It seemed that Carson had only closed his eyes and fallen asleep when he was woken again.

"Doc, wake up…"

It was Ford who was kneeling next to the stuffed pad that he'd been sleeping on, and Carson sat up quickly. He'd been having a dream that Melony was hurt and when Ford woke him it was startling to see that he wasn't really back at Atlantis working on her like he had been in his dream.

"What is it?"

His dream was still real enough that he was tense, but Ford rested his hand on his shoulder, thinking he'd startled him awake.

"Relax, doc. Kale woke us up. They're here."

"Who?"

Ford rolled his eyes, young enough to be amused by the terrible reaction time of old guys.

"The babies. You know? McKay's mini-mes?"

Carson rubbed his eyes, and Ford helped him to his feet.

"You okay?"

"Aye… I was just dreaming…"

"Well come on," Ford said. "I want to see these kids."

Of course he did. He'd been grinning ever since they'd heard about them, after all. Carson was just as curious, though – even though it was for a different reason – so he didn't need any further urging. He followed the Lieutenant to the entrance to their quarters, already hearing the commotion of the arrival of the others.

OOOOOOOOOO

The attack was instant, and Mitchell went down under the weight of a huge body almost immediately. The feline screamed in fury as it swiped at her, but she already had her weapon in her hand, and Talon was completely in control, now, adding his reflexes to her firepower. The cat screamed again as she shot it, but the mortal wound didn't stop the huge paw from striking, and Melony went tumbling back against the table, only Talon's will keeping her from dropping her gun as she went. Stunned, but mostly uninjured thanks to her flack jacket, she landed hard and rolled back to her feet, her weapon already searching for a target.

Another cat screamed as Ronon disemboweled it with a slice of the sword in his hand, and the air was filled with the sound of gunfire as Teyla joined into the fray with her P90. What little damage Ronon and Mitchell had done was nothing compared to the damage that machine gun did, and the cats closest to the table all dropped, blood staining the tawny hides as they were gunned down.

More came to join the battle, of course – they were in an entire city filled with shape-shifters, after all – but Hu suddenly brought his hands up sharply.

"ENOUGH!"

A sound very much like a thunderclap echoed throughout the entire area, and the cats and people who were transforming themselves into cats all fell backwards, crashing to the ground along with Melony and the others, who were equally stunned by the unseen blow.

Hu was furious. His eyes were blazing red as he stalked over to Teyla and kicked the P90 out of her numb hands. Even as he turned, though, to go for Mitchell, Ronon was already regaining his equilibrium and slashed out with a foot to trip him up as he went by. The godling fell with an angry curse, and Ronon was on his feet, reaching for the big gun that hung at his side as he stood over Teyla, watching Mitchell roll over and regain her footing as well.

"You'll pay for that!" Hu spat as he came to his feet.

"Try me," Ronon said, already aiming at him. There was no way Hu would be able to avoid the shot that was coming, and no way Ronon would miss from that distance.

The sudden explosion came from nowhere. One minute they were on their feet, with plenty of fight left in them, and the next minute all four of them were leveled to the ground, a concussion like a bomb going off deafening them. Weapons went flying. Hu was thrown down painfully, and Ronon crashed into Mitchell, knocking both of them out before they'd even hit the ground.

A light so bright that it made the sun seem dull suddenly emerged from out of nothingness, and it hovered over the carnage of the village meeting hall for a few long moments.

"This is not what should have happened…"

The voice was incredible, soothing and calm, while at the same time giving off a definite sense of disapproval.

Hu staggered to his feet, looking down at the three unconscious humans, and at all the injured and dead felines.

"I didn't do it!" he exclaimed. "They started the-"

"You handled it poorly…"

The light moved, hovering over one of the injured felines, blood spurting from an injury that would soon claim its life. Then the light sank lower, until it surrounded the feline, and when it lifted moments later, the injuries were gone, and the cat shook itself and rose unsteadily to its feet, looking around uncertainly.

The light moved on to all the other cats, both alive and dead. Those that were injured it healed instantly; those that were beyond saving vanished. Through it all Hu watched silently. But when the light had healed the final feline, he spoke up.

"What of these?" he asked, nudging Teyla's inert form with his foot.

"The two humans will be returned to the Stargate where they can make their way back to their people."

Hu frowned, looking down at the three. Before he could say anything, though, or ask any questions, Ronon and Teyla vanished from the room, leaving Mitchell sprawled on the floor alone.

"This one isn't human?" Hu asked, looking down at her. "I knew she was different!"

"Her people will come looking for her," the unattached voice said. "Put her someplace where they will not find her."

"And those who come looking…?"

"I will study them."

"Do I kill her?"

"No."

If there was a reason for that, the voice didn't bother to share it with Hu. He frowned, and gestured for a couple of men to come forward. They did, watching the light with great reverence.

"Take her to my quarters," Hu said. "And tie her up."

His quarters were the most secure place he knew – and he'd be able to watch her.

"I do not want her injured," the voice reminded him.

"Yes, my Lord."

He made another gesture, and the men hauled Mitchell carefully up, holding her in their powerful arms easily as they carried her out of the room.

"What do I tell those who will come looking?" Hu asked the light.

"They will not make it this far."

And the light vanished.