Part of a Rescue

Atlantis

Elizabeth Weir started her day early. Actually, she had not really ended the day before, she just kept going with coffee. The need to notify the rest of the Atlantis staff about the missing men concerned her. Death notifications, while painful, were final. To say someone was missing was always much harder. Hope kept surfacing only to be dashed every time they didn't come back. Finally, she decided to notify the expedition members by email.

To all personnel: As some of you may know, the wraith reneged on our alliance and left a worm that destroyed all the data they had sent us. What you may not know is that the Daedalus was attacked when it emerged from hyperspace, and the two attacking hives quickly left the area. I regret to inform you that Dr. Rodney McKay and Ronon Dex were on the hive ship when it jumped to hyperspace. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard was engaged with the enemy at the same time. All three are missing at this time. You will be informed as more information is available. – Elizabeth Weir

She couldn't bring herself to put in "presumed dead." Nor did she want to share the information about the wraith having the location of Earth. Those facts could wait.

Hive Ship

By his calculations, John had spent four days searching the hive ship for Rodney and Ronon. He had covered two decks completely and was now headed to the next higher deck. For the most part, the corridors were dark with many irregular turns. This layout provided him with plenty of hiding places as long as he heard the wraith before they saw him. Unfortunately, it also meant he had many alcoves and cells to check. So far his luck had held though he still had to ration his food and water. He was beginning to get really hungry. So far the hunger had not affected his strength, but it was just a matter of time.

Around the next turn he suddenly hit a corridor that looked more like those on the Daedalus. The walls were straighter and smoother. While that made it easier to search, he realized he was exposed until he reached the end. Just as he was half-way down, he heard steps approaching. "Crap," he thought as he looked desperately for a place to hide. Finally, he looked up and realized the ceilings were open and offered cover. Leaping in desperation, he managed to grab a pipe and pull himself up just as the wraith came around the corner.

Barely breathing, Sheppard froze on his precarious perch until they passed by. Taking the first breath he'd taken in five long minutes, he began to take in his surroundings, realizing he was standing on pipes that could be the fuel or life support systems of the hive. "Or water!" he thought. Moving carefully, he followed the pipes down the hall to a place where they dropped into what appeared to be an access closet of some kind with valves. Cautiously he opened one of the valves, breathing a sigh of relief as he found water.

He completed his searching for that day by filling up his canteens and other water storage containers. "One problem down, several more to go," he thought as he once again prepared for rest.

Atlantis

"Unscheduled off world activation," said the technician as the Stargate began to light up.

Dr. Elizabeth Weir jumped from her desk and went to the balcony to observe. It had been seven days now, but she still hoped whenever an unplanned activation occurred.

"We are reading Major Lorne's IDC." The technician looked up to her for confirmation.

Stifling her despair, Elizabeth gave the command to lower the shield. Major Lorne and his team had been on a routine check to a planet of one of their allies. An early arrival usually meant injuries or other unexpected situations.

As the team came through the gate, Elizabeth saw that one soldier was being supported by two others. "Medical team to the Gateroom," she said into her earpiece, and was pleased when Dr. Beckett's staff responded so quickly.

Major Lorne strode up to her office to give a brief report. "The mission went as planned until the last day. I'm afraid Jones managed to break a leg while trying to demonstrate hang gliding with one of the villager's tarps. Needless to say, he was less than successful."

"Thank you, Major, I am glad it wasn't more serious. Now go get checked out by Beckett. Full briefing in two hours." She could see his appreciation for the extra time to get cleaned up. The extra time also gave her a chance to get her emotions under control again.

Seven days. One week. As Elizabeth sat down to her laptop again, she kept telling herself she needed to control this hope. "Missing presumed dead, Elizabeth" she told herself.

Just then Teyla Emmagen knocked on the door with Dr. Zelenka behind her.

"I heard there was an unscheduled off-world activation…" said Teyla.

Elizabeth looked up, realizing she had to kill their hope as she had to kill her own. "It was Major Lorne's team returning early. There was an accident, and one of the team has a broken leg."

Teyla's face fell, and Zelenka turned to go back to his lab.

"One moment…" Teyla and Zelenka both paused near the door.

Elizabeth Weir breathed in deeply, then said "We need to make some decisions on a suitable memorial service."

"Surely it is too soon," said Teyla, moving back to Elizabeth's desk. "Only seven days have passed. It is possible Rodney and Ronon are still on the hive ship, and Colonel Sheppard could be as well. We do not know their fate."

