Teyla's POV
oOo
Dr. Elizabeth Weir had her hands folded in front of her. She smiled at Teyla across the desk.
"What can I do for you?" Dr. Weir asked her.
"You are gracious to receive me so early in the day. I have been speaking to many of my people and there is a growing wish to find another planet to build a new settlement. We are not accustomed to living on a place such as this and a number of us fear trespassing on sacred ground by being in Atlantis," Teyla said, explaining the situation. She hadn't come to Dr. Weir easily, but she had to speak for all of the Athosians.
"I'm a bit surprised to hear that, to be honest, but your people are free to leave anytime; we are not holding you here against your will. What can I do to assist you?" Dr. Weir asked.
"Halling and I have heard of several unpopulated planets through our trades. We'd like your permission to use the Stargate to explore them. I will, of course, return in time to resume my duties with Major Sheppard's team as soon as he is recovered from his injuries," Teyla said with the sound of relief in her voice. She hadn't been sure what reaction to expect from Dr. Weir. Her people hadn't been able to give much to the Atlanteans in exchange for the home and protection they had been given in the Ancient City. An alliance only worked if both parties contributed equally, so it would soon be Teyla's turn to help the Atlanteans. Instead, she was asking them again for a service.
"We have been here only three weeks and we have run into Wraith four times already. Are you and Halling sure those planets are safe?" Dr. Weir asked.
"The information comes from a source I trust, but it is, of course, possible that they have been visited by the Wraith since their awakening," Teyla admitted. "But it is a danger we have been living with all our lives." Teyla wasn't sure Dr. Weir understood the reality of the Pegasus Galaxy. They had stood up against the Wraith once, but the Wraith couldn't be defeated. Halling was right about this, even the Ancients had failed. You could only survive or die.
"I will send Lieutenant Ford and Dr. McKay to accompany you. In case you do encounter the Wraith, he can back you up." At Teyla's questioning look, she added. "The lieutenant has several years of experience with travels through the Stargate."
Teyla nodded. "I appreciate the gesture, but it is not necessary. We will be fine on our own. Please, be not offended." Teyla said as she politely declined the offer. She got the impression that even though Major Sheppard had accepted her on his team, Dr, Weir didn't trust her people. Teyla had been careful not to push a furthering of the alliance. She had given the Atlanteans her trust for the moment and she was prepared to make compromises. But if Dr. Weir would not afford her an equal amount of trust, even Teyla could see no future in their alliance. No amount of protection was worth it if they were robbed of their freedom in exchange.
"It's not that I don't trust you. I do. We said we'd protect you and we will. Lieutenant Ford and Dr. McKay will be ready to leave with you in half an hour," Dr. Weir said. "What can you tell me about the planet?"
Teyla was surprised at the sudden shift of topic, but she answered. "Halling and I are planning to travel to an unpopulated moon of the planet of the Thalan tribe. The tribe was extinct by the Wraith in the generation of my grandfather. One of the trading partners gave me the location of the moon's Stargate. Such information is very valuable. According to the man who gave me the address, the planet's Stargate is near the sea. There is little game to hunt, but abundant fish of many kinds. It's said to be warm in all seasons, but I have never been to this world. That is all I know."
"Thank you. We are explorers, Teyla. The chance to explore a plane untouched by the Wraith is an opportunity but, of course, this is your mission," Dr. Weir said in a tone Teyla had heard from skilled negotiators on many worlds.
"I will let Halling know that Lieutenant Ford and Dr. McKay will accompany us," Teyla agreed. Halling would not be happy. He didn't believe the Atlanteans to be superior warriors. Although their automatic weapons were far more powerful than bow and arrow, Halling and many others thought the Atlanteans' instincts weren't as sharp and they lacked the psychic ability to sense the Wraith.
oOo
Teyla hesitated for a moment, and then she slipped on her Atlantean uniform jacket. She wasn't going on an official mission for the Atlanteans, but she was going with her team-mates from Earth, carrying their weapons. It was a sign of her alliance, an alliance she desperately wished to work. Teyla believed in the Atlanteans, and that they, together, had a chance to survive. Teyla wanted the people to live in freedom from fear and not constantly on the run from the Wraith, fleeing from one planet to another, like they had done when she was a child, before the Wraith had gone to sleep.
