A/N: Loooong chapter, but hopefully a good one. Enjoy.
Chapter Ten: Into the Lion's Den
"Well, there were three suns." Muttered the physicist under his breath as he stared crossly into the pouring rain from the safety of the temple's arched doorway. The temple itself should have been sweltering right then, it being the middle of the afternoon and all; but instead the damp air left both men trying to control their shivers.
Glancing over his shoulder, Beckett replied encouragingly. "I'm sure in a hour or two this rain'll stop and those suns will be shinin'." He was thankful to be finally drying after the hectic sprint through the storm from the Jumper to the temple that left an added chill in his bones. One he was sure would lead to some sort of irksome cold.
"Sure it will." McKay snapped lightly, rubbing his damp arms; unsure whether to remove his jacket or not. Either way he felt he'd freeze with it on or off, his shirt just as soaked as his jacket by now. "When we're captured and gagged on an A'vokien transport, maybe we'll pass by a rainbow on our way to Alcatraz." He watched the doctor then, who had wandered his way towards the nefarious device; taking up a lean against the side of its chiseled stone coffin.
"I wish you wouldn't go near that. I don't think I can take any more accidents."
"But it's gone."
With an exasperated sigh Rodney hugged his arms in tightly, trying to fight the overwhelming bite in the air that day. "I know it's gone Carson, the first thing I did when we came back to this hell-hole of a planet was look in the box." It was true, he had. After Rodney had launched himself up into the temple he made a beeline for the Aradis, finding the machine was gone, ripped right out of its protective tomb. For what he figured it must have been the A'vok, doing just what he had predicted. Who knew exactly how long the device had been gone, how long it took Dran and his man to wrench it out and onto their ship he couldn't determine. But they had done so quite violently, one whole half of the thick stone box was completely demolished, and Beckett rested against the small section still remaining. The physicist thought it was like a final blow to the legacy of the Yu'set, the place had been finally stripped of all that had made it holy, made it stand the test of unforgiving time. Now the place was just another ruin. "But you never know. Besides, I don't want to jinx anything else."
"For crying out loud Rodney. I said I was sorry like a zillion times." The Major interjected with a bit of a whine.
"Yes, you did. But all the apologies in the world won't magically deport you from my head, now will it John?" Rodney snarked to himself, quietly enough that Carson hadn't heard him, which he was thankful for. He didn't feel like explaining anything to the doctor at the moment; too wound up on his own discomfort.
Beckett, on the other hand had taken the time to look the place over, admiring the fine stonework, tediously working his way back to where Ford had told him the graveyard was located; horrified to find that each and every stone marker, hundreds upon hundreds were desecrated. Obliterated into dust and ruble, to which the culprits had to have been the A'vok.
There was a long silence between the two men, both lost in their own thoughts before Carson heard a distant rumble, growing increasingly louder. They shared shocked expressions as McKay shot up from the broken pillar he'd been perched on; the very same Sheppard had sat on nearly two weeks before. He slipped up beside the temple's grand archway, Carson leaping to his feet and joining him on the opposite side.
Just then, the rumbling grew deafening, trembling the temple and loosening trails of dust from its vaulting ceilings. Overhead flew what McKay recognized to be an A'vokien military cruiser, one of the very same that Ford and Teyla had described passing them just before Dran and his men made their unforgettable introduction.
Carson let out an audible whistle as the cruiser crawled its way over the temple, disappearing where the jungle canopy swallowed the grey sky from view. In the distance they heard the sound of engines cutting, the blast of thrusters. Again the temple shook as a second A'vok ship slipped passed above them following the first.
"Well, that's new." John said with displeasure at seeing the second ship flying over through McKay's eyes, feeling the pit of the physicist's stomach twist up. "Alright McKay, you and Beckett know the drill. Ford and Teyla are hovering just below the tree line cloaked right?"
"Yes just like we agreed." Rodney replied, stepping back further into the temple, his momentary shock had lapsed when he realized he was being heavily dripped on.
Beckett shook himself back into the moment, glancing to McKay with a confused expression. "Pardon?"
Rodney simply pointed up towards his forehead, nodding to himself. "Got it." He said, turning his attention back to Carson. "Sheppard wants us to keep to the plan, if anything does go wrong we're to signal to Ford and he'll uncloak the Jumper, see if we can't catch the A'vok off guard."
The doctor let out a elongated shaken breath, swallowing hard as he looked out to the still torrential weather, expecting to see A'vokien soldiers start to pour from the encroaching jungle. "How long do ya suppose'll be till they get here?"
Rodney took a moment, thinking about how much time it took the A'vok to reach the temple and capture them on their first visit. "I'd conjecture about ten minutes. Why?"
"Maybe, we should greet them when they get here." Carson replied with a smirk, nodding a head out towards the clearing just beyond the temple's doors.
"You mean out there?" McKay shot back, looking inherently disturbed at the idea of waiting for anything out in weather like this.
"Aye."
"In the rain?"
"Aye."
"Out there?!"
"No Rodney, back in the city. Of course out there!" Beckett exhaled with a lowered head before continuing. "You said it yourself that the A'vok didn't take too kindly to you bein' in here. So, why don't we cut to the chase?"
"I like the way this man thinks." Sheppard contested. "We should bring him on missions more often."
Rodney's gaze enlarged, as he turned to his left pointing at the vacant air. "Don't you side with him! I'm out here, not you." He turned back to the doctor then, still pointing crossly. "And I think it's a very, very bad idea."
"But John agrees?" Carson raised a brow.
"Yes, but Sheppard's gone stir crazy, it's the solitude talking. He's ten cents short at the toll booth." The finger that Rodney had pointed at Beckett suddenly started turning upwards towards the ceiling. McKay's eyes went wide as his hand kept turning, the finger aimed for his eye; quickly he grabbed himself by the wrist and struggled against it. Suddenly the hand wrapped tightly around his wrist flew back and into his face, hitting him square in the nose. "GAH!" Rodney cried, clapping a hand to his face as he leaned back, growling.
Beckett let out a small laugh as he looked out the archway, eyeing the jungle line. "Oh I think the Major's of sound mind enough Rodney. But that's just my medical opinion."
"I hate you both." McKay snarled, muffled by his hand, narrowing his gaze at the doctor.
Carson was about to make his way out into the rain when he stopped suddenly, slapping a hand to his forehead. "OH bugger!" He exclaimed turning back to McKay with a cringing look.
"What now?"
"I forgot." Beckett began, sounding troubled.
"Forgot?" The physicist snapped, as if it was some foreign word. "What could you possibly forget?"
