Author's Note: Edited version of chapter.

Chapter Three

Meet and Greet

"Are you feeling better?" Teyla asked Sheppard, looking over from her position along the wall, beside Ford.

Sheppard had moved to a sitting position, but looked like he was recovering from a weekend-long bender, "Yes. Loads."

Teyla wasn't up on the idiosyncrasies of sarcasm, but she caught the tone of voice indicating he wasn't exactly feeling that much better. "Should we not try to get out of here?"

"How?" Ford raised his head off his knees, "Solid rock makes for a pretty good prison."

"How big is this place anyway?" Sheppard asked, contemplating standing.

Ford was watching him, not sure he should be attempting any type of movement, "Not that big. We seem to be alone. There's more than one room like this one. I think there used to be more prisoners before us."

"McKay?" Sheppard looked at Rodney for input.

"Do I look like Fred Flinstone? My degree is in physics, not geology." He grimaced, "I don't have a clue how to get out of here."

"Swell." Sheppard figured now or never, and pushed himself upwards, "Teyla..." He called when he realized he would need help.

She hurried to his side, and gave him the leverage to stand. "Thanks." He smiled shakily.

"What are you doing?" McKay looked at him suspiciously.

"I'm going to get us out of here."

"Major?" Ford untangled himself and stood.

"Make enough noise...and the guards should come to see what's all the commotion." Sheppard paused, "At least, we hope."

He clambered out of the alcove and entered the main hall of the prison. He could see at least four other chambers, and at the end of the hall, a stout iron cell door. He headed for the door, on a slightly skewed path, still recovering from the effects. He made a mental note to not get shot again.

He grasped the bars, aware that Ford, Teyla and McKay were standing behind him, watching. He needed something to make noise with. He dropped his hands, and twisted to look at the hall, "Teyla, hand me that torch." There were torches hanging on the rock walls, looking like something out of a gothic novel.

Teyla grabbed one and handed it over. He began knocking it violently against the bars, covering his one ear with his free hand. If this didn't do it, he didn't know what else they could do.

He was rewarded by a male figure approaching from the long hall they could see through the bars. The guy looked like them, human, so that was good. Didn't mean they weren't capable of giving them all a very bad day, but they weren't wraith.

"Hey! We want to talk to you!" He shouted, letting the torch stick drop by his side.

The man came closer, staring at Sheppard, "You are awake." He said, stating the obvious, but he produced a set of keys and a weapon, opening the door, while keeping the weapon trained on Sheppard. "I wouldn't try anything. You've all ready had two shots and have been ill. One more, and you'll wish you were dead."

Sheppard wasn't sure about that, but he wasn't willing to test the guy's threat. He nodded, "Okay..."

The guy waved them through; Sheppard glanced back making sure the rest were following. "So...who are you?"

"Be quiet."

"Come on, throw me a bone here." Sheppard grouched, not impressed.

"It's not my job to answer your questions." The guy was irritable, like some prison guard doing a job because they need the pay, and for no other reason. Sheppard could tell he'd just as soon shoot them as escort them to wherever he was taking them. He thought maybe he could throw the man off track by trying another tactic.

"It's not like I'm asking for your phone number, social security...driver's license."

The guy stared at him, confused, "Phone...number?"

"Forget it." Sheppard waved a hand forward, "Take us to your leader." He grinned at Ford's chuckle and McKay's groan.

"Is this wise?" Teyla whispered, darting an apprehensive look at the guy with the gun.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Sheppard whispered back, out of the corner of his mouth.

Teyla shook her head but continued to look uncomfortable. He couldn't blame her. A short while ago she'd been in her village, living a normal life, as normal as it can be under the wraith threat, but still...this wasn't normal. They had left their world, gated to Atlantis and had to begin living with a different culture in an alien city. And now here they were, captured, by who knows what. He'd introduce her to ice cream if they got out of this, a way to make-up for it.

The rock walls smoothed out and bled into what looked like metal walls, smooth and gray. If a guy with a gun weren't escorting him, he would've been impressed at the architectural changes. They came up against a larger, solid metal door. The guy produced another key, and fiddled with the lock, opening the door and gesturing for them to go in. Sheppard nodded slightly, and ambled in, putting on a cocky front to keep from appearing weak.

