Ronon glanced over at the Immarian nearest him, tossing the guy a not-so-friendly look. The man returned the look quizzically, then moved on, towards one of the huts in the center.
McKay passed by him, staring at the man's retreating figure for a moment. "I swear these people have no sense of self-preservation."
Ronon shrugged, glancing over to where Teyla stood with another group of female villagers, talking amicably. "Maybe it depends on who you're talking to."
"If you want to talk to them," McKay mumbled, fidgeting with his P-90. "I, for one…"
Whatever he was going to complain about was cut off by a shout from the open field to their north. The marines Sheppard had sent to explore the area were moving in towards the center now, many of them double-timing it towards Sheppard's central position.
McKay frowned, standing on tiptoes to get a better look at what they were running towards. Ronon squinted into the distance, just barely able to make out Sheppard's lithe form, turning back towards the village.
And he wasn't alone.
McKay must have picked up on it at the same time, because he let out a sort of strangled half-cry and took off towards the outskirts of the settlement at a speed that surprised even Ronon, who did his best to keep up.
He could make out the figure now, though he knew instinctively if Sheppard was walking with his defenses down, there was only one person it could be.
"Elizabeth!" McKay shouted, almost bouncing across the grass. "My…"
Ronon grabbed his shoulder, nearly knocking him over as he pulled him to a dead stop.
"What the…hey! What the hell do you think you are doing?!"
Ronon nodded towards the high archways set into the massive stone circle that surrounded the meadow. From each of the three entrances, Immarian warriors were rushing out, spears and clubs in hand, moving to encircle the small group of marines in the center.
The marines immediately set into defensive position, their P-90s out and pointed at the approaching Immarians. Ronon frowned, trying to figure out the best line of attack. The meadow was open and wide, and the warriors would see him coming, even as he tried to skirt around the outside.
McKay had stopped, but was studying the warriors with chagrin. "They can't really think they're going to get anywhere against a bunch of armed marines."
"They did last time."
"Well, last time they had the element of surprise. This time, I'd say we have the distinct advantage."
"I would not be so sure," Teyla remarked, coming up alongside them. She watched the scene unfolding before them with a mixture of relief and trepidation. "I have been speaking with some of the local villagers and it seems Elizabeth was put on trial a few days ago. Some of are of the belief that she has been sentenced to death by their elders for violating the Immarians laws."
"Which laws? The 'do not be a woman leader' law? That's ludicrous."
"Ludicrous or not, Rodney, this is apparently their way. They will not back down easily."
"Well, I hope they're prepared to die for it, then."
Teyla threw him a worried look. "I am afraid they very much are."
"Come on," Ronon said. "We need to move."
--/--
John crouched into a lower stance, drawing Elizabeth behind him. His focus was steady, but that didn't diminish the overwhelming urge to unload his P-90 into the group of warriors surrounding them.
The relief, once he recognized her, had been immeasurable; it had taken most of his own willpower not to forget he was in the middle of a hostile situation and dash towards her.
That relief had turned to unmitigated anger once she reached him. Just the state she was in, the bruising across her face and the way she flinched in his arms told him enough about her experience here.
Faced with the same red-haired warrior who'd started this in the first place was a very tempting way to begin retribution. But Elizabeth's hand on his shoulder stayed the desire in the pit of his stomach to play drop every last one of the bastards where they stood.
"This isn't going to do you any good," he began, voice coming out gruff and harsh. "I'd suggest you back away and let us pass."
"I cannot do that, Colonel Sheppard," the redhead returned. "It is my place to keep her here, no matter what the cost."
"That cost is going to be very high for your people if you try and cross us," he returned, training the gun on the spot between her eyes. "Those weapons are no match for us and I think you know that. Now, if you're smart, you'll do what's best for everybody and back off."
Her own spear was poised and ready. "It is not a matter of what is smart or not. I have my orders and I am trained to follow them. To death, if need be."
"That so? We'll keep that in mind."
One of the soldiers to his left shifted, and the warrior group surrounding them responded by tightening their lines, moving their spears inches inwards.
The hand on his shoulder began to shake, and he glanced over, concerned, catching Elizabeth's line of sight in his periphery. A group of men were walking slowly through the field. Most of them he didn't recognize, except for two of the boys who'd first come to Atlantis, but based on the demeanor and carriage of the older men, it was safe to say they were the guys in charge.
He rose slowly, lowering his weapon, though the rest of the marines remained in position. The redhead allowed him to do as much, also seeming to sense the approach of the men and their significance.
