Authors Notes: Erm...you want an excuse for it taking ages this time to upload a new chapter...erm...i haven't got one all though i did take one reviewers adivce and got myself a BETA. So next chapter is dedicated to that reviewer, you know who you are, this is to you for hopefully there being no spelling mistakes in here:) But anyway, read and enjoy folks, another chapter will be out shortly.
Disclaimer: They inisit I put one here, but again not mine, not at all! Just borrowning them for a little while, i promise i will return them in time for conventions:D
Chapter 4-A Wraith, An Ancient and Ascension?
"Woah slow down Rodney," repeated Carson calmly.
Rodney had come running into the infirmary ten minutes ago and so far all Carson had managed to get out of the young boy was something about John, a corridor and flying.
Taking another deep breath Rodney started again, "John wanted to see the Stargate again, I know we shouldn't have gone, but John really wanted to see it. We took a wrong turn…something…oh god John's dead!"
"Rodney, son, take a deep breath," repeated Carson soothingly, "Now why do you think John is dead?"
Biting his lower lip slightly Rodney answered, "he wasn't moving, the thing shot him and he didn't move. I don't want him to be dead!"
"Neither do I, can you tell me what this 'thing' looked like?" asked Carson.
"Tallish, white hair, it weren't human it had like a drawing on his face," explained Rodney quietly.
Carson blanched at Rodney's description of the thing that had attacked John, if it was what he thought it was, John would be in serious trouble…again.
"Rodney I need you to think very carefully, did this creature have anything in the middle of its hand?" questioned Carson calmly.
"I don't think so…I don't know!" replied Rodney, as shock settled in and he started to tremble.
Carson spotted Rodney starting to tremble suspecting that he was still in shock; he picked Rodney up and sat him on one of the beds. Taking the blanket from the opposite bed he wrapped it around him.
"Okay then Rodney you did smashingly to come here," began Carson, "Now I just want you to relax, whilst I go get Elizabeth."
"Wait! We got to find John!" exclaimed Rodney, pushing the blanket from his shoulder.
"We will find John, but you need to stay here," Carson insisted, placing the blanket back around Rodney's shoulders.
Rodney held the blanket in his hands, pulling it tightly around his shoulders. He felt cold, like he had just gotten out of a freezing cold shower, and couldn't stop shivering. He shouldn't be out there on his own, thought Rodney, sniffling slightly, shouldn't be out there alone.
Carson moved over to the door and clicked his radio on, after all the last thing he needed was to use the citywide intercom and have everyone hear that there could be a Wraith on the loose.
"Doctor Weir," spoke Carson into the headset.
There was a few minutes silence before a very groggy Elizabeth answered, "Carson?"
"Aye, I need you down in the infirmary, Rodney's with me," he explained.
"Rodney? But he and John are in bed," replied Elizabeth confused.
"Not any more, we may have a situation," responded Carson, glancing at Rodney.
"Ok, I'll be right there."
Carson clicked his radio off and went back over to Rodney, who still looked deathly pale in the dim light of the infirmary. Carson sat on the bed next to him, not saying anything, just offering his presence as a source of comfort for the five year old.
Rodney knew that Carson was at his side, knew that the good doctor was offering him comfort. But Rodney wouldn't take the comfort, not after he had all but abandoned his friend. This is why no one likes me, 'cause they end up hurt, thought Rodney guiltily.
Not ten minutes later, Elizabeth came rushing into the infirmary, hair messed up and cheeks flushed from sleep. Spotting Carson and Rodney sitting on the bed in silence she went over.
"Carson, Rodney…where's John?" asked Elizabeth concerned.
"The thing shot him," answered Rodney.
"Thing? What thing shot him Rodney?" questioned Elizabeth quickly.
"I don't know!" exclaimed Rodney shortly.
"Rodney, son, calm down," repeated Carson getting to his feet.
"Carson?" questioned Elizabeth worriedly.
Carson led Elizabeth a little way away from Rodney before he started his explanation, he didn't need to scare the child any more than he already was.
