to him?

It didn't matter. Sheppard had to find his team. He rolled over onto his stomach, grunting with the effort. Digging his fingers into the dirt, he pulled himself forward, inch by inch.

-------o-------

Teyla stumbled into a clearing, gasping for air as hot sand sprayed away from her feet. She rested her hands on her knees, gathering in air until she recovered enough to stand upright.

A sound…rather out of place on this day…floated to her ears over the pounding rush of blood. Laughter. What was even more peculiar…it was Ronon's. Eyes narrowed in question, Teyla followed the sound, coming upon a thick wall of branches, vegetation, and black rock. She followed the wall until it grew thinner and the sound of babbling water became evident. Voices filtered into her ears and her heart warmed. Rodney.

She stepped around a large tree and came to face a small clearing. There were several people gathered around in a circle, huddled beneath a large cove of black rock. Ronon sat beside Rodney and Risha sat facing them. Three others, crazies as Rodney had so dubbed them, stood off to the side, watching the three on the ground with captivation.

A smile on her lips, Teyla stepped forward.

"Rodney. Ronon." She gasped. It was still a task to catch her breath in the overwhelming heaviness to the muggy air.

Her two teammates smiled and beckoned her forth. She came and cautiously sat, her eyes trained upon the others now staring at her intently.

"Teyla." Ronon gave her a nod. She returned it.

"Teyla! Thank god! Did you talk to Elizabeth? What's their ETA? Did you tell them to bring Beckett?" Rodney rattled off but Teyla brought up a hand to silence him.

"The Jumper was destroyed. Someone burned it. Therefore I was unable to contact Atlantis. And there's more: I was followed on my way back. We are not safe here. We must find the Colonel. Perhaps if we returned to the dome where there is sufficient shelter and visibility…."

"You are safe here." Risha interrupted.

Teyla shifted her gaze to the woman, who only stared back.

"Roshan!" A voice called in distress. Everyone turned to look as on of the crazies pointed to a figure emerging from the vegetation.

An ashen-faced Roshan fell to the ground beside Risha and the others, his body quaking with tremors and his skin slick with sweat. His unfocused eyes roamed lazily until they locked upon a frightened Risha.

Risha screamed a terrible shriek that had those in the vicinity covering their ears momentarily. She scrambled to her brother and grasped at him, bringing her face close to his as tears began to fall from her eyes.

Roshan's breath stuttered in his chest, causing him to draw in desperate gasps of air. His fists were clenched though he managed to cling onto one of Risha's, pulling her even closer.

"For you, dear sister." He whispered in a hoarse, pain-filled voice.

His last breath was spent. Risha released a wail, clutching her brother close to her heart and sobbing into his chest. One fist fell to the ground beside her and uncurled slightly.

Rodney and the others caught sight of a small shard of white bone. The sight of it sickened them all.

Risha stilled when she saw it.

"The poison." Risha spat bitterly. She backed away from her dead brother as if he were the very thing itself.

In a way, it was: it had tainted his body by accident. Life was cruel that way. He had meant to kill the governor by the very means used against the people of Herac. Only in the struggle, Roshan had exposed himself to the poison as well. His death was not without honor however, as he had effectively ended the governor's life with a potent dose.

Tears still streaming down her face, Risha turned to the Lanteans. An unfathomable rage hardened her once angelic features. She growled through gritted teeth.

"We must leave."

-------o-------

One last governor remained on Herac. The most dangerous of them all, it turned out. He stood in the center of the dome perched high above the peril of the forest below. The smoke from the fires now tainted the sky and the view from the dome.

This did not matter. Not anymore. This was his last day. It was the last day for all.

The governor was determined to end it now, his way. He activated the dome.

A shimmering light danced across the smooth glass, collecting to the very top. A burst of light streamed upwards, into the atmosphere and beyond where eyes could follow.

The message had been sent.

It was only a matter of time now.

There was one final thing he wished to see to personally. He left the safe confines of the dome and entered the smoky forest, heading for the shore.

He knew where the woman lived. He knew everything about her. He knew about her twin, about their water purification system. It had been his duty since his first day as governor. A duty passed down from generation to generation.

She had been the start of this. She had destroyed the people of Herac. She had to die.

-------tbc-------