Retaliation of the Wraith

Chapter 5

Author: Lorrie Ellis

Email: lorrieannhotmail

Summary : This story takes place after the team returns from Jordonia and a confrontation with the Wraith. (Sequel to The Jordonian Ritual)

Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Stargate: Atlantis". The characters belong to MGM, The Sci-Fi channel, etc. but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)

John flinched as the needle pierced his skin. "Now, just lie still." Carson instructed as he began to check the monitors. "Heart rate and pulse are normal. Breathing, normal. BP, normal." He began reading off.

"Must you do that?" Rodney asked as he too checked his monitors to evaluate the presence of the Wraith tracker.

"Guys." John said quietly.

"Must I keep a record of the Major's vitals, yes." Carson answered.

"Guys." John repeated, slightly louder

"No. I mean must you do it aloud?" Rodney replied.

"Doctors!" John shouted. "Does anybody care that this stuff is hot? I can feel it going throughout my body."

"Interesting." Rodney replied.

Carson rolled his eyes at McKay and then focused on John. "When you say that it's hot, how hot are we talking about?"

"Hot as in it burns!" John grimaced as his body began to shake.

"He's havin' body tremors." Carson shouted. Suddenly the heart monitor sounded a steady be-e-e-e-e-e-e-p. "He coding!"

Elizabeth stood just outside the chamber. She could hear their voices inside and she could hear the even tone of the heart monitor. "Oh no!" She gasped as she stood on the highest step, getting just a glimpse of what was going on inside.

Carson quickly reached for the defibulator and yelled at Rodney. "I need your help over here, now!"

Rodney's eyes widened. "Oh no. No, he's not dying. He's not." The scientist kept repeating.

"McKay, now!" Carson shouted again. Rodney forced his body to move closer to the Major.

"What do you want me to do?" He stammered.

"I'll take the paddles. I'll need you to power up the defibulator."

Rodney shook his head understandingly.

"300." He said.

"300." Rodney repeated once the defibulator had been set.

Carson placed the paddles on John's chest and shocked him. The heart monitor continued to emit an even tone. "400."

"400." Rodney replied.

Elizabeth continued to stare through the window wanting badly to be inside the chamber. She suddenly shuddered as a cold chill passed through her. "John, I need you." She whispered. "Please don't go."

The heart monitor began to beep in sporadic jumps at first then in a rhythmic, beep, beep, beep, beep. "We've got him back!" Carson exclaimed with a smile and nodded towards Elizabeth outside the chamber.

"Thank God." Rodney said as he let out the breath that he didn't realize he was holding.

Elizabeth sank down and closed her eyes. "Thank you." She whispered.

Carson immediately began taking the Major's vitals again as Rodney looked on. "Well?" He asked.

"I think he's goin' to be OK."

Rodney sighed. "That's a relief." He picked up his equipment and began to scan John's body for signs of the tracker. "The tracker's gone!"

"You're sure?" Carson asked.

Rodney nodded. "There's no sign of it on the monitor. We'll want to draw blood to be absolutely certain, but . . ."

Carson picked up a syringe. "Let's do it now. I want to get everything done that we need to so we can concentrate on getting him back on his feet."

------

"Alert Vexnos. We are exiting hyperspace." Tramock ordered.

Vexnos entered, as if on cue. "So, we are nearer to John Shepherd of Earth?" She asked.

"It would appear so." Tramock replied and checked the monitor. "The tracker has disappeared."

Vexnos' eyes widened. "What do you mean disappeared?" She shouted.

"Look for yourself, it is no more."

The female Wraith tried to contain her anger, but eventually it exploded from her in a horrifying screech for all the Wraith aboard the mothership to hear. She then focused her attention on Tramock. "Find him."

"Vexnos, what you ask is impossible. Without the tracker, we have no idea where to begin to look."

"Find him!" She repeated with anger in her voice and left the room.

-----

As Carson and Rodney continued to monitor John's progress, the Gateroom suddenly came to life.

"Off-world activation!" Peter's voice boomed over the intercoms.

Dr. Weir looked puzzled as she pulled herself to her feet. "Off-world activation, we don't have anyone off-world at the moment." She hurried down the corridor towards the gateroom, only to be met by Sergeants Stackhouse and Bates.

"What's going on?" Bates asked.

"At the moment, you know just as much as I do." She replied.

Bates quickened his step. "Someone had better be there to give the orders!" He shouted.

"You're right." Elizabeth stated. "Sgt. Stackhouse, double-time to the gateroom."

"Yes ma'am." Sgt. Stackhouse called out as he quickened his step.

"Sgt. Bates!" Dr. Weir called out. "Unless you'd like to be spending some time in the brig, I suggest you stop."

Bates stopped in his tracks and turned to face Weir. "Yes ma'am." He replied snidely.

"We will discuss your actions further once we find out who is attempting to come through the gate."

---------

Through the fog in his head, John could vaguely make out a voice.

"You must let me help you or all of my world will be destroyed and you along with it. The Wraith are close." The voice pleaded. "I can help you, but you must let me in now!"

John's lips moved slightly without a voice. He felt like he was shouting, but realized he couldn't hear himself. After swallowing, somewhat wetting his parched throat, his voice came to him. "Let him in." John mumbled and tried to open his eyes.

"He's waking up." Rodney announced.

Carson lightly shook the Major's shoulder. "Come on Major, open up yer eyes."

John's eyes flew open. "Let him in!" He shouted.

"Let who in?" Rodney asked, turning to the door of the chamber.

John looked first to his left and then to his right. "Give me the phone and get Weir on the line. She has to lower the shield!"

"Major, yer dreaming." Carson said calmly.

"No, I'm not dreaming. She has to lower the shield, or he'll die!"

There was such urgency in the Major's voice; Carson was compelled to get Dr. Weir on the phone.

"What is it Carson? I'm a bit busy up here." She said in a rushed voice.

"It's the Major, he insists on . . ."

"Elizabeth, open the gate!"

"What? John? You're OK?"

"Fine. Listen, I can't explain it, but if you don't open the gate, Atlantis will be destroyed."

"Do we have an IDC?" She asked Peter.

"No IDC." He replied.


"Elizabeth, you have to trust me on this one." John shouted.

"John, who is at the gate?" She asked.

"It's one of them." He paused. "One of the Ancients."

To be continued . . .