THE NIGHT OF THE TIME TRAVEL PORTAL
By Andamogirl
CHAPTER FOUR
Later
The Wanderer is on its way to Washington
Graham Ellison grabbed the bars of the 'rolling cell' of the Wanderer and looking at James West standing on the other side, he said, "I won't stay here for long. My men will free me." Then looking at Artemus Gordon, standing beside his partner, he added, "You'll be dead in a few hours. Unless you let me go, of course. It could be an accident, like you forgot to lock the door of this cell…"
Shaking his head, Jim said, "Forget it. And we're not frightened. Come on Artie, let the man settle comfortably. He will spend several days here, until we reach Washington."
Ellison groaned. "You're both dead!"
The two agents left the stable car where the cell was located and joined John and Rodney sitting on each side of the coffee table, playing chess in the parlor car.
Sheppard looked at them. "Everything's okay?" he asked.
Jim nodded and sat on the sofa. "Ellison told us that we will be dead in a few hours. So I'm expecting some trouble in a few hours. Who's winning?"
McKay raised his hand. "Me. Who else? John's good, but I'm better. We're going to have some trouble, okay. No problem. Our life is trouble-ridden. And John's middle name is Trouble."
Smiling Artie sat on a chair. "What a coincidence, Jim's middle name is Trouble too," he said. "But before we get attacked, we still have time to enjoy a good meal. Rodney, I could use your help."
Rodney nodded and made a last move. "Checkmate. You owe me a beer once we're back." He stood up and followed Artie to the galley.
Standing up too, Jim headed towards the dresser and pivoted the silver statue of a cavalier, revealing a gun in a holster. He took it and placed in on the table. Then he touched the top of the dresser and a map of the United States appeared. He pressed on a button on the right, and the map slid down, revealing a rifle, four revolvers and a knife.
Sheppard was impressed. "Sweet!" he said, before leaving his chair to take the gun sitting on the table. "A bit rudimentary, but efficient and very deadly." He shook his head and smiled. "Jeez! I'm channelling Rodney, here. He rubs off on me sometimes."
Jim smiled too and said. "I know the feeling. It's inevitable when you live with your partner round the clock, 365 days a year."
John put the revolver back on the table. "Have you been working with Artemus for a long time? Because the two of you look very close."
Jim nodded. "I met Artemus during the war. I was General Grant's aide de camp when I met Artemus. In fact, the first time I saw him, I shot him and I almost killed him."
Sheppard was very surprised. "What?"
Taking the rifle, West chuckled. "Captain Artemus Gordon was a spy extraordinaire working under General Grant's direct orders for almost two years when I shot him. I didn't know him at that time. We had never met. It's a long story. We both rapidly became best friends – rather brothers. As the war was not over then, he continued his job and I, mine. When the war was over, General Grant invited us to join the secret services and we both accepted, on one condition – to work together. And since that date, 10 years ago, we're partners. What about you? How did you meet Rodney?"
The Colonel smiled remembering the scene. "I can't tell you, but I can tell you I shot Rodney too, not so long after I met him. I shot him in the leg. But the bullet didn't hit him – because he was wearing a personal shield emitter. It's a long story too. Well, Jim, it would seem that you and I have things in common: like having a geek as a partner, best friend and surrogate brother."
The agent frowned. "A geek? What's a geek?"
Holding the rifle to admire it, John explained, "In Artemus and Rodney's cases, a geek is a person passionate about science and technology."
Jim nodded. "That's Artie alright. He could write books on all the things he knows if he had time to, but he and I are pretty busy protecting President Grant, foiling the plans of Dr. Loveless and Count Manzeppi, solving crimes and mysteries…etc., etc."
John nodded. "Rodney and I are quite busy too, protecting Atlantis, protecting the Pegasus Galaxy from our enemies… But that's over now. We're back on Earth – oops! Forget want I said. Do you have other guns on the train?"
Jim nodded. "Lots!"
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In the meantime in the galley
Rodney plunged a little spoon into the jar of homemade orange marmalade and licked it conscientiously, closing his eyes in bliss. "Mmmmm… that's delicious, and you made that?"
Artemus nodded. "Yes, and a lot more. I love to cook, and preparing food helps me to relax and to think about new gadgets Jim and I could use on our missions. Then I create them."
The Canadian sighed. "You're lucky to be able to relax. I never relax, I can't, I don't have time to. I'm always doing something. I'm working even in my sleep. That's why my bedside table is filled with notepads. I suppose I can rest when I'm dead – or not. I'm probably the busiest person in the Pegasus galaxy." He frowned. "Was the busiest person in the Pegasus galaxy, because we're back on Earth now, and we're stuck in San Francisco bay. Now I'm the busiest person of 'our galaxy', because I need to find a way to charge the ZPMs so that we can go back to the Pegasus galaxy…I barely had time for Jenifer, that's why she left me, and because she was offered a fabulous post in the Mayo Clinic, too, and because she wanted to have a peaceful life. So I'm alone, again." Noticing that Artemus was puzzled he added, "Forget what I just said, okay? I'd like John to know how to cook, because I don't and love to eat, but there's a mess hall in Atlantis and no one cooks, and when we're on away missions, we just eat MREs, I mean meals ready to eat. MREs are individual field ration in lightweight packaging bought by the United States military for its service members for use in combat or other field conditions. That's not bad, especially the chicken with the mushroom risotto and the paella but I miss 'real cooking'… With all that delicious food you eat, what's your secret Jim, how do you stay that slim and fit? Tell me."
