You guys are the best – still feeding the beast! I'll try to live up to it.

Memories or Nightmares - Chapter 3

Sheppard stepped through the gate and gazed across the grassy field, listening to McKay ask Teyla an endless parade of questions. He smiled at the way her patient answers contrasted the lines of annoyance on her face. The Athosians had traded with the Mastonians for many years before fleeing their homes during the Wraith attack. Teyla was certain they would make good trading partners again.

Sheppard shifted his glance over to Kramer and Simpson, remembering it was their first visit to an alien planet - well, except for the one with Atlantis. "Are you ready for your first off-world mission?"

The two soldiers nodded enthusiastically, their eyes wide, looking to Sheppard like excited school boys. Sheppard ran a practiced eye over the two young airman, checking to be certain that they had been kitted correctly.

"Yes, sir, we're ready," replied Kramer, grinning broadly. His grin faded a bit as his eyes drifted down and caught sight of the healing wounds on Sheppard's neck. He had noticed the bandage the day after his little joke. After reading the file about the iratus bug and hearing the rumors racing around the city, it hadn't taken long to figure out exactly what had happened, or that it had been his fault. Guilt surged in him once more.

"Sir . . . I just wanted to say that I'm sorry one more –"

"Since this is your first mission, you'll need to stick close to us and don't say much. We'll do the talking. Teyla said the village is about a thirty minute walk. Move out." Sheppard walked past them, ignoring Kramer.

Kramer frowned at Simpson. "Guess it'll take me a while to dig myself out of this hole."

"Can you blame him?"

Kramer just looked down at his gun. "No, I guess not. Man, am I stupid."

Simpson laughed. "Well, you won't get any argument from me on that one. Come on, let's go before they run off and leave us."

The two airmen hurried to catch up, slowing their pace as they fell in behind the group. They walked along a rough path of dead, flattened grass, listening to the conversation ahead of them, knowing they weren't actually a part of this team. They had both been in the military long enough to know that it took time to really be part of a team. They were painfully aware that their performance on this mission would be meticulously evaluated and if they didn't cut it, well – Kramer figured that Sheppard already had his name on a pencil-booking on the next Daedelus run, just waiting.

After several minutes of walking, the grassy field slowly gave way to a modest forest, with what appeared to be a rough cart path through the trees. Simpson looked over at Kramer. "This could be earth."

Kramer nodded. "I was just thinking the same thing. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it."

McKay finally tired of questioning Teyla and Sheppard took the opportunity provided by the brief window of silence.

"So, McKay, who was that guy in the briefing yesterday that looked exactly like you, because you obviously weren't there."

McKay sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. "I was there, as you well know. Some of us are very busy people with a lot to do and we are forced to multitask, a concept I'm sure military goons such as yourself are unfamiliar with. I may have been somewhat engrossed with the important things and missed out on some of the menial social conditions of these people we are going to trade with."

"These people are the Mastonians, and they are a very proud and honorable people," said Teyla sharply.

"Yes, yes, the Mastonians. Whatever. Anyway, I'm a physicist, not a negotiator, and –"

Ronon snorted. "You got that right."

McKay sighed and shook his head. "As I was trying to say, I'm a brilliant physicist and I fail to see how I need to memorize all the social antics of every barbaric tribe we seek a trade agreement with. I'm here to check out the ruins Teyla spoke of and see if there might be any Ancient technology there. Those of you with simpler ambitions in life, like shooting and blowing stuff up can work out the food trading thing."

Kramer cringed as he looked to Sheppard, waiting on the man to explode at the barrage of insults from the scientist. He was shocked to see Sheppard smiling mischievously as he goaded McKay.

"There's nothing wrong with shooting and blowing things up occasionally. Those little actions have saved our lives once or twice as I recall. As to the food issue, you would complain the longest and loudest of anyone if we ran short and you know it."

Teyla and Ronon exchanged smirks and Kramer began to realize this absurd conversation was actually part of their team dynamics. Very strange team dynamics, yet comforting and slightly entertaining. These people were obviously very comfortable with each other. He had a sinking feeling that he really had totally misread his new CO and didn't have the first inkling as to what this man would or wouldn't find funny. Cranky Physicist – entertaining. Plastic bug – not even close. He cringed inwardly as he thought about how totally immature his prank really had been.

"Hey, I can't help it if I'm hypoglycemic. That's right, make fun of the scientist yet again. This is what I get for hanging around with a bunch of goons."

Sheppard stopped and held up his hand, causing everyone else to come to a halt. He pointed over the treetops ahead. "Is that smoke?"

All eyes went up to observe clouds of smoke, drifting upward on the slight breeze. As they realized they were not looking at the smoke from a campfire, the odor of burnt – well, burnt everything – assaulted their nostrils. It was a mixture and it wasn't pleasant. Wood, grass, clothing, hair . . . flesh. Sheppard motioned for Simpson, McKay, and Ronon to take cover in the trees on the left side of the path, while he, Kramer, and Teyla took to the trees on the right.

