Note: My thoughts go out to Mr Joe Flanigan who lost his home and all his belongings, as so many others have, in the horrendous wildfires.
It almost makes me feel sorry for what is about to happen to John in this chapter...
000000
Chapter 19 – The Ambush
Something had changed among the Humans. Mind Song could hear it in the distant voices echoing down the long corridors outside and in the air of adrenaline in the guards' movements when they occasionally looked in at him within his cell.
The cell around him was new and was at least a faint improvement upon the last. The stones were dry and the air smelt a little cleaner away from the dank rank of adjoining cells he had been imprisoned in of late.
Whenever they moved him they used a stunner, which always felt particularly insulting to have his own kind's technology used against him, but at least he'd woken again. They'd clearly taken some of his blood, judging by the small puncture wound on his inner arm. That the tiny injury had not yet fully healed told him how truly starved his body had become.
The burning pain of hunger long denied had begun to numb into a deep weakness that made his bones ache and his hands shake. He'd thought the tremors were residual effects from the stunner, but the shakes had begun to move up his arms as well.
He did not think he had ever been as hungry. Not even rising his mind up into the empty healing of the network was doing much to assist him. It was becoming almost too difficult to do even that. He needed sustenance or soon his body would fail him entirely.
At least his mind remained intact, for now.
Focusing on the distant sounds outside his prison helped focus his thoughts, but the single adjoining cell attached to his felt like torture. Looking in through the small opening of bars, he could see the empty space where the new captive would be housed.
His hands shook even more to think of the promise of that food.
He just needed to stay alive long enough to take even a tiny morsel the Humans would allow him.
The sounds outside the entranceway to his prison began to grow louder, with movement of boots and distant shouted commands. The air outside held an air of waiting potential – or was that just Mind Song's own desperate need?
Moving across his cell, his legs just about able to do as he commanded them, he reached the metal bars of the locked doorway out of his cage. The cold metal was normally a revolting contrast to the wonderful memories of the warm living walls of a Hive, but today the coolness felt all too good against his shaking palms. Resting his forehead against the bars, he let the cage support the weight of his head a little.
He just needed to keep breathing and keep his mind rational. To do so, he closed his eyes and focused his hearing on the two guards stationed just outside the entranceway off to the right. They had not been talking much, which was very irritating, but occasionally they talked. It was the only distraction he had.
He could hear them moving faintly, clothing moving, their breathing almost audible in the complete silence.
Mind Song focused on those small sounds, but, even those, seemed to make his body feel weaker. Food, so close, yet denied.
A distant door opened and closed, and in the moment that it moved on its slightly squeaking hinges, Mind Song could hear activity. Clearly, his guards had heard it too.
"Do you think we're in any danger?" One male whispered to the other.
"They said the invasion on Atreus was short and the Hive vanished." The other voice replied, fear clear in his words.
"If Hives can appear and disappear into nothing, they could attack anywhere!"
Mind Song murmured against the bars, fluttering open his heavy eyelids. A disappearing Hive? That was interesting.
If a Hive attacked here, it could provide all the opportunity he needed to escape.
"...don't know anything..."
"Now, more than ever, our people need the Commander. We're so close."
"If a Hive is terrorising Alliance space though-"
A loud sound reverberated down the corridor outside, cutting through the guards' conversation. New footsteps started up, marching towards the guards' position with a determined pace that seemed full of authority. However, Mind Song could tell instantly that the owner was not the Human group's usual leader.
"The time is now," a voice commanded. "Marvin and Solue will relieve you. I want you both to barracks and into the new uniforms now."
"Yes, Pranos," both guards responded instantly.
"Do we have Sheppard?" One guard asked.
"The Commander and his Strike Force have located him. I want everything ready."
They almost had the new captive? Mind Song felt his heart jump in his chest, the anticipation oddly weakening him more than encouraging.
More footsteps were approaching, presumably the replacement guards. He could hear the adrenaline in their movements, the expectation of what was to come. Whoever this Sheppard was, they were all highly motivated about his capture. They had never behaved this way for any of the other captive Humans they had held over the years.
"Any change with the Wraith?" The one called Pranos asked.
"It's still alive, though it can barely stand up by itself," one guard reported.
Mind Song bared his teeth to the empty air, angry at the description, despite its accuracy. He still had more than enough in him to drain the life from them all if they got close enough.
If only they would.