Pushing passed him, Carson headed further into the temple. "Ford wanted me to check somethin' out for him back in the cemetery but I completely forgot when I saw the place." He continued his quickened pace passing what was left of the empty stone box, waving a curt hand back at McKay. "I'll meet you outside."
"You're priorities Carson, astound me." McKay called after him, causing the doctor to stop in his tracks, turning back round.
"I made a promise to him Rodney and I'm goin' to keep it, I'll be back in less then a tick."
"Fine!" "You just skip off and---" He was cut short as his left foot rose off the ground and shot forward, catching Rodney in the shin of his right leg. The physicist flinched up, holding back a yelp; to which came out a strained. "Son of a b---"
"Quit screwing around. He said he'll be back now get out there before this whole plan goes to hell." Sheppard interrupted the man's curse, sounding less then pleased at the aspect of Beckett leaving in the first place, Rodney's stalling only added to the situation. But there wasn't much he could do from in there except yell at Carson inside of McKay, have the physicist relay that back to the doctor, and waste even more time.
Clenching his jaw, McKay turned for the door pressing on his earpiece; leaving it switched on to help in their supervision. "Ford, this is McKay---we're going to wait out side for the A'vok. Just, be on your guard." With that, Rodney limped his way reluctantly into the downpour.
It seemed, that after one gets completely soaked to where even their skin feels waterlogged, the excess rain falling on you, is basically ineffectual. McKay found this out first hand as he waited in the storm, watching the tree-line into the clearing. He felt that he would never dry out now, and nothing mattered anymore except the mission, not even his own comfort. How un-McKay of him. John had already tapped into the physicist's physical mechanics but now he was hindering his self-centeredness?
"It's not fair." Rodney said aloud, rain running down his nose, his body so saturated that he was barely able to feel anything but the weight of his drenched clothing.
He heard trotting behind him, footfalls sloshing on the muddy ground coming towards him. Beckett nearly skidded up to the physicist's side, finding little traction. He was in the process of shoving something metallic into one of his many vest pockets. The doctor, decked out in his own set of fatigues for off world missions had so many storage places on him, he ran out of uses for them.
"See, that wasn't so long, now was it?" Carson said a bit out of breath, receiving a glaring look from McKay. Beckett was about to defend his actions when he caught movement on the corner of his eye. Both men turned their attention to the thick, smothering jungle to find three equally sodden A'vokien soldiers entering into the clearing, energy guns up and aimed.
McKay squinted through the blinding rain as more came crawling out of the wood work, those three followed by several others, all burnishing their advanced weaponry, all pointed at them.
Doing his best, Beckett raised his hands up in surrender, considering—and not for the last time, that perhaps going on this mission was a bad idea. There was no turning back now, but the thought of a cloaked Jumper floating a few yards from them, watching over the 'arrest' was of little comfort to the doctor at the sight of those guns.
The armed soldiers seemed to follow behind one A'vok in particular and as the man came closer. It took a moment for Rodney to recognized him as the man Teyla had floored back in the temple. McKay's eyes narrowed as the A'vok stopped nearly a yard in front of him, smiling pretentiously.
The lad, who must have been in hislate twentiescocked a dark brow, the rain seemed unaffecting to his pitch-black hair, slicked to one side; his pale features looked even bleaker from the hazy atmosphere, the only color to him was a flushness to his cheeks and long, well defined nose. "Perhaps my commanding officer wasn't clear enough to the terms of your release. Or perhaps you think it wise to try and test our patients--" He continued, turning his dark eyes towards the heavens, waving one hand while the other was resting behind him. "—which has its limits."
McKay let out a dismissive chuckle. It was his luck that something must have gotten screwed up with this plan of theirs and if it wasn't Dran there to rub it in their faces, it was his toady. "Yeah, I recall the extents of your patients. How's the arm by the way?" Rodney added smugly. "Looks sore."
The A'vok officer's smile faded into a noticeable glower as he followed the physicist's glance. He then tucked the arm near his back further behind it with a painful wince, replying distastefully. "Mending. I'd like to personally thank your female friend for it, but more to the point where is the rest of your team?"
Beckett watched the interplay between the two men carefully. He raised a cautious hand, waving the A'vok's attention towards him. Carson's face paled as he blinked through the rain. "It's just us actually."
The officer looked them both over, gauging their sincerity and finding it lacking. "And why should I believe that?" He asked with a wry smile, obviously unconvinced.
McKay gritted his teeth, moving his steely gaze from one A'vokien soldier to another. Keffis had informed them, when they finally contacted the Yu'set about their plans to accept the mission; that the A'vok spy would let themselves be known when the time was right. Now, as the physicist stared down each gun barrel pointed at him, he couldn't tell friend from foe. And the cloak and dagger routine was starting to wear on his already frayed nerves. "Listen---" He bit back finally, looking the officer right in the eye. "---obviously you've caught us. Again. So why don't we cut the superficial chit-chat and get this over with?" Rodney proceeded to release the clenching grip he had on his firearm, raising both hands upwards, wrists to the sky as a sign of surrender.
Ford watched the scene just below with unyielding tension, waiting for even a hint of the meeting turning sour to follow through with Sheppard's 'plan B'. Which, consisted of as John put it—blowing the shit out of the bad guys, and running away--- a plan Aiden had thoroughly agreed to. He sat at the controls, his fingers hovering above the cloaking symbols as Teyla stood nearby, observing worriedly. In both their ears, they eavesdropped on the conversation between the A'vokien officer and McKay with bated breath.
Over their intercoms they heard the officer's voice, low and oddly pleasant sounding. "Very well, on your knees."
"What?" Aiden exclaimed quietly, shooting up in his seat.
McKay's face fell. "What!"
"What?" Sheppard echoed in the physicist's ears.
The A'vok's eyes glimmered beneath his dark lashes, an almost satisfied smile on his thin lips as he reiterated, speaking in a straightforward tone. "I said, on your knees gentlemen. Perhaps when your people receive your bodies they'll learn the weight of an agreement." He gestured with a hand, his good one, and two of the armed soldiers crossed from behind him stepping forward. Beckett raised his hands higher as one soldier came up beside him and forced him down onto ground, Carson's knees sinking quickly into the muddy earth.
Rodney found himself meeting the same treatment, a hand gripped into his shoulder pushing him downwards, he rebelled. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He snapped, fighting against the A'vok behind him.
