Chapter 6 – Doomed.

Teyla ran to Diodorus, and Milarya knew in that moment that she would die. The woman screamed as the creatures ran toward her, their bloodlust sounding in their screeches. She struggled against the chain as it cut into her wrist and made her bleed while she watched Teyla run in the other direction.

John nodded. It had been the right choice. He was just sorry that she had to make it. He watched the beasts leap onto Milarya and tear her to pieces, ripping her flesh with their talons and taking chunks out of her leg and stomach with their teeth. The woman cried in agony and Rodney turned away, covering his ears with a moan. John put a hand on his shoulder.

Milarya's midsection was swiped, and the contents of her stomach spilled onto the sand with a sudden guttural scream. The people cheered.

Teyla ran as fast as she could, blocking out the screams of Milarya and keeping her eyes on Diodorus who was fearfully watching them close in on him. Teyla knew she would get there in time, but only just.

The creatures bounded along to the cheers of the arena and Teyla closed in on them, trying to head them off before they reached him. Teyla felt an anger like never before. She had been made to choose and she didn't have to. They could have both been left to live and now the kind woman who had first helped them on this planet was dead. And it was her fault.

Teyla felt a bloodlust of her own consume her, the desperation to protect all that she knew. She snatched a small dagger from her chest and threw it at the furthest creature. The dagger hit it in the back and it fell, stumbling, arms reaching to pull the foreign object from its flesh.

The other kept running and Teyla sped up before leaping at its back and catching its neck, bringing it tumbling to the ground. Teyla rolled to her feet and brought her sword up as it turned on her. It snarled and crouched. Teyla raised an eyebrow.

The creature pounced and Teyla side stepped, swiping its arm as it slammed into the ground next to her before kicking it squarely in the back. It spun, deflecting her next two kicks with its forearms before standing and surging forward to grab her neck. Teyla immediately took her own hands and pulled the helmet off its head to land a vicious head butt on its ugly face. It stumbled back and Teyla launched into a side kick and then into a roundhouse. She rolled, retrieved her sword and decapitated the other creature as it began to crawl to Diodorus with the dagger still lodged in its back. The head spun off its shoulder and the crowd roared.

John winced. He could understand that Teyla was in a bit of a fix, and she was probably feeling slight pissed, but damn…

Teyla turned with a growl to face the other creature as it advanced. She ducked its back hand and leapt up to deliver her own with the hilt of her sword before spinning, flipping the sword in the air, and decapitating it with the blade.

Two down, and the other two had just arrived.

'Look out!' Diodorus yelled.

Teyla saw them. She saw them snarl at the boy, growl at him, and she felt her grip tighten. They wouldn't touch him.

They approached and Teyla immediately jumped into a kick which landed on one and deflected to wind the other. She brought her sword into play, slashing at them as they stepped back skilfully avoiding the blade. Teyla growled her frustration, and with a renewed fury surged forward even faster and caught one on the chest. It spun to its left and the other charged in swiping her face with its talons. Teyla spun and came back round with the sword, slitting its throat.

Its hands gripped the exposed jugular and started shaking uncontrollably, falling to its knees and then the floor. Black blood oozed onto the sand as it fell still. The last creature stood having only been caught by the blade, and it growled.

Teyla smiled, thrust the sword into the ground at her side and walked forward.

'What is she doing?' Rodney squeaked. John frowned.

'I have no idea.'

Ronan remained silent and watched with a look of wonder.

Teyla ducked its swipe and backhanded him before landing a heavy foot into its calf, slamming her fist into its face. The helmet fell to the floor and it screeched, grabbing her wrist and spinning her to the ground, sliding her underneath him.

Teyla head butted him viciously before it sank its teeth into her neck and kneed it off of her. She rolled onto it and began punching it continually. Left, right, left, right. The crowd approved as she continued to beat him to death.

John watched with a grim expression. Teyla was doing what she had to. He had to remind himself of that. He ignored the fact that she could have killed it several times by now and this beating was unnecessary.

Tycho watched on nodding. Teyla had understood him. She was focused. The Arena knew no mercy.

Covered in its blood Teyla finally stopped before flipping backwards off of him, giving it room to get shakily to its feet.

'Damn it, Teyla, just-' John began.

