Vital Lies

Chapter 9

It felt like a hundred miles, but in reality it must have been more like a hundred steps before they finally reached the huge Interstellar Travel Station hall that housed the Stargate on Yamin. Cool air lashed at them as they entered, Carson welcomed the change from the glaring sun outside. He felt like he had run a marathon in the summer mid-day heat and all he wanted to do right now was lie down somewhere.

Devoid of energy, he let Teyla guide him and only noticed when she softly pushed Beckett down, that she had guided him to a bench. Gratefully, the Scot let go of her and sank down. Sleep, that would be wonderful right now, he thought, tempted to just close his eyes. But he knew he had to stay awake for a while longer. Through his half-closed eyes, he saw Teyla talk to Ford, then walk off. Carson briefly wondered what was going on, but then decided it was too much of an effort and that Teyla and Ford were going to get them back home.

Even sitting was too much for Sheppard. It was a vast improvement to being half-dragged across the square, but the sheer effort of keeping his back straight was too much and the pain that it caused made the Major serious consider begging for the good drugs. It must have shown on his face, because suddenly Aiden was kneeling in front of him, concern clearly written all over his young features.

"Teyla is talking with the magistrate right now. We should be through the Gate in no time. They'll be able to fix you up in the infirmary and you'll be up and around in no time."

John wanted to tell Ford that he was babbling, but that would have required too much energy, but settled for wordlessly sagging to the side.

Instead of hitting the bench as he had expected, John slumped against something soft and solid that grunted in response.

"Sorry." John mumbled, not sure if his voice carried over the noise. He wanted to move off Carson, but his muscles remained slack. The Major could see Ford frantically rummaging through his pack, his lips moving fast. John heard the words, but they made no sense. Suddenly it didn't seem all that important anymore. He closed his eyes and oblivion found him.

"Shit!" Aiden swore, seeing the sudden change in the Major. He reached for the man's wrist, feeling for a pulse. He found it rapid under the hot skin. 'Where was Teyla?' There were too many people milling around waiting to travel or working to unload goods that had arrived through the Gate.

Teyla was emerging from a room at the far end of the hall when it happened. Aiden had seen an explosion before, but still stood transfixed, deafened by the sudden eruption of sound. The initial shock couldn't have lasted more than a moment before Ford found himself thrown to the ground, instinct and training taking over. A forceful wave of heat and small debris brushed over him, he felt a sharp sting in his back that quickly made way to fiery pain. Teyla stared at the scene in shock.

One moment, the pile of crates had been next to the Gate probably as part of a trade agreement, ready to be sent through. The next they'd exploded, blasting a deadly wave of burning debris through the hall. The sound of the explosion faded as the hall plunged into chaos. People were screaming, an alarm was blaring and water was raining down from the ceiling, failing to make a dent into the fire that had quickly sprung onto other cargo. Smoke was starting to fill the hall, making Teyla's eyes water. She couldn't see her team mates in the pandemonium, far from the exploding crates at the opposite end of the hall, but the others had been closer to the Gate.

All around her, those who could still walk were scrambling for the exit as the smoke got heavier. Her weapon and pack were cumbersome and hindered the Athosian's progress squeezing through the panicked crowd on its way between injured bodies and abandoned counters. Teyla's foot caught in something solid, she pitched forwards coming down hard on her P-90. Nobody paid her any attention in the frantic rush for fresh air. A foot landed on her arm, another on her back, ignoring her screams of protest. She tried using her arms to push herself up, but another foot slammed into her back, bring Teyla down again, gasping in pain. A kick to the head followed suit. The Athosian cried out and raised her arms to protect her head. The edge of a boot rammed into the side of her head, sending lights dancing across her field of vision. The colours were draining, Teyla's was vision faltering when the heavy impact of a body came down on top of her, knees slamming her into the ground. The oppressive weight was making breathing a struggle and in that instant Teyla knew that she wasn't going back to Atlantis.

Aiden scrambled to his feet, trying to ignore the biting pain in his back. It could wait. He had to help his team. Carson was lying face down on the bench. Dark wetness was glistening on the back of his head, a blood stain forming around a smouldering tear in the back of his uniform. Ford swallowed. Time passed in slow motion as he reached out to feel for a pulse. Relief flooded him, feeling the pulsating vein under his hand. Beckett was bleeding badly, but he was still alive.

The Lieutenant wiped his bloody hand on his pants and scanned the area for John. For a moment, he started to panic, finally spotting a leg sticking out from behind the stone bench. He rushed around it and found John in a crumpled heap on the floor. There was a dark stain on the back of his uniform jacket, but Aiden could not tell whether it was from a new injury or from his previous wound. Otherwise, he seemed unhurt; the bench had protected him from the rain of debris. The artificial rain from the sprinklers burned on Aiden's face as he absently rubbed a hand over it. He couldn't see Teyla. She could be anywhere in all the chaos, with people running towards the exit. They were at the far side of the hall, sheltered from the crowd close to the gate, the smoke already biting in his throat.

