Disclaimer: We own nothing, so how could we own Stargate: Atlantis?
A/N Tinuviel Undomiel: Did I get this chapter out fast enough for you? Very little Shwier in this one but that is all about to change, next chapter soon!
A/N Nerwen Aldarion: There are some nice Teyla/Ronon scenes and even one done by Tinuviel. I hope you enjoy
Previously on Stargate: Return to Atlantis:
LANDRY: We might have a problem on Atlantis.
JOHN: So when do I leave
LORNE: Lightning...it came out of no where...we were dropping like flies.
JOHN: Requesting permission to recover my team.
JOHN: Teyla, you're getting married?
RONON: We're getting married.
JOHN: Look, we're not here for trouble, we just... is shocked by lightning
And now the conclusion...
Homcomeing Part 2
With a groan, John woke up in a dark room. "I feel like I got hit by a freight train," He muttered as he placed a hand to his pounding head.
"So do I," Rodney said through the darkness.
"Rodney?" John called, "Where are you?"
"Over here," He called to John's left, "Next to Teyla."
"Oh, now I see you," John said, as his eyes adjusted to the dark, "Where's Ronon?"
"Behind you," the the gruff Satedan replied.
"Good," John said, sitting up from the cold floor, "How is everybody?"
"My head is killing me," Rodney said.
"Mine too," Teyla said.
"Ronon?" John called.
"Same here."
"What the hell happened?" John asked.
"You were hit by lightning," Ronon said, "Teyla tried to get to you, but then she was hit, and then me."
"And then me," Rodney said.
"So why aren't we dead?" John asked.
"Those young soldiers couldn't kill a dwen bug," A voice from the door of the cell called.
Every eye turned to an older looking man with brown hair and a large mustache.
"Who are you?" John asked.
"Gorson," he said, "They say you killed Ogden."
"You mean the guy with the helmet and the collar thing, yeah I killed him," John said.
"Ogden was our finest warrior."
"Oh, well I'm truly sorry," John replied dryly, "Give his family my regards."
Gorson opened the cell door all the way, and gestured for him to get out, "My lady wishes to speak with you."
"Oh, well I truly don't deserve that," John joked, "I mean I did kill Ogden."
Gorson raised a hand, and a needle of lightning struck the ground inches from John.
"Come now."
"Yeah, I think I'll go," John said, and scrambled to his feet. He cast a glance at his team, "Be nice." After he left the cell Gorson closed the door.
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John walked through the halls of the building with Gorson close on his heels. The walls were decorated silver, with deep blue tapestries. The place held no warmth, and it sent shivers up his spine. Another creepy factor was that Gorson had red eyes. In fact those soldiers also had red eyes.
Gorson forced John to stop in front of a pale door with gold carvings engraved on it. He knocked on the door three times, and then it whipped open. John was shoved through alone, and the door closed with a bang!
Behind a light veil, somone rested comfortably in a cair. the shroud was pulled aside, and revealed a lovely young woman. She had golden hair that fell in waves to her waist, and she was clothed in a white gown with silver trimmings. Her ruby eyes smiled at John coldly. There seemed to be no warmth in them at all.
"You are not from around here," She said.
"No, I'm not from Chioda," John said, "Neither are you."
"You are correct," She said, "But what I meant was that you are not from this galaxy."
John shrugged, "I don't know what you are talking about."
The woman left her chair gracefully. She stroked John's sleeved arm-almost tenderly- and stopped at his shoulder. With great force, she tore the patch from his jacket. She held the patch in front of him; it was stitched with the point of orgin for Earth.
"This symbol is not on our Ring," She said, "Nor any Ring my kind have found." She flung the patch to the ground, "Who are you."
"I'm Colonel John Sheppard," He replied, "And who are you?"
She smiled cooly, "I am Rashina, lady of this now conquered world."
"Your kind," John said, "What are they?"
"We are the Elemen," She stated proudly, "the Masters of the Galaxies."
Okay, John, He thought, This is your chance to learn about these guys. She's arrogant, arrogance is a weakness. use it. Elizabeth told you that once.
"You guys seem pretty impressive," John admitted, "I mean with the lightning thing. Is that some sort of technology?"
Rashina raised her hands, and bolts of lightning crackled the air above their heads.
"I'll take that as a no," John said, "Is that all you can do?"
With an icy smile, she pointed her finger to the ceiling, and, like a lighter, the finger was surrounded by a small flame, "My kind have lot's of powers," She siad, " Fire and lightning are the most common. There is also air, and water. Others can control the mind."
"Can you do that?"
"No," She said, moving to light a candle with her finger. She turned and flashed another cold smile, "Not yet."
Back on Atlantis General Carver was trying to act busy in order to forget that Sheppard's team was two hours late. And all those times, I thought she had exaggerated.