But as soon as it stood, Teyla surged forward, grasped its head and twisted viciously. The beast's neck snapped and it fell to the floor.

The arena erupted in roars of victory.

Teyla stood for a moment and surveyed the carnage. She had fought well, and the boy was safe. Teyla turned to him and ran over, pulling her sword from the ground and slamming it onto his chains. After three strikes, they snapped, and Diodorus was free. The boy ran into her arms and she held him as he shook.

Teyla took his hand and saw that he was covered in blood, and then she looked down at herself and froze. A thick layer of black fluid covered her armour, her skin, her boots, her chest. She reached for her face and then saw her hands. It dripped off of her and fell to the sand.

Teyla felt cold, she couldn't hear, could barely see, couldn't breathe…Diodorus tugged at her side and Teyla looked down, her eyes stinging. The boy pointed across the stadium and Teyla's heart jumped. She took his hand as they sped across the sand.

Teyla left him a few feet away and she slowly approached what was left of Milarya. She kneeled at the dead woman's side and hung her head. She felt shame, guilt, anger and sorrow. It was too much and she loathed it. Teyla took Milarya's hand and looked into her glassy blue eyes as they stared up from the ground.

'I am sorry.' She whispered.

John, Rodney and Ronan were silent. They could feel her pain from where they stood. The crowd became silent.

'There, there, Teyla.' A voice called cruelly. 'You have saved one of the two, and that is good enough.'

Teyla stood and paused, collecting herself. Her hatred was animalistic. She took the boys hand and walked to the centre looking up at Titus. He watched her eyes burn with the need for revenge. His lip curled.

'Quite entertaining.' He commented brightly. 'And the moment I find your friends, I will be entertained further.'

John glanced at Rodney and Ronan. He wasn't sure if Rodney felt scared or just venomous, but Ronan's knuckles were white from gripping the balcony so hard. He knew the feeling. Athera put a gentle hand on his shoulder to calm the Satedan.

The team watched Teyla. The crowd watched Teyla. Titus waited.

Teyla breathed with difficulty her hatred was so much, but her voice was able to show her strength and her promise for his blood.

'Whether it is this day or another…I will end you.' She snarled.

Titus smiled thinly. 'I've no doubt you'll try.' He whispered to her, and then raised his voice for the rest to hear. 'Take her back to her cell, and as a gift for her victory, she may take the boy with her!'

The crowd cheered and chanted his name as the soldiers flooded into the arena. John watched as Teyla took a stance.

'She can't be serious.' Rodney commented.

Teyla was considering fighting them, she was on a roll and all of these men were evil, so why not? But a presence at her side, a small hand slipping into her own, made her reconsider, and go quietly. She took Diodorus back to the Underworld.

John sighed and turned from the arena. Rodney folded his arms with a look of serious worry. 'Okay, who thinks Teyla needs a nice long day at the Spa?'

'I've never see her like that.' Ronan said grimly.

'We don't know what's happened to her here.' John said quietly. 'But we need to get her out of here, and fast.'

'Super fast, like the speed of light, before she gets all psychotic gladiator on us.' Rodney insisted.

Athera butted in. 'Come, we must go.'

They followed her out, plans already set in motion in their minds, and deep worry for their friend in their thoughts.

Teyla stepped into the cell with Diodorus to a massive cheer from the inmates. Tycho stepped forward with a wide grin.

'Well done, and the fruits of your labour is here with you-'

Teyla swept past him without a word, taking the boy with her to the corner haystack. Those sitting on it immediately moved away. Tycho followed slowly and watched her with gentle eyes.

'Titus gave you no choice. You could not have saved them both.' He stated. When she did not respond, he knelt at her side. 'You made the right decision.'

Teyla's brown eyes looked at him with anger and guilt and Tycho felt himself shift uncomfortably. He took a piece of cloth from a nearby box and handed it to her, her cheek was bleeding badly. The gash was deep enough for the blood to flow down her chest and underneath her breastplate. Teyla nodded and placed the cloth onto the wound gently. She seemed unaffected by the pain.

Tycho allowed her a moment to her thoughts and turned to the boy with a kind smile. 'And who might you be?'

The boy watched him with wide eyes and seemed unable to hear him. Tycho crossed over and the boy's eyes did not follow. He was in shock, and understandably so. Tycho placed an arm on his shoulder.

