Author's note: thanks for all the marvelous reviews! Now, I'm actually going to fire a warning here. Things get (if that's even possible) more intense. For all you Shepwhumpaholics, I got all depressed pushing him this far, but that's the way this scene demanded to be written. Hope it doesn't have the same effect on you. Just keep in mind that I'm all for happy(ish) endings…

Chapter 14

Tiredness overwhelmed him, made the world spin as he stumbled ahead through thinning reeds, his feet getting wet when the ground sloped off. Fighting despair cloaking him like a well worn blanket, he took a deep breath against the cold, and then dove into the river. To his surprise the water felt warm and soothing. Sore muscles unwound, making him feel all the more exhausted.

Looking over his shoulder, he noticed his pursuers fanning out to find another way across. Guess he should count himself lucky that apparently, they couldn't swim. A groan escaped his lips when he crawled out onto the bank on the other side. Nausea spun his senses, pressed against the inside of his skull and tried to find its way out through his throat. Dragging himself forward into a copse of bushes, he managed to hold down the rising sickness until finally the roaring in his ears subsided. To his dismay he heard people moving through the water with swift strokes.

Guess they can swim after all. Damn.

They were close.

Way too close.

He should move…

Shivering uncontrollably, he felt like he'd gone another round with a laser whip, cold squeezing his heart and lungs until it became an effort just to keep air inside. His limbs wouldn't cooperate, his vision narrowed and the whole world felt out of whack. This was more than the muscle relaxant herb having run its course. He managed to roll on his back to gaze up at the darkening sky. The last vestiges of blue retreating for the night had taken on a greenish tint that hadn't been there before.

Kethel had turned on the field.

That's why he felt so God damn paralyzed.

Battling a rising fear, he clenched his fists and attempted to back away from the splashing sounds and footsteps approaching him. Cramps shot through his entire body, causing him to cry out and halt his movement. Breathing hard and leaning on one elbow, he glared at the shadows crashing through the underbrush. They merged into one until Vex loomed over him. Finalla's former lover had never been the merciful kind so he didn't expect the man to start now.

Panting, John pulled his gaze away, briefly closing his eyes as exhaustion started to drag him under.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way, Sheppard," Vex said, genuinely sounding sorrowful.

"Yeah," John spoke under his breath. "Sure you are." He reached inside his shirt.

"Hunting you down was the only way to draw their attention away from Finalla," Vex continued explaining. His voice seemed to trail away, and then turned hard. "The others should be here soon."

John would have given a 'go-to-hell' retort, but his anger got flooded in the pain tearing him apart and it was all he could do to keep breathing. He winced, feeling the tight control he had over his feelings slackening and knew it was over. Looking up he met the man's harsh eyes. "Do me a favor, huh?" he whispered, not pretending to hide the weakness in his voice.

Vex looked down in surprise, at the objects in John's hand.

"Get these to McKay," John fought to keep his voice steady. "It's a way for him to know that I've…"

Reluctantly, the man took the dog tags and studied them. Gauging the danger they could pose, he stared at John for a while. Vex looked tempted to throw them away, but then he nodded in understanding.

John gave a brief nod of relief. Hearing Vex's companions coming, he allowed his head to fall back in the mud of the riverbank. He watched the men surrounding him, taking away his view of the sky. He still fought, to breathe, to live, to stay conscious even as he recognized Arlon who looked down on him in sheer hatred.

Arlon didn't need to explain his actions, his intent clear in his eyes. He ordered the others to back off.

John clenched his teeth, catching the huntsman's hard gaze.

Wordlessly Arlon activated the whip but refrained from hitting him, just watched, letting the exposure to the active ore do its job

John started to shudder and gasp for breath, his chest constricting as his limbs went numb. He felt sad, anger, despair, bitter, and enraged all at the same time. Through a haze of pain he heard a harshly shouted command, saw Arlon yanking something from Vex's hand and flip a switch. The second whip, even though it never touched him, shattered what was left of his barriers.

Emptiness exploded inside, whitened his vision. He tried to force down the overwhelming hollowed feeling, but it only grew until it pushed him inside out, pierced his skin, his skull, and his very being with laser light accuracy. Twisting on the ground, he couldn't scream, could only breathe frantically through the pain, his will shriveling until he was spent. His breathing slowed and the sky faded as the last of his energy drained away.

A wave of sadness rushed him before the unfounded feeling retreated like water from a shore. Rodney flinched, blinked and looked up to find himself on the outskirts of the trading town where he and Sheppard… where he had sighted the first bracelet. Not a purging one, but a ring of repulse, capable of driving off the Wraith. The repulse bracelets were rare and he felt a swell of pride at having made sure that soon enough scientists would be available to create them.

He staggered onwards until he heard Arlon's voice behind him, the need to go with him so strong it drove all other thoughts from his mind. In the light of predawn he turned to face his pursuers. Only two… So, why am I running away from them? I could have used their help, damn it!

"Doctor McKay!" The man he recognized as Arlon had obviously been running to catch up. As the huntsman neared, his hand had drifted to the whip, his eyes stood sharp. "You're here all by yourself?"

Rodney looked from Arlon to his companion. Vex studied him with a peculiar expression on his face. "I…" Acknowledgement teetered on his lips. There was that pain again, holding back his answer. Why the hell have I been walking on my own through the desert all night? To get to the Traveling Ring? No, that wasn't it. He lifted out a small rectangular device from his inside pocket. "I needed to get to a more populated area," he whispered.