The officer simply nodded, giving his man the go-ahead. McKay suddenly felt a boot smack up into the pit of his knee buckling it and the physicist dropped harshly to the ground with a grunt. Carson watched as the man aimed for him shifted out of his sight, but could still feel the A'vok looming at his back. They heard the ping of electronics warming up as the A'vokien gunners took aim. Beckett shut his eyes.
McKay stared up at the officer, clenching his jaw and unaware that the rain had finally calmed down, drizzling gently. "You're making a big mistake." He scowled; glancing off to his right for a brief moment.
Carson winced up as he felt the barrel of a gun pressing softly into the back of his skull.
Above them Ford was hunched over the control panel, Teyla firing him an exasperated look. "Why are we not uncloaking?" She asked suddenly, confused by the lieutenant's pause.
Ford, keeping his eyes glued to the happenings below replied quickly, unwilling to break his concentration. "I have to wait for the signal remember?"
"But they will shoot them! What other signal do you need?" The Athosian shouted back.
The lieutenant glanced at her briefly, his voice determined and unflinching. "He's feeling out the situation is all, that's what the Major would do. McKay knows the plan, and I trust him." With that, Ford turned back to the Jumper's vast window, gulping down the anxiety he was desperately trying to hide. Teyla sat in silence, finding she could say no more; resigning herself to watch the events unfold below.
"Mistake." They heard the A'vokien officer say, through Rodney's earpiece. He seemed to mull the word over for a moment. "I believe the only mistake made, was trusting your people. A imprudent and inferior species; unable able of honoring a simple request. What Commander Dran saw in you, I'll never understand." He then turned his dark eyes to the solider standing behind the physicist. The A'vok dug his gun barrel further, forcing McKay's head downward and his gaze to the rain soaked ground.
Moments passed like hours, the jungle around them silent except for the scattered splats of raindrops running off damp leaves, hitting the undergrowth below. Beckett held his breath, running a silent prayer through his mind as he waited, waited for final end.
"On second thought." Said the officer, raising a finger.
Carson cracked an eye open, listening intently; Rodney clenched his fists finding this treatment right along the lines of torture and let out a shaken breath.
"Othalin might serve as a better teacher, after you've wasted away a few years there." He said curtly motioning for his men to stand down. McKay felt himself jerked back on his feet, mud clinging to his pants uncomfortably as he settled down, rolling the kink out of his neck. Beckett followed suit, his knees feeling wobbly under his own weight.
The doctor spoke up then. "Prison?" He asked the obvious, but from what the A'vok had called it, Othalin could have meant anything. And it was better to be safe then, well, sorry.
The A'vokien head officer watched as each man was disarmed, one of his soldiers handed Rodney's firearm directly to him. He looked it over with a raised brow, curious about its design. He replied lightly, handing the gun back to his unit. "One of many ways to describe it."
"Secure these two in the lead transport---" He instructed. Beckett tensed as his arms were pulled backwards and wrists bound up forcefully. "---go with the rest of the men in the other." The officer finished, getting a strange look from one of the soldiers.
Catching the expression he continued. "I think I'll deliver them to Commander Dran myself." A smug smile crossed his face now speckled in dull sunlight as the clouds above finally broke.
McKay and Beckett were lead, by the arms through the mud and away from the temple, the A'vokien officer following close behind, taking one last look towards the ruin as if searching for some other presence; though quickly turned back and continued on.
Carson found himself being escorted back into the thick and smothering jungle before he knew it, keeping a careful step not to trip on the wild undergrowth, though he did anyway. The walk was long and the silence was about as uncomfortable as the bonds around the doctor's wrists. He spotted light ahead through the clusters of brush and towering tree, showing signs of a clearing a few yards in front of them. Though the canopy above looked unbroken, the A'vok must have found a large enough gap to slip the ships in. Before long Beckett and McKay were guided towards the cruisers they had seen passing over head what seemed like ages ago, unceremoniously dragged into the closest one.
They passed over a grated ramp leading up into the transport ship, and were greeted by the cold dark encasings of metal and pipe. The ship itself was much larger then a Puddle Jumper, though the interior lacked the wide spaces of them. The two men were made to walk down a cramped corridor into a large containment room that looked as if it were some sort of navigation center. Screens and maps littered the walls, several consoles of blinking lights and diagrams were stationed about to fill the room. This they quickly passed, McKay himself shoved through another short corridor when he slowed down to admire the A'vok's technology.
After two short corners, the hallway branched off forward into a dark metallic door and to the left down another small alcove. McKay watched as the door slid open with a soft swoosh and he was pushed inside, he turned enough to send an unappreciative glare to the solider leading him. Both men were forced into the room before them, a short curved ceiling along with the walls were cast in slate colored metal, the floors were a crisscrossing mass of layered thin-rod grating; which clanged dully under their boots.
Along each longer wall of the rectangular room were benches, only slightly bucketed for seating purposes, seven seats to each bench. Rodney and Carson were made to sit, side by side on one of the benches, their hands unbound.
Before McKay could make any exclamation, he was suddenly restrained once more. Several thick metal couplings opened, raised, and closed around his limbs. Binding his ankles to the bottom of the bench, his hands to his sides, and his neck to the wall. He tested the give of the binds by shifting lightly, finding himself utterly stuck. Carson, to his left was restrained in the same manner. The A'vok soldiers checked the fittings then proceeded to leave, door sliding shut and locking behind them.
"Well this---" Rodney grunted as he gave up his struggle, relaxing into their obvious capture. "---for lack of a better word, sucks."
Trying to turn his head, but finding it impossible; Carson had to shift his gaze over in order to see McKay's blurry figure in the corner of his eye. "Sucks? This is inhuman. I've got such an itch on my nose---" The doctor suddenly fell silent, looking about. "You feel that?"
Rodney replied with a sigh. "We're moving." They felt the ship gently vibrate around them, the sound of distant thruster blasts hummed in their ears. Perhaps that was the final realization of what they had done, there was no turning back now.
"Not now." McKay said after a moment, shifting with a look of immense discomfort.
Beckett arched his eyes to his right, wiggling his nose to try and sooth the nagging feeling away. "What's the matter?"
Rolling his eyes, the physicist resorted to tapping his feet on the ground. "I've gotta pee."
"Don't you always?" Sheppard finally spoke up, spooking McKay slightly.
"About time you decided to join us Major." Rodney replied in frustration, pushing his back into icy metal wall behind him which felt even colder since he was still soaked. He tried to put less pressure on his bladder. "So now what?"
"We wait." John sighed, seeming as if he was sitting back in the physicist's mind. "What really bothers me is this whole---inside guy thing. I know we have to keep them undercover but, this is ridiculous. Who are we supposed to trust, hell I thought we were as good as dead back there."
