Of Duty, Atonement, and Redemption—Chapter Fourteen
By SGC Gategirl

xxx

For warnings, comments, summary, etc, please see part one.

xxx

Major Lorne hefted his vest, attempting to shove his arm into one of the holes while trying not to drop his weapon at the same time. When Colonel Sheppard said 'move' in that tone of voice, you did exactly that.

Granted, he'd been in the middle of lunch, but that didn't matter. You didn't ask your commanding officer to "give you a few minutes to finish your sandwich" when he was barking orders.

So, he'd hustled.

He was nearly at the doors of the jumper bay when Sheppard's voice came over the comm. "Lorne?"

"Sir?"

"I need you to go get McKay."

"Sir?"

"He claims to need help with some of his gear," Sheppard said and Lorne swore he could see the other man rolling his eyes as well. "Either that or we have to wait while he makes two trips."

"I'll go, sir. Did he say where he was?"

"Science lab, I think."

"I'll find him. Lorne out."

Making a complete turnaround, Lorne aimed toward the closest transporter, tapping his headset on the way. "Lorne to McKay."

The reply came quickly and with as much annoyance as he thought. "I'm working as fast as I can, Major. You can tell Colonel I-Want-To-Leave-Right-This-Minute I'll be there when I get there. And make sure he doesn't leave without me."

"He's not leaving. I'm not rushing you. I'm trying to help. Where are you?"

Pausing outside the transport, he waited for the scientist's reply. "Oh, really? My lab. I already have everything I need from the main lab downstairs."

"I'll be there in five. Start packing up."

"I thought you weren't going to rush me."

"Consider it a nudge, McKay. Five minutes."

Clicking off the channel, Lorne fastened his weapon to the front of his tactical vest before stepping into the small compartment. A few moments later and he was on the other side of the city, a few paces from the lab.

You had to love this technology.

He could hear the thumps and thuds coming from the room long before he reached it. Was the scientist tearing it apart to find something?

Rounding the final corner, he came to an abrupt stop at the doorway. Apparently, McKay really was taking the room apart.

"What are you looking for?"

Rodney glanced up from where he was crouched, a scowl on his face, before turning right back to the contents of the cabinet. "Something I need obviously."

"Like?"

McKay sighed deeply, twisting once again to glare at Lorne. "Like a scientific device that will link to the puddle jumper's system to allow me to scan very specifically for cloaking technology."

"You can find cloaked ships?"

"If it gives off an energy signature I can find it, yes. It just takes longer to locate some stuff than others, especially if it's a moving object. Stationary ones are much easier."

"Where did you see it last?"

"Here," he said, his right arm waving about, the gesturing encompassing the entire room—the entire, partially overturned room. McKay turned back to the cabinet, digging in deeper, his voice muffled. "Look, I didn't think I was going to need it right away, and especially not immediately, so I put it away. Somewhere safe."

"Too safe," Lorne said, moving in, stepping around a few piles. He poked at a few things with one finger, moving them less than an inch on the top of the workbench. McKay, of course, heard the small shove.

"Don't touch anything, Major. You and that gene of yours can be dangerous if left unsupervised."

"Thanks, McKay," he said, pulling his hands back, grabbing onto the P90 instead. "I didn't know you cared."

The physicist dragged his head out from the cabinet and closed the door, rising to his feet with a groan. He turned, leaning against the counter. "What?"

"Nothing," Lorne said with a half smile. "Seriously, though, what else were you using the same day? Another laptop? Some other strange alien device?"

A far-away look came into McKay's eyes and then suddenly, his fingers were snapping and he was off, headed directly to a drawer behind the large workbench. He was muttering to himself, words Lorne couldn't catch. Pulling back the drawer, he rummaged around inside and seconds later pulled out the palm-sized device with a smile. "There it is."

"So my suggestion helped?"

"No. I remembered I had another one in the drawer," he replied, absently, his eyes drifting over several of the piles on the floor before finally resting on Lorne. "So, why are you here?"

