If I Die
Chapter Eighteen - Mice and Men
Sheppard had tried being reasonable, but Amin's departure had put paid to that. The Hallan had gone to spread the news, to speak to a scouting party who had managed to break the mountain boundary without being seen.
He guessed that had been about twenty minutes ago, but it felt longer, enough to have him climbing the walls, as much as Amin's men would allow him. Ford stood at military rest in the shadow of the wall, watching the guards and casting glances at the door. Teyla sat beside McKay, empty of bandages and painkillers, cradling the scientist's head in her lap. He'd been slipping in and out of consciousness since his investigation of the Silani computer, more out than in, and their last conversation had been brief and none too lucid.
"McKay?"
"Whnf?"
"Thought we'd lost you for a second."
"Oh, no. I'm fine. Super-fine."
Devla was back at his spot along the opposite wall, crouching, knees hugged to his chest. Sheppard was aware of being watched, but every time he turned the boy's study turned to the pedestals.
Amin had left his men with strict instructions not to touch the computers, and in the meantime the machines seemed to have automatically shut down, returning to their previous undisturbed state. With their light extinguished Sheppard became aware of the dawn, sunlight warming the earth as it trickled through the outside undergrowth.
Four hours before Elizabeth would call, as much good as it would do them, with their radios, packs and weapons in the possession of the Hallan. And besides…
He glanced at McKay.
"He is going to die," Devla said suddenly, his voice soft.
Sheppard let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping. "Yes," he replied, simply. "I think so."
Devla gently knocked one foot against his opposite ankle, chewing on his lip. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah." He dropped back against the wall. "So am I."
A flurry of activity outside signaled the return of Amin. He strode through the door with a smile on his face, his men stepping aside and basking in his glow. Sheppard made no effort to acknowledge his return, save for a dull: "Good news?"
"Much." Amin beamed. "The news of our discovery has spread through our numbers, into the city itself. Soon all Silan will know of our discovery. The Hallan are re-energized, Major, we are reborn."
"How nice for you," Ford muttered, stood beside Teyla.
Amin had either never encountered sarcasm, or chose to ignore it. "Indeed. Even the council forces will hear soon enough. I believe it will not be long until their scouting parties turn their attention away from you."
Sheppard lifted his head, his interest piqued. "You've deliberately let Marikar know of your discovery?"
"Of course, Major." Simply: "We wish all our people to know."
"But the council will send their men here, you see that, don't you?" He shook his head in confusion. "No offence, but there are more of them than you –"
"And we are outgunned." Amin raised a hand. "I am not naïve. Marikar will order his men here, and we will be ready for them, but whilst we wait the rumor will grow. The movement of troops cannot be concealed from our people, and in their actions the council proclaims their lie." He turned, looked at his men proudly. "We Hallan dedicate our lives to the profit of our people. The council forces follow orders to ensure there is food in their bellies and money for their wives. Few will remain to protect the council. Marikar may order his men here, but few will come, and we are ready to defend this outpost."
"You plan for the city to rebel before Marikar can take control," Teyla said, softly.
Another smile. "You are correct."
Sheppard frowned, reviewing the cliff notes in his head. "You'll divide the security forces," he said, slowly. "Will they continue to hold the Stargate?"
The question seemed to rattle Amin, who blinked in confusion. "The Circle?" Then he seemed to catch up, shaking his head. "Marikar will not abandon his search for you. He will not leave the Circle unguarded."
"But we're no longer important –"
"He no more believes that than I."
Sheppard stepped closer to Amin, trying to stare the man down. "He'll need his men elsewhere. It could give us a chance."
"A small one." Amin took a deep breath, then stepped back. "It is better that you stay here. Wait until the council are overthrown, and you can be escorted back safely."
He snapped, unable to take anymore. Had been up for too long, without sleep, pushed around by fake smiles and lies, and now his jacket was ruined with blood stains. "McKay doesn't have that long and you know it! We can't just sit here until you decide it's safe for us to leave!"
"And what of your team?" Amin argued. "You would sacrifice their lives as well as your own battling Marikar's guards?"
Sheppard was aware of Ford slipping into place beside him. "We don't leave people behind," the younger man said, simply.
"Major Sheppard is not in a position to make that decision. It is ours alone."
Amin paused, looking from Teyla to Ford, then back to Sheppard. Then suddenly, in an impulsive movement, he crossed the small space to where Teyla sat. Sheppard watched, tense, but said nothing, only putting out a hand to stop Ford from reacting. He saw the Hallan leader crouch beside McKay, saw a hand reach out and, with surprising tenderness, rest against the scientist's cheek.
"You would risk your lives for a man already lost?"
"He's not –" and Sheppard stopped, taking a deep breath. "You've seen we have more technology than you," he said, struggling to remain reasonable, clinging to hope. To the pity Amin was showing towards McKay. "So do our doctors."
