Chapter 35
Navigating the temple was a simple task for Kiki as she walked along the corridors, carefully retracing her own steps that had led her to the chamber. If her memory was correct and she had no reason to doubt it, the room in which she had found the knife was dead ahead. She looked up and blinked, it had a faint yellowish glow and the outline of a doorway. Success. Carefully, she approached the doorway with the same caution she had before and placed a hand on the doorframe. There was something here that could help Doctor McKay, she was certain of it.
--
Sheppard ran along the path to get back to the temple, with the gate busy they had no way to get back to Atlantis. They were completely on their own and outgunned by many ships. A Wraith raider squealed as it went overhead and two shots follow shortly, hitting the ground before Sheppard. He skidded to a halt, then looked up to see two more closing in on his position. "Crap," he muttered as he dodged their shots, feeling the heat from the blasts as he ran. "What I wouldn't give for a good puddle jumper right about now," he cursed heading back into the trees to find more cover, once there he leaned into the tree and hit his radio. "Teyla, this is Sheppard." He listened in to get interference. "Ford?" He let the button go and listened in, the channel was filled with more static. "Anybody?" he asked pressing the button again, then quickly letting it go. Sheppard took a deep breath and listened in, the ships were still within the immediate area and now they knew there was definitely something here.
--
Turning the corner, Teyla remained on guard and handled the Earth weapon like a professional. Beckett on the other hand, fiddled with his own P90, he didn't see the use of using such weapons himself but since their encounters with the Wraith, it was best to have something rather than nothing. "Anything?"
Teyla made a show of looking down one corridor, then to her right down another at the T-junction and shook her head. "This temple is like a maze of passage ways," she commented quietly while casting her gaze back down the other one. "Under normal circumstances I would not suggest splitting up," she began looking to Carson. "But I'm afraid we have no choice, time is running out and the Wraith approach ever closer to locating us."
"You don't need to tell me twice," Beckett answered gripping his weapon tightly then coming level with Teyla to look down the narrow passageway. "I take left, you take right?"
"Agreed," Teyla said without looking back at him, already heading down the right hand corridor. Beckett watched her round the corner, took up his weapon and started walking slowly down his chosen path.
--
In the distance there was what sound like a firefight. Ford turned from McKay to look out into the forest, he could clearly see parts lighting up and three Wraith ships. They seemed to be firing upon something, or someone. Sheppard was out there having to defend himself and from what they had seen, guns against ships never worked out and although his instinct was to protect his Commanding Officer, he also had McKay to protect. He was torn inside but he had his orders, he was to stay with the others and he was going to follow that. Aiden winced slightly as it drew away and quietened down again. "Hang on in there sir," he whispered to himself as he looked into the night sky.
--
So far, Teyla's search had been very unsuccessful. Beckett, on the other hand believed he was onto something as a small doorway came into sight and he came across some material. It had been torn as it's owner passed by, it was a light green, not unlike the jacket Kiki had been wearing. This was starting to look very promising indeed. "Kiki," he shouted while easing himself through the narrow space. "Kiki, it's Carson." Beckett stopped and lowered his weapon where he came to another T-junction. "Look love, I'm not angry you run away or slipped away or whatever your reason. I just want you to be safe." He let out a small breath, considering his options. "Kiki, if you can hear me make some sort of sound." Beckett listened in but couldn't hear anything. It was a possibility that she was elsewhere and out of range. He took another left and carried on in that direction.
--
Now, she had mustered enough courage to step inside the room but this time it was different. As soon as she placed foot into the room, there was a bright flash of light, which blinded her even more, her vision swimming with only dazzling white. To her own surprise, Kiki was not frightened but this experience, it only made her step into the room so her whole body was completely bathed in the light. Voices whispered inside her head, it was a language that she did not understand and she held her head, trying to make sense of it all.
--
His heart was thudding in his chest, threatening to break out of his ribcage as he ran. Sheppard stopped long enough to pinpoint exactly where the ships were coming from, in order to estimate and anticipate their next actions. There was a high pitched whine as one of the ships turned and came back on itself and resisted the temptation to take up his P90 and fill the son of a bitch with all the rounds he had. Then again, it would do not good. Three ships verses one Human poorly equipped. That and it would only draw more attention to him, which was something he really didn't need right now.
--
As soon as he turned the corner, Carson Beckett saw the bright light and didn't prevent himself from shielding his eyes with one arm. After a moment, the light subsided and he finally lowered his arm, spots still flashing before his eyes as he attempted to adjust to the dimmer light of the temple's lanterns. "Kiki," Beckett said quietly as he approached the room slowly, standing just inside the doorway and looking round. He found her on her knees, staring at her hands as if she had never seen them before. Of course, the sudden light would have also helped cause her disorientation as well as his own for she could still see something things. "Kiki," he said with a relieved look.
"Papa?" she asked not looking from her hands.
Beckett didn't correct her as he swapped the weapon to his left hand and knelt down next to her, immediately engulfing her into a tight embrace. "Ye God's lass, you had me worried." He drew back and checked her over for injuries. "Are you all right?"
Kiki finally looked up at him and nodded, yet this time there was something different for she actually stared into his eyes with such precision. He noticed that her iris were a brilliant shade of pale blue, not unlike his own and there was something about her focus, her accuracy and she raised her hands to touch his face. "You do not look like I had imagined," she said softly as she examined his face, every line and crease and the stubble fascinated her. Although, in some ways he was. He had such gentle eyes, she wondered if her own papa was the same.
"Kiki?" Beckett finally asked, his mouth suddenly dry from the following question that had yet to be asked but he had to. "You can see?"
"Yes," she said with a smile and her eyes connected with his once more. "I can."