Sorry for the posting delay, but RL has been a bear, plus I went to Chicago to see Joe and his backup singers, the Doctors! Thanks to all of you that have favorite / followed / reviewed my story. It means a lot. Remember, if there is ever a time that you have something to say, but don't want to post it in a review, send me a PM. I won't bite (much). Enjoy!
Prior to the secondary festivities was the presentation of the gifts and blessings. Because of the nature of some of the gifts, it had been decided to hold the event on the North Pier. A gazebo had been erected to keep the newlyweds comfortable since they had to be present for the entire day with the only exceptions being occasional breaks. A table at the back of the gazebo held items that the couple had been gifted with. The event had started shortly after sunrise with blessings from several of their allies meant to ensure long life, happiness and fertility, although as one attendee remarked, the last was already obvious.
John stifled a yawn as he glanced over at the schedule. After the delegation from Manaria, next up was the group from Dolor. The delegation from Dolor consisted of their leader, Chieftain Hotan, their spiritual leader Ramsus and two bodyguards who were also assisting in the rite. The rite, as it had been explained, consisted of Hotan saying a few words then Ramsus blessing them before several cages of near-parrots were released. John and Teyla were to kneel before Ramsus while he blessed them before they released the birds.
The Manarians left the podium a few minutes later. While they waited on the Dolorians, John and Teyla slipped into the ceremonial mantles that had been brought for them. Chieftain Hotan made his way to the podium, accompanied by the other three men. He made his speech, telling how the Lanteans, and especially John and Teyla, had helped his world and wishing the couple many blessings. After he finished, Ramsus moved into place.
John helped Teyla up from their nest of cushions and walked to the prescribed point.
"Who approaches seeking the blessings of the Ancestors?" Ramsus intoned with a shake from a feathered rattle.
"We do, oh divine one." Teyla replied. It was a good thing most of the responses were hers because John would've had a hard time keeping a straight face.
"Approach, children, so that the Ancestors may see you."
John and Teyla paced closer and kneeled on the pillows placed nearby. Ramsus started his blessing chant. The couple made the appropriate responses. At the end of the blessing, Ramsus helped them stand and observed as they went to the cages. Teyla opened the first one, John the second, alternating with each successive cage. John opened the last cage and frowned when nothing flew out. Each of the other cages had held a mated pair of the colorful maktaw birds. John shook the cage gently, in case the birds were asleep or scared to come out. When that produced no response, he knelt down to peer inside. No sooner had his knee touched the deck when he caught movement inside. Shaking it again, he called out to the birds.
"Hey, love birds, time to come out." He spotted movement again just before something lunged at him. He had no time to react as a huge Iratus bug latched on to his neck, knocking him backwards. The pain was excruciating, worse than he remembered it. He heard himself scream as the bug started to feed. Then the world went black in a wash of pain.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Rodney was in his lab, working on some of his projects. He had decided to skip the "Day of Blessings", as one of his more intelligent minions had called it. He had no desire to sit in the sun and listen to a bunch of speeches from barely literate natives that still believed their worlds were flat. He glanced up from berating one of his minions to see Ronon lounging in his doorway, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
"Next time, follow proper procedure and check your figures before you bring it to me. I don't have time to correct math that looks like it was done by a child! My niece could do better and she's seven!" He thrust the offensive report back to the scientist that had turned it in and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Honestly, Madison can do better work – I've seen it. Hell, Sheppard can do better doped on pain killers and suffering from a concussion."
He tossed his lab coat over a chair as he headed for the door. "How are our illustrious leader and Teyla enjoying their Day of Blessings?"
Ronon chuckled at the term. It was highly appropriate for the day of rituals and blessings that the couple was enduring. "The Dolorians were up next last time I checked on them."
"Oh, god, I hope someone timed Hotan's speech, otherwise they could grow old waiting on him to finish."
Ronon opened his mouth to retort when a scream rang out. Ronon didn't immediately recognize it, but Rodney did even as he bent over, covering his ears to muffle the sound. Sheppard's scream cut off abruptly, sending both men running for the pier. It was only later that both realized that there was no way they could have heard a scream from that far away.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Day of Blessings dawned bright and clear, but not too hot. Carson decided to enjoy the day and actually get to see some of the persons and rituals that he'd only heard or read about. As he strolled around the deck, he admired the native dress of the delegations. He'd arrived part way through the Manarian blessing and decided to stay for the Dolorian. He listened to the ritual blessing, noticing that it sounded like a marriage ceremony. He figured it probably was and that John and Teyla were married according to the customs of eight different worlds.
The beauty of the maktaws reminded him of some of the fancier pictures of firebirds that he'd seen. When John opened the last cage and nothing flew out, he noticed many of the audience craning their necks as they tried to figure out what was wrong. From his vantage point on the upper deck, Carson could see John as he knelt to peer into the cage. Seeing his friend reach in, presumably to coax out whatever was in there, he got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that blossomed into outright fear and anger as he watched John fall back, a flash of black and orange visible on his neck.
He was already in motion, calling for the medical crew on station nearby, by the time John passed out. Just as he was several feet away John started convulsing. Teyla, O'Neill and Carter were holding him down so he didn't injure himself further. Lorne, Stackhouse, Caldwell and several other soldiers had formed a cordon to keep the bystanders back. Hotan and Ramsus were under guard off to one side with their assistants.
Thumping to the ground at his friend's side, Carson noted the swelling and that John's lips were already turning blue as he gasped for a breath that he couldn't get. Without looking up, Carson held out a hand. "I need an Epi-pen – now."
Teyla straightened enough that she could pull one out of the pocket of her capris. She always carried one for Rodney. John did as well, but hers was easier to get to.
Carson snatched it, popped the cap and jabbed it into John's leg, briskly rubbing the area after removing the pen. John sucked in a breath of air, but Carson knew it was only temporary. "That'll help, but we need to get yon ugly wee beastie off."
"Can't we just cut it off?" Ronon asked as he appeared in their midst.
Carson grabbed a bag from the med team and pulled out an intubation kit. "Ronon, hold his head still. I need to put in an airway while the swelling is down or he'll suffocate afore we can do anything."
In a moment of what her Earth friends called déjà vu, Teyla shook her head as she watched Carson maneuver around the Iratus bug to perform the procedure. "No, Ronon. Any attempt to injure the creature just causes it to feed more deeply."
Carson looked at her, thoughts forming behind his brilliant blue eyes. "I have an idea, but I need him in the infirmary afore I try it."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Brody looked on the scene with satisfaction. He saw Cordelia smile as Sheppard screamed. Now Sheppard would pay for what he did to his sister.