"Sir," Lorne said, saluting to his commanding officer.
"Colonel, Dr. Beckett has cleared you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well what can I do for you?" Carver asked, straightening his paper's a little.
"I wanted to know if Colonel Sheppard's team has returned?" Lorne asked anxiously.
"No, I'm still anticipating thier return," Carver replied.
"Is their anything I can do?"
"No, Colonel," Carver replied, "I understand that Colonel Sheppard's team has a habit of pulling through out of the worst of situations. I trust they can get out of this one alone."
Lorne nodded, "Yes sir, you're right."
"You are dismissed, Colonel," Carver said, and went back to his paper work. She told me countless times that Sheppard's team was a magnet for trouble, now I know she was right.
"This is bad, this is very very bad." Rodney said for what seemed like the millionth time.
"We know Dr. Mckay," Teyla told him clearly annoyed, "we're going to get out of this."
"Easy for you to say, you have someone who can hold your hand and whisper everything is going to be alright," he exclaimed, "I'm a loner, I'm all by myself, no one cares about me. It's just me, myself, and I, that's right all by my lonesome."
"Mckay!" Ronon yelled.
"I'm just saying,"
"We heard." Teyla said icily, "Now rather than complain, please help us find a way out of here." Rodney opened his mouth as if to say something, "Now!" She raised her voice and Rodney closed his mouth.
Ronon looked around the cell and saw the guard outside, Teyla followed his eyes. He turned to her, "I think I have an idea."
John was still in the room with Rashina who continued to stare at him with her cold smile. It was amazing how a person who could control fire, but had no warmth in their smile.
"So what do you want with me?" John asked.
"You interest me."
"You have no idea how dirty that sounded," John joked to himself. Even when his life was on the line, his sense of humor never died.
"I was not thinking about taking you as a lover," Rashina stated.
"Well that's a relief."
"You killed one of my finest men," She said, "For a person who knows nothing of our kind, that is extrordinary."
"Lucky shot, I guess," John said.
"Yes, well luck will not be with you now."
"My people recently destroyed these people called the Wraith," John said, "They were killing people for food. Are you here in order to survive?"
"No," Rashina said, "my people are warriors. We travel from galaxy to galaxy in order spread our ruling. We have come to conquer this galaxy," She smiled again, "Yours will be next."
Coruun was in a cheerful mood due to Ogden's death. Now that the first warrior was dead, he, the second, was now first. Gorson would have to pay more attention to him. Soon I won't be posted in front of the cell block. Soon I will pass Ogden's skills.
"Help!" a female voice called from the last cell.
Coruun knew only a little of the language of this galaxy, but he knew enough to understand. He had been informed to aid all of their prisoners, too keep them in their best health before their executions. He walked toawrds the cell, and opened the door a crack.
"What is problem?"
"He is sick," the woman gestured to a man lying on the ground, "He may be dying."
Coruun opened he cell completeley to step inside. Foolishly, he never saw the big man waiting behind him.
Ronon clubbed the yound man with a heavy fist, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Not a smart guard," He commented.
"That's good news," Rodney, in perfect health, said getting up.
Ronon placed two fingers at the man's throat, "He's dead," He said in surprise, "That blow should have just knocked him out."
"Well maybe you hit harder than you though," Rodney suggested
"We need to find our weapons, and Colonel Sheppard," Teyla said.
"The weapons are probably near by," Ronon said, "And we better hurry to find Sheppard."
"Well then, let's stop chatting and get moving," Rodney said making his way towards to door."
"Why are you doing this?" John asked.
"My people are conqueres," Rashina said, "It is our way. Only the strong may survive, the weak must die."
"You see, my people disagree with that."
"Then your people will be the first to die."
She stepped up to him, only a breath away, and ran her fingers down his cheek, "Where are you from?" She asked, "Tell me everything, and I will give you everything you desire. You will be my only beloved, I will give you everything you have allways wanted."
Here he was, a beautiful woman begging for him to admit to her where he is from, and in exchange she would give him every pleasure he wanted. Yeah sure, like he was going to fall for that.
"I'm afraid that's not gonna work on me," He said.
Her expression changed from sensual, to anger, "You will regret this."
She raised he palm, but John slapped it aside, the bolt of lightning struck the wall, and sent chunks of it to the ground. Rashina shreiked and rage, and sent a fireball straight towards him. He fell to the ground, the flame missing him by inches. Suddenly, gunshots sounded from the door, and Rashina was thrown back with eachs shot until she fell to the ground.
John climbed to his feet, "Thanks guys," He said to his team, as Teyla handed him his P-90, "We've got problems."
"Yeah, we saw the fire action," Rodney said.
"Oh, well that's good," John said, "Let's get out of here before I'm barbeque again."