Teyla pulled up the zipper of the uniform jacket. The closing mechanism was ingenious, far more sophisticated than hooks and buttons on traditional leather clothes. Although the Atlantean uniforms were made from superior fabrics that didn't scratch the skin and kept her comfortable in a range of temperatures, they were impersonal by nature. The Athosian clothing was all hand-made from precious fabrics, hand-woven and dyed. They were tailored to fit, then sewn, and the entire process took many hours to complete. Each piece of clothing was unique. The Atlantean uniforms reflected unity; the colour was a uniform, even grey, something that could not be accomplished by natural dyes.
"You shouldn't wear their colours, Teyla. You are doing this for our people." Halling's voice sounded behind her. Teyla turned around; she hadn't heard him come in.
"Halling." Teyla focussed on her friend. "I spoke to Dr. Weir. Dr. McKay and Lieutenant Ford will accompany us on the mission."
Halling's eyes narrowed. "They have nothing to do with this; this is our business. We have been taking care of ourselves for centuries! Tell her that we will go alone!"
"Halling." Teyla led Halling over to her bed and they sat down. "I know the truth just as well as you do. Our village on Athos was destroyed because the Atlanteans came to our planet. But they were ignorant. Where they came from the Wraith have never gone. They didn't mean to destroy our home. But they also risked everything to free us after we were captured by the Wraith and they offered us shelter in the City of the Ancestors. It is our turn now. The Atlanteans are new in this Galaxy. All the things we think strange about them must puzzle them about this place. Lieutenant Ford is an able warrior and he knows how to handle their weapons. He wants to fight the Wraith as much as we do," Teyla insisted, looking intently at Halling. It would take time to make her people understand, but Halling had influence with many, and with him on her side, she would win many people over to her cause.
"That's their mistake; they believed they can defeat the Wraith. But even the Ancestors failed and these people are not the Ancestors. They claim to be their descendants, they have powers we don't understand, but what if they aren't who they say they are? They come from a place no one has ever heard from. It is not like you to be too trusting," Halling admonished. He meant well, Teyla realised. It was a difficult time for the Athosians; Halling was only trying to give her advice.
"Please Halling; give them a few more weeks. You will see. The Atlanteans are good warriors and they genuinely seek knowledge. They have helped us even though they didn't have to; it's only fair that we should help them as well. They want to learn more about the planets in this Galaxy and we can help them, so I agreed to let the lieutenant and Dr. McKay accompany us." Teyla explained her decision to Halling. It had been easy to lead her people when the Wraith had been asleep and they had lived in relative peace on Athos. Mediating disputes and keeping their trade partners happy had been her biggest challenges. Most of their trade alliances had been established long before she had taken on the leadership from her father; the terms were only renegotiated when circumstances made it necessary. But three weeks ago when the group of heavily armed men had stepped through the Stargate just before sunrise, it had been the last day of peace.
"Let us go." Halling got up from the bed.
oOo
Teyla sensed their presence as soon as the group stepped through the Stargate into the light silver beach facing an almost completely calm grey ocean as far as they could see.
"There are Wraith here. More than one. They are some distance away, but I'm certain that they are here," Teyla said quietly to Lieutenant Ford, who was scanning the area for a danger he could not see.
"There is nothing here. I can't detect as much as a radio wave." Dr. McKay was holding a flat object, probably some piece pf Ancient technology. McKay squinted. "How about we get out of the sun?"
"You don't understand. The Wraith are here and they will find us if they have not already. We must leave at once," Halling urged the lieutenant. Ford frowned and there was worry on his face.
"I don't want to run into the Wraith any more than you do, but unless we walk right by them, they have no way of knowing we are here," Aiden decided, but he didn't sound very sure.
"Of course they don't, this isn't Star Trek." Rodney wiped the sweat from his forehead. His normally pale face was already deep red from the heat. "Unless we catch them tanning at the beach, we are in the clear. Is there any sunscreen in any our packs? God knows, they are heavy enough." McKay barely left time to breathe between hastily spoken words.
Lieutenant Ford looked at the scientist. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure." McKay seemed to abhor the implication that he could be wrong. "Just get us out of the sun before I suffer a fatal heat stroke."
Teyla shook her head. It was hard to describe the feeling that gave way to presence of the Wraith. It was a cold, suffocating feeling, like her head had been wrapping in a thick sheet of icy wool. Teyla stepped towards Aiden.
