After the Storm

III – Owe You One

Minister Smeden straightened his shirt and rubbed his eyes. Even before dawn, he had to look official. Taking a deep breath, he entered the meeting room. "Major Sheppard, what brings you here at this early hour?"

Sheppard sat at the head of the conference table, chair pushed back and his feet propped up on the polished wood. His pose and expression were the perfect image of relaxation. Particularly, Smeden noted, the relaxed way his hands gripped his weapon.

"I'm sorry to drag you out of bed so early," Sheppard said, waving a hand toward the dark windows. "A funny thing happened last night. I wanted to tell somebody about it. I realized that the only people who would understand the story were on this planet. I've already talked to my own people, so I thought I should share with you, as well."

"Major, I don't understand why anything would be so urgent that you-"

"You don't understand that there's an Athosian in my people's camp with three broken fingers?" Sheppard interrupted, his voice dangerously calm. Smeden edged back toward the door, wondering why he left the armed guards outside the room as Sheppard rose.

"You don't understand that we nearly lost Atlantis thanks to a strike team who knew the city was empty?" Sheppard's eyes darkened as he took a step toward the minister. "You don't understand that two of my men were killed, and the Genii sent more than sixty of their people to their deaths?"

Smeden's eyes widened as he backed away. "I don't…I didn't..."

"You really ought to know better than to let a source you tortured go free. He's bound to talk."

The minister found himself literally backed into a corner. There was nothing left for him to do but confess. "Major Sheppard, I was assured that no one would be hurt. The Genii told us that you had stolen something from them, that they needed to retrieve."

"They didn't mention how they betrayed us?" Sheppard asked. He was in Smeden's face now. "Used us to get intel on the Wraith, then tried to steal our ships and weapons?"

Smeden shook his head quickly, looking down. "I am sorry for the loss of your men, Major Sheppard. If I had known that the Genii had other motives, I would not have contacted them. Our people have been allies for many generations, and I had trusted them."

Sheppard glared down at the man. "Well, there are a lot of dangerous people out there. You need to be careful about who you trust."

"What happens now? Smeden asked.

Sheppard smiled coldly as he backed away from the minister. "I've sent a few of my people back to Atlantis. They'll be bringing the bodies of the dead strike team. After our people gone, you can give you condolences to the Genii."

"Sixty bodies…" Smeden breathed.

Sheppard shook his head. "There aren't any remains for most of them."

The Minister's eyes widened at that statement. What kind of people were these Atlanteans?"

"And after that?" Smeden asked.

"There's still that trade agreement," Sheppard said, smiling coldly. "We'll be in touch."

Smeden sank into a chair after Sheppard left. There was still over an hour until dawn. Not that he would be sleeping.