Chapter 21: I'm afraid it's too late for that.
"I feel kinda bad," John admitted, as he gathered together the few remaining things he'd need for his mission to rescue Rodney from a crashed Puddle Jumper. "Rodney's stuck in a sinking Jumper and I'm excited about the prospect of using a Puddle Jumper as a submersible."
"It was your idea to combine the magnetic grapple for the F302's with Moore and McNab's cable and winch," I pointed out. "There wouldn't even be a mission if not for that."
"Yeah, well hopefully Zelenka can locate them before they get too deep," John turned to take his leave. "Remember, once we get down past 1000 feet we'll lose contact with Atlantis. I'll radio in once we've got Griffin and McKay safely aboard."
"Okay," I said slowly. "Good luck."
A nervous couple of hours later Rodney was safely tucked away in the infirmary and John was coming down from the high of having taken the first Puddle Jumper submarine 'flight'.
"I'm sorry about Griffin," I told John when he caught up with me a few hours later.
"He was a good man," John replied. "Rodney said Griffin sacrficed himself to save him - it's not much consolation to his family but at least we'll be able to tell them that much."
"What was it like down there?" I asked curiously.
"Now that I know Rodney's gonna be okay, I can say that it was cool being down that far," John admitted.
"You are such a big kid," I teased.
"Oh like you don't go all giddy at the thought of new Ancient devices to play with," John retorted.
"Ah," I held up a finger in triumph, "but I'm not the illustrious military leader!"
"Well being the leader ought to come with some perks," John insisted. "Getting to fly all the cool stuff is just one of them."
In the early hours of the morning disturbing dreams startled me awake – strangely they all seemed to have something to do with being at the mercy of a Wraith Queen and having to fight off her mental attacks. John's descriptions of his own encounters with Hive Queens must have gotten to me more than I'd realised at the time.
Checking the time I realised I'd slept more deeply than I usually did in John's bed. Frowning at my cramped position I decided I might as well go back to my own quarters. I started to shift in preparation of getting up when John's arm tightened around me and I realised he was awake.
"You were jerking around in your sleep," John answered my unspoken question regarding why he was awake. "Bad dreams?"
"You could say that," I admitted. "I've never met a Wraith, let alone a Queen but more and more lately I find myself dreaming about them – very vivid and detailed."
"Maybe you picked up more than you realised when you were linked with them through the Wraith weapon," John suggested, raising himself on an elbow and looking down at me.
"Maybe," I agreed, attempting once more to vacate the bed.
"Don't," John kept a hold on my upper arm to keep me with him. "Just this once can you not run away back to your room?" I was surprised to realise his tone was both pleading and irritated.
"I didn't realise it bothered you so much," I frowned at him in confusion.
"Well it does," John insisted.
"I guess I'll stay then," I conceded. "Just for tonight."
"Good," John slumped back on the bed, pulling me with him. I'd expected a kiss at the very least but instead I was treated to the contented sigh of Colonel John Sheppard as he nuzzled his face against my shoulder and dropped back into sleep.
"
"Sabina," Doctor Weir's voice issued from my radio then next morning. "Can you come down to the Control Room?"
"On my way," I acknowledged.
"Do you think this Eldred is telling the truth?" Doctor Weir was asking someone when I arrived.
"There's no reason for him to lie," John's voice came through loud and clear.
"And you say the Tower looks a lot like Lantean architecture?" Doctor Weir motioned for me to join her.
"It was overgrown by vegetation," John said, "but otherwise there was definitely something familiar about it!"
"So the people in the Tower could be Ancients," Doctor Weir said almost hopefully.
"I don't know," John admitted. "A feudal society doesn't fit the profile. Why would the Ancients wanna lord over a bunch of simple farmers?"
"I don't know," Doctor Weir's expression suggested she thought it unlikely they would. "Either way, we should talk with them."
"Agreed," John acknowledged.
"I have Sabina with me," Doctor Weir announced.
"I need you to pack whatever you think you'll need to assist Rodney," John directed at me, his voice almost grim. "I'll meet you at the gate."
"Okay," I agreed, looking across at Doctor Weir with a puzzled expression. She shrugged to indicate she too had no idea why John wanted me there.
"See you in a few ... Sheppard out," John said, and a moment later the gate shut down.
"I wonder what that was all about," I commented to Doctor Weir.
"Colonel Sheppard may be more relaxed about you going off world these days," Doctor Weir pointed out, "but that doesn't mean he's not going to worry."
