Plummet
"Brother Daven!" Mede called. "I need the seven workers with that man there to help with the herb garden." He pointed to Halling. "Please do so quietly so the other workers don't get jealous."
Mede winked at his fellow brother.
The young man snickered his answer, "No problem."
Mede turned to the Facilitators and Protectors. "I believe that we will continue our exercises. Marcin, Trece, how are the power levels?"
"Adequate," replied Marcin.
"Mine as well," replied Trece.
"Excellent."
He turned to look across the courtyard to Refra's group. He frowned narrowing his eyes searching the group. "Where's the woman?" He asked under his breath. "Ganede!"
"Brother what's wrong?" Someone shouted at him.
"Get the High Abbot and meet me at the Vestibule!" Mede shouted back. "Bring whoever you can."
He ran down winding stairs skipping every other one. The stairs emptied into a long hallway that led to the other side of the monastery. He heard a gunshot followed by another. An anguished yell and one more gunshot reverberated against the stonewalls. Then he heard nothing. He stopped in front of the anti-chamber and a projectile hand weapon was aimed at his nose.
"Come in dear boy and close the door." Arna Gezble backed up and allowed him entrance.
He saw Ganede lying in the Vestibule, blood snaking its way along the cracks in the stone away from her. The single cube in there had damage to the control panel. His stomach dropped.
"Oh sister, what have you done? The Protectors are needed. You've just decreased our chances," lamented Mede. "What did Ganede do to deserve death?" They stood in the doorway of the Vestibule.
"Cavorting with the enemy. Good bye brother." She pressed the barrel into his head and gave him a wink.
He closed his eyes and waited.
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Caldwell stood on the bridge watching the light show out the large viewing window.
"Any answer to the hail yet?"
"No sir," reported the lieutenant at the communication console.
"How much time till we arrive?"
"Five hours sir."
He let his mind wander for a minute. Caldwell wondered where he went wrong with Weir. He thought his first impression had been a pretty good one. Saving the life of Major Sheppard and defending Atlantis from the Wraith were pretty good ways to introduce oneself.
Maybe it was the meeting where they informed her someone would be taking over as military head. And of course he had been at the top of the list. She did not take it well needless to say. He probably did not help his cause during Sheppard's illness when his mouth got away from him.
"You two are close?"
How could she not take it any other way than innuendo? Not a stellar moment for him.
Since then, they were not quite enemies but not quite amicable acquaintances either.
"Keep trying," ordered Caldwell returning to his seat.
Well, here he was again on his way to pull Sheppard's bacon from the pan. One day he would earn their respect and trust. He really was not here to undermine the expedition but add an extra tier of support.
Even though he had command of Atlantis right now and for the near future, this was not the way he wanted to win it.
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She was mistaken. They did not get anywhere. It did not work the way Dr. Heightmeyer wanted. Rodney did not cooperate. Instead of him coming to his senses, he lost them.
The man, who never shut up, had. He did not talk to her. He did not look at her. He stared at the ceiling and stayed within himself.
So Weir talked to herself.
"We should hear from the planet soon. The Daedalus will be there in another five hours."
He lay there as still as his teammates.
"You can't hide forever. Showing solidarity with them won't help."
A hand was placed on her shoulder.
"He's quit Carson. He's left the rest of us alone." Weir looked up and into his face. "How are the others?"
"No change. I tell you what; they are starting to creep out the staff." Carson almost smiled. "It's their eyes. They keep opening and closing at different intervals."
Weir almost smiled back.
"We don't know if they can be helped. We don't know what to do. We wait, we watch, we pray."
He glared at Rodney. "And this daft bastard goes and disconnects himself from everyone. Ya hear me you selfish bastard! We may need you to help them and you go on holiday with your annoyingly brilliant brain!"
Elizabeth stood up, faced Carson and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll leave you to berate him in peace." This time she did smile.
He smiled back but not without a melancholy glint in his eye.
"Thank ya Dr. Weir." He took her place in the chair.
"You aggravatin' human being, this isn't…"
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"…the answer."
Rodney looked around the great void of space. He had done it. This could possibly be the cherry.
"Over here you idiots!" He called out to them.
The Wraith ships dropped out of hyperspace and continued the last leg of their journey to the small blue marble.
This was the culmination of his capacity for deceit. This was what he could achieve without the moral compass that was his team. He did not care anymore and when you do not care, this is what happens.
His conscience poked at him and whispered in his ear. He swatted at it like a noseeum.
Sheppard stepped up next him.
"Come on Planet Killer; let's go get front row seats! I brought the snacks!" He produced a box of Sno-Caps.
Sheppard let himself fall towards Earth. Rodney followed.
"Which city first?" John asked as they plummeted.
Rodney just smiled back, "Let's take a bite out of the Big Apple."
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A/N: I must say, thanks for all the support. The reviews have been very helpful and invigorating. Hope I can live up to expectations. Well onward to the next chapter!