I hoped to have this up for the anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo, but I'm a few days late. Hopefully you will enjoy the story enough to forgive my tardiness. (I also did not have a formal editor/beta, and I'm dyslexic, so please be kind.
This story is dedicated to San Antonio Rose for her assistance with historical and plot points as well as jennytork for her help and support getting this story worked out.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything you saw on TV or the monument in Texas.
Enjoy ...
John knew it was too good to be true.
Never, in their history in this galaxy, had the locals invited one of their people to look at some amazing thing and had it end well for all involved.
Sure, the mission had started out well enough. Lorne's team had come across a settlement that asked if there was anyone in their group well versed in Ancient tech - something about a large orange crystal that was hidden in some ruins. McKay, of course, had jumped at the chance to find a ZPM. They made it to the ruins, but - surprise, surprise - no ZPM. Instead what they got was the locals blowing a big enough chuck of their mountain away to bury the Stargate and coming at them in full force. John was just grateful that Lorne and his Marines were still around. They managed to hold back the wave of armed villagers long enough for everyone to get inside the ruins and bolt the door. Reed took an arrow in the back, but his vest prevented any serious damage. Ronon got one in the leg, which barely slowed him down. Other than that, they were fine … for now.
"We are so screwed," Rodney lamented, eyes glued on a lifesigns detector. "There's gotta be a hundred people out there … Why did they call us here just to attack us?"
"Good question," John muttered back.
It was also one he didn't expect he would like the answer to. If this was just about catching or killing Atlantis personnel, they would have gone after Lorne's team when they had no back-up. No, they had specifically asked for a scientist - one well versed in Ancient tech - and had used the promise of a ZPM to ensure they got one. The real question was, did they do all this just to get Rodney or were they after any of their scientists?
"Colonel Sheppard," a voice called from beyond the walls. "By now you must know there is no escape for you and your people. Perhaps you will listen to terms of surrender?"
"Perhaps," John yelled back, getting close to the front door but staying behind the stone wall. "What did you have in mind?"
"Give us Dr. McKay and we will let the rest of you live."
While he wasn't exactly surprised by the demand, he could tell their resident scientist was. Of course there was no way in hell he was going to hand over Rodney, but as long as they were in a chatty mood …
"What do you want him for?"
"What we want with him is none of your concern," the voice all but growled. "What is your concern is that surrendering Dr. McKay and your weapons is the only way you and your remaining people will live."
"So now you want our weapons too?" John asked, peeking out a crack by the door to try and get a bead on the village spokesman. "If you can't make your mind up, how am I supposed to trust you'll let any of us live?"
"You are in no position to argue," a tall man in black leather armor shouted. "You will surrender Dr. McKay to us and he will pay for his crimes."
"What crimes are those," John pressed, carefully raising his P-90 to the crack.
"The destruction on Santhal and all the other worlds destroyed by his hand," the man seethed. "It was he who programmed those things to kill and it is he who will suffer for it. Give him to us and we will spare your lives."
So that's what this was about. It was those damned Replicators! Rodney may have programmed them to fight the Wraith, but he did not tell them to start attacking planets. And, if they even cared, he was instrumental in bringing those things down. Well, John wasn't about to let them make his best friend into their sacrificial lamb.
"Here's my counter offer."
The Colonel pulled the trigger, watching his target cry out in pain. Beside him Ronon smirked and Lorne pulled out a scope to see the damage for himself.
"Nice shooting, sir," the Major praised.
"What? Let me see," Rodney demanded, taking Lorne's offered scope and looking out the crack. "You shot his ear?! What if you had missed?"
"It would still get the point across," John said, moving his friend back from the door. "He would either feel it go by and know our answer ... or his successor would."
While grateful, the scientist still seemed uneasy, which was expected. Rodney wasn't exactly known for his optimism and John had already calculated their odds of survival without outside help. However, if that army out there wanted him they were going to have to come in and get him - and the Colonel could all but guarantee that the enemies losses would far outnumber their own. This was proven a few minutes later when the army made a charge at the front and East side of the building. John and his people had a few close calls, their attackers lost at least a dozen men before they pulled back.
"Guys?" Rodney called out, looking at the life signs detector. "We might have a problem."
John looked at the screen to see three dots moving away from the west side of the building, not far from when he and Rodney were standing. If they had used the charge as a cover to get in that way, why would they- oh no!
"Everyone DOWN!" John shouted, gabbing the scientist away from the wall.
No sooner had he called out the warning then an explosion shook the room. Chunks of the ceiling rained down on them causing the air to fil with dust and debris. John's ears were ringing when he finally managed to push himself to his knees. He could still hear his team yelling at him, so that was a good sign. He tried to get up and his hand bumped into something soft and warm. Suddenly he realized his was not the only name being called.
"Rodney!" he shouted, his voice sounding a little odd.
