A.N: Hey all! Here's the next instalment of this. Hopefully I will get a few questions answered. Now, thanks must go to….Evil Clone, Emma, Dr. Dredd, theminority, PurpleYin, Orka and Peanut. To answer a few things, Any spelling mistakes are Australian Engish, knix are underwear (aussie slang makes its presence known!), and as to the Canon name, Don't you like Snickers better?
So once again, thanks for all your encouragement and questions. Please keep reading! I will try and get the next chapter up ASAP.
But I have rambled on far too much, so I must get on with the story!
Jeans and Genes
Chapter 5- Poisons.
By Starlite1
Elizabeth huddled against the wall of her office, trying hard not to completely break down. Over and over she replayed the events in the Control room through her head, looking for a way she could have stopped them. She sighed in frustration, ignoring the steely gaze of the "guard". Pulling her arms closer around her, her thoughts travelled to the owner of the shirt. His cologne still emanated slightly from the soft fabric, and comforted her thoughts slightly. A part of her was glad he was safe off world, but another, selfish part wished he was here with her. Then maybe it wouldn't be so lonely.
Everything had occurred so quickly. As the shield had failed, the strangers had appeared out of nowhere, their faces hidden beneath grotesque masks. One had dropped what was obviously their twisted version of a stun grenade, and her people had begun dropping around her. As much as she fought against the darkness that threatened to overwhelm her, she slowly felt herself loosing control. Then she heard a voice that she was certain she would never hear again.
"She is of no use, except as a bargaining tool. I notice that the bumbling idiot McKay does not appear to be here. She shall be a… lucrative asset" the voice had rasped slightly, but still retained the oily essence that haunted her dreams, "Lock her in the upper office." And she had been dragged up to her office, too weak to do anything.
There came a click from the door, and she felt his clouded, soulless eyes fall upon her. The stench of rotting flesh assaulted her senses, making her eyes water. On instinct, she stood as he strode across the room towards her.
There was a rattle as he began to speak, "You are still as stubborn as before, Doctor." He spat, black phlegm flying from his mouth on to her cheek.
"What do you want?" Elizabeth demanded, trying not to retch.
His decaying hand reach up, and then swiped down, the yellow nails slashing her pale skin, "You still must learn respect where it is due."
Elizabeth glared at her captor, "Why are you here? Didn't you learn last time?"
"Last time I was foolish. This time shall not be the same. This time I stand with truly worthy allies. I cannot say the same for you, woman." He chuckled, a lifeless raspy sound that echoed hauntingly in the enclosed space.
"My name is Doctor Weir. And I would prefer that you used it when you address me." She snapped through gritted teeth.
He snorted, "You are a woman, and you have already proved unworthy of being addressed by any other description."
"Your second was once a woman." She pointed out.
"And she was weak. Which is why she was captured. My new allies have taught me well. You and your kind are worth nothing. I was foolish to ever believe you could be." He hissed.
"As if you can speak! You're a rotting corpse."
He attempted to purse the rancid flesh that was originally his lips, "I had come here to offer you a proposition, but now I see it is useless." He turned around, a smug look somehow formed by the deteriorated muscles.
The sound of the Gate Activation alarm echoed throughout the city. Surprise printed over his face, he began to walk to the door.
"Stop." Elizabeth demanded, somehow finding her commanding voice, "At least tell me of my people."
"They are unharmed. For the moment. However, unless you cooperate, that is likely to change. Until later." He stated before turning and marching out of the room.
Under her breath she muttered, "Damn you to hell, Koyla."
Koyla's step swaggered smugly as he walked into the control room of the city which had been his one failing. Until today. The plan had gone off without a hitch. He looked down to the Stargate. If it had been possible for him to shiver, he would have. The hole in his chest rattled as his breathing increased. If it hadn't been for them, he wouldn't be a rotting corpse. Still, this half-life was far better than its alternative. At least in this state he could seek the revenge that was rightfully his. He had the Viõnúll to thank for that. His revenge on the Major, Doctors and their people would soon be complete.
Speaking of the good doctor…
"What do we have here?" he demanded, pacing over to the small congregation gathered around a prone figure laying on the ground. Pushing his way through, he stared down at the unconscious man. Then he began to laugh, a laugh cold, cruel and menacing that echoed up throughout the halls, and struck fear into everyone who heard it.
What the-? Elizabeth thought, her heart clutching in fear at the inhumane sound. Instantly her mind began to run through all the possibilities of what had happened. Each scenario she envisioned became worse, until she finally found herself shooting up from her spot on the wall. To try and release her anxiety, she paced.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Koyla strode into the room, "I want the command codes." He announced.
