Chapter 21
The Phylacos scientists were busy at the local market buying supplies when Tamrak set his master's plan into action. Much of their equipment was obsolete now, but Akalus preferred them to buy replacements only when originals completely ceased to function, keeping his credits to fund the materials required for genetic experimentation and more harvesting runs. As they rummaged through pieces traded, salvaged or undoubtedly stolen from various sources, they bartered and haggled to get the most out of the pittance Akalus granted them for such trips.
Seeing the Birajans thus engrossed, Tamrak cautiously approached them. With the device designed to provide his disguise considered fully functioning and deemed safe for his use, he wound his way through the bustling crowds to join in the activity with Akalus' minions. It was essential to the success of the plan that he got closer to the group. In doing so he hoped to isolate one of them and lure them out of sight of the others before adopting their appearance as the prince had instructed him to. He didn't relish the idea of using such technologies on himself, or anyone else for that matter, but Valkalar was not one to accept refusal. Tamrak feared his disapproval more than he did using such an unnatural means of disguise. The device he might just survive – Valkalar's wrath he would not.
Eventually, Tamrak's patience paid off. One of the Birajan's ventured further away from the group of scientists, walking into the merchant's trade centre to examine some of the larger pieces of equipment contained within the covered stall.
Tamrak followed him, staying at a slight distance until he was sure none of the others were about to follow. Fortunately, they were all heavily involved in negotiating a price for a new scanner, and didn't notice either his or their colleague's movements.
Once certain the Birajan was well out of sight of the others, Tamrak seized his chance.
Grabbing hold of the startled Birajan, he allowed the device his master had given him to scan the alarmed individual, storing data, generating a copy, then he stuck the disk to himself and allowed the image to project around him. Alarmed at looking at a perfect copy of himself, the scientist was caught off guard when Tamrak pulled a weapon and shot him square in the chest. He dropped instantly, dead before he hit the ground.
Tamrak grabbed the Birajan and dragged his lifeless body behind some stasis pods where it would be out of sight to most curious shoppers for a while. If he was lucky, it might remain undiscovered until it was time to close up for the night. He said a small prayer to the Ancestors to send his soul on its way, and to beg their forgiveness for his transgression. He had never killed anyone before, and the sight of the Birajan's lifeless lilac eyes glazing over left a deep emptiness inside him he doubted could ever be filled. Perhaps he had lost his soul. Was that the price for such a crime?
Realising he had been in the covered stall for a few minutes now, Tamrak decided to re-join the others before anyone missed him. As he straightened up, he caught sight of his reflection in the stasis pod he'd stashed the body behind, staring straight into the eyes of the scientist he'd just killed. Feeling sick somewhere so deep inside that he couldn't even identify where, Tamrak stumbled through the various items of equipment and almost fell back out into the dull light of the late evening sun.
He found the other Phylacos Birajans and hung around close by them as his new friends finalised a deal for the scanner of their choice. Finally, they reached an agreement with the vendor, credits changed hands, and the machine was crated up and ready to go.
The slightly built Birajans wrestled the box onto the back of their transporter, evidently pleased with their purchase. They babbled excitedly about its specifications, and the speed at which it purportedly worked, none of which meant anything to the bewildered and self-loathing stranger in their midst.
Tamrak remained silent, laughing along occasionally when their conversation called for it, but nothing more. He had no way of knowing how the Birajan he had replaced usually acted, so it seemed only sensible to try not to draw attention to himself.
After riding in the craft for several miles, Phylacos loomed into view. It rose from the desert landscape like a mirage…or, perhaps more accurately, a nightmare. A feeling of dread filled him as they neared the fortress. Playing a Birajan out in the wide world hadn't troubled him much. Playing a Birajan in the presence of Master Akalus was a completely different matter. He wasn't convinced she wouldn't immediately see through his façade.
Despite his reservations, Tamrak soon found himself ensconced within the walls of Phylacos.
They were met by a deployment of Kheprians once within the confines of the compound, and they thankfully took over the transfer of the new scanner to the laboratory. As he followed the other scientists to their dormitory to rest after their long trip, it occurred to Tamrak that he had no idea which bed belonged to the Birajan he had become. He watched the others milling around, realising that even if he let them all get to their beds first, there would still be more than one empty bunk.
Seeing some of the others heading through to the bathing area, he had an idea. He took off his coat and asked one of the others to throw it on his bed for him while he freshened up. Watching where the coat landed, he now knew where he should sleep. Problem solved, he continued with his plan to get clean.
Later, they would have their shift in the laboratory, and he would see, first-hand, this genetic marvel his master hungered for. Then, he would need to formulate a plan to get her out of there undetected.
oooOOOooo
That evening as the sun began to set, the rebels sat around a campfire in a new location many miles from where they'd woken that morning, and many miles further away from Phylacos. They now huddled in a dense forest, where the canopy provided ample cover from prying eyes in the sky, and frequency jammers blocked any scanners the Reliquiae might search with. Tonight, tired and fearful, they hoped it was enough to keep them all safe while they came to terms with their losses.
