Red
Electric, red Kool-aid. That was the extent of his immediate world. It was all he saw and he was not sure seeing was the right description. He had tried looking down, up, and side to side. All he perceived was red. Nothing else. No hands. No body. No infirmary ceiling- and that was what he had been expecting.
Sheppard's last clear memory was of the clearing in the forest. He had come face to face with Rodney. Their terror reflected back at each other.
Something had been stalking them since their flight from the village. They had tried to loop away from their pursuer and remain off the path. They were hopefully dodging whatever it was chasing them. He let Teyla and Dex lead; their tracking abilities were a tad better than his own. McKay was in his customary middle position and he brought up their six.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye that stopped him cold. Dex must have seen it too because he halted as well.
"Get down," Sheppard whispered into the radio.
He saw it again. It was a wisp of a disturbance, almost like a…
"Teyla sense anything?"
"No Colonel."
"What? Wraith?" McKay squeaked.
"I don't see anything Sheppard," reported Dex.
"OK, move out cautiously." Sheppard had a full blown case of the heebie-jeebies coupled with the willies now.
The wisp moved directly in front of them.
"What the hell was that?" McKay yelled.
Now that was the McKay he knew and snarled at. Sheppard clasped his hand over McKay's mouth and dragged him down.
Terrified, McKay struggled.
"Cut it out, it's me." Sheppard hissed and clamped his hand even firmer. "Ronon what do you see or hear?"
"Just the illusions. I don't hear anyone or anything."
"OK let's keep going." He released McKay's mouth and shot a warning glare at him, "Quietly."
They continued moving carefully through the forest, an almost full moon providing illumination.
"Sheppard, maybe we should just take our chances on the path and make a run for it. Whatever is tracking us is really good. I can't see or hear it. It's playing with us."
He mulled over Ronon's suggestion. Damn if this wasn't the ol' cat and mouse scenario. He really hated being the mouse once again.
"I agree Colonel," interjected Teyla. "It or they already know we are here."
"Might as well make a run for it, hunh?" Sheppard answered. He whispered to McKay, "Are you up for this?"
"Do I have a choice? And by the way, what the hell is on your hand? It tastes like the ass end of Big Foot." McKay spat saliva on the forest floor.
"Shut up McKay," answered Sheppard half exasperated and half amused. He looked forward to Ronon and Teyla, "And run!"
The entire team took off down the path: Ronon in the lead, followed by Teyla, then Sheppard and Rodney bringing up the rear. The pathway opened up into a clearing when the wisp of a phantom blocked their way. Ronon skidded to a halt and pulled his weapon. Teyla halted and looked to her left where another being stood studying her. Sheppard came to an abrupt stop and Rodney plowed right into him.
"Ow! Damn colonel you need brake lights!" Rodney exclaimed rubbing his nose.
Sheppard could not answer and realized McKay had hit him in the lower back and upper thigh. Alright, his ass, McKay got a face full of Sheppard's ass. That was due to him being unbelievably suspended in midair as if he was on a wire. He felt a hand on his arm then heard a yelp and a thud farther behind him.
His entire body was encased in an icy, cold grip.
"Acceptable." A voice breathlessly said. "Why do you fight?"
He found himself flying backwards through the air until he hit a tree. He dropped straight down to the forest floor. The impact with the ground dislocated his shoulder.
That's when he looked up and into the frightened eyes of Rodney McKay. McKay reached for him and his forearm was snapped like a piece of chalk. Then he and Rodney were whipped into the air by the frigid source as a scream escaped Rodney's mouth and a yell from Sheppard's. Sheppard was hauled one way and Rodney the other. He was thrown back into a tree and this time held there. The force of the hit pushed the air out of his lungs and a ghostly face appeared before him.
"A warrior." The voice encircled him. "But this will not do. Not yours."
Sheppard tried to move his head but it was held in place. A transparent hand reached for his forehead and pierced it. It was like a fiery icicle with fingers flipping through his brain like a Rolodex. Images popped in and left, the memories of his team from his encounter with the Pavilion of Acquirement including those of Ford's were removed.
'Not those. Let me keep those,' he sadly pleaded in his thoughts as his screams echoed through the night air.
"Now you're ready," the voice pronounced with certainty.
Barely cognizant of his surroundings, he looked feebly down. Another robed man approached holding a scepter with three prongs extending out the end.
"Prepare oh my brother, yours is the great sacrifice," he declared.
"I decline," coughed Sheppard mustering as much defiance as possible.
He was slammed into the ground where he felt and heard both legs make cracking sounds. He was pulled back up and pinned to the tree once more.
Robes 2 paused but ultimately ignored him and carried out his purpose. The priest held the scepter up and touched it to Sheppard's abdomen. Sharp needles punctured his skin and a cold sensation crept through him. Once it had filtered into every crevasse, he went numb. It was like being trapped under the ice and drowning.
Then a switch must have been flipped, the icy sensation was vacuumed out of him. Everything that made John Sheppard, John Sheppard left with it. For a split second he had a sensation of falling but no memory of hitting the ground.
Now all he had was red, cherry Kool-aid.
So now what?
Sheppard decided to try an obvious and carefully crafted tactic.
"Hello?"
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A/N: Well at least it wasn't raining. So you see, they are feeling better...or are they? Let John know you are there, please review.