AN:- Didn't like to keep you waiting too long after that cliffy from yesterday so there's the next chapter. Enjoy.
Deadly Intent
Chapter 21
His mind vaguely registered that someone had deliberately forced him to lose his balance and go over. No cat involved this time and he was pretty sure it was one of his own people as there had been no other Wraith in the cavern at the time. However, John really didn't have time to consider that as he tumbled down into the unknown. It was unlikely to matter anyway as his chances of survival were pretty slim. No doubt a hard and rocky landing awaited him this time around. Death would be instant.
Although it had probably only been a matter of seconds since he'd gone over, it seemed as if time was passing slowly during his never-ending plunge. Also the deeper he fell the more his velocity seemed to slow down a little instead of speeding up. Although, he was still hurtling downwards into the unknown there was a definite resistance, quite a powerful one at that. It felt like falling into a thick soup. Somehow it just didn't seem normal. Would it be enough to save him though? John didn't think so because his rate of descent was still quite high.
It was fairly dark, but he could just make out the sheer rocky walls of the crevice. They began to look wet and kind of glittery. Thinking the end couldn't be that far off now, John wanted his last thoughts to be of Teyla and the children and not the strange environment that now surrounded him. Sad with the knowledge that he would never see them again, he asked them to forgive him.
Then suddenly with a jarring jolt, he hit turbulent, cold water instead of the solid rock John had expected. It still came as a terrible shock. Automatically gasping for air, he swallowed far too much water as he was thrown about like clothes in a washing machine. For the next few minutes, he fought hard to get his bearings. To fully comprehend what was happening to him and to find enough air to breathe as his lungs screamed for more. At the very last moment, he suddenly broke surface amid a torrent of rushing water. He desperately panted for more air before the current pushed him back under again.
This time, however, he had his bearings and managed to resurface fairly quickly. Despite that, it was a struggle to stay afloat as he was pushed along into the unknown. Luckily, he felt no pain as he kicked his legs in a desperate bid to tread the water. He'd been more or less straight when he'd hit the water, so the impact hadn't been as hard as it could have been. Otherwise, his injured leg may have snapped again along with other possible injuries from the impact. Regardless, John knew he was quickly tiring, as fighting the torrent was like going ten rounds with Ronon on his best day.
He continued to struggle against the current while trying his hardest to locate a possible shallow area or something to grab hold of. However, the underground river had other ideas as it whirled around his body, pulling at his clothing like some demented demon trying its hardest to drag him back down again.
He suddenly entered a slightly calmer area and was able to stay afloat for a longer period even though the fast flowing water continued to sweep him along its path without a care. The calm probably wouldn't last long, so he knew in order to survive he would need to shed some gear. He reached down and struggled to release the clasp holding his holster and his handgun. It was difficult going as his fingers were getting numb with the cold. Somehow he managed it, leaving him feeling totally naked as he'd already lost his P90 in the freefall. Losing the holster made a small difference but not much. So something else had to go either his TAC vest or the heavy boots. Assuming he could manage to remove them. He didn't get the chance this time around as the water got turbulent again. After a short struggle, he lost the battle to stay afloat and sank beneath the gushing water for the third time.
oOo
Unable to believe what he'd just witnessed, Corporal Carpenter felt his heart pounding in his chest. He was in shock, not knowing what to do or say next. Although just to be on the safe side, he slowly edged further away from the drop-off. Open mouthed he stared at Trumble, eyes unblinking as the older man finally moved away from the edge. That a superior officer had just deliberately pushed another into the unknown was…well, it was unthinkable. Chances were that Colonel Sheppard was now dead. Instead of feeling relieved, Carpenter felt great remorse. He now fully understood what his uncle had gone through all those years ago and the mercy Sheppard had shown by ending his life. Having witnessed the General's deadly action, Carpenter now realised that his own life could well be in danger if the man should turn against him. He wisely decided to remain silent.
Trumble slowly turned to him with a deadly look. "You will keep this to yourself or the consequences for you and your family will be very grave. Do I make myself clear? I have connections in very high places…." The General was going to say more but never got the chance as Ronon came bounding out of the hidden passageway with a rather shaken Frank Finnegan in tow.
