Elizabeth was at a loss to know how to deal with Jinto. His utter distress made her feel sympathy for him, and she wanted to comfort the boy. But she also knew that he had to be punished. He obviously knew what he was doing was wrong, otherwise he'd not have reacted the way he did. And if she didn't punish him, it would send the wrong message, not only to the boy, but to others who might feel tempted to break the law.
The situation was made worse because of the sometimes delicate relations between the Lanteans and the Athosians. Elizabeth knew that there was still some resentment among the Athosians for the way they had been treated at times by the people from Earth. The words "authoritarian" and "judgmental" had been thrown at her in the past, and she didn't want to alienate one of their few allies in the Pegasus Galaxy.
"Jinto," she said, crouching down so that her eyes were on the same level as the boy's. "You know that we need to punish you for what you have done?"
The boy looked at her through tear-filled eyes, and nodded. Elizabeth glanced up at Radek who stood just behind the boy. His face held the same reluctance she felt.
"I have to decide what the best punishment is," Elizabeth continued. "And I want to speak to your father before I settle on it. But in the meantime, we'll have to confine you."
A sudden look of real fear sprang into the boy's eyes, puzzling Elizabeth. Up until that point, Jinto had been upset, but not afraid.
"Perhaps," Radek added. "We could confine Jinto to his room, rather than to the brig?"
The relief on the boy's face was almost tangible.
"Very well," Elizabeth replied, before calling one of the security contingent to them. "Please take Jinto to his room, and make sure he stays there."
The security officer was far too well trained to let his curiosity show. But it was not the usual sort of request he got.
As the officer led Jinto away, Elizabeth turned to Radek with a puzzled frown on her face.
"There is certainly something strange going on here," she said thoughtfully.
"Very strange," Radek replied. "It was as if he was afraid of something, but when you said he could be confined to his room, he seemed more happy. I must investigate this further. I think I must have missed something."
"Thank you, Radek," Elizabeth said, with a warm smile. "Report any findings directly to me. We don't want too many rumours starting with this one."
The Czech smiled his reply
oOoOoOo
Rodney staggered down the dark and damp corridor, trying to keep up with Michael, and also trying to support the almost unconscious body of Carson at the same time.
"What's the hurry?" Rodney demanded, between laboured breaths as Michael dragged them further into the complex. The Wraith didn't reply. In fact, he didn't even acknowledge Rodney's existence.
"Oh that's right," Rodney continued, indignantly. "Just ignore me. What is it with you, Wraith? You go all starey-eyed on us, and then you force us through a hole that suddenly appears in the wall, and down corridors that don't feel as if they've been used for a hundred years." Barely pausing for breath, Rodney continued. "Oh now I get it. You were using that telepathy-thingy. The group-mind, insect, hive, consciousness thing."
Michael did react to that, but it was only to briefly turn towards the scientist, and snarl at him.
"Oh very civilized," Rodney retorted. "So what did your group consciousness tell you? Are the others here to rescue us? Is that why you're so spooked?" Rodney looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, wait," he continued. "If it was that, you'd be running towards your other Wraith/Human hybrids. But you're not. You're running away for them? So do they not like you either?"
"Enough!" Michael said sharply, stopping abruptly, causing Rodney to almost bump into him. Carson, still more unconscious than awake, didn't stop, and his forward momentum resulted in all three men in a heap on the ground.
"You idiot," Michael raged. "Are you trying to get us all killed?"
"What?" Rodney said. "Is that opposed to you killing us? Why should we help you to escape? Because that's what you're doing, isn't it? You're trying to escape from your own kind. So why do you need us? Why not leave us here? You'd get on much faster without us."
The exchange of words seemed to have roused Carson from his semi-stupor.
"Rodney?" he said, hesitantly.
Rodney turned to look at his friend, glad to see recognition in the other man's eyes. The scientist had been seriously worried that Michael's intervention might have fried Carson's brain.
"Hurry up!" Michael barked.
Carson turned towards the Wraith, looking suddenly bewildered.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"He's running away," Rodney responded, disparagingly.
Michael reached out and slapped Rodney across the face, sending the scientist flying back against the wall of the corridor through which they were escaping.
Carson moved quickly to Rodney's side, although he had to steady himself against the wall before he leant over his friend. He automatically started to check Rodney over for any serious damage, but the other man pushed the doctor's hands away, gently.
"I'm fine, Carson," Rodney assured him. "I think our friend, here, is losing his strength."
Carson turned to look at Michael. The Wraith did look different. Not exactly paler, since Wraith were pale to begin with. But all Carson's medical training and intuition told him that Michael was not well. The Scot instinctively reached out toward the Wraith, but his concern was met with a slap of the hand, as Michael rejected any compassion.
Instead, Michael raised the weapon he was carrying and motioned for the two men to precede him.
"Move!" he virtually shouted.
"Good idea," Rodney muttered. "Bring all the other Wraith here, why don't you?"
He continued to mutter as he and Carson obeyed the Wraith's command. Neither of the two men were very steady on their feet, but between the two of them, they were just about able to stay upright and walk in a reasonably straight line.
"Where are we?" Carson asked in whispered tones.
"In some secret corridor or other, I think," Rodney responded. "Michael pressed a panel in the wall, and a doorway appeared."
"And we're running from the other Wraith?"
"I think so, though our tight-lipped friend there won't admit it. I think he's done something to seriously piss them off."
Carson chuckled, which developed into a cough, which stopped them in their tracks again, to allow him to recover.
The delay made Michael even more edgy, and by the time the emerged into daylight, the Wraith seemed a bundle of nervous twitches and anxious glances. Once out in the open, the Wraith forced the pace even more, causing more than the odd stumble, and a few full-blown falls. As Rodney bent to help Carson up to his feet again, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be John and the others come to rescue them?
But moments later, his hopes were dashed. The figures that appeared out of the woods were not Lanteans.
"Michael!" one of the Wraith called out. "You were not taking the doctor away from us, were you?" he challenged.
"No-one seems to care about what happens to me," Rodney muttered.
"Think yourself lucky," Carson retorted.
"No!" Michael's response was more of a snarl than a word. "I was taking him to safety in case you allowed his friends to rescue him."
"You are too soft on these people," one of the other Wraith spat out. "They are only good for one thing. What makes you think this doctor can do something we can't? He is inferior to us in every way. Kill him, kill them both, and get rid of this burden you have landed us with."
"And now he notices me," Rodney muttered.
"No," said the Wrath, who seemed to be leading the rebellion. "One thing Michael got right was that the doctor can help us." The smile the Wraith gave Michael was evil personified. "Where he went wrong was by not simply taking the information from his brain. It is a mistake I plan to rectify."
"Fine," Michael snarled in reply. "If you want the doctor, you can have him. But you should realize by now that his brain is useless. I doubt he's capable of coherent thought. But you're welcome to try." With that, he pushed Carson towards the rebels, with such force that the doctor cannoned into the Wraith, falling heavily and taking down four Wraith with him.
In the moments of confusion that ensued, Rodney found his arm being grabbed painfully by Michael. The Wraith then forced Rodney to follow him into the undergrowth, away from the threat of the other Wraith.
"But Carson!" Rodney said, trying to break free from the strong grip. But still Michael did not stop, and Rodney's continued struggles only earned him more bruises. Just before the undergrowth enveloped them completely, Rodney managed to glance back at Carson. The site he saw did not fill him with hope. The Scot was lying on the ground, motionless. And he was surrounded by Wraith, just waiting to pounce on their prey.