Collateral

By AntaresStar

Chapter 4: Control

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.

A/N: Well, I had surgery on Monday and was pretty sick afterwards from the stuff they used to put me under. So, I'm not feeling too good, but wanted to get this chapter up for you all. I may go back when I'm not drugged and fix errors if I need to.

and a HUGE Thanks to Ch. 3 reviewers:

Sheryl (don't worry, lots of Carson-Rodney friendship on the way)

nebbyJ (thanks, poor Beckett indeed…don't worry though)

daffydonald (Ya gotta love Carson! Writing as fast as possible!)

TJ (Good, I like you on the edge of your seat, just don't chew that up because where would you sit to read the next chapter?)

Lillie23 (Yeah, poor guy!)

Katie (Thanks, hope you enjoy Ch 4)

Kate K(Yes, who can resist a heroic Sheppard! Ya gotta love him)

Illman (Yes, I agree, gory but necessary to the plot. That's why I have the rating at PG-13. Don't worry that was the worst of it…maybe!)

Pike2(Excellent, I love rollercoasters! Hold on tight.)

Goatcheese (Please don't eat my computer desk, how will I write?!)

…and anyone I may have left out in my drug-induced stupor.

Ford was panting and out of breath. He considered himself in good shape, but the mad dash to Talvik's stargate with Teyla had taken its toll. They had crept out of the village while some kind of commotion was happening in the hospital and sprinted to the gate.

Teyla leaned against the DHD and began to key the correct runes. Ford stood next to her, P-90 raised and ready, scouting the area. The stargate flashed to life and he sighed in relief.

Keying his radio, Ford announced breathlessly, "Atlantis base, this is Lieutenant Ford."

Weir's voice crackled "Is everything all right? Has something happened Lieutenant?" She sounded worried, as though she'd been dreading this.

"Yes, Dr. Weir. We shall explain everything to you once we have returned." Teyla replied.

"The gate is open, you are safe to proceed." Grodin's soft voice informed.

They stepped through, momentarily being spit into Atlantis's control room. "We need to talk." Ford called up to Weir. "Now."

In the hospital back on Talvik, Nurse Jennings was pacing anxiously. She couldn't do anything and knew it, but she still felt useless. Her teammates had been captured, and Beckett was wounded. She was blockaded in the hospital and hadn't been able to raise Ford or Teyla on her radio. They must have already gated home.

Valdoz laid a calming hand on her shoulder. "You must rest, conserve your strength so when the time comes, you will be ready to fight back."

A loud, soulful bell rung out, echoing around the village, signaling the start of a Holy Hour.

"What shall we do? We cannot enter our holy house?" A young healer cried.

"The wraith will bring their fury upon us!" A patient howled fearfully.

Jennings shook her head and turned to face them. "Listen, I really didn't want to get into this or anything, but we're stuck here for a while, and I can't help it." She realized she had raised her voice and her southern accent was becoming very prominent. She forced herself to calm down, controlling her voice. "I don't know where you got your information from, but the wraith are not gods. They are murdering villains; aliens that feed off other races like parasites. Do you know what a parasite is?"

They were gazing at her with horrified expressions. "Please stop! You don't-" a patient began but she cut him off.

"They can't hear us. They are not gods, just aliens. The rebels are right, although I don't agree with their methods of communication. Listen-" She took a deep breath and again forced her Georgian accent into check. "Listen, they will come and feed on you whether you worship them or not. It's like this everywhere. Hundreds of worlds. Understand?"

Sanly looked at her with trusting eyes. "I believe you, Nurse Jennings. I do not think gods would treat us as the wraith do." He was clutching the robe Beckett had left like a lifeline, eyes watery and tear streaks down his small face.

"Son, I would slap you if you weren't so ill. The blasphemy! You are young and trusting, you do not understand." Valdoz chastised. "Stop this talk now! Come, since we cannot go to our religious house, we shall make worship in here." The Talvins nodded, and all that were able stood and joined hands in the center of the room. They began chanting; "Oh glorious beings from above, with all of your greatness may you bless us…"

Jennings sighed. What was the point? They were all brainwashed.

As the last bell ring faded into twilight the rebel leader stepped cautously out of the Holy House. He yelled in a loud, commanding voice, "We will speak to your leaders. Now, or a hostage dies." He made a grab for a young man dressed in a brown vest and faded leather pants. He held his bloodstained knife to the man's throat.

Cautiously a few heads poked from houses, and the call the rebel made was repeated in whispers to neighbors. "He said he will kill them!", "We must listen!" , 'They are insane!"

