As soon as they arrived on the planet, John realised that there was something wrong. The people were running around, like headless chickens, whatever they looked like. Their faces also showed signs of stress and worry.
Silis approached them at a run, his face streaked with lines of concern and his body displayed all the tension of severe stress.
"What are you doing here?" he asked them, sharply. "Have you come to help us?"
"We were hoping you could help us," John said.
"We haven't got time for that," Silis said sharply. "Shela is missing and there are monsters in the forest. We can't help you find out why your doctors were stupid enough to crash your ship."
Ronon growled, and took a step towards the much smaller man. Teyla put a hand on his chest to stop him. But he continued to glower at Silis.
Taking a step back, the leader seemed to suddenly realise he had been more unhelpful than he really intended.
"I'm sorry, Colonel Sheppard," he said, his tone more conciliatory. "It's just that we are concerned about our safety and especially about Shela. I'm sorry I sounded harsh."
"That's okay," John said. "And I think we might be able to help each other, here. Can you describe these 'monsters' to us?"
"Well," Silis said with a frown. "All we know is what Shela told her mother. And her mother is not very coherent at the moment. But it seems they are tall, and thin with long white hair, and strange faces."
"Sounds familiar," John drawled.
"You know of these monsters?" Silis asked, fear mixed with awe in his voice.
"We've encountered them a few times," John confirmed, trying to keep his tone non-committal.
"What would they want with Shela?" Silis asked.
John glanced round at Teyla, unsure how to answer the question.
"It depends," he responded. "But we are probably looking for the same people. We think they may have our men too."
"But I thought they were dead?" Silis said, momentarily distracted from the problem he was facing.
"No," John responded. "The bodies weren't of the doctors. They were Wraith. That's what we call the 'monsters'," he added as he saw the other man's confusion over the name. "And we think they took the McKay and Beckett as their prisoners."
"So we are looking for the same people?" Silis asked. "Then you will help us?"
John turned and looked at the others before he nodded his agreement.
oOoOoOo
Rodney felt uneasy. Carson was tending Shela with a great deal of tender care, but there was something frenetic about his actions. Although Carson often moved quickly when there was a medical emergency, there as always something measured about his actions. But not now. Not since Michael had healed him.
Also, hiding at the back of his mind was the thought that Michael hadn't followed through on his threat to force Carson to de-humanise them. He wondered just what surprises the Wraith had up his sleeve for them in that regard.
As if summoned by his thoughts, the door of their prison opened, and Michael walked in.
"How is your patient, Dr Beckett?" he asked, not really seeming to care about the answer.
"She's doing well," Carson confirmed, smiling down at the still unconscious girl. "All her vitals are strong, and I don't think it'll be too long before the wee lass is awake and talking to us all."
"Oh great," Rodney said. "That's all we need. A lively nine-year old."
"She's only eight," Carson corrected.
"And that makes all the difference, of course," Rodney responded sardonically.
Michael eyed the two men, seeming to enjoy the banter. It made Rodney wonder just how human he'd become.
"As your patient is recovering, Dr Beckett," Michael continued, as if the interruption hadn't taken place. "You will now have time to do what I brought you here to do."
"And what makes you think I am prepared to help you?" Carson said, standing and turning to face the Wraith.
Rodney took a deep breath. A brave Carson wasn't always a good thing. He preferred a cautious Carson, even a cowardly Carson. A brave Carson could be detrimental to not only his own health, but, more importantly, to Rodney's too.
"I thought we'd been through this already," Michael said, a snarl in his voice. "If you don't help us, then Dr McKay will suffer, and you will watch."
"Is that the best you can do?" Carson asked, scornfully, causing Rodney to almost choke.
"Carson!" he said, his voice frantic. "This is my life you're talking about. What would you do if I wasn't around to save your ungrateful hide all the time?"
"I'd probably live to a grand old age, Rodney," Carson replied. "And with a few less grey hairs."
Rodney felt hurt and more than slightly resentful. But then he glanced at the Scot and saw the look in his friend's eyes. He realised Carson was saying these things for Michael's benefit.
"And talking of grey hairs, Dr Beckett," Michael said. "It will be Dr McKay who will acquire a few if you don't help me."
"And what if I do help you?" Carson asked. "What then? You'll just let us go? I don't think so. You'll turn back into Wraith and then turn your life-sucking hands on us, and kill us anyway. So why should I help you?"
"Carson!" Rodney said again. "Are you trying to get us both killed?"
Michael strode over to the door, and threw it open with a crash. "Come here!" he snarled at those on the other side of the doorway.
The two Wraith who came in were of the warrior class. They were large, and faceless, but just as intimidating as any other Wraith Rodney had ever seen.
"Now Dr Beckett," Michael said, turning swiftly on the Scot. "Let's just see how brave you really are?" The smile on Michael's face didn't bode well for anyone. The Wraith reached out his hand, but this time it did not reach towards the doctor's chest; it reached towards his head.
"I have invaded your brain once before, Beckett," Michael continued. "And I can easily do it again."
Carson let out a cry of agony, and clutched his head, while sinking to his knees.
"I will let you re-live your worst nightmare again and again. You will watch Dr McKay die slowly, over and over again, knowing you could save him. And when I come back, maybe then you will be ready to help me, or else your nightmare may become a reality.
oOoOoOo
John was pacing around in front of the Stargate. They had decided to come back through the Gate and get together a larger team to help search the planet for Rodney, Carson and now Shela. But he was feeling impatient. He just wanted to get on with it. He didn't like the thought of what Michael might do to the two doctors. They were vulnerable, especially Carson, and he felt responsible for them. He needed to do something, anything. Action was always better than inactivity.
The last of the team joined the others, and John turned up towards the control room where Elizabeth and Radek were standing. He nodded towards them, and heard Elizabeth's order to dial the Gate. He waited, watching the Gate, waiting for the familiar curtain of water to appear. Nothing happened. He glanced up at Elizabeth, who was frowning.
"Elizabeth?" he said.
"We are having a problem establishing the connection," she replied, sounding distracted.
John climbed the stairs, two at a time. He reached them just as Elizabeth turned back to face him. Her frown had now deepened and she looked seriously worried.
"What's the problem?" John asked.
"One of the crystals is missing," Radek answered.
"Can't you just by-pass it or something?" John asked, not really sure what the crystals actually did.
"This is the main crystal that operates the Stargate," Radek explained, a frown of concentration on his face. "Without it, we cannot establish a connection. But it is worse," he added. "Even if there is an incoming wormhole, we cannot be sure that the wormhole will be stable. And we cannot raise the shield."
"How could someone steal the crystal?" Teyla asked, as she and Ronon joined the others.
"There's always plenty people around here," Ronon pointed out.
"Has there been anyone who's not authorised hanging around?" John asked Radek.
"No-one," Radek answered straight away. "Well," he amended. "No-one other than Jinto and he was here by permission."
"I think I'll need to have a word with that boy," Sheppard said, a determined note in his voice. "I don't want to leave Rodney and Carson in Michael's hands any longer than I have to. I don't want to have to recover bodies."