Suddenly the tight metal bonds around each man unclamped and slipped back into their indented slots. McKay rubbed at his wrists while Carson looked around questioningly. At that moment the door to the room slid open, revealing nothing but a narrow empty hallway.
"Ok, I don't know about you guys---but I'm confused." Sheppard said puzzled, finding himself able to move, though more like McKay was able to move ergo so was he.
Rodney looked to Beckett, who shrugged, each man wondering if they should chance leaving or not when without warning there was a voice, coming from some hidden intercom system on the ship. "If you'd be so kind as to head to the bridge doctors." Came the voice of the A'vok officer.
Standing up wearily Rodney was about to head towards the door when he was stopped, Beckett's hand on his arm holding him back. He turned to the doctor.
"You think it might be a trap?" Carson asked hesitantly.
The physicist thought this over, coming back with a frown. "How more stuck do you expect us to get?"
"Good point." Beckett nodded, trying to reassure himself. He let out a long, troubled breath. "You first."
Narrowing his gaze, McKay lead the way back to what he thought was a type of navigational room, halting there. To their right was the hatch in which the entered the ship so, through process of elimination the door up ahead should lead to the bridge. He made his way round the control stands to the sliding door standing before it. He was checking the frame around door for some sort of sensor when suddenly the panel slid open revealing the transport's cockpit.
Before them was a short balcony, railed by a single pole of metal that opened at the left and right most sides to three squatted steps. From that lay the main bridge, which consisted of four seats arranged in a V formation, the first two seats, by the controls were closer to one another while the other two were spread further apart. Each at what seemed their own control stations. The room was a mass of buttons and lights, glowing control panels leading to a grand expansive front window that must have been at least four yards wide. The window was rectangular, though its edges were rounded and the glass itself seemed curved inward with the design of the ship.
Just out the window, McKay could see that the military cruiser was slowly approaching the Stargate which was suspended in the side of a towering cliff. Though the ring was empty and dark at the moment.
"I hope the ship is impressive." Came the voice of the officer again, this time in the room with them. One of the tall backed chairs swiveled round to reveal the man who had nearly put them to death. He sat just in front of a massive control panel though in the right most seat in the first row. The A'vok motioned for them to come deeper into the bridge. "You can enter if you want; I'm sure you'll find the seating is far more comfortable here then back in the holding cell."
"Wait one damn minute!" McKay held his ground, Beckett inching up behind him. The physicist was starting to put two and two together. "Who the hell are you?"
The A'vok let out a small laugh, hitting a few symbols on the smooth, glowing consol in front of him, taking his time for he was doing so with his injured arm, and then turned the rest of the way around; standing up. He bowed shortly. "I am Lieutenant Commander Malic Norweg." He then looked from one man to the other. "And you I remember are, Doctor Rodney McKay so that must mean---you are Doctor Beckett." Norweg pointed towards Carson.
Beckett cleared his throat, shifting pass Rodney and up to the railing of the balcony. "So I'm presumin' you're the Yu'set spy?"
Norweg held up a hand, lightly correcting him. "A'vok, but yes---I'm your contact."
Hearing this, Rodney's face grew flustered; he stalked across the grated balcony and down the steps standing in front of Malic in a matter of seconds. "Who's bright idea was it to try and execute us back there!" McKay cried, holding a thumb over his shoulder. "You seemed to really get off stringing us around!"
The A'vok nodded to himself, realizing the reason for the man's understandable anger. "I apologize to you both. But, under the circumstances I need to keep on the act of the subservient soldier. Anything less or more could compromise my situation; our---situation. You must understand it was for routine purposes only."
"Routine? ROU---I was five seconds away having my ship open fire---"
Norweg raised a hand pardoning hand. "Doctor McKay. I know for a fact that you have seen, spoken, and dealt with Sylis Dran. He's not a man to take lightly by any means. For the safety of both yourselves and I, for this mission there must be no acceptations; nothing must look in the least suspicious. Now, I recognize your aggravation but keeping up this act is a necessity." Norweg calmed himself, straightening his coat as he turned his eyes back up Rodney. He added softly, sounding most heartfelt. "It's a very treacherous game we play here Doctor, I've risked much for it. But it's the justifiable one; I'll leave this life with no regrets."
"Well----well alright then." McKay stammered, realizing his reprimand was a bit arrogant but still accepted by the A'vok. He couldn't think of what else to say other then. "I'm glad we got that out in the open. We're on the same page, this is good."
Just beyond them the ship halted, symbols lighting themselves up on the console in front of Norweg's vacant seat. The gate just ahead came to life, washing forth the gleaming horizon in no time. The A'vok excused himself and quickly made his way back to his chair, pressing several buttons, glancing over cryptic readings as they came to him.
"We'll be at Temmerist within the hour, I'd suggest you men take a seat." Malic said to the vast window as he guided the ship through the Stargate. Beckett trotted over to a seat in the back row, settling in while Rodney did the same.
"What'll happen when we get there?" Beckett asked just before they went through.
"The game plays on." Replied Norweg as he sat back in his seat, shutting his eyes to the immense glow of the horizon as it engulfed the ship; drawing them all in and through the wormhole.
Within mere moments the A'vokien transport had crossed to the other side. McKay stood up and slipped his way up to the front of the deck, taking a seat to the left of Malic. The gate to this particular planet opened up right into a city square. Beckett got up himself, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"My, my." He said in astonishment. "That's quite a little establishment you have here."
"This gentlemen, is Temmerist the largest capital city out of any in the A'vokien ruled planets." Norweg said proudly, running his hands over the consol to set the transport in what seemed to be an autopilot. The ship made a slow crawl over the square, raising up to enter a line of other airborne ships heading this way and that in what was like a flying intersection. "Upon the emperor, Lord Brasha's inauguration these flyways will be shut down; nearly the whole population of the city will gather in this square."
"Dran was right." McKay mumbled to himself, in awe of the sights. "Which I hate to admit to, but this place dwarfs Atlantis tenfold."
He watched the other transports, of various sizes and makes passing them by. People walked the stone and metal etched streets below by the packs as building upon building rose up like trees in a forest everywhere one looked; their vast windows gleaming in the sun-drenched sky. Three suns to be exact which lead Rodney to believe that this plant was in the same system as P2M-744, the planet containing the Yu'set temple. He wondered then just how many of these planets were once inhabited by the more peaceful race, how many temples, villages, homes, might be buried beneath these city streets.
"Well maybe they'll let us sight-see after we're incarcerated." Carson joked lamely, getting a chuckle from Malic.
