STARGATE ATLANTIS

PRIMIS : THE MISSING

LORNE

"Are you all right Major?"

"Carson. Sorry, I was lost in thought. What can I do for you?

"Nothing, lad. I was just checking up on you. You haven't been in to see me of late."

I sighed…probably too heavily as I could feel Carson sizing me up, but I had learned from Sheppard not to give a hint of a sign you are in trouble. The heavy burden of being acting military commander of Atlantis was not something I relished, and yes, I probably did need somebody to talk to just to take a load off, so…

"Yeah, sorry, doc. I've been a bit busy. Were you meaning a professional visit or a social?"

I watched as Carson weighed up his answer very carefully. "Social, lad. Scotch at 20.00 hours?

"See you then." Game face wavering as Carson turned to leave, my smile dropped like a tonne weight when he was out of sight.

I thought he might have chase me up, because he knew I was avoiding him. Perhaps this is just what I needed though; a wee dram with Carson. He, like the rest of us, needed some sort of release or we would seriously struggle.

I looked at my watch; the dates we still used were Earth time. The Colonel and Torren had been missing for a month now. Hard to believe, not easy to forget. This galaxy had no allies for us. We worked alone and stealthily as the inhabitants of whatever planet we took the 'jumper to or went through one of the rare 'gates were shrouded in mystery and not very willing to open up to strangers. The wraith were not to be found, either. Which was, again, strange.

Frustrating – that what this galaxy was…in a nutshell!

At least I have my work to keep me occupied, and 24/7. Teyla – well, she is alone, very much alone, and it is heart breaking to see her haunted look. I had been so happy to learn from John that he and Teyla were finally a couple – took him long enough, and now that he is missing...

I refuse to put in the records K.I.A, so for the moment it is just sitting at M.I.A. and no matter what Woolsey says that is not changing. We are far from home anyway, what does it matter?

Ronon is coming my way, possibly for another empty update. He has been a pillar of strength for his team mates and others, including some of my marines. I am under no illusion that if we ever lost Ronon it would be as bad as losing the colonel. At the moment he is the backbone of Atlantis and I don't think he even realises it. I have respect, I know that, but Ronon has the presence that's needed.

John. Where are you? Your presence is needed also.

THE PAST

John paced and paced, shouting out Torrens name until his throat was hoarse. He had woken up, only to discover Torren was gone from his arms. The hollow feeling in his stomach competed for dominance with the emptiness he felt in his heart. This cannot be the way of things. How many times can the boy be taken from him without him knowing. Surely the stun could not have been that strong?

A sudden thought found John slamming his palm up and down against the three rock walls, and then he found it. It was small enough to miss, but the round hole with strong wraith bindings, could not disguise the fact that it must be a vent and some sort of knock out gas had been filtered in to them both to keep them unconscious.

Damn!

John hoped that Torren felt okay, wherever he was. When he woke this morning, it was to a slight headache and gnawing pain in his arm, but that was all.

The pacing started up again, but he stopped shouting; it was getting him no-where.

His mind raced with scenarios that involved Torren and himself, so he almost missed the fact that suddenly he was going to his knees without consciously thinking about it. His head felt too heavy for his body but with sheer will he dragged it up from his chest and came to look up the wraith queen as she dragged her finger down his cheek.

"A new day for you, my pet. Did you sleep well?" She laughed.

John struggled to reply and his face contorted, trying to convey with facial expressions what he thought of her hint at him being knocked unconscious by gas. "Where is he?"

A pain wrapped around his head, but John just grimaced and continued eye contact with the queen.

"You seem to always want to ask the questions, my pet. He is important to you, is he not?"

"Yes." John spat. "What did you think?" and then he added. "Rhetorical!" He didn't want punished for asking a question again so soon.

"Answer me this in your own words so I can read you well. Is the boy your son?"

John's heart flipped and somersaulted for a couple of beats. So interesting a question and so pertinent. Was he? Well, yes, John thought, he will be once they were married and he adopted him, so …

"Yes, the boy is my son. Now will you take me to him?" There was an urgency now building in him; his throat croaked as he spoke, but it might have been from the emotion that was rising in him.

"Rise."

John did of his own accord this time.