The group carefully and quietly made their way to the village through the cover of the forest, each gripping his gun, striving to expect the unexpected. When they reached the edge of the settlement, death and destruction met their gaze. Every house was a smoking pile of rubble. Debris and a few bodies littered the dirt path between the homes.

"Wraith," hissed Teyla, a mixture of fear and hatred marring her features and filling her eyes.

"Are they still around?" whispered Sheppard.

"They are not near, but I sense a faint presence. It may be a remnant of their visit or they may have moved away from the village."

Kramer looked at Simpson, who merely shrugged. What did she mean, sense the Wraith? He filed the question away to ask later, when they were safe in Atlantis. He felt a surge of excitement and fear at the thought of his first sighting of the Wraith. He was ready, or so he thought.

"Okay, let move out slowly. Look for survivors and watch your back." Sheppard crept out into what served as a street and moved to a body, partially covered with debris. He pulled the piece of roof off the body as Kramer and Simpson walked up to stand beside him. They looked down on the aged and whithered shell of a man, sucked dry by a Wraith.

"Oh, God!" exclaimed Simpson, stumbling back and almost falling. He quickly turned to one side and wretched, partially from the sight of the desiccated corpse and partially from the odor of burnt flesh that hung in the air.

Kramer simply stood with his mouth partially open, unable to speak or move for several seconds. "What . . . what is that?"

Sheppard turned and looked at the young soldier. "That's what you look like after a Wraith feeds off you. They use their hand to literally suck the life out of you. This probably won't be the last time you see this. This is why we need help and why we have to keep them away from earth at all costs."

Kramer nodded. "It looks like a horrible way to die."

"You have no idea," Sheppard whispered.

Simpson wiped his mouth and rejoined them, making himself look back down at the shell of a human. "I think I'd rather someone put a bullet between my eyes than go like that."

Sheppard's eyes and voice took on a distant quality, as if part of him was no longer there with them. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

They looked carefully at their CO, realizing there was more to the statement than just a random observation. Kramer once again filed away his question to ask of someone later.

Sheppard rejoined the present. "Let's spread out and look for survivors. Bring any bodies you find out here. The least we can do is give them a proper burial." They spread out and began the daunting task of searching the rubble for survivors or bodies.

Sheppard moved over to Ronon, who was kneeling beside one of the burned buildings. "How long ago, do you think?"

Ronon stood and looked out over the burned wreckage of the settlement. "Sometime yesterday. They didn't stand a chance."

Sheppard nodded. "I know. They usually don't."

Kramer realized he knew little about Ronon, other than he was from this galaxy. He must be a good tracker. Sheppard had gone to him immediately for a time frame to the attack and the man had produced an answer quickly and decisively. Another question to have answered later – who was this Ronon?

Two hours later they took a break, sitting in the shade and sipping their water, bodies covered with sweat, dirt, and ash. They were exhausted and sad, sporting minor burns on their hands and arms. They had found four bodies, all sucked dry by the Wraith, and no survivors. The rest of the village was just . . . missing, undoubtedly picked up by darts and carried back to a hive ship to meet a horrible fate. None of them spoke as they sat, realizing there was nothing else they could do – the village was gone.

"Teyla," said Sheppard. "You knew these people. How did they dispose of their dead?"

Kramer glanced over at Sheppard. "They're all dead or gone sir, what does it matter?"

Sheppard looked at him like a parent looks at a small child who had just asked an incredibly stupid question. "It matters. We didn't get here in time to help them, but we can still show respect."

Teyla smiled. "They cremated the remains."

"Okay, then that's what we'll do." Sheppard got up and headed out toward the bodies, laid side by side in the dirt. One by one, the other team members followed him.

Realizing they didn't have the supplies or equipment to build a platform, they ended up flattening the rubble from one of the houses and laying the bodies out on it. They surrounded the remains with as much flammable material as they could gather and set the place on fire. They stood in silence, watching the last of the village go up in smoke. They were bone-weary and yet it was only a little past noon.

"There's nothing more we can do here. Let's go home." Sheppard turned toward their pile of weapons on the ground behind them.

"Wait," called McKay. He was looking at the screen of the Ancient scanner in his hand. "I'm picking up some energy readings not far from here. I think we should check it out."

Sheppard sighed. "What kind of energy readings?"

McKay rolled his eyes. "Well, if I knew that, I wouldn't need to go check it out, now would I? They're relatively weak, so it could be an almost depleted ZPM or a one that has simply been powered down or . . . it could be something else."

"In what direction is this energy source?" asked Teyla.

McKay pointed in the opposite direction of the stargate. "That way, maybe five or six miles."

Teyla turned to Sheppard. "I have not been to the ruins since I was a child, but I do remember that they were in that direction."

