Teyla came through the 'gate on Drellim and blew out a breath when the 'gate shut down behind her. Against all odds, Sheppard's plan had worked, and she had escaped. Had the guards discovered her disappearance? she wondered. And if so, what would they do to Sheppard or the others in retaliation?
"You must return to Atlantis before that can happen," she told herself, rubbing her bare arms as she stepped away from the 'gate.
While not as cold as Lurra would be, the seasons had moved on on Drellim as well. The groundcover in the clearing lay dormant, the air had a crisp bite to it, and there was the scent of wood smoke in the air.
Teyla gave her arms another quick rub and stepped away from the 'gate. She glanced at the DHD as she passed it and smiled when she saw the new panels shining in the morning sunlight.
Ronon carried the new panels over to the DHD, laid them on the ground, and stepped back. "I'm going -"
"You aren't going anywhere," Rodney interrupted and winced as he shrugged out of his pack. "You shot it. You can help fix it."
Ronon glowered at Rodney, but Teyla noticed Sheppard trying to hide a grin behind his hand before he spoke. "McKay has a point," he said and gave Ronon an innocent smile.
Ronon scowled at Sheppard.
"What are you complaining about?" Rodney asked. "Zelenka and I already did most of the work. Well, I did most of the work. Radek might have helped." Rodney waved his hand in front of him. "Look. Just pick up the panel," he pointed to one of the curved panels on the ground, "and hold it in place so I can get it attached to the rest of the housing."
Ronon growled under his breath but picked up the first panel. "That one goes on the side closer to the 'gate," Rodney directed.
He waited until Ronon had the panel in place, then sat down with a grunt, bracing a hand against his ribs for a moment as he took a few breaths.
"Rodney?" Sheppard asked.
Rodney waved off Sheppard's concern. "It's fine," he said. "Just moved wrong. Have I mentioned how much having bruised ribs sucks?"
"Try having broken ones some time," Sheppard replied, but Teyla saw the concern lurking behind the flippant reply. "Just finish up here so we can get back to the village. Don't want to miss the festivities."
Teyla shook herself out of the memory and patted the top of the DHD. The village celebration to thank the Atlantis team for fixing the DHD, not to mention saving the village from a Wraith culling, had lasted far into the night. Even a couple of weeks after everything that had happened, Rodney still hadn't been entirely comfortable with the villagers wandering past their table and offering their thanks for what he had done to save them. Still, he had smiled and grudgingly accepted the villagers patting his back or squeezing his hands.
Jor-tan had mentioned more than once during the feast that he and his people owed McKay a debt. Rodney had looked uncomfortable even as both Sheppard and Carson had said there was no need for Jor-tan to do anything.
Now perhaps he can, Teyla thought to herself.
She gave the DHD one last pat, then headed for the path that led to the village. The trees lining the path were ablaze with reds, yellows, and oranges from the changing leaves, and Teyla jogged along the trail as much to keep warm as to reach the village as quickly as possible.
It was late morning when she came out of the trees and stopped at the edge of the village, panting from the trip from the 'gate to the village. A sleepless night working in the mine with little to eat had taken a toll, and Teyla stood with one hand braced on the trunk of a tree, taking a few deep breaths as she watched the activity in the village.
Garlands of colorful leaves and ropes of vines decorated the fronts of the buildings in the square. Vases of dried flowers stood on the long tables lined along the center of the square, and as Teyla walked into the village, she caught the scent of roasting meat and baked goods coming from several of the buildings. The pub had been rebuilt along with a few of the other buildings. Jor-tan's home had been repaired, and several other houses sported new roofs or fresh paint.
The laughter and general chatter stopped as she walked into the square and Teyla was suddenly aware of what she must look like to the villagers.
"Friend Teyla!" Jor-tan called as he hurried forward, his arms open wide. "You have arrived just in time for the harvest festival." Jor-tan stopped short, and his welcoming smile turned into a concerned frown. "What happened? Are you all right?"
"It is a long story," Teyla replied, rubbing her bare arms as the wind picked up.
Jor-tan shrugged out of his long coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Come with me," he said and turned toward his house.
"There is no time," Teyla tried to protest.
"You are exhausted," Jor-tan said. "Not to mention injured." He glanced down at the makeshift bandages on her hands. "Please," he gestured toward the house. "Rest, at least for a little while and tell me how we can help." He glanced at the forest behind Teyla and frowned. "Where are Friend Rodney and the rest of your team?"