Juroah handed Sheppard a cup of something warm and wet, patting him on the back with a smile. He tried not to wince. His back felt raw following his collision with the rocks in the river, but he didn't want to appear ungracious since Juroah was showing him some signs of friendship.
Mishta sat on the opposite side of the camp's fire, where they both recovered from their unexpected dip. She hadn't said much to him, but that in itself was somewhat of an improvement in their relationship considering the barbed comments and insinuations he was used to. From time to time, he would catch her looking at him through the flames, but she always averted her gaze to avoid conversation. He really couldn't get the measure of her. She almost looked…coy? That had to be a mistake…or wishful thinking.
Sheppard sipped at his drink and, to his surprise, found it quite pleasant. It tasted like some kind of broth, a little salty for his taste, but not so much that he couldn't drink it. It sure as hell helped to chase the chills away.
Lansha joined him at the fire. 'Things are certainly quiet tonight after the excitement of this morning,' he said softly, warming his palms in front of the flames.
Mishta looked hugely unimpressed with his attempt at chit-chat. 'I hardly call the deaths of three members of our group "excitement",' she hissed over to him, cuddling further into the blanket she had wrapped herself in.
'But you're both well, so I'm happy,' he smiled, slapping Sheppard heartily on the back.
This time, he couldn't conceal his discomfort, hissing 'Ouch!' through gritted teeth.
Drawing back his hand, Lansha looked horrified at the sight of blood on his fingers. Because his shirt was so dark and they'd been so busy with the move, no one had realised Sheppard was bleeding.
'You're injured!' Lansha gasped, lifting the back of Sheppard's shirt without invitation. It pulled at his wounds, opening them up again.
'It's nothing,' he groaned, closing his eyes as he rode out the discomfort of Lansha's examination. 'I just took a few bumps in the water.'
He opened his eyes again and Mishta was no longer visible through the flames. It took him a moment to realise she was now behind him examining the extent of his injuries along with her brother and several others from the group who had notice the sudden flurry of activity around him. He already knew there were several gashes on his back from the rocks they'd struck in the river; he'd felt them earlier while he was alone packing Lansha's crate.
'Bring medical supplies,' Lansha ordered, his words directed at no one in particular, but sending many of the group scurrying to obey him. Soon, they had more supplies than they actually needed.
'Now, leave him in peace,' Mishta growled, her tone so threatening that Sheppard himself felt like he should leave.
Evidently, Mishta's moods had been experienced by many of those present. They soon retreated and went about their various tasks in setting up the new camp.
'Take off your shirt,' she ordered Sheppard.
He peered back over his shoulder, arching an eyebrow. Did he dare joke about that line again? Yeah, he did. 'What? Here…? Shouldn't we go somewhere…you know…more private?'
She rolled her eyes and sighed, but he could tell she was fighting away a smile. That was more than he'd gotten out of her last time. 'You saved my life out there in the river. It's our tradition that I should serve you until I repay the debt,' she explained, picking up the clean cloths and water now lying beside him.
Sheppard looked up at Juroah, who nodded to signal it was true before complaining about being hungry and wandering off toward a nearby shelter.
'Look, it's really not necessary. I'm fine,' Sheppard said, letting his shirt fall to cover his back again.
'You don't look fine,' Lansha said.
'I said, I'm fine,' he reiterated. 'It's just a couple of scratches. I've had worse.'
'Our customs say she must perform this act. Mishta herself must tend to any injuries sustained during her rescue. She will always carry the debt if you don't allow her to serve and repay you.'
He eyed her dubiously as she waited, damp cloth in hand, to clean his wounds. He wasn't sure he relished the idea of having Mishta for a nursemaid. She didn't strike him as the gentle sort. 'But you saved my life first,' he pointed out. 'You got me away from the Reliquiae. That makes us even, right?'
'They wouldn't have killed you. They need you alive,' she grunted, as if she had already mentally debated that argument and lost.
He sighed. 'All right. Get it over with, and then we're even.'
'Not until I have saved your life.'
'What?'
'That's how the obligation is settled. Until I save your life, the debt remains, and I must serve you.' The expression on her face said it all; she was also far from happy with this turn of events.
Turning his back to Mishta, he lifted his shirt to allow her to sponge his wounds clean. 'Okay…if tradition insists. Do your worst.'
She forced the shirt the rest of the way over his head, and began to tend to his injuries. And, yes, just as he expected, Mishta made a much better fighter than nurse.
'With the Wraith weapon disposed of, we will hopefully be hard to find again,' Lansha mused, sitting down beside him as his sister worked, 'because if the Reliquiae know we have you, they're sure to keep searching for you. We can only hope the pilot of that ship did not relay any important information that could identify us back to her fellow Reliquiae before we shot her down.'
'I can't believe even Marmotah could be so foolish as to fire that weapon in our camp,' Mishta muttered, dabbing harder at the scrapes on Sheppard's back. 'And then to announce to everyone who you are…it's a pity he wasn't the one to die in the attack, not his father.'
