Hold On
…Chapter One…
A/N … Hello everyone, hope you are all well? For those waiting on an update to 'Torment of a Man', it will happen sometime soon– it is half written, just couldn't get this wee story out of my head. Hope you like it?...
SGA SGA SGA
"Hold on!"
Instead of reaching its intended destination, the powerful wind buffeted the communication and its curling fingers diluted the shrill sound until it literally vanished into thin air and did not offer any promise to the one who needed to know that he was not alone. That help was coming for him. That some sort of aid was coming. The owner of the voice gulped down his last bit of saliva and endeavoured to continue his rescue; disappointed that his words had not strengthened the weakening man. Gaining his position was going to be precarious enough without the elements now turning against them. That, and the physical state of them both in varying degrees of strength; one of which knowingly, with miserable failings, had lead an almost sedentary enough lifestyle, albeit with bursts of energy that situations brought forth; but knowing that an occasional lack of sleep also blunted energy. Now, the latter had to step up a gear and be the one who established the lead in their survival and from what he saw of the other man, he had to hurry before it was too late.
SGA SGA SGA
SGA SGA SGA
SGA SGA SGA
Funny how a simple weather anomaly could give birth to a heightened sense of excitement in all the different departments on Atlantis. It had happened only a few hours earlier and already the entire city had something new to talk about this day.
John Sheppard walked with his usual swagger towards the many who stood out on the different balconies of the floating city and stood still beside some of the science team, raising an eyebrow along with everyone else while they watched the highly colourful twirling dance of light and colours as they swirled out on the ocean and occasionally tickled the perfect blue sky that seemed bluer than normal.
"Wha…?"
Several 'shushing' noises and finger tips to mouths bombarded him from all sides until he caught a smirk from Teyla who had obviously also had been on the receiving end of an unfinished question. Sheppard sidled up to her, his face amused and gently pulled her elbow until she in turn grabbed his and pointed downwards in the tower where they were standing, and lower still to the water below where a smaller swirl of colours was just dissipating enough to leave behind a glowing, glutinous creature that was unlike anything Sheppard had seen before – although he did think they looked like these creatures that had covered Han Solo's Millennium Falcon in the Star War films, as big as they were.
A loud splash and gasps and the two friends were treated to the dance break up and several individual ones leap up in the sky only to dive under the surface, changing the colour of the water to molten rainbows.
"Just watch!" Teyla instructed Sheppard in a quiet voice – she had learned earlier not to speak out loud at these times.
So Sheppard; vaguely hanging onto amused, watched as some rainbow like ribbons darted towards Atlantis and recoiled when one or more burst from the blue and land onto the great city, pulsating a light show under the skin in small circles.
"I…I don't know what to make of this." Sheppard said in a quiet whisper, deferring to the greater amount.
"Nor do I..." Teyla equalled the volume. "…but, on one hand I hear the science team want to explain away that the weather anomaly has followed the sea creatures, and then on the other, the biologists want to capture one of the creatures to study it and pronounce the two are not entwined." She smiled and Sheppard's matched hers with a building sense of 'geek versus geek' about to get out of hand.
Feeling a need to have some semblance of order restored, Sheppard tapped the first scientist nearest to him on his shoulder and asked him in a normal voice if he knew of any sign that the huge creatures were damaging the buildings.
"I do not think so Colonel, in fact, they seem quite docile and are only staying for short periods before going beneath the surface again."
A biologist came forth. "It is surprising we have not encountered them before Colonel, I mean we have been here for years and there has been no sightings of these creatures before. They exude a strength that is quite unique to other creatures who live under water."
Sheppard waited on the end of the sentence but it was not forthcoming and now, drat it, he was curious. "And…"
The small man pushed his glasses back further on his nose. "Oh yes, um, sorry…how are they surviving out of the water at all for short periods in the open air?"
"Well, you tell me."
"Um, it may be obvious…?" But the sarcastic tone, too reminiscent of Rodney's earlier deference to anybody not of Mensa material, had now got Sheppard annoyed and placed both hands on his hips before he turned to look at the now cowering biologist who thankfully took the hint. "Well, I am no oceanographer or marine biologist but surely if we have not seen them before now then they must have come a distance to be here, perhaps in the storm's strong winds, as they would have come up for air long before now if they had been here all this time and we would have spotted them."