"We have detected some wraith in him. Tell me of his mother?"

"I would like you to meet her, but; oh that's right – you kidnapped me and Torren, so how the hell do we ever get to see her again!" John snapped and instantly regretted it as the vice like pain around his head tightened.

But only briefly.

"Calm yourself!"

John bit his bottom lip but stood waiting on her next move.

"Answer me – tell me of the boy's mother."

"Yes, she has wraith ancestry. I do not know the full story." He lied.

"And, you?"

"No."

"And yet, we have detected some ancient in you. Very rare indeed. I might add that that is the reason you are alive right now and I am tolerating your insolent behaviour."

John dipped his head. He thought they had taken some blood when he had been out. Now that would explain the bandaged arm.

The queen pointed at his bandage. "Some blood is still visible. I will arrange for you to be looked over. If you are developing a fever, we will put you in a chamber."

John's eyes widened. "I am fine."

"It is not an option for you, my pet."

The queen moved a hand down to her side and swished her long coat and dress to the side in order move away.

"No wait, please?" John was desperate and didn't care that he had over-stepped the mark again.

The queen sized him up and seemed to sense that if she wanted her prize pet to be calmer she would have to throw him something to chew on.

"The boy is being looked after by some human workers; women and children. He is okay for now, do not worry – but how he screams for you and his mother – quite delightful the spirit in the young boy. We will be interested to test him further."

The door to John's cell opened and he lunged for the queen, but two drones caught him before he could do any damage. Of the long-haired wraith there was no sign, so John walked with the drones calmly to spare himself some bruises, and wondered where he was going to next.

John took in his surroundings as he was marched forward. Half cave, half wraith tendrils mixed with yards of coiled, shimmering wiring that also ran freely on the stone ground and into unknown areas. This was all new to him and it was not unlike a hive ship in some respects; apart from the stone cave sections.

Still, the sopping gloop was a hint that this was still wraith territory more than anything and he recoiled slightly when he watched it seep down walls; some places at an alarming rate. He sincerely hoped he did not develop a fever as the thought of being placed in one of their healing chambers and being coated with the stuff did not appeal in the slightest – still, if it meant getting better to be able to look after Torren, he would jump in one right now.

Arms aching in the grip of the two drones, John was just about to start to struggle, when they reached his destination, and he recoiled again.

The soaking double doors opened into an arched chamber that was all wraith. Hundreds of pods containing an army of wraiths were already stacked high all around and above him. The lower levels were obviously still to be filled and that's what made his stomach revolt the most. Men were working under supervision, and helping put more in place. John watched more wraith taking readings and entering the results in a large central computer that swung round and round at different intervals, displaying information John could not understand. Worse still, sitting in one of two large purple wraith chairs was the long-haired wraith, supervising the proceedings.

Upon seeing John enter the room, his grin widened and John just wanted to punch the smirk right off of his face.

"Ah, John Sheppard. I see my queen has sent me a fine gift of service this morning. I am sure you will be of great assistance. I will look forward to you helping us."

At the word 'helping' John shivered inside. This was not happening. He knew now he was being asked to help get a hive ready. He spun around to look as the two drones finally let him go and pushed him forward. He dug his feet in and took in the hundreds of hexagonal pods that had either growing wraiths in them or empty and being prepared. Was this a hiver ship or just on the ground?

He didn't feel the buzz and rumble of a ship's engines, so he presumed that thankfully he was on the ground. It would make escape easier.

Escape!

What was he trying to kid. The chance of him finding Torren and running right now was nigh on impossible. A shove on his back and suddenly he was in front of the wraith in his 'throne'.

As if he had read his mind, long hair spoke. "There is no escape here, John Sheppard. Get that thought out of your head."

At that moment, John didn't have a verbal reply, so made his thoughts known by a visual response using his fingers. The wraith wouldn't have known the earth move, but he got the suggestion, and with great speed he had reached John's side and back handed him hard against his left cheek. John landed on one knee with the force and spat out the blood that came out of his mouth at the same time. Boy that had hurt. But he rose and flouted him by just standing straight, not allowing himself to get provoked into attacking him, which he obviously wanted him to do.

