A tall man in long brown robes came through the corridor separating the two rows of cells. He was old with short cropped silver hair. He stopped before the cell holding the people from the surface. He watched them silently for a while. The ones who could were standing facing him with defiant stares, the ones who couldn't held the same expression, even in their obvious disadvantage. Save one, he looked gravely ill.
"I am Jotham." The old man's powerful voice echoed through the cell.
"I am Lt Aiden Ford. Why are we prisoners?" Aiden stood tall, facing the old man without fear.
"You are not my prisoners. I do not want nor keep prisoners. I had to be sure you were not a threat to us. I am surprised to see you awake. I used a setting high enough to render anything in this galaxy unconscious for at least the night through." He paused, thoughtful. "Where are you from?"
Ford squared his jaw, "I will not answer your questions as long as we are being held against out will. Members of my team require medical assistance. Allow us to return them home and I will consider an exchange of information."
Jotham seemed to consider this but ultimately denied the request. "No. But I will send a healer to treat them." He flipped the sleeve of his robe back, revealing a device similar to a watch. He touched a tiny button on it, then spoke, "This is Jotham. I need a healer to care for our guests." Returning his hands to their clasped position, he met Aiden's gaze. "Now, where are you from?"
Aiden shook his head, "Not while we are prisoners." He turned his back on their captor, facing his team mates, eyes wide.
Rodney watched the conversation with a new respect for Lt Ford. While they were no closer to getting home, he was not divulging any information that could jeopardize Atlantis. The expression on Aiden's face was priceless when he turned from their captor.
A new arrival returned everyone's attention to the corridor. Another figure, this time female, in long white robes came up to Jotham. She was younger with long black hair. She bowed at the waist to him, while covering her face with her hands.
Jotham smiled at her as she straightened, sweeping a hand at the cell. "These need healing."
She surveyed the room, gauging who was most in need. She smiled kindly at the eyes locked on her, "I am Saysha."
Jotham motioned down the corridor, the way he had entered and five large men came forward to line themselves along the barred wall. "You understand we cannot trust you as of yet," he explained almost apologetically.
Speaking a few strange sounding words, Jotham put a hand up and a door, that was previously undetectable, opened into the cell. The younger woman stepped in, fearlessly passing between the two military men on her way to Major Sheppard's side. She kneeled beside him, making to set a hand on his head but was intercepted by Carson.
Carson's gut knotted when she reached for the major. He grabbed her wrist before she could touch him.
She smiled reassuringly at him. "Please, I mean no harm. I must touch him to diagnose him."
Carson pressed his lips together. Still concerned but curious as well, he released her.
She laid her hand lightly on the top of Major Sheppard's head, while the other hand withdrew from her robes holding a small rectangular device.
Carson thought it looked like a life-signs detector.
Blips of light flashed across it's three inch screen. She read aloud from it's results. "This one has great injury. But from another day. His mind is in confusion." She moved next to Rodney, repeating the procedure.
Rodney watched her through a haze that was progressively increasing. Her hand was cool against his burning skin. He closed his eyes at her touch. A tingle started at the place her fingertips rested and traveled quickly through his body.
"This one has been altered by our own technology. He is also ill, he burns from within." She turned to Jotham. "We must take them to the healing room."
With a nod from Jotham, two of the security men moved to the major's side and two to Rodney's. Sgt Bates, Teyla and Lt Ford were quick to protest and block their way.
"No way," Ford shouted fists clenched, ready to punch the first man to lay hands on his team.
Saysha moved in front of Aiden, pleading with him, "Please, do you wish them healed?"
He blinked at her. Of course he wanted them healed. What kind of fool question was that? He looked into Saysha's pale blue eyes, saw kindness and sincerity. He felt in his gut that he could trust her. Being in this cell wasn't doing Major Sheppard or Dr McKay any good . He nodded and stepped aside, motioning the others to do the same. He watched as one of the guards arranged John supine on the floor, while the other took out a small silver sphere and laid it on the major's chest. A purple glow enveloped him, levitating him to about waist height. He looked over to see Dr McKay receiving the same treatment. He looked in turn at Teyla, Bates, and Carson, seeing the same realization on their faces. This must be how they were brought to the cell.
Rodney was hardly in a position to protest when he was rendered immobile by a purple glowing light but would have protested for all he was worth when he floated above the ground. His glassy eyes were wide with fear, locked onto Carson.
"I'll go with them," Carson stepped up to Saysha. "I am a medical doctor, these men are my patients."
Saysha pursed her lips, looking Carson up and down. "I would greatly appreciate your knowledge and familiarity of them." She turned to Jotham, "I sense no ill will in him."
Jotham agreed and moved to the side letting the parade of people out of the cell. The two men encapsulated in the purple glow floated after Saysha as if tethered to her. He then turned his full attention to the remaining three strangers. "Are you a trustworthy people?"
Lt Ford glanced at Teyla and Sgt Bates. They were trusting this man with the health and safety of their team mates. Taking a deep breath, he answered boldly, "Yes, you can trust us."
Jotham flashed a large smile, motioning, "Then come. Let us eat and you can tell me all about yourselves."
Thanks for all of the encouragement! I didn't think the site would ever let me post! Anywhere, here it is. Enjoy!
