AN: First, let me apologize for being so late with this update. It's been a hectic summer. Kids in swimming lessons, we bought a house (being built), getting ready for the upcoming school year...it just never seems to stop!
Redick, yes, it was intentional, good catch!
Thank you, muchly, for leaving reviews. They really make my day!
Part Three
Beckett had been relieved when the news came through that Lieutenant Ford had been found - though it was tinged with worry because the other three members remained missing - but then Ford had been delivered to the infirmary. The man was ill, quite ill, and Beckett's fears had been confirmed after a round of tests. He was suffering from some kind of poison.
Ford had been able to explain how they'd arrived on the planet, and before getting far, had been shot with some kind of tranquilizer dart. The major and Rodney had been shot first, and then he and Teyla had been as well, when they tried to make the gate. Apparently, they'd been separated while unconscious, as Ford had woken alone.
What puzzled Beckett were the symptoms. After waking from the dart, Ford had said he'd felt fine after an initial bout of sickness, which isn't uncommon with sedation. It was only after he'd made his escape and gotten closer to the gate that he'd begun to suffer the additional effects. Delayed symptoms weren't unheard of, but he couldn't see how that would be profitable – poisoning slaves and having them grow too ill to work, and Ford had relayed that none of the older slaves were ill.
A soft knock drew his eyes to the door into his office. A nurse wanted his attention, and judging from the tight-lipped expression, he couldn't see how it was good news.
"The Lieutenant?"
She nodded. "The pain is growing worse. He's asking for more morphine."
Beckett looked at the watch on his wrist. It was too soon. They needed to figure something out, and fast. He wasn't sure what the end result of the poison was. It was too unknown, and they had barely begun to examine it. What he did know, was that the pain was spreading in Ford's body, and at the rate it was increasing, he doubted Ford could withstand much more of this before his body started shutting down.
"Ask the Lieutenant if he has any favorite songs," Beckett ordered. Sometimes, little things could help when all else failed, and music had a soothing effect. One of the items brought to Atlantis was a large database of music. It might take an edge off Ford's pain, give him time - time was always what they needed, and time was always what there wasn't enough of –
oOo
McKay was lying on the ground beside Sheppard. He could feel the heat radiating into him from the major's body. "You're a black body radiator," he joked clumsily, not sure if he was talking out loud, or thinking it to himself. The pain that wrapped around his body like a wet blanket made it hard to be certain of anything.
When Sheppard failed to respond, he figured either Sheppard was unconscious, or he hadn't spoken aloud after all. Poison. He was pretty sure that was the case. They'd struggled on for maybe another mile before the pain had grown stronger than their ability to stay upright.
Collapsing, they'd panted through wave after wave of agony. It never ended. One rolling climax turned into another, and another, and soon McKay wasn't aware of time, or breathing, or anything, except the body of his friend shuddering in time to his own, and burning like a super heated fire, which would eventually expire in a tremendous burst of energy.
They were going to die. And that was the last cognizant thought that Rodney McKay had.
oOo
When Teyla awoke for the second time, she felt stronger, and the pain had gone. Tentatively, she pushed upright, and was relieved when nothing happened. Not so much as a twinge.
Looking around, she realized by the dim lighting, night had fallen on this planet. If it were night, than it was likely many would be seeking a bed, and less people would be around. Teyla didn't see her uniform, but she did see a white dress lying on a chair to the side of her bed. It'd have to do. Sliding from the bed, she slipped into it. The dress hung like a sack, and she wondered if she was wearing it wrong.
Shrugging, she looked for something for her feet, but there wasn't anything in the room. She crept cautiously towards the door, cringing as one of the floorboards squeaked underneath her weight. During the day, it'd never be heard, but now when the building was deadly quiet, it sounded as loud as the gunfire from the weapons they carried.
She grabbed the handle, and very slowly, pulled the door back, revealing a thin slice of the hall. From what she could see, it looked clear, so holding her breath, Teyla pulled the door open enough to slip through.
She walked stealthily down the hall, and found it opened into a large room. There were many chairs, and a large fireplace. Baskets with material sat beside most of the chairs, and Teyla guessed this was a type of common room where the girls worked during the day. Her eyes flashed to a door that looked like an exit from the building.
"You are trying to leave," the voice accused behind her.
Teyla started in surprise, and spun to face the girl. It was the one who had helped her earlier. Teyla contemplated denial, but the girl wasn't stupid, it was written across her face that she knew exactly what Teyla was up to, and saying otherwise didn't seem like the thing to do.
