A/N: Well, here's another one for you guys :) seems to be slow in accepting new chapters but I've been keeping with my promise and have written one a day so far. This one feels a little longer then the others but that could only be because it took me a bit longer to write it. Hope ya all enjoy this, though!

A/N 2: Okay, I've revised and fixed it up so it's better now )

Stargate Atlantis:
Nemesis

Chapter 3
The Mousetrap

Mister Norton Goldos looked like a pretty normal man to Sheppard, as normal as alien humans from other planets were, anyway. Norton's attire was quite like that of a typical man out of the Renaissance, he almost reminded John of a pirate, except he didn't have a cutlass. His face was that of a young man, not a single line or wrinkle was to be found there; his sandy blonde air dropped slightly into his dark green eyes. He was standing not far from the DHD, looking rather pleased when the Puddle Jumper emerged from the Stargate. He stood there waiting for his potential trading partners, if that's what he was waiting for, with his hands resting neatly in front.

'Well, sir, he looks pretty harmless,' Davey said, 'maybe he does have that ZPM.'

'Maybe,' Sheppard said, 'but I wouldn't count our chickens just yet.' At that, he brought the Jumper down for a smooth landing, feeling not even a bump as they touched down in the grass. He hit the button on the council and the back door opened as Norton made his way towards the ship.

The major and his two team-mates took up their weapons, stepped out of the Jumper and headed towards their mysterious new friend, if he could be called friend. John still had a rather bad feeling about this, in fact his hunch told him this was probably a bad idea.

'Hello!' Norton said as he ran towards them, waving his hand. 'I'm Norton, the one who sent the recording!' He seemed quite excited to finally meet them.

'I'm Major Sheppard, this is Private Davey, Lieutenant Jones,' John gestured to each of his team-mates in introduction. Norton seemed even more pleased now that he had learned their names.

'I'm so glad you decided to come! It's not just that I want something from you, but I'm pleased to give the location of this valuable item to those who have come to the City of the Ancestors; I am sure you are there with their blessing!' John eyed Norton for a moment, still not trusting him, despite how happy he was acting and how convincing he seemed.

'Yeah, about that…' Sheppard said, 'how exactly do you know so much about us?'

'Ah, I've got friends... in very high places,' Norton said, his tone relatively calmer. And then it came. It happened so fast.

Jones went first, taking a bullet straight to the head. He fell prone against the Jumper, blood seeping from his the hole in his head. Sheppard moved quickly, pulling his P90 up to his shoulder just as Norton stepped back, appearing to be quite shocked.

'What's going on?!' he asked, panicked. Sheppard ignored him for a moment, dropping to the ground with Davey, it was the least they could do; especially considering making a run for the Jumper would probably get them killed. Norton remained standing, though and Sheppard looked at him sharply.

'Get down!' he urged, still unsure if he could trust the other. Even if he could not, Norton had not killed one of his men. The major, however, immediately regretted his error as he heard Davey cry out sharply behind him.

Norton had shot his other man in the shoulder and now the supposed trader was holding a gun to him, a weapon Sheppard recognized; it looked exactly the same as the pistols used by the Genii. He hoped that didn't mean anything.

'Drop the gun, Major! You, too, Private!' Norton ordered, watching as the two of them let go of their weapons and Norton grabbed each of them, stuffing his pistol back in his pocket. Sheppard stood up, now at gun point; he felt a slight relief in that his knife hadn't been taken yet. He also doubted that they'd find it, considering its hiding place under his pant leg. He'd begun employing that tactic not long ago; it was something Teyla did.

'So, I take it you don't really have a ZPM, do you, Norton?' Sheppard spoke out, not planning to submit.

'Of course he doesn't, Major Sheppard, but it was the perfect ploy to draw you here,' Sheppard stiffened a little as he heard the voice of another, a newcomer; a voice he recognized too well. The same voice that had told him Weir had died, tricked him into believing it. A voice whose owner he had pleaded with to spare her life over the sound of the waves rocking Atlantis when that awful storm had struck, bringing with it the cursed forces of the Genii.

'Koyla,' Sheppard practically the spat the name, absolutely certain of who the voice belonged to. And sadly, he was correct. Koyla stepped out of the nearby trees and came to stand beside Norton. He wore a long black coat and under it was also only black, attire that looked a bit more modern then that of the Genii. At his side the commander held a rifle and Sheppard immediately knew Koyla had killed Jones.

'I was hoping they'd send you; the tables have turned,' Koyla said, a little smile crossing his lips as he circled his prisoner. John resisted the urge to do anything, to attack Koyla for fear of what would happen to Davey. He'd already lost a man, he wouldn't lose another. So he just stood there, keeping his expression from giving anything away while his mind raced.

'For once…' Sheppard answered calmly, refusing to show fear in the face of his adversary. 'I'm sure it won't be long before they turn back in my favour.'

'I doubt that very much,' the other shot back, 'you're at a grave disadvantage. In fact, major, you should've killed me when you had the chance, it would've been smarter.'

'Don't worry,' Sheppard retorted, 'it's on my to-do list.'

'For someone in your position, you make bold threats,' Koyla said with a sneer. Sheppard shrugged.

'What do you want?' he demanded.

'It's very simple, major; I want your ship, this Atlantian space craft,' Koyla gestured to the Puddle Jumper, 'according to the lovely Dr. Weir, only certain people can operate Ancient technology and you're one of them.'

'Oh, well I'm sorry, Koyla, but you've got the wrong guy,' Sheppard lied, knowing it probably wouldn't get him anywhere, though it did buy him a little more time to figure a way out of this. He glanced at Davey, seeing the private remained quiet and looked very pained as the blood dripped from his shoulder wound.

'I hope you don't expect me to take that seriously,' the Genii commander sneered again. 'You flew one of these ships when you went with my people to the Wraith ship. And even if Weir was lying, you're still more valuable to me alive. And if you decide not to co-operate,' he glanced at the wounded private who stood beside John, 'then you'll lose another one of your men. I don't think you're willing to take that chance.'

Sheppard met Koyla's triumphant expression with a cold stare; his enemy was correct, he wouldn't endanger Davey's life anymore then he already had. So now he would need a plan, some way to get out of this mousetrap that Koyla had drawn him into.