"Report."
Gabriel didn't bother paying attention as Hank began detailing that morning's disaster. His team had recovered quickly from the effects of the stun-weapons. They were now in the briefing room, bringing Sheppard up to speed.
"Dismiss. Venner, stay."
Half-standing, Gabriel sank back into his chair, as his team gave him curious and concerned glances. Moments later, he was alone with Sheppard, the other man's eyes boring into him, searching for answers.
"Sir?"
"Tell me, Private Venner, how you knew that Ford was coming."
Gabriel shook his head. "I didn't, sir. Not really."
"Beckett told me that you saw him when he was in the infirmary. At night. Coincidentally, at a time when no one would see you. Can you honestly tell me that you didn't help him escape?"
Gabriel started, surprised at the accusation. Once he thought about it, however, he realized that many of the signs did point that way. And that Sheppard had neatly corralled him into giving the man some of the answers he wanted.
Gabriel raised a brow at the other, who had noted his surprise with satisfaction. "Sir. I did not."
He knew Sheppard believed him. But the man wouldn't admit it until he heard an answer. The Major leant back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest, waiting.
"Sir. I could feel that there was something . . .wrong with Lt. Ford. It was like . . ." Gabriel struggled to put words to a sensation that wasn't physical. "Like an itch under my skin," he offered at last. "I felt it in the Infirmary, and figured it had something to do with whatever the wraith did to him.
Sheppard sat forward incredulously. "You're telling me, that you can actually sense the wraith coming?"
Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "It's not exactly radar, sir," he snapped.
Irritation flashed over the other's face, but he checked himself. "We're launching a reconnaissance mission to search for Ford," Sheppard told him. "My team is going – and you're coming with us."
"I don't think that's a good idea, sir," Gabriel shot back immediately.
"Why?" Sheppard challenged him.
"The wraith know who I am." No need to mince words here; it would be a threat to all of Atlantis. "When they attacked me the second time in Atlantis, one said that I had been burned into the minds of their people – through their telepathy, I suppose. But as long as I'm on Atlantis, whatever threat the wraith pose is counteracted by the fact that I'm here."
"It is not your job to protect all of Atlantis," Sheppard snapped. "You have a high opinion of yourself, Private."
Gabriel rolled his eyes; the man irritated him more easily than anyone he had met in the last two decades. "I know my capabilities," he retorted. "Sir."
"I seriously doubt that," Sheppard informed him. "Regardless, you're coming with us. We leave at 1300. Be in the 'gateroom, and be prepared."
Gabriel frowned, saluted, and left.
Caught in the lies he had been spinning. He shook his head, ruefully. "'Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.' Dammit." He was just getting pulled deeper and deeper into it; here was the proof that he was very off his game then. How had he gotten so lax over the years? No matter, there was nothing to do for it now.
He espied his team, and felt only burdened by the knowledge that they had waited for him. Yet another group of people who saw more of him than he would have liked. People who he had lied to, and who were slowly but surely growing impatient with those lies.
Not for the first time, he wondered if his time here was growing thin. He would only have a few opportunities to leave; but could he? The knowledge that his duty in the Pegasus galaxy was not complete sat easily within him; it was less simple to figure out how to stay. And he had made a promise . . .
He had learned, in all his years, that nothing happened without a reason. He would not begrudge Carl his promise, even now – now that the weight of a new galaxy rested upon him. He was no stranger to responsibility; the thought that he might not begin in this world to fight the battles he had won in another, did not even cross his mind.
It was not a fate or a destiny, a purpose or a cause.
He was the Left Hand of God.
He existed to battle for humanity, to be both shield and sword-arm for the fragile children of his Father.
To begrudge his lot, or bemoan the load upon him, was not in his nature.
It was simply who he was; and he could be no less.
So he walked up to his team, and explained to them that he was leaving with Sheppard in only three hours. They wanted to know why – but he had to get ready. So he promised that he would explain, once he returned. And he meant it.
It was strange to be on the other side, he mused. Standing by the 'gate, watching the chevrons encode and the dialing sequence complete, knowing his team was guarding the 'gate without him. He looked to see McKay, Teyla and Sheppard approaching, and spared a moment to wonder.
But all too soon, he was stepping into the wormhole behind them, the chill stealing his breath.
His feet hit the ground, his ears roars, and his skin prickled. He froze, staring about him, senses alert and blaring.
This world was dark, and overrun with dank trees, vines, and strange creatures. The sun might have been shining, but the day was overcast, throwing the world into shadow as their eyes strained to find some familiar reference. Twisted trunks, hung with blue-purple vines and devoid of leaves, covered the ground in every direction Gabriel could see. The wormhole cut off behind him, and he peered anxiously through the ring to look in every direction.
He saw nothing but more trees, and readied his weapon. The air was dank and heavy, strangely cold.
"Venner. We don't have all day," Sheppard hissed impatiently. "Stop staring."
An immediate response leapt to his lips. "The wraith are here, sir," was what he said instead.
McKay rolled his eyes. "No, really?" The scientist turned, murmuring under his breath, "Paranoia. You had to bring someone who's never been off-world?"
This last was aimed at Sheppard, who disregarded the scientist's comments. "Where?" he demanded.
Teyla, putting aside her own questions, looked ready to fight.
Gabriel took a few steps forward, vaguely horrified at the sensation sweeping over him. "Everywhere," he snapped. Eyes darted around them, as he tried to be more specific. "It's a wraith home world. There are none here, yet – but they know we came through the Stargate. They're coming, from that direction." Gabriel pointed to his left.
"You can't be serious," McKay snorted.