'Mishta!' Lansha gasped.
'You know every word I say is true,' she hissed back to him, dropping the cloth she had been using to clean Sheppard up in the bowl of water sitting beside him, turning the water red. He sagged a little with relief that her ministrations were over, but it turned out his relief was premature. Without warning she rubbed something cold and stinging into the worst of the gouges.
'Arggh! What the hell?' he complained, turning to the side so she couldn't reach his wounds.
'Don't be a baby,' she snapped, grabbing his shoulders and trying to square him up again. 'Let me finish.'
'Only if you promise not to take your relationship difficulties out on me!' he barked back, regretting it when he saw the change in her expression. He'd known Marmotah was a sore point for her. That had been a low blow.
'Turn around and I'll try to be gentler,' she said more softly, the wind taken out of her sails.
He did so, feeling the need to say something to ease the situation. 'I'm sorry about that…I get grouchy when I'm in pain, that's all.'
'It's fine…you're right. My mind was on other things. I wasn't taking enough care,' she replied, making him feel even worse than he already did. He wasn't sure he liked deflated Mishta. Fiery, angry Mishta was a lot more fun.
'A story we have heard too many times,' her brother muttered.
Sheppard felt her hesitate for no more than a second, then her touches became slower and lighter, as if the enthusiasm was ebbing out of her with every criticism. 'You know, where I come from there are nurses way rougher than you. You're doing a great job,' he lied, feeling guilty that he'd started this argument.
He glanced Lansha's way, noting the man's doubtful expression and slight smirk. He frowned back at him, a look designed to tell him to lay off the girl and not say what he was thinking. Lansha stayed silent, and Mishta's touch became a little livelier again. He hadn't pegged her for the insecure type, but then again, the pent-up anger she was carrying had to be hiding something.
Juroah meandered over in their direction from the other side of the campfire, chewing on some kind of root. He pulled a few more from his pocket and offered them around; Lansha accepted, but Mishta was too busy and Sheppard didn't feel the occasion was right. Stripped to the waist while having his back smeared in some kind of highly pungent ointment didn't strike him as the ideal snack time.
The older Birajan walked around behind him to examine Mishta's work. 'Nasty scratches those,' he said. 'But Mishta will soon have you better…she won't want to be doing this too many times!' He started to chuckle, Lansha grinning along with him.
Mishta was noticeably silent.
'Well if knowing I'm the one who's going to end the universe isn't enough for people to steer clear of me, the smell of that stuff she's rubbing on my back there should do the trick.'
'Ah, but it encourages tissue growth, so the isolation will be worth it,' Juroah joked, settling down on the other side of Sheppard. 'Besides, Mishta owes you her life…she'll keep you company.'
The older male chuckled, Lansha joining in this time. He wasn't laughing quite so loud when Mishta kicked him in the thigh and left him howling. Apparently, Juroah could get away with a joke like that, but not her brother.
'I won't hold you to that,' Sheppard assured her, reaching down for his shirts as she began to put away the medical supplies.
She snatched up the wet cloth that had been soaking in the water bowl and cleaned her hands as best she could on it as she picked her way to a free spot a little distance away from them. 'It's our tradition,' she shrugged, as if she was already resigned to the fact she would have to be a companion to him. 'You'll have to let me repay the favour before either of us have a choice.'
She continued to rub away at the greasy lotion covering her fingers, frowning with concentration that seemed more focused on not looking at him than genuinely examining her hands. She was embarrassed…another emotion he didn't normally associate with her.
'You know…you two should give her more respect,' he whispered to the men sitting either side of him as he carefully slid his t-shirt back on.
'Oh, she knows we mean no harm,' Juroah assured him, reclining on one elbow to enjoy the warmth.
'Does she?'
His question actually had them shooting slightly guilty looks toward one another, as if he had opened their eyes a little to the error of their ways.
'You know, if you guys wanna make a stand against Akalus, you need to keep her happy. From what I saw today, she's pretty much the most useful one out of you in the field. You really don't want to make her feel alienated. If you push her away, you lose a vital asset.'
Juroah blinked at him, and then allowed a smile to slowly spread. 'Spoken like a true warrior. You have the measure of her already.'
He looked Mishta's way just in time to see her avert her gaze from him, yet again. Until tonight, he'd thought she watched him because she didn't trust him, but the looks she was giving him tonight felt less…accusatory. 'I wouldn't say that, but I think I have a better idea of just how much of an asset she is than anyone else here does.'
And now Lansha was smiling too. 'Seems my sister is not the only one experiencing a change of heart since your meeting.'
Sheppard looked back and forth between the two of them as they began to giggle. They watched him, glassy-eyed, and Lansha did his best to stop under the strength of Sheppard's disapproving glare, only to sputter it out in an even bigger burst of laughter. Now Sheppard understood why Mishta hadn't taken the root. It was some kind of narcotic, and the two of them were now reduced to sniggering schoolboys.
'You know…it's been a long day. I might turn in for the night,' he said, making his excuses to leave.