"He turned up roughly fifteen minutes ago. At first he was talking too fast for me to understand, after he'd calmed down I managed to get something out of him," explained Carson quietly. "He claims that John was shot, knocked unconscious by a tall figure with white hair."
"A Wraith?" asked Elizabeth stunned.
"Aye. It seems to fit, how many other tall white haired gentlemen do we know?" answered Carson.
"And it took John hostage?" Elizabeth queried almost afraid of the answer. If he had been taken hostage at least they would have the chance to save the young boy.
"Aye. It did," agreed Carson.
Elizabeth sighed and immediately begun thinking of plans and speeches she was going to tell her staff for the rescue mission.
"Is Rodney going to be okay?" asked Elizabeth, her eyes settling on the shaken up child.
"He should be fine in the morning, but he's still in shock at the moment," explained Carson.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but could you keep him in here? If there is a Wraith in the city and Rodney ran from it, he has already incurred its wrath," Elizabeth stressed.
"Its not a problem Doctor Weir," Carson said smiling.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded at Carson before moving over to Rodney and sitting on the bed next to him.
Touching his arm Elizabeth said, "Rodney?"
Pulling his arm away from the touch Rodney replied quietly, "I didn't mean to leave him there."
"Rodney this isn't your fault, you didn't know John was going to get hurt," began Elizabeth gently, "I have to go see about getting John back now. Carson will stay here with you and I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Can I help look for John?" asked Rodney, looking up hopefully.
"I'm afraid not Rodney," answered Elizabeth.
"But I left him there, I should help," pointed out Rodney.
Shaking her head Elizabeth sighed and answered carefully, "I'm sorry Rodney but it's too dangerous. As soon as we have John back I'll let you see him,"
"You will get him back right?" asked Rodney in a whisper.
"Yes I promise," answered Elizabeth.
Getting up Elizabeth left the infirmary with a quick nod to Carson on the way out and headed to the Gateroom. Entering the Gateroom at a jog, Elizabeth made her way up the stairs to the control room.
"Doctor Weir?" asked one of the technicians who was on the graveyard shift.
"Give me city wide intercom please," instructed Elizabeth.
"Of course," answered the technician, pressing a few buttons before nodding at her.
"Attention all personnel this is Doctor Weir, I want every available member to assemble in the Gateroom immediately," Elizabeth instructed, "I shall repeat, all available personnel to the Gateroom immediately."
The technician let go of the button once Doctor Weir had finished her speech, he turned to face her a look of confusion on his face.
"Just be in the Gateroom it'll be explained there," Elizabeth informed having spotted his look.
The Café
John came to after what felt like a year of being unconscious, his back and head hurt from the rocks that had hit him from the cave.
Blinking open his eyes, he squinted at the bright light in the room. Shielding his eyes, John pushed himself into a sitting position; it was then he realized he was wearing jeans and a shirt instead of his BDUs.
After his eyes adjusted he also noticed he was sitting on the floor of some café with a ton of strangers around him and Rodney at the side of him still unconscious.
"Rodney! Rodney!" hissed John, shaking Rodney's shoulders rather forcefully.
Rodney didn't stir at first until John started shaking him. Groaning Rodney brought a hand to the back of his head and sat up.
"Woah room spinning!" commented Rodney holding onto the wall.
"Yeah you got hit pretty badly back on that planet," replied John, helping him lean up against the wall.
"Hmmm…so where are we?" asked Rodney looking around.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing," answered John.
"Ah you're both awake," spoke a man's voice from somewhere over to the right of them.
Getting up John squinted again and saw a man dressed in a suit watching them. Rodney also stood up albeit slower than John and kept a hand on the wall to keep himself steady.
"Ah you must both be hungry or thirsty, please sit have something to eat," offered the man, pointing out a secluded booth.
"Just where are we?" questioned John suspiciously.
"In a café of your choosing of course," answered the man.
John took another look around the café and immediately recognised it as the café he and Cade had gone to the last time they had had time off together. It was the last time John ever saw his life long friend alive and well.
"Wait a minute 'of your choosing' who are you?" interrupted Rodney suspiciously.
"My name is Janis," answered the man smiling.
