CHAPTER 14 – INTERROGATION

Two of the marines managed to hoist Lorne up with no difficulties and they helped him to the gate, Terry following along behind answering Colonel Sheppard's questions and asking plenty of her own. She learned that Rodney was back in Atlantis after discovering the gate address that was immediately activated once those that had stormed Atlantis, had walked through the gate on this planet. He was taking the time, along with a large team of people from earth and Atlantis, to research the planet carefully, looking for the best way in. They were planning to strike using both the stargate and jumpers this time. Rodney had succeeded in getting a portion of the city back on line with just the one ZPM, conserving as much power as possible by only taking up necessary systems. It was not known yet whether the shield would be needed and he wanted to hold back a little of the juice just in case the shield would need to be activated. They were taking no chances.

A more thorough sweep of the base once lights were up and running revealed more personnel that had been placed in one of the north facing towers down in one of the storage rooms. Almost thirty personnel had been incarcerated down there and without lights or power, they had been unable to operate the doors to get out, or use radios. As soon as lights had started activating throughout the city they had realised that they would be able to free themselves, and had immediately contacted the control room to advise them of their position. A team had been sent down, along with a medical doctor from earth as several of those being held in the room had been injured. They had been quick to inform Colonel Sheppard via Rodney, that the men had been in that particular room looking for something. And had appeared angry when they couldn't find it, firing non kill shots at several of the personnel. It was not known what they were looking for, but as soon as Colonel Sheppard heard this he realised that the attack on Atlantis had been carefully orchestrated. ZPM's and weapons, yes. Personnel as hostages? Yes. But there was something else just as important that they had wanted. And they hadn't got it. The hostages would likely be used to trade whatever they had been searching for in that room.

"Lorne? I want you to get back to Atlantis, get that leg patched up. Captain? Go with him, get him through the gate, then get yourself into the jumper bay. We have teams ready to strike and I want you to join one of the jumpers. Copy that?" The Colonel saw that Lorne had been about to argue and silenced him with a look. "That's an order Major. You're not joining the teams. You're in no condition to go in there and offer assistance. We've brought in medical staff from earth and I want you back in fighting form. Got that?"

"Yes, sir." Evan did not look happy and as Terry took over from the two marines who had assisted Evan back to the gate, she gave Sheppard a grateful look. "Thank you sir - for the rescue. It was getting a little ... hot... out there." She allowed a small smile and a quick salute and left with Evan through the gate for Atlantis, leaving Colonel Sheppard and his marines to await the return of two teams who had gone in search of those who had ambushed them.

Evan was taken straight to the infirmary when they arrived and Terry went with him for a short time, needing to make sure that the wound was able to be patched up easily and to check on the progress of those that had been wounded and held in the north tower. He was transferred to a hospital bed and when the young doctor went away to organise suture and cleaning equipment for the wound, Terry stole a few moments to place a hand on his arm, and brush his hair back from his head. "Don't be a hero Evan. Make sure you are 100% before you get out of this damn bed. You don't want that leg healing wrong and having problems later. There's a good contingent of soldiers here now who'll get them back."

"I don't want you out there without me... " He had dropped his eyes, knowing that what he felt was wrong. She was a soldier, as well trained and experienced as he was and could hold her own in any situation. She had proved that. But he looked at her differently now. Not as a soldier. As his woman. And knowing that she was going into battle without him scared the crap out of him, and embarassed as he was to let her know this, he couldn't hide it from her either.

"I want you with me too. I feel safer when I know you've got my back. But you have to trust me Evan. There's a part of me that wants to stay right here with you, and just sit here beside you, make sure you're ok. But that other part of me, that part that spent years training? That needs me to be out there fighting to get our team mates back. I have two instincts to follow now. My heart... and my gut. Two quite distinct feelings, and I feel like I'm being pulled in two directions."

"I know sweetheart... me too. Just come back safe - ok? And if I can get patched up quickly and get clearance from the med staff... I'll be there and watching your back. As I'm meant to..."

