A.N: Look at the end…

Jeans and Genes,

Chapter 6, A Light through the dark.

By

Starlite1

"Damn!" he muttered, attempting the same trick as Dr. Weir had pulled earlier with no success whatsoever. Turning away from the door, Carson looked over the faces that presently occupied the mess. After nearly three hours locked in the room, everyone was feeling the stress of the situation. Those who had been injured during the insurgence were being tended as best as possible under the circumstances. He had done the best he could under the circumstances, and now it was a waiting game for them all. The question was who would be brave enough to take the first step.

"Doctor Beckett!" one of the soldiers called over from a bench in the corner. Instantly, the eyes of each of their guards snapped over to him.

Refraining from a stream of oaths, Carson stalked over to the man, and looked down at his friend. She had been running a slight fever since the wee hours of the morning, and the current situation had only exacerbated her problems. An hour and a half ago, it had begun to climb rapidly, and was showing no sign of breaking.

"Can ye' tell me wha' happened?" He demanded of her guardian.

He looked to the Doctor, desperation in his eyes, "I don't know sir! Rach was fine, then she just began convulsing, and her temperature felt like it rose real quick!"

Carson sucked in a breath, "I wish ye' hadn't said tha'. She's burnin' up inside, and I canna' do a thing 'bout it. Most I can suggest is keepin' with tha cold compresses. Other than tha' I'm at a loss."

The soldier looked down at his friend, desperation coming into his eyes, "Thanks Doc."

Not trusting himself to keep his composure, Carson turned away. Carefully picking a path through the people, he returned to his original spot. The fact that he could barely do a thing for Rachel was tearing him apart nearly as badly as it was her friend. Still, if they got out of this alive, maybe they would have a chance. Would probably be the only good thing to come out of it. If only Rachel could hold out until they got help.

"Carson!" Called one of the nurses. This day couldn't get much worse.

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Nearly an hour away from the Stargate, the trees began to dissipate, and they finally found a mountain range.

"What do you think?" John asked, his eyes shining gleefully.

Teyla turned to him, her eyes reflecting her own glee, "I think our efforts have not been in vain. May we-?"

"What would be the point in coming here if not to have a look around?" John said, rolling his eyes as he brought the ship down to land at the base of the mountain.

Quickly grabbing a few of the scientific doohickeys Rodney had left behind, the trio walked out into the twilight. Clouds drifted lazily across the sky, strips of silver against the fiery oranges and russets of the sunset. Above them the summit of the mountain reared, over two and a half kilometres high, and encrusted eternally in ice, tainted a rosy pink. Lower down the slopes, trees stood silent witness to their intrusion, nearly lost in the shadows of the colossal peak above them. The lone cry of an eagle-like bird echoed throughout the valleys, heart shattering in its purity.

For just a moment, time stopped. Sadly, all too soon, they realised they should be moving on. Quickly surveying the area, Teyla spotted an opening in the mountain, just wide enough for a jumper. She silently indicated the crevice to her comrades, before they began their hike up the mountain.

The climb was brisk, and the mountain air was clean and pure. Around them the shadows lengthened as the sun sank further below the horizon. Ten minutes later, they reached the entrance. Drawing closer together as they turned on their flashlights, they descended into the darkness.

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The pain was getting worse. Rodney was doing his best to ignore it, but the gnawing ache was slowly spreading up through his limbs.

"Are you all right Rodney?" Elizabeth asked, distracting him from his previous train of thought.

He spun around to face her, "Perfectly fine. Nothing wrong whatsoever."

Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest, " Nice try. I know when you're lying." She paused for a second, "Or at least trying to."

"It's nothing to worry about. It's only Koyla's little gift. Nothing to worry about at all." He grumbled.

Her skin paled slightly at the implication of his words, "You mean that we're running out of time?"

"If we are, Than I suggest that we get this ironed out." He snapped.

Suddenly an idea hit her, "Rodney, Hold still!" she ordered, placing a hand against his head. Trying to gather as much strength as possible, she concentrated on burning the poison out of his system. Minutes passed as beads of sweat gathered on her temples, dripping to the ground as a symbol of the energy she was attempting to use.

Rodney finally spoke up, "Elizabeth, it isn't going to work."

She shook her head vehemently, "It has to!"

"You need your strength if we're going to get out of here. Unless Sheppard shows up without warning, we're the only hope of everyone on this planet."

With a sigh of frustration, she removed her hand and settled against the wall once more, "What else can we do?"

