Infiltration
Guards had been stationed at the Gate much to Major Lorne's dismay. Getting off the planet just became a little harder. He followed Halling to a tent everyone who exited the wormhole was being herded into. He had already agreed to let Halling do most of the talking.
It was a mini Ellis Island. Officials were interviewing other travelers as they entered the stifling tent. They were directed over to a table where a surly and self-important guard was waiting.
"You're refugees?" He asked clearly disinterested in the answer. He did keep a wary eye on the group.
"Yes," answered Halling, "Our home of Kentucky was culled. There are so few of us left that we were hoping to stay here a little while and look for work. We were also hoping others from our home had come here."
The man picked at his teeth. A commotion on the other side of the tent grabbed everyone's attention.
"Please! We have nowhere else to go!"
"No goods, no skills, no stay," An armed guard told a man flatly. "Take him and his family back to the Ring."
The man, his wife and children were removed from the tent.
Their interrogator gave them a bland look. "You have any skills or goods of interest to barter with?"
The team had made themselves look desperately poor and haggard. They even swapped out the tell-tale Atlantis footwear for Pegasus Galaxy footwear.
"Yes, we know farming and hunting. We also have a few relics left to us from the Ancestors." Halling portrayed the icon of subservience and humility.
Lorne was amazed the man had made himself shrink so as not to appear so imposing.
"You are in luck. We are in need of field hands for the harvest. We will issue you a work pass for the fields. When the season is over you must leave." He sneered at the group, "Or you will be forcibly removed. You may stay at the public house in the middle of Mina until something can be permanently arranged."
He handed each member a piece of paper to get them in the gate at Mina and to obtain work once settled.
"Your generosity is appreciated. May the Ancestors watch and keep you." Halling gave a small bow with his head and led everyone out of the tent.
"That went well," observed Lorne a short distance down the main path. "I didn't expect that. When we were here last, no guards."
"They were looking for someone, maybe us."
Lorne looked back at the young man who spoke. He was not usually on his team but Lorne wanted to be prepared. Williams was a member of the Special Ops team stationed at Atlantis.
"What do you mean?"
"No guards until after our people are attacked. They probably knew when we retrieved their bodies and did not want us to return unexpectedly. This is a good sign that our people are here and recoverable."
The group nodded in agreement.
"Well let's go see a man about a room." Where there was hope there was a way, thought Lorne.
They made the three hour walk and gained entrance into the village. The locals barely even noticed them. Apparently, that was different than Sheppard's team's reception. He had received a partial report from McKay before he left. He had reiterated the strange excitement that seemed to flow through the locals. They were staying in the same hostel the team had stayed in. Hopefully, they would not have any uninvited guests but maybe they could overhear a little gossip.
They followed the main roadway to the hostel's door. Once inside they bartered for four rooms, they would have to double up. Lorne did not mind, the buddy system had its advantages.
The group was lead by Halling and Major Lorne. The one borrowed team member (Williams), Jones, and Dennison rounded out the Atlantis personnel.
Feris, Meka and Janna rounded out the Athosians. They were all capable fighters and trackers. They felt honor bound to aid Teyla in her time of need.
Lorne had toyed with the idea of bringing medical or scientific personnel. Usually, they stuck out like neon pink in a sea of beige when traveling off world. He really did not want that. He would call on their service if needed. The Daedalus might be called in as well especially now the Gate is somewhat cut off. They would check-in and relay that little bit of news in a day and a half. They were going to stay as long as they could, the reception at the Gate had peaked the interest of the entire team. There was something going on.
Lorne followed Halling up the stairs to their rooms. The Athosians were at a loss. Their leader was not dead yet not alive. In their experience it had been one or the other. Their belief system did not include limbo, so to them this was a mission to complete the journey to the other side or bring her back to this one.
When Lorne was talking with McKay, he saw Halling visiting with Teyla. He was searching for what her wishes would be and maybe provide him with answers he sorely needed. Halling convinced Weir that the Athosians should be included in this mission. Personally, Lorne was glad they were here. They had insight into dealing with the locals.
He finally understood what Sheppard and Weir saw in their allies.