This made sense to Sheppard and he curtly nodded at the smaller man before striding off, Teyla following him trying not to laugh.
Sheppard couldn't help have a twinkle in his eye as, when out of ear shot of the others watching the ocean, he stopped walking and ducked his head down to look at Teyla with a hardly contained smile. "I don't know about you but I am out of my depth with these guys."
Teyla laughed but drew him to another solitary balcony and pointed down, but to the left this time.
Sheppard scrunched up his face but looked to the space and gasped in surprise.
There, hanging from some netting was Ronon, knife in mouth and ropes hanging from his side like some mountaineer conquering an unchartered height, within reach of one of the creatures.
Sheppard quickly tapped his ear.
"Ronon, what are you doing?"
"Samples." His short response came, muffled by his knife."
"On whose orders?"
"Mine, actually."
Sheppard whipped his head around to find Woolsey looking faintly amused beside him along with a smug looking Rodney.
"Why?" Sheppard asked wrinkling his nose.
"Well actually I can help you out there Sheppard." Rodney said, bypassing Richard Woolsey, who simply sighed and closed his eyes.
"Go on." Sheppard braced himself.
"Energy readings. They are giving out some sort of energy reading, so I asked Ronon if he could take a recording of the sound that they are transmitting, and…"
"A recording?"
"And a sample of their skin?" Woolsey interjected at last.
Sheppard threw up his hands. "Actually, unless there is a threat to Atlantis or anyone on it, I'm not interested."
"We knew you would say that so we didn't bother to hold a meeting first. Sorry if you feel a little left out."
"No you aren't Rodney, but frankly you are correct, I really don't care."
"Why is there a net there anyway?" Teyla asked, suddenly curious.
"The biologists' idea. Thought the creatures might need some support. They did not, but, um…Ronon seems to be making use of it." Woolsey said and Sheppard shared a small smile at the younger man's athletic capability.
"Whatever. Keep me informed if there is an actual attempt to infiltrate." Sheppard said as he took off towards his office without waiting on further speculation about the creatures capabilities.
Funny how, a day can start off like any other one but end up so differently from its beginning.
SGA SGA SGA
Sheppard had put up with paperwork for a few hours, so when his stomach rumbled and coffee was crying out to him all the way from the kitchen, he closed his laptop and made his way to get some sustenance, avoiding any person that remotely looked like a scientist. Sick of them as he was.
He must have needed fluids more than he thought, as suddenly he weaved as he walked and had to hold onto the wall for a moment to steady himself. A bout of nausea threatened and light-headedness joined the party. When one knee hit the floor hard, Sheppard struggled to maintain control of the rest of his limbs and suddenly he fell face first down onto the cold marble, and all he could do then was breathe.
There was nobody else beside him but he could hear distant noises and he was growing increasingly worried at not only his own health, but of everyone else when suddenly it went deathly quiet. Sheppard lay there panting, trying to get his breath and finally managed to raise a leg up and pushed down with one foot to turn himself over onto his back, where he continued to pant fast until he managed to slow it down and lie staring at the ceiling, wondering what on earth had happened.
A sound to his right caught his attention and through an open balcony door, Sheppard caught sight of Ronon clambering over the balcony wall only to stop briefly when he caught sight of his friend lying still on the floor. Sheppard watched the query fleet over his face but he managed to convey to Ronon to remain silent with his eyes.
Ronon was fast to catch on and quickly made his way over to his fallen friend, worry etched on his face. Sheppard soon felt his broad hand on his chest and another hand on his forehead.
It was a struggle to speak and move, but eventually he grasped Ronon's raised wrist. "Not…sick." He ground out "…noises, downstairs. Check...out." His head fell back down but it was all Ronon needed to know and with a pat on Sheppard's shoulder he left him behind to investigate.
SGA SGA SGA
Carson really hated the idea of the poor creatures outside Atlantis being displaced from their home and listened intently to the scientists' findings on them that filtered their way to him.
"Are there more out there?" He asked Marie.
"Seemingly, But I have not yet checked them out."
"Nor me lass."
Mari studied his face for a moment and knew the doctor was eager to see them for himself, so…"Why don't you go up top and have a looksee?"