Lorne closed his eyes briefly and counted to three. Any longer and McKay might actually disappear. When he opened them again, the scientist was standing in the same place, his frown actually deepening. "Are you okay, Major? Do I need to send you to see Carson? Or maybe it's just time for your nap."

"I'm here to help you get all your crap to the jumper."

"Oh. Then, I guess I'm ready," he said, bending down to stuff the device in one of the packs on the floor.

Lorne aimed for the nearest one, McKay's tactical vest and pack from the looks of it, but was quickly ushered away.

"No, no, no. I've got that one. Here," he said, shoving the other one toward him. "Take this and that case."

Lorne rolled his eyes, but complied. Scientists.

xxx

Rodney McKay, seated behind Sheppard's pilot chair, kept his head down, his hands quickly connecting the various leads and cables to the devices he'd brought to find the energy disturbance below.

Sheppard had parked them in a low orbit figuring it would give the scientist a better overview of the planet, cover more ground. Then, he'd turned around and shot Rodney a look that said 'why haven't you found it yet? I've given you two minutes.' McKay, of course, had scowled back, but kept his mouth shut. No matter how much of a genius he was, it still took time to physically make all the needed connections.

But that didn't make Sheppard stare any less.

After about ten minutes, his nerves were wearing thin. "Watched scientist and all," Rodney commented, sing-songing under his breath.

"What?"

Shaking his head as he made the last connection, his fingers flying over the devices to get them synchronized with the jumper, he offered Sheppard a reply as he turned. "Nothing. Pull up the HUD."

A few seconds and an eye-roll later, the display appeared and Rodney began tweaking the device in his hands, his eyes going back and forth between both as he adjusted the sensors on-board to look for the specific energy signature Radek had used to find the last hidden Ancient weapons lab. All you needed was the key, apparently, and you could get in just about anywhere. That made the Ancients either stupid or lazy. Rodney wasn't sure which. A smug smile found its way to his face a moment later as the screen showed exactly what he wanted.

Almost.

Two energy disturbances.

What the…?

He glanced back down, checking the values he'd typed in from memory. No, they were right. Yanking out the small hand-held sensor, he double-checked the work Radek had done on that other planet.

No, everything was where it should be, but there was still a problem.

"McKay?"

Rodney's head snapped up, his eyes meeting Lorne's. Apparently it wasn't the first time he'd called his name. "What?"

"Problem?"

"Maybe."

"Care to enlighten us?" Sheppard asked, swiveling in his chair. Major Watson, it seemed, had decided to stay out of the conversation. Way out. He'd actually meandered to the rear of the jumper. In this particular place and time, that was about as far removed as he could get without physically flinging himself from the craft.

"Well," Rodney said, turning on the Colonel, his chin rising as he prepared for an argument, "if you would have done your job right the first time around, we wouldn't be having this conversation now would we?"

"What?"

"Look at the screen," he said, his right arm—hand still holding one of the smaller devices with wires trailing behind—gesturing toward the front of the craft. "There are not one, but two areas under this Ancient cloaking shield. And they weren't exactly a tidy race. The Ancients left their stuff behind on every planet they visited. How you failed to find any trace of Ancient technology when you were here the first time is beyond me."

Sheppard's eyes narrowed. "It's called a diplomatic mission, McKay. We were talking about trading vegetables for some basic medical training and the other niceties we normally give out to primitive agrarian societies. We weren't talking about scientifically advanced hidden alien bases."

"And you continue to miss my point. When has a primitive society actually been one? Does the name Genii ring a bell?"

"Colonel."

The quietly-spoken word actually stopped both men instantly.

Lorne waited a beat before he continued, his eyes shifting between the two of them, his body tense and still. "If you don't mind me pointing out this obvious fact…The clock's ticking."

"Yes, yes, yes, tick, tick, tick goes the clock, Major. Point taken." McKay turned back to the device he was still clutching. "Like I said before, there are two disturbances. We have to check out both of them."