Teyla, at that moment, stilled. "He is right," she said softly. Her connection to the wraith was not in question, and even McKay shut up.
The scientist moved, away from the platform and toward the DHD.
"Wait. We're not leaving without Ford," Sheppard snapped. None of them were surprised. "How far away are they?"
Teyla shook her head. "I cannot tell – I only know that they are here, and coming closer."
Sheppard turned to Venner then, and Teyla stared at him in confused surprise.
"Two hundred yards, maybe," Gabriel answered lowly. "And closing through the trees, using them for cover."
"Take cover," Sheppard ordered. The four moved toward the trees, spreading to the opposite side from where the wraith were approaching. "McKay, at the DHD. I want you to dial us out as soon as it looks like they're getting close."
"It shouldn't be taking this long," Teyla murmured.
"What?" Gabe asked, hunkering down behind a tree.
Teyla positioned herself only a few feet away. "The wraith have technology that could snatch us from these woods and deliver us into their hands. They are silent and swift, with flying craft. Why do they walk on foot, through such difficult and perilous land, to seek us out?"
Gabriel had no time to think on her question.
"Venner," Sheppard hissed. "Can you find Ford?"
Even as his mouth formed a response, Gabriel was reaching outward, seeking for something. He heard Teyla suck in a quiet breath. "There's so many," he murmured, not truly seeing the forest around him. He looked around, with something like a child's wonderment. Sparks of life, livid and harsh, burned darkly against his mind. Hundreds of them, in the woods all around, growing closer and closer, using the haze of evil that enveloped the planet to camouflage their approach.
His eyes widened, and Gabriel dove forward, knocking Sheppard to the ground. "What the -"
A stun blast roared through the air where the Major's torso had been. "Teyla! Behind you!"
The Athosian whirled, firing her own weapon back toward the strange jangling at his senses.
"It's Ford," Gabriel breathed, rolling off Sheppard and coming to a crouch, but again he hesitated to fire. "Now what?" he shouted to Sheppard, making no effort to hide the exasperation in his voice.
"Beckett gave me tranq's. We need to take him down!" Sheppard scrambled up, fumbling at his side.
"Right," Gabriel breathed. "So easy." His head jerked up, hazel eyes wide. "The wraith! They're here!"
They were pinned down a mere second later, blue stun weapons firing in a deafening barrage across the meager clearing. Undaunted, Ford strode toward the DHD once more.
Sheppard made eye contact with McKay, tossing him a syringe.
Gabriel kept his attention on the wraith, covering them as best he could. Teyla was to his right, and the DHD behind them screened by protective fire from two directions. But Ford was approaching at his back, and Gabriel didn't like the knowing, itching sensation of a threat creeping up behind him.
He glanced back; Ford had almost reached the DHD.
Just as he slapped a hand on the first chevron, McKay reared up, needle in hand. He moved to plunge it into Ford's arm. He almost succeeded.
But the lieutenant, faster than anything human, grabbed the scientist's arm. The needle halted less than an inch from his skin. Two more chevrons lit up in that time.
Ford had the address dialed before Sheppard could fully come to his feet. By the time the Major's gun had centered on them, Ford had pulled McKay in front of him, syringe hovering threateningly at the scientist's neck.
Despite the noise of bullets thundering to the air, the space between Sheppard and Ford was deadly silent, and just as dangerous.
"Ford," Sheppard called evenly. "Let McKay go. You don't want to hurt him."
"Don't I?" The return snarl was anything but reassuring.
Gabriel and Teyla were occupied with the increasing wraith presence – they could offer no help. The SF knew that holding their positions was foolish – they only had a little time before the wraith, punched back by a barrage of bullets, picked themselves up and came after them again. The walking parasites were vicious and almost unstoppable. He glanced back again, listening to the words crossing the air behind him.
"No. You don't."
A low laugh. Ford was smoothly edging both himself and McKay toward the wormhole. Gabriel tensed; despite the furor of recent weeks, he had not forgotten his promise.
"Ford. Don't make me do this!"
They were at the event horizon, its blue glow lightening the still, frightened features of the scientist. Ford was mostly hidden behind the other's body.
"You can't," the lieutenant sneered back.
McKay moved. Bringing a forearm up between himself and the needle, he stomped, hard, on Ford's foot. At the same time, he slammed an elbow back into the younger man's solar plexus and dropped to the ground.
An expression of fury on his face, Ford slammed the needle home in McKay's unprotected side before rolling through the wormhole. Gabriel stared at the Stargate, memorizing the symbols. The wormhole cut off with a snap, and the hunter swore in a language older than the world around him. He hadn't gotten all the chevrons.
"Teyla! Fall back to the DHD!"
Sheppard wasted no time; the Athosian moved to dial back to Atlantis, sending her IDC through the gate as the Major moved forward to a different position, covering the remaining members of the team.
"Teyla! Go!" Sheppard shouted. Bullets slammed through the air. "Venner! Grab McKay and go!"
Gabriel shouted back, "What about you?"
"I'll be right behind! Go!"
Gabriel nodded, moving back. From the corner of his eye he saw Teyla dodge a stun blast through the wormhole. Moving up to the event horizon, he grabbed McKay's wrists, preparing to drag the man through. "Hope you're ready, Hank," he muttered to himself. "Coming in hot."
Making sure that Sheppard was just behind him, he snatched the scientist and hurled them both through the event horizon.
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I am alive! I apologize once more for disappearing so abruptly a few months ago; I was attempting to determine my future, but unfortunately, I've always been crappy at divination. But now that break is here, I can carve out more time for things I enjoy. I hope the swiftness of this chapter makes up a bit for the delays you've patiently dealt with the last several weeks.