Wow, thanks again for all the great reviews! Here's the next chapter…
It was too quiet, too easy. John didn't like it, but he had to get Elizabeth back to Atlantis, and the only way to do that was to get her in the jumper. He was gravely concerned about her condition. She needed immediate medical attention and was already going into shock.
He looked at Lorne, "Let's go." They all nodded and moved into position.
Still cloaked, the jumper was waiting outside the front door. They exited the building together in a protective position around John who was carrying a barely conscious Elizabeth in his arms. The jumper uncloaked, and Beckett ran out as they approached.
John walked past Beckett and sat down in the back of the jumper still holding Elizabeth. After a few moments, his worried eyes locked with Beckett's as he bent down near John and began to investigate her wounds.
John looked around. Everyone was on board.
"Reeder, get us out of here" he ordered.
They would rendezvous with the other jumpers on the outskirts of town and then head back to Atlantis.
As the jumper cleared the warehouse building, it shuddered and there was a loud explosion nearby, "What the…" Reeder exclaimed from the pilot seat.
"What's going on up there, Reeder?" John asked.
"Sir, we've got incoming…Wraith darts."
"Oh, is this day ever going to end?" Rodney said annoyed.
The explosion awakened Elizabeth. She lifted her head and looked up at John. "What's happening?"
"The welcoming party just arrived." He said sarcastically giving her a smile. She narrowed her eyes, arched her right eyebrow and looked at him doubtfully. "Look, I'm going to have to fly us out of here. The ride is going to be a bit bumpy. Can you sit up?" She nodded, and he gently placed her in the seat next to him. He looked over at Beckett and held onto Elizabeth until the doctor could take the seat next to her. Reluctantly, he let go.
The jumper jerked hard to the right. He almost fell. "Sir, I need you up here now!" John took one look back at Elizabeth, who nodded that she would be all right, and then moved quickly to take the over the pilot's seat.
"Why aren't we cloaked?" John asked angrily.
"I think that first hit damaged our cloaking abilities."
"McKay" John yelled, "I need the cloak fixed now."
"Right" said Rodney as he jumped to action and started pulling out side panels. "Now, let's see, uh…do you mind? I'm trying to save our lives here," he barked at one of the men standing in his way.
Sheppard sighed as Wraith darts filled the morning sky. Dawn was breaking. He radioed the other pilots who were standing by in the two jumpers they left outside of town. "Phillips, Ruiz…we could use some help up here."
"On our way, sir," they replied.
John maneuvered the jumper out of the city, but he had 2 darts on his tail, one in front of him, and 5 more quickly approaching from the right. "Hold on," he yelled as he fired at the dart ahead and then made a hard turn to the left to avoid enemy fire.
Rodney tumbled backwards – his computer and wires went flailing with him. "You've got to be kidding me. How do you expect me to fix the cloak while I'm in what could be described as...uh, I don't know...maybethe equivalent of an American roller coaster?" he shouted.
The jumper shuddered again as another shot barely missed it.
"Rodney, I could really use that cloak NOW. What's the hold-up?"
"Well, I would love to sit down over coffee and explain it to you, but I don't really have the …
"Don't start with me, McKay!" John was an expert pilot – the best in Atlantis – but he knew they wouldn't be able to make it to the gate without the cloak. There were too many darts, and all were after him.
"No, no, no, this is not good." McKay muttered to himself while playing with the control conduits.
John focused his attention back on his flying. He managed to evade another shot from one of the darts, but they were gaining on him. It was only a matter of time before they hit the jumper again. He didn't know how many more shots they could take before they went down.
Soon, he heard a welcome voice over the radio, "Sir, we can see you and are ready to assist."
"Engage" John ordered.
Yes, yes, yes…this might work," Rodney said snapping his fingers. "If I reroute the power to these circuits, then the cloaking system may come back online." Rodney opened another panel and made a few adjustments. "Colonel, I think I have it," he yelled.
"Sooner is better, Rodney," replied John. They were faring better with the two other jumpers assisting, but the situation was still perilous.
Rodney sat down with his computer, pushing Lorne out of the way. He started punching buttons and hit the last one with finality. "Okay…now."
"That's it…it worked," said John relieved.
Well, of course it worked," muttered Rodney. He was arrogant, but at the same time, relieved. He knew how close they were to annihilation.
"Well done Rodney," said Elizabeth weakly. He looked over at her, surprised that she was awake and aware of the situation. She smiled, and his haughty attitude melted. He looked back at her thoughtfully, delighted to receive her praise.
"Let's go home," John said from the pilot seat. They all nodded in silent agreement.
The next few minutes were uneventful. With the cloaking mechanisms working again, they were able to lose the darts that had been attacking them. The atmosphere in the cabin had changed, and everyone was beginning to relax. Dr. Beckett had given Elizabeth some medication to ease her pain. She had managed to thank everyone for coming to her rescue before drifting off to sleep.
The jumper was packed with people. John had planned to stop and have everyone spread out to the other jumpers, but after the run-in with the Wraith darts, he didn't feel comfortable stopping.
They were near the gate now. Only a few more minutes and they would be home in Atlantis. He would be able to check on Elizabeth and see how she was doing. Only then, would he be able to relax like the others.
He was flying low, barely above the tree line. There was a large clearing about 2-3 miles ahead. That's where the gate was located.
As they approached, his eyes widened, "Dammit!"
Rodney interrupted, "Is that what I think it is?"
Ronon looked up to see what they were talking about, "A hive ship."
"…parked right in front of the gate," John said infuriated. "We can't get around them."
He radioed to Phillips and Ruiz, "Change of plans…it looks like we're going back to Castoria."
TBC – Please read and review!