Chapter 5

Again—

Not excessively edited… if you see any mistakes please let me know!

Thanks!

They had just stepped over the event horizon and into another world. M94-086. Lieutenant Aiden Ford noticed at once, the rocks, the well trimmed grass around the gate and DHD, the waist high grasses and the road. It was no surprise to him when Teyla took point and the rest of the team followed her down the path. She knew this world and the people. In the briefing she had told them of this world's grain exports. The world was definitely interesting. There were no trees, just high grasses-- similar to the type he had seen on that long ago family trip through Africa and the Serengeti. He had questions but he didn't want to seem too much like a child. Teyla was at front and center with Major John Sheppard on her right. Dr. Rodney McKay was one and a half steps behind the pair and to the left of Teyla. No two steps behind the pair… and now standing still.

"Major! Teyla! I've got some strange readings."

McKay held a 'technology detector' in his left hand and stared intensely at the screen.

"I saw something." He was mumbling into his hands

"Yes…" Major Sheppard drew out the word impatiently.

McKay had to scramble a little to catch up. Sheppard didn't slow to wait and neither did Teyla.

"And what did you see?" The Major, continued to walk. Aiden didn't think Sheppard really wanted to wait and hear what McKay had to say.

"Oh, maybe it was nothing. Let's just continue… if I have something definite I will let you know."

Sheppard and Teyla shared a look. Aiden thought McKay seemed a little jumpy.

They were on yet another alien planet. This really was no time to doubt yourself and the technology. McKay was holding the 'general technology detector' in one hand and the 'life signs detector' in his other hand. He seemed both completely absorbed and completely perplexed.

Sheppard didn't seem to notice. Actually, Aiden mused—Sheppard didn't seem to care. It looked as if Sheppard thought he was on a hiking date with the woman of his dreams. Sheppard and Teyla were walking at a leisurely pace with about a half a foot of space between their bodies. Aiden idly wondered if there was a regulation against an alien team member and a team leader dating. If that is what they were doing or planning to do. Maybe they would just flirt and flirt for ages. He shrugged as he realized he didn't really care.

The Atlantis mission directive was to explore this galaxy—maybe there wasn't a regulation against dating. All the expedition members knew there was no guarantee they would ever return home. He couldn't imagine how others had left their wives or husbands behind. He knew he couldn't have done such a thing. To find love and abandon it for the adventure of a lifetime? Not likely for him. Wasn't falling in love supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime? At least that is what his grandmother always said. He realized he was thinking entirely too much about all this and his team mates and their existing or non-existent relationship.

His eyes drifted to the fields. Grass. Green Grass. Tall green grass. Yep. He hadn't missed anything in his inattention. McKay was still moseying directly in front of him and shifting his eyes between his left hand and his right. The grass was still green and tall.

How much longer to civilization, he wondered. Or rather how much longer to whatever constituted civilization on this planet. It baffled him how every planet they had been to had a level of technology only akin to the Dark Ages. This world was 10,000 years or something older than Earth—and yet it was stuck in the past. The Wraith had really done a number on these people. What really threw him was the fact that the Ancients had abandoned the Pegasus Galaxy—even though it was full people. Food for the wraith. The ancients had just turned tail and run. They had left everyone to the mercy of the wraith. It made no sense.

"How much longer to civilization?" This time, he spoke the words aloud.

Teyla answered that question for him. "The village is about 3 miles from the gate."

"Yes. Yes. Yes." McKay murmured to his hand held devices.

"McKay?" Sheppard called out in a questioning voice. He obviously wanted to keep going and he wanted McKay to say whatever he had to say and say it quickly. Sheppard raised a fist and the group stopped.

"There was a power surge in that direction. McKay pointed in the direction Teyla had pointed in moments before. There is probably a settlement or something, that-a-way." McKay looked up from his hands and grinned as if he had solved some major problem.

Teyla slightly rolled her eyes and started moving again in the direction of the village.

Aiden hid a smile. It looked like they were all in agreement. He checked to make sure his P-90 had the safety on and waited for McKay to start moving. And he was off--again.

Following McKay was amusing. It was very easy for McKay to get lost in his thoughts and fall a few steps behind Teyla and Sheppard. He really only did this on planets where he was 99.99999999 percent sure imminent danger wasn't on the horizon. Despite the earlier 'strange readings', McKay obviously felt sort of safe. Right now he was about two yards behind Teyla and the Major. It didn't look like he was going to scurry to catch up as he sometimes did on other worlds.

McKay suddenly stopped in his tracks, exclaiming with a loud yell, "Major".

"Yes. What is it?" Sheppard responded to McKay's yell calmly. Aiden had to respect his commanding officer. He was able to diffuse situations and potential situations quickly. It was a gift he wasn't sure he had the same gift.

I think there are wraith that way!" McKay aimed towards the village with a rapidly shaking and pointing finger.

"You think? How many? How do you know that?" Sheppard looked at Teyla as he asked the question and readied his P-90. Ford did the same.

"I've been working on modifying the range and capabilities of the life signs detector. I can now determine the differences between Wraith and human life signs at a greater distance." A distinctly proud look covered his face while he explained his work. By the time he had finished the explanation that look had been replaced by slack jawed fear.

"Major…" Aiden began in a questioning tone. He wasn't sure if McKay's devices really worked. He also wasn't sure if they had enough ordnance to take out potential wraith.

"We will move ahead… cautiously. Stay together." Sheppard looked right at McKay as he said those words.

"Teyla take point again. Let me know if and when you sense the wraith." Sheppard looked worried. Aiden knew the Major had made the best decision. They could gather a little intelligence about the wraith movements on this planet and maybe learn something about wraith weaponry.

