Chapter 7: Plans

A/N: A little dark. I'm trying to get the next couple chapters written quickly. Brief spoiler for Conversion.

I'm not sure how we made through the gate without interference, although I'm guessing Ronon would have been torn between trying to rescue Dr. Weir and myself, and help the wounded. I'm certain he'd be after us, as soon as it was possible, with everyone's blessing. We gated to a densely forested world, one which I didn't remember from previous travels.

"Nice to see you again, Elizabeth," sneered Dr. Lowell after we had walked a short distance. He motioned to one of his men, who began rummaging in a pack.

"I see you're well acquainted with my former employer," I stated, noting the disgusted look Dr. Weir wore.

"That's quite enough," snapped Dr. Lowell, as I felt an open palm connect with my jaw and tasted the copper tang of blood. He held out a filthy olive shirt to Dr. Weir. "Put this on," he barked. "Don't want you standing out in all this greenery," he continued, indicating her red shirt. She stared at him. Dr. Lowell pulled out a gun, clicking off the safety. "Put the shirt on, or I'll have someone cut yours off. I'll take the GDO too. I was originally after Kyte, but you're a good addition."

Dr. Weir reluctantly pulled on the shirt as she stared at the man she had once partnered with for negotiations, now reduced to a cruel and desperate caricature. He looked at the GDO. "This changes some plans. We can use you as hostage to access the Atlantis gate and Earth, but you might be more valuable in trade." Dr. Weir looked at him curiously. "You didn't know there's a price on your head, Elizabeth?" he said mockingly. Some among the Genii still hold grudges. As for you," he said turning to me, scowling, "Let's see if you learned anything new. We heard that there was a database you tried to access."

I met his eyes and summoned as much contempt as I could. "It didn't work. Compatibility error. Those Ancients or whoever messed with my genes weren't as smart as we thought they were," I bluffed.

Dr. Lowell stared at me and a palm again connected with my jaw. I spat out blood. "I'll be the judge of that." Our hands were bound in front of us and I could feel the course rope cutting into skin. To add insult to injury, someone looped more rope around my neck in a noose. I had no choice but to follow where they led or risk choking. "If either of you attempts to escape, I will shoot the other. If both you try, we'll play a little roulette," Dr. Lowell smiled nastily as if daring us to try.

XXXXXX

"Atlantis, this is Dr. Beckett. I need a full medical team in the jumper bay, stat. We've got one critical, one serious but stable," Dr. Beckett was obviously stressed, his brogue was thicker than usual. Caldwell swore under his breath from his observation post near the gate. What could have gone wrong?

The uninjured leaving the jumper looked shaken, but scarier was seeing Colonel Sheppard assisted out of the jumper by Ronon, dried blood staining one leg. He was in obvious pain, he didn't even protest being helped to a gurney. Scarier still was seeing a motionless Major Andrews on a backboard. "What happened?" demanded Caldwell.

'Dr. Randall woke up and we were just about to leave when we were ambushed by a Dr. Lowell and his men. They took Dr. Weir and Dr. Randall, and shot Andrews and the Colonel to make their point. I think they would have shot everyone if we put up more resistance. These were desperate men," Major Lorne explained, obviously upset be the chain of events. "Sir, I recommend we go back, try to find them, maybe someone can access whatever they gated to," he continued.

"Agreed. We'll debrief in an hour. I want plans, options."

Dr Beckett spoke up, "You know Dr. Lowell is the one the Major and the lass were running from originally. I saw a look of terror in her eyes, like I've never seen before. After hearing what she went through, I don't know what this will do to her if we can't find them quickly."

Caldwell nodded and swore again.

Without Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard, the meeting felt odd to everyone present. Caldwell politely avoided Dr. Weir's position at the head of the conference table. He may have been accused of trying to take Sheppard's position, but he wasn't a fool – no one could take Dr. Weir's place. Besides, they'd get them back, this was a much more tangible incident compared with someone being taken over by a retrovirus. Ronon, Major Lorne, Teyla, and Dr. Zelenka were seated at the table, when Dr. McKay walked in followed by a protesting Dr. Beckett.

"How are your patients, Dr. Beckett," asked Caldwell.

"The Colonel sustained a shot to the leg, it's not too serious, but he'll have to take it easy for a few days (Yeah right, everyone at the table thought in some variation). Major Andrews is in much more serious shape. He's lost a lot of blood. One of the bullets shattered part of his pelvis, the other nicked his windpipe, so he's having trouble breathing. If we can stabilize him, we can get him into surgery, repair some of the damage. And Dr. McKay should really be in the infirmary resting, but he insisted on attending when he heard what happened."

"Relax Carson, it's not like I'm going to do anything strenuous," interrupted the physicist with an air of indignation. "If you need help with tracking gate addresses, I'm the expert. Besides I want them back as much as anyone."

"I agree. Our first priority is to determine where they went, then assemble a rescue team," said Caldwell, cutting off Beckett's protests.

"How will we be able to track them?" asked Zelenka, "beyond the gate address? They could be anywhere on a planet. That's still a lot of searching from a jumper, if we can."

"I've been hunting once, on the mainland, with Dr. Randall," spoke up Teyla, "She is good at tracking. I am sure if she is able she will try to leave a trail, hopefully subtle enough not to be detected by most. If she can, we will find them," Teyla finished and looked at the Major and Ronon. For her to say someone was good, that was high praise.

"I'm hoping that Dr. Weir can negotiate with Dr. Lowell," said Dr. Beckett quietly, trying to ignore the image of two more patients in the infirmary.

"I hope you're right, doctor, but desperate men do desperate things," replied Caldwell.