The older man giggled. "Jim could eat a whole buffet each day for weeks without gaining weight. He's like that, it's in his nature. He can't gain weight. As for me, I'm always riding a horse, running, jumping, fighting, fencing, and because of that I don't gain weight either."
Rodney nodded. "John can't gain weight too – lucky he. He's a bit too skinny though. He's floating in his clothes. It's not my case, but I pay attention to what I eat now, because it's better for my health. Carson, my physician is always watching me like a hawk."
Smiling Artie pushed the large bowl filled with potatoes towards Rodney and handed him a knife. "I don't have any girlfriend, and I'd like to, but I understand. You take care to peel the potatoes and I take care of roast chicken, alright?"
Rodney nodded. "Okay."
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Later
The four men sat around the table were eating a delicious apple pie for dessert when they heard a big explosion and felt the train brake strongly in a concert of loud squeals.
Rodney was ejected from his chair and collapsed on the carpeted floor with a suppressed oath as the others grabbed the table to stay seated.
The Wanderer finally stopped and immediately gunshots resounded and bullets went through the windows, breaking many of them.
Jim, Artemus, John and Rodney immediately gathered around the nearest sofa where all the firearms had been centralized.
His gun belt firmly in place, Jim took a rifle and another revolver, and commanded, "We're going to split to cover more ground to be able to get rid of them more easily. Artie, Rodney, go to the stable car and secure the cell. John and I, we're going outside."
His gun belt wrapped around his waist too, Artie nodded, took a second revolver, gave one to Rodney and took a rifle too. "Let's go Rodney."
They pushed the swinging door and left.
John took his Berretta out of his holster and slid a Colt in his back. "Let's go Jim!" he said heading towards the door.
Once outside on the platform, he saw that at least two dozen horse riders were circling around the train, firing at it. He smiled. "Like in the old westerns," he said. He pointed his pistol at three men charging in his direction and fired. Three bullets were shot; three dead men fell to the ground. "It's too bad I don't have my P-90. I could have eliminated all of them in 30 seconds."
The secret agent nodded. "You're very good. Nice gun, I'd like to have one like that." Then he said, "You stay here and protect the rear of the train, I'm taking the front. See you later, John." He jumped down on the ground and ran towards the locomotive shooting everyone coming his way.
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In the meantime in the stable car
The sliding door of the stable car suddenly exploded. The three men inside were propelled against the back of the car by the force of the explosion.
The un-injured but frightened horses neighed and reared up in their stalls.
Rodney was the first to regain consciousness, his vision blurred, his head pounding and his ears ringing. He still held his revolver and immediately pointed it at a silhouette emerging from the acrid smoke that filled the wagon, pieces of burning wood everywhere. He saw a cruel smile, the mouth of a gun and fired. The other man was hit in the chest and collapsed backwards like a puppet.
Feeling something wet and warm roll down his cheek, Rodney touched his head and winced as he discovered a gash on his left temple. He probably had a mild concussion too, that explained his blurred vision, his ears ringing and his painful headache, he thought.
Rodney helped Artemus to stand, eliciting a scream from the older man who had regained consciousness ten seconds earlier. "What is it? Are you injured?"
Artie leaned against Rodney on his good foot, grimacing in agony. "I think I broke my ankle, this time." He looked at Ellison and saw that the man was laying on the wooden floor, immobile, his eyes wide open but not seeing anything, a large piece of wood protruding from his blood-soaked chest. "He's dead."
Rodney nodded. "They came to free their boss and they killed him with that explosion. A piece of wood from the door killed him."
Closing his eyes, pain making him nauseous, Artie nodded. "Yes, and it's a miracle we weren't killed too. Using dynamite is effective in destroying things but not very accurate and it causes a lot of damage." He noticed blood on Rodney's face. "You're injured."
McKay smiled. "I've had worse. John shot me once. But it wasn't his fault – he was hallucinating when he fired at me."
Gunshots still resounded outside the train.
Hearing footsteps they turned as one and fired in concert at the two men pointing their guns at them. But the other men fired at the same time.
Rodney and Artemus, both hit square in the chest, collapsed to the floor as one with their assailants, still alive while the two bandits were dead.
Clutching his hand to his chest in a futile attempt to stop the blood already soaking his shirt Artemus turned his head to the left, meeting Rodney's blue eyes. "Rodney!"