Both John and Rodney stared at the man before them, they had heard of him from past-Elizabeth's point of view and there they stood face to face with them.
What the hell is going on, John wondered.
Gateroom
Elizabeth stood at the top of the stairs as nearly each and every member dragged themselves from their beds and stood in front of her.
"Thank you all for coming at such short notice, I know many of you have just woken up or have been working most of the night," began Elizabeth, she didn't need to talk loudly as she kept everyone's attention. "Roughly half an hour ago there was an incident in Atlantis that is now questioning the safety of this base."
"Ma'am, does this have anything to do with Sergeant Bates' team?" interrupted Stackhouse worriedly.
"Yes Sergeant it does I'm afraid. We have reason to believe that there is a Wraith in Atlantis, now it has taken not only John hostage, but Sergeant Bates and his team," explained Elizabeth, "I want all non-essential personnel in there quarters at all times. I also want several military teams to do a sweep of the control tower, Gateroom, and all the laboratories we use. Now are there any questions?"
There was a chorus of 'No Ma'am' from the security teams and a chorus of 'No Doctor Weir' from the civilians.
"Very well then, Sergeant Stackhouse, Lieutenant Ford I want you both to gear up, take teams of six, a life signs detector and try to eliminate the Wraith," instructed Elizabeth.
"Yes Ma'am," answered the two men.
"Ah actually Doctor Weir we could use the cities own…ah…life signs detector," spoke up Doctor Zelenka.
"I didn't think we had enough power to power it up for the whole city?" asked Elizabeth confused.
"We could shut down power to some secondary systems to scan the entire city, but it shouldn't diminish our power…too much," explained Zelenka.
"How long will it take you to do that?" questioned Elizabeth.
"A couple of hours minimum," answered Zelenka.
"Do it," agreed Elizabeth, watching as several scientists ran into the control room to start work.
"Ma'am with all due respect, Major Sheppard and Sergeant Bates team can't wait that long, what happens if the Wraith feeds of them?" asked Ford.
"I understand the risks Lieutenant, but Atlantis is too big to search by foot," answered Elizabeth.
"But Ma'am-" tried Ford.
"Not buts Lieutenant we need to know where they are exactly, before I send you to bring them back," explained Elizabeth.
"Yes Ma'am," replied Ford.
Both Ford and Stackhouse moved amongst the rest of the security personnel giving them orders, before choosing six people for their respective teams.
The Café
"We're dead?" exclaimed Rodney.
"No but nor are you alive," replied Janis calmly, "Please sit."
It seemed that Janis was determined to get them into the booth at the end of the rows of tables in the café.
So deciding to play along with him for the time being John and Rodney made their way to the booth and took a seat facing each other.
"So mind telling us were we are?" repeated John.
"I have already said, we are in the place of your choosing," began Janis before looking over his shoulder and saying, "excuse me."
Not waiting for any type of reply from John and Rodney, Janis turned away from the table and left through a side door leaving the two men alone.
"Well since I don't recognise this place, mind telling me where I am?" questioned Rodney.
"That's a long story Rodney, lets just try to figure a way out of this," answered John, looking around again.
"That may not be possible Major," replied Rodney.
Turning back to Rodney John asked slowly, "Why not?"
"Well we know most of the Ancients ascended, now remember when we found Elizabeth she said she met an Ancient named Janis, so if I'm correct-which I usually am-we could be half way to ascending," explained Rodney quickly.
John stared at Rodney before stating rather loudly, "You killed us?"
"Well not intentionally, no, I didn't expect it to kill us," retorted Rodney defensively.
"I told you not to mess around that stuff and now look what's happened!" exclaimed John.
"Well it did, which means we have to deal with it," responded Rodney, bluntly.
The two of them fell silent not having anything more to say to each other, at least not for now.
North Side of Atlantis
The Wraith dropped its food onto the floor by the others it had gathered from around the city earlier that day. Resting its stunner against the wall, it took to looking over its new prey.
He had sense many things in many humans before, but it had not sense an Atlantean with so much strength for such a long time. Yet there was one, laying in a heap on the floor unconscious, just waiting to be fed upon.