"What is that?"

Rodney looked up at Arlon's suspicious question. "It's a locator beacon." He pointed at the greenish sky. "Once turned on, it will strengthen the purging field enough to purge anyone in range, well… anyone hiding their true potential."

"Are you telling us," the huntsman sounded incredulously. "That you carried that thing with you all along?"

Rodney nodded. "Getting to the trading town wouldn't have been as easy if you hadn't managed to split us up," he conceded, the truth momentarily blinding the sadness that refused to go away.

Vex stepped in. "Did Sheppard know you had this?"

"John? No, I…" For a second his thoughts swirled in emptiness, causing him to grope frantically for the safety of the Settlement. "I need to get to the center of town," he spoke hoarsely. Cold stole over him. The purging field urged him to hurry. "Finalla, I sent her to the Traveling Ring. If we don't stop her, she'll bring back reinforcements."

"How?" Arlon swallowed. "How do we stop her?"

Rodney couldn't help but roll his eyes. "She's an assessor. Once the locator beacon is activated, she'll get purged." His attention shot from one to the other. "Now, are we finished with the interrogation? Take your time. Atlantis has the power to blow you from the face of this planet, you know." He turned to march toward the trading town as all that he was faded in the greenish sunrise.

Merchants prepared their stalls for the morning's first buyers. Vex looked around when they walked among the stands, noticing the laughing children, the small families, some with a scientist in training in tow out to get the freshest supply of the day. Aside from the scientists, how many of them would get purged? Despite what Rodney had told them, did the beacon really distinguish between different levels of intelligence? Or did it just latch on to those who weren't as power hungry as Kethel, or as insanely cruel as Arlon?

He didn't like the way Arlon had toyed with the Lantian soldier, eliciting a slow death. Taking a life should be done quickly. This cruel act had nothing to do with ensuring the safety of the Settlement and it didn't bode well for the future of Eirulan. Although the rest of the hunt had gone their separate ways that still left Arlon and the scientist who, fully purged, was a danger to be reckoned with. Still, if he couldn't find a way to stall the activation of the locator beacon, then Finalla would become as mercilessly empty as Kethel had made McKay to be.

He shook his head.

He could not let that happen.

Rodney stopped in the middle of the marketplace his mouth watering at the smells coming from several food-stands off to the side. This early in the morning, the heavy scent of baked bread wafted over the town's center. How long had it been since he had eaten?

Right, the sooner I activate the beacon, the sooner I can eat.

He turned and pulled out the antenna from the device; its black rectangular casing looking a little like that of a remote control. Although no more than a small transmitter, the beacon carried chips of fine-tuned ore that locked onto waves with a purging frequency and strengthened them.

He lifted the device toward the sky, lowering it with a cry when fingers crushed his wrist.

Vex's dark eyes pierced into him. "Do not do this," he ordered.

The plea bunched Rodney's stomach, invoked a memory of another time, another place when those who helped him 'escape' had tried to stop him from returning to Kethel. He gritted his teeth. Vex's command clashed with the Will of the Settlement. He tried to pull his hand free, but the Eirulan, holding on tight, stepped right up to face.

"You do this, and we will all get purged," Vex continued with urgency in his voice.

"Vex," Arlon hissed, yanking the man backwards with brute force.

Rubbing his sore wrist, Rodney noticed to his dismay that people stopped to watch. Oh no, no, no. This is not good. If the crowd gets wind of the fact that a major purging is on its way, we could have a riot on our hands. He shot Arlon a panicked looked but the huntsman was too busy trying to restrain the rebelling Eirulan.

"I saw what happened to Sheppard, McKay," Vex spoke loudly, struggling free from Arlon's grip. The huntsman reached for his weapon but not before Vex managed to hurl something small and sharp in Rodney's face.

Rodney caught the metal in reflex, groping to hold on to the beacon as well.

"The way Arlon here enjoyed taking his life." Vex yelled, turning toward Arlon. "Those are the people that will be in charge, McKay. There will be no more Settlement, only those unfortunate enough to be enslaved by Kethel and his insane lust for power!"

McKay felt his eyes widen. No, I'm only doing what's best for Eirulan! He lifted the chain in his fingers, only to stumble back when Vex and Arlon simultaneously activated their whips mere inches from his body. He staggered into the middle of a group of huddled scientists with empty expressions on their faces, their owners pressing in from all sides, talking nervously amongst themselves. His anxiety rose up a notch, his eyes fluttering toward the metal in his hand.

The world around him faded out of existence.

He stared at the silvery plates.

Dog tags.

At their consequences.

John's tags.

At what he had done.

Oh God.

Something clicked, a deep burning pain connecting him to all he ever was, all he had fought for even when wearing the bracelet. The sun burning his cheeks told him inexorably that he'd left Sheppard behind… too long… too long ago. He wanted to scream but a dead feeling inside choked his words, crushing him far more efficiently than any purging bracelet could ever have done.

He blinked and took in the crowd. Children, families, purged scientists, all stared fearfully at the scene unfolding in the middle of the town square. From their frightened tones, Rodney could tell that they knew what was at stake.

"They don't know what's good for them, McKay!" Arlon yelled. "Now activate the beacon! It's what Kethel wants you to do. It's the Will of the Settlement!"

Ice stole in his veins, so cold Rodney knew that this time the purging field would kill him if he didn't obey. He gritted his teeth, clenched the tags with one hand and hit the switch on the locator beacon with the other.

Above him, the greenish sky turned red.

Tbc