"My friends need me," she said instead simply.
The girl shortened the length between them, but she didn't call out. She was wearing a similar white dress, and now Teyla wondered if it wasn't a nightgown of some kind. Her hair fell around her face in curtains of brown, and she looked very young, and vulnerable.
"It's against the rules to leave," she stated like a programmed automaton.
Teyla smiled reassuringly. "I will take responsibility if I am caught.
"Why wouldn't you wish to stay?"
"I told you -" began Teyla, but the girl had stepped closer, and was watching her intently.
"We're told it's a honor to be separated into the breeding caste." The girl began talking, low, but her voice wobbled. "We get to bear children, as many as we like." She had taken her eyes off Teyla while she talked, but now lifted them again, to stare at the Athosian. "I should be happy. You should be happy."
"But you are not."
The small pale face spoke for her.
"Come with me." Impulsively, Teyla took her arm. "Help me, and I will help you."
"Your friends -"
"Major Sheppard, Doctor McKay and Lieutenant Ford," whispered Teyla. "Have you any knowledge of them?"
The girls face flashed with recognition. "Sheppard and McKay – they were taken to Mistress Karna's. Her other males had to be sent to the fields for rest. But this Ford – I'm sorry, I do not know of him. Karna visited after you slept, and told Marsa that they had arrived, and were," here the girls face flushed, "reluctant."
"Mistress Karna?" Teyla's eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Be thankful, there are others less considerate than Mistress Karna. She cares for her men, more than the other Mistresses." The girl appeared defensive.
"I am sure you are right," soothed Teyla. "Then you know where they are being kept?"
"Yes, but -" she fidgeted in distress, "they will not be able to leave. They've been treated, as you were, with the Keeper."
"You mentioned this Keeper before, that is what made me ill."
"Every off-worlder is treated with the Keeper. It's what prevents their escape."
"But you said Marsa gave me medicine," asked Teyla. "Was that the cure?"
A stiff nod. "But I do not know where Marsa keeps the medicine."
"How does this – Keeper – work?"
The girl hesitated, and glanced over her shoulder. Noticing, Teyla held a hand up for the girl to wait, and she backed towards the exit, pulling it open carefully. Seeing it was clear outside, she waved the girl through. Together, they headed into the darkness; so complete that Teyla knew they were safe for the time being.
Once they'd gone far enough away that their voices wouldn't carry, Teyla stopped. Her eyes had adjusted to the faded light the waning moon provided. "We can speak freely here."
The girl still took the time to scan the area, but was satisfied. "It's tuned to a device in the residence. When a person moves away from it, the illness begins, and the farther from the device, the sicker the person becomes."
Alarmed, Teyla asked, "Will they die?"
"I have never seen anyone brave enough to find out," answered the girl truthfully.
Teyla found herself wishing for a rescue team, but staring into the darkness, Teyla knew she was all her two team members had. "What is your name?" she asked the girl.
"Livy."
Teyla placed a reassuring hand on Livy's thin shoulder and said, "Then Livy, I will need your help. I need you to take me to this Marsa so that I can gather the medicine for my friends."
Livy flinched, but nodded resolutely. "You will take me with you when you leave?"
"I will," promised Teyla.
The girl didn't ask again, but set off on a path only her feet knew. Teyla followed, hoping the major hadn't already attempted escape, only to find an unpleasant end.
oOo
McKay wondered if he'd died, and gone to heaven, because when he woke up, two women dressed in toga made of a diaphanous material were bathing his body. The soft sponges almost lulled him back asleep, combined with the heady scent of the perfumed water, but one thought worried him enough to stay conscious. Sheppard.
Turning his head to the side, he failed to see the major. McKay was in the room at Karna's – Karna! Alarmed, he sat up abruptly, and reddened as he realized the only thing between him, the women, and his proverbial birthday suit, was the worn sheet draped over his lap. Hastily tugging the material higher, he squeeked, "Sheppard?"
Both women had pulled back the sponges, and one on his left and one on his right, now smiled. The one with brown hair spoke up, "He is recovering in his room."
Rodney coughed self-consciously, "Recovering?" He tried for assertive, but it came out more like Lambert the Sheepish Lion.
A coy grin from the blonde on his other side, as she inclined her head towards him and answered, "As are you."
Brown hair scolded, "That was very foolish of you. Be thankful Karna is willing to give second chances."