The team left Rashina lying on the ground, her body sprawled on the ground. After the last of them left, and the door closed to signal their departure. Rashina opened her eyes, and smiled. Colonel Sheppard was in for a surprise...and a painful death.
So anybody know the way out of here?' John asked as they scanned the corridors for Elemen.
"Yes, I picked up a map on the way to find you," Rodney commented.
"Sarcasm doesn't become you, Rodney."
"Well why does it work for you?"
"You gotta pick your moments," John replied, He paused, and signaled all of them to stop. A small troop of young Elemen passed by, not noticing the escapees. He pointed to the direction the soldiers had come from, "Go, go!"
They scrambled towards the exit, that is until Gorson and three other Elemen came up in front of them. John ducked into a side hall before Gorson saw him, but the ret of his team was stuck.
"I must congratulate you on your escape," Gorson complimented them, "Where is Colonel Sheppard."
His team looked around for him. Teyla spoke first, "We never found him."
Gorson smiled, "My lady says otherwise."
John nearly dropped his gun.
"We were sepearted," Ronon said, "Not long after we found him."
"Fuwe hu," Gorson told two of his men, and they moved past the three prisoners to search farther down the hall, passing John's hiding spot.
"The rest of you, come with me," He said, and the other Elemen pushed them to follow. They were allowed to keep their weapons.
John stealthly followed a short distance behind. The fire lady has to be dead, He thought, Teyla released a whole clip in her.
Gorson led them to the outdoors, where Rashina was waiting for them under a tree to pretect her pale skin from the sun. She flashed them her cold smile, "You thought I was dead? I'm not human, I can't be killed by your weapons."
John, from the shadows of the fort, cocked his P-90.
Rashina raised her palm, ready to trun them all into ashes. A single shot fired, and her face went blank. Rashina crumpled to the ground, and didn't move. Gorson moved, not to help her, but merely to see if she was dead. He didn't care at all that his leader was dead, John seized the moment.
"Shoot them in the head!" He cried, and his team raised their guns and fired at Gorson and the other Elemen.
John ran up to his team, "That's the way to kill them," He said, "The others will come soon, grab her and let's go."
"What?" Rodney protested, "Grab the body are you crazy!"
"We have to find out more about these guys," John said, "She's more advanced than the others. Beckett needs to examine her so we can learn how they can do their magic tricks."
Ronon picked up the limp Rashina and flung her over his shoulder. "We should go," Teyla said, standing beside her betrothed.
"Right, and we better hurry," He pointed to the horde of Elemen coming out of the training feilds and straight towards them. '
Without a second glance the team raced towards the direction of the Stargate. Luckily, the Elemen hold wasn't far from where they fell unconcious so thye picked up thier bearings fast. However, a small army of Elemen was gaining on them. The team dodged bushes and ducked under tree limbs. They weaved in and out of the brush to slow their pursuers down. When the Stargate appeared, John nearly prayed for thanks.
"Rodney, dial Atlantis!" He yelled. Rodney in all seven chevrons while John punched in his IDC.
When the wormhole engaged John yelled into his radio, "This Sheppard, we're coming in hot."
"We read you, Colonel," General Carver came in.
"Go!" He said, as he and his team jumped through the gate.
All of ran out into the safety of the gateroom seconds later, "Activate the shield." Carver ordered.
The sheild covered the inner circle of the gate. Several thwaks struck it as some of the soldiers who had followed them met their fate.With a whine, the Stargate closed, allowing no more passengers to come through.
"Colonel what is that?" Carver asked from the control room pointing to the body Ronon carried.
"That is our new enemy," John said, "Meet the Elemen."
A few hours later, John had checked out from Dr. Beckett, and taken a much needed shower. He changed into his casual uniform, and left to the debreifing. Teyla and Ronon were already their, and enjoying the fact that they were alone. Teyla was playfully stroking Ronon's arm. Ronon smiled and wrapped his arm around her. John ducked behind the door, and waited until their lips were nearly touching.
"Ew, PDA!" He rang out in a cheerfully loud voice. Teyla and Ronon jumped in their seats.
"Score two for, Sheppard," John pumped the air, "Yes!"
Teyla blushed with embarrasment, while Ronon looked like he was dreaming up about 50,000 ways to kill his commander.
Carver cleared his throat from behind John, "Are you finished?"
John ducked his head sheepishly, "Yes, sir."
"Good," He said, and entered the conference room. Rodney came running in from behind him.
"Let's get started then," Carver said taking a seat.
The team recapped their mission to the General, explaining the new danger they faced.
"What can you tell me about these Elemen?" Carver asked when they were through.
"Well the one Beckett's looking at shot lighting from her hands and threw fireballs at me," John said
"What else?"
"Well she took a shine to me and started yabbering about her people. Said that they were conqueres, that they could control lightning, fire, water, earth and the really nasty ones could control the minds."