Glancing up, McKay caught the tail-end of Sheppard's nod. "Fine. I'll set down in the middle of the two. Lorne, you're with McKay. I'll take Watson and head to the settlement. The other disturbance isn't far from there."

"Fine," he muttered, turning back to his devices while Lorne and Watson replied with an official 'Yes, sir.'

"Oh, and McKay?"

"What, Colonel?"

"Make sure you have two of those devices to pick up the energy reading."

"Already on it."

"Good."

The words "it's about time you did something right" hung in the air between them. McKay settled back down in his seat, trying to ignore the tension. He had a job to do and he had every intention of getting it right this time.

He had to. There was an entire city riding on him getting this one last thing right.

xxx

Landing somewhere in the middle of the two energy readings turned out to be more difficult than John Sheppard anticipated. For some reason, he wasn't in the mood to scratch the hell out of the jumper no matter how much McKay glared, his obvious displeasure of walking for any distance etched onto his face.

He finally found a clearing where he could set the jumper without causing too much damage. It was still a distance from the settlement—a good hour, but it was a good hour and a half from the second disturbance. McKay wasn't happy, but it was the best they could do. And, come to think of it, Lorne wasn't looking too pleased either.

"Are you sure we can't just drop you off and then come back for you?" McKay asked, shoving several items into his pack. "You know, just in case anything happens."

"We have ten hours before the Hive gets here. Plenty of time," John said.

"Famous last words," McKay muttered under his breath, the comment pitched just loud enough for everyone in the jumper to hear.

John shot McKay a look that clearly said 'shut up', and for once, the scientist complied—albeit with a scowl that turned into a frown as he continued to dig in his pack.

Lorne, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow at McKay's behavior. "What did you lose?"

"Apart from my sanity?" he commented, glancing toward the Major. "You don't have any PowerBars, do you?"

He nodded, digging into a pocket and pulling out two—both chocolate. "I saw them on the workbench. Figured you wanted them."

"Thank you," McKay breathed, grabbing the offered bars. One he shoved into his pack, the other was quickly unwrapped, half gone with one bite.

Sheppard shook his head as he triggered the release for the rear door, easily sliding by the two men to join Watson who was standing at the back.

"Keep in radio contact. I want to know the minute you find something," he said, turning to Lorne and McKay, waiting for their acknowledgement before he continued. "We don't have a lot of time, so this is a 'get in, get out' type of mission for both of us. As soon as I get to the settlement, I'll send the villagers to the gate. That'll give us enough time to check out what's under that cloak and get back to the jumper. We'll swing by to get you and then get these people to safety. Understood?"

"So that gives us, what, an hour at the base?" McKay commented, his mouth turned down in a scowl. "That's barely enough time."

"It has to be. As it is, I'm not comfortable with the margin of time we have."

"Fine, fine," McKay said, waving his hand absently as Lorne helped him snap his pack into place. The PowerBar, John noted, was already long gone, the wrapper shoved into the side pocket of the bag staying on the jumper.

He glanced around, holding each man's gaze. It was a full minute before he nodded and spoke. "Let's move out."

xxx

Radek Zelenka twirled around on his lab stool, using his feet to propel him across the expanse in the middle of the room to the table along the opposite wall where he had several experiments running, each of them being cataloged and watched by a different computer workstation.

Some days it was nice to be the boss.

At least he didn't have to hear about Rodney complaining about the misuse of the equipment. It wasn't his fault the programs ate up so much memory in these inferior laptops. He was still trying to convince McKay to get new ones, better ones, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Who knew a scientist like McKay could have an emotional attachment to a specific brand of equipment. One day, Radek swore he was going to bring a Mac in just to see what happened.

The insistent chime from another computer on the other side of the room drew his attention from the data he was examining, jotting down notes for when he re-ran it in a few days.