Rodney blinked. "Jeez! That hurts… It didn't so much the last… time." both hands instinctively pressed against his chest and he grimaced. "Ow!"
Artemus suddenly noticed a shadow in his peripheral vision and heard a snigger.
A tall grey-haired man moved towards the two men down, holding a rifle. He kicked Artie's gun then Rodney's sending them away and said, "What have we here? Two dying secret agents, good. The others will be dead soon too." He glanced at Ellison's body. "He's dead, and as I was his number two, I'm now his successor, the new number one." Then he looked down again at Rodney and Artemus's prone figures lying in a pool of blood. "It wasn't my intention to kill Graham, but he was killed in the explosion – accidents happen, collateral damage too, I couldn't predict that, but chance will have it, sometimes." He took a step forward, aiming at Artemus. "I'm going to finish you… I never killed agents of the Government myself, always hired people to do the job." He put the mouth of his gun against Artie's forehead. "Adieu!"
In a last effort Artemus bent his legs and thrust them forward – hitting the other man's knees, making him fall backward. Rodney managed to grab a piece of wood, and moving onto one knee, his face twisted in terrible suffering, he smashed it on the new number one of the West Coast syndicate. He repeated the action twice, knocking out the other man. Then he slumped to the side.
Panting, Artie grabbed his temporary partner's arm and shook it. "Rodney!"
Rodney moaned. He was cold. He gave a faint whimper of pain. "Not… going to… make it." Then he coughed blood. "It's nearly… over."
Suddenly all the gunshots ceased outside and through a grey veil darkening their vision they saw two silhouettes coming. They both reached out, holding hands, interlocking their blood-slicked fingers.
McKay gave Gordon a last smile. His breathing was laboured, bubbling blood appeared on his lips. "Was a pleasure…" Then he lost consciousness.
The older man nodded. His eyes flickered closed. "Likewise Rodney…" he said between one breath and the next and then blackness engulfed him.
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Later
Falling on his knees Jim West pressed shaking fingers to his partner's neck and located the weak pulse - too fast and fluttering but it was there. "Artie's still alive," he said to Sheppard. He removed his cravat and pressed it against the blood flowing freely from Artie's wound. "There's so much blood… Artie can you hear me? Open your eyes for me."
Artie tried to open his eyes, barely doing so. "Jim…"
Running a hand in his surrogate's brother wavy hair Jim smiled. "Everything's going to be okay Artie…" He lied, trying to maintain his composure. "Don't die on me Artie!"
But Artemus couldn't hear him anymore. He was unconscious again.
His hand still on Rodney's throat John nodded. "Rodney's still alive too." he ripped Rodney's tee shirt open and grimaced on seeing the hole in his best friend's chest, close to his heart. "He's been hit in the right chest, near the heart. It's bad." The bullet had pierced his lung. Rodney was bleeding inside, he was dying. There was nothing he could do to save him. If he was in Atlantis, yes, but not here in the middle of nowhere, he reflected sadly. He laid his hand on the other man's face. "Listen to me buddy, you have to relax and think about clear blue skies and wide open fields. You're relaxed in a wide open field under a clear blue sky…" Perhaps he would ascend, and then come back, like Daniel Jackson did, he mused and hoped.
He then realized that Rodney didn't hear him.
In his turn Jim took a look at Artie's wound. The bullet had caught him below the sternum. Relentless blood was pouring from it. He lowered his head. Artie was dying and he felt totally helpless and hopeless. "Artie, listen to me, I'll join you one day… keep the brandy warm for me, okay?"
He noticed Artie's breathing becoming shallower, making it harder to take deep breaths. The end was close. He closed his eyes. "No…"
Both crying now John and Jim looked at each other before holding hands. They were both very pale, grieving already, both dreading the fatal – and inevitable – moment.
Suddenly a white blinding light enveloped the four men and they vanished – to materialize a couple of seconds later in the time portal room.
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City of Atlantis
Radek Zelenka let out a cry of surprise and smiled. "You're back! I did it! It worked!" then he noticed the two men covered in blood, and paled. "Bože!" Immediately he tapped his earpiece and said, "Zelenka to the infirmary! Medical emergency in the time portal room!"
Dr. Beckett's voice resounded. "What's the nature of the medical emergency?"
Radek looked down again at the two gravely wounded men. "I brought the colonel and Rodney back, and two people with them. Rodney has been shot in his chest and the other man too. They're losing all their blood Carson! Hurry!" He knelt beside Rodney, covered in blood and looking like a corpse already. "Carson's on his way with a medical team."
Sheppard nodded and looked down at Artemus immobile, covered with sweat, his face white. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, and then he looked up at Jim. "Jim?"
Pale, West shook his head, on the verge of crying. "He's not dead. He's strong; he can get through this if that medical team comes rapidly."
John looked up at Radek. "Where the hell is the medical team?"
Five long, interminable minutes later, Carson Beckett and his team entered the room and gave orders to his nurses.
Tbc