Well, only one more chapter after this. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this. Especially those who've managed to stick with this since it was one very odd opening. Last chapter is a bit lighter, so please read and review.
Chapter 31:Self sacrifice
As John stepped into the infirmary back on Atlantis, everyone fell silent. News of the capture had spread quickly through the city. No one had wanted to tell Elizabeth, she was still weak. Walking across to the curtained off bed, Carson grabbed John's arm.
"She doesn't know."
"Then I'll tell her."
Carson sighed, and released his arm.
"John!"
Elizabeth smiled, but it soon faded.
"What's going on? Why are you geared up?"
"We received a message asking for help. Ford, McKay and I went off world. They were captured. They want our leader in exchange for them."
For a moment, Elizabeth sat in stunned silence. Then she began to move.
"What are you doing?"
"We need them back. You said they want the leader John, and I'm the leader."
"You can't."
"John, I…I…"
Elizabeth's eyes rolled up and she slumped half out of the bed. John moved forwards and lifted her unconscious body back into the bed.
"Major, what's going on?"
John turned to Carson.
"I'm going to trade myself for Rodney and Ford. They may be injured."
Carson went to speak again, but John was already hurrying out of the infirmary. He looked across at Elizabeth and sighed. Everything had become much more serious now.
Stepping back onto the planet, John was shocked to find a welcoming party.
"Welcome."
A tall, dark haired woman stepped forward and surveyed John. At her waist there was a belt with a whip, sword and gun attached. Next to her were four guards holding Ford and Rodney between them. Both looked a little worse for wear.
"I assume you are the leader?"
"Yes. Now let them go."
"As you wish."
The pair were pushed to the DHD and Rodney began to dial Atlantis.
"Put down your weapons."
John turned to find the woman pointing the gun at him. Without a word, John put all his weapons down onto the floor.
"Sir?"
Ford spoke out feebly towards Sheppard.
"Yes?"
"We need a GDO."
John reached into his pocket and pulled out the GDO. The woman followed every movement with her gun. John threw it across to Ford, who just managed to grab it. As the wormhole engaged, John dropped to the floor to avoid getting hit. Reaching out, he grabbed his knife and stuffed it into the waistband of his trousers.
"Get up."
John stood up slowly making sure not to dislodge the knife. The woman smiled.
"The deal is done. Your two, go through the Gate."
With final, sad glances, Rodney and Ford stepped through the Gate to Atlantis. As the Gate shut down, the woman laughed.
"So, what is your name?"
"Major John Sheppard."
"Well, Major, lets return to the village."
Two guards came up, roughly grabbed his arms and began dragging him to the village behind the woman.
"What to I call you then?"
"Me Major? I am Elezra. It means 'death' among my people. Which is ironic really."
"And why is that?"
"My men and I killed my people."
John fell silent. He couldn't quite work out how this could be much worse yet.
Back on Atlantis, Elizabeth stirred slightly from her sleep.
"John. John, no. John!"
All of a sudden, her eyes snapped open and she looked around the infirmary. She could see Carson and a few others milling around a couple of beds.
"Carson."
As he turned, she saw that it was Aiden and Rodney in the beds. Carson hurried over to her bed.
"Is something wrong?"
"Where's John? Please tell me he didn't go off world."
"I'm sorry. He's been gone for a couple of hours."
"A rescue mission?"
"Not possible. He had to do this. It's all part of this Guardian of Atlantis thing."
Elizabeth lay back down and turned her head away.
"He never told me he had to do this."
"He was probably trying to protect you. He cares about you."
"Then he should have told me."
"He'll be fine. He'll be back soon, and then you an yell at him all you want."
"But Carson, what if he's not fine?"
Elizabeth faced him. Carson could see the anguish in her face and the tears forming in her eyes. When she realised she wasn't getting a reply, Elizabeth rolled over and closed her eyes.
John was thrown violently against the wall of the hut.
"You lied to me. You are not the leader."
"I am."
"No. One of those idiots said that she would never give herself up. You are no woman."
