Part 5 – This is Going to Hurt

The first strike took him by surprise even though he'd anticipated it. His back protested loudly at the abuse as the bant scored his skin to leave a long cut. John hadn't caught sight of the thing that they were using, so he could only guess from the agony it produced that it was similar to leather whips used on Earth. Muttering, he gritted his teeth. "One down nineteen to go. This is for Rodney," he consoled as he braced for the next blow.

Eight strikeslater and he nearly lost count because of the searing agony. "This is for Rodney," he repeated like a mantra over and over again as he desperately tried to push the pain aside. He let himself drift to better events but each new strike reminded him with full clarity that the pain was still very much there.

When the thirteenth strike came, he cried out for the first time as the bant caught a sensitive area already shredded.

By the sixteenth strike, his knees gave out and he lost his footing on the stone ground to hang like a sack. After that, he counted no more as he drifted in a pain-filled stupor.

The next he knew, hands were reaching up to untie his abused wrists. Without a sound, he fell to the ground and rested his head against the wooden post. A splash of cold water abruptly washed over his back cooling the burning but leaving the agony.

-SGA-

Some significant time elapsed before he found the strength to lift his agonizing body off the ground and look around. Wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, he found that he was alone in the now dusky courtyard making him vaguely wonder where everyone had gone.

He shook as a cold shiver overcame him making his back protest loudly. Needing to get warm, he staggered over to the outer wall but his clothes and weapons were no longer, where he'd left them. Rising panic rose in his throat.

Desperately looking around, he noticed one side door stood slightly ajar allowing soft light to spill into the courtyard. Having no choice, Sheppard lurched towards the source, hoping to find his things and some added warmth.

Cautiously, he slipped through the door only to find himself back in the room with the Tyleen shrine. The air felt slightly warmer but it did nothing to take away the deep chill affecting the whole his body. In despair, he looked around for his clothes but they were nowhere in sight.

The monks sat motionless in meditative silence as they faced the statue of Tyleen. No one acknowledged his entry or made a move to speak. He wanted his clothes desperately but was fearful of disturbing them in their mediation, wondering what punishment that action may produce. Did they truly expect him to leave like this?

The agony of his shredded back was causing him to shake not only with cold, as he felt oozing blood slowly trickle down to join the wet mess at his waistband. Probably going into shock, he vacantly thought. That's just what he needed, so there was nothing for it, he would have to disturb the monks. However, as Sheppard made to move towards them, they started to chant.

The chanting echoed around the room in an unrelenting pulse. It joined the swirling fumes of incense to become hypnotic and addictive. It rattled through John's head causing him to loose all sense of caution. He felt compelled to move towards the forbidden shrine as if drawn by forces unknown. He didn't notice Vatu move out of his seat to await him.

Lurching forwards, Sheppard nearly made it until his legs finally gave out and he went clashing to his knees, no more than a foot away from the mesmerizing figurine and its precious ZPM.

The chanting grew louder and louder as it persisted unrelenting. He wanted it to stop. To stop messing with his brain making him want touch something that could earn him yet more punishment or maybe even death.

He lifted heavy eyes towards the shrine and for the first time noticed the statue's hands were facing upwards as if enticing him to touch them. Were they like that before? His befuddled mind questioned as he shivered violently under the gaze of Tyleen. His senses told him that the old monk had moved to stand behind him. Could Vatu be waiting to carry out another punishment should he stray and touch the forbidden? Yet, the chanting and the Goddess encouraged him to do just that.

His hands no longer did his bidding as they reached out to join hers and at the touch, his world filled with a vision so intense that it flared in his brain. A vision filled with deadly light and falling darts raining through the sky in flames. As the last dart exploded, white-hot pain seared through his body and John Sheppard knew no more.

tbc

Sorry this is such a evil cliffy but I'll try and get the next part posted tomorrow. Thanks for all your wonderful reviews!