Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis or any of its characters just in case someone wants to sue!
Warning: There is strong violence in this story and scenes that some people may find upsetting so ye be warned!
Thank you to my beta The Bog Witch who corrected all my mistakes.
Here's the next chapter. Again thanks for all the reviews. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter Six: Through the Stargate
Sheppard fought to slow down his inertia once he had exited the stargate on the unknown world. His efforts came too late however, and he tumbled down the pesky steps that were often built leading up to a stargate.
Sheppard finished his bone jarring fall and landed on soft, sweet smelling grass. He groaned at the agonising pain. His body screamed to stay right where it was on its makeshift bed.
'I underestimated you warrior!' A malicious voice said above him. 'I didn't realise anyone would be stupid enough to run into certain death. You are unarmed and I would assume that you did not call for extra support from your fellow Atlantians?'
Sheppard ignored the rolling of his stomach and the various other stabs of pain up and down his body as he clambered to his feet. He took up a defensive stance, both arms held up in front of his chest, his hands in tight fists.
The hostile laughed at Sheppard and once again pulled out his fighting stick. He swung it expertly at Sheppard who tried valiantly to move out of its path.
He was too slow though and the pole came crashing down on his wounded shoulder. Sheppard bit down on his lip, trying to overcome the pain.
He shot his fist out at the hostile, before the pole could be swung at him again, and it connected with the man's gut. The hostile fell back slightly and Sheppard rallied, going in for another hit.
The hostile was ready for him though and swiped the pole at Sheppard's knees. Sheppard heard the crack that resonated through his entire body and the pain that accompanied it. He was sent crashing to the floor and from the dark spots that were appearing in his vision he knew that he was about finished in this fight.
I'll be damned if I go alone! Sheppard thought desperately. He didn't want the last thing that he did to be failing Atlantis and his friends.
He saw the shape moving towards him too late to even flinch. It hit him in the centre of his torso and he knew from the pain and the new tightness of his chest that the pole had wrecked severe damage.
He heard, rather than saw, the pole clatter to the floor and someone crouch beside him. His eyes were open but they were no longer processing what they saw. That can't be good! Sheppard thought dryly.
'I will end your pain now warrior. You fought nobly.' the hostile intoned sombrely. Sheppard felt the cold steel of the dagger against his vulnerable throat and reacted instinctively.
His arm reached out, groping the grass beside him until it fastened around the pole. He swung it upwards with as much force as he could muster in his weakened state, his vision clearing so that he could see the look of surprise on his adversary's face as his own weapon hit him on the head.
His eyes momentarily rolled back into his head and his grip on his dagger slackened.
Sheppard took the opportunity he had been gifted. He grabbed the sharp dagger and plunged it straight into the hostile's heart.
The hostile died with that look of surprise still on his face, unbelieving that a beaten opponent could defeat him.
Sheppard lay there for a few minutes, trying to gather the strength to push the dead man off of him but his body knew what his mind would not accept. He had endured too much and his body would no longer co-operate seeing now that Atlantis was safe.
XXXXX
Weir stood still for a moment listening to the static of her radio. Sheppard had obviously already gone through the gate, her order was too late.
She turned to Ronon who was standing guard at the end of the corridor. 'Ronon would you go to the control room and follow Sheppard?' She asked.
Ronon shifted uncomfortably. 'But Sheppard told me to stay with you.'
'I know but now I'm ordering you to help him. Don't worry I won't let you get in trouble, besides the Colonel needs your help.' Weir informed him.
Ronon nodded and went to leave. All of a sudden the Atlantian alarm became more high-pitched and a red flashing light started flashing on the ceiling above them. The doors at the end of the corridor slammed shut without any prompting from Weir or Ronon.
Weir sighed, it seemed to her that the city was going into lockdown but surely there wasn't another infectious disease in Atlantis. Well, Weir knew someone who may have something to do with the situation.
'Rodney? What's going on?' She asked, tapping her radio.
'Oh, ah hi Lizbeth.' McKay answered distractedly. 'There's er nothing to worry about. Everything's fine!'
'Rodney!' Weir said in a tone of voice that said that McKay had better tell her everything. She even crossed her arms, though McKay couldn't see her.
'Well we kind of ran into a slight problem when trying to save the generator.' McKay admitted grudgingly.
'What he means to say is that he took the force shields offline, against my better judgement, and that the city has responded by locking us out of the system.' Zelenka summed up.
'So Atlantis sensed a threat from McKay?' Weir wondered.
'Yes.' Zelenka offered easily.
'It's more complicated than that, I'll have you know.' McKay remarked angrily.
It always is! Weir thought wryly. 'Rodney! Focus! Sheppard is off-world and needs our help. How long until you can get the situation back under control?' Weir asked sharply, putting a calming hand on Ronon's shoulder, who was pacing restlessly.