The Irish geologist looked as white as s sheet. "I…I nearly got fed upon!" he screeched. "If Mr Dex hadn't turned up when he did I would have been toast for sure."
Ronon wasn't really listening as he looked around the cavern. Confusion clouded his face. "Where's Sheppard?" he growled.
Trumble threw Carpenter a final warning before pointing to the drop-off. "He got into a fight with the Wraith. They didn't watch where they were treading and both went over the edge."
Ronon looked shocked. He suddenly moved forward and grabbed the older man by the collar. "When?" he shouted just inches from the General's face.
"About three minutes ago, at a guess. Now kindly back off! I've had enough manhandling for one day, thank you."
Ronon growled again. For a minute it looked like he wanted to throw the man over the edge, too. Eventually, he stepped back and remained still for a moment or so. Trumble and the others witnessed a great deal of distress and sorrow pass over the big man's face.
Carpenter swallowed hard and picked up the Wraith's fallen light from where it had been dropped very close the edge. He swung it back and forth trying to see into the abyss below. Carpenter felt Ronon move to stand beside him. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "The Colonel was a good man."
Ronon swallowed around the lump in his throat. Being very careful he looked down, but couldn't see anything other than a never-ending chasm. Finnegan joined him near the edge. He gulped but didn't say anything. Steadying his nerves, Ronon took a deep breath. He couldn't believe his friend was gone. In fact, he flatly refused to accept it. He turned back to the others and said. "Find your own way out. I'm going to get help!"
Ronon left the cavern at a run. Trumble shouted after him, "No one could have survived that fall, you fool!" Turning back to the others, Trumble scowled. "If he were in the US military, I would have had him pulled over the coals for that. Instead, he leaves us to fend for ourselves when there could be more of those monsters lurching about."
Corporal Carpenter looked at him with disdain. "You're lucky to be alive, sir. Don't forget Colonel Sheppard saved you from a monster before…his…his fall. So it's perfectly understandable that Ronon Dex would want to try and rescue him."
Finnegan gave Carpenter a questioning glance as there was something about the way the Corporal had looked at the General that didn't seem quite normal. The Irishman decided to remain silent for now. They needed to get away from here, but he intended to ask the young man what the hell really happened when the opportunity arose. In private, of course.
oOo
"Where the bloody hell did this storm come from?" Carson groaned as he watched streams of water sliding down the Jumper's windshield.
In Carson's opinion, it was equally as bad as the storm they'd encounter on Lantea during their first year in Atlantis. A storm that had nearly destroyed the city. That time they'd at least had some warning whereas this storm had arrived out of nowhere about thirty minutes ago. One minute the sun had been shining, high in a clear blue sky and in the next moment, the atmosphere had gone as black as night. A fierce wind had picked up after that, followed by the loudest and biggest display of thunder and lightning some of the Jumper's occupants had ever witnessed. A few minutes later, the thunder clouds had opened with a torrential, ground soaking downpour. It had been darn right scary at times as the lightning had sizzled and flashed as bright as any sun whenever it had touched ground. They could almost feel the electricity in the air, almost see it. Luckily, the Jumper hadn't sustained a direct hit. At least so far.
James Becket simply shook his head. "We never got anything like this, even in the highlands. I've only seen rain something like it in the tropics. But this is an alien planet, so I guess anything goes."
"Aye. At least it seems to be easing off a little at last and the lightning is moving away. We can even see something of the landscape now."
For several minutes, the two Scotsmen and some of the combat engineers stared out of the windshield trying to make out terrain that had dramatically changed. Gone was the dry, arid land to be replaced by a rain-soaked, muddy expanse. They could see what had once been a dried up creek was now a torrential, fast flowing river. It flowed dangerously close to the downed dart and not that far from their craft. At the moment, it didn't pose any real danger and if the storm continued to abate it wouldn't affect them.
Seeing it, Carson swallowed hard. "Good job it's easing off otherwise we could have been swept away."
Lieutenant Becket suddenly grabbed some powerful binoculars and trained them on the newly formed river. He followed the course all the way to the cliff face. "That river is flowing towards the cave system," He murmured. "I hope our people are okay and not flooded out?"
oOo
Ronon was making record time when he nearly ran smack bang into Captain Forbes and Corporal Lopez as they emerged from the other passageway. "Whoa, Ronon! Steady on! What's the rush?"