'His name is Diodorus.' Teyla said softly. 'He-'

'Dio.' The boy said quietly. 'My Mother called me Dio.'

Teyla leaned toward him. 'Dio, where is your Mother?' She asked.

Dio's eyes welled with tears and he buried his head in his hands. Teyla knew the answer immediately and felt the same fury sweep through her as it had done in the arena. Teyla stood and walked forward. Tycho watched her and left the boy to his crying for a moment, walking toward her.

'You are angry.' He stated quietly, close enough to see the ghastly wound on her cheek. His hand reached for it, brushing the surface. 'And badly injured.'

Teyla's hand stopped his from searching her face. She looked up at him, her jaw jutting out an angle, but her eyes holding back tears. 'I am fine, but I cannot stay here any longer.' She paused, and seeing Tycho's confusion, she answered with a look of shame. 'I am changing. I feel…different.'

'The Arena can do that, Teyla. Its demands are great of the human body and the mind, it is not surprising you feel different.' Tycho said gently.

Teyla shook her head. 'No, it is more than that. The Arena is a place of death, of despair, people die fighting for their lives…and for others.' She looked to Dio. 'But I felt a great anger, and then…nothing.' Tycho frowned as he listened. 'I was killing those creatures and I felt nothing, not until I had stopped. But I could still hear…the people…their cheers…'

Tycho nodded grimly. 'You felt empowered by it.' He stated, and Teyla's eyes snapped to him.

Suddenly, the dungeon door opened and the guards pointed their arrows at her once more. Teyla felt a sudden panic rise.

'I am to fight again?' She asked, hearing the commotion in the arena heating up as the next contestants fight got under way. Tycho shook his head.

'No, they will take you to the Medicine Man. I will keep Dio safe.' He said firmly.

Teyla watched him and shook her head. 'You know everything that goes on here, how can you never have tried to escape?'

Tycho smiled bitterly. 'They await you.'

Teyla paused and then walked gingerly to the door. Tycho watched her go and then felt a presence at his side. Boran watched Teyla with folded arms.

'She's a warrior of some skill, and yet she is too soft. The things she has done in the arena are to be commended, and then she comes back here to complain to you.' Boran shook his head. 'What holds her back?'

Tycho raised his eyebrows. 'I don't think there's much else left to stand in her way.'

'Good.' Boran said sternly. 'She'll fight better for it.' He wandered off and Tycho turned to Dio, finding him a spare blanket to shield him with.

Teyla walked into the room she had been in the other day, barely conscious, but she remembered the place of the candles and the long table in the centre of the room. She turned to the soldiers.

'Sit. He'll be here in a moment.' They ordered, closing the door and locking it.

Teyla sat. She wasn't in the mood to argue. She felt hot, but numb. Her mind kept going over the fight, desperately trying to convince herself that she was not losing focus of her own morals to this wretched place. She was a killer, yes, but she would not become a murderer.

'Ah, pondering over the fight are we?' A voice came from behind.

Teyla's heart skipped a beat as she turned. Teyla leapt from the table and readied herself with a loathsome glare. 'You.' She seethed.

The old man tottered into the room with two small containers and set them down on a small table. His star blue eyes shone animatedly, and his long white hair hung around his shoulders.

Quintus smiled and moved forward. Teyla narrowed her eyes.

'You betrayed us and your niece. Milarya is dead because of you.' She said furiously.

'Mila is dead because she defied the Emperor, and she is dead because you chose the little boy and not her.' He paused. 'Marvellous fight, by the way, I was most impressed.'

Teyla surged forward with menace and Quintus raised a hand. 'Now, now, we'll have none of that in here. This is a place of healing.' He said firmly, like a parent spoke to their child. 'Besides, these wonderful men will skewer you with arrows before you even have a chance to break my neck.' He smiled again, and then hurriedly extended an arm to the table. 'Sit! Sit, please, you must be exhausted.'

Teyla took a moment, the new information bringing back a need for blood. She quieted herself and sat. She would not lose control. She was not a murderer. Not like Quintus.

'You are a spy.' She stated.