"What makes you think that I'll give them to you?" Elizabeth demanded, "After all, I thought you had the entire city under your control."
A flicker of annoyance came over his features, "I do. Those controls would merely make my life far easier."
"If you can call it a life…" She muttered under her breath.
He grabbed her, slamming her into the desk, glaring at her with utter loathing, "I do not appreciate your comments. YOU and your people turned me into this!" once again an inhumane laugh gurgled up from his throat, "Now it is time for debts to be paid. Bring him."
Two Vianull guards marched into the room, dragging between them a prone figure.
Whatever colour remained in Elizabeth's face drained instantly, "Rodney…"
As the guards threw him to the ground, Koyla explained, "Your friend here waltzed through the gate a few minutes ago. As you can see, he has a slight rap on his head. What you can't see is the wonderful poison that is now racing through his system. It is another remarkable gift from the Viõnúll. As we sit here, it is slowly beginning to eat at his blood vessels. In approximately two hours, the second stage will begin. Every nerve ending shall begin to decay, starting in his extremities and ensuring paralysis within half an hour. His brain will remain intact, trapping him within his own body. He will remain like that until the third stage begins, which will attack his digestive tract, releasing stomach acids into his blood stream. Death quickly follows, usually through a combination of septicemia, drowning in his own blood and nervous system collapse. In the best concoctions, all three happen simultaneously and I only ever buy from the best. I shall leave you to ponder your decision."
The second he was out of the room, Elizabeth raced to Rodney's side. His face was pasty, and blood was congealing on the side of his head. The sound of his breathing was short and shallow. Looking desperately around the room for something that she could use to patch up the side of his head, she cursed herself for not insisting on first aid kits in every office. In hindsight, she reminded herself they had never expected this sort of siege to come over Atlantis. Looking down at her own garb, she realised that the shirt may be his only hope of survival. Scrabbling over to her draws, she removed a pair of scissors, and sliced a long strip out of the bottom. Gingerly placing it around his head, she hoped that she was doing the right thing. As her arm brushed over his skin, she felt a yank, and a wave of exhaustion washed over her. In front of her eyes, the bleeding slowed, and the skin began to knit itself slowly together.
With a groan, his eyes fluttered open, "Payback, I guess." He muttered, a grimace coming over his features.
Elizabeth chuckled with relief; "I guess so. You feeling all right?"
"The side of my head feels like a road train ran into it, it feels like there's something burning my fingers, but nothing more serious than that. Your ATA gene really is handy."
Her lips pursed together, "I'd hoped you wouldn't say that."
"Why?" Rodney asked, gingerly bringing himself into an upright position.
With a sigh, she relayed what had happened, as well Koyla's explanation of the poison. A stunned look came over his face, "At a risk of repeating myself, Why?"
Burying her face in her hands, she explained, "Because he knows that it's the one bargaining tool that will work." At his expression, she continued haltingly, "He knows-after the storm- that I care for you more than I should. He knows you're the same. This is why leaders are supposed to remain distant… but with you that wasn't possible. Now you-and I- have to pay for my stupidity."
Rodney rolled his eyes; "There was no way you could have avoided this, Elizabeth. Out here the only thing we have is our friendships, and it would be sheer idiocy to push everyone away. Everyone here respects you, not only because you're a good leader, but also because you're an excellent friend. If you weren't, there would be no way that this could work. Even I've learnt that friendships are worth it. You showed me that, Elizabeth, and I know it's made me a better person. And I've got you to thank for that, Elizabeth."
A blush tinged her cheeks, "I can't believe you just said that Rodney."
"Yeah, well I'm not usually into all that mushie stuff, so consider yourself privileged."
"Still doesn't change the fact that you might have to die for being a friend. If I give up the command codes, I'll just be killing us and everyone else, even if it delays it slightly. If I don't, you'll die a horrid death, and we will all die anyway."
"I'll admit it doesn't look too promising, but there is one thing you're forgetting…" Rodney said smugly.
"And that would be?" She demanded, snapping around to look at him once again.
"Sheppard isn't back yet." Rodney said smugly.
Her eyes widened, "You mean-?"
"We have a chance. So what do we do?"
Viõnúll: Vee-oh-kn-ou-el
A.N: Well that's the end of chapter five. I've been trying to get this working every night this week, and it took the entire weekend up north to get this in it's current form. Still, I hope it's to your liking.
As usual, I love reviews, the more detail the better, but flames shall be used for toasting Marshmallows (Shame I can't use them to shoot Koyla….).