Having not fed since he had started his journey the hunger was unbearable to him. But he couldn't kill hum, not until the base was his and his kin's. But maybe just a little taste the others shall not mind, thought the Wraith.
Making up his mind the Wraith stalked towards the human, picking it up by the neck he held it to the wall ripped open the material to expose the chest.
Bringing his hand back ready to plunge into the human's chest to take its feed, it smiled grotesquely as the human's eyes popped open…
Control Tower
"Try it now," instructed Zelenka.
The scientists in question pressed it again and held her breath as she waited for it to initialise.
They had so far tried it three times, each time it didn't work, meaning they had to shut down some more secondary systems so they had even more power.
The four scientists held their breath as the life signs detector initialised itself and then came online showing all the occupants scattered around Atlantis.
There was round of 'yes' as it came online and showed every personnel in Atlantis, one down side it didn't name the who or what the life signs where.
Going over to the screen, Elizabeth asked, "So do we know where they are?"
"Ah…yes North city side, here," answered Zelenka, pointing about 6 miles away from the control tower.
"Thank you Radek, now lets get our systems back online," replied Elizabeth.
Leaving the scientists side, Elizabeth made her way to the armoury where Lieutenant Ford and Sergeant Stackhouse' teams were getting ready.
"Ma'am?" asked Ford as she entered.
"Lieutenant we have their positions, North side of the city," answered Elizabeth.
"Right," replied Ford before turning to his team, "Ok listen up, we have a location, North side of the city. We are going up against a live Wraith so keep you eyes peeled."
Elizabeth listened to the Lieutenant's speech; she knew everyone had changed since coming to Atlantis and Lieutenant Ford was one of them, having become a competent leader amongst his peers. Although he reluctantly filled the ranking officer position at the moment.
Stepping forward Elizabeth cleared her throat and said, "I want you all to be careful out there, we don't know if the Wraith has fed so just be careful and bring our people back."
All 14 of the military contingent nodded their heads, each and everyone one of them understood the dangerous situation they would be going into.
"Good luck."
The two teams moved off out of the armoury and made there way to the North side of the city. It was going to take them forty minutes to get there, as none of the transporters were online in that part of the city. They just prayed that they could get there fast enough.
Infirmary
Rodney was leaning back against the pillow on the bed; he had stopped shaking now but still felt badly for leaving John all on his own.
"Here you go, son," spoke up Carson, handing over a hot chocolate drink.
Taking the mug, Rodney took a sip and asked, "It were a Wraith weren't it?"
"What makes you think that Rodney?" question Carson.
"'Cause 'Lizabeth said they would sooner hurt us. And now John's missin'" explained Rodney.
Sighing Carson answered, "Okay Rodney, yes the thing you saw could 'ave been a Wraith,"
"Its gonna hurt John isn't it, 'cause I left him there!" exclaimed Rodney guiltily.
"No Rodney it's not! Elizabeth has some highly trained people going to bring John back. This is in no way your fault," replied Carson vigorously.
He may not have raised his voice to Rodney but the determination was very distinguished.
Putting the mug down Rodney said flatly, "Not thirsty."
"Come on Rodney, you know John wouldn't want you falling ill because you wouldn't drink anything," Carson informed trying to convince the boy to drink the rest of his hot chocolate.
Rodney just shrugged and went back to his own thoughts, he had wanted to look for his friend but everyone had told him no. He actually felt useless at the moment and he didn't like it.
Carson let out another sigh at Rodney, before going back to the paper work he had to do. As stubborn as always, poor lad is probably so confused, thought Carson.
The Café
"Sorry," apologized John.
"I'm sorry, did you just apologize to me?" asked Rodney harshly.
Frowning at the other man John answered, "Yes I just apologized Rodney. But I can see you aren't interested in my apology so…"
"No...I uh mean…apology accepted," replied Rodney genuinely.
John just nodded and fell silent again; he wasn't enjoying the café one bit. How can they even pick this place from my head, thought John as he ran a hand through his hair.
It had been Cade's birthday when he and John had come to the café. John remembered they had harassed most of the waitresses that were working that day, before Cade managed to actually come away with a number and a promise to phone that number the next day.
