I am sorry it took so long. I tried to find Beta. So thanks to Witch
Chapter 3
„Jumper One, this is Weir. Do you hear me?" The radio cracked to life and woke up the inhabitats of the Jumper. It was almost dark outside. Rodney panicked for a moment realizing they didn´t have any guards. The lake looked as peaceful as always. But it wasn´t.
„Rodney, do you hear me?" Sounded Elizabeth´s voice again.
„Yes, I do. But I think we´ve got ourselves into a big trouble here." He tried to explain everything. The part of Sorya´s death was disturbed by muffled cries from the children.
„So you´ve found Nessie? Why doesn´t it suprise me?" There were strange things in this Galaxy.
„I think it is a far cry from Nessie, Elizabeth. People believe Nessie is nice and peaceful, which this creature definitely isn´t."
„We can name it later. My problem is Sorya. King Heron won´t be happy about it."
„Neither am I." He replied and his voice began to shake a little.
„I know. But we have to get you from there. Do you think you can go through the Gate?"
„Negative. We have tried it. We were damned lucky it didn´t destroy the Jumper completely. The engines are damaged. It´s difficult to admit it but I don´t know why. Maybe the Deadalus could pick us up? Has it returned from Earth yet?"
„Not yet. But they should be here tomorrow. So you have to hang on. How much food do you have?"
„We have enough food but I have serious doubts about water. It´s really ironic that there are so many lakes on this planet and we can´t get any water."
„So you think there are more creatures like this one in the other lakes?"
„I have no clue and I am certainly not going to find out."
„Well, don´t, Rodney. Stay where you are and we will try to get you from there. Will you be OK for one night?"
„I will but I think the children are pretty shaken, no wonder. Please, hurry up."
„We will. Call every three hours to let us know you are OK." She sounded very worried and he couldn´t blame her. He was scared to death as well.
„Fine. I will call at 9 p.m Atlantis time." He heard the shutting sound of the Gate. As its light disappeared, the darkness surrounded them again.
„Hanks?" Rodney looked at the young soldier. He didn´t take notice of him the whole time he was speaking with Weir. The corporal was pale and shaken but seemed to be fine otherwise.
„Yes, doctor?" His voice sounded tired.
„We have to watch the lakes. All of them. I am taking the first watch. We will switch after three hours so we can call Atlantis. Understood?" Hanks only nodded. He was exhausted. The Talonians still didn´t show any activity so he sat next to them.
„Jena, Jano? Listen to me. You are going to stay here with David for the moment. I´m going to be just outside the ship." Jena nodded but Jano wasn´t so willing.
„Don´t leave us alone. We are afraid." His eyes were beginning to fill with tears again.
„I am not going far. You can watch me out of the window." He pointed to the cockpit window.
After a brief hesitation, the boy nodded.
„Fine." He didn´t want to go out into the darkness. Come on, McKay. You´ll be only outside the Jumper. With this though he stood up, took his P-90 and went out into the night.
xxx
Elizabeth Weir was very worried. Send Rodney McKay on a simple mission and it turns into a disaster. She informed King Heron about the situation. He wasn´t happy, hardly a surprise. The others were safe but she wasn´t sure for how long. The Daedalus could arrive late or have some problems. She didn´t want to send anyone else to the planet because the Stargate stood by the lake. She noticed King Heron coming throught the Gate. This won´t be a pleasant meeting. Elizabeth was trying to prepare herself as she was watching Heron who burst into the Control room. He left his two servants in front of her office. Elizabeth stood up and tried to smile.
„Your Majesty, welcome back to Atlantis." She gave a nod and pointed to the chair behind Heron.
„Doctor Weir, can you tell me how this could have happened? You told me the planet was safe. Now Sorya is dead and my children are in danger." He didn´t sit down and ignored Weir´s friendly welcome.
„I believed this planet was safe. We had been there a few times and nothing happened. We are waiting for the arrival of our ship. They will fly there to pick them up. There is no reason to worry." It was only a weak attempt to reassure King Heron and she knew it. And Heron didn´t buy it.
