Canon characters are not mine, just taking them out to play.

Story line and unfamiliar characters are mine, however, and I am an extremely possessive person.

Respectful feedback welcomed, encouraged, and craved.

For your light has come.

Kiersa pressed her hand against her lips to keep from screaming. She was peeking through the seam of the entry doors to the collection room when she saw her brother drop to the floor like a stone and not move. When Master Tomar's men lifted him from the floor, she could see from the hanging of his neck that he was dead. The master continued to use the pain device and physical blows to render 517 unconscious. The scene replayed over and over in her mind.

Anger surged through her. Master Tomar was supposed to be a great man, respectable but this was not the actions of an honorable person. A plan began to form in her distraught thinking. Pulling herself together, she turned her back on the room and started back toward Nellek's lab.

A A A A A A

Lt Ford saw the entryway first. He clicked the walkie four times to bring Teyla and Sgt Markham to his position then twice to hail Sgt Bates at the Stargate. "Bates, we've reached the entrance. It seems to be built into the side of a small mountain." Ford turned to the others jogging up to his side. "We're going in. If you don't here from us in...," turned his wrist to see his watch, "two hours, you'd better get backup."

"Copy that, sir. Good luck," came Bates' static ridden reply.

Aiden approached the enormous intricately carved double doors. He sighed at the keypad to the left of the door. This could be a problem. He reached out to touch it when the door made an audible clank and creaked open just a crack. He exchanged glances with his team then gave the sign to move in.

Markham took point with the tracking device receiver, Teyla in the middle and Ford at their six, each with P-90s raised and ready to shoot anything that wasn't Dr McKay or Major Sheppard.

"It's like a maze in here," Markham commented after making dozens of turns, passing dozens more subcorridors.

"How are you opening all of these doors, sergeant?" Teyla asked after seeing Markham walk up to a third closed door only to have it release for him allowing access.

Markham shrugged, glancing back at her. "Not sure but I think we are getting some inside help."

She frowned at him. "Are you sure it is wise to follow? Could it not be a trap?"

Ford spoke this time. "Maybe but we need to find the major and Dr McKay and these doors are opening, leading us directly to them. We'll figure out the rest later."

"We will do them no good by getting captured or killed," Teyla continued to argue.

"I know, Teyla, but Bates has our back. I told Dr Weir I would get them back and I will." Ford's insides pulsed with adrenaline. He knew it was a half cocked mission but they would just have to agree to disagree. "Just like sneaking onto a hive ship to save you." He flashed what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

Teyla, however, did not feel reassured. She wished Major Sheppard, Dr McKay and Dr Beckett well and safe but this was too creepy to make her feel confident.

They continued on in silence for a while. The only sound their standard issue boots in the dirt floor.

"This place is like Medieval meets Ancient... Are you sure you're reading that thing right?" Ford asked from behind. This was taking longer than expected. The place was dark, with only a few torches lighting the vast corridor. The flashlight attachments on the P-90 gave additional light but not enough to move as quick as he would like.

"Yes, sir. It's very easy to understand." They turned again this time coming up short against a huge set of decorative double doors. Markham scanned them with his flashlight. Glancing at the display, he turned to Ford, holding the device for him to see. "I think we're here."

A A A A A A

Tomar wasn't known as an excitable person but when the scouts came back with another of 517's kind with the piece in his core structure that was documented to activate the devices he had collected from other worlds, he nearly lost his reputation. Three... he had three in his possession. From the reactions to each other, they were companions which worked to his advantage. He could pit them against each other to get what he wanted. He lost his temper with the trainer, maybe a bit prematurely but he wanted to use these devices and it didn't matter if the subjects were compliant as long as he kept the others as incentive. Now the technology was within his grasp and patience was thin.

The device lit in John's hands, spewing sprinkles of light in established patterns. After it had established a skyline, little red dots began to appear, some close together, some great distances apart. He sat gaping, surrounded by the star chart projection. So star map then? Wait, the red dots... Stargate map. He brought his eyes down to meet Carson's then Rodney's. Both were grim and frightened, eyes flitting between John and Tomar.