'I don't know, I don't understand why it locked down in the first place!' McKay yelled, frustrated.
'But Doctor Zelenka said it was because of something that you did, just fix whatever did!' Weir replied, frowning.
'As ever, Elizabeth, it's not as simple as that!' McKay retorted.
'We will have it fixed within the hour, Doctor Weir!' Zelenka answered courteously.
Weir could hear McKay yelling something in the background to Zelenka, he had obviously turned his radio off, unwilling to talk to her any longer. 'Try your best.' Weir said to Zelenka, tapping her radio off.
She turned to Ronon. 'Don't worry, we'll help him soon!' She told him comfortingly.
Ronon nodded briefly before continuing his frantic pacing.
Weir sat down awkwardly on the floor of the corridor, she was so exhausted, the tiredness hitting her now that she had nothing pressing that she could be doing.
She couldn't stop her mind from wandering to what may be happening to Sheppard at that moment. He could be injured and in desperate need of their help and here she was sitting down doing nothing.
Over half an hour later the flashing lights and high-pitched alarms finally ceased.
'Doctor Weir, the city is stable again. The north pier is still flooded however. The city should be unlocked now.' Zelenka informed her.
Weir got to her feet stiffly. 'Yes it is Radek, thank you. Come back to the control room when you're finished, Rodney too!' Weir told him. She turned to the gym door and tried to open it. It remained defiantly closed. Weir felt close to tears. It seemed nothing would go right today.
Ronon came and stood next to Weir. 'Maybe we should try it my usual way?' He suggested.
Weir was confused. 'Your usual way?' She asked.
As an answer Ronon pulled out his gun and shot at the switch beside the gym door. Weir couldn't believe it as the door slid open revealing the missing soldiers.
She smiled slightly, McKay wouldn't be happy at the lack of respect Ronon had just displayed for Atlantian technology.
Lorne approached Weir relief plain on his face. 'Thanks for getting us out!' He said gratefully.
'That's alright Major, I want you to get your team geared up and be ready in the gateroom ASAP!' Weir ordered.
'Yes ma'am. May I ask where we're going?'
Weir suddenly looked distraught. 'Oh no how can we tell which planet John gated to?'
'The Colonel? Is he fit to be on duty?' Lorne asked.
'Probably not but there wasn't much choice as the city was under threat. How can we help Sheppard if no-one knows where he went?' She asked fitfully.
'Someone may know.' Ronon grunted.
'Who?' Weir asked, hope starting to blossom that they may yet save Sheppard.
'The prisoner.' he answered shortly.
Weir grinned happily. 'That sounds like a plan gentlemen! Major, Ronon and I will meet you in the control room in ten minutes.' She promised. She followed Ronon out of the gym at a quick march towards the brig.
When they arrived the prisoner got to his feet, not nearly as cocky as he had been acting earlier. He seemed to realise that The Chosen Twelve's plot had failed.
The SF was stood to attention at the door, staring guiltily at Weir's bandaged throat.
'Has he been co-operating since I was last here?' Weir asked the SF kindly.
'Yes ma'am except of that whole incident with you.' The SF replied formally.
Weir nodded thoughtfully and turned to the prisoner. 'Your friends are all dead or gone. You have nothing left to gain from staying loyal to the wraith. We can offer you a home on the mainland where you could grow crops in peace.
The prisoner seemed to wilt in front of her eyes. 'You would let me go free after what I did to you?'
'Yes, on one condition, one of my men followed your friend through the gate as he ran away. Where would your friend go?'
'And if I tell you, I get to go free?' The prisoner questioned carefully.
Weir nodded and the prisoner told them the gate address with no remorse in his voice.
Weir thanked him and hastily ran down the corridor towards the gate. Ronon followed reluctantly, he had been hoping to get some more payback for what The Chosen Twelve had done to his new friends.
They soon got to the control room to see Lorne's team ready to go. Beckett was also there with a team of nurses, Weir hoped that Sheppard wouldn't be needing them that badly.
Lorne came over to them. 'We're ready to depart ma'am apart from one thing. I'd like to ask Ronon to take Lieutenant Geller's place on this mission. I know that's what Geller would have wanted.' He had obviously just been told of his second in command's death.
Ronon agreed and went to wait with the rest of the team. Weir turned to Lorne. 'Bring the Colonel home Major.' Weir ordered.
'Will do Doctor Weir.' he answered confidently.
Weir walked up the steps that she had tumbled down with Sheppard so many hours before. She quickly dialled the correct address and waved as the four men walked through the stargate to find Sheppard, hopefully alive and no move injured than he had been when he had left.
Please review if you have time. As always I love to read your comments. The next chapter will be the last one. Hope to have it up soon.