Teyla pushed down the stab of worry in her gut at Jor-tan's innocent question. "Unfortunately, they are not with me. That is why I am here." She took a deep breath. "We need your help."
Jor-tan waved away the people hovering nearby and led Teyla to one of the long tables. "Food and drink," he said to one of the women.
"Certainly," the woman replied and hurried away.
"Tell me what's happened," Jor-tan said.
Teyla hesitated then sat down at the table. The woman returned with a plate of roasted meat and vegetables along with a mug of beer. Teyla started to protest the delay, but her stomach rumbled, reminding her of how little she'd had to eat the past two days.
"Thank you," she said to the woman.
She picked up the fork and explained how the team had been captured and forced to work in the mine as she ate. "It was Colonel Sheppard's idea that I escape and contact our people," she finished.
"A wise plan," Jor-tan agreed, setting down his mug of beer. "But I don't understand why you are here."
"All of our equipment was taken when the guards captured us," Teyla explained, "Colonel Sheppard gave you a radio and a device that would alert our base that a friend was trying to communicate through the portal when we were here last. I need to borrow those items to contact Doctor Weir and inform her of what has happened."
"Certainly, Friend Teyla," Jor-tan replied. "I will be right back." He left the table, and Teyla finished her beer.
Jor-tan returned a few minutes later, carrying a handheld radio and GDO in his hands. "Here are the items Colonel Sheppard left with me after your last visit." He held out the radio and GDO.
"Thank you, Jor-tan," she said as she took the radio.
"Is there anything else?" Jor-tan asked. "This seems such a small thing considering everything Friend Rodney did for us."
"This may make all the difference to their survival," Teyla told him. She pulled off the coat and handed it back to Jor-tan. "I must go. I will make sure the radio is returned to you."
"Wait!" a man said and stepped forward. Teyla remembered he was one of the men who helped rescue Rodney and Carson after the Wraith attack on the village.
"Cor-in?" Jor-tan asked.
"You need to get back to the portal quickly, yes?" Cor-in asked Teyla.
"As soon as possible," Teyla replied. "I fear what will happen to Colonel Sheppard and the others once the guards at the mining camp discover my absence."
Cor-in nodded. "I have a plow horse you can use. She isn't used much for riding, but she will get you back to the portal faster than walking."
"Thank you," Teyla said to Cor-in.
Cor-in nodded. "I'll go get her and meet you on the road back to the portal."
"Bring both," Jor-tan said, pulling on his coat. "Someone needs to go with Teyla to bring the horse back."
Cor-in nodded and disappeared behind one of the houses at the edge of the village.
They met Cor-in at the edge of the village a few minutes later, and he gave Teyla a leg-up mounting the horse.
"Safe journey," Cor-in said once Teyla was settled on the horse's back.
"Thank you, Cor-in," Teyla replied and kicked her heels into the horse's flank.
The plow horses were not fast, and Teyla and Jor-tan had to ride bare-back, but the animals did move at a quick enough trot that they were back at the 'gate in half the time it took Teyla to run to the village.
Teyla patted her horse's sweaty neck in thanks as she slid off its back and walked over to the DHD. She punched in the address for Atlantis, and once the wormhole formed, gripped the radio in her hand and considered how to phrase her greeting so as not to give away the city's existence, then clicked the talk button on the radio. "This is Teyla calling base. Please respond."
She waited a moment and tried again, "This is Teyla. Doctor Weir? Please respond."
"Teyla? This is Weir."
Teyla closed her eyes and blew out a breath of relief. "Doctor Weir, we ran into a situation on P2X-306."
"What sort of situation?" Weir asked. "And where is Colonel Sheppard? According to the information we're receiving, you are calling from Drellim."
"It is … complicated," Teyla replied. "However, I was able to escape, and Jor-tan was kind enough to help me contact you."
"I see," Elizabeth said after a moment. "Teyla, you are cleared to return to base. I'll have Major Lorne standing by to hear your report."
"Understood, Doctor Weir. I will return momentarily."
"Base out," Elizabeth replied.
Teyla turned off the radio and handed it to Jor-tan. "Thank you."
"There is no need for thanks, Friend Teyla," Jor-tan replied as he accepted the radio. "I am happy to help in even such a small way after everything your friends have done for us."
Teyla nodded and turned toward the 'gate but stopped when Jor-tan tapped her arm. "May the Ancestors protect you," he said.