"Do you think I should? It is quiet in here today, Colonel Sheppard's team are not off world." He joked. "Major Lorne is a couple of days away until his team comes back."
Marie smiled at that, knowing what he meant. "Go!" She encouraged.
"Aye, I will." He bent to pick up his emergency medical backpack.
"You will not need that." Marie said.
Carson tapped his nose. "Got a feeling. These creatures might need me somehow."
Marie smirked but let it go and watched as Carson took a transporter to the upper levels of Atlantis where the best views of the light show would be over the water.
He exited the transporter and opened one of the large windows to breathe in the fresh air, so missing in the depths of the Infirmary.
SGA SGA SGA
Down in Woolsey's office, Rodney and Teyla suddenly had to catch Richard as he fell to the ground in a seemingly dreamlike state. The weight of him, however was too much for them, as they suddenly felt themselves joining him in some horror situation they had no control over. Teyla turned her head to see everyone dropping like flies and looking at Rodney, he shared her startled look.
Rodney tried to ask questions but it was too difficult to open his mouth; so mute and paralysed, he could only pant quickly trying to breathe, watching Teyla and Woolsey do the same thing.
A shadow appeared in his vision and he looked up to see Ronon, standing strong and healthy, before he reached down to pat his head.
"Woolsey, Rodney if you can understand me, Sheppard…everyone, they have all dropped down and can't move like yourselves. Blink twice if you can hear me."
They were dazed and dizzy but had heard the man so they blinked twice. Ronon looked to Teyla and she also blinked twice.
"What will I do?" Ronon dropped one knee down beside Woolsey.
At that the nightmare scenario they all dreaded happened – the Gate started to spin by itself and claxons could be heard crying out in warning around the gate room and beyond.
Ronon cried out in warrior mode and brought his blaster up to his chest as the last chevron was engaging and the blue puddle came forth uninvited.
He ran towards it, jumping over fallen but conscious military men and gate-room personnel, with the intent on shooting the first person that stepped foot into his adoptive home and threatened his friends' lives.
He didn't have to wait less than a minute when a very tall, slim man dressed in what looked like pale beige fish scales walked calmly into Atlantis and was obviously glad it had been easy to access. The sight of a very angry, grizzly satedan was a surprise but he was prepared and within a blink, his arm whipped out straight and Ronon found his wrists to be suddenly brought together by a moving metal cuff that locked with a slap of metal on metal until it stopped and made him drop his blaster, the pain in his hands being too much. More men came forward dressed in leather, unlike their leader, and pointed long weapons at him that sizzled blue at the end. Ronon stood straight and stared the leader out. He may have been captured just now, but this was not over.
The slim man smiled at Ronon with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face.
"Easy." He said at last.
"Who are you?" Ronon grunted through clenched teeth.
"Perhaps the new owners of this majestic city." He cocked his head to the side. "How has he not been incapacitated?" He jerked his head in the direction of a worker as he came to his side.
"I do not know Klen. He should be."
"Make sure he does not cause any trouble and bring all these people here together."
Ronon was made to sit on the floor and with so many of the intruders pointing their crackling weapons at him he had to just bide his time until he could attack, but for now, he watched helplessly as all in the vicinity were dragged to be beside him. His eyes continued to flick over Rodney and Teyla, but he was relieved to see they seemed alert and not hurt, just unable to move.
He had to hand it to the intruders, they seemed to know what they were doing.
After 38 minutes, they had witnessed many men and woman come into Atlantis and his head grew heavy with the thoughts rampaging his mind of what may happen. He heard reports to the leader that more Atlanteans' had been secured and wondered where they had put Sheppard.
SGA SGA SGA
"Colonel?"
Carson had heard the gate open from a distance away and brought his head in from the window with a jerk; as far as he was aware there was no-one off world, making him wary indeed.
He walked quickly around the corner and saw Sheppard lying on the ground.
"Colonel?" He repeated as he brought his bag round, allowing a moments figurative pat on the back for himself and slipped the portable oxygen mask inside it over Sheppard's nose and mouth, and held his shoulder seeing that his eyes were open and aware.
"Breathe it in slowly John. That's right, slowly." Carson regarded him for a couple of minutes. "Can you hear me?"