"We'll have Sheppard here soon enough," Pranos replied. "Get to the barracks."
"Yes, Pranos," the guards answered and their boots started away.
The scrape of the new guards' boots slid into place outside the near entranceway, and the air held a faintly new aroma that told of fresh clothing and oiled weapons. They were ready for battle it seemed.
One set of boots was moving into the prison though, moving in to stare at Mind Song and check he had not died presumably.
Mind Song pulled his body back from the bars, holding himself upright; though he had to keep one hand on the bars for some support. The tremors had started up through his legs now.
He fixed his eyes on the entranceway as a Human moved into view, the prey's eyes assessing him intently. Mind Song held his head high and watched in turn, keeping as casual a grip of the bars as he was able.
The prey stopped a long distance away from the cage's bars, not even faintly close to a reachable distance.
"You'll get to feed soon, Creature," the Human said. His tone and the tilt of his head were designed to present authority, but Mind Song could see and smell the fear around the prey.
Mind Song had seen this particular Human occasionally before, but now his voice identified him as 'Pranos' who had given the commands outside. He would be the usual Human Leader's Primary perhaps then; though, he clearly lacked the same intensity and command as the Leader.
Mind Song kept his eyes on the prey, willing him to move too close.
"You will do as you are commanded when the time comes," Pranos added.
"I remember the agreement," Mind Song replied, hearing the catching dryness in his own voice, but it was at least audible.
"Good," Pranos replied with what was supposed to be confidence, and turned to leave.
"I look forward to finally meeting the one called Sheppard," Mind Song hissed out.
Pranos looked back over his shoulder, frowning with clear annoyance that Mind Song knew the name of their important captive.
Mind Song smiled back, pleased with the reaction.
Pranos turned away again, disappearing out of the prison.
"Watch what you say out here," Pranos ordered the guards outside. "It can hear you."
Mind Song chuckled at that. Only the chuckle caught at his side, cramping up fatigued and atrophying muscles, and he let out a barking cough.
He turned from the bars, forcing his weakening legs to take him back across his cell. The far corner was full of nice dark shadows, promising rest out of sight and a faint chance to huddle for warmth. His body was failing him with a frightening quickness and he felt a thick depression falling upon him.
Reaching the shadows, he slumped down into the cold stone corner and wrapped his arms around himself.
He just needed to stay alive a little longer.
0000
The mission to M1K 177 hadn't been that bad. Dr Lindsay clearly had a good relationship with the local people of the medieval style village that was a good twenty minute walk from the Gate. Further farmers and fishermen from other villages had also turned up, packing into the nice local inn to listen to Dr Lindsay's talk, and then here had been a show-and-tell section out by a new irrigation ditch system that was being dug nearby. John hadn't really paid much attention to what the talk was about really, but then he and his team were there to keep a general eye on things and keep the Doc safe. Plus a good hour spent out in the nice warm sunshine had been a nice way for him and his team to return to missions that weren't attending a Conference or overseeing political negotiations.
Even Rodney had behaved himself; actually he'd been suspiciously quiet.
The talk and ditch discussions over, Dr Lindsay had said her goodbyes quickly, promising to be back next week, and they were wandering back to the Gate in very good time. While Cadman led the way along the well worn path, chatting away with Dr Lindsay, Ford took up the six, which left John to walk alongside the still worryingly silent Rodney. At first, John had assumed it was because Rodney hadn't wanted to come on this mission, but he'd not complained at all since the mission briefing, which only added to John's suspicions.
"Alright, McKay, what's up?" John demanded. "You're never this quiet."
"Nothing's up," Rodney snapped quickly, thereby proving the exact opposite.
"You barely said a word back there," John pointed out.
"And that immediately implies that something's wrong with me?" Rodney demanded, clearly affronted, but at least he was talking again. "Maybe I was working on some vitally important high level calculations in my head while you were all discussing the importance of the thickness of mud."
John frowned. "Was that what they were talking about?"
"At the end they were," Ford supplied from behind.
"I can be quiet and be doing something useful," Rodney muttered.
"We just rarely ever experience it," John teased.
Rodney glared and pulled a face, but again dropped back into silence.
"Fine," John looked away to the lovely sunlit trees around them, "don't share with the rest of the group. We'll just put up with your sulking."
"I'm not sulking," Rodney objected.
