TITLE: What is Needed Most part 3
AUTHOR: sablecain
DISCLAIMER: see part 1
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Part 3
Darkness had fallen and still McKay walked, following along the path where Kolya's men led him. He'd rummaged into his pack at one point, causing everyone around him to overreact. Weapons were cocked and aimed; his arms pulled roughly away from the offending threat…all over an energy bar. Kolya had sworn and barked out an order to keep moving. At least the Commander had let him eat the stupid snack, McKay thought as he plunged further into the thick forest. He was starving, and he was thirsty.
Kolya pushed past him,taking the lead and conferring with his men. Rodney stopped walking. "Are we anywhere near wherever it is you're taking me?" he questioned, exhaustion swamping him.
"Shut up," someone commanded behind him. Everyone else ignored him.
"Just saying." Rodney shrugged innocently. "I can only go so far with no real food or water you know."
The soldier who'd spoken stepped closer, threateningly. "Shut. Up." He thrust his fist harmlessly at McKay and the doctor flinched back only to have the man laugh at his reaction.
"McKay."
Rodney spun around to face Kolya.
"This way." Kolya took him by the arm and directed him, almost as if giving a tour. "Duck your head," he instructed.
McKay obeyed and when Kolya motioned for him to straighten up again he was surprised to find they had entered a large cave. The walls of the cave had been shored up against any possible collapse and a crude string of dim electric lights lit the entire area. Somewhere in the depths of the cave,Rodney recognized the hum of a generator. "Nice." He swallowed back a wave of claustrophobia. "Nice set up." There were over a dozen men and a few women, all dressed in military garb scattered around the huge cavern.
"It's a start," Kolya acknowledged. "When Cowen decided I was no longer an…asset to his operation, I needed a place to run to ground."
"And you had to be literal about it?" Rodney raised an eyebrow, skeptically.
Kolya's grunt could have been interpreted as a laugh. "Some of my men," the commander motioned around the 'room', "Decided to join me. We found this place and though we still have a long way to go…we're making progress."
McKay bit back a sarcastic comment and simply nodded.
"Rogers will show you to your quarters." Kolya gestured and a young blond haired soldier barely old enough to shave, stepped forward.
"I have quarters?" McKay asked, genuinely surprised.
Kolya grinned and a chill swept through Rodney. "Of a sort." He walked away, leaving Rodney with little choice but to follow Rogers deeper into the damp unwelcoming darkness.
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John double checked his life signs detector and signaled for the troops to wait for his lead. They'd arrived on the Smyrnian's world just after dark and so far no lights had appeared on screen other than those indicating their own lives. The wind stirred the tall grassy field giving it the eerie illusion of being in motion. As unsettling as the field was in broad daylight, it was absolutely terrifying at night.
"Too many horror movies," Sheppard muttered to himself, as he signaled again for his men to move out in groups of two. He'd wanted to bring the puddle jumpers this time but Weir had been adamant. It was still toodangerous to leave Atlantis defenseless, she'd argued, pointing out that they were already without their best pilot. Sheppard had taken the unspoken but obviously implied guilt and filed it under "ignore," before walking away from her. Part of him understood her position but the other was too focused on Rodney. Without McKay, he wasn't actually sure they could ever properly defend Atlantis, and beyond that need…McKay was part of his team, a part that he'd let be dragged away in captivity.
"Major," Teyla's voice sounded in his ear piece as the quick moving troops spilled out of the field and into the village…or what was left of it. "There are no signs that any of the Smyrnians remain."
"I see it," Sheppard answered. He knew he was grasping at straws, coming back to the Smyrnians, but he had to try.
"There's no sign of anyone, Major." Lt. Ford was coming toward him, the light on his P90 bouncing like it was floating in mid air as he jogged. "The place is deserted." The young man's voice was filled with disappointment and anger. "What do we do now?"
Sheppard's eyes scanned the village, watching as his men searched everywhere, just in case, but knowing they'd find nothing. Vicily had insinuated as much when he'd let them go. It was time to pay another visit to the Genii.
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Rodney gaped in horror as Rogers pointed to his "room." He looked at the young soldier grinning at him and shook his head. "No way. You can't expect me to go in there." He gestured to the two foot wide opening that was barely as tall as he was. Inside he could see some kind of dim light. It illuminated enough of the room's features for him to fear the small space.
Soldier boy shrugged and nudged him forward, pushing him through the hole.
McKay spun around, attempting to push his way back out but the weapon leveled at his head stopped him. Taking a slow shaky breath, he held up his hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay. I stay here."
Rogers nodded, then turned around, taking up a guard stance just outsidethe open doorway.
"You're talkative," Rodney muttered. "Great." He shook his head. "Wonderful."
He looked around, examining his accommodations carefully and fighting his claustrophobia. The room was about eight feet long and four feet deep. A bedroll sat in one corner and a bare light bulb dangled against the wall from a wire.The light played on the dirt walls creating a haunting array of shadows. Glancing at the opposite corner, he wrinkled his nose in disgust to find anempty bucket. "Unbelievable," he said, sinking to his knees resignedly and unrolling his 'bed'. He slipped the pack off his back, groaning as a wave of pain raced through him. He could only imagine what kind of bruise he was sporting. Sitting cross-legged on the bedroll he checked to see how much attention Rogers was paying and unzipped his pack.