While he couldn't make out the groan, he could see it on the scientist's face and feel the labored breathing through his chest. Allowing himself a moment of relief, John helped his friend into a sitting position. He held him against his chest to check him over for injuries while Teyla fussed at a cut on Rodney's temple.
"Colonel," her soft voice broke through the ringing. "Try not to move him much."
"You think he's hurt that bad."
"She meant you," Lorne's voice added to the mix. "Try. Not. To. Move. Too. Much."
Well that made more sense, and John noticed the Major's voice was clearer. He must be getting better. Wait … Why were they worried about him? Rodney was bleeding, he was fine. His ears were just ringing. In any case, he had no plans to move. He was almost completely supporting Rodney and wasn't about to let go.
"John, I need you to let go."
What did he just say- er, think? Did he just think it? While he tried to figure out what was going on, the Colonel tightened his grip on his friend who seemed to be slipping away. No, not slipping, pulled. Who was pulling him? Lorne. Why was Lorne trying to take Rodney?
"It's okay, I got him," John insisted.
"We have to check his back," the major shouted. "See if he's hurt there."
Well, that made sense. He let go, allowing Lorne and another Marine to pull Rodney away. He tried to get up and follow but Ronon held him back. What was he doing here? Who was watching the door? And why was Teyla undoing his vest?
"It doesn't look bad," Teyla commented, "but we need to stop the bleeding."
John was about to ask what was bleeding when he suddenly became aware of a sharp pain. He looked down and saw blood on his shirt. When did that happen? Ronon went to work with a suture kit while Teyla continued to assure him that everyone was fine. By the time his head cleared up, the cut on his chest was bandaged and Rodney's few injuries had also been cared for. The rest of them had received a variety of cuts and bruises, but nothing serious.
"They must have blown the explosive right on the other side of this wall," Nickols commented, studying a crack in the corner.
"Then why didn't the whole place come down on us?" Reed asked.
"These walls were built to keep out the Wraith," Rodney answered, typing on his computer. "I don't know what explosives they were able to put together, but even with the existing cracks and holes it would take a warhead to break through this structure."
Good to know. And with no gate, it looks like that was the only thing they had going for them. It was still six hours until their check in, and at least two hours after that before Woolsey would try to call them. Which meant that no one would know they were in trouble until sometime tonight.
"McKay, how far out is the Daedalus?" John asked.
"I was just calculating that," he replied. "Assuming they are contacted in the next ten hours, and there are no problems … They'll be here in ten days."
Ten days. The Colonel had no doubt the walls would keep out the army, but how long would their bullets last? More importantly, what about their food and water? John checked his watch. By his calculation Rodney had to be getting close to a hypoglycemic reaction. He fished a powerbar out of his vest and silently handed it to his friend who gave him a nod of thanks.
"It sounds like we are gonna be here for a while," John announced to the room. "Try to ration your food and water as much as possible."
"What about him?" Nickols asked, pointing to Rodney.
"He's a special case," half the room replied.
"You didn't have to phrase it like that," the scientist grumbled around a mouthful of bar.
"Lorne, take the new guy and watch the East wall. Ronon, you and Reed take the front. Teyla, you and Coughlin will come with me. I want to know how deep this place goes."
"What do you want me to do?" Rodney asked.
"Eat your power bar."
He opened his mouth to protest, but Teyla cut him off. She pointed out that one of the main reasons for exploring was to look for a food source and if they were unable to locate any he would have exerted himself for no reason. Unable to argue with that logic, he slumped against the debris and turned back to his computer.
"Just relax, we'll be back soon," John assured him, catching the questioning look on the new guy's face. "If you really want something to do while we're gone, you can explain to Nickols what hypoglycemia is."
That should give them at least an hour before he got bored - less if he started getting on peoples nerves. They would have to explore quickly. As it turned out the back of the ruins rested against a cliff, limiting the armies ability to sneak up from behind. Large holes in the ceiling both let in sunlight and caused a slight security concern, but also allowed for some of the local flora and fauna to gain access to the interior of the complex.
Several bushes the size of pickup trucks dominated one room. Coughlin was sure he had seen the locals eat the large purple berries that covered them, and Teyla confirmed that they were both filling and nutritious. That, along with the various nests of squirrel-like animals, could solve their food problem. Better still, the room also housed a working well with a clean water source. They may just make it through this after all … if they didn't kill each other first. Before they even made it back to the main room, carrying enough squirrels and berries to cover dinner, the scouting party could hear voices echoing through the chambers.
"If the engines of the Daedalus can go faster, why are you so sure they won't?" Nickols demanded.
"Because, in case you didn't notice, I'm sitting right here," Rodney snapped. "I can't implement the necessary upgrades from here, can I?"
"Well you aren't the only scientist in Atlantis. Maybe someone else will think of the same thing."
"You can't be that new!"
They just had to get through the next ten days. Just ten days and they would be fine. Ten … long … days …
What do you think?
Comments are always welcome. Expect the next chapter tomorrow morning (CST).