Chapter Seven

After they had visited with Colonel Sheppard and his team, Elizabeth, Lorne and his men were taken back to Goran's office. They had met again with the three councillors, where they quickly decided that a recess was probably the best course of action for the rest of the day. They were offered a place to stay on this world for the night, but the idea was politely refused, much to everyone's relief. Instead they would return again in the morning and continue to discuss the terms and conditions of any agreement they could come to. Lorne was glad to be getting out of here, but the thought of having to stand through a repeat of today was giving him a headache. On any given day he hated the small print on a contract as much as the next guy and being witness to every little detail being hammered out was driving him nuts.

Phelo had suggested that Maten accompany them to the Ring, he would have done so himself, he had said, but his old body was weary from such a long day.

The day was coming to a close on this world and the streets were darkening even as they proceeded to wind their way this way and that towards the gate. Once they had left the open area of the plaza in front of the Government Chambers, Maten had moved so he was keeping step with Dr. Weir, leaving a respectable amount of room between them, so not to alarm her protectors.

He kept his tone light as he spoke to her, "Today has been trying for each of us Dr. Weir, I hope tomorrow proves to be better for all of us." Turning to face her he could see from the corner of his eye, the guards also charged with escorting their guests back to the Ring were not close enough to hear his words. "I do hope that we can resolve this matter and find an end that benefits us both."

"That is all we want too, but its hard to do that when everything we offer is met with resistance."

"Goran acts under his orders from Athen. Maybe a long time ago he too would have seen the sense in accepting your generous offer, but for many years now he has been under the heel of the Brontae family's influence, he is too old and too set in his ways to be changed."

"You take a risk in speaking to me like this. What is it that you want from us?" Elizabeth was blunt and straight to the point. She couldn't beat around the bush any more for today.

"Earlier I tried to convince Athen that our people could all share in the things you had to offer us and forging a new friendship would be more desirable than making an enemy. He would not hear of it. He thinks only of himself, his beloved family and not of the best interests of the people he would have call on him for a leader." The words were bitter tasting in the back of his throat.

Elizabeth nodded her understanding, indicating to him to go on.

"Athen made it clear to us that he would settle for nothing less than your weapons technology. I would ask you not to concede to this. It is with regret Dr. Weir, that you have stumbled into a conflict between the dying embers of an old power and the next generation, struggling to make a stand, to change our ways and break free."

Her suspicions confirmed now, they had been dragged into the middle of a revolution, this was not the best news she could have wished for. "What exactly is it the Brontae's have to offer? What hold do they have over your people?"

"Foolish men like Goran think they can give him power. He doesn't realise that he serves only a few old men, whose only power is their reputation, sadly they fuel this belief by invoking fear into the people. The Brontaes are an old family and were once a governing force over everything on this world. Originally they were true protectors and providers for our people, when the Wraith came and destroyed much of what our ancestors had accomplished, the Brontaes rallied the people together, gave them the hope and the strength to rebuild. As you have seen, our home has fallen into disrepair while men like Athen and his father, Darragh, squander profits and sully a name that had the right to command the respect of our people. Men like Phelo however, have been working to change this. Slowly people are coming to see that what they've been told by this generation of Brontaes is a sham. They see there is no need to sacrifice what they work so hard for, and there is a better way of life not governed by greed."

They were on the edge of the field where the stargate stood now and a man from Lorne's team was dialling the gate, so Maten finished up quickly. "Please Dr. Weir, consider my request. Do not give in to Athen's demands."

"Maten, I can't promise you anything, we'll do our best to help you, but you must understand; I don't take kindly to my people being used as bargaining chips. I want them returned as soon as possible. Make no mistake, I will not allow Athen or his family to bring them to any harm."

Maten dipped his head in agreement then bid them goodbye.

The chamber was dark except for the two lanterns, one hung in its fixture on the wall next to the doors, one sat on the desk in front of the solitary occupant of the room. In his over sized ornately decorated chair, he slumped back into the folds of the cushions, enjoying the few precious minutes of peace while he could. The sounds of the people packing up their wares in the plaza outside drifted up and in through his open window. Cheery laughs and idol chatter faded into the side streets as folk headed home for their evening meal, the hubbub of the day's business over until it started again in the morning. As for himself, he could no longer perform the work of a younger man, but there were things that required his attention, things that kept all but a few of the people blissfully unaware of the dangerous position he was in - initiating the change that would undermine their leaders while he would act as a servant to them. If he and the men that worked with him were exposed too soon, they would be branded traitors, their work wasted and the balance of power would swing back into the Brontaes' hands.

The soft knock on his door jolted him out of his deep line of thought. The brief time to himself was over. "Come in." he called

The door opened, the tiniest of cracks, admitting the young man he had chosen as the one that would follow in his place.

"Maten, did you get the chance to speak with her?"

"Yes, Phelo. She understands our plight, but she puts the safety of her people before all else. She will accommodate us as best she can, that is all she can do. The rest is up to us."

Phelo clasped his hands together on the desk, "That is probably the best we could hope for under the circumstances."