"Alright guys, enough with the small talk. I want to know exactly what's going to happen once we get to this Othalin. Ask him McKay."
Rodney managed to rip his eyes away from the breathtaking city to ask the questions that were on both his and John's mind. "So what sort of trial system does the A'vok follow?"
"Yeah, there's a good start." Sheppard commended him.
"Trial?" Norweg repeated, setting the last of his orders to the ship before he swung round to look at both of his 'prisoners'. "Only high criminals see trial, all others are impounded."
"You mean to tell us that----we're automatically guilty?" Beckett stammered.
The A'vok nodded, adding. "Basically, if we think you've done something wrong, you have---even if you haven't."
"Guilty until proven innocent." Rodney grumbled, rubbing a hand on his chin. "Well, that's not unheard of, but wouldn't call it fare, nor intelligent. What exactly is going to happen to us?"
Malic glanced at the consol for a moment before answering. "We have limited time before we reach the citadel. I'll explain as much as I can. First upon entering, you will be searched and cataloged, your crimes recorded for governmental purposes before your internment. Then there's sentencing."
"I don't like the sound of that." Carson muttered restlessly. "Say for curiosity sake, how long do you think they'd lock us up for?"
Norweg was silent for a moment, seeming to be calculating their circumstances. "You've broken about four different A'vokien regulations, also Dran has you on file---this I know for sure. Taking into the account that you came freely without struggle---" He looked then to Beckett. "Around eight cycles."
"EIGHT!" the doctor exclaimed, calming himself. "Eight years for trespassin'. Back home it was a fine and a slap on the hand."
"Eight is really inconsequential Doctor Beckett, in most cases even stealing arguers death."
"Nice system they got here. Remind me not to get any wild ideas."
"After you're sentenced, you'll be taken to your cell and given your penitential clothing. There is a lunch siren, dinner, and sleep regiment upon the end of the third period."
McKay had to ask. "Third period?"
"I'm sure you've both noticed there are several suns this planet orbits around. As each one passes it is considered a period: first, second, and third. The end of the third period brings nightfall." Malic replied punching up a small, animated diagram on a darkened panel between them; the glowing images depicted a foreign solar system consisting of several planets all orbiting around three large suns. The A'vok went on to explain further. "Inmates have a short recess period at the end of the second period before dinner." He tapped a finger to the second largest sun as it crossed over the planet the diagram was zoomed in on, pausing the playback.
"Well at least the A'vok aren't complete barbaric." McKay said sardonically, more then interested in examining the control panels of the transport, though he knew well enough this wasn't the time; and he was starting to except that there probably wouldn't ever be a time either.
Norweg arched a brow, combating the physicist's sarcasm with stone seriousness. "Trust me." He began, drawing Rodney's attention away from the console. "Othalin will alter any conception you have of prison. I don't know how your people deal with your criminals, but the A'vok ideal of reforment is merciless to say the least."
"Now, you have looked over the penitentiary's plans I assume?"
"Yes, Carson and I have a good idea how to work this search. What we need you to do, is get in contact with the Yu'set and give them the coordinates to this planet, if they don't have it already. And they'll in turn send it to us back at the city. After that it's more of a matter of finding this Gertz guy and hopefully the High Mave and getting back out in one piece." McKay thinned his lips, adding. "Hypothetically."
"Glad you have faith in the plan Skippy. I was worried for a moment there."
"Oh I have total fate Major. That we're all going to die." Rodney shifted his eyes toward his furrowed brow, openly conversing with John.
Norweg watched the one sided interchange while it lasted. He had seen such behavior countless times before and thought nothing strange about it. "So you do carry someone inside your mind." He spoke up, motioning towards the physicist's head. One of the Yu'set had mentioned to him about McKay's current 'delicate situation' and what to expect. "That must be difficult." Though he himself had never used the mind-transferal device—what his people referred to it as---he knew the effects the machine had. Malic unpleasantly recalling the process afterwards that he'd seen countless times more, dispelling of minds into an unjustified death.
"You have no idea." McKay replied sourly, his head resting into the palm of his hand; without warning that hand pulled away, thumb and middle finger curling together to flick the physicist in the temple. "AH!" Rodney hissed, rubbing the offending hand into this scalp before he exploded to no one. "Alright that's it! That's the last one Major, you hear me up there! I don't care how much you want out, how held up you are, this is still my body. And the only person that is going to do any harm to it, is myself!" He snapped, regaining his composure when he saw the looks both Beckett and Norweg were giving him.
"Sorry." He muttered uncomfortably, again rubbing the still tingling flesh John had struck.
"He's had a bad couple of weeks." Carson added apologetically, though with a noticeable smirk on his face. "You'll have to excuse him." He mused.
Malic couldn't help but chuckle himself. These newcomers seemed to have a bond that could overcome any problem. The A'vok was intrigued by their sensibility and attitudes. If circumstances had been different, he might have enjoyed meeting more of these, humans. "It's good that your spirits are high, you'll need that once you're inside the citadel" Norweg said, sobering himself. "We're almost there, I sorry to have to put you back in the holding cell but…"
Standing up, Rodney waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes. For show." He patted Beckett on the shoulder getting him up as well as both men made their way from the cockpit back up to the entrance. Along the way they heard Norweg call back to them.
"I'll join you gentlemen in a moment."
Carson sat down after McKay exactly where they had been placed before, he let out a soft sigh preparing himself for the inevitable restraints. After a moment more the door to the holding cell slid open and there stood Norweg, an eager look on his face.
"Alright now." He said softly walking up to a panel of controls that were stationed near the entryway, he raised a finger looking to his 'prisoners'. "Try to relax."
"Easy for you to say." Rodney sat back wearily, doing his best to get comfortable. "You don't have to be clamped down to a chair."
"I'll try and be gentle." Malic said reassuringly but he knew as well as his new acquaintances, there was nothing gentle about the security system in the transport. With that, he pressed a button on the panel causing the thick metal couplings to shoot forward locking down both men. Rodney grunted, not liking the feeling what so ever.
The A'vok crossed the short distance to them and gave a few experimental tugs at the built-in shackles. Finding the hold satisfactory, he stepped over to the opposite wall feeling for something. With the flick of some hidden switch, a long strip of metal just above the bench slid open revealing open air and sunlight.
"I'm afraid it's the only comfort I can afford you doctors. You'll be able to get a good look at the citadel from here." He pointed out the window then took a moment looking about, seeming to be mentally checking that everything was in order. "I'll try and reach you at some point once inside Othalin, once you've been settled in."