"Evan...!" She increased the pressure on his arm as though he was about to physically remove himself from the bed.

"Ok,ok... I know how to follow orders. Colonel Sheppard's one's anyway! But I hate being stuck in here. I want to be out there!"

"Get better, Evan - and you will." She bent down and gave him a soft kiss on the lips, unmindful of who was watching. It didn't matter. She had to leave him and wouldn't do so without letting him know how she felt. He increased the pressure on her lips and reaching up a hand he hooked it behind her neck to pull her down closer.

"Mmmm...ok, so that'll hold me... for a little while."

Smiling at him she attempted to extricate herself and gave him a quick wave before she left to go and see the doctor. Checking the status of the other patients that had been brought up from the north tower she mentally filed away the information and went down to her quarters to change quickly, before meeting the other teams in the jumper bay as requested.

Ronon had returned from offworld along with Sheppard and the remainder of the teams. They had managed to capture two of the men involved in the ambush on Lorne and Terry and had taken them down to the cells for questioning. Ronon halted her progress before she moved toward one of the jumpers.

"Masters? Got someone down below who I want you to meet. Sheppard wants you in on the interogation." His eyes were hard but she did not find the big man in any way intimidating.

"Fine Ronon. Now?" He nodded and simply moved out of the jumper bay assuming that she would follow. She did, casting a quick glance at the teams asembling behind her. She knew she'd rather be joining them, but a chance to sit in on an interogation was something she wasn't about to turn down either. She had sat in on several in Afghanistan, and had been trained to withstand interrogation herself - more or less. But she wanted to find out what these men knew and if anyone could get that information from them, Ronon would be the one to do it.

They had been beaten already, and once she arrived down in the cell area behind Ronon she had to school her features not to show any outward sign that what had been done to them affected her in any way. She told herself that these were the men who had shot Evan and were the reason he was up in the infirmary now, and that thought alone had her hand fisting at her side, and a hard expression come into her eyes. Ronon nodded at her approvingly, having watched the transformation from woman to soldier and knew that she would handle what he was about to dish out.

They recognised her immediately - both as the woman who they had attempted to pin down on that hot desert planet and as the woman whom had caused their leader to be shot and killed a week ago when he had attempted to rape her. She did not recognise them, but saw the recognition come into their eyes when they looked at her and felt her skin crawl as their eyes slid suggestively over her, making her want to pull her top down to cover non existent flesh that had been exposed. This made her instantly angry and defensive and she snapped at Ronon. "Let me in there first."

Ronon raised an eyebrow, had seen the look that passed between them and while he understood her reasons for wanting to do this, he did question whether it was the right thing to do. She was letting emotion colour her reactions and taking a moment to consider whether or not it was in her best interests to go into the cell and commence the interogration, he found himself verbally agreeing and hoping that he would not regret it.

She pulled herself up straight, holding her head high and hardening her expression, showing no outward fear or emotion. Blank features now carefully in place, she stepped into the cell that Ronon held open for her, and noting that he rested almost negligently against the doorframe, she knew that this was an outward appearance only. His hand rested lightly on his energy weapon and his body was coiled ready to spring. She recognised the shuttered energy and knew that he would have her back if these men managed to get the upper hand.

She didn't give the first man time to speak. Executing a high kick, she connected with his jaw, hearing it snap and watching dispassionately as he fell backwards against the bars, eyes spitting both fury and pain. "Bitch..." he managed to ground this out through his damaged jaw and came at her. Ronon straightened instantly and she waved him back, already in position to take his offensive, to bring up a hard fist to connect immediately with the broken jaw. The man fell back, howling in pain now and Terry stood back, allowing the adrenalin to settle slightly and the part that she kept firmly pushed down, the compassionate side - to emerge slightly and feel somewhat sickened at what she had just done. A soldier did not always find the killing, the maiming and the disfiguring as easy as one imagined they did. Once the implications set in, it was sickening, against human nature to harm another person, no matter whether that person had first harmed you or someone you loved.