John wondered if the café was still in his hometown on Earth. But it didn't matter he wouldn't have been able to face it anyway.
"MAJOR!" shouted Rodney, thoroughly bringing John out of his reminiscing.
"What McKay?" asked John.
"Did you hear a word I just said?"
"No."
"Are you alright Major?" he asked.
"What? Yes I'm fine. Just thinking," he replied, as his way of explanation, "You were saying something?"
"Yes I was," began Rodney, "if we are half way between ascending or dying, we should really consider ascending. Once we've ascended we can then choose to take human form again, of course we may not remember all of this…"
"But won't that make us Ancients?" John queried.
"No we are not nearly evolved enough to be an Ancient, we may be able to ascend, but nothing else they can do," answered Rodney.
"Oh right," replied John.
The side door opened and Janis re-entered the room looking rather put out.
Going over to their table Janis said, "Something has happened."
"Yeah you think?" retorted John, glaring at the man before him before continuing. "If we are to say here, change the place. Get rid of this café!"
Taken a back Janis replied, "That is of no importance right now. You both are in Atlantis."
"Not important? Let me tell you…"
"Major wait!" exclaimed Rodney, "we aren't Atlantis, and at least I know I'm not!"
"You misunderstood me," replied Janis, "I meant your younger selves are in Atlantis."
"Y-younger self's?" John fumbled.
"I can not say much except the planet you were on had a time travel device, that also allowed us to rid ourselves of our bodies," explained Janis.
"Wait a minute you killed us, but sent our younger selves to the planet?" questioned John.
"Yes, well to Atlantis," replied Janis.
"This isn't happening, this really isn't happening," muttered Rodney.
"As I first said, something has happened which has prompted me to take actions even against the councils wishes," explained Janis.
"Well what are you going to go?" asked Rodney.
"Give you your corporeal from again, but you can not tell your young selves anything about what you did or are going to do in your life," Janis insisted.
"What will happen to our selves, our younger selves?" questioned John.
"They will go back to there own time in a few days," answered Janis, "now please follow me."
Both John and Rodney got up from the booth they were sitting in and followed Janis through the side door, where they were met with a flash of white before nothing….
Reviewers:
SpyLover-As I said at the start of this chapter, I got myself a BETA. And yeah I know, I am probably the worlds worst Typo Error person. But Thank you for the review anyway.
amyordinary-Yeah i know long time coming, unfortunatly I have commitments to another site that takes alot of my time up.But I still write, and I still get them up for you. Thank you for the review.
angw-heehee yes that is very true, but then I guess I just see them as trouble makers even as there older selfs. Thank you for the review though.:)
Skat8erchick1435-Well that was a new one on me, mostly people dont want it to end, but you do! Heehee I will do my best, thank you for the review.
elemental-sparky-pats sparky on the back to calm her down Take a deep breath in...and out...in...and out. There we go! And I know I am evil, its part of my charm. Heehee and cliffhangers are fantastic to write always leaves everyone wanting more. Oh a big thank you to you as well, for BETAing this Chapter for me:) You Ordering me now eh Colonel, I do not think so;p And hey its only a little Angst, im not that good at it. Cheers for the review.
camlann-Well Elizabeth did think they would stay asleep all night, I mean unless she was going to get someone with the Ancient gene to stand outside the door thinking close all night. Yes I made John get taken...yes I know I am evil to him. But its not over yet...Thank you for the review.
Suicune1000-Yes I thought a bit of humour needed to be added. Thank you for the review.
Caitidid-Eh if I answer that it does kind make no point to have this chapter up. If your still rather confused, then drop me an email at joulezinsane at gmail . com I will send you an email then explaining for you. Thank you though for the review.
Rachel Kirk-Updated enjoy. Thanks for the review.
atlantis2005-Eh you never know what will happen do you!;p thank you for the review:)
Again thank you all to who have reviewed this, i didin't expect so much response from you all out there
but guess I was wrong. Just Thanks, in general. I do have one question, if you were writting this fic, what
would you have put in it?