Why were the wraith on this planet? Ford knew he hadn't heard any sounds of a battle or the whizzing sound of darts flying about harvesting people. Maybe they were just too far away to hear or perhaps this was a different type of wraith encounter.

"That can't be!"

Aiden heard the distinct sound of McKay yelling out. He slid a little closer to McKay. "Quiet" he said. It was just ridiculous how McKay could so effortlessly give away their position. It was obvious that all then non-military personnel wanting to go through the gate would have to have more training in covert maneuvering.

"Oh sorry!" McKay looked sheepish. It was clear to him that he had been too loud.

"A moment ago I CLEARLY read the energy signatures of four wraith! You remember that odd energy reading I picked up earlier. Now there are three wraith! That village has a weapon of some sort--KILLING the wraith." As McKay spoke he rapidly looked around at each member of the team as if he was trying to ensure that each grasped the importance of his words.

"Speed it up. Let's move people". Sheppard spoke these words and moved towards the front of the team. Teyla was slightly behind him. They began to move stealthily. Their backs were hunched over and they were almost jogging.

McKay tried to mimic Teyla and Sheppard but he could only manage a poor imitation. Ford knew he would be re-enacting McKay's weird ape-like bounding to amuse Sergeant's Stackhouse and Markham, after the team had returned safely from the mission.

Teyla had stopped. McKay, Aiden, and Sheppard moved closer to her. She whispered, "McKay is right. I can feel them now. There are three."

"Toodles! It worked." McKay was visibly beaming. Aiden couldn't help but grin. Yes! There were three wraith but it seemed they had a new weapon. They could now detect the Wraith from almost three miles out. This meant they didn't have to worry so much about being caught unawares. They just needed to make sure the science staff members were a little more physically fit than McKay. The man looked like he was done for. Sweat poured from his face. One detector slipped from his sweaty hands.

Aiden picked it up and handed it back to him.

"Thanks!" He took it and carefully dropped the life signs detector on the grass and looked intently at the other one…

"Wait… That energy weapon—whatever it is! It's preparing to fire again! We need to get down there, NOW!" McKay practically yelled the words.

They forgot about stealth and began to move as fast as they could. They reached a place where the ground began to slope downward. The land was freshly cut and at the bottom of the slope was a village. Aiden looked to the right and saw the remains of a destroyed wooden tower. It was still simmering. There was no other way to get down to the village except the obvious open approach. They had to run down the trimmed ground and directly enter the community. Aiden was not thrilled.

The village consisted of a dozen or so small wooden buildings. The ground was covered in places by straw. As they approached closer they saw a building, located on the side of the village, on fire. Three wraith were moving around attacking a small group of male villagers. It seemed that these men had chosen to stay and fight the wraith, even though they did not have the weapons and they barely had the ability.

There was one wraith that had fallen to his knees. Aiden could see a perfect singed circle in the center of his chest. Whatever weapon that made such a wound was one his people definitely needed. The wraith fell onto his stomach and was still.

It made no sense! Who fired the weapon? The men were defending the village with long sticks. They didn't seem to have energy weapon capabilities! Maybe there was an automated defense… something… somewhere?

Major Sheppard led them towards a building. They crouched behind it.

"Any news on that weapon, yet, McKay?" Sheppard didn't seem angry. They had willingly moved into the thick of a battle already in progress. Even though McKay had said there was a weapon, it didn't really seem that the village had any strong defenses against the three remaining wraith. If the weapon was readying to fire, Sheppard surely didn't want any of the team to be in the way.

"Almost ready! It is powering up!" McKay was so excited. Aiden could feel the giddiness rubbing off on him.

Aiden saw the Major move to the side of the building and look out towards the fight. He quickly followed suit. From what he could see, the lead wraith, the one with the visible face, had his hand out and was beginning to feed. Sheppard took his P-90 and prepared to fire. Just before he could get a let off a shot, Aiden, Sheppard, McKay, and Teyla saw two bursts of perfectly round flame jut out from the building on the other side of the center of town.

"Sir?" Aiden whispered.

"I see her Ford". The Major sounded suitably amazed.

There was a red haired young woman wearing blue jeans, with one hand on the ground. A little girl sat on her knees next to her. The woman's other hand was raised and two fire balls had just exploded from her palm. They were self directed. Each flew in a perfect arch and straight through the chests of the remaining two drones. The young woman's eyes were haunted.

"Oh my goddess!" Aiden heard the words coming from McKay. Yeah, McKay said it best.

There was a pretty Earth girl making fire and death with her hands.

Aiden knew he had no choice. He raised his P-90 and opened fire on the remaining wraith. He stood up and advanced--never ceasing to fire. He filled the body with bullets even after it had ceased to move.

The battle was over. He turned around to see where she was. She was safe. He looked back towards the building her disappearing into the grasses. She had the little girl in her arms and a bouncing messenger bag at her curvy hip.

"Hey, lady! Wait up!" he yelled out. Aiden closed his eyes in disgust. Those were the first words he could manage? "Hey, lady?"

"She is too far away. She is heading towards the caves." Teyla had walked up beside him without his noticing. She looked thoroughly amused.

"Come. I will show you".

"Off we go to find the goddess... the wonderful fiery goddess!" McKay spoke those words and nudged Aiden in the back. Aiden turned around to find him manipulating his eyebrows in what could only be construed as a lecherous look.

"Shut up." Those two words best fit the situation.

"Lets move it people" the Major ordered.

Aiden hung back and let Teyla lead the way with Sheppard and McKay at her side. McKay soon fell behind and instep with him.

"I can't stand how they look all googly eyed at each other. It's sickening."

Aiden didn't agree but kept his opinions to himself.

They were off to find his goddess, or so he hoped.