They came to their rooms. Now it was time to blend in with the populace. They would keep their eyes and ears open. They would keep their mouths shut. It was time to get to work. It was time to get something to eat.
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Brother Mede beamed at his pupils. "You have come along way in such a short time."
His pupils were not as enthused. They returned the compliment with half-hearted smiles and nods.
"It is time to move forward oh my brothers and sister. I will introduce you to your Facilitators." Mede stepped to the door of the room and motioned three young women in.
"Col. Sheppard this is Ganede." Mede pointed to a slender dark skinned young woman with striking blue eyes. She merely acknowledged him with a small bow. He smirked back at her.
"Dex this is Trece." He pointed to a petite blonde woman. Dex glared at her stopping short of snarling. She also merely gave a small bow.
"Teyla this is Marcin." Mede pointed to the last young woman. She was about Teyla's height and age. She also bowed. Teyla returned it with one of her own.
"They are novices. They will be learning along with you and I will be instructing both sides."
"Meeede…" Sheppard projected his frustration by appearing to talk through his teeth and drawing out the brother's name. "What exactly is a Facilitator?"
"Just as you are the Protectors of Mina, they are your protectors." He made a wide sweeping gesture with his arm. "They activate and direct the vessels that contain you."
"Could you explain this a little more?" Teyla asked.
"Ganede, Trece and Marcin will verbally direct you to where you are supposed to fight. The vessels have a limited range of about 100 paces in direct sight. Less if your projection encounters an obstacle. Such as, you cannot go into the next room because the wall blocks the cube unless your vessel is in direct sight of the open doorways. If we were in a large field, you have up to 100 paces before your projection would cease." Mede directed their attention to the cubes. "The buttons control the power level, the on and off, recall and an override. A gauge next to the controls shows the level of recharge. At maximum power output the cubes let you interact with the physical world as you have already experienced."
Sheppard rubbed the back of his neck and acknowledged Mede. The looks of concern did not escape the young cleric.
"Can they control our actions?" Dex asked as he pointed to the three young women.
Mede pursed his lips and refused to meet their transparent eyes. "Yes." He said it with a small, apologetic voice. "The over ride mechanism, but that is only used in times of great need."
"And times of great need would include cullings , right?" Sheppard held no humor in his eyes as he asked the question.
"Sometimes the Facilitator must direct the Protector to abandon their need for self-preservation. You have…" Mede looked nervously around before finally meeting Sheppard's face. "…to use every bit of power and deplete the vessel. Once the vessel is depleted, the Protector is lost."
"That is why you only accept volunteers. They are knowingly sacrificing themselves so others may live." Teyla held no recriminations in her voice. She may have held a little respect in it. "That is why the Protector confirmed we were warriors or soldiers. We are trained to make this sacrifice." Teyla looked at Sheppard. "That is why Dr. McKay was not accepted and does not share in this fate."
A glimmer of hope skittered like small bugs through him. Rodney was out there, Atlantis might come looking. Whatever they found, they would not leave a mystery unsolved. They would not leave anyone behind. Of course if their bodies were dead, then they might not come. The little bugs met the can of Raid. Hope skittered right back out of him.
"We will begin training with your Facilitators tomorrow. Now Ganede, Trece and Marcin, we will see you tomorrow afternoon after the midday meal." He showed the women out.
"Col. Sheppard, do you think At…our people will come looking for us?" Teyla asked with a small amount of hope showing in her face.
It rekindled his. "I don't know. But there is always a chance. We don't know what they found."
Mede returned to the anti-chamber and overheard part of the conversation.
"Do you really think your people would come looking for you? I am being allowed to go into Mina tomorrow. I am in charge of finding field workers for our harvest. Maybe I can locate them."
"Well, I don't know for sure, but you could make some inquiries around town about strangers. They will not let you know they are from our people but they might be at the hostel in town." Hope was taking a firm root in his unincorporated soul now.
"I may have a way of getting them in if they are here." Mede started walking towards the cubes.
Sheppard perked up even more. "Glad to hear it."
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A/N: Well, Wilma is being cruel to us here but she's given us time! Let's give the team some hope and please let me know what ya think.