Title: Out of Control
Author: SlayersGrl
Summary: A routine trading mission goes awry when a member of Atlantis's flagship team is taken hostage by a mysterious entity.

Author's note: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I'm so glad you're all enjoying this story! It's so much fun to write! Your reviews help keep me going.

Chapter 7: Not for Sale

Dr. Carson Beckett was stunned by what the entity was proposing. "Major Sheppard's life is not for sale! Not even for a chance to return home!"

For a brief instant, the doctor thought he saw pity flash across the major's eyes. "You are trapped here?"

Weir hastily interrupted before too much information was revealed to the entity. It seemed to be able to draw some information from Sheppard's memory, but nothing vital to the security of Atlantis, or Earth for that matter. "In a manner of speaking… but we are not desperate enough to do what you are suggesting. We will find another way."

"Very well," the entity replied. "For now I wish to see the city of the Ancients."

"We're not going to let you just wander around the city by yourself."

"I understand that you will want to guard me. But I will see the city for myself. I believe the term is give and take, Dr. Weir. You give me something and I'll give you something in return."

She considered the proposal for a moment. "If I let you see Atlantis, will you let us talk to Major Sheppard?"

"Agreed. You keep your end of the bargain, and I assure I will keep mine."

Weid nodded her head. "Alright. Lieutenant," she said, turning to address the man standing next to her, "you're in charge of this little operation. He's not to touch any of our equipment or ask any questions about our operation. He's to look, not touch."

"Understood."

Then she turned her attention to Dr. Beckett. "Doctor, if I could have a word with you outside."

"Of course…" he replied, following her to where she stopped just outside the door.

"I want you to prepare some of that sedative for them to take along on this sight-seeing tour. I don't want to have to resort to… extreme measures… should the entity try to do something."

"Give me fifteen minutes and they'll be ready to go." At her nod, the doctor rushed off to begin his preparations.

True to his word, a quarter of an hour later he handed a few pre-loaded syringes to each member of the security team. Ford had also grabbed a few of the tasers from the weapons locker. None of this went unnoticed by the entity.

"I get the impression you don't trust me."

Ford glared back in response. "You're holding one of our men hostage. Give me one could reason why I should trust you."

It simply shrugged and then gestured towards the door where two armed men stood waiting. "Shall we go then?"

The group set up a tight formation around the major and then headed off towards the less inhabited part of the city. The plan was to stay away from as many base personnel as possible and keep the entity from examining their own technology. It seemed to be interested in the Ancients anyway. They might even be able to pick up some information about the technology that was left behind.

The tour started out uneventful if not boring. They briefly examined several rooms. McKay would offer some commentary about what they thought each room's purpose was and the entity would smile and either nod in agreement or shake its head and laugh. But it was the last room in this particular hallway that caught its attention.

"There it is…" it murmured, anticipation written on the major's face.

"We, uh, haven't figured out what this room is for yet." McKay hoped he could prompt the entity into revealing something.

It was currently wandering around the room as if looking for something. "It's the library," it said before stopping in front of a panel on the far wall. Before anyone could react, the major had brushed his hand over the panel.

"What did I say about touching?" Ford asked in a strained voice, raising his weapon.

The major grinned innocently and raised his hands in surrender. "Relax Lieutenant. I only wished to activate the library's avatar program."

And with that statement, a holographic image of a young woman appeared next to him. "What is your inquiry?" she asked.

The major said something unintelligible in response. The hologram paused for a moment before nodding. "The information you have requested has been received. Displaying now."

An image materialized against the back wall. The scene was of the temple back on Argos, but the building was in much better condition. There were villagers loitering around the temple and carrying out day-to-day business. Suddenly, a Wraith ship flashed across the screen. Chaos erupted as the people panicked and fled towards the temple. The city exploded in flames as the ships fired at everything in their paths. Those who did not die in the initial attack were soon fleeing from the ships as they tried to beam the survivors aboard. The video showed that some of the villagers actually made it to the temple before the image cut out. The next image displayed showed that some time had lapsed since the attack. The flames had almost all died out and the town had an eerie quality to it. There was no movement of any kind. Just death and destruction strewn about the streets. A voice echoed in the small room, speaking in the language of the Ancients.

"What's he saying?" Ford asked curiously.

"Everyone's gone. They either died in the attack or were taken," the major's voice responded. The raw emotion in the voice drew everyone's gaze to where he still stood next to the avatar. A single tear drop rolled down his face. "I couldn't save them."