He craned his neck, trying to figure out which device was complaining, his eyes finally falling on the one Rodney had left with him. What? Had Rodney forgotten about a meeting, the reminder message popping up now? It would be normal.

Sighing, he rolled across the room, sliding to a halt in front of the computer. Touching the screen, it sprung to life, various warnings and dialogue boxes in place of the single window that had been there for the past several hours.

His eyes slowly widened as he read the words they contained, his fingers keying the commands to clear the screen so he could pull up the latest sensor data.

The data didn't lie.

Grabbing the laptop in his hands, he turned for the door and ran.

xxx

"It's been a rough few days," Carson Beckett said, slumping into the guest chair in Doctor Weir's office, a limp smile on his face, "but it looks like we have a cure."

"You do?" Elizabeth said, glancing up from her computer, her eyes open wide in surprise before a pleased and relieved expression—complete with soft, grateful eyes—replaced it.

"I started Shelly with it this morning and she's already showing signs of improvement. She's not out of the woods just yet, but from her progress I'm very optimistic."

"Carson, that's wonderful. How about the other patients?"

"They've already been given a dose and the lab is manufacturing more. I've started vaccinating everyone who doesn't have the gene, which," he said, rising to his feet as his hand slid into his pocket, "is another reason why I'm here."

He pulled out a small vial and syringe and moved around Weir's desk. "Making house calls, doctor?" she asked, pulling off her jacket so he could have better access to her arm.

"I started with my staff along with Ronon and Teyla and some of the others who we think were first infected. But I wanted to make sure you got an early dose," he said, quickly and efficiently giving her the vaccine before returning to the chair. "Once we have a healthy quantity, we're going to have to send someone to the mainland to give everyone there an injection."

"I agree," Weir said, shrugging her jacket back on, tugging at the hem to adjust it. "I'm sure one of your nurses can handle it."

"Aye, they should. I'll probably send Anne and a few others. They need to get to know the Athosians better in any case."

A shuffle of feet drew their attention to the control room and one Radek Zelenka running full-tilt toward Elizabeth's office. Out of breath, his glasses barely hanging on the tip of his nose, a laptop clutched in his arms.

"We have a problem."

The words, while simple, made Carson's stomach drop.

"What's wrong?" Weir asked, her frame straightening in her chair as the scientist entered the room, dropping the computer on her desk, his hands gesturing wildly to the screen. "Rodney has been running a program, analyzing the data from the sensor logs."

"Yes, I know. That's how he was able to estimate the arrival of the hive ship on M3D-218."

"Yes, but there is new data now; information Rodney did not have."

"Radek, what are you trying to say?" Carson asked, already knowing the answer.

"The Wraith ship is already there. Now."

"I thought we had twelve hours" Weir said, her voice level and calm but he could tell that it was forced and only came out that way through much practice.

"Twelve has become three."

Carson could feel the blood draining from his face. "We have a team on that planet."

Radek turned, nodding solemnly. "We do."

xxx

"What do you mean you're not going to leave?" John Sheppard stood in front of Soony, the Mazurkian leader, his eyes wide in surprise and disbelief.

"It is simple," Soony said, standing tall, his face calm and confidant. "Our people have survived the past cullings and they will survive once again. Please, you must leave now. You are the ones who are in danger, not us."

"I know for a fact that you don't have any kind of technology to destroy the Wraith—I looked the last time we were here. And, I hate to break it to you, but there's a hive ship on the way and it's not going to pass this planet by."

"We know of the ship."

Sheppard paused, narrowing his eyes at the other man. He was silent for a full minute, finally getting the message Soony was trying to tell him. It should have been obvious from the moment he stepped in the village, but he had been more concerned with what he had to do. There was hardly anyone here. No children playing in the street, no adults in the market. Houses were quiet, no one hanging from the windows or cooking in the kitchen.

When he finally spoke, his words were hard, controlled.

"How do you know?"

"The Oracle told us."

"The Oracle?"

