TITLE: What is Needed Most part 4

AUTHOR: sablecain

DISCLAIMER: see part 1

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Part 4

It was just before dawn when the jumpers went through the gate. Weir watched from the control room as a determined Sheppard and a visibly nervous Beckett took off. She hoped and prayed she had made the right decision. Atlantis needed them all and she couldn't bear the thought of losing anyone else. They'd lost too many lives to this galaxy already. Maybe, in the end, that was why she had let them go. She wasn't willing to lose Rodney either. Her hatred for Kolya burned as she heard both Sheppard and Beckett confirm they'd made it through the event horizon without any problems. She reached for the radio. "Stay in regular contact," she reminded, feeling no guilt that she hoped Sheppard really did get the chance to kill the Commander this time.

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Rodney grunted and shifted uncomfortably on the lumpy bedroll. With bleary eyes, he squinted at his watch checking the time…again, and wondered what was in store nowthat morning was finally arriving. Time had seemed to crawl as the night passed in the dank hole. He had finished his food, used the dreaded bucket and done his best to sleep, but the ground felt more like rock than dirt and the aches and pains in his back made real sleep impossible, not to mention the constant fear and apprehension. He wondered where Major Sheppard was.

"Dr. McKay." Kolya's voice startled him and he scrambled clumsily to sit up. A small groan escaped despite his efforts to keep it in. His lip felt like it was four times larger than it should have been.

"What?" he snapped, rubbing his eyes.

Kolya smiled. "Time to earn your keep."

McKay huffed and shook his head. "Do I at least get fresh water to wash my face or breakfast even?" He struggled to stand but a spasm in his back knocked him onto his butt with an undignified yelp.

Without a word, Kolya held out a hand, offering help. Rodney hesitated, not wanting to accept anything from his captor, but eventually his common sense won the battle over his pride. He grasped Kolya's hand and allowed the commander to haul him to his feet.

Kolya waited until McKay was steady before releasing him. "Follow me."

Rodney obeyed, following Kolya deeper into the cave's depths. He noticed then that a new boy soldier had replaced his guard Rogers.

"You can wash up here." Kolya gestured to a bench along the dirt packed wall. On it sat a basin filled with water and a pile of neatly folded towels. "Be quick about it."

Rodney tried not to think of how many others might have already 'washed up' with the same icy cold water as he quickly splashed his face and rinsed his hands. At least the towels looked clean, he thought, using one to dry off.

"Better?" Kolya motioned for him to leave his towel there.

"Some," McKay admitted reluctantly, as they continued down the tunnel.

They had gone no more than twenty feet from the water basin when the tunnel opened up into another wide cavernous room, shored up with wooden supports. There were two other tunnels branching off, one on the right, the other to the left. In the center of the cavern sat an unusual looking device that immediately reminded Rodney of the organ his grandmother used to play every time he visited. Even from where he stood McKay could recognized the language of the ancients carved along the dark paneled sides.

"Is this why I'm here?" He walked past Kolya approaching the device and ignoring the tense reaction as his new guard raised his weapon. "What is it?" He circled the device slowly.

Kolya waved the guard to relax. "That's what I want you to tell me." He approached, handing McKay his pack. "I believe it's possibly a weapon, left behind by the ancients when they fled the Wraith."

"You found it here?" McKay asked skeptically, taking his pack and immediately checking that everything was still there. Why would the ancients leave a weapon here? He wondered to himself.

"No." Kolya's tone made it clear he wasn't going to tell McKay where he'd found it.

"Why would the ancients leave a weapon behind if it was effective?" The device was mesmerizing; the top panel slanted from the front up to the back, and was covered with rectangular shaped, colored crystals.

"Maybe it's programmable and the ancients used it to hold off the Wraith while they escaped. I don't know, that's why I've got you," Kolya explained.

Rodney looked up from the machine. "So you expect me to just make this work so you can use it against whomever you feel like?"

Kolya nodded. "That's my plan."

"What if I refuse?"

"You won't."

"There's no one here to hold at gun point in order to coerce me this time," Rodney reminded.

Kolya was silent, his congenial expression turning to stone. "No…only you."

The implication was clear. Rodney swallowed nervously, his throat suddenly very dry. "Shooting me defeats your entire purpose."

"Who said anything about shooting anyone?" Kolya snapped his fingers and two more guards emerged from the side tunnels. They moved quickly, grabbing McKay's arms.

"Hey!" Rodney struggled but they held him immobile as Kolya advanced. "You need me," McKay insisted, his eyes darting around the room frantically searching for any escape.

Kolya stopped in front of him, nodding. "I do need you, Dr. McKay. Don't abuse that." The blow came quickly, solidly, pounding into Rodney's gut and knocking the air out of him. His knees gave out as he focused on breathing, but the Genii soldiers held him upright. Kolya leaned in close, his mouth almost brushing McKay's ear. "You will get this machine to work," he hissed. "And don't try to tell me you can't. I've seen your work, doctor. I know your capabilities." He pulled back and nodded to the guards to release McKay.

Rodney swayed but managed to stay on his feet, glaring at the Commander.

"Get to work," Kolya ordered. "I'll be back in an hour."

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The raid on the Genii had worked exactly like Sheppard had planned…almost. The jumpers had flown through the gate just before dawn and the teams had caught Cowen and those closest to him completely unprepared. Most of the underground city was oblivious still to the invasion as Sheppard, Ford, Teyla and Beckett ledthe others in their group in a stealthy attack. Now, though Sheppard's confusion and anger was about more than he could handle as Lt. Ford held Cowen under guard and John realized the Genii leader was just as confused and angry as he was.

"What the hell do you mean?" Sheppard demanded. "Where's McKay?"

Cowen scowled but shook his head as two of his men tried to struggle out of Teyla and Stackhouse's grasps. The Genii stilled at Cowen's unspoken command. "I have no idea where Dr. McKay is. What is the meaning of this, this invasion?"

"This is how we tend to respond when we're ambushed and our people are taken against their will." Sheppard's voice got louder.

"I told you I have no idea…" Cowen started to repeat himself.

"No, of course not. Commander Kolya just took Dr. McKay under his own volition, no orders from you? Are you going to try and tell me that you didn't order him to take Atlantis either?"

Cowen stilled instantly, a new look of outrage coming over him. "Kolya?" The animosity was clear to everyone.

John lowered his weapon. "What?"

Sighing wearily, Cowen shook his head. "I removed Kolya of his command after his failures and his obsessions became evident. His attempt on Dagan against the Quindosim was unauthorized. He has become a liability."

"You removed him, did you?" John rolled his eyes.

Cowen continued. "Kolya and a small contingent of our military have split off and formed a resistance. We believe he is planning an attempt to overthrow our current governing leadership."

"And replace you," Teyla filled in. "What would he want with Dr. McKay?"

"I have no idea."

Sheppard tapped his trigger finger against the side of his P90 as he tried to figure out his next plan of action. "We'll do a search." He looked at Cowen. "Kolya's still on this world?"

After a moment's hesitation, Cowen nodded. "We believe so, but we haven't found his headquarters yet. We think they've taken up deep in the far side of the forest."

"With our sensors, it shouldn't take us long to find them," Lt. Ford spoke up.

Cowen's eyes narrowed at the lieutenant, then he nodded. "I'll give my permission for you to search on the condition you share all your information with me."

Sheppard grinned, shaking his head. "See, here's where I don't think you understood me." His smile slipped into a fierce scowl. "I'm not asking your permission and as for sharing information…Kolya is mine."