They needed to get out of the building but he couldn't carry Carson and the Major. They both needed to get to Atlantis as soon as possible. Aiden glanced down at Beckett, helpless to do anything for him. On one side the fire, one the other the frantic crowd cut them off from the Gate. There had to be a way to get through. The heavy smoke and still running sprinklers made it impossible to see clearly. It was one of those moments when he had to make the impossible decision. It wasn't his job and he shouldn't have to decided, nobody should. But, he was already feeling the burn of the smoke in his lungs and he could only try to get one of his injured team mates to the Gate. It all seemed to take an eternity as he stood there, torn in two, but in reality, only a second passed before he grabbed Carson and started to drag him towards the Gate. Ford's back lashed at him in fury, he could feel something wet trickle down his arm, but he didn't relinquish his grip on Carson. A few hard-won steps and they were getting close to the fire. It was even harder to see here, Aiden more felt the scorching heat than saw anything. Glass crunched under his feet. Every breath burned. He moved trying to find a spot clear of the flames. He found it. It wasn't a real opening, but with a small leap, he could make it. Just. Could he make the leap with Carson? There was no choice, he let go of the unconscious doctor for a moment and pulled his jacket up to cover his head. Pulling Beckett into a firm hold, Ford closed his eyes and dragged him across as fast as he could. It wasn't hot as the flames licked at the Lieutenant, as if his nerve endings were being short-circuited.

On the other side, he let go of Carson and made a mad dash of the DHD, hammering down on the glyphs. He didn't notice the blood smears he left on them as he waited for the Gate to dial. When the vortex finally establish, he punched in his IDC and more crawled than walked back to Carson. Eyes fixed on the event horizon, he pulled the Scot across the floor, finally tumbling forwards into the shimmering circle of blue.

The landing was hard on the other side as Aiden and Carson spilled from the Gate. The cool fresh air was a gift and Aiden was gasping for breath, lost to the cacophony of familiar voices. Hands were on him, shifting him onto his back. He was looking at the ceiling and Dr. Grodin appeared in his field of vision. He looked like the City was about to sink, Aiden thought. Grodin's face blurred and Aiden started to panic. 'Teyla and the Major'! He lashed out a hand, gripping Grodin's wrist.

"Go back! Now!" His voice was a choked rasp and the words stole what little air he had left. "Sheppard...Teyla, they die," was a toneless whisper.

"We'll take care of it, Lieutenant. We'll take care of everything. Just hang on." Dr. Grodin reassured the frantic soldier before one of the medics pushed him out of the way.

Peter Grodin watched in shock as the medical team rushed Carson and Aiden off to the infirmary, leaving behind only blood smears on the floor of the Gateroom.

He swirled around, barking orders: "I want Sergeant Bates and his team here ASAP. I need them ready to go through the Gate NOW!"

Private Reynolds stared at the scientist, not used to seeing the mild mannered man react with such harshness. Sensing Grodin's glare, she rushed to get the sergeant on the comm.

With Wam Vter in front of her and Rusan behind her, Elizabeth didn't have much choice but to follow them down the corridor into another small room, furnished with a large table and several chairs. It didn't have the desolate and dilapidated look of the rest of the prison, but looked more like a conference room with its carpeted floor and the large view screen on one of the walls. Inside, a woman in a grey blue uniform like Rusan was waiting for them. When they entered, she smiled brightly, but without detectable malice.

"Dr. Weir, take a seat." She gestured to the group of chairs. "I'm Fersor. I'm an agent with KAIA and one of the agents leading the investigation into the terrorist attack two months ago. On behalf of everyone working on this case, I express our sympathy to your people. You should never have been involved in this matter." She looked seriously distraught, but by now Elizabeth was weary of all the Ymanhin. They played with emotions just a little bit too well and they were always the perfect hosts.

"Thank you." Elizabeth took the offered seat. "Why have I been brought here?" she returned every bit as polite. "There are some unresolved questions as to the motives of Dr. McKay's conduct."

Elizabeth's reflex was to protest at the obvious incrimination of the scientist by the statement, but let it pass. It wouldn't help to be provoked that easily.

"He implied on several occasions that he acted on your orders and you confirmed this when talking to Wam Vter. This implies you not only knew of his collaboration with the traitors, but you supported and probably even instigated it. We have proof of the two occasions in questions. Rusan, please show Dr. Weir."

Rusan fiddled with what looked like a large remote control and an image appeared on the view screen. It was Wam Vter and Rodney in an office.

"This was taken yesterday afternoon in Wam Vter's office when Dr. McKay came to him for information. Let's watch what Dr. McKay had to say."