The tall rebel shifted impatiently as three Talvins slowly approached, among them was Cota.

"We are unarmed" Cota said. He carried his hands out in front of him as proof.

"Good choice," said the tall rebel. "You will call me Blith. You will listen to me and my followers. We rule this town now."

The leaders exchanged nervous glances. The youngest one spoke up, "We are not violent. It is not our way. Why do you do this?"

Blith laughed. "You know why! You are fools, our whole race is! We worship those that see us only as livestock. Food! And we allow travelers from afar to walk on our ground and take our precious resources and goods. It's time for some changes."

"What do you propose?" The oldest leader asked cautiously.

Blith motioned one of his men forward and handed him the knife and terrified prisoner. He pulled out a scroll of paper from deep in his robe. "It is all listed here. Firstly, we will stop all worship of the wraith and practices involving them. Anyone caught in these practices will be executed immediately by my men. The second concern is trading. We will stop all further trading and exchange with all other worlds. We will bury the gateway and cover it in stones so no one will come through again."

The leaders looked at each other in shock. Cota exclaimed "But trade is our living. Without it we have nothing. It harms no one, it only helps us."

Blith growled angrily. "Foreigners have spread discord among us. They take our most valuable goods and give us nothing in return! Fools like you are responsible for this! We must be self-sufficient. We cannot depend on others!"

Blith retreated to the door. "By tomorrow have the town hall cleared out. We will set up government there and begin a new rule. Soon you will all see the errors of your ways."

Sheppard and McKay heard the whole exchange from their spot in the corner while Beckett slept fitfully between them, occasionally jerking awake only to fall back into semi-consciousness. Sighing, McKay griped, "Why are we always caught in the middle of these things?"

Sheppard did not grace him with an answer; he would like to know it himself. He suddenly sat up straighter, facing Rodney. "Hey McKay, I get why they took us captive now. Seems they don't like traders." He rubbed a hand across his disheveled face.

Blith had returned to the building, apparently the meeting was over. Blith did not look angry, but he wasn't smiling either. Does he ever smile? Sheppard wondered curiously. The Rebel leader sat heavily on a bench, hands on his face. He looked exhausted.

"What's wrong with him?" McKay asked suspiciously, studying the tyrant.

"I don't know. He's had a pretty trying day though, hasn't he? Kidnapping innocents, stabbing doctors, threatening children. It would wear on anyone."

McKay shook his head. "No, I think it's something more…" Beckett groaned and shifted between them. They watched him apprehensively but relaxed when he fell back to sleep. Rodney pursed his lips and whispered. "I think our rebel friend may have caught that nasty Talvin bug from Stanly."

Sheppard's eyes widened. "Go Stanly," he whispered as Blith finally lay down, looking decidedly green. "I hope it makes him sick as hell."

Folding his arms around bent knees, McKay shivered slightly. He was beginning to get cold and the rebels had taken their vests and overcoats, along with all of their food, radios, and supplies.

"Are you cold?" Sheppard asked, sounding bewildered. "It's pretty warm in here, really."

McKay scowled. "I have a low tolerance for cold."

Sheppard stared at him incredulously. "You're from Canada!"

"Yes, but I've never been captured by rebellious villagers while in Canada. I can have all the blankets and coats I need when I'm there. Besides, I haven't had anything to eat since this morning. When my blood sugar gets low, I get cold, ok?" He sounded defensive.

Sheppard glanced at him sharply, not missing the importance of Rodney's last statement. "Ok, sorry. Just chill."

Rodney threw him a disgusted look and snapped, "Funny, John. Real smart."

Back at the base, a team was preparing to depart. After discussing the situation, Dr. Weir had decided to send two diplomatic officers and eight armed men lead by Ford and Teyla. Hopefully they would be able to sort this situation out without looking like she was sending an army.

Grodin nodded at Ford as the gate swished to life. "You're clear to leave, Aiden. Godspeed."

Ford nodded at him and Dr. Weir, stepping through the gate.

As he arrived on the other side his radio immediately hissed at him. He grabbed it hurriedly and spoke. "What? Dr. Weir, is there a problem?"

But it was not Weir that answered him. A distinctively southern accent cried out, a little desperately. "Lieutenant Ford, this is May Jennings! I'm so glad to hear your voice; I've been trying to raise you for over an hour! Are you ok?"

A/N Review! Love ya'll! You keep me going. Chapter 5 should be up before Christmas…we'll see how sick I am though.