"Lieutenant Ford! This is not what we came for. This planet is not what we were looking for. Let us return and travel to the other worlds we have selected. Our luck might change." Teyla tried to persuade the young man who seemed afloat now that he was in charge of the small team alone, without the major there to take over.
Aiden wavered. "McKay, what's that gizmo saying? I need to know where the Wraith are."
"The scanner is not picking up any radio waves, unusual sources of radio-activity or other strong energy sources. They can still throw stones at us." He shrugged.
"All right, we..."
Suddenly a noise came from the direction of the forest; Teyla whirled around, ready to fight in an instant. She heard Aiden yell something at Halling and McKay as she scanned the tree line for any sign of the enemy. The Wraith could project shadows, tricking the minds of the victims, but Teyla could sense that they were close. Still, she didn't catch them until one of them suddenly appeared between shadows and trees and immediately opened fire on them. Sticks and stones indeed.
The blue fire of the blaster ricocheted off the Gate when Aiden ducked just in time. The automatic weapon was powerful; even the Wraith slowed down when they were hit and in a rather short time, it was possible to kill a Wraith from a short distance. Teyla liked this new weapon and learning to handle it had been surprisingly easy.
Hunting with a bow and arrow had taken her many years to master. Fishing with a spear had been easier to learn, but as a girl she had still spent from first light until dusk to gather a small basket full of fish.
The single Wraith was staggering under the fire of their P90s, until it finally fell down into the sand.
"I don't see any others." Teyla was still watching the tree line. Aiden was carefully approaching the fallen Wraith, weapon ready. Rodney was watching him, looking quite frightened after the sudden attack.
"Are you sure he's dead?" the scientists asked softly. Aiden couldn't hear him--he was too far away--but Teyla heard McKay's words.
"The Wraith are formidable, but it is possible to kill them," she whispered. McKay still looked uncertain. His reddened complexion had taken a grey turn.
"I think he's a goner, if you can tell with those things. There is blood, or whatever," Aiden called from his position by the Wraith.
Teyla was going to say something because she could sense that there was still a presence. But before she could speak, Aiden screamed with terror as the Wraith leaped back to life. The giant Wraith was on his feet in an instant with Aidan's P90 in his big hands. Aiden quickly backed away to the rest of the team.
"Athosian woman, I want to see you," the Wraith commanded, speaking for the first time in a deep and throaty voice.
Teyla didn't hesitate, but stepped forward. She crossed the distance of about ten feet that separated the group of travellers from the Wraith. She hoped that Dr. McKay had been right and that the Wraith was alone and without a ship. Against one injured Wraith, they might stand a chance. Teyla clung to that hope and stopped a foot from the huge Wraith.
"The Lanteans have returned and you have met them," the Wraith growled. "Where are they?"
Teyla said nothing. The Wraith could reach out and feed off her easily, but she would not betray her people or their allies. Maybe her team-mates could escape while the Wraith was focussed on her; he could feed on the four of them at the same time.
"Tell me! You will die if you choose not to speak," the Wraith threatened.
Halling stepped forward, unable to watch any longer. "We do not know anything."
The Wraith didn't say a word and struck Halling down with force. Teyla forced herself not to look at her friend lying in the sand when the Wraith turned back to her, closing the distance between them. The explosion of gunfire came at the same time as McKay's panicked yell.
"Down! Get down!" McKay's voice was high enough to break as he screamed. He got off a second shot before the Wraith blaster caught him squarely in the chest. But it had been enough time for Teyla to dive for the weapon she had dropped. Two shots in the back brought him down for good. Teyla's hands shook as she hooked her weapon to her vest. Aiden and Halling were kneeling next to Dr. McKay, who seemed unconscious, but not injured.
The lieutenant was running his hands down the limbs of the unmoving scientist, an expression of alarm on his face. "He's alive, but I have no idea what this thing did to him. We should probably get Beckett here."
"He will recover within the day," Halling reassured Aiden. "The weapon's effects are uncomfortable, but only temporary."
"He is right," Teyla confirmed with a nod. "He will be fine, but we should transport Dr. McKay back to Atlantis."
Aiden nodded. He collected his firearm and grabbed McKay by the ankles. Halling grabbed his upper half, while Teyla dialled the Gate.
TBC