"You're not goin' with us?" Carson asked, trying to remain as still as possible, any movement only added to the discomfort of the restraints. Then again, supposed criminals shouldn't exactly sit in the lap of luxury. He wondered then how many people sat in this seat before him, and how many would after words.
Shaking his head, Norweg replied sadly. "From here on out, you're on your own. I wish there was more I could do. Just remember your criminals now and you'll be surrounded to the thick with them. Watch yourselves at all turns, try not to be separated." Malic sighed, running a calming hand over his slicked hair, tugging at his uniform to a presentable fashion.
"My task now is to inform Commander Dran of your capture. You're lucky we're in the middle of a inaugural, most of the A'vokien armed forces are busy with security for Emperor Brasha's ceremony." With that, Norweg headed towards the door, turning round to add. "I'll get in contact with the Yu'set contingent with your requests Doctor McKay. Best of luck to you both, forgive me in saying that you'll need it."
McKay watched as the A'vok took his leave of them, the holding pen's door closing heavily like the strike of a gavel. The physicist wasn't even in jail yet and he already felt imprisoned. "You know for a traitor, he's a pretty nice guy."
"I think Malic's very brave, doin' what he's doin'. Traitor or not, he's got in mind what's right. It's us I'm worried about. I mean, how in the----good lord." Carson trailed off as his eyes went wide, words fumbling from his mouth as his lips hung open.
McKay, who had been looking at the doctor from out the corner of his eye, followed Beckett's gaze, seeing instantly what had shocked the man so.
There just out side the slit of a window, what must have been nearly thirty yards away yet stretched into the sky like it were three yards away instead was what Norweg called Othalin, the great A'vok citadel.
The building itself, if you could call it a building for it looked more like a monstrous growth jutted out of a large plane of water; who knew how many leagues deep. The water was still and dark, slapping up around the circular edge of the prison; this rose itself at least fifty feet above the water level, tapering off into a massive flattop of what looked like walkways. As the transport grew closer, they could see less and less of the hideous structure.
Rodney sat, clenching his fingers at the edge of the bench, from his side he actually heard a dry swallow come from Beckett.
Suddenly the transport touched down, the sound of grinding gears and mechanics could be heard outside, followed by several vibrating tremors through the transport. Before long they could hear voices outside, many voices in fact. Shouting, cursing, growling and the distant hum of what sounded possible like energy rifle fire.
Sheppard heard all this through McKay's ears, deciphering it over the almost deafening pounding of the physicist's heart.
"Take it easy Skip, we'll get through this, you just gotta keep a level head alright?"
"Right; what do you have to worry about?" Rodney frowned as he heard the strain of the entry hatchway to the cruiser opening. "You're in there, I'm out here."
"Trust me Rodney---it's just as intimidating in here as it is out there. We all agreed to this, it's the only way you and I might see next week. Now come on--- I'm siked, how about you?"
"Remind me, if we survive this that is---to have Elizabeth transfer me to another team." With in the physicist's mind he heard John laugh, the first real laugh he'd heard from him in the longest time. Strangely enough, it was comforting. About as much comfort he could find as several A'vokien soldiers suddenly came pouring into the holding cell, guns raised and aimed at them—from somewhere outside someone shouted for the prisoners to be removed, and what sounded like 'placed on line'.
Beckett and McKay were removed from their bonds, and dragged from the transport out into the open air. McKay found the breeze refreshing to say the least, his time on the ship had dried him out to the point that the sun was now too warm on his back. He found himself blinded at first, wincing his eyes from the shine of light off the water behind him, the sky above a cloudless endless blue. The air tasted salty and warm though this fazed him little at the sight before him.
From the circular platform he had spotted earlier, hundreds upon hundreds of docking platforms sprouted out along its circumference. The very transport they arrived in was secured to such a bay, rusted metal meeting black dull stone. From then on there were several long walkways, what Rodney assumed was what the man outside referred to as 'on line'. These were in fact long moving conveyer like strips, running for several yards towards the citadel. He and Carson were herded towards one and shoved on it; Beckett catching McKay by the coat sleeve as the physicist began to fall forward from the jerking movement of the walkway. When he steadied himself, Rodney took in more of his surroundings.
He stood just behind a grizzled fellow, smelling quite ripely of trash, long tangles of greasy gray hair trailed out from under a stained black cap. They passed progressively under a running overhang of mesh, arching above their heads and leaving just enough room for both men to stand up straight. McKay turned as best he could, looking out the weathered grating as it slipped by, seeing several other of the same type of walkways on either side of them, filled to the brim with other prisoners. He felt more like a sheep being directed to a slaughterhouse then a felon.
Just ahead of them, Rodney saw a strange array of people, or more to the point aliens. Species he couldn't even begin to describe, things that made even the Wraith look more natural. They all stood on line, waiting, moving without moving towards the citadel that loomed over them all, seeming to condemn them on site. Rodney for a moment realized that Norweg was right, his perception on prison would be altered forever.
Othalin rose up into the sky like a spiraling pillar of black stone and metal. Countless floors swelled up within it, crudely constructed smoke stacks bellowed thick dark clouds into the vast sky, marring it. He turned round then, looking over Beckett's shoulder back out the way they had entered, which seemed miles away now. McKay couldn't even see the transport anymore, nor the end of the citadel's docking platform. All he could see was the far off line of the city; he thought it strange to put such a place smack dab in the middle of a over-populated city. But then again, maybe it was like that for a reason, perhaps the A'voks had no fear of any criminal escaping back into the city once he or she was enclosed within the walls the citadel. This put a chill straight up the physicist's back; he didn't even realize that he and Carson were in fact coming to the end of the walkway.
Rodney felt a hand clamp around his shoulder, hoisting out from under the seclusion of the grated arch, out into the open. He found himself barrel to face with an A'vokien rifle; quickly raising his hands in defense.
The guard that had yanked him out pushed him now towards a long upward rising flight of stairs. Their walkway, like all the others were railed off, basically to keep the prisoners in an orderly line up into the citadel. McKay hesitated for a moment, before Carson was pulled into him, causing both men to stumble forward.
"I said move!" Shouted the guard, motioning up the stairs. "Go on!"
Just then Rodney heard a commotion to his left, there was a hail of gunfire as several guards took down a large beast like creature, obviously not willing to follow the orders given to it. The creature took several energy blasts to the chest before it dropped, smashing into the railing before crumpling to the ground in a massive heap.
"Move it!" Snarled the guard as Rodney felt the butt of a gun lodged into his side. He hurried up towards the stairs, keeping his eyes forward, hearing Carson huffing behind him. All around them were the shouts of A'vokien guards, growls of aliens and humanistic beings alike, each railed line merging into to the penitentiary.