"Yes, you are," Cadman put in from further along the path, looking back over her shoulder. "Because Colonel Carter told you off yesterday."
"What?! No she didn't," Rodney protested instantly. "Who told you that?"
"I heard her," Cadman supplied quickly. "I was up in the Control Room and heard her shouting at you for being rude to the scientists at the Conference and ordered you to behave yourself while our guests are in the city."
John looked over his shoulder to share a smile with Ford.
"She didn't shout," Rodney objected as he slowed, glaring angrily at Cadman. By John's reckoning they were almost at the Gate, so there was no need to hurry him on.
"Fine, she raised her voice," Cadman amended her statement.
"Wow, McKay," John teased, "that must have hurt, given how big a crush you have on the Colonel."
Both Cadman and Ford chuckled.
"She's the one who's got a crush on me," Rodney spluttered.
"Yeah, right, McKay," Cadman rolled her eyes looking forward again.
"Yes, actually, it is right," Rodney argued. "Besides, I've got Katie now. Like you can all talk anyway," he stated as he stopped, fists on his hips. "Maybe we should talk about alien warrior wives, Ford's non-stop talking about that Alliance woman he met, and, Cadman, maybe I should mention how often you've been visiting Beckett in the Infirmary lately."
"Oh, really?" John looked to Cadman with interest. She looked away, but too late to hide her look of shock and her face turning pink.
"As far as I can see," Rodney continued, "I'm the only one of you who's in a long term stable relationship."
"Hey, I'm the one who's married," John pointed out.
All eyes, even including Dr Lindsay's, suddenly focused on him with far too much interest. He replayed the point he'd made and realised that he might have given something away.
"Though, obviously, you know, it's a Political Marriage," he explained, feeling slightly bad for saying it. He wasn't betraying Teyla.
"Yeah, because it looked like a tough call for you," Cadman said sarcastically as she turned away and started leading the way forward again along the path.
John frowned at that, but he wasn't about to ask and open up that can of worms. Besides, Rodney was moving forward again.
"You haven't been telling Katie about Carter have you?" Rodney asked Cadman as he hurried after her.
"It hasn't come up," Cadman replied. "I still don't know what she sees in-"
A burst of moving coloured light registered at the edge of John's vision a split second before a tree branch ahead of him exploded. Another blast of, what was now clearly energy weapons fire, smashed into the same tree.
"Everybody down!" John shouted as he turned quickly towards the cover of a tree to his left just off the path.
More weapons fire blasted past as John got his shoulder against the tree and then fired back in the direction of the attack.
A burst of what was now more like gunfire followed, peppering the vegetation off to his right and he pulled quickly back behind the tree, looking round to assess his team.
Ford was already behind cover a metre or so further down the path, on the opposite side to John, and Cadman already had Dr Lindsay stashed behind a tree and was dragging Rodney behind another by the back of his jacket. John was faintly aware of Rodney's loud complaints, but John focused back to the source of the attack.
"You see how many?" John shouted across to Ford as he sent another barrage of returning fire. He couldn't make out anything in the distance. Whoever they were, they had picked the direction off to the right in the dense thicket away from the path. All John could make out was some dark shadows moving between shrubs and trees.
"I can't get a good line of sight," Ford shouted back.
"The vegetation is too dense," Cadman shouted in too over the slamming fire.
"We need to pull back," John stated the obvious as he again fired around his tree, only the heat of another blast of an energy weapon hit a shrub near him and he pulled back behind the tree. He jabbed at his radio, which was far better than all the shouting, and peered through the trees to where he could see Cadman returning fire. "Cadman, get McKay and Lindsay to the Gate!"
"Yes, Sir!" She shouted back immediately, and John saw her pulling Dr Lindsay up and back.
"Cover fire, Ford!" John ordered as leaned out as much as he dared from his tree and fired in the direction where he now saw dark brown figures shifting further forward through the trees.
P90 fire sure curbed their enthusiasm though, as all of them instantly dropped down out of sight and the vegetation now danced with John and Ford's returning fire.
Risking a quick look back, John saw that he'd remembered right and he could faintly see the shine of sunlight on metal through the trees off to the left. The path turned a corner just a little ways back and then opened up into a glen that held the DHD and Gate. He just had to get all his team there safely.
"Fall back to the Gate!" John ordered Ford, knowing they had to move fast now or risk being outflanked on the way.
