The Journey
Chapter 5
A/N: Sorry about the long delay between updates, but no matter how long it takes me to get all of this fic up, eventually I'll get all four stories in the series posted. It's just University work that is keeping me very busy (along with another WIP). Even in Oxford the days only have 24 hours. Thank you for your patience.
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John pulled up his P90, cursing not having a portable life sign detector with him. He was sure that someone had brought the device with them, but he had been in no shape to pack his gear for the mission. He and Teyla carefully made their way out of the upper control room. They swiftly moved through the corridors not encountering anyone, as expected. But better safe than sorry, it would not be the first time that the life signs detector lulled them into a false sense of security, making them believe that they were indeed alone. It was unlikely that they were going to encounter the Wraith inside a temple that had been sealed for possible thousands of years, but as they had learned years ago, the Wraith were capable of surviving for millennia on very little food. There was always the possibility that their arrival had not only triggered the signal alerting the nearest hive ship, but had also awakened any hibernating Wraith within the temple.
They had barely arrived on the lower level, when John started to get the feeling that they were not alone. He was literally sensing another presence in his mind. It was not clear enough to make out distinct emotions, let alone thoughts, all he could really sense was an alien, cold presence somewhere in the dark hallways ahead of them. He turned to Teyla, who just nodded, confirming that she was feeling the same thing. He hadn't needed to ask the question, Teyla sensed it on his mind, the shot that Dr. Beckett had given them to suppress the telepathic abilities was wearing off. John recalled the doctor telling them that one of the shortcoming of the experimental drug were that a shot only worked for about six hours. Soon the intense headaches would invariable return until he could get another dose. But for the moment, he valued his ability. It didn't quite make up for a life sign detector, but at least it confirmed that they were headed in the right direction. Silently, weapons ready, they proceeded down the hallways, following the direction where the presence seemed to come from. They had just turned a corner when suddenly the corridor closed behind them. John spun around just in time to see solid stone cut off their way back. He looked at Teyla.
"We must be getting close. " she whispered. "But there is probably another way out."
"If not, Rodney can probably unlock the corridor from the control console." John said. "Come, we can worry about this later, we have to find the others. If we're dealing with a Wraith who hasn't eaten in a few hundred years, we are in serious trouble."
They were about to proceed, but didn't get very far. After less than two steps, another door closed right in front of them, imprisoning them in a tiny section of corridor, barely two steps wide.
-
Beckett sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. He was exhausted. Physically, he was fine, better than fine, especially for someone, who had been slammed into a stone wall and cracked his head open a few hours ago. Dying had taken far less out of him than he would have expected. It was his mind that had some trouble catching up. From the beginning he had had some trouble wrapping his head around the concept of this Athosian prophecy. As the events had started to fall into place and confirm the prophecy, he had started to accept it, but still hadn't believed any of it. And now he had become a part of it. The genetics of the Ancients and the way they were linked to some humans were still not very well understood. He had studied the Ancient genes for over three years and still was in the dark about how most of it work. He had figured out how the ATA gene worked, but that was about it. He knew little else about other Ancient genes, which both Major Sheppard and he himself apparently possessed. Were they more human or more Ancient now? They had both abilities that no normal human possessed, abilities that the Ancients or at least some Ancients had possessed. He ran a hand over his face. He'd never practice medicine the same way again once he learned to control the healing gene.
"I got it!" McKay yelled, distracting Carson from his ponderings. He got up and joined McKay at the massive console in the middle of the room.
"I found it. This is the control system for all the entrances of the temple. It's like a security system. It even has a lockdown mode. For some reason, that lockdown mode has been engaged. Something must have triggered it."
"So we are locked in."
"Yes, but I think, I know how to override the lockdown mode. But I need John to do it. It's gene specific and it won't work for me." Rodney didn't sound pleased.
Suddenly the console started to beep and lights started blinking.
"What the hell…" McKay started punching key, but to no avail, the console went dark.
"I'm no computer scientist, but did the Ancient supercomputer just crash?" Beckett asked.
"No, it didn't crash. Ancient supercomputers don't crash. Someone kicked me out of the system." McKay kept punching keys as he spoke and the screen flickered back to life after a few seconds. "There is someone else logged into the system. Someone who actually has access codes, I just came in through the back door. But now, they closed the back door."
"Maybe this would be a good time to contact Major Sheppard." Beckett suggested, trying not to sound as freaked out as he was. He wished he had stayed in the city.
For once McKay didn't argue with him, but grabbed his radio and switched it on.
"Major Sheppard, this is McKay, please come in."
He met was static. Just when he thought, he was not going to get a reply, he heard Sheppard's voice over the radio. He sounded breathless, as if speaking was on effort.
"McKay, get out of there. There is something…here. Teyla and I …trapped … air is getting thin."
-
John was crouched on the stone floor of the corridor. It was impossible to sit properly between the narrow walls, but it was the best he could do. He forced himself to take slow, clam breath as not to waste valuable oxygen, as he listened to McKay on the radio.
"I know that we aren't alone. Someone kicked me out of the computer, I can't access the control system. Where are you?" McKay reacted to the dire situation with his usual verbosity.
"Scan for life signs." John gasped, as his body screamed for oxygen. It was becoming more difficult to focus on his conversation with McKay. He glanced at Teyla, she was looking at him, a strained smile on her face. At least they were together. He was holding her hand. Even as he refused to give in to their fate.
"Hell, just try something!" his voice was weak, but the desperation rang through. John gasped from the effort, unable to get enough oxygen into his lungs. His vision started to grey and he let his head sink down to his knees and gave Teyla's hand a last squeeze, letting the gesture express the words he didn't have the strength to speak.
TBC
A/N: The next update is already written, so it'll be up soon.
