They were nearing the compound that Ronon had described as the place he believed Teyla was being held. Sheppard had been reluctant to collaborate with the renegade clone, but had told Rodney there wasn't time to argue the point. Rodney was more than a little unsettled about the impromptu alliance because – Hi! Clone of a cold-blooded, murderous, sadistic Bad Guy! But he had taken out a big clump of his fellow cold-blooded murdering sadists, and saved their asses for the time being, so maybe a bit of leeway was called for.
Sheppard had insisted that Turncoat Kolya (and wow, didn't that almost sound like the name of an action figure?) lead the way, to prevent him from launching a surprise attack on them from behind. Rodney thought about pointing out that a surprise attack from the front might be almost as deadly, but what was the point? There was a second person present, which meant that none of the Three Faces of John would listen to Rodney anyway.
"He's been creating clones for months," TK was saying, hardly winded even at the fast pace they were keeping. The crutch was starting to rub Rodney's armpit raw. Applying antiperspirant was going to be a bitch tomorrow. "I was one of the earliest produced. As such, I've had more time to think about his rhetoric, more time to do a little research into the current state of affairs on the Genii homeworld." He stopped talking and moving, holding up a hand to stop and silence them as well. Voices were heard, and TK motioned them to hide. All three men crouched, tense and silent, as two more clones moved through the area about fifteen feet from their position.
When they'd resumed moving, TK continued. "It's my belief that the Genii suffered under Cowan's paranoid leadership. His policies of pre-emptive strikes and betrayal of allies only put the people at greater risk. The consensus now seems to be that Ladon is leading the Genii to a better life, a more peaceful existence."
"Glad to hear it," Sheppard said warily.
"Yes, I'm thrilled to hear of the happy ending," Rodney said impatiently. "What's this got to do with us? Why are you helping us?"
"Because Kolya is creating an army. He intends to invade the Genii homeworld and reinstate the kind of government and policies that he supported under Cowan. I'm not going to let that happen."
"Well, good luck with that and all," Rodney said, grunting from the now painful chafing of the crutch. A pad would have been a brilliant idea. "I still don't see what you get out of helping us. Not that I'm complaining, of course."
They were at the edge of the clearing now. The compound was a primitive-looking structure on the outside, intended to maintain the illusion of a non-technological society. Idly, Rodney wondered about those villagers. Were they Genii refugees, like Kolya, or merely simple people pressed into his service? He shrugged it off. They weren't likely to see them again, anyway.
"I'm helping you, Dr. McKay, because he plans to make a great number of clones of you and your team. Your diverse talents would be very useful in perpetrating a coup, and in maintaining control afterward. I'm sure you'll agree that preventing that is in both our interests."
"Huh. Well, yes, I would agree."
Sheppard had been studying the complex. "I don't see any guards."
"That's odd. There are usually six, spread all along the perimeter."
"Ronon must've taken them out. He's good like that." Sheppard turned toward TK. "So, you're gonna help us get Teyla and escape the planet. What are you looking for in return?"
TK took a deep breath. "I want you to take me with you to Atlantis. I want your assistance in contacting Ladon to warn him of Kolya's plot. The support of you and Dr. Weir would greatly increase my credibility with him."
"Yeah, that's a great idea," Rodney snorted. "Did Scarface happen to fill you in on what he did the last time he paid us a visit? Because you kinda look like him, you know?"
"I'm well aware of Kolya's transgressions against your people. I'm willing to go in unarmed as your prisoner, until you and Dr. Weir are convinced of my sincerity."
"Thanks, but I'm not big on taking prisoners."
"He's talking to me, Rodney." Sheppard gazed for a while at this intriguing version of Kolya. "Okay, it's a deal. You get my team out of that compound and safely to the gate, and we'll take you with us."
Between the two military leaders, a quick plan was devised. It involved a lot of stealthy creeping around and a lot of running. It also involved all three of them. "Um, 'scuse me?" Rodney said, raising a hand. "Don't you think it would be best if I waited out here as the lookout or something? Inside, I'm just going to slow you down with this foot."
"Yeah, great idea. Then when you're inevitably found by one of the Kolya's, they'll have a hostage, and we can have just one more hurdle to jump."
"Right, because it's an absolute given that I would be caught. You know, Colonel, I would expect even you to be able to grasp the physics of how much faster two able-bodied men can travel if they're not burdened with a man using a primitive crutch. I just… What are you doing?"
Sheppard had pulled a Wraith stunner, which Rodney hadn't even realized he was carrying, and aimed it upward, apparently at a tree branch. He pulled the trigger, stood up, and used the end of his P-90 to swat at something in the tree. It fell to the ground with a soft plop, and he picked it up, holding it out for Rodney to see.
It looked a lot like a beehive.
"Okay, so," Rodney said, leaning away from the inert lump of potential gasping death. "Last one inside the compound buys lunch."