"Yes," Soony said, nodded emphatically, his left hand gesturing toward the woods near the great hall. "Do you wish to see?"

Sheppard exchanged a look with Watson before nodding. The pitch of his voice had lower, slowly approaching a growl. He hated surprises. "Yes. I think that would be a good idea."

As they walked through the silent village, Major Watson stepped up alongside the Mazurkian leader, asking the other pressing question on John's mind. "Sir, where has everyone gone?"

"To the caves, of course," he replied, offering a confused smile. "They have protected us for generations and they shall do so again."

"The caves?" Sheppard asked, fearing he already knew the answer.

"Yes," he answered, his hands gesturing past the village, toward the energy disturbance he still had to investigate. "A short walk from our homes is the entrance to the caves which protect us from the Wraith."

John closed his eyes briefly, wishing they'd had this discussion weeks ago.

"But what happens when the drones on the ground search the village. It's obvious someone lives here. They're bound to find you, especially now since they woke up early."

"There are always some who remain behind," Soony replied smoothly, shrugging his shoulders as if it explained it all. "We do not ask anyone to sacrifice their lives, but some—the sick, the ill, the older who lived a good life—choose this to save the rest."

John wanted to scream at the other man, to tell him that it wasn't right, wasn't fair, but any comments he may have had were cut short as Soony ducked into as nearby thatched hut, Sheppard and Watson following a few paces behind.

In the center of the room was a very Ancient-looking device, the screen glowing red in the darkened interior of the building. Stepping closer, John could make out the information scrolling across, the warning clearly evident even without fluency in Ancient, a timer in the center counting down the seconds and minutes until arrival.

Despite the incongruity of the Ancient device within this primitive room, the timer on the red screen was the most disturbing thing.

And the countdown was seconds from completion.

John turned, his eyes wide and wild. "The Wraith aren't supposed to be here for hours."

Soony tilted his head, looking from the screen to Sheppard's face. "The Oracle claims otherwise and it has never been wrong."

The scream of a dart over the village sealed their fate.

Rushing outside, John tapped his radio, knowing that he might be too far away from the rest of this team, knowing that he was at least an hour from the jumper. They were so screwed.

"McKay, Lorne, we have darts incoming."

He waited, holding his breath, the seconds lengthening into a minute.

"McKay, Lorne, please respond."

He could feel Watson at his side, waiting.

"Damn it, Rodney, answer your goddamned radio!"

Silence was his only reply.

xxx

Teyla raced into the jumper bay, Ronon on her heels. Captains Kevin Coughlin and Kathy Jansen, along with Major Micah Edison were already present, putting the jumpers through their preflight.

They were going through to the Mazurkian homeworld in an effort to rescue as many people as possible from the Wraith culling, as well as warn Colonel Sheppard of the danger if they were unaware. They'd tried to contact the off-world team, but could not get through. Doctor Weir had been reluctant to send more people to the planet, but after weighing the alternatives, had agreed, reluctantly, to allow two minimally-staffed jumpers to proceed under cloak.

Hopefully they weren't too late.

"Flight, this is Coughlin. We're go for launch," the captain said as they ran on-board, the ramp closing behind them.

A similar statement from Major Edison echoed a few seconds later through the craft's speakers as Teyla settled in the co-pilot's seat.

"Jumper Two, you are go for launch. Good luck and bring our people home safe."

"Thank you, Flight," Coughlin said, his entire body tight and tense as he finished his pre-flight list. A moment later, the jumper was rising and he entered the address for the planet. As they descended into the gateroom, they paused momentarily before accelerating through the wormhole. As soon as they were through, Coughlin activated the cloak.

After a few seconds of nothing they emerged through the gate, the sensors coming alive with data. Darts were in the air, troops on the ground, and no sign of refugees.

Leaning forward, she pressed the button that would allow her to contact the teams on the ground. "Colonel Sheppard, this is Jumper Two, please come in."