He tried to appear thankful, really, but that wasn't something he did often – be thankful to other people. Not to mention, be thankful for failing to escape, and being returned back to the person who wanted to whore him out to women – and staring slack jawed at the nubile, soft…
Swearing under his breath, he pulled his eyes off the women, and searched for his clothes. "Where's my -"
The pleased laugh interrupted him. "You will not be needing them."
If he'd been alarmed before, now he was shifting to panic. Gut wrenching, get me the hell out of here, panic. Brown hair reached for his arm, and tugged, causing him to fall back on the bed. Blonde hair set her sponge to the side, and crawled closer. Blocking his line of sight, she assured him, "You won't be needing anything."
And if McKay had been capable of speech, he would've howled for help, but Brown hair had already latched lips on his own, and the seeking hands from Blonde hair stole his ability to think rationally.
oOo
"I swear, that's never happened before!" shouted McKay, at the retreating backs of the women.
They kept walking out the door. Disgusted, he dropped back to the bed. It was the poison. Definitely. Being drugged, held in a cell, transported over rough roads, poisoned and sick – how could they expect him to perform like some stud for hire?
And why the hell was he disappointed anyway?
A thought intruded – Sheppard! McKay's eyes slid to the closed door that adjoined their rooms. Assuming these were the same they'd been escorted to the first time. He wrapped the sheet around like a towel, and padded carefully to the door. Even as he pulled it open, he realized that the major might have been in the middle of the same business he'd been in a few moments before, but already the door was swinging open.
Relieved, he found Sheppard sitting on the bed alone, sheet wrapped in similar fashion.
The noise drew the major's gaze, and he looked uncomfortably at McKay. "You okay?" he asked.
"I'm alive," replied McKay shortly. "I'd be okay if I had clothes."
Sheppard snorted. He pointed at the sheet wrap and said, "But it's so you."
"I'm going to be the adult here, and refrain from making crass comments."
"No, McKay, the crass comment would be in reference to the activities I overhead," stated Sheppard casually, arching an eyebrow at Rodney.
Dismay etched into McKay's face, and he stuttered, "You heard – uh – that? I thought – they said -" miserably, he stopped. Trying again, "Brilliant escape." Figuring he was screwed, almost literally, it was only fair to turn the tables and put the major on defensive.
"We can't all – perform – on demand," sniped Sheppard with a sardonic twist to his mouth.
McKay's nostrils flared. "Matured much, since oh, age twelve?"
"Your secret is safe with me," vowed Sheppard with mock solemnity.
Sheppard's door opened abruptly, and Karna walked in. McKay could tell she wasn't happy, but she also seemed – puzzled? She strode over to Sheppard first, and reached for his arm.
Surprised, Sheppard didn't move away. She was – checking his pulse?
"What're you doing to him?" asked McKay, straightening.
Karna gave him a disinterested look, but answered, "It seems the medicine that made you better had an unexpected side-effect." She lifted the back of her hand and laid it against Sheppard's forehead.
While she continued to examine the major, McKay was processing what she'd said. Unexpected side effect – but Sheppard hadn't had anyone in here – or had he? With dawning realization, he turned back to look at the major, "Stage fright, maybe?" he accused pointedly.
"Side effect," countered Sheppard, nonplussed by the turn of events.
Finished with Sheppard, Karna moved to McKay and did a similar check, which amounted to nothing. McKay had accused Beckett of being a witch doctor, but at least there was some amount of science behind Beckett's actions. This woman was relying on touch and observation. Some kind of toss back to a medicine man.
It didn't take long, obviously, because there was nothing to it. She stood back from them, and frowned. "I do not know how long this will take to wear off. I advise you to stay in bed, and rest." Giving a pointed look at McKay, she emphasized, "Another escape attempt will not be treated, the end result will be final."
She didn't give them a chance to argue, leaving the room after delivering her warning. McKay looked back at Sheppard, "Why'd she look at me when she said that?" he snapped. "It was you're idea!"
Sheppard made sure his sheet was solidly attached and stood up. "No, McKay. It was you're idea. I only provided us the exit."
McKay was about to argue, even had a hand up, when he paused. Had it been his idea? "Still," he said. "You were there. It's not like I was the only one who left. She should've glared at you equally."
"You're just mad because you lost favored boy toy status."
The door opening again stopped continued arguing, but neither expected to see the newest intruder –
TBC