Chapter Seven

From this moment on, Carson Beckett would never forget the sight or the sounds he was subjected to as he shot at Teyla's opponent. Fortunately, he'd steadied himself enough to be able to aim more precisely for the last thing he wanted to do was injure Teyla in anyway. He fired until he couldn't fire anymore then quickly struggled to reload, he'd hit the damn girl so many times and still she refused to let up. It was like the bullets weren't even hitting her. Beckett glanced up while searching in his pocket for the extra clip Sheppard had given him and saw no entrance wounds whatsoever.

"That isn't possible," he muttered to himself.

"We do not wish you any harm," Teyla shouted in between trading blows with the girl. Finally, she rolled forward, grabbing up her sticks and getting back up on her feet. "We are your friends, you have nothing to fear." The girl stared, and then she let out something that sounded strangely like a snarl.

Finally, Beckett had loaded the second clip and lifted the weapon, aiming back up at the intended target to see Teyla and the girl facing off. "Teyla," Beckett said calmly, not wanting to distract her but also not wanting to alarm the girl. Teyla glanced sideways to him to indicate she was listening. The girl also looked over at him, tightening her grip on the antique weapon in her hand. It had seen centuries of bloodshed and it would no doubt see far more. "I think we should try to talk to her."

"This is what I am trying to do doctor."

"Let me try," Beckett said, he was willing to give it a shot and why not, maybe the old Scottish charm could work it's magic. Teyla glanced to the girl then back to him, a nod indicating that he was free to do so if it was what he desired. First things first, he had to get rid of his weapon to show that he had nothing but good intentions so he unclipped the P90 and placed it down on the ground just in front of him. Then he stood up slowly while raising his arms out to show there was no weapon concealed. The girl took no notice. "Teyla's right, we mean you no harm. Actually," Beckett said with a friendly tone. "We just want to help you."

Quickly, she tilted her head to one side and looked like a cocker spaniel and they were darn cute dogs. Although, there was nothing cute about her. Beckett looked over to Teyla. "Do you think she understands?"

"I cannot be certain," Teyla answered calmly, making sure not to make any sudden movements as she looked back at the girl. It really was amazing how she had managed to survive against a rain of bullets like that and still had no marks to show for it. But she weren't a Wraith, Teyla sensed that much but there was certainly something extraordinary about her. Perhaps something that would explain not only her presence on this planet, but her behaviour.

"My name is Carson and this is Teyla," Beckett began again, but he was no diplomat. All he was getting was the same look and from what he could see, this girl didn't seem to be very bright and possibly even simple minded, acting on animal instincts alone. "We really do only want to help."

"You. Kill. Kiki's. People," she finally said in broken English looking in his general direction.

"Kiki," Beckett said testing it with a glance to Teyla and back again. "Is that your name lass?"

"You. Kill. My. People," she said more angrily, her knuckles going white with holding her weapon so tight.

"No, we didn't kill anyone."

Kiki looked at the man for a while, avoiding his eyes and over to Teyla, then back to Beckett. "You. Try. Kill. Kiki." A pause. "You. Succeed. Kill. My. People." Kiki looked up at him and pointed at herself. "You. Come. Finish."

"We have killed no one," Teyla said firmly while taking a step forward, a little too quickly for Kiki's comfort as she viciously turned on her, making sure that Teyla got a good look at the knife. This girl lacked in trust severely which made them question what is was that had happened to her. Had someone come and slain her people? Was this the reason for the planet's present state and condition? It made no sense for this girl to survive on her own, unless it was on pure instinct.

"You. Are. Liar."

"I have no reason to lie," Teyla replied softly. "Tell me, who did this to your people, was it the Wraith?"

Kiki stopped glaring at the floor long enough. Her long and brown hair fell in front of her eyes, it was matted and unkempt, just like the clothes she was wearing which suggested that she had being out here for some time. "How. Can. You. Ask. That? You. Do. Not. Know?"

Beckett looked at Teyla; Sheppard had accidentally awoken the Wraith prematurely after killing their caretaker so it was plausible that this girl had not witnessed the attack when she had fled but it was unlike the Wraith to let anyone walk away alive. If you forgot what had just happened, it was actually quite fascinating. "No," Beckett said. "We don't know."

Teyla took another step forward ever so quietly and put her hand on Kiki's shoulder, which tensed at the movement but didn't move. "You. Genuinely. Help? You. No. Kill. Kiki?"

"Kiki," Teyla said quietly. "We genuinely want to help you. Allow us." Without looking back, Kiki hid behind her hair but nodded. Teyla offered Beckett a small smile, he however stared at the girl a while, something about her was familiar and inside his mind was screaming at him but he ignored it. "Kiki," Beckett said searching through his bag. "I need to test something, you will you allow me to look at you?"

"Doctor Beckett will not harm you," Teyla said as Kiko tensed once more, she put her arms around her small frame in order to comfort her. "You have my word."

"You. May. Proceed."

--