"Yes, that is true. But we must face the strong possibility that they will not be coming back. I think we can put off the ceremony for a few weeks, but we need to prepare." Elizabeth glanced away so that the others could not see the moisture in her eyes.

Teyla and Radek looked thoughtful. "I will review some of McKay's notes," said Radek. "He would want them mentioned."

"And I will prepare something about R-Ronon," said Teyla. Elizabeth had never heard her stutter before. "I can also provide some stories about Colonel Sheppard, if you like."

Elizabeth sighed quietly. "I think we will need stories and thoughts from everyone. Could you quietly spread the word?"

The other two nodded and slowly left her office.

Hive

It had been nine days since Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard had landed on the hive ship. Hunger was now a regular companion, but he was trying to save some of the Power Bars for Rodney if, rather when, he found them. As he prepared to continue his search, he wondered, for the fiftieth time, "Where are they going?" He started on his next swing through fifth deck.

As he eased down yet another corridor with cocoons, he thought he saw a glimpse of blue – science blue. Hurrying over to the cocoon, he could just make out Rodney's features under the web-like material in which he was held. He glanced to the cocoons on each side of the scientist and was relieved to find Ronon on the left in a similar state. He just had time to sigh in relief before he heard more footsteps. Taking cover in an alcove across the corridor, he saw two wraith come by and stop in front of the two cocoons.

He heard a growl from the cocoon holding Ronon.

"Quiet, Satedan. You will be released in time to see us begin our feeding on Earth." The two continued down the corridor while Ronon struggled helplessly.

John eased across the corridor and approached Ronon carefully. "Ronon, can you hear me?"

"Sheppard!"

"Yeah, thought I'd come along for the ride. Didn't know it would be so long, though." While trading quips, the colonel had been looking for a control panel for the cocoon. If he could avoid cutting the webbing, the wraith might not notice they were missing two entrees. Yes! He quickly pushed and prodded the control until the thin webbing and the stronger limb-like barrier began retracting.

"These things are uncomfortable."

"Not meant for the long haul, right?"

"Huh. You heard that their destination is Earth?" As he was speaking, Ronon finished pushing away the clinging fibers and stepped out of the wall niche. He turned to the scientist's cocoon.

"Wait a minute," said Sheppard, shooting his hand out to stop Ronon. "Before we release him, I want to be sure I know everything I can. We also don't have much food, and I'm worried about his hypoglycemia." He pulled the warrior across the hall into a shallow room, stopping to listen for any more wraith. "OK, tell me everything that happened and how they found out about Earth."

While Ronon recounted their experiences on the hive ship prior to their capture, Sheppard kept his eyes and ears focused on the corridor and on the cocoon that held Rodney.

"McKay was not sure how they got the location. They pushed us in these cocoons shortly before the Daedulus arrived, and we were stunned before we learned anything."

"OK, sounds like you guys weren't expecting this either. At least, nothing gave Rodney a hint. I knew the beam out device hadn't worked, but I wasn't sure why." John paused a moment, focusing back on Ronon. "Now tell me about the cocoon. You two have been in there for at least nine days. Did you get food and water? Were you in stasis? What can I expect when we release Rodney?"

Ronon thought a minute while also scanning the corridor and listening for footsteps. "We weren't in a true stasis because we would wake up. There were two of those branch things that were really pipes with water and some kind of nutrient mix. When we got desperate, we could suck on them for nourishment. McKay wasn't too happy about it."

John smirked. He could imagine McKay's complaining. "Tell me something I don't know. OK, do you know if there is any real food on this ship? I remember a table with food on the first hive I saw, but my attention was on other things at the time."

"Like what?"

"Like how not to get the life sucked out of me. Anyway, I don't know where the food came from or why it was there."

"They may have raw materials somewhere that they use to make that nutrient stuff. After all, they have to keep their human prey alive enough to nourish them when they eventually feed."

"Any ideas where?"

"No, but McKay is the one who studied the schematics the most."

"OK, then we'll wake him up."

"He might be drugged."

"Drugged? With what?

Ronon shrugged. We weren't in stasis but we slept a lot. The food could have been drugged. When you reached me I had only just awakened and hadn't eaten anything."

"Ok, a drugged McKay. That explains why we haven't heard from him yet. We've got to think of a way to keep him quiet, though. So far the wraith don't know I'm here, and I'd like to keep it that way until we get off this ship."

