Payment
It was at the sound of the gunshot when he saw her. It all made a little more twisted sense now. Of course, the first name that came to mind to call her did not start with a B.
He let his anger get the best of him and acted impulsively. Sheppard concluded that being dead pretty much was a good enough excuse for his behavior. Plus, he really needed to have a little talk with the woman.
So there he was floating above the field hands and the ever increasing number of guards snarling to himself for being so impetuous and foolish. Well since he was here, might as well say something. He kept his face carefully neutral (ala Caldwell) and greeted her.
"First Mender, it's really lovely to see you again. How's Perit?"
"Dead." She shrank away from him.
"Sorry to hear that, such a nice guy. Know how he feels." He noticed her recoil. "Oh don't worry First Mender, I can't come any closer. We have limits." He floated about ten feet away. "Lucky for you." He gave her a menacing smile. The giddiness was oozing into to his disembodied self.
"Protector, what is the meaning of…" Started Refra full of bluster.
"Like you don't know. So shut up and stay out of this. You might want to call off your goon squad while you're at it." Sheppard lowered his head and looked at them through his eyelids. "You're making me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
This time Refra recoiled.
Another man joined the pair on the balcony. A gasp from the crowd made Sheppard laugh to himself. This guy must be important. Instead of stepping to the forefront, he stood back and watched.
So Sheppard continued his conversation. "Refra, would you like for the audience to hear how I and my friends came to be here? Then I strongly suggest you tell those guards to lower their weapons and let those people eat and watch the show." The darkness and mania were ripening within him.
The other man stepped forward.
Refra, it is time you were leaving and please don't forget anyone."
"High Ab…"
"Now Refra."
Refra closed his mouth and glared at Sheppard. He grabbed Arna's arm and started to pull her to the balcony's exit.
"Come my dear."
------------------
While John had been having his non-heart to black heart talk, Ganede noticed a difference in his cube. The swirl had gone from the solid red to a red-golden mix. She also realized that she had no control of the vessel when he did not return when she recalled him.
"Alright no need to panic. I can do this."
She looked around to see if anyone was paying her any attention. No one was.
She blew out a breath and tried again to recall her wayward Protector. It still did not work.
Something was definitely different and weird about him.
------------------
Her wayward Protector had felt the repeated tugs to pull him back. He ignored them. Ganede could wait until that woman was gone. He watched the pair leave the balcony twisting a smile onto his face.
The High Abbot nodded to him and then to the crowd. He followed Gezble and Refra off his balcony and reentered his apartments. Then and only then did Sheppard do as asked and returned to the others.
He looked at Ganede and forcibly changed his expression. He impishly smiled and shrugged his shoulders. 'No clue what happened,' was written all over his face.
Mede approached from behind him.
"She is your betrayer," he stated.
"Yep, the very reason we are here," said Sheppard pointing to Teyla and Ronon while reigning himself back in even farther. "Our people are here. Couldn't miss Halling in a crowd." He winked at Teyla.
Teyla broke into a small smile.
"Is there anyway to keep them here at the abbey?" Sheppard asked. "Refra and Gezble are looking for them."
Sheppard's image blinked.
"Colonel," said Teyla with her usual concern.
Ronon even drew in closer to his team leader.
Ganede walked up with his cube. "Your power level is dropping. Brother Mede, I need to return him to the Vestibule."
"I will make arrangements. I also have other news that can wait till later," answered Mede and then nodded to Ganede.
She returned Sheppard to his garish office cubicle of hell and left.
-------------------
As Refra's entourage walked along a breezeway that skirted the courtyard, Arna saw the young Facilitator leave with Sheppard's vessel.
"Refra, before we leave, I need to…well you know." She batted her eyelashes and looked sufficiently embarrassed.
He laughed as he said, "Please Arna, you are not that bashful about anything. They are back down the corridor on the left. Should I send an escort?"
"I think I can manage." She demurely smiled and excused herself.
As she walked the corridor, she was silently fuming. How dare he condescend towards her. He was nothing more than a doomed specter. To top it off, he threatened her. She scolded herself for showing even an ounce of fear towards that mere mist of a man.
She had read everything on the vessels. The controls were an added feature and the cubes could not be controlled without them. She would show him. She would doom him even further.
She passed the lavatory and made her way down the hallway towards the sound of shoes on stone.
She would see his fear and hopelessness before too long.
-----------------
Ganede entered the Vestibule and placed the vessel on its base to recharge. She turned it on and Sheppard appeared before her.
"What happened out there?" She snapped the question out like a firecracker. "I had no control. You were in control, weren't you?"
He gave a weak apologetic smile. "Guess the cat's out of the bag, hunh?"
"What does that mean?" Ganede forced out.
"Secret's out. I can control the cube a certain amount. They and this room are from the Ancestors right?"
"Yes."
"The control mechanism isn't, right?"
"Right. They were additions by one of our predecessors. Our people were more technologically advanced than you see now. A great culling many generations ago nearly wiped us out. The vessels were discovered just prior and remained hidden along with the first Venerable in this very room. They were used forever afterwards to fight the Wraith. We have not had another such culling since then," she said proudly.
"Well, let's just say I have a love/ hate relationship with technology left by the Ancestors. But when the Wraith get here, the Protectors will be put to the test. Is Mina the only town?"
"No but when the time comes, all will seek protection here in caves and catacombs under Mina. Or they will hope for escape through the Ancestral Ring."
"The Wraith aren't leaving survivors. I've been on too many culled planets devoid of human life. The Protectors and Facilitators had better be ready." Sheppard really wanted to punctuate the necessity of defense.
"You are a Protector too. It is your job as well."
"I did not volunteer for this gig. Neither did Teyla or Dex. We were volunteered by Arna Gezble. But seeing as these little bundles of joy were left by the Ancestors I can…"
He did not get to finish talking when a gun shot went off. Blood sprayed through and past him landing on the recharging rack. The bullet followed the blood and impacted the wall behind him. He reflexively flinched even though there was no reason for it.
Ganede looked at him and dropped to her knees. Pained confusion was written all over her face and a blossom of blood appeared on her shirt. Another shot, removed her face entirely. She pitched forward onto the stone floor.
"No light left in the house. Said that about you in the forest." She sneered at him.
"Nooo!" Sheppard screamed and rushed his smoky form at the assailant.
Arna Gezble took her last shot and hit the controls on the cube.
Sheppard's non-corporeal form ceased immediately.
-----------------
A/N: Just to let you know, I am a big TB Lightning fan. I thought that a Canadian who had been out of the loop would have a great reaction to my guys winning the Cup. I know they are all transplants but you can't have everything! OK that's out of the way, please remember poor Ganede and review.