"Are you all right?" Wam Vter addressed Rodney.

"Yes, I'm all right. We just have some more questions about what happened to our co-workers." Rodney said, sounding officious.

"I understand, what do you want to know?" Wam Vter replied.

Rusan stopped the surveillance tape.

"Dr. Weir confirmed his statement later in the following conversation." Fersor continued.

"Dr. McKay has been missing since this afternoon. We haven't seen him since we left the medical centre." Elizabeth's voice said in an urgent tone.

"Oh. He came to me earlier today. He had questions about what happened. From what he said, I assumed that you had sent him there in an official capacity." Wam Vter's voice was on now.

"He was acting in our interests." Elizabeth again.

Elizabeth said nothing. This alone didn't prove anything. Of course they were entirely at the mercy of the Ymanhin. If they decided to throw her and Rodney in jail without a court hearing or whatever was appropriate on Yamin then there was nothing they could do. It occurred to her that she didn't know what rights she had on Yamin. They had never asked. Until now they had never been in the situation to be confronted with an alien justice system. From what she had gathered, Rodney had been caught in the wrong crowd, probably looking for a truth that might or might not be there. There was a witness incriminating him and some circumstantial evidence linking him to stolen material. That wouldn't be enough for a conviction on Earth, lack of evidence. But they were on foreign territory and in the eyes of the Ymanhin; it might just be enough to lock Rodney up.

"I took the liberty of contacting the Fiatyn Medical Centre just before you came. I was planning on sending someone over to have a word with Major Sheppard and Dr. Beckett, but it appears that you were faster. The nightshift doctor informed me that two of your people came by to pick them up during the night. It looks like you have something to hide, Dr. Weir. Otherwise, I might have been inclined to believe that Dr. McKay acted independently. That happens. One of our own team from KAIA was among the group." Fersor said softly. "I don't want to suspect you. I believe you and your people are sincere and honest."

Wam Vter smiled at her. Elizabeth wished the world would stand still, giving her an eternity to think. She could tell the truth, deny any knowledge of Rodney's activities or she could accept responsibility for them; tell them that she had ordered them. The truth could condemn Rodney unless further investigation cleared him. Lying was going to condemn them both and end any diplomatic relations between Atlantis and the Ymanhin.

"I don't have to explain myself to you, but I will explain why I ordered my people to leave your planet. I have nothing to hide. I didn't know of Dr. McKay's plan to visit Wam Vter. I didn't order him to do so. The last time I saw him was when we were at the Medical Centre. I only learned about his visit to Wam Vter the following night when Wam Vter called me. I lied because I didn't want to admit that I couldn't control my people. The only reason I ordered my back to Atlantis was because I feared something had happened to Dr. McKay and we were no longer safe on Yamin." Elizabeth said.

It hurt to say it, knowing that she was shifting all the blame towards Rodney, but she could do nothing for him by being imprisoned herself.

"You deny any knowledge of Dr. McKay's activities after yesterday morning?"

"Yes, that is what I'm saying." Elizabeth nodded. She felt like screaming.

"During your previous stay on Yamin, can you account for Dr. McKay's whereabouts at all times?"

Elizabeth thought for a while. She hadn't been part of the first mission to Yamin. The planet had been discovered by Sergeant Stackhouse and his team. Then Major Sheppard, Lieutenant Ford and a group of scientists, including Rodney had been there for a brief visit. Only then had they officially opened trade negotiations and Elizabeth joining the team. They'd spent most of the time stuck in conference rooms. Then been shuttled back to their accommodations and after an unmercifully brief respite, their hosts had insisted on taking them out to see pieces of the Yamin culture.

"I wasn't present on his first visit to your world. I'm fairly certain I also can account for his whereabouts on our previous visit to your planet." She said with real conviction, not really sure what to believe. Weir hated herself for giving in even a little bit to their suspicions.

"That's fine." Fersor said lightly. "Nobody can watch the people every moment of the day."

"What happens now?" Elizabeth asked. "Dr. McKay will be questioned as will be the remaining prisoners caught in the raid. Once we are done with the interviews, we should be able to wrap up the investigation."

Elizabeth's eyebrow's shot up. The raid had happened not twelve hours ago and the agent was already talking about finalizing the investigation. Either KAIA had vastly more manpower than any investigative agency on Earth, or due process was an alien concept to the Ymanhin. Fersor must have read her expression.

"Don't be surprised Dr. Weir. We have already confirmed your statement that Dr. McKay left the Medical Centre while the rest of you remained. As soon as you mentioned it, one of my agents accessed the security footage and checked." Fersor said with a hint of pride in her voice.

"You need to remain here until we have finished questioning Dr. McKay. We will see whether he confirms what you have told us."

TBC