Beckett counted at least a hundred steps before they reached the doors, arching nearly fifteen feet above them, the light within dim and wavering. Inside the air was much cooler, though smelled faintly of the morgues back on earth; a smell Carson could never forget after his first few years in medical school where he was introduced to the smell of a cadaver. The air was stale, unmoving, sweltering with the amount of bodies cramped into one area.
As they moved up in the slow precession to the door, Carson watched as Rodney was roughly pulled forward and under what looked like some sort of strangely constructed metal detector. He was made to stand there for a moment as two arms shifting out of the metal arc ran down the physicist in a parallel fashion, his body flashed with a yellow light that seemed to be scanning him. The bars passed down to his feet then back up, slipping back into the arch. An A'vok, standing in front of a console gave a nod, waving a hand. Rodney was ordered to move forward as the doctor was shoved under the scanner.
To that point, Carson had completely forgotten the supplies he had hidden on him; and with a sudden, sickening recognition he held his breath, wincing at the painful brightness of the inspection bars.
They passed down his head toward his chest and Beckett held his breath, waiting for them to catch him. There was a sudden loud alarm when the beams ran over his vest pockets; a guard quickly latched onto him, ripping him nearly off his feet.
The A'vok at the console patted his left side and the guard followed suit tearing open the offending pocket. The man dug his fingers inside, pulling out a small circular charm suspended on a length of brown cord. He looked the necklace over with a perplexed expression, holding it out to the A'vok at the console; who gave him a shrug.
"What's this?" He barked, shoving the band in Carson's face.
Beckett's mind swarmed, grasping at anything he could think up to explain the jewelry in his pocket, which was in fact—what Ford had asked him to investigate; the doctor finding the charm lodged into the huge tree that grew in the very center of the cemetery back at the temple. "It's---" Carson stammered, jerked by the guard for an answer. "It's just a little bobble, somethin' from the misses back home. It's nothin' really!" He squeaked out.
The A'vok guard looked from the doctor to the necklace clenched in his gloved hand before slapping it into Beckett's chest and shoving him along. McKay got a hold of Carson and pulled him back on line behind him. The doctor looked relieved to say the least, quickly tucking the charm back into his pocket. Unknowingly it had saved his skin, for the A'vok guards didn't bother to scan any more of him, too wrapped up in moving the now welling mass of prisoners behind him along. The medical supplies still sat nestled in the pocket of his pants. He let out a heavy sigh, catching a funny look from Rodney.
"What the hell was that all about?" He hissed, shuffling along.
"Never you mind, just be thankful they didn't find what else is on me." Beckett whispered back; looking ahead now at what awaited them.
The slow procession lead up to and A'vok far in his years, hair speckled with grey, thin-rimmed spectacles resting on a withered and stubby nose. The wrinkles round his mouth suggested he was at habit to constantly frown. This A'vok sat high above them behind a desk, he seemed to be typing away---clouded eyes narrowing as he tried to read what he had recorded. The prisoners up a head moved one by one up to this desk, McKay could hear the A'vok's raspy voice barking questions, gnarled fingers pointing either left or right after a moment; that prisoner was then dragged away in that direction, the choice of two doors on either side of the desk. Rodney was about to remark who the man reminded him of to Carson when suddenly he felt eyes upon him. The physicist looked down to see the stringy hair man in the black cap staring back up at him.
The man, stubble-chinned and wild eyed looked half insane to Rodney. He squinted at him, rubbing a smudged finger over his chin making the most annoying scratching sound. "You're very clean." Remarked the grizzled man, jabbing a clammy finger into McKay's shoulder. "And healthy too. Whatcha in for?" His left eye widened greatly, a sneering grin on his face.
McKay backed up slightly, grimacing at the man's fetid breath. He glanced back at Carson muttering: "The man is in desperate need of a Mento." The physicist turned round again, the wild-eyed man still grinning presumptuously at him as he hobbled backwards to keep with the movement of the line.
Rodney stared the weirdo down, taking on a harden expression. "I ah----killed fifty men. With a compact internally heated victuals device."
The convict's brow furrowed, obviously confused as to what Rodney was talking about. But his mind seemed to grasp the hefty number of McKay's supposed crime; he nodded vigorously, rubbing his oily discolored hands together. "That's a mighty big number. You're a pro I can tell. Trov'll keep an eye on you, yes I will." He raised a finger, turning his back to the physicist with a giggle.
Carson leaned in over McKay's shoulder asking softly. "What did you tell him you killed them with?" He was apparently confused as well. Rodney arched his head, whispering over his shoulder with a crafty grin.a
"Easy bake oven."
"Smooth McKay, real smooth."The Major chimed in, noticing the fact that the physicist was next in line. "Eh Skippy, your number's up."
"Name!" Squawked the old A'vok behind the desk glaring down at McKay through his thick glasses; the sudden shouting making Rodney jump forward.
"Doctor Rodney McKay." He replied proudly; though the inquisitioner cared little it seemed. He went about looking up the name, scowling from where he sat.
"Trespassing, loitering, theft, and insubordination of territorial regulations." The A'vok snarled, pointing to his left. "Fifteen cycles!"
Before McKay could say otherwise he was seized by two guards and lugged off to the left, leaving Beckett standing on the line alone. Rodney was spun round and forced forward, catching the fleeting expression of utter concern on Beckett's face as he was lead down passed the desk. On his way through the door he heard the inquisitioner shout something about seven cycles. McKay turned back a moment seeing the doorway entered by another person and not Beckett. The doctor must have been directed to the right of the main lobby instead of left like him. The guard behind the physicist shoved him abruptly, ordering him to keep moving; he regretfully had to continue on down the hall, enforced to abandon the good doctor.
Passing through several halls, Rodney found himself being led upward, climbing in an uneven spiral till he was stopped just before a gated door, beyond which he could hear the rush of thousands upon thousands of voices, shouting. The gate swung outwards and McKay stepped out onto a railed balcony though this one was suspended over a sickeningly high drop. He felt a flash of vertigo for a moment, seeing how deep the tower like area he was in went. Rodney looked up as he was pushed along to see the room ran even higher upwards, each level of the spiral was railed off. He walked along a grated floor, below he could see clear down to the lower level, and even further beyond that. He passed several corridors branching off from the circle he walked, each hall ran several cells long, some empty some occupied. Finally after about the ninth row in he was made to turn down one of the halls, passing one cell after another, catching fevered glances from those inside the metal-barred cages. Some shouted at him and the guards, McKay forced himself to keep his eyes straight ahead.
