Awareness returned to Carson slowly, very slowly. He started to feel his extremities. The tingling sensation in his hands and feet started to annoy him, rousing him from his unconsciousness. At first he tried to ignore it, but his hands started to itch, and instinctively he started to scratch them. He felt the hands of another reach out and stop his hand scratching. Something seemed wrong about it, but in his befuddled state he couldn't quite work out what it was.
But the wrongness started to pray on his mind, and eventually he forced himself to open his eyes, just to see where he was, and what was niggling away at him.
His eyes took a while to focus. At first all he could see was light – a white, vibrant light that hurt his eyes and made his head ache. Gradually, though, things started to take shape. The blurred edges solidified and he was able to recognize elements of his surroundings.
"So you're back with me, Dr Beckett," a familiar voice said.
"But how . . ?" Carson asked, confused to suddenly find himself face to face with Michael, yet again.
"A little Wraith technology, modified by some friends of mine," Michael said. "It's a culling beam that can be directed at one very specific target. In this case, you."
"What about the others, in the other ship?" Carson asked.
"What other ship?" Michael replied. "There is no other ship . . . now."
"You killed them?" Carson asked, unable to keep the pain out of his voice.
"Why should that bother you, Dr Beckett?" Michael asked. "They hardly treated you well, and after all, killing people is not something you are particularly squeamish about."
Carson sighed. He could hardly argue with that. And Michael wasn't to know that he had argued strongly to spare them from the aerial bombardment which John had ordered.
It made Carson wonder, though. Maybe there was an element of truth in what Ronon said. Once a Wraith, always a Wraith. Even when they became human, they seemed to have no compunction in killing others, as poor Lathan had found out.
Or maybe it was the Pegasus Galaxy. Maybe it made murderers of everyone. Carson sighed.
"Regret at your actions, Dr Beckett?" Michael asked.
"Aye," Carson admitted. "Maybe a wee bit. But if you don't do something you regret, you'll never grow, never learn compassion."
"Compassion?" Michael asked, a note of contempt in his voice. "Is that what you showed to me?"
Carson just looked at him, pain shining in his blue eyes. He couldn't really answer the Wraith's question. How could he explain that he had only been trying to find a way for humans and Wraith to co-exist without the genocide of one or the other.
"Where are you taking me?" Carson asked, changing the subject.
"Somewhere that you friends will not be able to trace. Somewhere that people can disappear and never be found again."
Carson's heart sank.
oOoOoOo
"The remaining ship is heading towards that planet," Rodney said.
"Have we discovered what that planet is yet?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think it is Cha'Nora," Radek said, stumbling slightly over the unusual name. "There are a number of references to a planet in that area in the Ancient database. And they all say that is its name. There do not appear to be any other habitable planets in the vicinity."
Radek's comment caused Teyla and Ronon to exchange a look.
"Ok," John said. "What is that look for?"
Teyla hesitated before she replied. "We both recognize the name of that planet," she admitted finally.
"And it isn't good," Ronon added ominously.
"In what way?" Elizabeth asked.
"Know that place they visited in "Star Wars"," Ronon said. The others nodded, while Elizabeth made a mental note to review the amount of time John's team spent watching DVDs. "The one where all the low-lifes were. That is what Cha'Nora is like."
"But surely a Wraith couldn't just go there without causing a commotion?" John said, with a question in his voice.
"Wraith are just as welcome, or unwelcome, as anyone there," Ronon said. "It's a place where no-one asks any questions, and where people disappear without trace."
Teyla nodded her agreement at his words.
"Have either of you ever been there?" Elizabeth asked.
Teyla shook her head, but Ronon responded with a nod. "It was a good place to escape from the Wraith," he said. "And no-one answered any of their questions."
"So," John drawled thoughtfully. "We can go there, and no-one would as much as look at us, but they'd also be stum on seeing Carson too."
"Yep," Ronon agreed. "And they might just try to kill you, just for the hell of it."
"Sounds like a nice place," Elizabeth said, sarcasm lacing her voice.
"It's the only lead we've got," John said. "But how the hell do we find Carson once we get there?"
"Provided he's still alive to be found," Rodney pointed out.
"The ship appears to be in orbit around the planet," Radek said, his eyes never leaving the screen in front of him.
"We need to get there fast," Ronon said. "Nobody stays there long. Two days, tops."
"How long would it take to get there in a 'Jumper?" Elizabeth asked.
"Using the 'Gate," John replied. "A day, or maybe less."
"But we wouldn't exactly have a major strike force to get Carson out," Rodney pointed out.
"Go in mob-handed, and they'd kill you," Ronon remarked. "You need to do things real quietly, so no-one will notice."
"So we go there, ask no questions," Rodney said, annoyance in his voice. "Skulk around so no-one notices us, pretend we're not really there, and then leave. And that's going to help us find Carson, how?"
"Do you have a better plan, Rodney?" John asked.
"No," Rodney admitted reluctantly. "But I just wanted to make sure that I knew all the drawbacks to the plan we're using."
"Jada could find Dr Beckett," Jinto said quietly, from the corner where he'd taken up residence.
"What?" Rodney asked, abruptly.
"Jada could find Dr Beckett," Jinto said more forcefully. "He is good at finding things."
"We'd noticed," John said sardonically.
"It is true that some of my people have found the chicu useful in searching for people and for things. Much like you use dogs on earth, I believe."
"How do they find people?" Elizabeth asked. "Is it by scent?"
"That is one way," Jinto replied eagerly. "But they are intelligent and can use other senses too, like hearing, and sight. They are good at it too. Almost as good as Ronon." He earned himself a brief grin from the big man.
"So we take that creature to this God-forsaken planet, and then chase around after it, like something out of a French farce," Rodney said.
"It's worth a try," John said, grinning properly for the first time since Carson went missing. "What's the worst that can happen?"
"The monkey get's us all killed," Rodney said morosely.
"And thank-you, Mr Optimism," John said, over his shoulder as he moved towards the equipment that was lying waiting for their use. "That's what I love about you, Rodney, your unfailing good humour."
Ronon snorted as he hefted a gun into his arms, checking it out to make sure it was in working order.
"Lock and load," he said, with a grin on his face.
"They've definitely been watching too many DVDs," Elizabeth said to herself.
"Well," Rodney said with a sigh. "I suppose I'd better go with you too. So that when your brawn fails to win the day, yet again. My brain can come to the rescue. So that when the monkey business ends in failure, at least I'll be on hand to save Carson."
"And now I remember the other thing I love about you, Rodney," John said sarcastically. "Your modesty."
"Just bring Carson back safely," Elizabeth said, cutting through the bickering. "And I want the rest of you in one piece too."
"Yes, ma'am," John said with a grin, as he headed towards the PuddleJumper, Jinto and Jada in tow. "I'll even bring back the monkey safely."
The chicu beared it's teeth at him, and made a chattering sound. Jinto grinned. "Jada has promised to bring back Colonel Sheppard safely too."
With a ripple of laughter following them, the group made their way to the Jumper ready to go in search of Carson, just hoping against hope that he was till alive.