She waited, exchanging a long look with Ronon, before leaning in again. "Teyla to Sheppard, please respond." Turning to Coughlin, she pointed toward the village. "There is an area near the settlement in which we can land. Please proceed there."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied, angling the jumper to where she'd indicated, the second craft following their lead.

"Where is he?" Ronon asked.

Teyla shook her head. "I do not know."

xxx

Rodney McKay stumbled for the fifth time, more intent on the device in his hands than on where he put his feet. He grumbled a reply to Lorne who'd caught him—again—before he fell flat on his face in an undignified sprawl, like he did the first time. He could already feel the bruises forming on his shins and elbows where they'd taken the brunt of the fall. Not to mention the contusion he had on his hip from the stupid rock he'd landed on. Who would put a rock like that on a perfectly good walking path was beyond him.

"Do you actually know where you're going?" Major Lorne finally asked, irritation laced into the question. Rodney was surprised he'd lasted this long, since he could tell just from the way the Major was staring at him that he had been wondering about that for quite some time.

"Of course, I do," he replied, turning slightly to show Lorne the screen. He pointed with his left hand. "This is where we are. This is where we're going."

"So we're close," he said after a brief pause, his gaze considering the two points Rodney indicated.

"Yes," he replied, nodding slowing, enunciating. "Yes, we are close."

"Consider it a blessing I haven't asked you 'are we there yet'," Lorne snipped, rolling his eyes.

"Thank God for small favors." McKay paused mid-step, waving the device back and forth before glancing up, more trees and forest and the side of a mountain the only thing he saw. "We should be there."

"Here?"

"Yes, here. Would I have said we were there if I didn't mean here?" Rodney shook his head as he reached back to un-clip his pack. Lorne caught it before it hit the ground. Turning, he bent down, fumbling around inside of it, his fingers searching for the other small device he wanted.

"Digging for gold?"

Instead of replying, he yanked the scanner free of his pack, turning it on with a quick jab to the screen. After a few minutes of checking and double-checking the readings, he nodded. "We're here. I think there should be an opening or something a few feet away," he said, walking a few steps to the left, his eyes on the screen. He nodded a moment later.

"Yes, here."

Lorne unclipped his P90, moving past him and stopping a few feet away as he peered into the forest. "It doesn't look any different. Are you sure it's right?"

"Yes, I'm right. I'm guessing it's able to project an image of the forest to keep people away, but the signature at this location is a bit different than the rest."

"Different as in…"

"Different."

Lorne sighed. "How come no one stumbled across this before?"

McKay shrugged. "Maybe no one's been out this way. Maybe it only allows ATA gene carriers in. Once we go in I can find out for sure."

"I'll check it out first."

"No, no, no," McKay replied, shaking his head emphatically. "I'm going in there. You can stay out here and guard the entrance."

"McKay," Lorne said, narrowing his eyes and taking a few steps toward McKay, forcing him to pace backward accordingly or else be trapped in the other man's personal space—of which the Major was having no issues violating. The next words, however, were said in a concise and serious tone. Rodney knew immediately that there would be no way to change the Major's mind. He wondered absently if the military had a special course for intimidating people. If they did, Lorne and Sheppard were at the top of the class.

"Until I give you the all clear you are not taking one step in that base. Am I clear?"

McKay nodded, his mouth and brain not connecting in order to produce any kind of verbal comeback.

"Good. I'll keep in radio contact and let you know what I find."

Setting his shoulders, Lorne turned and eyed the invisible doorway. Taking a breath, he stepped forward and vanished.

They'd found it.

xxx

John Sheppard ran through the forest, Major Watson on his heels. They crashed through the undergrowth, sacrificing stealth for speed. Even racing down the same path they'd traveled an hour ago would still take them too long.

Every few minutes he keyed his radio, trying to get McKay or Lorne to answer. He knew they were blowing their cover with the communication and the mad rush through the undergrowth, but he had to get to his team and the jumper was the quickest way. He was kicking himself for leaving the jumper so far away from everything.

