Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Twenty-Three

After ensuring that the village was safe enough to approach, Ford followed closely by Bates and Reed walked down the narrow path that ultimately led into the main gathering place. None of them were taking any chances this time, with their weapons drawn and cautious expressions they march on.

"It's too quiet," Reed murmured softly which forced Bates to stop and shoot him a look but it was Ford who spoke.

"Don't say things like that," he commented quickly.

"Why?"

"Cause when someone says it's too quiet, something always happens. Usually something bad," Ford retorted calmly. Instantly, he regretted the words as soon as they had left his mouth. Okay he thought unhappily and somewhat scared. I did NOT just have a major McKay moment back there!

Bates moved past Ford while shaking his head and muttering: "You watch too many movies."

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Phena was watching over Silveas and placed a soothing hand upon his forehead. His pulse had been racing and now he had a fever, she had tried her best to remove the bullet in his stomach but she was no physician for their village no longer had one in residence. Elderen, her husband had assumed that position but he had passed on months ago now.

"Phena?"

The elderly woman looked up from her friend to find a young man standing inside the doorway, his voice was low but despite her advanced years she could still hear him. "Yes," she replied softly. "What is it Rico?"

"The visitors from Atlantis, they have returned. Three of them."

Phena hadn't met these travellers before but she had known Teyla for many years and she knew what a marvellous judge of character the Athosian could be. Unlike Silveas, she thought looking back down to the man. "Bring them here," she said thoughtfully.

"Yes Phena."

She looked back up to see his retreating back then paid attention back to Silveas who finally opened his eyes, he swallowed slowly and winced from the pain. "Did I hear correctly?" he asked ever so weakly and it was a great effort to even keep his eyes open longer than a few seconds. "They have returned?" He craned his neck to look up to Phena who only gave a slight nod in response. Silveas closed his eyes once more before continuing. "They have come to enact revenge…for Teyla Emmagan…for the one they called Sheppard. The one who was taken away."

"You do not know that Silveas," Phena countered.

"Yes I do." Silveas opened his eyes once more. "If this had happened to one of my people, I would surely do the exact same thing." Seeing as the leader of the Bre'tar people, Silveas wasn't as wise as Phena when it came to matters such as this. It was most likely the reason why he had sided with Kolya, he had given him false promises in exact for nothing. How very wrong he had been. "We shall see," she answered gently, decided not to pursue the matter any further. Phena dipped a cloth into a bowl of cold water; she waited until it was completely saturated then start wringing it out before placing it on his forehead. "You may even find yourself surprised."

Despite the severity of his injury, Silveas chuckled. "You're a foolish old woman," he said tenderly as he looked up at her. Phena took her hand off the cloth and placed her hand upon his arm.

"And you are a foolish man," she replied using the same tone. Silveas smiled up at her once more then closed his eyes.

Phena sat back and watched him. He had only brought this condition upon himself and now he was paying for it with his life. The woman only hoped that the rest of the Bre'tar didn't have to pay for his selfish actions.

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"Get Zelenka to help you," McKay muttered to himself as he worked in his now unoccupied office. He had persuaded the Czech scientist to work in another lab, on the same problem but it was agreed that they both needed some space as there was only so much McKay one person could handle. McKay was actually quite pleased to get his lab back to himself, this way he worked undisturbed and Zelenka just downright annoyed him.

Since when were people like that allowed to truly believe they possessed superior intelligence over him, it was absurd.

McKay shook his head with a know-it-all grin; some people were just so stupid he thought as he brought the coffee mug to his lips only for his tongue to be met by a stinging sensation. Immediately, McKay spat the liquid back into the mug and slammed it down. "Ow, ow," he muttered. "Hot!" He started waving his hand over his mouth and frowned, normally the coffee went cold enough for him to drink as it stood by neglected. He glared at the caffinited drink but how could he stay mad at it for long?

Once Rodney had composed himself, he carried on working. "Ahh, in goes number six and one more," he said to himself while inputting the other five symbols from memory then including two at random. The trick was to write every single combination imaginable containing the five symbols then after that it was a process of elimination using the Stargate.

He watched anxiously as the rest of the work practically did itself and McKay found that he always worked well under pressure or in a crisis. As he thought about it, he also worked better when he was alone but then again, that was always the fate suffered by the truly gifted. Yet again, work to be done and here he was digressing.

A soft beep emanated from the laptop, indicating that all possible combinations had been established. McKay smiled as he closed the laptop; he couldn't wait to see the look on Zelenka's face when he turned up at the control room, ready to dial. He put the laptop under his arm while picking up the mug, he checked it was at the right temperature than quickly guzzled it.

Placing the mug down, he tapped his headset. "Zelenka, this is McKay. I'm done."

"You're done?"

"What are you? A parrot?" he snapped back. "Yes I'm done, meet me in the control room."

"Yes, fine," Zelenka replied. "I meet you at control room."

With that done, McKay tapped his headset once more and told Elizabeth the good news and that to expect him. He looked round the lab once more and this time he didn't get a sad expression when he spotted the Twilight Zone poster, instead he spun on his heel and walked out. "I love me," he cooed.

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