'No…not now,' Lansha protested. 'You have so much knowledge of Phylacos you can help us make our plans to take down Akalus' little power base.'
'Hush now, Lansha,' Mishta suddenly called over from where she was brooding. 'John is tired…let him rest for one night before troubling him with anything else.'
Lansha's eyes widened. 'John?' he repeated, smirking at her.
She rolled her eyes, but Sheppard felt sure he saw a new rush of heat to her cheeks. 'Well, there's no point in worrying about using his name now, is there?' she snapped defensively.
That set them off chuckling again.
Sheppard, however, wasn't laughing. Her use of his name gave him a strange tingle that ran the full length of his spine, and he wasn't sure if it was just because someone had finally said it, or because she had said it. He licked his dry lips. 'She makes a good point,' he quipped. 'I can see who's the brains in this operation.'
The two men laughed again, only for Lansha to break off with, 'Oh, no. I am the brains…she is the muscle. Our father always told us so.'
Juroah began a little reminiscence of their father then, regaling them with a story of the first time he'd ever hunted with them. While Lansha joined in, laughing at the fond memory, Mishta looked more downcast and simply shook her head with a kind of sadness that seemed out of place. He felt bad for her, and was about to go over and try to get her talking when several snippets of conversation from the past two days clicked into place in his mind and he suddenly knew exactly what these guys had planned.
'You're gonna blow up Phylacos?'
The two men stopped laughing instantly. 'How…how do you know that?' Lansha stammered. 'Has someone spoken to you?'
'No…'cos no one here tells me a damn thing.' From the corner of his eye, he saw Mishta tense and move her right hand toward her thigh. He shot a look over her way. 'I swear to God, if you pull a gun on me, young lady, you will regret it.'
She paused, but she wasn't looking at him; she was waiting for Juroah to speak. The old Birajan, signalled a downward motion and she allowed her arm to relax again.
Sheppard looked back to Juroah. 'My people are still inside that place. If you blow it up they'll die...along with countless other innocent humans.'
That same sheepish look came across Lansha's face that he'd worn when Sheppard mentioned mounting a rescue mission shortly after they'd met. Now it made sense. Lansha had known there was no hope of a rescue. 'I appreciate you have friends imprisoned in Phylacos, but you have to understand –'
'No…you have to understand I can't let you do this!' Sheppard snapped back at him.
He knew there were extra eyes on him now, as other Birajans, drawn by his raised voice, emerged warily from their temporary shelters and headed toward the amber light of the camp fire.
'But Akalus has to be destroyed,' Lansha tried again to explain.
'So, find another way!'
'John – you have to listen. We –'
'Lansha,' Juroah warned, sobering quickly. 'It isn't wise to tell him more with the threat we face from the Reliquiae. They have ways of getting into the mind…no matter how unwilling that mind is to share its secrets.'
'But you're not planning to let me fall into Reliquiae hands, are you?' Sheppard curtly pointed out.
'No, though we can't guarantee it won't happen,' Juroah countered. Sheppard could see the conflict in him though. They wanted to trust him, but just didn't know if they should.
'So, take a risk,' he whined, frustrated by their lack of trust in him. 'Do you honestly think they'll give a crap about your plans if they get their hands on me anyway? Akalus is nothing to them.'
Mishta and Lansha exchanged a long look that suggested they were considering giving him his explanation. Juroah, however, saw them wavering, and stepped in with his own advice.
'Before this goes any further, I think we should seek Goronak's permission.'
The two hybrids nodded, and Sheppard felt compelled to accept that, once again, he would have to wait for the Founder to agree to a meeting before he had his answers. That didn't mean he had to like it.
oooOOOooo
In the Phylacos laboratory, Teyla began to stir. Her eyes fluttered, then snapped open as she found herself strapped to a bed in a place she didn't recognise. How had she got here? Where exactly was here? She'd woken every day for the past six months in the mines. This made no sense. And then the recollection of her journey here came back to her. She'd been brought to the lab by the guards from the mine, restrained, sedated and then…
She winced as she felt a pain in her side as she looked down at herself and her bonds. There was a scar on her arm, and the pain in the right side of her abdomen told her she might find another there if she were able to see it.
'Teyla?'
She'd been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't realised anyone was in the room with her. The voice was familiar, though not overly so, but she knew the face as soon as she was able to lift her head and lock eyes with her companion.
'Sergeant Mehra? How did you get here?'
'The bug dudes kidnapped me, same as you.'
And then Teyla saw the bloodstains on the sheets of Mehra's bed. 'What have they done to you?' she breathed, shocked by the sight of it.
'I'm okay,' the sergeant lied, clearly in some considerable pain. 'It looks a lot worse than it is. How about you?'
'I do not know,' she said, letting her head fall back against the table as a wave of sedative-induced dizziness overwhelmed her. 'I barely remember how I got here.'
'I met a guy who told me he'd seen you down in the mines…Ronon, too.'
'Yes,' Teyla murmured. 'Ronon was there, but I have not seen him for a while now.'