Ronon moved in now, assuming that she had proved her point and wanting to get the information he needed. The second man had immediately backed away. He did not look at Terry in the same way that the first man had, and Ronon could tell that there was a measure of respect now for what she had done. "Ok, so that was the warm up gentlemen. Time for the main event." Terry had to stifle a smile. It seemed that Ronon had been around the earth people too long, namely one Colonel Sheppard as his speech would have seemed more at home in a military situation on earth, rather than out here in the Pegasus galaxy. Terry was, however, quick to push back her smile. He exuded a strength that had the two men instantly falling back as he stalked toward him, and Terry herself almost held her breath as he stopped just in front of the second man, and stood towering over him, hand resting somewhat negligently on the butt of his weapon.

"I could do this the hard way, and damn - I'd have more fun than you while I did it. Or we can go for easy. You can tell me what I want to know. Why are you here? What do you want in Atlantis? And where are our people? Simple. Answer my questions - you live. Refuse to answer? Two things happen. I set my lady friend on to you - seems you managed to put a bullet into her boss. Not a good thing to do. As you may have already worked out, she knows how to fight. Whe she's finished with you, my turn. I don't play by any set of rules - once the game begins. Just so you know."

Terry felt it in the pit of her stomach. Fear. He inspired that in her even though it wasn't directed her way. He said it matter-of-factly, calmly - no inflection in his voice at all. Simply stating a fact. But they were cut from the same cloth. Ronon and these men. Trained killers with one distinction. No fear. Ronon didn't give her the chance - he went straight for number two and she had seen by the way his hand continually flexed that it was do or die. He led with his fists and before long they were bloodied and bleeding on the floor and Terry had had to turn away. She could stomach a lot, but that was brutality and beyond her ability to watch for a long period of time.

Terry had been standing back a little, leaning against the bars of the cell and stepped forward now, intent on stopping Ronon from further brutality. "Ready to talk? Just you and me... I can get this man to stand down, take a break - if you agree to talk to me. Otherwise, it doesn't look as though he's going to tire anytime soon. What do you say?"

The man whose jaw was not already broken, rolled to his feet, lurching a little from the beating he had taken. "I'll talk to you. Call him off - now. I'll only talk to you. He leaves."

She looked back at Ronon, whose eyes were fixed unerringly on the man. "I'm not leaving her alone with you."

"Ronon. It's ok. I'll be fine. Let me talk to him - I'll see what I can get out of him." She placed her hand on Ronon's arm, feeling the strength and power in the coiled muscles. His eyes flickered down immediately to her small hand and looked back up to her. "Can't do it Captain. Lorne would tear me apart."

She huffed out a laugh. "Really Ronon? I'll make sure and pass that on to the Major. He'll get a laugh out of that one... but not the point. The point? You're out of here so I can get some information out of this useless pile of crap."

Ronon pushed past her and brought himself nose to nose with the man who had spoken. "You lay one hand on her and you'll find your insides on the floor faster than you can blink. Got that?"

The man did not comment, just looked the big man in the eye, but nodded once. Satisfied, Ronon turned and left the cell, but not before giving Terry a hard look. "You need me, just yell. I'm just out that door. Ok?"

She just nodded, her eyes intent now on the man in the cell. "So, you wanna talk? I'm all ears."

"You're the one responsible for getting my boss killed? When he grabbed you from the settlement, I was there. I saw him take you. I knew what he would try and do to you."

"So? That makes you some kind of big man, some kind of hero? You let him take me knowing what he intended to do? And now you expect some sort of leniency from me?" Terry showed anger when she would have preferred to keep it pushed down and in control.

"He was a hard man. But we respected him, and like your own superior officer, we would have followed him to where he wanted us to go. And what he wanted us to do."

"And now begs the question. What did he want you to do? You're here now, because of some plan he put in motion before he was killed? Or do you seek retribution for what was done to him?"