Slowing down slightly, Ronon shouted. "I need to get some combat engineers for a rescue. Follow the passageway I've just come from and join up with that damn General and his friends."
The big man was nearly out of hearing range by the time he had said it all. So Captain Forbes had to shout his question. "Who needs rescuing?"
"Sheppard!" The name was somehow amplified by the rocks, so it came out loud and clear. Forbes and Lopez exchanged a worried look before entering the passageway to find the others.
It didn't take long for them to locate the General and his companions. Tumble grumbled and complained bitterly about almost everything as if the whole Wraith encounter had been a setup by Atlantis. Captain Forbes had to politely remind the man that it was sometimes unavoidable as the Wraith could appear at any time. Then Trumble had the audacity to mutter something about it all being Sheppard's fault, which was definitely unfair as the Colonel hadn't even been aware of their off-world trip.
Corporal Carpenter threw a noticeable scowl at his superior officer before reminding him of Sheppard's likely demise. Captain Forbes then asked what had happened. Carpenter decided to remain silent while Trumble explained things once again. It left Finnegan to ponder a little more as the story hadn't been quite the same, meaning something was definitely off. Also, the older man told it without an ounce of remorse. The Irishman continued to ponder as they slowly made their way back up the cave system.
oOo
Ronon skidded to a halt as he nearly lost his footing on the cave entry floor, which was now covered in water and muddy sediment. Getting his balance back, he cautiously made his way over the treacherous surface until he finally reached the open air. Standing at the top of the ridge, he stopped for a minute to gulp in some much-needed air and take in the scene below him. Gone was the dry sandy ground to be replaced by a rain-soaked landscape. That didn't stop him though. Taking another deep breath, he quickly descended and started a steady jog towards the Jumper and the combat engineers there in. They would need climbing equipment and the like, but Ronon knew the experts would be ready and willing.
He arrived back at the Jumper ten minutes later and was right about their willingness. After gasps and disbelief from the Jumper's occupants, the engineers quickly began to assemble their gear. Carson moved to repack his medical case while muttering something about stubborn colonels. Young Selkirk lay comfortable and heavily sedated, so he wouldn't need Carson's help for some hours to come. So Carson decided there was no reason why he shouldn't join in the rescue attempt.
Ronon watched the doctor for a moment. He knew Carson was worried sick as they all were. For a minute, he was going to stop the doctor from coming with them but soon had second thoughts. If Sheppard was somehow still alive, no doubt he would need the doctor's help. In the end, Ronon decided not to say anything. After ordering Lieutenant Becket to remain on the planet no matter what Trumble might say or do, they quickly left the Jumper to head back to the cave system.
The Lieutenant watched them go, sadden by the fact it was probably already too late for the Colonel. He knew once Trumble arrived he was probably in for a difficult time. Although, if Captain Forbes was with them he wouldn't be the most senior officer. No matter what, James quickly decided he would back Captain Forbes no matter what the General might order. He owned it to the Colonel as he had had a great deal of respect for the man.
oOo
All in all, it took the rescue team a good forty minutes before they arrived back in the fateful cavern. By now, the pesky general and his companions should be safely onboard the Jumper. They'd had the misfortune of meeting up with Trumble and the others near the cave entry. During the short encounter, Ronon had quietly given the Captain orders that they were not to head back to Atlantis before hearing from them. Forbes had given a short nod before leading his group outside.
Chief Engineer Harris carefully edged towards the drop-off to take a look down. He silently winced at what he saw, as did the others as they joined with him. Harris didn't like to destroy Ronon's hopes, but in his opinion, no one could have survived the fall. It brought a hint of sadness to the long-serving combat engineer as he had genuinely liked Colonel Sheppard despite his teasing ways.
It was Carson who pointed out the truth as he told them something no one wanted to accept. "If the lad went down there…well." The Scot had to clear his throat as a lump formed and tears threatened to fall. To him, it appeared that his services would not be needed after all. He continued to watch in a daze as the engineers began to prepare for an exploratory descent.
He thought about poor Teyla and the children. Wondering how the hell they were going to be able to tell them that John was lost.
TBC