'Me and Sheppard saw him –'
Teyla was immediately alert. 'Colonel Sheppard? You've seen him?' She hadn't seen any sign of either John or Rodney since their imprisonment. The sound of his name set her heart soaring. She'd been so worried that they'd both been killed.
'Yeah…Sheppard was here…we ended up in the same cell. But he was sick…and there were these critters that took him that are apparently gonna make him better –'
'Sick?' Her heart plummeted again at those words. 'How sick?'
'I'm not gonna lie…it was bad,' she admitted. 'But those man-eating critters that came for him…Geeja said they would save him because he was important to him. They didn't kill him when they grabbed him, so I'm hoping she's right.'
Man-eating creature? Teyla's head was spinning through drowsiness and too much confusing information. 'Who is Geeja? And where did you see Ronon?'
'Sorry…I'll back it up for you. Sheppard was real sick, so Geeja, some kid who helps out around here, reckoned she knew this race of…things who could save him. Only Sheppard didn't wanna know 'cos he'd heard they ate people…I mean, like, ate them alive. But Geeja was all…no, no, no, they won't do that to you, but he didn't believe her. Anyway, next day when he's at death's door, we get taken out of the cell by one of the bug guards and told to wait on a balcony overlooking that big chamber you get dumped in when you first get here. And the man-eating freaks are there. Akalus is offering them prisoners to snack on, and that's where we saw Ronon.'
Teyla gasped. 'Then Ronon is –'
'No…sorry, no. At least I don't think so. Didn't mean to scare you. He fought his way out of there. You know what Ronon's like. Probably on the loose kicking the enemy's asses one by one as we speak, right?' She screwed up her face in pain, but soon masked it with a grin as if trying to convince Teyla things were better than they were.
Mehra's optimism despite her obvious injuries made Teyla smile for the first time in a long time, but the reality was she still had no idea where any of the other members of her team were now. 'I hope so,' she sighed, ignoring the single tear trickling from the corner of her eye.
'Hey. You up for getting out of here?' Mehra asked.
Teyla lifted her head to look at her again. 'We are both restrained. How do you plan to do that?'
'Well, they're not gonna keep me here forever. They have to take my cuffs off some time, and when they do –'
At that moment a group of Birajans turned up. One of them instantly began loading up a syringe, and Teyla got a sinking feeling in her stomach that it was meant for her.
One pushed her head back down to the table she lay on and held it still while the one with the syringe drove it into her neck.
'Hey, leave her alone! Don't put that crap into her, you little bastards,' Mehra ranted, but it was already too late. Teyla could feel her consciousness dissolving even as Mehra continued to fight and rail against the Birajans now turning their attentions to her.
oooOOOooo
Once again, Goronak granted Sheppard an audience. This time, the other remaining Founders joined him.
After the attack from the Reliquiae, they were all more than aware that there was little time left for them to put their plans into motion. Now, after a trip to Entuura, they had everything they needed to move forward.
Sheppard seated himself directly opposite the Founders, with Mishta sitting right beside him. But for once, there was no sense of malice to her presence; when he glanced at her she even offered him a quick, nervous smile. He tried to return the gesture, but he was angry and still a little unnerved by her change in mood, along with the confusing mixture of emotions he was beginning to experience toward her. He wasn't sure he pulled it off.
Lansha, perhaps using his sister as a shield against Sheppard's annoyance, sat on her other side, Juroah beside him, and behind them the rest of the rebellion gathered to hear what Goronak had to say.
From the expression on their leader's face, it seemed clear Goronak was less than impressed to be put on the spot by the human once again, especially at such a difficult time, but he patiently waited for everyone to settle, and then set the meeting running.
'Tonight, we will discuss our plans for Akalus with you all,' he began gravely. 'As you all know, he grows stronger, and less than three months remains before the event. This human and his abilities,' he gestured to Sheppard, and he felt the eyes of everyone gathered there lock onto him, 'pose a tremendous threat to life in this universe, and Akalus is aware of his existence. We can wait no longer. We have to bring this to an end now.'
For one horrible moment, Sheppard thought they might be talking about killing him, but that was not their intention. Mishta stared at him; he felt her eyes burning into the side of his face, but refused to acknowledge her. He wanted to focus on Goronak's words, and right now, whatever her intentions toward him, she was an unwanted distraction.
'Tomorrow, we move on Phylacos and destroy it.'
A whisper rippled through the gathering. Apparently, that was a frightening prospect to many gathered there.
'How will we do this?' a voice called from the rear of the tent.
'We've acquired the explosives we discussed at our last meeting. Now, we need to get someone inside Phylacos to plant and detonate them.'
'Just wait a minute!' Sheppard said, determined to make them really think about the consequences of what they planned to do. 'There are hundreds of innocent humans in that compound. What do you plan to do about them?'
'Nothing,' was Goronak's stark response.
'Nothing? You can't just kill them. You have to get them out first!' he protested, but it was apparent from the questioning expressions on their faces that they didn't understand his concern.
