Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Fifteen

Despite his best intentions, Aiden Ford didn't know whether or not the task he had sent Reed to do would be accomplished. He'd only had a few moments to come up with some sort of plan and he'd instantly thought of a digital camera, not only would it take more photos than a standard camera but it would be quicker to upload to one of Atlantis' laptops.

His heart was pounding in his chest, initially they had only came here looking for a cure for Teyla but now they had a possible lead and hopefully a way to find Sheppard. Ford ran over to join Reed as soon as the Stargate shut down. "Did you get it?" he asked anxiously. The marine looked down to Nivera's camera then back up to Ford trying to mask his expression, he hadn't known how to operate it and had hoped that it was just a matter of pointing and clicking. Reed glanced down to the camera then back up. "I…uh…"

Nivera, who was normally timid and a quiet woman stepped between Ford and Bates immediately before they started physically started demanding answers from him. Immediately she addressed Reed while reaching out a hand. "Give it to me," she said trying to sound authoritative. He quickly handed over the camera to the scientist as she pulled off her pouch and checked the camera over.

It felt like waiting for an eternity, Ford exchanged a look with Bates who seemed to be growing just as impatient and the outcome of the mission to bring Sheppard home depended on those photos. Ford only hoped that Reed had been able to gather enough intell to narrow down the search. Even with one or two symbols missing it would increase the chances of finding the right address.

"Well," Bates asked unable to keep quiet any longer and Nivera's brow furrowed as she studied the small display. She searched through the thumbnails and squinted before looking up through a curtain of hair. "He managed to take eleven photos in total," she finally said gently then tore her gaze away and back down to the screen. "However, I won't get a clear look until we get them uploaded." The pictures were extremely random shots of the DHD and she wasn't entirely convinced he had managed to capture all of the symbols.

"That should be enough," Cummings said deciding to speak up and finally coming out of hiding. He wouldn't call himself the bravest scientist and he had just proven that with his girlish display when Bates tried to get him out of sight. "Right?" he asked glancing nervously to Reed and Summers who weren't giving anything away. "Right?"

"It's all we have to go on," Ford answered quickly.

"Dial Atlantis," Bates shouted over to Summers. "We need to get a look at these pictures as soon as we can." Summers nodded quickly and started the dialling sequence.

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The song John Sheppard had started singing to annoy his two roomies had ceased to be as funny as it was at 99 green bottles. When John had finally reached 50 green bottles, that's when he started to annoy himself and that wasn't so fun. "So I ask myself," Sheppard muttered as he got to his feet and crossed over to the cell door. He gripped the bars tightly, resting his forehead against them before carrying on. "What would…" he began but stopped when he happened to glance to his left. "What the Hell do you want now?"

The Wraith on his left who had told him to shut up as he was singing was staring at him with more interest than before. "What's the matter…" Sheppard paused while coming up with a name and pulled one from the air. "Mike?" he asked sarcastically. "Hunger getting to you?" John waited a few moments for response but when he did get one, it came in the form of a hiss and Mike turned his back on him.

Speaking of hunger, Sheppard thought holding the bars even tighter, he sure could have used something to eat right about now. If only a power bar to tide him over while he planned his escape as he was certain of one thing. He had spent long enough in his place and he had no intention of staying here any longer.

Matriya was still watching him like a hawk. The woman was easy on the eyes but she had this air about her which indicated that she would sooner kill him than look at him and she had the whole working for Kolya thing going against her. "Oh Ms Cin," Sheppard said in a sing song voice to annoy her while letting go of the bars and stepping back a good metre. "Could I please request some food?" She stared blankly at him, surely Kolya wouldn't want him to starve to death.

Sheppard was certain of this, as he hadn't wanted to feed him to a Wraith so starving him wasn't an option. That was unless him hallucinating a bunch was what Kolya had on his agenda but John seriously doubted that. "Oh come on," he continued loudly as he decided to screw the polite approach. "I'm not asking for a four course meal here!"

Matriya eventually looked directly at him and tossed her dark shoulder length hair over one shoulder while cocking a hip. "What would you like?" she asked placing a hand upon the hip. He had to be careful at this point in time, he had to be careful what he thought about while in the presence of this woman as she had some unusual abilities that Kolya had taken great advantage of. Sheppard folded his arms in thought before addressing her once more.

"I had a bag with me when I arrived. Well I wouldn't exactly say arrived," Sheppard said making wacky motions with his hands. "More like man handled here but I had one with me. About this big." He gestured with his hands the size. "Black. Has food in it."

Her impassive expression was hard to read but he supposed it had to be that way and after a long time she actually blinked. "One moment." Matriya marched over to the exit and banged twice on the door with an open fist. A small hatch opened and she spoke quietly with someone, when they finished conferring with them the hatch closed and she walked back over to Sheppard. "You'll have to wait until Kolya returns."

Kolya returns? Returns from where? Sheppard thought not even bothering to be careful, it's not like she was going to tell him where the bastard was. The woman raised an eyebrow and a glimmer of amusement twinkled in her dark eyes as John rose his gaze to meet hers. "Fine," he said grimly then moved back over to the bench and dropped down onto it. Just great!

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