John fired as he walked backwards, nipping from behind one tree to another. "Cadman?" He called into his radio as Ford provided the next burst of fire towards their pursuers. "You got the Gate in sight?"
"We're almost there," Cadman's voice shouted back into John's ear.
"Dial out as soon as you can!" John shouted back as renewed energy weapons fire now buzzed through the air, catching alight several more plants.
Ford slid into place behind a nice fat tree across the path from John as the enemy sent their own barrage of fire back at them. The air over the path and around the trees filled with energy weapons fire and everything smelled of electricity and burnt bark.
"You got any idea who they are?" John asked Ford across the path, though most of his question went through his open radio mike.
"No, Sir," Ford replied as he leant round the far side of the large tree, peering back towards the assailants. "Just brown clothes."
More weapons fire blasted past.
"We need to pull back faster," John ordered as he set one shoulder against his tree. "Ready?"
Ford tensed, body held ready, and, as John nodded, they both stepped out of cover and fired into the trees.
Switching his eyes from the dancing bullet ridden vegetation, the trees behind him, and Ford moving along with him, John still couldn't see who it was who was ruining his day.
Ford was right, whoever they were they were dressed in simple brown clothes and John estimated there were at least six, if not more. His team were outnumbered.
"Cadman?" John called into his radio.
"We're at the Gate," Cadman's voice shouted back into his ear. "Dial it up faster, McKay!"
"Because the bullets flying past my head weren't motivation enough!" Rodney protested.
Behind a new group of trees, John pulled up and leant his shoulder against one, providing covering fire as Ford found his own cover and John heard the wormhole explode to life.
"The Gate is open!" Rodney's voice reported, but not just over the radio, but somewhere off behind the trees to John's left. The Gate was a stone's throw away.
"Let's move," John ordered Ford and they both stepped back and started firing together. "Get through that Gate!" John ordered the others. "Don't wait for us."
"Yes, Sir!" Cadman replied quick and professional. There was some more talking over the radio, but John focused on rapid sets of fire as he and Ford moved back again. A quick glance behind them, and John could see that he and Ford were almost at the turn in the path that would take them around the corner and directly towards the Gate.
"The Docs are through," Cadman reported loudly over the radio. "Atlantis knows we're coming in hot."
That was good at least.
"Fall back," John shouted across to Ford who was hunkering down and scurried around some annoyingly low shrubbery. "The Gate is just round the corner."
"Yes, Sir!" Ford replied and they both sent out bursts of fire as they hurried quickly backwards, right up to the turn in the path, Ford cutting through the trees off to the left. John looked around worriedly as he moved, but he couldn't see any brown outfits trying to outflank them yet.
"I see you," Cadman informed them. "The way is clear behind you."
Still firing, John risked looking back to see the wonderful welcoming glow of the active Gate and Cadman in front of it.
"I'll provide cover fire," Cadman shouted, both through the radio and down the short open space towards the Gate with a wide open field to the left, but trees thick to the right.
"Get to the Gate, Ford!" John ordered as he moved faster, trying to pick out targets now as their attackers were getting closer, seeing that John and his team were escaping.
Whoever they were, they were clearly using Alliance weapons. Well, some of them. He'd heard bullets hiding some trees, and the colours of the energy blasts varied, so he guessed they were maybe using anything they could find.
There wasn't any time to stop and ask for a full inventory though, so John just grabbed at Ford's shoulder. "Go! Go!" shouted as he pulled Ford with him.
Ford didn't need much persuasion and broke into a flat out run with John, Cadman supplying the promised covering fire.
"Go!" John shouted to Cadman as he and Ford passed the DHD. Risking looking back again as he ran, John couldn't see anyone following them, but they would probably cut through the trees to the right.
"Watch the trees!" John ordered as he slid to a halt and sent some P90 fire across the wall of the tree line to deter any ideas. "Cadman, get through the damn Gate!" John ordered as he fired at the trees again.
"Yes, Sir!" Cadman replied, Ford was almost to her.
John released his trigger finger, hearing the enveloping sound of Cadman stepping through the Gate.
"Get through the Gate, Ford!" John ordered next as he added some more fire towards the trees again to cover Ford. They were almost all through. "Now!"
With one last burst of fire, John dragged his eyes from the trees and just plain legged it the last couple of metres, Ford just a few feet ahead of him. John saw Ford reach the event horizon, the glowing silvery coating of the Gate embracing him.