Only Lansha showed any sign of remorse for the decision they'd made. 'I know this must seem unjust, John -' a rumble of conversation rippled through the others as hearing his name confirmed what Marmotah had said, 'but there's no way we can get the others of your kind out safely before putting the plan into action. It just isn't possible.'
'Isn't it?' Sheppard demanded, locking eyes with the nervous hybrid. 'And exactly how much time did you spend contemplating their fate before you came up with that decision?'
'There won't be time,' Goronak explained, his voice now strident as he reasserted his hold on the discussion. 'Anyone venturing into Phylacos will be lucky to get through the doors without being detected. There's no way of saving the humans, and from what I've heard of what goes on behind the doors of that place, I would think death will be a blessing for them anyway.'
'You people have no idea what life is like inside that place,' Sheppard growled. Mishta was still staring intently at him, he could feel it. A glance at her face showed she understood something of his former suffering; the scars on his shoulders had given it away to her, probably mixed in with the horror stories she'd overheard her father sharing. She looked at him with a strange mixture of sympathy and admiration, and he suddenly felt amazingly self-conscious about how he was conducting himself. She was clearly warming to him, and he didn't want to let himself down in front of her.
Lansha, perhaps embarrassed by Sheppard's statement, now tried to placate him and soothe the disagreement. 'Though what you say might be true, Goronak, we have to acknowledge the fact these humans are innocents,' he said. Then, turning to Sheppard, he added, 'We're truly sorry that this is our only way forward. They will be afforded full funeral rites.'
That made him full-on burst out laughing. 'You're going to blow them to pieces! There won't be anything left to bury!'
'Then, we'll pray for their souls, and ask for them to be granted entrance to the eternal hereafter,' Lansha promised.
'Well, I'm sure that'll be a great comfort to them.' Sheppard glared at him, making Lansha shrink into himself. He knew Lansha meant well, and that out of everyone there, he was one of the few who understood his frustration most keenly, but he really wasn't helping matters.
'They cannot be saved,' Goronak insisted, making a sharp gesture with his hand as if to underline that statement as final. 'These humans are long dead. Only the Kheprian ships have granted them this opportunity to live on. They are out of their time line here; things must be returned to their rightful order.'
'So, send them home,' Sheppard snapped.
'It isn't that simple -'
'Get a Kheprian ship. That should make it simple.'
'We've already explained the ships are not accurate in their travels. They can only return to a set starting point, not travel to a desired destination in the past.'
'And I have a friend inside Phylacos who could probably fix that little glitch, if we get him out of there.'
Surprisingly, it was Mishta and not her brother who set a steadying hand on his arm. 'You must listen, John. Goronak speaks the truth.'
'No, he doesn't,' he said, shrugging off the gesture. 'He speaks his truth, not the truth.'
'Human, please -' Goronak interrupted.
'My name is Sheppard,' he yelled, rising to his feet despite Mishta's best efforts to stop him. 'John Sheppard. It's not a secret anymore, so show some respect and use my damn name!'
His outburst shamed them all into silence. All eyes lifted to him.
Lansha was the first to speak again. 'Even if we could persuade the Kheprians to help us, they could never return you to your homes. The potential problems of returning you when you have knowledge of the future could have dire effects.'
The news that he could never go back to his previous life struck him with the force of an express train. He stared at Lansha, his brain racing to find a way around what he had told him. 'So, the best thing you people can think of doing is killing them all?' he asked.
'It's the kindest solution. They would never be safe from predators in this region,' Goronak said, so-matter-of-fact that it took all of Sheppard's immense will power not to call him every bad word he'd ever heard, and perhaps a few new ones he could make up on the spot.
He shook his head in exasperation. 'This is the problem,' he said, more quietly now. 'You're no better than Akalus. You have no respect for humans. You treat us like we're dumb animals. We are real people. Real living, breathing, people, with families, friends, children. Maybe you think I'm just an irrational, over emotional inferior being, and maybe you're right, but how would you all feel if it was Birajans in those cells, or working in those mines, or being eaten alive in front of you?'
His aggravation now threatened to get the better of him. HIs chest heaved with the sheer effort of trying to catch his breath, his head swam, and, for the first time since being treated by the Reliquiae, he felt the signs that all was not well inside his body once more. Was it taking hold again so soon?
'Please, sit down,' Goronak said firmly.
Sheppard felt a tug on his right arm. Mishta still gripped his sleeve, trying to gently persuade him to resume his seat.
Sensing that ranting was getting him nowhere, he allowed himself to drop back down to the floor.
'I'm sorry our methods don't meet with your approval,' Goronak said, obviously struggling to keep his tone civil, 'but we are doing what we can to save the entire universe. It is no small task, and unfortunately blood will be spilled along the way…as we have already seen today.'
Sheppard wanted to say something scathing about them not caring as long as it was human blood, but he bit his tongue. Arguing was getting him nowhere. Their loss was still raw. All they wanted now was to take revenge on somebody…and Akalus was it.