"It was a ploy. It was a trick."
"Liar!"
Elezra hit John across the face with the back of her hand. On the hand she wore a number of gold rings, each cutting John's cheek.
"Admit that you are not the leader, and you will suffer less. Tell me who your real leader is, and bring her to me, and you will not be harmed at all."
John thought about it for a moment. He could save himself; he had the chance right in front of him. Elizabeth would come if she had the chance. He could be free.
But then it would be Elizabeth who was suffering. Elizabeth had already suffered enough. He cursed himself for even thinking about it.
"I am the leader."
"No. You are a greater fool than those other two. Guards!"
The two guards re-entered the room.
"Hold him still, off the wall."
Grabbing his arms, John was dragged forward till he was only a few inches from her. With a smile, she removed the whip from her belt and began to unwind it.
"Remove his jacket and shirt."
The guards obliged quickly and with little regard for preserving his clothes.
"My my, you are the handsome one."
Reaching out, she laid a hand on his exposed chest. John just stared straight ahead, completely ignoring her.
"As you wish."
Walking behind him, she let the whip drag across the floor. With a smile, she pulled it back and struck him across the back. The leather bit into his skin. John flinched, but he did not cry out.
Elezra continued to beat him, until he went limp in the arms of the guards. His back was covered in criss cross lines, each bleeding. Rivers of blood trickled down his back and dripped on the floor.
"Release him."
The guards let go and John fell to the floor.
"Now you can have your fun."
Kneeling down, she brushed his hair lightly and kissed his forehead.
"We'll continue this later."
John resisted the urge to spit in her face, but she left before he had the chance. Suddenly the guards were surrounding him, one of them dragging him up by one arm. The other punched him in the face and watched as he fell to the floor. With a laugh, the pair set on him, kicking him and hitting him as much as they saw fit. They made sure he didn't pass out; there was no fun in that.
Eventually they'd had there fun. Leaving, Elezra walked back in. John watched her through half closed eyes. He's managed to avoid getting hit in the faced beyond Elezra and the guards punch.
"Still awake."
John pulled himself up and stood facing her.
"I guess that is a yes."
John smiled; she had no weapons on her. She had underestimated him. Moving forwards, he pulled out the knife. She began to scream, but John quickly lunged forward and grabbed her. With one hand around her waist, he put the knife at her throat.
"I suggest you shut up."
She quickly fell silent.
"Very good."
Then, she went limp in his arms. Looking up, John saw why.
"Serai."
"Hey there."
John dropped the woman to the floor and stepped over her body.
"What are you doing here?"
"You have completed all of the tasks. You are the new Guardian of Atlantis. I should do some big speech about how you managed it and your responsibilities, but you have the beginnings of internal bleeding, so we should probably go."
With a deep breath, she changed her shape. With a smile, John watched, as she became Elezra.
"Lets go."
Reaching out, she grabbed his arm and led him to the door.
"Mistress, where are you taking him?"
"There is a matter I must attend to. For this, I need him."
"Should we come?"
"No, this matter is private. Do not question me further."
"Of course mistress."
Soon, they were stood before the Gate. John quickly began to dial Atlantis.
"Wait. I've got no GDO, I gave it to Ford."
"Here."
She handed him another GDO.
"Where did you get this from?"
"It was with Rodney and Aiden's weapons in the village."
John grinned, and Serai grinned back. She'd changed back when they'd reached the Gate.
As the wormhole opened, John could hear the shouts from the village.
"I think they found her."
"Yep, time to go John."
John looked at Serai and felt a little sad.
"You won't miss me, trust me."
With a sigh, John stepped up to the Gate. Just as he was about to step through, Serai whispered into his ear.
"Besides, there is someone else on Atlantis who needs you."
Before John could ask, Serai had pushed him through the Gate.
Standing in the control centre of Atlantis, John looked around the shocked faces.
"I'm ok. I'm ok. Just got internal bleeding."
And with that, John collapsed to the floor.