"You don't think they'll notice they're missing two of their prey?"

"Not if we can stuff something else in those cocoons." John stopped scanning the halls and glanced at Ronon. "How do you feel about taking down a wraith by hand? No noise."

Ronon flexed and produced two knives, one rather long, and both sharp. "I feel fine."

"OK, then we'll wait for the next one to come by. We have to take him out before he can alert his pals through their telepathic connection or whatever."

Just then footsteps were heard in the corridor. Ronon and Sheppard withdrew into the shadows. John listened carefully and signaled that there seemed to be only one wraith. Just as the wraith passed their position, Ronon leaped on the wraith, driving his long knife into its neck. The wraith reached back for him, but Ronon got to his spinal cord before he could offer more than a token response. The wraith collapsed.

"Nice work," said Sheppard. "Why didn't you mention you could do that?"

"It only works about half the time and only if you're really close. I don't like being really close."

"Good point."

The two of them shoved the wraith body into the niche and activated the panel. The branches began to weave in front of the body, and soon the webbing covered its features.

"Think one will do for now?" Ronon was cleaning his knife on his leggings.

"Uh, sure. Don't want to do overkill," said Sheppard.

Ronon grinned fiercely. "Overkill sounds good to me."

John turned his attention to Rodney, indicating to Ronon to keep watch. He activated the panel and again watched as the branches and webbing began to disappear. He stepped up next to McKay's face and whispered loudly.

"Hey McKay! Wake up! The cavalry has arrived."

Dr. Rodney McKay stirred from his sleep and opened his mouth. Sheppard quickly put his hand over it.

"Wait a minute. We're getting you out of here, but we have to do it quietly. Quiet, in case you're wondering, means no talking. Can you do that?"

Rodney gave Sheppard a withering look and nodded. John carefully removed his hand.

"It's about time someone showed up. I haven't eaten anything in nine days, except for this syrupy stuff in a tube, and the wraith have betrayed us and are headed to Earth. We are so screwed. Do you have any idea how much work. . ."

John shoved a Power bar in McKay's mouth.

"Nice to see you too, Rodney. Now keep your trap shut until we are out of the main corridor of this ship and someplace relatively safe."

McKay nodded, grateful for the Power bar, and the three set off for the landing bay.

SGC—Cheyenne Mountain Complex

The mood in the briefing room was tense. General Hank Landry looked around the table at his flagship team. Would they be able to pull another rabbit out of the hat?

"Colonel Carter, have you had time to analyze the information transmitted from Atlantis?"

Sam glanced at the papers in front of her then back to the General. "Yes sir, and we've reviewed information from their earlier transmissions as well. From the reports of Dr. Beckett, it appears that the wraith are humans that were infected with some kind of virus or enzyme from an insect indigenous to the Pegasus galaxy. They are a mixture of wraith and human DNA. The wraith DNA, however, has removed all the normal aging processes that are part of the human genetic makeup. They have remarkable recuperative powers and are very difficult to kill. They also exist on energy that they drain from their victims. They can go for some time between feedings. Right after feeding, however, they are even harder to kill. In one of the reports, a wounded wraith used the act of feeding to heal itself. The prey, of course, was killed."

Colonel Mitchell took up the report. "They attack a world from what is called a hive ship. It acts like a carrier with smaller vessels called darts that are launched from space, enter the atmosphere, and perform the actual captures. The Pegasus natives refer to the practice as culling. The darts swing low over an area and capture humans in an energy beam. They are held in the dart in that form until they return to the hive where they rematerialize through a reverse procedure and are then taken to cells or cocoons. In some cases the darts land and wraith feed directly on the human population."

There was a pause as everyone considered this new threat to Earth.

Carter continued. "We have looked at the scans taken by the Daedalus as well as the remaining data the Atlantis' scientists were able to recover. The hive ships are mostly organic and have some self-repairing capabilities. There are weaknesses, however. Hermiod sent us more information on their shield frequencies and his efforts to break them. The best plan of attack Atlantis has found is to beam in a nuclear warhead."

Mitchell sighed. "Is it too late to direct these guys to the Ori?"

Landry ignored him. "What are our plans so far?"

Carter responded. "The Daedalus will be here in about nine days. The Odyssey is still undergoing repair but its weapons systems are online. Both will focus on the hive ships. They each have a full complement of F-302s that can be used to target the darts."