'Saving the universe has to be our priority, and the only sure way to do that is to destroy Phylacos, and hopefully take Akalus down along with it. The humans will sadly be casualties of war because we have no means to get them out. So, as I was saying, we have obtained the explosives and now we must devise a way to get them in there.'
'I'll take them in,' Lansha offered.
Sheppard couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'You? I thought you felt sorry for the humans!'
'I do. I was also the one who found the means to kill them. It's my responsibility to see this plan through.'
Sheppard rubbed his temples. Lansha was the one person he'd felt was on his side, yet now he was the one offering to blow Phylacos to pieces. 'This is insane,' he muttered to himself.
'I'm not sure it would be wise to let you go,' Juroah said, finally breaking the silence he had maintained throughout the arguments. 'As you said before, you cannot pose as one of his workers, and as a Birajan/Human hybrid, you could also be of some value to Akalus. You and Mishta should stay well away from that place.'
'I could tell him I have news of John's whereabouts, and plant the explosives while I am inside.'
'And when he has heard your news he will undoubtedly kill you,' Goronak told him. 'I would prefer to try another option if possible.' The Founders muttered their agreement. 'Obviously, it would be better for a purebred Birajan to make the attempt. They would at least blend in with Akalus' Birajan workers if necessary.'
'Then, I offer my services,' Juroah said. 'I will make the attempt.'
Mishta's face fell. 'No, Juroah. You can't!'
He silenced her with a patient look, his expression telling her she shouldn't put her personal feelings above the needs of so many.
'That might work,' Lansha conceded. 'But I'm sure even the scientists will know you don't really work there, and they are all loyal to Akalus and his ambitions.'
'So, I'll appeal straight to Akalus - infiltrate through the main entrance. If he believes I am offering my services to him out of faith in his destiny, he'll have no cause to distrust me.'
'Akalus mistrusts everyone,' Mishta said. 'And he sees everything that goes on within those walls. He'll know you aren't true as soon as he meets you.'
'So, what do we suggest?' Goronak asked. 'Maybe we could create a distraction and break in during the confusion.'
'Could we get that close in large enough numbers to create a diversion?' Lansha asked. 'It would have to be something impressive to bring them out of Phylacos and leave it open for infiltration.'
Sheppard listened to them speculating, knowing more about Phylacos than any of them, and yet they didn't ask for his advice. These people were hell bent on the need to take down the facility and would stumble in there blind and get themselves killed, leaving Akalus free to go ahead and end the universe. He knew what had to happen, and without even thinking about it, he heard himself say, 'I'll go.'
All eyes fell on him once more. After a lengthy silence, he heard some nervous and slightly uncertain laughter from the Birajans gathered behind him. Goronak held up a hand to silence them, and hush descended once again. 'What did you say, Human?'
Sheppard gritted his teeth, fighting with the desire to remind the Founder of his name…again. 'I said I'll go.'
This time, no one dared to make a sound. They all waited eagerly for Goronak's response.
'You?' the Founder said, unable to contain his disbelief.
'That's what I said,' Sheppard repeated, setting his jaw.
'You will take our explosives into Palaquora?' Goronak said, as if he had to hear it again one more time before he could fully comprehend it.
'Yes.'
Goronak sat back and stared at him, incredulous. 'You can't be trusted with this,' he breathed.
Sheppard tossed him a scornful smile. 'Fine. Then, I guess your plan is as good as sunk.'
The Founder looked bewildered. He turned to his fellow Founders, who all looked equally astonished. Sheppard spoke to them as if he was their equal, and that was apparently unthinkable.
'Why do you imagine we're unable to carry out our ideas without you?' Elliah asked him.
'Because if this Akalus is anywhere near as powerful as you say, you're all going to be killed before you set one foot inside Phylacos.'
Mumbling sprang up behind him again. They discussed what he said, and for the most part, seemed to agree with him.
Mishta hushed them, her body language betraying a level of anxiety beyond that she'd displayed when her brother and Juroah had offered to make the trip. The look in her eyes silently asked him why he had volunteered, as if it was totally beyond her comprehension that he should do that.
The Founders continued to whisper among themselves. It seemed that even they were considering he'd made a valid point.
Frustrated that no one was conversing with him about his suggestion, Sheppard spoke up again. 'I'm no stranger to suicide missions. If you know I'm the Wraith Slayer you have to know that, too. I'm the only person Akalus will willingly let through the doors alive, you know it and I know it.'
Goronak temper began to fray. 'Hush, Human. We're trying to think!'
'What's there to think about?' he demanded. 'You know I'm right. I am the only one here who has any hope of getting into the facility.'
'But that puts you back in Akalus' hands!'
'Well, do you honestly think he won't come looking for me anyway? And the Reliquiae have already located me once. Don't you think they'll be mounting another operation to find me again? My being here puts you all in danger, so use me.'
The whispers behind him now sounded tinged with fear. It was only a matter of time before they came under attack again, and a future attack from the Reliquiae could have dire consequences for the male members of the camp if they came in numbers.