Teyla squeezed his hand. "I will send word once we have rescued Rodney and the others," she promised. She waved to Jor-tan and stepped into the shimmering event horizon.
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
"Her forehead should be higher," Carson said, staring over Lorne's shoulder at the pencil drawing on the easel in front of them. "And her mouth should be smaller."
Evan grimaced as he rubbed out the pencil lines. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Doc. I did warn you I don't really do portraits of people."
"You're doing fine," Carson said. "I think we're almost there."
"If you say so," Evan replied with a crooked smile.
Lorne spent several minutes sketching, then glanced back at Carson. "Well?"
"Yes, much better," Carson replied and patted Evan on the shoulder.
The sketch was still rough, but the likeness was undoubtedly there. Carson only hoped there would be enough time to finish the drawing before the festival. "How long -" he started to ask, but Evan held up a finger as he tapped his earpiece.
"This is Lorne."
Evan listened for a few moments, then looked up at Carson with a raised eyebrow and a worried frown.
"Yes, ma'am, I'll be right there. Doctor Beckett is here with me - Yes, ma'am. I'll bring him along. Lorne out."
"Evan?" Carson asked as Lorne packed up the easel and tucked the pad of paper under his arm.
"Teyla just came through the 'gate." He glanced at Carson and added. "Alone."
Carson hissed in a breath as he fell into step next to Lorne. "Are the others alive?"
Evan nodded. "Doctor Weir said something about they were being held prisoner. Which reminds me …" He tapped his earpiece again. "Lorne to Thompson." He paused for a moment, then said. "Meeting in the conference room, Sergeant. Colonel Sheppard's team ran into trouble on P2X-306."
He tapped his earpiece and glanced at Carson. "Let's go find out what happened."
Carson and Lorne walked into the conference room a few minutes later and found Elizabeth and Teyla already seated at the table in the middle of the room. Teyla looked exhausted, not to mention dishevelled, and Carson shook his head when he saw the open sores on her hands.
"Carson," Elizabeth greeted with a nod. "Major."
"Ma'am," Evan replied as Carson walked over to Teyla. "I've asked Sergeant Thompson to join us, ma'am. If we're mounting a rescue operation, I'll need his help."
"Good idea," Elizabeth replied.
Carson sat next to Teyla and reached for one of her hands. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"My hands hurt," Teyla replied as he examined the broken blisters. "But otherwise, I am fine."
"These should be cleaned and covered," he said as he placed her hand back on the table.
"It will have to wait, Carson," Elizabeth said as Thompson entered the room and the doors twisted closed behind him.
"Sir," Thompson said to Lorne. "Ma'am," he added to Elizabeth. He nodded to Carson and Teyla and sat down next to Lorne.
"Teyla?" Elizabeth said. "Why don't you explain to Major Lorne what you told me."
Teyla nodded and sat forward in her chair.
Carson listened with mounting concern as Teyla explained what had happened and how the people on the planet had captured Sheppard and the others. When she mentioned Rodney's suspicion that they were mining uranium, Carson felt his stomach lurch.
"Uranium? You're certain?"
"Rodney believed so, yes."
Carson rubbed his forehead as he ran through the various treatments for radiation exposure. "How many people are sick?"
"It is difficult to say," Teyla replied. "Perhaps half of the prisoners, maybe more."
"What were their symptoms?" Carson asked.
"Coughing mostly. And difficulty breathing," Teyla replied.
"What about you and the rest of your team?"
"Other than the sores on our hands, none of us appeared to be ill."
"So far," Carson muttered to himself as he scrubbed a hand over his chin.
"Carson?" Elizabeth asked. "What's wrong?"
Carson dropped his hand and looked at Weir. "Uranium mining is dangerous," he explained. "The particulates are easily inhaled and over time can lead to respiratory damage, not to mention the more long-term risks of developing certain cancers." He paused and glanced at Teyla's hands. "There are also heightened risks of exposure through open wounds."
Elizabeth frowned. "How serious could this exposure be for our people?"
Carson patted Teyla's hand. "For Teyla and the others, their exposure is likely minimal. Assuming I can start treating them within the next day or so, they will likely be fine, with only a slight increased risk of complications in the future. No, my concern is for these other poor souls." He clasped his hands on the table. "From what Teyla has described, it may be too late for some of them, but we have to do what we can to help them."
"One thing at a time, Carson," Elizabeth said. "There is the larger problem of rescuing them first." She turned to Teyla and added. "What sort of security does this mine have?"