"The Daedalus is overhead," he murmured softly, just within Elizabeth's hearing.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Can they use the transport beam?"
"Not yet. Hermiod's working on it. Until they're ready we'll have to go with the flow."
She flashed him an anguished smile and he returned it, though a heated flush travelled up the back of his neck. If he had his choice, he'd ask the ship to beam them all up, then blow this whole damn place to bits.
--/--
Teyla made her way cautiously towards the scene unfolding in the middle of the field, weapon trained on the warriors in front of her. Drawing too close would cause she, Ronon and Rodney to lose their advantageous position, but keeping away rendered them useless as any kind of aid to Colonel Sheppard and the marines.
From the right side of the great stone cliffs a group of men had emerged beneath the doorway Rodney had indicated was marked "Justice". They seemed confident and self-assured, which made Teyla believe they were part of the ruling class of this society, perhaps the Elders mentioned. They were joined by the two young men who'd first come to Atlantis, Fasir and Eylos.
From the left, barely in sight of anyone, came the young woman and man who had seemed to lead the scout party, Sita and Karon. She was ahead of him, her body language confident. He seemed less so, struggling to catch up with her and appearing less than eager to meet with the group. They slowed as they reached the confrontation, hanging back, their presence unnoticed.
"What's going on?" Rodney snapped, trying to see over the field. Ronon placed a restraining arm on him.
"Don't draw attention," the Satedan murmured. "Sheppard may need our help."
Rodney's expression grew concerned. "You really think they're in danger?"
Ronon's only response to McKay was an emotionless glance.
Rodney flinched, his hand travelling to the handgun at his waist. "I guess we should be prepared to help them, then?"
"Perhaps we will have no need of it, " Teyla murmured, glancing around her. The braver Immarians of the village had started to gather nearer to the standoff, moving closer to find out what was going on. She turned and caught Ronon's eye, her thoughts quite clear. "Perhaps we can stop this confrontation before it truly begins."
Ronon looked less than enthusiastic at the idea of interrupting the chance for battle, but he understood her intention for the best. Without another word he and Rodney moved to the groups closest to them, encouraging them onwards, towards the center of the meadow.
--/--
Elizabeth felt John tense beside her and squeezed his shoulder, fighting the subconscious trembling in her hands. That he was angry was easy to see, the expression on his face reminding her of the standoff with Kolya during the storm.
She'd had every kind of faith in him then, but watching him march up that ramp towards her, focused totally on Kolya and the job at hand, had scared her. In a way it still frightened her, knowing that type of ruthlessness lived somewhere beneath his generally easygoing ways. It was a side of him very few had seen, and most who had seen it had not lived long enough to tell of it. She hoped it didn't come down to that.
Hearing the Daedalus was in orbit brought a small comfort, but it seemed a distant one with the beaming capabilities rendered useless. Especially now, as Thorvir, Fasir and the justices made their way across the field.
The circle of warriors parted for them, though none of the marines moved out of position. Thorvir showed no apparent regard for his own safety, for he marched right up to the marines as though they were nothing more than field hands.
"This is your military leader, am I right?" he asked, looking John over.
"Something like that," John snapped in reply. "And who might you be?"
"I am Thorvir, Head Justice of Immaria. I am here to inform you, sir, that the woman you are defending is under arrest by order of the Immarian Council."
"The woman you kidnapped, you mean?"
Thorvir narrowed his eyes. "She broke the laws of…"
"Of what? Your planet, or society, or whatever the hell this sham of a civilization is? You kidnapped someone. Against her will and in violation of the laws of our society. Whatever kind of judgment you rendered here is irrelevant and as far as I'm concerned, places us in a state of war. You tell your 'justices' that."
"We are aware of the indignation you may feel, Colonel…Sheppard, I believe? But you are currently on our soil—willfully, and as such, subject to our laws and judgments."
"You are welcome to try and enforce that. At your will," John returned, as the safeties clicked off the P-90s around him. "If you want."
"Our Elders will not be pleased."
"What?" Elizabeth moved from John's side, causing him to flinch. "You mean the holograms you parade around as Ancients?"
For the first time since she'd met him, Thorvir looked truly stunned. He opened his mouth for a moment, and then shut it again, fixing her instead with a nasty glare.
The people of the village were moving closer, attracted by the standoff in their midst. Elizabeth cleared her throat. "That's right, Thorvir. I met your 'Elders'. They're holograms, programmed by the Ancients who built this place."
The justices, too, noticed the crowd that was starting to gather. A few shifted nervously, knowing quite well what might happen if the people got close enough to hear the argument.