Daniel looked up from studying his papers. "The Ancient Base in Antarctica is also a possibility. We are assembling the folks with the strongest ATA gene to be ready to handle the chair."

"Are we sure the chair will work again?"

"Well, so far those who have tried are able to launch only one drone at a time. We're not sure why Jack could launch so many. It is obvious that the drones were meant to overwhelm an enemy in a swarm, much like bees swarm around an invader. We're not sure if the limitation is the person using the chair or if we are out of drones. Dr. McKay was doing a complete workup on the chair before he left for Atlantis. Unfortunately, no one has been able to pick up his research."

There was silence as the group considered the limitations and possibilities.

General Landry looked at Teal'c and Carter. "Is there any way the Jaffa or the Tok'ra could help us with ships? And what about the Asgard?"

"Sir, we haven't heard from the Tok'ra or the Asgard since the battle at the supergate," said Carter.

Teal'c continued. "And as you know, the Jaffa are divided on the teachings of the Ori. However, I will make contact with those I know on their council."

"Well I think additional effort should be put into contacting them all. Meanwhile, let's keep working on the chair, and we should be sure to have a supply of nuclear warheads if it comes to that. Well, you have your jobs, people. Let's get to it. Dismissed."

Those at the table rose as Landry left the room. Glancing at each other, the team members followed.

Hive

"Well, here it is. Home sweet home." John Sheppard gestured to his small camp next to the F-302. "Few wraith come in here between cullings since they don't need the darts. So, I figure we're relatively safe."

"I always have trouble with terms like 'relatively,'" said McKay. "They imply a lack of precision that is sloppy." Stopping a minute, he sniffs the air. "And what is that wonderful aroma you have discovered? Is that our next meal by any chance?"

"Can it, McKay." Sheppard walked over and sat down against the spacecraft. "That odor is called Old Fighter Pilot. I've been in the same uniform for nine days, and things start to smell. You're not exactly crispy clean yourself. As for our next meal, Ronon and I were talking about that. We think they have food on this ship to keep their human cargo alive for later feeding. We just have to find it. We were hoping you had some insight from perusing the hive schematics earlier."

"The schematics were in my laptop which you didn't happen to pick up, did you? I thought not. We were looking for places to set off the virus, so I was concentrating on their ventilation system. I don't remember too much about the rest of the ship except that storage and engines are in the rear. They might have some food stored there. With my luck, it will all be citrus."

"Well, it looks like we'll have to do some exploring. Ronon, are you up to some investigation? I'm not ready to sleep just yet."

"Yes, I'm ready."

"Wait a minute. Do you mean you two are going to go foraging while I stay here and guard the, what, camp?"

With exaggerated patience, Sheppard said, "Yes, Rodney. If we go alone we will be quieter. You will have no one to talk to, so you will be quieter. And quiet means we might not get caught. So just sit down. If you want something to do, try to think of a way to sabotage this ship."

They left Rodney sputtering about his importance to the universe as they set off for the aft cargo areas.

Atlantis

As usual, Dr. Weir was in her office. Carson had become aware that she was seldom anywhere else, including her quarters or the commissary. People were noticing that she was looking thin. Hence the tray in his hands as he approached her door.

Elizabeth looked up at the knock, saw Carson and smiled. "Come in. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Actually, Dr. Weir, there is something ye need to do for yourself. You have na been eating or resting. I know ye are worried about them, but the rest of the mission needs ye healthy." He placed the tray on her desk, and she saw soup, bread, and juice.

"You didn't even bring coffee?"

"Ye don't need the caffeine since you need to be goin' ta sleep. So eat up, lass, and don't make me pull medical rank. You would not enjoy a feeding tube."

Elizabeth looked at Dr. Beckett. Seeing the concern in his eyes, she quickly glanced at the tray again. She had to blink away a sudden rush of tears.

"I just can't get them out of my mind, and it is so hard not to hope."

"Aye, I know. If ye need to talk, come find me. I'm always available for ye. Now eat up and go to bed."

"Yes, sir." Elizabeth tried to smile as she pulled the tray toward her. Carson moved toward the door.

"Carson?"

He looked around and saw her dipping some bread in the soup.

"Thank you."

Their eyes met in understanding, and he nodded as he opened her door and left. She watched him go down the stairs before she dropped the bread, pushed the tray away, put her head on her desk, and let herself weep once again.