Rodney McKay wasn't a military man. He'd done some away missions with the military guys and gals and yes, he'd had a little training in the use of weapons and even some other kinds of explosives, but if you'd have asked him, he'd have said every time that he was a scientist and nothing more. This normally wasn't much of a problem, because he was usually teamed with several others – who were military, or who were at least better trained in the ways of away missions than he was.

When they'd left Atlantis, it wasn't a disadvantage, because he'd been with Boyett and Sanders – both well seasoned soldiers – as well as Mitchell, who was as good as they came – especially with the addition of Talon. Now, however, it was just him and Mitchell, and Melony was faced with the responsibility of guarding their rear and point from an unknown at the same time – as well as keeping an eye on McKay – and it was enough of a chore that she wasn't able to keep track of everything that was going on. Which left Rodney free to make a mistake that he might not have made ordinarily – or which might not have been allowed to happen had there been more trained personnel around to keep an eye on him.

While intently watching the tracking device that was locating the away team for him, McKay had put the other device in his pocket so he wouldn't have both hands in use. The only problem with that was that this kept him and Colonel Mitchell from being able to keep an eye on what was happening with the creature – or person or whatever it was – that the Wraith had been tracking. A mistake Melony never would have made – and one that Boyett and Duck probably wouldn't have made, either.

When the ambush came, consequently, it came out of nowhere and with almost no warning.

A cracking twig – nothing much, just incredibly out of place in the silence of the forest– was all that warned Talon. Without asking permission – since in this sort of instance he knew he didn't have to – he took control of Melony's body, diving to the ground and bringing the staff weapon up at the same time to avoid landing on it.

"Look out!"

Even as he yelled the warning to McKay, a bolt of energy shot over the area that Mitchell had been standing in only an instant before, and was immediately followed by another bolt that was aimed at Rodney. Rodney didn't have a chance to do more than turn his head. The bolt slammed into him, knocking him back and sending the tracking device in his hand flying when he landed heavily on the forest floor.

Talon brought the staff weapon to bear, his own reflexes even better than Melony's, and fired as soon as he had a target. There was a yelp of pain and a very large gun of some sort rattled as it fell from a suddenly nerveless hand. Rolling Mitchell to her feet, Talon whirled on their assailant, ready to press the advantage he'd made, staff weapon ready for another shot. And found himself facing another weapon – this one not as intimidating as the other one, but still probably as deadly – and in the opposite hand of the ambusher.

They both froze, well aware that neither had an advantage, and taking stock of their opponent.

"That was on stun," the stranger said, his voice steady although Melony and Talon both knew his hand had to be killing him where Talon had used the staff weapon to shoot the big gun out of his hand.

"Mine doesn't have a stun setting," Talon said, his deep voice obviously surprising the ambusher, since Mitchell was obviously female.

The surprise was only fleeting, though, and the weapon in his left hand move slightly.

"This one doesn't, either."

There was a groan from the direction where Rodney had fallen, which told Melony and Talon that he was alive, but they didn't turn to see for themselves – and neither did their ambusher.

Both of them watched the other warily, taking in what they were seeing, trying to find a weakness to exploit.

Melony saw a large man – not big and bulky like Teal'c, but tall with broad shoulders and well-formed arms and chest – who was obviously a warrior of sorts. And almost definitely the reason the villagers were afraid to go into their own forest.

He doesn't really look like a killer, Talon observed.

Neither did Jeffrey Dahmer, Melony replied, both of them still completely focused on their opponent, despite the conversation.

"Who are you?" The man asked, his weapon not dropping one inch. He was baffled by what he was seeing. A young woman – certainly no older than he was – with a deep voice, and an odd weapon that he'd never seen before. A weapon that had managed to shoot his primary weapon out of his hand with a single well-placed bolt. One that had really stung. She was wearing clothing similar to those that Sheppard and the others were wearing, but that didn't mean anything really. Unlike Sheppard and the others, this woman was exuding a life force that was stronger than any he'd ever felt before. And was covered in a reeking filth that made him even more curious.

"Talon."

Again the deep voice that seemed so out of character for the person he was looking at.

"What are you?"

"Who are you?" Talon countered, not answering the question, and not lowering the staff weapon from where it was pointed at the man's unprotected chest.

"Ronon Dex."

"You don't look like the villagers that live on this planet…" Talon said, making it a question without actually asking.

"No."

Dex didn't say anything else, though. And he didn't explain what he was doing. The two continued to stare at each other.

Another groan from Rodney, and this time a rustling from the ground nearby, proving he was coming to and moving around. Carefully, keeping a close eye on Mitchell, Dex turned to look at the man, backing up just a space to make sure he could turn his weapon on either of them if one made a move.

"What the hell was that?" McKay mumbled, rubbing his head as he sat up groggily.

"Who are you?"

Rodney looked at Dex, and then at Mitchell, taking in the situation fairly quickly considering just how much like crap he felt just then.

"We found the person responsible for the villagers…?"

"Perhaps."

If Rodney was surprised by the fact that it was Talon who answered, he didn't let it show. Probably, Melony decided, he was just too stunned to do more than rub his head. She was just glad he was okay.

"I didn't kill the villagers," Dex said, already tired of being accused of the disappearances.

"Did you kill that Wraith?" McKay asked, curiously.

"What Wraith?"

"The…" Rodney trailed off, his attention finally caught by the device in his pocket. A device that was beeping more incessantly than before, although no louder. He reached into the pocket without noticing how Dex's hand tightened on the gun he was holding at the motion. Melony did notice, however, and the staff weapon moved just enough to warn Dex not to do anything stupid – even though Rodney just had. Unmindful of the additional tension he'd just caused, he pulled out the Wraith tracking device, and looked at it. And then looked at Dex, his expression confused.

"You're what the Wraith was tracking."