"This is not Atlantis!" Todd snarled. His hands clenched and unclenched, his claws digging into the sensitive palms of his hands. Beside him, Amelia and Keller huddled together at the top of the snow-covered hill, teeth beginning to chatter from the frigid temperature.
"No kidding," Amelia snapped back at him. "What gave it away, the snow or the frostbite?"
"I don't understand," Keller said, gazing around at the frozen landscape. "What happened? Where are we?"
"That is what I'd dearly like to know," Todd growled. He stomped through the knee high snow to the DHD, and Amelia turned to Keller.
"What happened?" she asked quietly. "Did you misdial?"
"I don't think so," Keller said, shaking her head. "I know the gate address by heart; I could dial it in my sleep." Her eyes widened. "The soldier who fell on the console! He must have hit a glyph before I finished dialing!"
Amelia winced. She had tossed that soldier herself. "Sorry about that," she said sheepishly. "We're okay, though. We'll just dial home from here."
"We will not," Todd called from the DHD. "This console lacks the control crystal. Without it, it is useless. We are stuck on this planet until either we find one, or rescue finds us. I think we'd have better chances with the former, and by better, I mean almost none."
"Just how much time has he been spending with Dr. McKay?" Amelia whispered to Keller.
"Too much, apparently."
Todd left the DHD to stand beside Amelia. He showed no sign of being cold, despite the icy winds tearing at their hair and clothes.
"We need to find shelter," Amelia said, wrapping her arms around herself. "Dr. Keller and I are not dressed for snow. Much longer out here, and we'll be in danger of hypothermia and frostbite."
"I agree," he said, gazing out over the terrain. Endless miles of tall near-pines stretched out to the horizon, and a wide ribbon of smooth snow tumbled down the hill and into the shadowed woods. Bright moonlight from the triple moons turned the landscape into shades of iridescent pearl and deepest black, and Amelia's fingers itched for a camera. Evan Lorne would be in ecstasy over the play of light and shadow. She could picture her friend standing at the top of this hill with his easle and paints, and she felt a wave of home sickness. I want to go home, she thought, blinking away tears. I will get home! She felt a light touch on her lower back and looked up to find Todd watching her.
"I will get you back to Atlantis," he said quietly. "I give you my word."
"Over there," Keller said, pointing south. "I think I see something."
In the distance, Amelia could see moonlight glinting off something metallic rising among the tall trees.
"I cannot make out what it is," Todd said. "An antennae or spire, perhaps."
"Well, whatever it is, we might find shelter there, at least," Amelia said. "It looks like it's only a few kilometers away. We should make it there in less than an hour."
THey made their way down the hill, moving slowly to avoid slipping in the snow. Amelia gritted her teeth, wishing she had worn something more substantial than a thin cotton tunic and leggings, though she thanked all the gods she could think of that her boots were lined and thick enough to withstand the slush they were wading through. Keller led the way, falling easily into the snow-tromping stride she learned during her childhood in Wisconsin.
"It's not too bad," she called back. "The winters in Chippewa Falls make this look like spring break in San Diego."
Behind them, Todd was silent, though Amelia could hear his light footsteps only a few feet away. He let out a soft growl, and she looked back to see him fall to the ground.
"Dr Keller!" she called, and knelt by Todd's side. The Wraith was on his hands and knees and breathing harshly. Too-dark blood ran from bullet holes in his back and spattered the white snow.
"Damn," Keller said. She touched his back lightly to examine him, and he flinched away. She looked hurt. "I'm counting eight holes."
"Do not concern yourself," Todd coughed. Blood flecked his pale lips. "I will heal, eventually."
"We should at least bandage them," Amelia said. Todd struggled to kneel upright.
"We can do that once we get to shelter," he replied. His voice was strained with pain.
"You heard the Wraith," Keller said. "Let's get moving."
Amelia held out a hand, and after a moment of hesitation, Todd took it. She pulled him to his feet, and he turned away quickly, as if embarrassed by his weakness. They continued their trek at a slower pace, and Amelia stayed within arm's reach of Todd, though she made no move to help him when he stumbled. Men, she thought, both amused and annoyed. Apparently the male ego transcends both galaxies and species. Ronon rarely ever accepted help, even when injured, and even then only from Sheppard. Teyla had once told her it had taken them weeks to convince him to use the infirmary after sparring accidents, and even then, he'd only go if stitches were needed. She hated to admit it, but his stubbornness was one of the things she found so attractive in him. Knock it off, girl. He doesn't feel the same about you.
"Look at that," Keller said, stopping dead in her tracks. Amelia pushed Ronon out of her mind, and looked up at the structure half hidden among the trees. It was a three storey building, constructed out of an odd, pale silver metal and dark glass, but the design made Amelia's stomach turn with revulsion. The silver seemed to mimic skinned flesh; long lines like muscle and veins, and strange protuberances that bulged like metallic bones. Irregular windows dotted the walls like empty eye sockets. There were no sharp corners on the building, giving it an unhealthy, organic quality. Only the tall, sharp spire looked wholly machined. To Amelia, the whole building looked deformed and corrupt, and every instinct she possessed screamed at her to run.
"Well," Keller said hesitantly. "We might as well go in."
"I don't see that we have a choice," Amelia replied. She glanced over at Todd, whose head was hanging from exhaustion. "Let's go."