"You lie," Fasir snarled menacingly, his voice raised high enough for the on comers to hear. "You make up lies about our sacred Elders!"
Elizabeth frowned, stepping back from him. Without the advantage of showing the crowd the Hall of the Elders, there was no way to disprove Fasir's claim. The justices would deny any attempt she made to prove they were false, especially if one of them could call up one of the holographic projections at will.
"Let us see what our wise Elders have to say about this." Thorvir turned to the people, who were now close enough to observe and hear everything going on within the circle of warriors. Elizabeth shrunk back, trying desperately to think. With the Daedalus unable to help them, they were going to find themselves truly trapped, at the mercy of the Justice's lies and will of people like Fasir.
There was no escape but one—and it would come at a heavy price.
--/--
"Colonel Davis, I believe I have discovered the cause of most of the interference," Hermiod droned through the radio. Davis tapped nervously on the command chair, waiting for the Asgard to finish. "It appears that there is a holographic projection system which relies upon a series of grid markers located beneath the planet's soil to function. It is this which interferes with the ship's ability to correctly lock on to a designated target."
"Can you disable it?"
"I have already done so, Colonel."
"Good. Contact Colonel Sheppard," he nodded at the communications officer. "Let him know the satellite is…"
"We are still unable to beam anyone from within the stone circle, however," Hermiod interrupted, sounding a bit more irritated than normal at being interrupted. If that was possible.
"Why not?"
There was a pause before the Asgard continued. "I have disabled the projection system, but I have not yet disabled the beaming technology. There are a number of preventative measures employed by the satellite to prevent tampering with the system. It may take several minutes more before I have deactivated everything required to allow beaming to the ship."
"How long?"
"That is difficult to determine."
"Damn. They really picked a pain in the ass with this one, didn't they?"
"It appears to be one of the more onerous societies we have encountered."
Davis took a deep breath. "Thank you, Hermiod. Keep me updated."
"I intend to, Colonel."
The communications officer turned to him with an inquiring look. He shrugged in response. "Go ahead and inform the Colonel of Hermiod's progress. Whatever the hell that thing did with holograms no longer works, but the beam's still being interfered with. I don't know if it'll help, but it can't hurt for him to know."
--/--
Thorvir had moved forward, facing her, but speaking in a tone the gathered crowd could hear. "We shall see what our Elders have to say in judgment of you. Or do you wish to desecrate their names further with more of your lies?"
Elizabeth leaned back, knocking into John, trying to maintain a calm expression. The justice allowed her silence to take over the circle, driving home his point. The milling crowd had grown so silent only wind whipping through the grass around them could be heard.
John moved against her shoulder, a hand brushing her hair as he raised it to the radio in his ear.
"Tell him to go ahead," he whispered a moment later, so softly even she had to strain to hear him. She turned just enough to catch sight of his face, which smiled reassuringly at her. "Trust me."
She nodded slowly, pulling away from him. There was something nerve-wracking about that, but he wouldn't have given her the go ahead if he had any reason to fear the challenge wouldn't work.
Plus, she trusted him. Completely.
"Very well, Thorvir. Call us your Elders and see what kind of judgment they can pronounce."
The elder justice seemed puzzled at her reticence, but wasted no time.
Fasir narrowed his eyes, a nasty smile on his face. "You will be sorry for your disrespect."
There was a subtle tapping at something on Thorvir's wrist, and for a moment his authority spoke for all, as the group waited in awestruck silence.
Nothing happened.
Slowly, the superior expression on the chief justice's face faded. He surreptitiously moved his fingers to the device on his wrist once more, tapping quickly. Elizabeth held her breath.
Again, nothing.
The color drained from Fasir's face; Elizabeth cast a glance at John, who was grinning almost maliciously. At her inquiring look he leaned closer, his breath tickling her ear. "Hermiod disabled the projection beam from the satellite. No holograms."
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she turned back to the Immarian leaders. "Is there a problem, Thorvir?"
There was no answer he could give. John's grin faded as she moved away from him again, but the chance here was too opportunistic to pass up. "Why don't you tell your people the truth about their Elders? About what they really are?"
Even the warriors were starting to look uncertain of the situation. Elizabeth stepped forward a few feet more; none of them moved. "Your Elders are a training program, Thorvir—three-dimensional pictures beamed from a satellite, which my people have just disabled. They will not be able to help you now. I think it's time you starting explaining to these people the truth of Immaria—or rather, the lies of it. "