Thanks Angela! You're most wonderful!
Notes: It's become obvious that I am quite a horrible person, but at least the ending is all written, it simply needs to be tweaked and then will be sent your way! Many thanks for your patience and comments :)
Interference
Ronon's blood boiled. He watched the saddened man, the theatrically contrite Celebrant and tried to rein the urge to kill kill kill. The last time he had allowed that urge to take over, it had not yielded such good results. How could they stand before them and offer apologies, tell them their friends would not be released, the Lopstack would not allow it.
Teyla's voice was calm, collected and cold. "If they will not release them, we will remove them."
Appalled, Mira spoke loudly. "Surely not! They are not yours to take!"
"They are no one's to take! They are free!"
Ronon had never heard Teyla shout in such a way before. He watched in surprise as she drew closer to Mira. "I do not want excuses! I will see them home safe, regardless of the Lopstack's need for them!"
"I would like to see you try!" Mira's cocky stance morphed into a hesitant shuffle when Teyla turned abruptly and walked to the edge of the squish.
"Very well! Ronon?"
Ronon's large hand settled around Mira's neck in a light hold. No unnecessary pressure was applied, the threat of what could come only implied. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "You've given me a reason." He remembered a similar scene and he could see, by the widening of her eyes, that her thoughts were following a similar path. The urge had broken free after all.
Lokas stepped forward and laid a hand on Ronon's arm. "There is no need for such behaviour, violence is not the answer. Please, there is another way."
The hand on Mira's delicate neck moved slightly as Ronon's interest shifted. "What?"
"They must resist. See the illusion, not the world they have constructed."
"How?" Ronon believed asking Lokas for help had not been the wisest choice, the man's logic centre was clearly non-existent; of course McKay and Sheppard needed to resist and see the illusion! What good did that do him at this time? None, that's what! A useless piece of information.
"They must be made aware. A focused mind could show them, present a flaw in the carefully crafted hell in which they find themselves."
All eyes turned to the two separate images that continued to broadcast the results of long-hidden fears and preoccupation. Teyla's hand hovered inches from the squish. "I can do this…" This is why Ronon had pulled her out, brought her home with him. Years of working her mind, of controlling it, moulding it, shaping it into a strong tool were going to be rewarded.
"No! You'll be stuck in there too." I'll be left alone to mourn this time, was what Ronon did not voice, though the softening of Teyla's feature told him she understood.
"Pain will keep her conscious of reality." Lokas was afraid his solution would harm Miss Emmagan more than was necessary, but something needed to be done.
"No." Ronon would not allow this, would not send her back in there, force her to be hurt.
Lokas raised his hand in a plea for silence. "I have a certain understanding of the workings of the Pensey, as does Mira." He looked at the woman sternly, the hard glint in his eyes promising dire retribution. "We can attempt to reach Colonel Sheppard and Doctor McKay."
"Won't the Lopstack stop us?"
Mira spoke quietly, "They are not corporeal beings, have reach into this world only through the Pensey and its effects."
Ronon looked at Teyla's small form. "It will hurt you."
Teyla drew closer to Ronon, laying a reassuring hand upon his arm. "There is no other way. I can do this Ronon, trust in me."
"I do, but –"
"It is harming them far more than it could harm me. We must at least try to stop this." Her eyes swivelled to the screen that showed John lying on his cot, wide eyes watching the one opposite. Rodney's body occupied it, no one had come to fetch him. The other image showed Rodney's unrelenting drive. His mind would not allow him to give up, to stop the illusion and stay in the room. He worked.
Ronon nodded, his eyes fixed on the image.
Lokas and Teyla took time to prepare, to relax and allow her mind to open and move under her control. Silence was filled with deep breaths and the rustle of cloth. When she felt she was ready, she took Ronon's hand and pushed herself into the squish as Lokas' hand rested over the Jell-O-like substance, in contact but never breaking the surface.
Pain exploded in Ronon's head and it was all he could do to avoid wrenching Teyla out. It rolled like waves over him, within him, unrelenting in their pursuit. The feeling eventually receded slightly, or he grew accustomed to it, and he was able to see Lokas, standing beside him, eyes fixed on the screens. He followed his gaze and saw Teyla walking cautiously into John's room.
"John?"
His gaze never leaves the cot opposite. She draws closer and crouches beside him. He lies on his stomach, his head on the pillow, one arm hanging over the side, the hand resting on the cold floor.
"John."
He doesn't seem to see her at all, though he responds. "Rodney's dead."
"No, it is not real. Rodney is alive but he needs your help."
"I can't help him, I couldn't help him and he…he'd rather die than stay here with me because I couldn't help him."
Teyla gasped, in reality as well as illusion and Ronon jerked her out of the squish a little bit more, pulling her hand to his chest, cradling it between his own.
She lays a hand on John's cheek, stroking softly, knowing she cannot stay here much longer, feeling John's skin under her hand just as sure as shefelt Ronon's under her palm. Pain flowed through her and she feels it sizzle.
"You must listen, John, you must trust me. You know Rodney would never commit such an act, we would never leave you behind and Ford…he is no longer with us, you know we lost him when we found Ronon. Please John, you know this."
She hurried, feeling Ronon's grip lessen, believing it was not his grip but her perception of reality that was fading. Her mind was strong, but not strong enough.
"I saw him hanging. I see him. Look, he's there, look under the sheet, look!"
"He is not! It is only you who sees him! It is not real John! Please, please believe me! Trust in yourself, you know he would not do this, you know Rodney would never leave you! You know him!"
"I see him."
"You fool yourself into seeing him, but he is not truly there. Find him John, find him and come back to us. He would never leave you in such a way!"
She screamed, in illusion and reality, the pain becoming unbearable, the men charged with her safety unable to protect her, to take it upon themselves. Pain ravaged Ronon and Lokas' bodies as surely as it did Teyla's.
"I don't –"
"Not real! It is not real! Fight it. You and Rodney are in the squish. Please remember, you must remember."
"Rodney's dead…"
"NO! He is alive…believe me John, please. Find him and get out!"
Ronon could not take much more of her pain, his pain, their pain. He watched the image, saw confusion written all over John's features and decided that he trusted the man to understand even with the limited information Teyla has been able to provide. He pulled her out of the squish and lowered her to the floor as she took in a few lungful of air.
"You okay?"
"My head is pounding."
Lokas approached with a smile. "Yes, I would expect it to. You did extremely well Miss Emmagen, your mind is stronger than you ever believed."
"I was unable to say all I needed to say, I do not think it will be enough. I should return."
"No, dear girl, you must rest now. The Pensey has taken much from you."
"I must reach Rodney."
"Not now, allow Colonel Sheppard to fight. Trust in him, trust that he will trust in you."
They sat and watched, desperately hoping that John would be strong enough to rise over his mind's tricks. When Teyla fell asleep, a frown marring her beautiful features, Ronon enquired about Lokas' knowledge of the Pensey.
"I am afraid my sister had been dealing with the Lopstack for many years and has acquired quite a collection of devices, most of them used to befuddle the mind. I am surprised by its resemblance to the Sancta, but satisfied for it reacted as I thought it would to outside interference."
"Anything more you could think of that would help?"
"I do not believe so, though I have searched and will continue to do so."
"Anything more you can tell me about what you do know?"
"No, some of my world's secrets and knowledge are better left in their proper place." He tapped his temple.
Ronon nodded and returned his gaze to the images. John had not moved and Rodney continued to work.