"What we always do. Come up with a ridiculously impossible plan then miraculously pull it off."

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Up ahead there was a glimmer of light. It should have been impossible, considering that they were at least half a kilometre underground. As they trod toward the light, the sound of running water reached their ears.

The murkiness slowly gave way to a pale light as the passage receded into a colossal cavern. Entering into the light, the only thing they could do was gape.

Two crescent moons shone through a narrow crevasse, refracting within the crystalline structure of the walls. Millions of shards of shattered light shot throughout the cavern. A waterfall cascaded down the opposite face, most likely originating from one of the glaciers far above. From it stemmed a crystalline lagoon, where strange creatures swam in tranquillity. Pebbles polished by the current lined the embankment.

John trod slowly to the water's edge, and picked up a stone which to him was perfect. Examining it in his hand, he looked over towards Teyla. Quickly making a decision, he walked over to her, "Here." He whispered, placing it in her hand, "To make up for the one which I turned into a Wraith tracker. For luck."

She turned her luminous eyes to him, "Thank you, John."

He gave her a trademark flyboy grin, "Anytime."

Her delicate fingers turned the stone over in her palm, admiring its beauty. Suddenly she felt a rush, and her mind was bombarded by images, flashing through her mind until settling on one particular image:

A shrouded body emerged through the Stargate. Knowing their duty, the entourage of hooded people rushed forth. Time was of the essence here…

FLASH.

A man torn apart, strapped to a bed as his flesh eroded bit by bit, taking every dream he ever had with it and leaving the bitter bloodlust for revenge in its place.

FLASH.

A heavy black cloak draping against the ground, the rattling voice raising up, desperation coming through every syllable as the madness inside consumed what once was a soul.

FLASH.

A back room in a seedy bar, the man serving his concoction of lies and deceit into the heart of the innocents who held onto every word.

FLASH.

Staffs, swords and maces splitting the air guided by hands worn hard by the hell of the past few months. Clouded yellow eyes looking on in triumph as his transgressions of the past melted away.

FLASH.

Skeletal, rotting hands manoeuvring over the delicate circuitry of the weapon. Grim satisfaction coming through the face as he imagined how wonderful it would be to reft control from those across the galaxy who claimed the city as their own. Knowing that their precious genetics would be ineffective once the weapon had worked its magic.

FLASH.

Grim satisfaction as the guards fell to the ground, lifeless pounds of flesh incurred in the march of their mission. The void stretched out within his mind, slowly and deftly pulling his sanity into its dark abyss.

FLASH.

The innate pleasure coursing through his body at seeing the ones who had bereft him of his life mere crumpled heaps on the ground.

FLASH.

Looking out over the control room, knowing that it was all his, and no gene could ever take it from him again. Koyla laughing in maniac rapture.

FLASH.

Teyla staggered backwards, her skin ashen. Fear coursed through her body. She squeezed her eyes shut against the onslaught of nausea. In an instant John's arms grasped her tight, ensuring she didn't fall.

"What-? Teyla!" John called out in alarm.

Her eyes shot open "Insra Layal! Why-? John! We have to get back to Atlantis. Now."

John stared at her in shock, "Why?"

Her small hand grasped his in a death grip, as she took off down the corridor, her lean form flying over the rough, uneven ground, the sixth sense evolved from years of hunting guiding her through the darkness. Ford stared after them for half a second before barrelling into the gloom.

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A.N: As I've tried to answer a lot of things in this chapter, I've put the A.N here this time. Hopefully most things have been explained. Thanks go to: rouge1503, PurpleYin, NenyaVilyaNenya, fififolle, Evilclone, Dr. Dredd, Orka, NAQUADA and Lucimon. Specific replies: PurpleYin and Nenya, as a woman whose entire wardrobe is primarily based around red shirts pretty much exactly like Liz's, I assure you that no self-respecting woman ever dresses in red 100 of the time. What would happen if they met aliens who had a problem with red shirts? Anyway, that is my logic to the situation. And as to them being OC? Wouldn't you be when your home is under duress? Still, just thought I'd explain . Orka, My Bazooka is in need of repairs, and my father's is in the workshop at the moment, and if I shot him, we wouldn't have a story!

Sad news, my guinea pig died last night (For those who have read my bio.) Just so you know. Still, it gives me a bit of justification at giving such a long A.N( My longest yet!)

Ah well, still love hearing what you have to say, so please review! Constructive criticism is welcomed but Flames shall be used for marshmallow scorching.