Tomar smiled, eyes lit by the massive light show. "That's better." He released Rodney's arm coming toward John, his gaze still on the stars. He reached up to touch one of the red dots.

The stars instantly shifted, disappeared pulling down the image of a planet with Ancient script scrolling on the left. It switched views showing cloud cover then land masses and oceans, on the right flashed various pictures of people and plant life, even animals.

"It's a database," came Rodney's awed voice. Carson came to stand at his shoulder, eyes toward the ceiling. The guards behind them as distracted as everyone else in the room.

John paid Rodney no mind, as he was caught in his own thoughts. Tomar had just manipulated the device, meaning it only needed activated and could now be used by anyone. He looked down at the thing braced in his trembling hands. He couldn't let Tomar have this map of innocent worlds. Glancing at Tomar still entranced with the readout, he rose slowly to his feet. His knees almost didn't hold but he locked them in place. Then, before anyone in the room could react, threw the thing in his best lateral pass at the nearest wall.

It made a grand impact, throwing sparks and little bits of Ancient metal housing. It also put off enough of a concussion that the shelves nearest the impact crashed to the floor, shattering and even igniting many more Ancient devices. Black smoke billowed toward the high ceiling. The chain reaction was more than John could have hoped for but he didn't get a chance to be pleased with his plan as a hard slap to the back of his head threw him to the floor.

"Hey..." Rodney started forward but a kidney punch from thrown by the guard took him down, the wind knocked out of him. This was so going bad fast.

Carson's attention flitted between Rodney and John, not sure what to do. Catching sight of the galoot behind making a grab for him, Carson dodged left, swinging around him to bring a double-handed pile driver to the back of his neck. The guard toppled like a sack of potatoes.

Rodney was distracted by Carson's flying fists and wondered what other hidden talents the Scot possessed until the guard who had hit him in the back made a move for the otherwise occupied doctor. Rodney kicked out, tripping the brute. Carson turned just in time to deliver the knock-out kick to the head. They were exchanging wide-eyed glances as two more guards rushed from their positions at the door.

"What have you done?" Tomar yelled through clenched teeth down at the stunned man. He blocked out the happenings in the rest of the room, rage propelling him after 517.

John was driven to his knees hard. His senses were disjointed from the blow. Survival training was quick to engage without his brain, rolling him to his back to kick at Tomar. A shockwave of pain ran from his bare heel up to his knee. It was like kicking a wall. But the timing was perfect, giving John a small swell of pride at the crunch of Tomar's nose. But a hit to his mouth out of nowhere brought tears to his eyes and blood to his lips. He didn't have a second to recover before a fist hit him in the chest forcing the air from his lungs.

He went down on his knees, cradling his sternum as time slowed. He felt his death near. Blood dripped from his gasping mouth onto the stone floor, sweat flattened his hair, streaming into his eyes. All sound tunneled to a pinpoint. Fingers gripped his hair, painfully pulling him close to Tomar's bloody face.

Tomar was beyond anger... rage flooded his veins. "Oh, no. You will not die today, 517... but one of your friends will." With that he threw John to the floor, turning to take after Carson and Rodney.

It was enough. A yell erupted from deep inside John Sheppard's soul, murderous anger driving him to thrust himself at Tomar's legs. He caught them right at the knee, feeling one crunch under his shoulder. Blind with rage, he grasped Tomar by the hair repeatedly bashing the back of his head against the floor. Voices called to him but he couldn't understand them. Nothing made sense. Nothing mattered.

Lt Ford and the rest of the team burst into the room, P-90s pointing in all directions until they got a good look at the situation. Aiden caught sight of Dr McKay and Dr Beckett each trying to beat off an attacker each but his breath caught at the sight of an oversized Bahtron, probably Tomar, tossing the major around like a rag doll. Everything went into slow motion as he ran toward the fighting. Taking careful aim, he took down the guard beating on Dr McKay. Shifting his gaze, he saw Markham put a bullet in the one after Dr Beckett.