Long hair rocked his head back and forward and raised an eyebrow. "I am going to enjoy breaking you I think. You do not bow down so readily as the others here – and yet you, out of everyone else here, have more to lose don't you?"

John breathed out and finally stared at the wraith.

The fact that the long-haired wraith now had his attention, brought an even wider smile to his ugly face.

"What's the matter, John Sheppard? Have you lost your voice? Are gestures the only way you can speak now?" He laughed in John's face before resuming his position on the overly large chair.

John could feel his fingernails piercing his palms in his curled up fists but he refused to be goaded into a fight this morning. He realised the room had gone quiet, and glanced to his side, holding his aching chin as he did so. A small group of people had stopped their work momentarily to look on in fear at the bristling confrontation between himself and the wraith. He needed to be on their side to get help, so took a step back away from the supposed skirmish, even though every soldier bone in his body was screaming for a fight; it went against everything he was trained to do, but his thought was only to keep himself alive to look after Torren, and if that mean taking a step back from confrontation; so be it.

Eventually, John allowed himself to be led by one of the drones over to the central computer where a large, rotund man stood waiting to obviously assign John to his workload. John slightly lifted his head in greeting, but the man just glowered at him and moved his arm forward for him to follow. John did without speaking until the worker drone moved away and it was just the two humans left on their own.

John shifted his eyes back and forward quickly but the long-haired wraith and drones were deep in conversation, so he took a chance with the presumed overseer.

"What's your name?"

The large man grunted, but replied. "Taan. That's all you need to know."

"I'm John. Can you tell me where I am?"

Taan turned his back to him and picked up what looked like a wraith tablet and pen. He muttered under his breath as if he did not want to speak to him. "You do not know?"

"No."

"You came with the boy." It was more a statement than anything, but John nodded when the man finally looked at him.

"We sense you will bring trouble to us John. Things are peaceable here. We don't want anything to break that. You understand me? Slaves have enough strife each day without added angst, you understand?"

"And I wouldn't want to put you or anybody else in any danger. Why are you so convinced I am bringing trouble your way?"

Taan turned him around and pushed him forward. John felt the power behind that hand and was surprised, but kept it noted. "The boy. He has raised great interest in our queen, and we are not sure what that means yet. We will be watching you too."

John bristled at the 'our queen'.

"I mean no trouble. I'm not even from here, all I want is the boy beside me and to get out of here."

Taan spun him round and knocked him against a gloopy wall and pointed at him, whistling through his teeth as he obviously wanted to rein in his temper without attracting attention of the drone guards. "I told you, we want peace. Don't even entertain ideas of escape. You cannot escape from here without bringing punishment to us all if you do, that's how things work here. You will learn that whatever happens to one, happens to us all."

John straightened and lowered his eyes. "Then if I have to be 'one' with you all, tell me where the hell I am for starters?" John said low and quiet through gritted teeth.

Taan moved him forward again when one of the drones glanced over. "You must have come through the Ring then. This is Amitiyaz."

"And that is where?"

"You really don't know?"

John shook his head. "I told you I am not from here."

"Well, I don't know where you came from and I don't want to know, but you are on the wraith home world. Do you understand what that means? It means even if you escape from here, the whole small planet is swarming with them."

John felt suddenly sick and light headed and shook his head to clear it.

"They are getting ready to go out to harvest other planets for the new drones and Wraith that are to be woken up soon."

"That's not good."

"No. Then they are heading out to war against other Wraith in the far side of the galaxy. The Queens' in each ship need the strongest Wraith to fight. Our queen…"

John could not cope with that any longer. "…ours?"

Taan turned on him. "Yes, ours. Better to be obedient to the one, and not bartered over to another."

"You are not worshippers?"

Taan looked horrified. "Worshippers? Why would anybody worship them? I told you, we are slaves. Where are you from that some would worship these creatures?"

John Sheppard smiled, "You don't want to know!" His following roll of eyes caught Taan's attention and he smirked with John. "No doubt." He said. And a friendship of sorts was formed.

"What would you like me to do?" John said, clapping the large man on the shoulder.

Just then there was a smack of skin on skin and a young sounding man screamed out loud. John started to walk towards the disturbance, but Taan pulled him back and held onto his elbow.