Sheppard bowed his head. He wanted nothing more than to return to Atlantis, take a scalding hot shower, and curl up in bed with some Tylenol, but he knew this was worth looking into. They needed another ZPM.

"Okay, kids, looks like we're going on a ZPM hunt. Let's take a lunch break for about thirty minutes and then we move out." Sheppard made his way over to sit in the shade as they had done earlier. He rubbed his neck, feeling the ache from the effort of moving the heavy debris all morning. He stopped when he caught McKay looking at him.

"Colonel?"

"Fine, McKay, just tired like everyone else. Be sure you eat something. I'm not carrying you if you faint from hunger."

McKay unwrapped a power bar and held it up for Sheppard to see. "Eating. You should do the same." He started to take a bite and then paused, turning back to Sheppard. "And I don't faint, I pass out." He bit into the power bar, smirk firmly in place.

Sheppard took another sip of water. "I lost my appetite." He leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes, opting for resting over eating.

Thirty minutes later, Sheppard opened his eyes and lifted his head. "Lunch break is over. Let's get moving." Sheppard got to his feet and stood gazing in the direction of the stargate. "Simpson, I need you to go back to the gate. Contact Atlantis and tell them what's happened and then stay close to the gate. We'll stay in radio contact and that way, if we have problems, you can send for help. Let us know if you see any sign of Wraith and stay out of sight. You can tell Atlantis we should be back tomorrow afternoon some time."

Simpson nodded. "Yes, sir."

"And Simpson, be careful. Keep your eyes open."

He nodded again. "I will, sir. I'll contact you when I reach the gate."

Sheppard looked at the airman a second, hesitating to send him out alone.

Simpson picked up on his doubt. "I'll be fine, sir. Really. I can do this."

"Okay. Just be careful."

As Simpson started to leave, Kramer grabbed his arm. "Mark, watch your back. You heard Teyla, there could be Wraith around."

Simpson smiled at him. "I'll be fine. It's you guys I'm worried about. Watch yourself, Jack, and for heaven's sake, stay out of trouble."

Kramer returned his grin. "I'll try, but no promises. You know me."

Simpson rolled his eyes. "Yes, I do and that's why I'm worried. I won't be there to slap your hand and tell you 'no'. Be on your best behavior."

He nodded. "I will. Catch up with you tomorrow."

Simpson nodded and headed down the path to the gate. Kramer couldn't explain the sinking feeling in his gut, so he attributed it to the fact that it was their first mission. Bound to have a few butterflies, he thought.

Ronon stepped up to Sheppard, watching him stare at the retreating back of the airman. "You want me to go with him?"

Sheppard hesitated and then shook his head. "No, all we need is someone to be our contact with Atlantis. He should be okay. I need everyone at the ruins so we have manpower there in case we need it. I have a suspicion that if there are still Wraith on this planet, that's where they'll be. An energy source is a possible site for humans. It's like a grocery store sign to them."

Ronon stood silently for several seconds before asking, "What is a grocery store?"

Sheppard smiled and shook his head. "It's a place where people on earth go to buy food. Okay, let's move out."

oOo

Elizabeth Weir punched the keys on her computer, typing up one of the many reports she was behind on. She sighed as she paused and sipped her coffee, sputtering at the now lukewarm liquid. "Ugh!"

The alarms sounded for an incoming wormhole, momentarily startling her. She walked out to the control panel and waited on the tech to fill her in.

"It's Simpson's IDC and we're receiving a radio transmission. Patching it through now."

"Atlantis, this is Airman Simpson."

"This is Dr. Weir. What's your status?"

"Ma'am, the Mastonian village has been destroyed by Wraith. We found four bodies and no survivors. Colonel Sheppard said the rest were probably culled and taken to a hive ship. The rest of the team is going to some ruins a few miles away. Dr. McKay was picking up an energy reading of some kind. They said they should be back tomorrow."

Elizabeth felt her stomach tighten with worry. "Could you tell how long ago the Wraith were there?"

"Ronon said the destruction probably took place yesterday. The buildings were still smoking when we got there."

Elizabeth sighed. She wished they had just come back to Atlantis and taken a team to check out the ruins later. If the culling took place yesterday, there could still be Wraith around, looking for survivors. "Okay, let us know if you need anything or run into problems. Check back in with us in four hours and let us know your status."

"Yes ma'am. Colonel Sheppard told me to remain at the gate so I could contact you if needed."

"Good. We'll talk to you in four hours. Atlantis out." As the gate shut down, Weir walked back into her office and sat down. They weren't expecting to be back until tomorrow. That meant at least twenty-four hours of worrying about her top team . . . and her friends. She tapped her ear-piece again. "Major Lorne this is Weir. I need to see you in my office as soon as possible." Better to be ready for worst scenario, after all – this was the Pegasus Galaxy. All bets were off here.

TBC