They were in some type of control room. What looked like computer screens lined a wall straight ahead from the door, and more men, like the guy that escorted them to the room, were sitting and typing buttons. The inhabitants seemed almost on an Earth equivalent in regards to technology. The lights were kept low, a level that would irritate most people.

"This is incredible, the most advanced culture we've found out here." McKay was staring at the different consoles, a technological appreciation that Sheppard didn't share.

"Why are you here?" A voice spoke to their right.

Sheppard twisted, startled, another wave of queasiness reminding him sudden movements weren't a good idea. The guy speaking to them was tall, a few inches taller than him, but otherwise, he reminded Sheppard of his father. Slight gray streaks through the sideburns, a square face, jutted jaw; this guy was all business, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

"Uh, funny you should ask that." Sheppard stalled for time, trying to figure out the best approach.

"You came through the Stargate. That ground is off-limits. It is not permissible to use the Stargate." He intoned, voice flat, giving no ground.

"Yes...yes we did. That's what we do." He looked at McKay or Ford for a little help but they looked as lost as he felt, "We are peaceful explorer's...searching out new life...new civilizations." Okay, so maybe he was broaching some kind of copyright with that line, but he didn't think they'd be able to find him in a different galaxy, and it seemed appropriate.

The guy seemed to consider his words then nodded, "I am Brack, Commander of the Fifth Fleet. You are on the Fifth Continent on Azed."

"Nice to meet you Brack. I'm Major John Sheppard, uh, Commander of the Air Force..." He cringed, slight exaggeration, but he had a hunch that rank mattered here, and technically speaking, there wasn't any other military member of higher rank on the Atlantis force, making him Commander by default, at least in a stranded sort of way. "This is Teyla Emmagan, native consultant, Lieutenant Aiden Ford, my...underling...and Doctor Rodney McKay, Chief Scientist."

He saw Ford's mouth work in surprise. He waved his hands slightly below the waistline, hoping he'd catch on. He must have because he didn't say anything, but Sheppard knew he'd hear about it later.

"I see."

Sheppard knew he had been right. Brack seemed impressed. "What is all of...this?" John asked, curious.

"Our command post, Major John Sheppard. The Fourth Fleet and the Third are striking again. We've sought refuge below the surface. This is our underground level. We are safe here."

He seemed to say that to reassure Sheppard, as if he had doubts. John hadn't known of anything to be worried about, so it seemed like a moot point at this time. He nodded, "What happened to the area around the Stargate?"

Brack's face got even grimmer, as if that were possible, "The Third Fleet. They didn't want our people escaping through the Stargate. They decimated the land, irradiating it so it would be unsafe for our people to travel into the area."

McKay coughed, "Irradiated?"

"Yes...Doctor Mckay. The levels are low enough that you suffered no permanent damage."

"No permanent damage?" McKay sputtered.

Sheppard wasn't comforted to hear any of this either, "That's why the guy was wearing the suit."

Brack nodded, "Yes."

"Why did you shoot us?" Ford asked.

"We didn't know who you were." Brack explained, turning his back on the team, and walking to the nearest console, "Look, here..." and he pointed at a red dot flashing, "This is the Stargate...near is the Third Fleet. When we noticed separate individual life-signs, we had hoped to capture stragglers for intelligence. Instead, we got you."

Sheppard figured Brack was still disappointed over that judging from how he said it, "Sorry." He said.

"Look, as much as this is very interesting, can we go now?" McKay interrupted.

Brack looked shocked by his question, "Of course not! You've seen our headquarters...we can't risk you exposing our operation."

Sheppard was in the process of getting ready to thank them for their time, and begin marching his team back home, when he realized what Brack had actually said, "What? We can't stay here."

Brack seemed a little sympathetic, which was saying a lot, but he shot down any hopes of this being a quick and easy mission, "I'm sorry, but I have to insist. For the immediate time, you will remain here, as our guests."

Sheppard took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second then opening them. This sucked. Worse than earlier, if that were possible. He looked at his team, and realized they were all feeling the same. It was at a time like this when he couldn't help but second McKay's standard we're screwed statement. Things had just gotten a lot worse.