"The repercussion of your slap from the wraith. I warned you, whatever happens to one, happens to another."

John's jaw dropped when he realised his insolence had caused another slave to be backhanded by a drone. "I must apologise."

"No need, do not even mention it again. Please!" He emphasised.

John acquiesced… grudgingly.

Approximately five hours later, and John was covered in gloop, his head and arm were bothering him and he was tired of the heavy graft of placing the glowing wires in one section after another in a seemingly random manner. They were sharp like glass and his hands were slight cut up; the gloop finding their way in and making them itch. More than anything, his worry for Torren was wearing him down mentally. He was aware that Taan and some others were watching him warily. All he could do was play the game and keep to himself so nobody else got hurt if he acted up.

A sharp screeching noise was unexpected and loud. The sound of metal tools following it and hitting the stone floor was deafening. Finally, when one of the conduits blew, showering a drone with sparks, wraith appeared out of nowhere with weapons raised and ready to fire.

Long-haired wraith had been watching John for most of the morning so he was already there at the scene.

To John it appeared that one of the circuits had exploded somehow – perhaps wrongly put together, and it had taken out a small section of the hive, injured a drone and caused one of the slaves to throw everything aside that he had been working on in fright. Long-haired wraith shot the man with his stunner and kicked him repeatedly while he was out.

Breathing faster and clenching his fists again, John bit his tongue, but nodded towards Taan that he would not get involved.

He didn't get a say in the matter.

Almost in slow motion, the long-haired wraith flashed a quick look his way and pointed his long nailed finger in his direction.

'No!' John thought. He knew he was being picked as the 'eye for an eye'!

Unable to stop the attack, four drones dived on him and knocked him to the ground with their stunners. Two solid strikes hit him on his head, and one bounced off his shoulder as he fell to the ground. With no time to recover from the strikes, he lay writhing in pain when the kicks to his body followed. They took the air out of him as his stomach was pummelled, his back was equally battered and lastly when his knee was stomped on, he felt he couldn't take anymore without trying to fight back. Sweating and panting he caught another drone's foot as it started towards his face.

"Stop!" Long hair bellowed and the drone stopped his foot's descent on John's body. "Enough!"

They backed off, leaving John gasping for breath in their wake and hugging his knee.

Long hair walked up to him and took in his battered appearance and then looked at Taan.

"Take him away and clean him up."

John raised himself up on one elbow and winced as Taan reached down to help him to his feet. He perhaps wasn't ready to be moved, as he could still not catch a breath, but with Taan's help and another man called Shi coming forward to help, they manage to steady John enough until he got his bearings; pleased he could put weight on his knee.

"Can you walk?" Taan asked him, with a huge hand on his chest offering support.

"Sure." John managed, but in truth he felt he would like nothing better than to lie down where he stood he hurt that much.

An understanding squeeze to his shoulder from Taan and John felt himself moving along with the two men; hardly under his own steam.

The next thing he knew, he was being placed on a mattress on the ground. He was pretty positive it was not the same cell as before as he had walked a long time previously to get to the centre of the hive.

"Whe…?"

"The nearest cell we could get to. Shush now and let us care for you. You must hurt."

The next few minutes were an exercise in not meddling with their hands as they pressed on his wounds with a cooling balm that materialised out of no-where. The pain was sharp in his back so when they touched there he arched from where he was lying on his stomach and wafted his arm in the air.

"Stop, no more!"

Shi tutted. "You do yourself no favours."

"Yeah, well." John shuffled himself until his back was against the cool cave wall and put his head in his hands. He heard, more than saw footsteps move away and thought he had been left alone, but when he recovered enough to look up again Taan was still there watching him.

"What's his problem?"

Taan shook his head. "Some want to stay away from you."

"Don't blame them." John muttered.

"You going to be okay?"

"Sure. Don't worry about me. Not the worst beating I have ever had."

Taan nodded. "So I see from all your scars."

"Well, whatever." John said, glad his shirt was now tucked down again, hiding the feeding scar that he hoped had faded enough throughout the years to not be so evident.

Whether Taan noticed, he never mentioned it, and for that John was glad; it would have been a very difficult story to explain.

"Should you get back? I don't want you to get into any trouble."

