Collateral
By AntaresStar
Chapter 1: Low
Rated PG-13: For some character whumping, blood, ickiness, and language.
Summary: A trade mission to a planet turns into a kidnapping when rebels capture part of the SGA team as collateral for their cause. Lots of McKay, Beckett, Sheppard, team.
A/N: Possible spoilers for all episodes, including "The Eye". Takes place after this episode, but before "The Siege" or "Letters from Pegasus".
Elizabeth Weir sat in the mess slowly crunching a bowl of vitamin enhanced, military issue cereal. It was specially formatted for long term missions such as the Atlantis expedition, but that didn't make it taste any better. She sighed and put down her spoon, pushing the offending bowl away.
"Not hungry?" Major John Sheppard questioned as he sat down across from her, ripping open his own ration pack and diving in fingers first, not bothering to pour it into a bowl. "How could you possibly resist the five-star food of Uncle Sam?" he mumbled through a dry mouthful.
Weir smiled slightly but became grave, admitting, "I'm concerned about the food, actually."
Sheppard gulped and looked up with surprise and humor in his hazel eyes. "It's really not that bad, Elizabeth."
"Yes, I know. But our food supplies are running low. In a few months there won't be much left." She sighed. "Initially we figured that we would have negotiated with another world for food and supplies before long. The stores haven't lasted as long as we supposed though, and the Genii stole a great deal of our food stores along with the other supplies."
A moment of tense silence was broken by the major. "The Athosians say their crops are doing well on the mainland."
"It just won't be enough. They need that food as much as we do." Weir argued. "I'm going to authorize a mission to Talvik. Teyla was telling me about its people. They're a peaceful group that farms and trades with many worlds." Sheppard didn't miss the uncertainty in her voice.
"But…?" He questioned. If it was that simple they would have gone sooner.
"Teyla told me that they are sort of religious zealots. And the gods they worship…" She rubbed a hand over her tired face. "John, they worship the wraith."
Sheppard stared at her incredulously. "You're kidding, right? What kind of idiots would worship wraith?"
"What kinds of idiots would worship Goa'uld?" She responded. The question hung, an answer wasn't needed.
"I don't like it." Sheppard shook his head slowly. "How can we trust anyone that worships the wraith?"
Weir got up and carefully poured her uneaten cereal back into its package. "It's our only choice. We can't afford to run low on food. I'll brief everyone at the meeting." She folded the top of her breakfast package and tucked it into a pocket. "Have a good meal."
"I just don't like the idea of being on a planet whose inhabitants worship wraith." Dr. Rodney McKay complained. "I mean, before we know it we could be offered as a sacrifice or something."
Sheppard looked at him incredulously. "I said 'or something'." McKay repeated stepping down from the platform the Talvik stargate rested upon. "Look, we could select other planets to trade with. The statistical probability that one of them would have food that meets our nutritional standards is very great."
"Yes, but it could take a great deal of time to find another planet with whom to trade. I know the Talvins, I have traded with them on several occasions. They are fair and trustworthy, even if their ways are strange," Teyla explained. McKay didn't look convinced.
"Look McKay, if the locals get a little sacrificial or whatever, I'll be right here with my P-90. Right, Ford?" Sheppard said patting his gun.
"Yes, sir." Ford smiled, hefting his own weapon confidently.
"And I know you're the last person on Atlantis that would want us to run out of food." Sheppard jibed. McKay just scowled at him and brought a scanner out from his vest pocket.
The foursome had just exited the stargate located in the middle of a sizable clearing. Tall evergreens surrounded it and a well worn path led into the thick forest and out of site. "This is the way to their main trading village." Teyla led the way.
About twenty minutes of walking and the team crested a hill that overlooked a quaint village. Small huts made of what looked like logs and stone were arranged in a circular pattern around a main square. The square was crowded with over a hundred locals in brightly colored garments and a few obvious foreigners that stuck out in their unique clothes.
"As I said, they trade with many worlds." Teyla explained, leading then down to the village.
An older man with graying hair and a weathered face approached them. Teyla explained to the team that he was a chief trader in the village.
"Teyla, how wonderful to see you again. It has been much time." He immediately noticed the strange uniforms of the SGA team. "But these are not your people, the Athosians."
"No, Cota. These are friends from very far away. They are good people and you can trust them, you have my word."
Cota looked at them and nodded. "We welcome you then. Teyla has always been an honest trader."
Sheppard stepped forward. "Nice to meet you. I'm Major Sheppard; this is Lieutenant Ford, and Dr. McKay." They all shook hands.
"And what is it you wish to trade for?" Cota asked.
"Food." Sheppard answered simply. No reason to beat around the bush.
"Does your planet not yield food or have you had a famine?" Cota was surprised by the request.
Teyla intervened. "They are very far from their home world, as I said. They can no longer rely on it for provisions."
Cota nodded and told them it might be arranged. "And what are you offering in exchange?"
McKay stepped in. "Well, that all depends on what you want. We have blankets, medicine, information; really just about anything."
"Anything but weapons." Ford said bluntly, receiving an affirming nod from Sheppard.
"Medicine you say? That would be very useful; there is a sickness that has spread to many villagers."
"Sickness!" Rodney repeated. "Wh-What kind of sickness? Is it contagious?"
"Calm down." Sheppard ordered, turning to Cota. "Has it been spread to any other visitors?"
"No, it seems only to harm Talvins, no outsider has contracted it. It is a strange illness and causes sleepiness, sickness of the stomach, fever, muscle aches, and rarely death. Our healers have been unable to cure it or comfort the sick. Medical help would be sufficient for exchange of food."
Sheppard said, "We'll need to go home and consult our leader, then we'll return with medical help. Teyla, stay here and begin negotiating for the food. Ford, stay with her." He tossed McKay's scanner to them. "Check out the food." They both nodded. "Come on McKay, back to the base."
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