Author's Note: Edited version of chapter 2.

Chapter Two

Where Are We?

"Fan out, Ford watch our six. Teyla, keep an...eye...or whatever it is you do, for the wraith." Sheppard ordered, heading in a straight direction away from the gate.

"Fan?" Teyla was standing where the gate had left her.

Ford leaned back towards her, "It means spread out...you know, don't stay all bunched up."

"I see...less of a target?"

"Exactly."

McKay looked over his shoulder from his position near Sheppard, "Less talk, more walk."

He didn't see the dirty look Ford shot him because he had returned his eyes to the front, viewing the landscape they were supposed to survey, in search of a ZPM. He didn't think they'd find anything but an insect or two, if that. When Sheppard had said wasteland, he hadn't been exaggerating. It looked like this planet had suffered some type of catastrophic nuclear fall-out. The ground was as barren as Earth's moon; the dirt loose and almost sand-like, except it lacked any cohesive elements. You wouldn't be able to grow a weed in this place.

Sheppard had come to similar conclusions, viewing the vista before him with disgust, "Whatever happened here was devastating. There's nothing left." He dropped his arm off his weapon, seeing no sign of hostile welcome parties, "At least this should be quick."

"Major!"

Sheppard twisted on his boot heel, Ford was about seven meters behind, and pointing at the sky behind the Stargate, where some type of ship was rapidly approaching in the thin atmosphere.

He tapped McKay on his shoulder, and pointed towards the ship. "McKay, what do you think of that?"

"I think we're screwed." He looked around, nowhere to hide; they were out in the open, sitting ducks.

"You don't know their hostile?" Sheppard had closed the gap between him and Ford and Teyla, with McKay wisely following, "Teyla, that doesn't look like a wraith ship?"

Teyla squinted as light reflected from the ship's hull as it drew nearer, "No, it does not."

The ship hovered briefly before setting down a couple of meters behind the gate. All eyes were fixed on the side where they could make out the lines of a hatch, adrenaline singing through their bodies. Sheppard unconsciously fingered his weapon, the other hand cupped over his eyes, keeping the glare from blinding him.

Sheppard watched as the hatch opened with a soft hiss, lowering gently to the ground, letting a puff of dirt float away from the impact; never grow anything here, Sheppard thought, not realizing he was repeating McKay's earlier assessment.

He looked over at McKay, who was watching with nervous anticipation. "Don't look so happy." Sheppard hissed.

"I can't help it. It's nerves. I never look happy except when I'm nervous."

"Let's hope they don't shoot first, talk later." Ford whispered.

A figure emerged from the ship. The height was what you would expect from your average human, they were bipedal, two arms-two legs...but they were wearing some type of space suit. "Oh God, we're on a moon." McKay groaned.

Teyla looked at McKay, "You are familiar with this person?"

"No, he's not." Sheppard said, "The thing the alien's wearing, it looks like space suits back home. This planet has a surface that looks like our moon. McKay is making a joke...a bad joke."

"Major, he...it...whatever, is almost here." Ford said, sotto voice, under his breath, unsure if the alien could hear them or not.

Sheppard steadied his nerves. He could do this. General O'Neill had been doing it for years and was still alive to tell about it. It was a spaceman, not a wraith; it looked harmless. He stepped forward, "Hello."

The alien came to a stop feet from Sheppard, and stared at the Major. His face plate was mirrored glass, reminded him of the kind they had back home, to keep their eyes safe from the damaging rays of UV radiation. He didn't move or speak but studied Sheppard for seconds that was ticking into minutes. Sheppard fidgeted nervously, "This isn't going so well."

"Maybe you should back up?" McKay said. "I don't think this is good."

"Yeah." Sheppard began to inch back towards his team, which spurred the alien into movement. He reached onto his vest and pushed a button. A blue flash, and Sheppard was surprised to find he was flat on the ground. He forced his eyes to stay open, and rolled towards the others, finding them lying in the same condition. He groaned, and rolled back, seeing the alien peering down at him. The alien made another movement, and a second blue flash sent him into complete darkness.

"Major Sheppard." A voice was calling at him relentlessly, worse than a mosquito buzzing around looking for a nice meal, "John!"

He groaned. He didn't want to wake up. His head felt like it had been used as a battering ram. His stomach flipped. "Go away." He ordered, hoping that would send the person away.

"You must wake up. We've been captured."

He identified the voice, Teyla. The past events played back, and he wished they hadn't. This wasn't a good start to a mission. "Teyla." He grunted, and opened his eyes. She was sitting next to his side, looking at him, worried.

"We couldn't get you to wake." She said, "McKay and Ford are exploring this place."

"Place?" He sat up, and immediately regretted it, "I'm going to be sick." He lurched to the side and retched painfully. "Oh God." He muttered, resting his head against the wall, when he had finished.

He saw Teyla was watching him, upset. He must look worse than he felt. "I'll be all right." He reassured.

"None of us have been this ill."

"I think they shot me twice." He let his eyes close, hoping it would ease the rolling waves of nausea, "I saw that blue flash after we were all down the first time. I don't think they liked me looking at them after the first one."

"How's he doing?" Ford asked, coming back into the alcove they had found themselves occupying, when they had awoken from the stun gun, or whatever it was that had shot them.

Sheppard heard Ford, and opened his eyes again, seeing Teyla pull Ford aside, whispering about his condition. Damn it, he hated being treated like an invalid, "He's fine!"

Ford looked over Teyla's shoulder, "Whatever you say Major." He listened to Teyla finish what she was saying, and headed towards him, wrinkling his nose at the smell, "How many fingers?"

Sheppard glared, "Two."

Ford dropped his hand, "Good. Maybe you should stay down...for a while."

Sheppard cracked an eye, "I'm not planning on moving anytime soon."

"How is he?" McKay asked, coming into their little nook.

"He's fine." Sheppard tried to appear better than he was, "What did you find?"

McKay stared at him, "You look awful."

"Thanks McKay...you look...exceptional as well." Sheppard drawled, irritated. "What did you find?"

"Aside from the fact that we're in some type of prison?" He asked, a wry twist to his lips, "Nothing." McKay found a spot on the wall, far away from Sheppard's location, and dropped down.

"We're in a prison?" Sheppard grimaced as another bout of queasiness assailed him, "This sucks."

"Oh yeah." Ford agreed.