Taan nodded. "You should rest. You will not be expected back today. They never want to lose a slave, so they will allow you a time to recover."

John nodded and smiled. "Thanks for your help…and Taan?"

Taan turned back. "Do you think they will bring Torren…my son…back to me tonight?"

John noticed Taan swallow. "I do not know, John. I am sorry. Women usually stay with the children."

"They left him with me yesterday."

"Then there is hope for today." Taan tried to smile, but it was hard not to let the man down, and John noticed his discomfort.

"Not your concern. I will see you later."

Taan nodded and John was suddenly on his own for the first time in ages.

The mattress was firm and at least a warm bridge against the cold stone. He shuffled his body slowly down into the most comfortable position he could find and started thinking about Teyla; she must be going out of her mind with worry for Torren…and himself, he knew.

The few months they had been on Earth, John had found it increasingly hard to continue to hide his feelings for Teyla. He had taken Ronon and Teyla to various places on Earth with Torren and even Rodney took time to enjoy the sights with them as well. His team; his family.

Something changed between them one day when it was just the two of them sitting on top of a high hill and looking down on San Francisco Bay. Ronon and Amelia, who had been partners for several months then, had taken Torren for the day to the beach, leaving himself and Teyla to go on a hike. To this day, John thought Ronon had planned the whole thing all along.

It had worked.

Tentative at first, John had offered his hand with a flourish to help her off the rock they had been sitting on. Teyla took it and never let go when John had opened his hand. He remembered stepping back and turning to look at her face surprised. She looked content and happy and it was like suddenly an invisible wall had been torn down between them and they suddenly knew they had the space and freedom to seek each other out. John folded her into an embrace and breathed her scent when he slightly nuzzled her neck. He remembered the breath she let out as she whispered. 'John.' They kissed then, and never looked back. The rest was history.

John hit his clenched fist on the hard ground at the unfairness to their current situation. He tried closing his eyes again but sleep escaped him; he was too worried for Torren.

There was movement outside his cell and he cradled his stomach as he raised himself up to see what was going on. The door opened with some gloop landing in a puddle and an elderly woman came in holding Torren.

The relief was immediate and he actually felt like crying with relief.

"Torren!"

"Ton!" Torren smiled, so obviously happy to see him.

John laughed and smiled to calm the young child, amused at his inability to say 'John' yet. It seemed like some things can remain the same.

The woman put Torren down and he fairly ran into John's outstretched arms. His small body running into his bruised one made him wince, but he did not complain or show him he was hurt. He was just ecstatic to have him back.

Smoothing back his hair from his forehead, John kissed him several times when he had finally managed to pry him off of him.

"Hey there, sport. How you doin'?"

Torren shook his head. "Not like."

"I don't like it here either, but I'll get you home soon." Then gulped at the stupid raw lie.

"Mama…" Torren started to cry and put his thumb back in his mouth.

John brought him closer and rocked him, body tight against his own. "I miss her too, Torren. Hang in there okay, like a good boy. I'll…" Wraith were now at the door watching. "…dada will look after you."

Torren looked up at John's face; his own getting red and puffy with tears getting ready to overflow.

"Dada?"

"Yes, me, T.J….dada."

Torren hiccupped and burrowed in tighter.

The wraith moved away, and John took it that he would be left alone for a time. He quickly checked out the wall behind their mattress but could see no holes for gas to be pumped in, and a quick look at the door showed it to be one of the holy type; so he felt sure he was left to sleep naturally this time.

"Come on sport, how about we have a small nap together, eh?"

John knew he was ready to drop off but he wanted to make sure Torren went first. So after the small child exhausted himself by trying to tell him what he had been doing all morning, he eventually slumped in John's embrace and John sighed in relief; joining him just seconds later.

"The tests are ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes. The ones from yesterday revealed he is not the boy's father. So he lies after all."

"And yet he says he is. Interesting how he would damage himself to protect the boy!"

"Yes. Will we leave them together for the night? They will both be calmer together." The wraith suggested.

The wraith queen nodded.

"But bring John Sheppard to me tomorrow; give him no food until I say so. I do not wish my floor to be soiled tomorrow after the tests have taken place.

TO BE CONTINUED….