"You believe they can save him?"
"If we get him back now, yes." And he couldn't be sure if it were a lie. Took a step towards the Hallan leader. "I know your main concern is the council. I sympathize with what your people are going through. But we didn't ask to be involved in this civil war of yours and like you admitted, you owe us."
Silence lingered for several long moments, Amin watching the unconscious form of McKay closely, and in turn watched intently by Ford and Sheppard. Eventually he rose, turning to face them, his expression somber. "I will not order my men to help you. I am sorry for your Doctor McKay but I will not risk their lives to save his."
"We don't need your help," Ford said, quickly. "We can get to the gate on our own."
"You are outnumbered."
"We'll take our chances," Sheppard growled.
"What if the guards are distracted?"
Devla had been forgotten, and with a roomful of eyes now turning on him he flinched, backing into the wall, intimidated. "I just think," he said nervously, studying the floor, "if the men were looking somewhere else, they would have to leave the Great Circle."
Sheppard stared at him. At a boy barely old enough to have left high school. "What sort of distraction?"
Devla gave an awkward, bony shrug. "I can lie to them. Tell them I've seen you. For a while you'll still be their focus, until their orders change."
"You'll send them on a wild goose chase?" Ford asked, then winced at Devla's confusion. "You'll trick them," he explained. "Send them in the wrong direction."
An eager nod. "Yes. They might follow me and abandon their posts."
Amin was already shaking his head. "You are Marikar's son. You are on the side of the council and cannot be trusted."
"My father doesn't think for me," Devla snapped back, anger seeming to overcome some of his nerves. He rose, though still kept his back pressed against the wall. "He is a good man," he continued, tensing his shoulders, jutting out his chin determinedly. "He protects our people."
"By wasting our resources on a dream," one of the guards snapped back, making the boy flinch.
"Woah." Sheppard stepped between the two, hands raised. "Let's just listen to him."
A disapproving frown creased Amin's forehead. "You praise your father, yet in the same breath talk of betraying him."
"No," Devla said fiercely. "That's not, I – that's not what this is. But…" And stopped, looking towards the pedestals. Sadly: "My father would have me locked in the council halls to protect me. But I'm not blind. I've seen how people live." Paused, and looked down at his hands. "There are tapestries in the halls, old, from before the Wraith. My mother would point them out to me, and tell me stories of my ancestors."
"Tales told to a child," Amin said, softly. "But because of one such tale, your father and his council have imprisoned all Silani."
Devla stayed silent for a moment, then tilted his head to look up at Amin. "What will you do with him? Will you kill him?"
Amin pressed his lips together thinly. "We plan to banish the council, as they have banished us."
"But what if I prove myself to you? Will you let us stay?"
The Hallan considered Devla for a long moment, sweeping the boy with an appraising gaze, before finally dipping his head in acknowledgement. "He will be under your custody."
"Are you saying you'll let him do this?" Ford asked, confused.
Another nod. "Let this be the favor I owe. It is a chance, nothing more."
"Then let's try and make it a better one." Sheppard gestured at the guards. "In our packs we have a weapon called C-4. It's an explosive. We can set it up at a distance from here, and while Devla's leading the council forces away from the gate, we can detonate it."
A slight, appreciative smile spread across Amin's face. "They will panic. Scatter."
"Leaving us with a clear path to the gate."
"Hopefully," the Hallan added, meaningfully.
"We'll take our chances."
Amin gave a soft sigh, dropping his head, considering Sheppard's plan. Devla slowly extracted himself from the wall and came to stand beside Ford, Aiden offering the boy a smile.
"Very well." Amin turned, his shoulders tense. "You shall have your C-4, Major. Two of my men will accompany you whilst you set it up. Two more will lead your party to a spot close to the Great Circle, and there they will wait for you."
"And me?" Devla said, quickly.
"You will be escorted to the waiting place." Amin glanced from the boy to Sheppard. "From there you will be on your own."
Sheppard nodded in comprehension. Devla was their responsibility, and their lives were the ones at risk from the boy's betrayal. "Lieutenant, your orders are to get through the Gate as soon it's clear, understood?" He saw the objection in the younger man's eyes, added before it could be voiced: "Get McKay and yourselves home."
Reluctantly Aiden nodded, though both hands were clenched into fists.
Amin was looking down at Devla, a curious mix of pity and pride on his face. "Your loyalty to your father is to be commended. But if you betray us –"
"This isn't about that," Devla said quickly, raising his head to meet Amin's gaze. "He is my leader. He's done only what he thought was best. That you're right – it doesn't change anything. Not for me."
Another, slight nod, then Amin turned, raising his chin to look directly at Sheppard. "Very well, Major. It seems you have your chance."