He was stopped six cells in. One A'vok guard pulled out a small metal tube slipping it into a rounded slot on the door, the back of the tube went from red to green as he twisted it clockwise. McKay realized it was some sort of key and lock system. As the door was yanked open, he was shoved inside; Rodney fell forward landing on a metal built cot suspended from the wall. Shotty clothing was then tossed in his face and the guard ordered that he strip and change.
"What! Right here, out in the open!" Rodney exclaimed. A second later he was staring down the barrel of a gun, the guard remarking either he do it now or they do it later when they hauled his carcass away. Grudgingly, he turned his back to them, stripping down to an under shirt and his boxers, slipping into the stiff and grimy grey shirt and pants they had issued him. McKay folded his gear, and handed it through the bars to the guards. His effects were snatched from his very fingers, the cell door slammed and locked. A moment later the A'voks disappeared back down the corridor; leaving Rodney on his own.
He looked about his cell, three solid walls with a thick-rod barred door. The metal cot he had landed on, a heavily soiled mattress, if one could call it that was curled into a roll covered by a bug-chewed blanket. The air still had that hot staleness about it, and the shouts and noise of the cellblock was only slightly muffled by his enclosure. Rodney glanced down at himself, disgusted.
"Doesn't get much better then this." He remarked with a scowl, unsure what to do first---try to contact Carson or attempt to set up the revolting bed. He was leaning more towards the first of the two; for the absolute exhaustion that crept upon him was taking its toll.
"Could be worse I suppose." Sheppard remarked finally. Rodney hadn't heard his voice in sometime, though really he hadn't noticed how long it had been since he'd heard from the Major, too wrapped up in the events of the day. "You could be sharing a cell."
"I already am." McKay replied, checking behind him before he sat down on the edge of the cot's frame. "You've been awfully quiet today."
"I was thinking."
"That must be why I smelled smoke." The physicist mused, finding it to be his only comfort at the moment. Though surprisingly enough he was quite relaxed, which must have been Sheppard's doing.
John rebuked dryly. "Ha-ha. What happened to the plan I told you to stick together!"
"Did you see those guards? Of course you did; because I saw them. They were twice my size. I'm an astrophysicist without a gun John, what did you expect me to do? Drop'um with a Vulcan neck pinch?"
"Oh no I was hoping my G.I Joe kung-fu grip would rub off on you. Apparently I expect too much." Sheppard sighed inwardly. "Well, we're just gonna have to work with this. Hopefully we'll meet back up with the Doc at lunch. It might not be such a hot idea to contact him now, so will wait for word from him. In the meantime, I need to do some strategizing. You should get some sleep."
McKay scoffed. "I don't think I'll ever sleep again. Least not in here---do you see this place? Christ, dog kennels have more room. I'll probably get Tetanus just standing here."
"Good the Lockjaw will shut you up."
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." Rodney glanced about, sighing. "They took my clothes John, I never even got to say goodbye to them." He stopped himself then, a horrified expression crossing over his face. "Why in the hell do I keep making you-like comments?"
"Beats me, we did have a doctor with us. He could of told you---but SOMEONE lost him!"
"Oh forget it!" McKay yelled; slapping his hands on his legs in defeat. He stood up, unrolling the mattress with a glower, finding one side cleaner then the other he flipped the bed over, throwing the blanket down on top of it. He then proceeded to plop himself down atop of that with a grunt. Rodney rolled left to right, to his back, then back on his side; finding no position any more restful then the other. Finally with a shaken sigh he returned to laying on his back, closing his heavy eyes; hands cradling his head because apparently, Othalin didn't splurge for pillows.
"That's it. Now try and get some sleep, you and I need all the rest we can get." Sheppard said quietly, settling down though he planned on not sleeping for a while, not until he could figure things out in his mind. He didn't need McKay worrying over that at the moment, he could already feel the man's mounting fatigue.
"My cell smells." Rodney muttered, scrunching up his nose in repugnance before he stifled a yawn.
The Major replied and if he could; would have covered his nose from the stench. He'd been in some dives before but this topped the list. "Yeah, I know. The sooner you go to sleep, the sooner I'll stop smelling it too." The air coming through the physicist's nostrils was musty and rotten smelling, temperatures in the cell were uncomfortably damp and chilly. In the darkness behind McKay's sealed lids Sheppard could imagine they were in a sewer rather then a prison. It was going to be a long—long day and an even longer night. John was distracted for a moment by what sounded like a fight somewhere outside; perhaps between inmates, maybe a guard or two. The physicist on the other hand remained still, his breathing stabilizing in a quiet rhythm.
If Sheppard could have rolled his eyes he would have; Rodney could have slept through a hurricane if given the chance. But perhaps maybe the man was just that tired, which was understandable. John was worn-out himself with concentrating on McKay, keeping him calm and levelheaded was arduous work; and not something he should have been doing but did it nonetheless. Because, it gave him some control over the situation; let him do something where he otherwise couldn't. John hated feeling non-useful, so he did what he could, when he could. Even if that meant everything.
"Hello?" There was voice then, trilled by a fearful brogue in McKay's ear, not even stirring the man. However Sheppard heard it, heard it clear enough and would have responded to Beckett if he could. "Rodney? Are you there?" Came Carson again, his voice hushed. John, at the moment tried to be content with at least hearing from the doctor, which meant he was still alive and probably locked up some ways from them. What he needed though was for McKay to be conscious so he could talk through him. Take the next necessary steps in the mission.
"Just hang in there Doc." The Major replied, though Beckett would never hear it. "Christ." He sighed, wondering just how he was going to wake McKay up. He cleared his throat, inhaling steeply. "RODNEY!"
McKay's eyes shot open, his whole body jerking from the sudden screaming in his ears. He spazed, forgetting where he was for a moment and rolled off the cot; landing with a weighty and shocking thud on the floor. He wiped at his watery eyes, vision blurry.
"Rodney? Are you there?" Called Beckett over the intercom lodged in the physicist's ear. McKay tapered his gaze, scowling.
John chuckled softly, it seemed pretty obvious from Rodney's thoughts just then that he blamed the rude awakening on Carson rather then himself. Beckett was about to get one hell of a verbal lashing, and Sheppard felt a twang of guilt for it. He'd have to make it up the doctor when he had a chance, whenever and if ever that was. They were in the deep now, that part was over---that, was the easy part. Now came the real test, Sheppard thought. Norweg was right---he too had to play the game.
TBC.