'Your only hope of diverting his attention from you is to hand me over. You know he'll be more than happy to take me back...and maybe he'll brag about it to the Reliquiae, too.'
What had begun as a whisper, now built to a rumble. Once again, Goronak called the meeting to order. 'Please, everyone. Stay calm,' he urged.
Sheppard stared at him until Goronak finally met his gaze. 'So, are you going to send me in or not?'
The Founder shook his head. 'You yourself said destroying Phylacos was unfair to the humans inside it-'
'And I still think it is, which is why my offer comes with conditions.'
'Conditions?' Lansha said, apparently surprised the human thought he could push Goronak so far. 'What terms can you possibly put to us that would make you consider taking on this mission?'
'Simple. I want to give the humans a chance to get out before it blows. You need to find a way to make that happen.'
Juroah and Lansha gaped at each other. Mishta's eyes remained fixed on Sheppard. 'What do you mean, give them a chance?' she asked.
'All I want is to buy a little time for them…and some way of getting the doors inside Phylacos open.'
'There's no way to do that!' Goronak insisted.
Lansha held up a finger, clearly thinking it over. 'Actually, Goronak, there might be a way.'
Goronak at least had the grace to look intrigued. 'Such as?'
'We might be able to disrupt the power in Phylacos, if only briefly,' Lansha said. 'There are many species that drink at the Lokorit Tavern, and they talk openly of the technologies they have acquired, as you know. I believe I've heard mention of such a disruption unit. Perhaps it would be possible to purchase one strong enough to block Palaquora's power from outside the perimeters.'
Sheppard struggled hard to keep a smile from his face. They were listening to him at last, and coming around to his way of thinking. He might not agree with their plan wholeheartedly, but at least this way he could give some of the human prisoners a chance to break free. With any luck, his team and Mehra would be among them.
'We do still have a lot of currency left,' Juroah added. 'It might be possible to purchase such a unit, and still leave ourselves with enough to continue funding our cause if this attempt fails.'
'If this attempt fails, we'll be in a worse position than we are now,' Goronak reminded them. 'The human will be back in Akalus' hands, and we'll have less than three months to retrieve him.'
'If it goes wrong, I'll take myself out before he gets a chance to do whatever it is he has planned,' Sheppard promised. 'We've got a least two months before we have to panic, right?'
'Why are we even considering this?' Goronak asked, almost laughing at the insanity of it. 'He's a human, and not just any human, he's The Wraith Slayer. We've all seen the writings. With him, the universe ends. He can't be trusted with a mission of this magnitude. Leaving it in his hands might be how he brings about our fall.'
But apparently, not everyone shared his mistrust. What had started as whispers of derision now swiftly changed to rumbles of support. Even the other Founders seemed to be contemplating Sheppard's proposal. They had to know he was the only one who could implement it.
Lansha took his side once again. 'The event is not due to happen for some weeks yet. We will set the explosives to go off within hours of being taken into Phylacos. If Sheppard remains inside he will die. He cannot be used to end us if he is dead.'
Goronak looked around at his gathered troops, all eager to hear his answer. He dropped his head, shaking it with a sigh. 'How soon could you acquire this disruption unit?' he asked Lansha.
'With the credits we have at our disposal, I'm sure I'll have suppliers fighting to provide whatever I ask for,' Lansha told him, his words brimming with conviction.
'So, if we said…tomorrow?' The Founder ventured.
'I'll go to the tavern tonight…if the price offered is generous, I have a feeling we could have it before sunrise,' he nodded.
Looking grave as he regarded his fellow Birajans, Goronak addressed them one last time before calling the meeting to a close. 'If we're able to activate the disrupter at Phylacos, we could potentially set free not just the complete humans, but also those incomplete wretches we've heard of. Are you all willing to live with the possible consequences of this action?'
Concerned looks were exchanged and comments muttered, but the consensus of opinion remained that, in return for Sheppard's invaluable assistance, they should help the humans and deal with the consequences if or when they arose.
'Then, it's agreed,' Goronak announced, the graveness in his tone plain to hear. 'Lansha will acquire the disrupter, and the human will take the explosives into Phylacos. We'll meet again tomorrow at sunrise to report our progress.'
They all began to file from the tent, many of them patting Sheppard on the back or squeezing his shoulder as they passed him. Each one sent pain shooting through him, but this time he could hardly feel it. In the end, only he and Goronak remained seated, their eyes locked.
Sheppard held the Founder's gaze steadily, but his insides churned, betraying his true fear. There was no way of knowing if he could get everyone out of there, but one way or another, these people meant to destroy Phylacos, and if he had to risk his life to give the humans inside a fighting chance of survival, then that was what he would do.
A/N: Hi, I'm sorry to say I'm going to have to drop down to only one chapter a week for about the next month. I run an internet business and it is crazy busy at this time of year, so I only get time to edit my chapters at a weekend, and then only one of them. I'm also really sorry I haven't replied to those people kind enough to leave a review for the last chapter. I will get to that as soon as I get a bit of free time because I rely do appreciate the feedback. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)