"I suppose," I frowned, feeling there was more to it than that.
"You better get ready," Doctor Weir urged. "Don't want to keep Rodney waiting."
John met me at the gate and we walked together back to the village. Teyla and Ronan were there standing in the dusty village square.
"Where's McKay?" John demanded.
"He went with Eldred's son Baldric to scan the base of the Tower," Teyla admitted. "He said he'd be back very soon."
"Okay then where's Eldred?" John was clearly annoyed with the way things were progressing so far.
"He is over there," Teyla gestured across the dusty square to where a man was being intimidated by four men dressed in uniform.
"Who are those guys?" John frowned at the scene taking place in front of us.
"Soldiers from the Tower," Ronan replied. When the leader of the soldiers violently backhanded Eldred, knocking him to the ground it was too much for John. He rushed towards the scene with Teyla and Ronan not far behind. Not knowing what to do I hung back a few steps, ready to step in if it seemed necessary.
"Whoa, take it easy!" John called out.
"Who are you?" The lead soldier turned to face John, appearing unimpressed with what he saw.
"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard," John replied. "Who are you?"
"I am a Constable of the Lord Protector's guard, and this village scum dared to defy me." Eldred cowered on the ground, groaning at the Constables words. "It's clear we're going to have to make an example." He took a whip from his belt, and unravelled it in preparation for using it to strike at Eldred.
"I don't think so," John drawled menacingly.
"Please, Colonel," Eldred begged. "It's my fault." The punishments here must have been extreme if the villagers would rather be whipped than have someone stand up for them.
"If you think I'm gonna sit here and let you whip an innocent man," John warned the Constable, "you're sorely mistaken."
I had noticed another man approaching the scene. He was bald and dressed in garb that reminded me of how actors were always decked out in every Robin Hood movie I'd ever seen. Judging by the squalor and hardship these people were living in, a Robin Hood was exactly what they needed.
"Constable," he said in a posh accent like I'd not heard from anyone else in the village. At his words John, Ronan and Teyla all aimed their weapons so that each was covering a position. "You may stand down," the man said. I was surprised when the guards did exactly that, without any protest.
"You are the strangers who requested an audience, are you not?" the stranger asked John, pulling a couple of small devices from his pocket. He held them out so that John could see they did not appear dangerous.
"That's us," John confirmed, still holding his gun at the ready.
"My name is Otho," the man announced. He walked past my position towards John and the others. Glancing briefly at me he motioned for me to join them. I looked at John and he nodded. Once we were all standing together Otho held his two devices out to Teyla as though he were scanning her in some way. "I have the honour to be Chamberlain to the Lord Protector." He glanced down at one of his devices that looked a bit like a life signs detector only smaller, before moving on and scanning Ronan. "And you would never be allowed in his presence so armed."
"Well, I guess we'll have to be on our way, then." John drawled in a relaxed tone.
Otho said nothing as he pointed the scanner at John. Immediately an audible beeping sound issued from the other device. Otho looked faintly surprised. He pointed the scanner at me – when the same beeping sound occurred I had a pretty good idea what he'd been scanning for.
"I'm afraid it's too late for that." Otho announced almost sadly. He stepped back and turned to the guards. "Take these two," he ordered, pointing at John and me.
Ronan aimed his gun at the guards, while Teyla raised her P90 in readiness.
"Please, Colonel, don't resist," Eldred begged from his position on the ground. "The Lord Protector sees all."
"He does, you know," Otho agreed as though that thought made him very happy. When John made no move to go along with Otho's plans, Otho added "But I suppose you're going to need a demonstration." I heard a faint and strangely familiar whooshing sound coming towards us from the Tower. "And here it comes."
We all turned to look where Otho was looking. A bright light was speeding steadily towards us – once it was close enough it was easily identifiable as a drone. It slammed into the village, exploding on impact. Luckily it didn't appear to have hit anything major, although the villagers were still calling out and crying in fear.
"Now please," Otho turned back to address us. "Turn over your weapons. Some of the people here may not survive the next strike."
"Colonel," Eldred said pleadingly. John looked around at the cowering villagers and reluctantly lowered his gun. He nodded at Ronan and Teyla to do the same with their weapons.
"Come this way," Otho commanded John and I to follow him.
Authors Note:
Apologies re this chapter having a lot of the episode script in it ... had to set the scene but I'll be branching out in the next chapter ... keep reading! Thanks again to my loyal reviewers!!