„No reason to worry? Sorya was in my family since my wife´s death almost eleven years ago. There is a strange creature which you didn´t know about. And you sent only two men with them. I think it was a very big mistake." He was right. It was a rather huge mistake to send only one man with McKay. She trusted Rodney but he wasn´t the type for crisis situations. But he was holding until now and she wasn´t sure what to say.
„Your Majesty, we are doing everything possible to get them from there. We have prepared rooms for you and your servants. If anything new happens we´ll let you know."
He stood up and without one word left her office. She hoped the Deadalus was on its way because they didn´t have any plan B.
xxx
McKay felt big relief because nothing had happened during his watch. He had his eyes on the lake the whole time but there was no sign of life. But Rodney knew that in the depth of the lake Nessie was waiting for their next attempt at escape. Fortunately, they had other options. He was begining to think about the creature as Nessie, not having another name for it right now. After three hours he went back to the Jumper. Hanks wasn´t sleeping and was ready for his watch.
„Try to keep close to the ship. I am going to call Atlantis." Hanks nodded and disappeared in the darkness. The children had finally fallen asleep. He dialed the Gate and confirmed to Atlantis they were still here. After the gate shut down he sat silently in the pilot´s seat. He was tired but he couldn´t force himself to sleep. A sudden noise disturbed him and he instinctinvely reached for his weapon. But he lowered it down again when Jena´s big eyes stared at him.
„Are you afraid?" She asked with weak and shaken voice.
„Of course I am afraid." She still watched the scientist, apparently waiting for him to say something else. Oh God, I am not good at this. He sat next to the children on the floor of the Jumper. Jano was watching him now, too. To his suprise the girl took his hand and put it around her shoulders. Her brother did the same. He had to do or say something but he was never good at talking to children.
„I have got a sister, too." Said McKay simply.
„Really? Tell us more about her." demanded Jena. Rodney was suprised that she was interested in this topic.
„Her name is Jeannie. I haven´t seen her for almost seven years. I´ve thought often about her since I came to Atlantis." He was telling this to two children. Oh god, he had to be desperate.
„You haven´t seen her for so long? And why?" Jena sat up and looked at him again.
„I don´t know. We said some very ugly things to each other. I had accepted work for US Air Force and we had a big fight because of it. I left and never tried to contact her. Maybe I should have tried at least. Maybe I´ll never see her again." He noticed how his last comment scared her.
„I didn´t mean it like that. I was thinking about other situations in which I could have died. And there will be more of them for sure."
„I and Jano fight, too. But I can´t imagine not talking to him for so long. You have to go to her and try to contact her." She said it with hard conviction.
„It´s complicated." He answered her with a sigh.
„It isn´t. She is your sister, your family. How can you give up your family?"
McKay looked at her with amusement and admiration.
„You are right, your Highless. When we get out of here I will try to see her, OK?"
She seemed satisfied and leant aganist him again. He was glad it took Jena out of lethargy. This subject managed to occupy her thoughts. It was important to get the children out of the shock. He began thinking about Jeannie. She didn´t know what he was doing. His last letter had been from Russia and she never answered it. They hadn´t seen each other for such a long time. It had been his crazy idea to take the offer from US Air Force that drowe them apart. To work in the Stargate program presented a big challange for him. He was in Area 51 and always wanted to go throught the gate. And now he was here on this damned planet with an angry Nessie in the lake without any chance of getting back. Their only hope was the Deadalus. He hated the feeling of his own powerlessness. All his knowledge was for nothing. Rodney was beginning to fall asleep when he heard Hanks.
„Doctor McKay!" The corporal ran inside breathing heavily.
„You have to see this." The children were awaken by him and now they all stood in front of the cloaked Jumper. They were all watching a horrific scene before their eyes. It was as if each lake lived its own life. The tentacles climbed and touched each other.
„What are they doing?" Whispered Hanks his question.
„I think it´s their communication." Whispered Rodney back.
„And what are they saying?" asked Jano.
Hanks answered before McKay could stop him.
„I think they are just saying that food is here."