'I have been here for many years; I often bring Titus his best fighters. Who would suspect an old man?' He crossed over to her with a damp cloth. She snatched it from him before he touched her. He nodded with a little laugh and backed away. 'Athera, however, will not be joining you in the ring any time soon. She has evaded capture, as have your friends.'

Teyla looked up at him at the mention of them, and guilt immediately struck her when she realised that she had not thought to ask about them. 'You do not know where they are?' She paused. 'Good.'

'They will be found. The guard is thorough.' He stated, busying himself by mixing a paste.

Teyla watched him. 'Why include Athera in this? Why now?'

'Oh, I have been looking for a reason to be rid of the little traitor for some time, ever since her fool of a husband was discovered not only badmouthing the Emperor, but Aresedys himself!' He said incredulously. 'And of course, he was useless in the arena.'

Teyla scowled at him. 'You brought your niece's husband here to die?'

'Mh, you saw him! Aegen.' He handed her the pot with the paste. 'A nice thick layer now and that will be practically healed by morning.' He smiled proudly.

Teyla stared. 'Aegen, the man who fought before me…was Athera's husband?'

'Yes, it took a while for the Emperor to be done questioning him, and torturing him, well, you must know the like, poor fellow was sent to me a few times…but I fixed him prettily with my paste, as it will fix you.' He leant on the small table across from her and folded his arms.

Teyla could not believe that she had missed the insanity and evil intent in this man the first time she had met him. His act was so realistic, but she still felt the fool.

'Come now, hurry with the paste. You must return to the Underworld to see to that boy, evil little viper he was…snuck a beetle into my soup once when I was visiting…' Quintus turned back to his pots and Teyla raised an eyebrow.

John fumed. This kitchen was so damn small; there was no good pacing room. And Ronan's massive presence only made everything seem smaller. John stopped and folded his arms. 'Okay, any ideas?'

Ronan, Rodney and Athera watched him. John wilted. 'Come on guys, Teyla needs help. We have to have something.'

'Well, let's see – we have an angry Colonel armed with sarcasm, a gung ho Satedan and a genius scientist with no technology to work with, whatsoever.' Rodney stated. 'How does that help?'

'It doesn't.' John snapped.

Ronan stood from his chair. 'I say we go in and break her from her cell before she has to fight again.'

'Oh fantastic plan, Mr Technical, how are you going to pull that off?' Rodney sneered.

'By shooting anything that moves.' Ronan spun his weapon threateningly.

'You see? Gung ho. We have got be more serious about this than "break in and kill everything with a pulse," there could be thousands of bad guys in that place.' Rodney urged forcefully.

'Your friend is right; the Arena is indeed a fortress. But I believe that if you are going to do this, then breaking her from her cell would be better than taking her direct from the Arena in front of the Emperor.' Athera suggested.

'Good – how?' John asked. Athera looked agitated. 'What?'

'It is impossible. You will die, she will die, and everyone in the vicinity will die. The Emperor is a madman!' Athera exclaimed. 'There are too many guards.'

'Well, when aren't there too many guards?' Sheppard asked.

'Hold on, can we go back to the bit where the Emperor is a madman and everyone dies thing?' Rodney asked shrilly.

'I asked the guard this question, he wanted more money, but I gave it to him.' Athera shook her head. 'The guard is less at night, maybe thirty on the lower levels of the Arena where the cells are.'

'Thirty!' Rodney echoed loudly.

'There are hundreds during the day when the Emperor is near.' Athera added.

'That's better, kinda manageable.' John nodded.

'Manageable? Three against thirty? Are you insane?!' Rodney asked incredulously. 'There's no way-'

'Four, four against thirty. I'm coming with you.' Athera said sternly.

'No.' John stated.

'Colonel, my husband was taken into the Arena, he could still be there, as long as there is a chance that he is alive – I am coming with you.' She stated emotionally.

'You can help by giving us information on getting in and out; we'll find him, if he's there.' John said gently. Athera looked venomous but nodded.

'Where can we get in?' Ronan asked.

'There is a way in the back, but you must evade patrols-' She began.

'Oh this is a bad plan. You might as well walk in and hand yourself over saying "Mad Emperor, take me please, I have a death wish." Rodney commented.

John paused and looked at the group. 'I have an idea.'

Rodney's head hit the table. 'We're doomed.'