Pulling out his scanner, the first thing he checked wasthe surrounding life signs. Disappointment washed over him as the small screen lit up with over two-dozen little lights. He sighed heavily, looking up again at his guard. Even if he could take out the young soldier, there was no way he could feasibly sneak out of the disorienting cave without someone noticing. Fiddling with the scanner,he wondered if there was any way he could program it to send some kind of signal to Atlantis. His head ached and he found it difficult to concentrate on the problem. If only he still had his radio. True, the gatehad to be dialed in order to make any contact, buthe knew it wouldn't be long before Sheppard would be on thisplanet looking for him and with the radio…he could send a signal through the Major's frequency. That is if the Smyrnian's had let his team go.
A new fear overwhelmed him, stopping him cold as he remembered watching Vicily hold a weapon against Teyla's head. What if…. He choked on the sudden lump in dry throat. No, he wouldn't believe that, he couldn't…. But even as he tried to convince himself that Sheppard and the others were fine, an indescribable loneliness settled in the pit of his stomach.
Movement outside his tiny prison jerked him to awareness and he quickly shoved his scanner into his pack and pushed the pack itself behind him.
It was Kolya who ducked into the room. He carried a tin plate of food and a canteen of what Rodney prayed was water. "I see you're making yourself comfortable." Kolya's smirk looked evil in the flickering light. He squatted in front of McKay and held out the food like an offering. "My apologies for the delay."
Rodney took the plate and canteen. "You're just fortunate I haven'tpassed out from hunger," hesnorted. He took a hesitant sip from the canteen, wincing as the cool metal scraped his split lip, and then drank greedily. He ignored Kolya's amused smile. "What happened to the rest of my team?" Rodney asked, lowering the canteen and recapping it. He picked up a piece of meat from the plate, noting the lack of utensils. He examined the greasy morsel and sniffed it before deciding he didn't want to know what it was. He met Kolya's eyes as he took a bite and waited for the Commander to answer.
Kolya's face lost its smile. "The Smyrnian's were given orders to escort your team back to the stargate after an hour."
"But did they?" McKay swallowed the flavorless meat. "I don't know what you want from me, or why you have me here…but I don't intend to do anything for you until I'm positive that Major Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan and Lt. Ford were returned to Atlantis safely."
Kolya shifted and looked down. "You'll just have to accept my word. They were released unharmed," hesaid sincerely, meeting McKay's challenging gaze again. "Now hand over your pack," heordered.
Rodney didn't move. He lifted his chin slightly, trying to hold his ground.
"Don't make me take it from you, Doctor." Kolya's stare intensified and he stood up, towering over McKay.
Reluctantly, Rodney reached behind him and pulled out his pack. He handed it to Kolya. "I'll need that," hesaid as Kolya turned to go.
"You'll get it back in the morning."
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"I'm taking the jumpers," Sheppard stood his ground this time. "We need to catch the Genii with as much power as possible," hepointed out.
Elizabeth stood behind her desk, her arms crossed defensively. "They'll be expecting you."
"All the more reason to take as much power as we can. It worked last time."
"And don't you think they'll be prepared for it now?" Her eyes flashed between anger and fear. She wanted to help Rodney but to leave Atlantis defenseless….
"Prepared or not, we still have more fire power." John ran his hand throughhis hair, his frustration growing. Why couldn't she understand? "And you won't be defenseless."
"Who's going to fly the other jumper?" Elizabeth challenged stubbornly.
"I will." The new voice startled both of them as Dr. Beckett stepped into the office, determinedly.
"Carson." Elizabeth shook her head as Beckett wrung his hands nervously. Then it was like he flipped an inner switch. He stood taller and looked defiant.
"I'm the first one to tell ya I'm not apilot, I know that." He looked at John then back to Weir. "But I came up here to tell you both I am going on this mission."
"We need you here." Weir glanced at John, expecting him to back her up but he merely shrugged as if there was nothing he could…or would do to persuade Beckett differently.
"No you don't, lass. There's plenty o'doctors who can take care of what's needed 'tilI return, but I'll not be leaving Rodney out there with no one. We don't know what's been done to him," he reminded in a softer, frightened tone. "I'm going."
Elizabeth looked at him then at Sheppard again and sighed wearily, sinking into her chair. "Who will you leave in charge here?"
"Bates, and I'll leave Evans as well."
She picked up a pen and absently twirled it across the back of her fingers, dropping it. Her hands were shaking. "When are you leaving?" sheasked finally.
"Just before daybreak," Sheppard answered.
The office was quiet for a few moments before Elizabeth spoke again. "You'll find him," shesaid softly, as if she were trying to simply reassure herself.
John watched her closely. He took in the sag of her shoulders and the weary way she slumped in her chair. He didn't envy her the burden of being in charge. Hell, it was hard enough handling the military side of things and he knew he added to at least half of her burden himself. As angry as he could get with some of her decisions, he understood that she had the entire city to consider. What happened to Rodney was tearing her up more than she would ever let on.
"I will find him," Sheppard found his voice and tried to sound confident.
It took a moment, but finally Weir nodded in agreement. "Just bring everyone home in one piece," she requested. "Please."
