Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Eighteen

The small group consisting of Bates, Ford and Nivera had now moved into the confines of the control room as they brought Weir and Grodin up to speed with the events on the planet concerning Kolya. Now that she knew what had happened, all that was left to do was come up with some kind of plan. Elizabeth had listened intently to both Bates and Ford as they gave her their accounts of what happened. The diplomat had been careful to keep her facial expressions to a minimum throughout the duration of the conversation.

"So," Ford said in conclusion as he produced Nivera's camera that had taken the photos of the DHD. "All we know at the moment is we got enough pictures…"

"But you just don't know if they managed to capture the entire address," Elizabeth finished for him.

"Yes ma'am. It's not like Reed could stand still and wait until he got a decent enough photograph," Ford replied solemnly while looking down to the gateroom where the marine he spoke of stood waiting patiently with the rest of the group.

Weir raised a hand to her mouth, running her index finger along her lips absently before giving a small nod. "Well," she said looking up from the floor. "Let's get those pictures uploaded and find out shall we?" She forced a small smile before looking to Grodin. "Peter?" Grodin immediately slid out of his seat to carry out her silent order; it was amazing how he was able to determine all of her non-verbal signals. He reached for a vacant laptop then set it down on the desk before him as Nivera reached into her kit bag for the leads to connect the camera up to the computer.

Looking back into the gateroom, Weir cast a watchful gaze over Summers, Reed and Cummings who had opted to stay behind, as they weren't required for this part of the briefing. She folded her arms as she looked to Grodin to see how they were coming along. "Shouldn't take too long," she heard Grodin state as if he had felt her eyes on him. Both he and Nivera were now obstructing the screen and attaching various leads. Ford and Bates looked at one another then elsewhere; they were eagerly waiting for the upload from the camera to finish.

"It's complete."

Weir immediately cast her gaze to the screen and unfolded her arms, choosing to rest them on her hips as she addressed them. "What have you got?"

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John was still experiencing shock over his run in with Mike the Wraith. Fortunately Kolya had intervened by more or less ordering the damn thing to let him go and Sheppard didn't honestly know what surprised him the most. The fact that the Wraith had released him or that he had done it after being told to by Kolya of all people.

He quickly decided that it might be a good idea not to fall asleep again with Mike in such close proximity to him. John couldn't even believe that he had allowed himself to endanger himself and make such a stupid mistake, one that had almost cost him his life. Sheppard trained his gaze on Kolya then over to Jeana. "I have something you want?" Sheppard echoed confused.

Kolya shot Sheppard a look then back to Mike who was what could only be described as glaring. "She will not be adequate enough to satisfy my hunger," the Wraith responded with a hint of disgust as it laid eyes on the woman. Narrowing his eyes, Sheppard glanced back to Jeana who looked truly terrified and he couldn't blame her. Since his arrival all he had wanted to do was scream, curse and punch something or someone. He also sensed that she was scared because Kolya had other plans for her and that was something he couldn't stand by and watch happen.

Sheppard stormed over to Kolya, anger flashing behind his eyes as he finally figured out what was going on here. "You're seriously not gonna feed this thing."

He didn't appreciate interruptions from anyone, especially from John Sheppard. Kolya regarded him with a threatening look before barking; "Silence!" The look lingered as their eyes met and Sheppard returned the glare with an equally threatening expression. If he hadn't wanted to beat Kolya into oblivion before, he definitely had the urge too now.

Refusing to look away, Sheppard took a hold of the bars so tight that his knuckles went a pale shade of white. Kolya finally broke eye contact to see Mike with that same disapproving look. "You tell me what I want," he said calmly. "And I'll ensure that your meal is doubled."

Sheppard wrinkled his nose then looked back to the Bre'tar woman who was still struggling in vain against her captors. "Do you mean to tell that not only do you plan on feeding someone to this…" He spun around to face Mike. "To this thing but you want to keep feeding it until it gives you information?" Anger surged through his veins and he really wished for nothing more than the opportunity to wrap his hands around Kolya's neck and squeeze until his eyes bulged and there was nothing left. "These are innocent people you're sacrificing here, people who don't deserve to die!" Sheppard paused for breath. "Or don't you care about that?"

"You don't strike me as the type of man to let his emotions influence his decisions," Kolya answered bluntly. "I can't believe I am hearing this Major, coming from a man like you." Sheppard stared at him in silence and didn't like the direction he was going in. "A man who murdered 50 of my people."

So that was the main reason why Kolya was so highly intent on revenge, what was he going to do? Force him to watch over 50 innocent people die at the hands of the Wraith so he would know what the loss of so many people felt like? Whoa you seriously have an over active imagination Sheppard he thought while shaking his head slowly, no not even Kolya was that twisted. Or was he?

John couldn't afford to remain silent any longer or it would only provide Kolya with more rope to hang him with. "That was totally different and you know it," he retorted completely forgetting any of the sarcastic comments he had mentally been preparing for the last few hours. "The circumstances surrounding that situation were a far cry from what's happening here." Sheppard had to fight his anger or he would only tire himself out and he was restless enough as it was. "Your people invaded our city. I didn't intentionally go out looking for victims!"

The Genii commander had many statements ready, many words that would have deeply wounded Sheppard as soon as he came out with that declaration. With the help of Matriya he now knew things that possibly even Sheppard himself didn't realise he felt and that was what would give him the upperhand when the time finally came.

Instead of rising to the bait, Kolya nodded for Jeana to be brought to the Wraith. It was feeding time.

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