Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard shifted uncomfortably, and once more tested the leather thongs that held his hands securely tied behind his back.
"You know… we're not your enemies…"
The man sitting across the fire from him stared at him with cold eyes, but as before he didn't respond.
"He probably doesn't understand us," Aiden Ford said from his position right beside Sheppard. The lieutenant, too, was trussed up – and just as tightly, Sheppard was certain.
John shook his head, not taking his gaze from the stranger.
"Nah. He understands us."
He had to.
The man ignored the stare, and started breaking up wood – presumably so that he'd have enough to last them through the upcoming night. Which wasn't a pleasant thought.
Sheppard tried again.
"Seriously. You don't have any reason to be afraid of us. We're friends."
Of course, John realized just how dumb that sounded the minute he said it. The guy obviously didn't have any reason to be afraid of them; look how easily he'd captured all three of them, knocking them out with something – probably that big gun he was wearing at his side – and neatly immobilizing them.
"You're not my friends…"
The voice was low, but not so deep, and sounded almost sinister. Sheppard was just glad to hear him speak.
"We're not your enemies," he repeated.
"Why are you here?"
"You brought us here."
The joke fell flat.
"We're explorers," Teyla said from the other side Sheppard. "We don't mean you any harm."
The man snorted.
"You couldn't harm me if you wanted to."
Sheppard shrugged – or tried to, anyways.
"We don't want to," he said reasonably. "We just came here to meet the people living here."
"What's the point?" The man asked them. "The Wraith are just going to wipe them out soon anyways."
"The Wraith are no more," Teyla said. "Have you not heard?"
The man gave her a look that was a mixture of scorn and pity. Sheppard noticed that while his face was cold, his eyes were very expressive.
"You believe that?"
"It's true," John told him.
"We were there," Ford added.
"It's wishful thinking," the man told them, shaking his head. "Just a story."
"When was the last culling you've heard of?" Sheppard asked.
"I've been out of the loop."
"Do you live here?" Teyla asked. The camp had a definite temporary feel to it.
"No."
"Do you have a name?" John asked, flexing his hands again, trying to loosen the ropes and get feeling at the same time.
For a long moment they were sure he wasn't going to answer. Finally though, he shrugged.
"Ronon Dex."
OOOOOOOOOO
The building tat Mitchell and the others entered was sparse considering it was a council room.
You were expecting trumpeters and fanfare?
A nice chandelier at least…
Talon snorted.
They're a fairly simple-appearing people, Hot Shot. They probably don't need all those trappings
True.
The nine people sitting in the middle of the room took her attention from Talon. There were four women and five men, and they were at a low-slung table; one that was short enough that the nine were comfortably on cushions instead of chairs. In front of the table were four other cushions – which Melony decided were meant for them. This was confirmed a moment later when the man in the center of the nine – a very large man dressed in a vividly red robe of what might have been silk – gestured towards them.
"Please, be seated."
Considering the staff weapon in her hand, it was a little difficult to sit down on the cushions – and the others weren't having much more success with their P90s – but rather than be rude and get started off on the wrong foot, they did.
"You are Colonel Mitchell?" The man asked.
"Yes."
"I am Chanin. Council Leader." He gestured to the others, naming each as he did so. "Dekar, Hanna, Mina, Suir, Ralse, Weyar, Filo, and Geale."
Melony would have had trouble remembering their names if they were as simple as Bob, Ralph and Kim. Luckily, Talon was much better at it, and he could – and would – prompt her if she needed it.
Which you will
Most likely.
The council was watching her expectantly, and Mitchell gestured to those she was with.
"Doctor Rodney McKay. Sergeant Sanders, and Lieutenant Boyett."
"It is an honor to meet you," Chanin said, giving a slight bow.
"Thank you." Melony didn't bow back – mainly because she would have had to move the staff weapon again – and it wasn't really in the best position to move around a lot. "We're here looking for our people. The ones that arrived here yesterday."
Chanin frowned.
"I've been told they entered the forest."
"Yes. That's what I was told, too."
"Then they are most likely dead. I am sorry."
"I'd like to make sure…" Melony said. "We'd like to go look for them."
"If you enter the forest, you will most likely die as well."
"Why?" Rodney asked. He didn't like going places where people were so certain he was going to die just by going there. "What's in there?"
Chanin shrugged.
"We are uncertain. But lately, none of our hunters have been returning. There are some who say the Wraith yet exist – and are hiding in our forests, biding their time."
Well, that's a pleasant thought
Yeah.