"Guards watch the mine and the open area between the mine and the refinery."
"How many and what sort of weapons are they carrying?" Lorne asked.
Teyla thought back to the guards watching her as she pushed the ore cart between the mine and the refinery. "Possibly as many as thirty men guarding the camp armed with whips. There may be more that I did not see."
"That shouldn't be too hard to deal with," Evan said with a glance at Thompson.
"The guards at the mine are only part of the problem." Teyla glanced at Elizabeth, took a deep breath, and added, "There may also be Genii on the planet."
"Genii?" Elizabeth asked with a puzzled frown.
Teyla nodded. "Colonel Sheppard discovered the owner of the mine made an agreement with the Genii to provide the uranium for their nuclear weapons."
"I know Rodney and Doctor Zelenka had wondered where Cowen had found the uranium in the first place -" Elizabeth started to say.
Teyla pressed her lips together, and Carson saw her clasp her hands together on the table.
"Teyla?" Carson said. "What's wrong?"
Teyla looked down at her hands and blew out a breath. "Commander Kolya was on the planet as well."
Carson felt his heart skip a beat even as he caught the nervous twitch of Elizabeth's fingers as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. He was surprised when he heard a low growl from Derek's side of the table.
"Kolya?" Elizabeth said. "You're certain?"
Teyla nodded. "Colonel Sheppard spoke to him. It seems Commander Kolya also has an agreement with the mine owner for uranium. According to Colonel Sheppard, Kolya is building his own nuclear device." She swallowed and dropped her hands into her lap.
"There's something else," Carson said. "Isn't there?"
Teyla glanced at him and nodded. "Commander Kolya plans to take Rodney with him when he leaves the planet. He told Colonel Sheppard he plans to use the device in an attempted coup against Cowen and that he needs Doctor McKay to finish building his weapon."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Thompson muttered.
Lorne studied Derek for a moment, then turned to Elizabeth. "This is the same Commander Kolya who tried to take over the city last year?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Among other things," Thompson added at the same time and glanced at Carson.
"You knew?" Carson asked in surprise.
Thompson shrugged. "I suspected."
"Suspected what?" Evan asked, looking first at Derek and then Carson.
Carson glanced at Elizabeth, then Lorne. "Commander Kolya … tortured Rodney during his attempt to take over the city last year."
"The scars on his arm," Evan said with a grimace.
"Yes," Carson replied. "Though not many people know the truth of what really happened. It's not something Rodney cares to talk about."
"I'll bet," Lorne said and glanced at Elizabeth. "The Genii being on the planet changes things. This isn't going to be a simple matter of intimidating some guards and rescuing our people. If the Genii have any kind of force in the area, we could be in for a much tougher fight."
"What do you suggest?" Elizabeth asked.
"My guys are still in the infirmary, so I'm going to need Thompson's team, plus a full squad of Marines."
"Don't forget a detail for the medical team," Carson added.
"Carson, I'm not -" Elizabeth started to say, but Carson interrupted.
"From Teyla's description, those people are suffering from moderate to severe radiation exposure," Carson argued. "I'll need to start treating them as soon as possible. Unless you're willing to let me bring them back here, I need to set up a field hospital there if we're going to save any of them."
Elizabeth frowned and glanced at Lorne.
Lorne shrugged in reply. "I can leave a couple of men with the medical team. If Doctor Beckett agrees to wait at a safe distance until we give the all-clear," he waited for Carson to nod, then continued, "it should be safe enough. Once we've contained the situation, we can help set up some sort of facility to treat the people who are sick."
"All right," Elizabeth said and glanced at Carson. "Doctor Beckett, you have fifteen minutes to get your medical personnel organised and in the gate room. Once you know what you're dealing with, we can decide on the best way to help the people forced to work in this mine."
"Depending on their exposure, they may need longer-term care," Carson said. "I will need to organise a way to make regular visits once they return home."
"Again, one thing at a time," Elizabeth replied. "We need to deal with the guards and the Genii first." She turned to Evan and added, "Major, you have a go. Bring them home."
"Yes, ma'am," Lorne replied as he stood from the table and signalled Thompson to follow him. "We'll be ready to go inside fifteen."
"Come down to the infirmary," Carson said to Teyla as they followed Lorne and Thompson out of the conference room. "I'll see to your hands while Sharon and Doctor Cortes get the medical supplies organised."