Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Four

All eyes had gone to the entrance by now, Teyla frowned as she tried to force her body round but she found this task very difficult. McKay knelt down next to her and shook his head slowly, eyes wide in a classic expression of shock. "What rock did he crawl from under?" he snapped under his breath bitterly. Ford was the only one still on his feet, he shuffled uncomfortably and glanced to Sheppard, ready and willing to follow any order that was given to him. Sheppard glanced to Ford who had his own weapon trained on the man; he gave a small smirk then back to the entrance.

"Is that anyway to welcome an old friend?" the smooth talking voice replied.

"Kolya," Sheppard snapped back, not relaxing one inch. Commander Acastus Kolya straightened his jacket and glanced to his left, making sure Sheppard knew he had plenty of help on his side. He had let this man get the better of him twice before, Kolya ensured it was never going to happen again. Silveas had mentioned something about the safety of his people.

"Major Sheppard," Kolya said politely then cast his eye over the other ones. "Ms Emmagan, Lieutenant…" His eyes landed on McKay and he gave a sneer. "Doctor McKay." McKay lowered his head and tried to refrain from even looking at the man, instead he paid attention to Sheppard, hoping that he'd find a way to pull off something and get them out of this unwelcome situation. The Genii had been nothing but trouble since they had met them.

"Silveas," Kolya said walking round the table, acutely aware that Sheppard still had his weapon aimed at him. "You have done well, the Bre'tar are now under the protection of the Genii. We will provide you with all you need." Ford lowered his weapon, trying to regain his focus and stay on his feet but he was struggling. He regretted that he was in this position and dropped the P90 before going down to his knees. Sheppard glanced to him, a brief flash of regret in his eyes.

"I'm sorry sir," Ford replied quietly leaning forward, his arms felt extremely heavy. Sheppard forced himself to look away and back to Kolya. "What the Hell do you want, Kolya?" The man gave a slight smirk as he walked back to his original position, taking up a glass of water and having a sip. He was taking his time and savouring the moment.

"I want a lot of things Major," he said staring at him.

"Doesn't everyone," Sheppard replied, his trigger finger itching. Just one lucky shot was all he would need, then again there was no telling how many men Kolya had with him and they could easily just shoot Teyla, McKay and Ford. Point blank and with no resistance. Failure was not an option. He wasn't going to risk loosing more people to this man.

Kolya just gave him the same look a stern father would their child. "It would help if you lowered your weapon."

"And give up my only means of defence?" Sheppard said, taking a step back, just daring him to make one wrong move.

"Please," he asked with a sardonic smile. The P90 was just aching to be fired; just one well placed bullet and this would finally all be over. After all, Sheppard had promised Kolya that if he ever saw him again he would kill him. Maybe it was time to act on that promise.

"I shall not ask again Major." Kolya wasn't growing impatient, he had waited a long time for this moment and he would wait longer if it were required. Sheppard didn't make any effort to lower his weapon; the sensation to just shoot him was extremely overwhelming. "Very well," he continued with a quiet voice, he reached into his equipment pack and pulled out a knife with an handle, intricately detailed with rubies. It was beautiful yet deadly.

McKay shifted back involuntarily into Ford, leaving Teyla on her own to stare up at Kolya. She was even more furious with Silveas for his deception; she had not expected this of him. Stepping forward, Koyla grabbed Teyla's hair and pulled her up to her knees by it. As soon as she was at the correct level, he swiftly placed the blade of the knife against her throat and looked back to Sheppard. The metal felt cool against her skin and Teyla was powerless to stop him from doing such a thing, whatever Silveas had drugged her with had effectively incapacitated her.

Bringing Teyla into the situation forced him to quickly reconsider his options; Sheppard tightened his grip on the weapon. He knew what Koyla was capable of, he would kill Teyla then move onto Ford and McKay. More blood on his hands wouldn't be anything new. He glanced to McKay and saw the look of absolute anguish on his face; Ford's was more or less the same. "Okay Kolya," Sheppard said lowering his weapon and unclipping it, placing it on the table but still within his reach. "Let her go."

Now it all seemed to be going to his wishes and that just happened to be the way Acastus Kolya liked things to be. He looked down at his victim, retracted the knife, pushed her forward and stepped back. All the while never taking his eyes off of Sheppard.

Teyla went down onto her hands and placed them before her, slowly reaching for her neck and rubbing it where he had dug in the knife.

"Teyla," Sheppard said gently. She held up a hand weakly, indicating that she was fine but she kept her gaze locked onto the floor. Sheppard looked to McKay and motioned for him to go to her, normally the scientist would only look out for himself but to Sheppard's surprise he actually placed a hand on her back and whispered to her, trying to smile. As soon as he looked at Sheppard, it confirmed his own fears. The situation was growing more and more grim.

"What do you want Kolya?" Sheppard asked, of course he wouldn't have gone to all this trouble for nothing. Did they have operatives all over the goddamn place or what? Kolya had been waiting for this question and lifted his chin, an air of arrogance surrounding him as he did so and gave that same half smile. "You, Major Sheppard," he answered in a low voice, his eyes penetrating him. "I will have my vengeance."

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