"Lorne, McKay, please respond," he huffed, trying hard not to lose his footing as they crossed one of the rockier parts of the trail, where one false step could send him tumbling down the incline on the right.

"…herd please respond."

That was definitely not McKay or Lorne. And what the hell was wrong with their radios? They'd worked fine the last time they were here. Maybe it was something with the Oracle that was disrupting the RF transmissions. What a time to discover a freakin' Ancient device that did wooky things to their communications systems. He'd have to ask the eggheads, but that was as good a guess as any since the active Oracle was the only thing that had changed—as far as he knew.

He glanced over his shoulder, catching Watson's gaze. The other man shrugged, his eyes widening a little.

"Teyla?"

"Colonel Sheppard," she replied, relief evident in her voice. "We have been trying to reach you since we gated through, but are experiencing difficulties with the radio. We need to warn you: the Wraith are here."

"We know," he said through clenched teeth, slowing his pace as he tried to concentrate on the voice in his ear. "Soony has an early warning system. His people are headed for the hills and a nice little bunker the Ancients set up. They're protected."

"Where are you?"

"Trying to get back to the jumper."

"Is that wise?"

"McKay and Lorne are out there, Teyla. They don't know."

"Colonel, there are Wraith on the ground and darts in the air."

"Can you get to them?"

"The jumpers' sensors aren't calibrated," Major Edison broke in. "We don't know what we're looking for."

"Can you find us?" Sheppard asked, finally stopping near the edge of an open clearing.

"We are tracking your signal and will be there in several minutes" Edison replied. "We were flying to the village, hoping to find you there."

"Good. I have a calibrated hand scanner and I think I can point the way." He paused, knowing Elizabeth wouldn't have sent another team without reason. "Why are you here?"

"Doctor Zelenka alerted Doctor Weir as to the change in the hive ship's flight path and projected arrival time," Teyla answered this time. "We were…concerned about you and the Mazurkians."

"How much longer?"

"Right on top of you now, sir." Edison replied, but when John glanced up sky met his gaze.

"Teyla, have Edison land here."

"I shall have Captain Coughlin land," she replied and a brief gust of wind rose in the forest and John knew the jumper was landing. A moment later, Teyla stepped into view, waving them forward.

"Coughlin? Ronon?" he said as soon as he stepped in, his eyes wandering between them. "Where's Edison?"

"In the other jumper. We thought we were evacuating a village, sir," Coughlin said, shrugging as he keyed the rear door to rise once again. "Sir, do you want to take the stick?"

"Yes," John said, striding forward, handing his weapon to Teyla as he slid into the chair Coughlin vacated. A quick glance at the HUD and he scowled. Grabbing the controls, he got the jumper in the air even before everyone was seated. Clicking on the communication system, he radioed the second jumper. "Edison, stick with me. We need to find McKay and Lorne now."

"We're with you, sir," he said, hesitation in his voice. "But I've been scanning the area and I'm only picking up one life sign—and that's still a distance from here. All the rest of the life signs are Wraith."

"We need to get there now."

xxx

Rodney McKay glanced at the device in his hand, wishing Lorne would hurry. He'd been in there several long minutes already and hadn't been very forthcoming with information. He needed to get in there sooner rather than later.

It was a risk, he knew, but one that was well worth it—but everything hung upon him actually getting into the base. He keyed his radio.

"Major, what's the hold-up?"

"I'm still investigating, McKay. Keep your pants on," he replied, the hushed words hissed.

"Like I'd take them off here," he muttered shaking his head.

"I'll let you know when everything's clear. Lorne out."

McKay rolled his eyes, but didn't argue. It was nice enough outside—not too hot, not too cold—for a puke-green planet. Even the forest was quiet, no pesky rodents racing through the undergrowth scaring the crap out of him.

He turned, moving to go back to his pack to take a last look at the Ancient device while he had a moment, but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw several Wraith drones standing in front of him.

