The Grudge
Part 7
Author: Mac
Disclaimers in Part 1
The minute the teams from Atlantis arrived on Kavanaugh's planet, all hell broke lose. "What the hell!" John exclaimed. "There was no one here when we sent the M.A.L.P. earlier! Take cover!"
He kept cursing silently to himself as arrows flew over their heads. He saw one heading for Teyla and pushed her down. He felt it pierce him in shoulder blade and more expletives ripped from his mouth.
"Major!" Teyla exclaimed. "Lieutenant Michaels, Major Sheppard has been injured!"
:Keep him comfortable for the moment. We're going to go around and start picking these guys off. I've got an idea. Ford, take Dr. McKay and move to the right. We're heading left:
"Got it!"
Rodney's eyes widened. "Maybe Teyla should go. She's a better fighter than me! Besides, I hate certain death."
"Whatever," Ford replied, "but we have to go now!"
Teyla stood up. "Hang in there, Major."
"Whatever you say," John gasped out in pain as Rodney sat next to him. "Help me get this thing out of my shoulder."
"Are you sure? I mean, that's going to really hurt without any pain medication."
"It hurts NOW, Rodney! Get this the hell out of me!"
Rodney gulped and nodded. "Brace yourself. On the count of three. One. Two. Three!"
John Sheppard had felt pain before. After all, he had that Wraith bug attached to him for awhile. The arrow was bad enough going in, but worse as Rodney pulled it from his shoulder blade.
"Major. Major, are you with me? It's out."
"Yeah," he replied, taking deep breaths. "I'm still here."
:Rodney, this is Ford. Is the Major all right:
John spoke up before Rodney could even move. "I'm fine. What's your status?"
:These people have surrendered. They have an interesting story to tell. One I think you should hear:
"We'll be right there. Sheppard out."
"Major, don't you think you should get back to Atlantis?"
He shook his head. "We came here to find Kavanaugh and I'm not leaving until we do, Rodney."
John slowly got up, brushing off Rodney's attempts to help him. He was beyond pissed now and he had a good idea as to who was behind the attack. Kavanaugh must have seen the M.A.L.P. come through.
How the man could have convinced these people they were hostile is another story. One he planned on figuring out before they returned to Atlantis.
"Major," Ford said. He could see the pain in his CO's eyes, as well as determination. "This is Eli. He's the leader of his people. He told us about a man who came through the "Portal". That man was injured and said that his people wanted him dead."
"Eli, that couldn't be further from the truth," John told him. "We're peaceful explorers from a planet called Earth, originally. We've been in Atlantis studying our ancestors."
Eli sighed and looked up at John. "We are a trustworthy people. When he came to us, we had no reason to believe he was lying. Nor do we have any reason to believe you are lying. Perhaps it is best to let both of you leave. Go to the worlds of your choice."
John shook his head. "He has to come with us. He should not be allowed to roam freely through the galaxy."
"Remain here," Eli responded, "I will get him."
Teyla noticed something odd about her friend. "Major, are you all right? Your skin is awfully pale."
Rodney glanced over at the men surrounding them and carefully walked over to John. "She's right."
"Well, I did get shot in the shoulder with one of their arrows. And it did hurt like hell..." However, he knew Rodney and Teyla were right. Something didn't feel so good and that was his stomach. "Excuse me," he gasped out and ran behind a rock.
"Hey, Arrow Guy!" Rodney called out. "Yeah, you! Do people normally react like that when you shoot them with arrows?"
He nodded slowly. "It's the poison we place on the tip of the weapon. The doctor from your world made it. We have never used anything of it before."
Ford couldn't believe his ears. "Did he say anything about a cure?"
"He did not."
"Ford!"
"Yes, Major?"
"I'm going to pass out now, you're in charge."
Rodney and Teyla ran to his side, catching him before he slammed his head into a rock. "This could be a problem," Rodney muttered.