"Say that again," Rodney said.
"Fire, lightning, water, earth and the mind."
"They control the elements," Rodney stated.
"You're just figuring that out?"
"This could be bad," Rodney said, "I mena we can't protect outselves from fire, or lightning on missions. And what's to stop them from whipping up a tornando, or make an eartquake. And if we meet thos bad ones, they could peel into our minds and learn everything they need to know about Atlantis."
"So what do you want us to do?" John asked, "Pull out and leave everyone to fend for themselves?"
"Hey, I'm just stating the facts."
"Well we all knew the risks when we signed on," John said.
"Is there anythig else about them?" Carver asked.
"Yeah, we shot her, and she didn't die."
"Then how'd you kill her."
"I shot her."
Carver raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Well, Teyla fired at her, and somehow she survived. I got her in the head, and she bit the dust. I don't get that."
"Perhaps Dr. Beckett will have some answers," Carver got up, "Meeting adjourned."
After the meeting John went directly to Carson's lab. He wanted to find some answers, and get a few things off his mind. Stay off that path, Sheppard, you remember what happened. Just forget about her and move on.
"Evening, Doc," John greeted when he walked in.
"Colonel," Carson said, looking up from his clipboard.
"I was wondering if you had finished the autopsy?"
"Just finishing my report," Carson answered with a smile.
John noticed something winking on Carson's ring finger, "Does that ring mean what I think it means?"
Carson looked at his left hand and smiled, "Going on two years."
"Cadman?"
Carson nodded.
"That's great," John said, "the only other person single here is Rodney and Carver."
"The General is engaged."
"Oh so that just leaves me and Rodney," John said, "Guess I'll have to start a Bachelor's Club."
"Laura and I could introduce you to some very lovely ladies," Carson suggested.
"Nah, don't take hand me downs," John said.
"You know we all used to think that you and Dr..."
"So what about the autposy?" John said quickly changing the subject.
"Oh, well I examined her insides, and they are just like ours, however her cells are remarkably diffrent. They have a much larger nucleus and other substances I've never seen before. That may account for her powers," Carson explained.
"What about her surviving about ten shots to the chest?"
"Ah, her skin is much thicker, and tougher than our own," Carson said,"Remember Superman? It's similar to that."
"What about her head?"
"The bullet never penetrated the skin. She died because her skull was shattered. Their craniums are very fragile, and if something with the velocity of a bullet or even a hard bump on the head, and it's crushed like an eggshell."
"Ouch," John replied.
"I can't account for all their powers, because I can't examin their brainwaves," Carson said, "But I would assume that they would be quite diffrent from our own."
"Got it, Doc," John siad, "Thanks for the info."
"You're welcome, Colonel."
John left and returned to his room to try and get some sleep, but it wouldn't come. The knowledge that they faced a very poweful enemy kept him up, and the fact that someone from the very distant past refused to stay buried.
Teyla and Ronon were walking towards their rooms, neither speaking, content to be just in the presence of the one they loved. They stopped when they reached the doorway to Ronon's room, Teyla turned to her fiance, "That was an interesting mission."
He smiled at her, "Indeed."
"And here I was talking about how different everything was," She laughed, "then we have a mission that is just like before."
He looked confused, "Last time we were fighting the Wraith now we're fighting the Elemen. How is it the same?"
"All of us were there, you, me, Dr. Mckay, Colonel Sheppard..."
Ronon groaned, "Don't mention his name, he's interrupted us twice, I could've killed him." He joked.
Teyla got a sweet seductive smile on her face and leaned in close to him whispering, "Well he isn't here now." And she softly kissed him on the lips, he pulled her closer for a more passionate one. She moaned softly when his lips traveled down her throat, "Ronon, we're in the hall way."
He smiled at her knowingly and led her inside the room, and this time he locked the door.
In the gateroom, the Stargate lay opened to allow any passengers through. But no one was coming. Instead in the control room, among the various operators and tech crew, General Carver was talking on his headset. No concern was on the open Stargate. It had been turned on for this purpose.
"General Landry, I understand," Carver said, "I knew it was only a matter of time before the President decided on a new commander." A pause in the conversation lasted for a few seconds, "A civilian? Who?"
In the next chapter...
CARVER: The President has decided on a new civilian commander. I believe most of you have met Dr. Elizabeth Weir.
JOHN: Oh crap.
JOHN: I would suggest you listen to me.
ELIZABETH: Listen to what!
CARVER: Do you have a problem with my fiance?
JOHN: Fiance?
LAURA: How did you and Ronon get together?
RODNEY: What happened between you and Elizabeth?
JOHN: That's between me and her.
A/N: Oh, thriller for next one. And the mystery will be set, what happened between John and Elizabeth? Stay tuned, and R&R.