They weren't supposed to be here yet. He wasn't ready. Where the hell had they come from?

He reached for his radio, but the lead Wraith was faster, the stunner raised in seconds. McKay's scream ended even before it could begin, as white light flashed over him and the sickly-green sky winked out.

He didn't even feel his body hit the ground.

xxx

"Sir," Edison said, his voice tight with tension and stress.

"What?" Sheppard snapped, trying to coax a little more speed from the jumper.

"We have several darts approaching the coordinates of the life sign. And I believe the ground troops are already there."

"Can you get through?" Sheppard asked Teyla who was continually broadcasting on several channels.

"Nothing yet."

"Keep trying."

Teyla nodded, her expression carefully neutral. "Doctor McKay, Major Lorne, please respond."

xxx

Major Lorne moved carefully through the hallway of the Ancient base, his mind comparing what he remembered from the Antarctic outpost and other installations they'd visited in Pegasus. It was all very similar—in style, architecture, and design.

The main corridor through which he entered was long, damp, and cool, ending in a fork. He'd investigated the right one, proceeding along until he reached a small room, the walls covered in screens and consoles.

Not even five minutes into his exploration, McKay was already on the radio asking what was taking so long. After putting him off for a few minutes, he hurried his pace, knowing it wouldn't be much longer until the scientist called again.

Retracing his steps, Lorne headed down the other corridor, this one longer than the first, several rooms and additional hallways branching out.

"…orne…..pond."

He paused mid-step, the static on his radio startling him. But it also didn't sound like McKay.

Tapping his radio unit, he replied, slowing moving back up toward the entrance. "This is Lorne. McKay that you?"

He waited a full minute, before trying again. "McKay? You reading me?"

When he didn't get a reply, he started to run.

xxx

"Colonel, I'm picking up a faint transmission," Edison said, his voice loud in the jumper speakers.

"Can you boost the signal?" Sheppard asked, his eyes on the HUD and the horizon as he tried to avoid the darts in the area. It was getting harder and harder to do.

"Jansen's working on it. Give her a minute," Edison replied a second before Lorne's voice filled the crafts.

"McKay, this is Lorne, please respond."

John jabbed the transmission button. "Lorne, this is Sheppard. We're approaching from the village. What's happening down there?"

"I've lost contact with McKay."

"There are Wraith in the area, Major."

"They're here?"

"Major," Sheppard growled.

"I'll know more in a minute," Lorne said.

"Sir," Edison said, breaking through. "There's a dart on approach. Wait…make that several darts."

xxx

Lorne raced through the final section of the Ancient's base, not fully realizing how far he'd gotten from the entrance. He'd apparently been out of touch for longer than he thought.

Turning the final corner, he could see daylight.

Just outside the mouth of the tunnel, he could see the spilled remains of McKay's pack, its valuable contents spread across the ground, the life signs detector only a few inches from McKay's outstretched and unmoving hand.

He nearly sprinted out into the open, but paused when five Wraith drones stepped around the scientist's body, circling it.

A second later a white culling beam whisked them all away.

"McKay!"

The pack and its contents were the only things left behind.

xxx

"Sir," Edison called out. "All life signs in the coordinates are gone."

"Gone?" Sheppard could feel his stomach freefalling and it had nothing to do with the inertial dampeners.

"Colonel Sheppard." Lorne's voice cut in, defeat laced heavily into its tone. "McKay's gone. Culled. You need to find the dart."

Beside Sheppard, Coughlin was shaking his head, his eyes firmly focused on the sensor screen. "There were four darts in the area that passed overhead. It could be any one of them."

"We can't let it get away," Teyla replied from her perch in one of the chairs.

"You have a one in four shot, sir," Coughlin said, finally glancing up through the front window.

"And we can't shoot it down. We can't take the risk of losing McKay," Sheppard hissed through gritted teeth, his insides clenching tight.

There was nothing they could do.

McKay was gone.

xxx

TBC