Sheppard managed a slow nod of his head, the oxygen making his mind clearer by the minute.
"Sit…rep…"
"I dunno what's happening! I had my head out the window when I heard the gate engage."
Sheppard now struggled a bit to move, so Carson supported his body as he managed to get into a sitting position although he held the mask tight to his face.
"Are you in any pain?"
Sheppard shook his head. "Can hardly… move…getting…better."
"What the hell has happened? Sounds like we have been infiltrated."
Sheppard's heart sunk at the news and strangled out a grunt that in no way resembled any word Carson understood. The fierce glare in his eyes though was something he had witnessed up close before, so he could guess quite correctly the frustration this was causing the Military Commander.
Carson held onto Sheppard's arm as he tried to stand, the oxygen doing its thing. Sheppard plucked the mask off as he stood straight, feeling stronger and whipped the plastic strap over his head, handing it back to Carson.
"Thanks, Doc. Get yourself somewhere safe." Carson made to move away with him but Sheppard was adamant. "That's an order Carson. I may need you to see to every one later."
"Don't be daft lad, you can hardly stand. Let me go with you."
"Carson I do not have time for this. Go, NOW." Again, the steely eyes sought his caring ones and he nodded his head. Sheppard took off away from him towards the gate and tried not to stagger, but pleased to hear Carson's retreating feet. The oxygen and time had helped him enormously but now he had a job to do. Save his city and everyone on it.
SGA SGA SGA
In taking over Atlantis, the intruders had been organised, swift and incredibly professional. In other circumstances, Ronon would have been very impressed, but this was too dangerous a situation and the people were unknown to him and obviously Teyla, whose confused expression kept seeking out his. He slowly shook his head and when she was feeling stronger she shifted over shakily to lean on his thigh and stare with slow movements of her head at his manacled wrists. He lifted them up for her to see and she shook her head. "Ronon…"
"Silence." The man called Klen announced and they all sat glued to his unusual face. He walked up to Woolsey. "You are the Commander here are you not?"
Woolsey nodded, proud and willing to take on the title.
"You will instruct your people to remain where they are and make no sudden movements. Once we take what we want, we may leave your fancy city after all. It all depends on you. It may take a few hours or it may take a few days, that's up to everyone here also. You will be given food and water and something to lie on. Your Infirmary will remain as it is, your people can work there. We have no wish for any-one to be hurt unless they cross me but there will be some of my men there at all times to watch over them – do you understand?"
Woolsey nodded again and then risked his voice with a short. "Yes!"
Klen laughed and started shaking his finger in his face. "No talking, remember."
He then turned to Ronon. "You. Looks like I may have a problem with you. I will ask how you escaped the gas we pumped into your city later, but for now…be a good boy and sit and look after your friends." He then motioned for a man to come forward.
"Gillam. Are we secure?"
"Klen, yes."
Klen looked towards Ronon once more, obviously wanting a fight with the man, and took off his coat made of scales. He was even thinner underneath with just a shirt on but one of his men handed him a heavy leather coat and took away the strange fish scale-like garment.
Dressed now in leather Klen done a 360 and surveyed his prize. He walked over to one of the marines and snatched his P90 from his floppy hands. The marine stared him down but Klen just laughed again at his helplessness.
"Now. How does this work, hmm?" With a sudden speed in movement he turned to the marine and pressed the button but nothing happened, except a marine that refused to flinch.
"Ah, does this thing have a safety button…?"
"Klen, on the stairs…" one of his men shouted suddenly.
Klen spun and caught sight of a stray Atlantean creeping towards him. He wasted no time and proved to the marine that he already knew about the safety button by pulling the trigger into a fast spray of bullets, all aimed at the man in black on the top of the stairs.
In slow motion the bullets left the gun and several hit its target.
In slow motion the target staggered backwards with the impact, blood spraying out from several wounds.
In slow motion the black clad soldier fell backwards and through the stained glass window and outside into empty Atlantis air, his arms flailing everywhere trying to make purchase on anything to halt his journey down, but there was nothing to grab.
In slow motion Ronon, Rodney and Teyla disobeyed Klen's command to remain silent by calling out a name in unison, "SHEPPARD!"
SGA SGA SGA
TO BE CONTINUED…..