Rodney pleaded with John mindful of setting him into a conniption. The man was gone, beyond hearing. Sweat and blood poured down his face. His eyes were set on Tomar, his focus on killing him. Rodney was finally able to get close enough to throw his arms around John's upper arms, effectively pinning them, then threw his weight backwards to pull the major off of Tomar. He slumped back onto his heels, holding the trembling man against his chest. They watched together as Carson cautiously approached, kneeling beside the unconscious Bahtron.

"He's still alive," he breathed, not necessarily relieved. "But unconscious for now."

Out of the corner of his eye, Rodney caught sight of Lt Ford, Teyla and Sgt Markham, weapons ready to take out any of the now unconscious terrorists should they so much as twitch. He thought he might die of joy, the weight of finding a way out of this hell lifted from his shoulders. "Oh, thank God," he breathed, unable to catch the hitch in his voice. He dropped his forehead to rest on John's shoulder, content to just not think for a moment.

Aiden glanced at the downed Bahtron guards, nuzzling those closest to him with his boot to be sure they were really out of the scenario. Motioned for Teyla and Markham to check to rest. He let his eyes fall to Dr McKay and Major Sheppard. They were panting, the major not taking his eyes off Tomar, Rodney was collapsed in relief. He knelt beside them putting a hand on Major Sheppard's shoulder, unprepared for the jerk away from his touch, exposing a device at the base of the major's skull. He opened his mouth to speak...

Rodney felt John lurch in his arms. Startled, he tightened his grip so the major couldn't get away, noticing Lt Ford at his shoulder. The lieutenant's expression was a mixture of shock and uncertainty. He followed the young man's gaze to the pain mechanism in the major's neck. "Lieutenant," he called. "Do not say his name," he warned, annunciating very clearly. When Aiden nodded a wide-eyed reply, he turned his attention back to the doctor, sitting cross-legged, catching his breath. "Carson, we gotta go."

Carson raised bleary eyes at his name being called. One of those guards had gotten in a few good whacks to his head, causing the world to tip ever so slightly. Major Sheppard was leaned against Rodney, eyes locked on Tomar, as if he expected him to jump up at any moment. The man looked bad, bloody, glassy eyes. Carson could see exhaustion would take him soon. He met Rodney's concerned eyes, nodding his agreement.

Lt Ford got on Major Sheppard's right, wincing slightly at the pull to his shoulder. Rodney attached himself to the left, and they hefted him to his feet. Markham took point as they headed out.

John blinked, looked straight at Aiden, "It's about time, lieutenant."

Aiden couldn't help the smile that threatened to spread from ear to ear. He opened his mouth to talk but, at Rodney's icy glare, shut his mouth without a word. He wondered if anyone would ever tell him what 'don't say his name' meant, but he wasn't going to make that mistake to see first hand what would happen.

Carson made to stand, Teyla at his elbow to help should he require it. After a deep breath, he started slowly after the others.

Faster than he could understand, Teyla was ripped from his side and a thick hand wrapped around the back of his neck. He was pulled backwards against something solid then a rock hard arm wrapped around his neck. A gasp barely escaped his lips before his air was being cut off. He watched through desperate eyes as the rest of the team continued their limping pace toward the door.

Time slowed for Carson. It was only a few steps but to him it felt as if they would never turn. A cry from Teyla as she bounced across the floor brought everyone's attention around.

John's chest tightened at the sight of Tomar with Carson in a headlock. Without really thinking, he yank Lt Ford's nine mil from it's holster and aimed it at the psycho's head. His hand wavered, a nearly overwhelming aversion to pulling the trigger loosening his grip on the weapon.