Maten waited for him to add something more to this, but at length realised that was all he was going to say without prompting, "What do you plan to do now?"

Silence ensued for a few minutes before Phelo answered, "Athen wishes to hold someone accountable, if we can move that blame onto just one of the prisoners, the man who flew the ship, we may be able to convince him to release the others. I think it likely, an attempt at a rescue will be made, if like you say Dr. Weir wants only to have her people returned to her. And one man is easier to save than four."

The news about how his men had lost possession of the most important technological find of their lifetimes had come to Goran the previous night, who in turn had to inform Athen. Just like what he had known would happen, Athen didn't receive this information very well. He had flown into an explosive rage to which Goran found himself baring the full brunt, without anyone else there to take a share of the blame.

Athen had been depending on the little ship to use against Dr. Weir and her people. He had been hoping to access the wonders it surely held within, but failing that, it could have been used to barter for something else he could use. So when Phelo and Maten came to him that morning before their guests had arrived and again suggested taking what was offered for now and releasing all but the man who flew the ship, he found even though he was reluctant to do so, that he must agree.

Goran had been absent from the proceedings that morning due to an unexpected audience with Darragh Brontae, leaving Phelo and Maten to converse with Dr. Weir's team. Things had proceeded a great deal faster than they had the day before, now that the two remaining councilmen could speak more freely.

By midday, two of Lorne's men were headed back to the stargate to bring back a shipment of medical supplies. The others went down into the sub-levels of the building where Sheppard and his team were still being held. Phelo had wanted them all to remain in his chambers while the guards went to collect the three who would be returning home. Once Elizabeth had explained to him one of the men they would be bringing up had a rather aggressive disposition and was likely to cause a scene when he realised Sheppard would be remaining behind, he consented to their presence while they were released.

What she hadn't added, was that she wished to tell John herself that he would have to stay for the time being. She didn't want to let him think that he was going to be the sacrificial lamb after all. Anyway, if at least one of them wasn't there, Ronon would no doubt jump the guard and break John out himself, and the tentative treaty with Phelo and Maten would be over before they could get outside.

Phelo had opted to remain in his office, so with Maten and three guards, Elizabeth stood outside the cell block door with Lorne and Sergent Mathews, much too soon to her liking. She still didn't know how she was going to tell John he was being left behind, on his own or how long it would be before he could come home.

As the door opened she instructed Lorne not to let Ronon out until he understood the way it was going to be and that it was in no way a permanent arrangement. She was going to speak with John.

John had heard her voice when the door was opened and came to stand by the bars to wait for her. There were no more voices as they approached so he couldn't tell yet who had accompanied her, but there were footsteps on the cold floor and more than last time. This could be really good or really bad. The curt nods from Lorne and Mathews as they passed, then her sad eyes, told him which way it had gone. Three men had followed Lorne past his cell too, leaving just Elizabeth.

Stay optimistic he thought, it might not be as bad as you think. Well there was only one way to find out, so he said, "You're back sooner than I thought."

"Yes, there's been some progress." She whispered.

"Thats good then." He didn't want to ask, why then she looked so miserable.

"John," she looked quickly down the hall to where the others were outside Ronon's cell. There had been a rumbling of angry words that she couldn't quite make out and Lorne was gesturing with his arms as he spoke. She noticed too, Sergent Mathews had remained at a safe distance from the bars this time.

"John," she started again, "the Councillors, they have accepted a shipment of our medical supplies, in return they will allow Teyla, Rodney and Ronon to come back to Atlantis with us today."

"But not me?" The words were spoken with acceptance, but the forlorn look he cast her was hard to look at for long.

She moved closer to the door and her hands gripped the bars between them. "I'm sorry John. But don't think for one second that I'm leaving you here. It's just going to take a little longer to get them to come around."

"I know. You're doing everything that you can."

"These people are in the beginnings of a revolution and our presence here is being manipulated by each side. The younger man you saw go down with the guards is one of the Councillors and also part of a resistance. He is working to see you released before your life is traded for weapons that others would use to change the balance of power."

"I see."

"There is only so much they can do before their actions are brought into question. And while they didn't come straight out and say it, they acknowledged that we would be inclined to man a rescue mission when Athen refused to let you go too. I think you would agree that the extraction of a single man would be far easier than a whole team."

He knew this was true and the safety of his team was paramount to him. He pushed the feeling of abandonment into the back of his mind. This wasn't over yet, there was still a way. Being caged up like an animal was starting to make him stir crazy and he desperately wanted to be out there doing something to secure his release.

"Y'know, next time I think I'm gonna side with Ronon, try shooting our way out. That whole 'we come as peaceful explorers' line just seems to get us in trouble." He sighed, placing one of his hands near to hers where they rested on the bars. "He's not going to be happy about this arrangement. You should get him out of here as quickly as possible."

"Thats what we intend to do. But then, I'm coming back to continue the negotiations."

"I'd say there's a good chance they're not gonna let go of this. They want something we're not willing to hand over. They could just settle with what they've got."

Her fingers flexed ever so slightly, extending out to brush his hand. "What are you suggesting?"

"That maybe it's time for plan B."