Except something hard and painfully sudden slammed into John's upper back, and then he was jerked backwards, up off his feet. The sudden pull crushed the air out of his lungs and the world tumbled violently around him. Then he slammed flat to the ground, his head spinning.
He gasped in a desperately needed breath, tasting grass and dirt against his mouth, and he blinked open his eyes to the dark ground under him.
Had he been shot?
Then he heard the horrific sound of the Gate deactivating. His way home!
He looked up towards where he vaguely guessed was the direction of the Gate, only to instead see a circle of dark boots moving in around him.
"Get that Portal dialled now!" A voice shouted loud from somewhere.
His head starting to clear, and his inner ear once again certain which direction 'down' was, John pushed his upper body up off the ground, watching as the Gate started lighting up. If they got a lock, then Atlantis couldn't get to him! No reinforcements.
The circle around him closed in further though, limiting his view of the Gate, and he peered further up to see that there was also a circle of weapons pointed at him.
He was in trouble.
Movement from off to the right caught John's attention though and he looked round to see a long dark coat and an overly shiny double-barrelled weapon held in one hand.
The owner of the weapon began to crouch down and John's vision was now perfectly clear to instantly recognise who it was.
A cold wave of shock passed over him.
He was in serious trouble.
"It is good to see you again, Major," Kolya said with that overly smug smile that John remembered all too well.
"Kolya," John named the man who had been haunting his life these past two years.
Beyond the circle of boots, John heard the Gate burst to life and, with it, his last chance of any immediate rescue. He didn't dare risk taking his eyes off Kolya though.
So, was this going to be how he died? Laid out on the grass, Kolya taking one last moment to gloat before he shot John dead?
Kolya was still smiling. "I'm afraid you'll be coming with us, Major."
Going with them – alive?
If they took him off-world, how was Atlantis going to get to him?
"Going where?" John asked.
Kolya stood up, sunlight glinting off that large double-barrelled shotgun he held out to one side. One of his brown-dressed minions stepped forward and took it, and John realised that the ropes hanging out of the shotgun were attached to him, wrapped around his own leg and arm. So that was how they had stopped him.
Looking up from the ropes, John glanced around at the circle of men. They weren't dressed in their usual Genii uniforms, but, surely, they had to be Kolya's excommunicated force that Teyla had told him about.
"You're going to pay for your crimes against the Genii people," Kolya supplied as he moved aside one side of his dark coat to reveal a large gun on his hip.
Despite the worrying weapon, John frowned up at Kolya's smug smile. "My crimes?!"
Kolya's smile dropped away. "Yes, Major. Your continuing crimes to pollute the Genii' reputation, for stealing the Political Marriage contract, and for your part in the death of a close friend of mine."
John frowned at that, confused, but he could see that Kolya was deadly serious. John dropped his gaze back to the weapon on Kolya's hip, which was now being pulled out.
"I haven't killed anyone," John returned, watching as Kolya held the Alliance looking gun at his side, his coat falling back into place.
Kolya took a step closer and then crouched down again, the hand holding the gun resting against one knee.
Kolya's eyes were hard and dark as he glared down at John. "You may not have thrust the fatal blow, but you helped the Elite track down and kill a woman I held in high regard."
If John hadn't been worried before, this new element brought a whole new level of concern. He licked his lips as he stared up at Kolya. "Iketani," he guessed.
Kolya nodded. "Yes, Major."
John considered making the point that Iketani had been the aggressor in everything that had happened, but it was clear that Kolya wasn't in any mood to hear that kind of logic.
"All actions must face their consequences, Major," Kolya continued, that smug smile returning, but it was now clear to John why Kolya had wanted him dead. Vengeance.
He was in so much trouble.
John watched as Kolya stood up again, that gun held tight in his hand. John still had his side arm on his own hip, but there were too many weapons pointed at him. It would be stupid to try anything.
"I used to have a great deal of respect for you, Major," Kolya continued. "And I'm sorry for how you will meet your end; no soldier should die the way you're going to."
John frowned up at that.
"But, at least your death will repay your debt for your part in Iketani' murder, and it will serve a far greater purpose for the Genii people."
John had no idea what the hell that meant
He opened his mouth to object, but Kolya lifted his gun, the barrel filling John's view.
"Goodbye, Major," Kolya stated and a bright blast of energy filled John's world.
000000
TBC