A grin spread across Tomar's face. He held his face right beside Carson's, bloody spittle peppering the doctor's face as he spoke, "You can't kill me, 517 but I did promise that one of your friends would die today." His grip began to shift, arms to flex, beginning the move that would effectively snap the doctor's neck.

John's eyes met Carson's frightened ones. And he pulled the trigger.

Time stopped for John Sheppard.

He could barely make out Tomar starting to fall to the ground, a silent trickle of blood dripping down his high forehead, before the world shattered into a million pieces. Time distorted into eternity. Every nerve in his body seared with burning misery. He no longer knew who he was or what was happening. Curling into himself, he no longer tried to hold on to sanity and surrendered into oblivion.

FLASH

Voices echoed over him. Felt like he was floating. Every nerve screamed in pain.

FLASH

Bright lights invaded his vision. Squeezed his eyes shut to block them out. Head hurts.

FLASH

Kiersa was in his face. Saying something. No, it was over... right? He wanted to puke and did.

FLASH

Quiet. Nothing moving. No voices. No pain. Smell, Old-Spice-like. Carson.

FLASH

Antiseptic smells. Familiar sounds. Beep, beep, beep. Hiss. Whir. Snooore. Rodney. He smiled.

Rodney sat leaned back in the hard plastic chair, elbows braced on it's arms, fingers entwined across his belly. He hadn't moved in two days, neither had the major. The man just laid there, still as death, head slightly cocked Rodney's direction. He looked so small in those pale yellow clothes. His dark hair, a stark contrast to the bedding, stood out in all directions. His complexion was near as pale as the bed sheet, dark bruises marring his face, neck and arms. Three different intravenous bags combined into one line and ran into the major's forearm.

Carson stepped to Rodney's side. He had tried to make him go after he was cleared but the scientist wouldn't listen and Carson didn't have the strength to enforce it. He held out a hand to Rodney, in it lay a flat disc with a dozen or so snaky tendrils.

Rodney broke from his thoughts at the device thrust in his face. "This is it?" He had been a bit out of it when they left the treasure room, his glucose levels dropping like a stone once the adrenaline rush from the fight for his life ended.

Carson winced at the hoarseness of Rodney's voice. "Aye. That wee thing." He released it to Rodney's inquisitive fingers. After the thing was extracted, seeing it all splayed out, Carson had to suppress the urge to vomit. That was embedded in Major Sheppard's brain. If that Kiersa woman had not met them at the door offering assistance, he would have caused the major permanent brain damage trying to remove it.

Rodney studied the device in his hands. He briefly wondered where Tomar would have gotten it. He was a big fat thief, which meant he stole it from someone. Who would create such a thing? He cleared his throat, brow furrowed, handing it back to Carson. "How much longer till he wakes up?"

Carson shifted his gaze from the exhausted scientist to the unconscious major. Scanning the display of his vitals, Carson sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know. Look, Rodney, yer not doin any good here. Go to yer quarters, get some rest."

Rodney turned hard eyes to the doctor, snapping, "And if he wakes up and I'm not here?"

"I'll be here. And I can call you the second there's the slightest bit of change." Damn stubborn oaf.

God, he was so tired. He could see the doctor was tired as well. Both were bruised up quite a bit by those Bahtron guards. He sighed, shifting his elbows to his knees, leaning forward to cover his face with his hands, mutely refusing to leave. He felt Carson pat his shoulder, then the breeze as the doctor walked away.

The next he knew he was jerked awake, knocking the beige blanket to the floor. He stared at it dumbly for a moment. Carson must've covered him after he dozed off. He rubbed his eyes, looking around for what could've woke him. His gaze finally fell on Major Sheppard, meeting the hazel eyes head on. "Hey."

Slow blink, corners of the mouth twitch. Slower blink, licked his lips. Half blink, back into sleep.

Rodney released a heavy breath, unable to fully suppress the moisture that popped into the corner of his eyes.

One chapter left. Thanks for all the reviews.

Thanks for the heads up on the duplicate paragraph, weird.