Restless now, Terry stalked around him, far smaller in statue but with the easy grace of a tiger, she immediately gained his respect as well as something else. She read desire in her eyes now and wondered briefly if she could use it to her advantage to get the information from him that way.

Glancing down at the second man, she saw that he was still unconcious and a look at the doorway showed that Ronon was keeping his word and was on the other side of the door. Out of earshot.

"We needed the cells that powered the city..."

"ZPM's... yeah, got that... but what were you looking for in the lower storage area. Or at least, the men that came through and took our personnel. What is down there that you need...?" She had sidled closer and now risked an entirely feminine move, one that had her shuddering inside. She ran a finger down his arm, lightly and watched his eyes as they darkened and followed the trail her finger had made. He licked his lips and dragged his eyes up to hers, trying to read what was there. She kept them neutral, not wanting him to see the revulsion she really felt and not able to inject the necessary desire into them. She would have to rely on touch.

"The people we work for. They want one of your ancient devices. A portal. It has been said that the Lantien's have found a way to move between time and dimension. That is what those people seek. We are simply following instructions."

Terry continued to slowly circle the man, her brain in a turmoil. The portal, she thought, They're talking about the portal where Gina came through, where Colonel Sheppard went back to 1962,where the girl, Carlie – crossed from another dimension. They think it is a stand alone device. The have no idea the main portal is situated on another planet and is only usable by someone with the ancient gene. Such as Colonel Sheppard... crap... wait til the Colonel finds out what they are after! I bet if they realised that they held someone who could cross between dimensions and time... Gina... oh God...

The man had reached out a hand, and immersed in her thoughts she had allowed him to run a hand down her hair, softly as though caressing, and by the time his hand had worked around the back of her neck he was pulled her towards him and she managed to snap out of her reverie to begin pulling away. She heard a shout behind her and turning abruptly, she felt his hand slide down and band across her stomach, not hard, but sensually and she stared in shock at Evan Lorne who had come crashing into the cell area with a bemused Ronon behind him.

"Captain Masters! What the hell do you think you are doing. Get the hell out of there - now!" His face was like thunder and his voice dripped anger that had Ronon casting concerned glances between the two of them.

"Major.. sir? What are you doing out of the infirmary? And with all due respect.. sir. I was handling this."

"Looks like your idea of 'handling' is a little different than mine Captain. Stand down now."

"Sir? I have the information I was after. Ronon? I know what they want and we need to get to Colonel Sheppard. ASAP."

Without responding to Major Lorne again, she moved back toward the man. "Where are they keeping them? The Lantien personnel. I need to know. We need to know!"

He looked down at her, and his eyes flickered upward then to rest on Lorne and Terry watched as they narrowed. Damn, she thought. He's picked up something between us. Evan came in here on his damn white charger and there was something in his eyes. He'll never help me now. She turned and looking back at Evan, tried to silence him with a look, then grabbing both hands of the man she looked up at him beseechingly.

"Tell me! Where did you take them?"

Still looking down at her he turned her hands over in his own and didn't look at the other two men standing outside the cell, weapons ready and twin looks of anger on their faces.

"I'll take you. But only you. I'll not hurt you, that I can promise you."

Lorne's voice was cold. "Not gonna happen buddy. She stays here."

Terry's eyes mirrored his as she shot a glance his way. Keeping her expression cool and any emotion out of it she nodded at the man.

"I'll go with you. Take me to them and you have to give me your word that I can bring them home."

"I'll arrange their release if you come with me. And tell me where to find the portal. That's all we want. We have the power cells and we have your weapons. We'll come to some sort of negotiation if necessary but I need to confer with my superior officers. I can't make that call. But I want you with me. That is not negotiable."

Terry did not give Lorne or Ronon a chance to say anything, she simply turned and led him out of the cell, and the look she gave the two men as she passed them was clear. Let me go and take care of this. I'll get them home. There's more to this than you know. Trust me...