A.N.- Okay, here's the next part. hope you like it and once again, I do not own Stargate nor John Sheppard no matter how much I'd like to.
Trouble: chapter two
Colonel Samantha Carter looked up from her desk as the alarms blared to life. She coolly walked out into the control room.
"I.D.C.?" She asked Chuck, who sat at the control tonight.
"No, ma'am but we are getting a video feed."
"Patch it through." She ordered as Rodney, Teyla, and Ronon walked up behind her.
"Sheppard?" McKay asked. Rodney and his team all but ran into the control room.
Sam nodded towards them all and led them towards the main screen. Ronon frowned as the screen flickered awake to show Sheppard, on his knees, hands chained above his head. He appeared healthy enough though Ronon was certain that fact would quickly change.
"Did you get anything from the Genii?" Rodney whispered, leaning closer to Carter.
"No," She answered, disappointment in her voice.
"Colonel Carter? Are you receiving the transmission?" Sora asked through the static.
"We are." She replied, her voice void of emotion.
"And do you have Teyla ready for the trade?" John sighed inwardly as she stood in front of him, hip popped in defiance. She truly believed she would succeed with this, which often meant there were no boundaries.
"No, we do not," Colonel Carter swallowed and took another step towards the screen. "and you should know that we were faced with this same situation a year ago and we did not give into those threats and neither will we give into yours."
"With respect, Colonel Carter." Sora's tone hardened as she stood up straighter. "Kolya was a fool on a fool's mission. He did not have the proper technique or leverage, for there was comfort in the fact that Colonel Sheppard would indeed die but you will not have that comfort this time. I have at my disposal a medical doctor and a wide supply of drugs from across the galaxy, including pain enhancers, hallucinogens, and toxins. All of which I am willing to use without restraint-"
"Save the threats, Sora. They aren't gonna trade-" A large fist coming into contact with the back of his head stopped him from saying any more. John turned his head a noticed the man Sora had been arguing with earlier behind him now. The man's expression seemed to be barely restrained, wanting nothing more than to wrapped his large hands around John's throat.
"So I ask again. Will you surrender Teyla Emmagen?" Sora finished with a flourish of her hands to which Sheppard rolled his eyes at her dramatized fashion.
"No." Ronon said this time, tiring of the pointless talk.
"Very well, shall we begin?" She asked, turning to John.
"You really gonna listen to my answer?" He asked with mock hope. He gasped as a hand dug into his messy hair. "Didn't think so." He managed to grind out. A small scientist timidly walked up to him and the firm grip pulled his head back and to the left, leaving his neck wide open. The needle bite into his skin and the serum burned it's way into his vein, quickly spreading throughout his body. A moan escaped his lips as his whole body exploded with pain. Sora stood in front of him but he couldn't focus. Instead she swayed before him, white haze covering his view.
"Sora, there's no-" Sheppard heard through the pain. He wasn't sure if the speaker had stopped or if he simply could no longer focus when something slammed into his back. He barely managed to with hold the scream in his throat. Turning his head, he caught sight of the large man behind him wielding a thick board.
There was more shouting from somewhere but Sheppard lost focus of all else but the pain. The all encompassing pain. It came for his shoulders, knees, and head but mainly from his back. He wasn't sure how long he was beaten or how long he had hung limply on the chains but slowly he became aware of his surroundings. He was alone, the M.A.L.P sitting quiet in front of him. Sighing John pulled his knees under him once again to relieve the pressure from his wrists. Sheppard closed his eyes and began to take stock of his condition. Whatever freakin drug she had given him still burned under his skin but it was not all encompassing. His ankle throbbed in anger. Looking up again and began to search for a way out. He was currently examining the chains when a shadow behind a nearby support moved. His eyes squeezed into near slits as it moved again. It was far too large to be a typical rat, even in this galaxy, or so he hoped.
"Hey." Sheppard rasped through his dry lips. "Come on out."
"I know you're there, might as well show yourself. Not like I can hurt you." Sheppard shrugged, rattling the chains for effect.
The shadow slowly crept into the dim light, sluggishly turning into the form of a young woman. Her mouse brown hair was knotted and long, hanging well past her shoulders. She was thin and though she appeared sickly and malnourished there was a beauty deep within her. Sheppard could see it in her light brandy eyes.
"Don't suppose you can get me out of these?" He asked her, his voice raw against his throat.
The woman shook her head in despair nearly disappearing back into the shadows again.
Sheppard sighed. "In a talkative mood, huh?"
The woman remained silent.
"My name's John. You got one?" He tried again, if nothing else but to fill the silence. He had not been expecting an answer and looked up at her in surprise when he received one.
"S..Sara."
"Nice to meet you."
The woman studied the ground for a moment before building up the courage to look up at him again. "What did you do?"
"Huh?" She had spoken to softly for him to hear.
"What did you do to deserve this?" Sara repeated, her voice wavering with her whisper.
Sheppard's harsh laugh frightened her and she jumped in surprise. "Nothing. Simply on the other team." The woman nodded in understanding.
"I too am from another people."
"Who?"
"I am a scientist of the planet Sateda. A great race united to destroy the wraith." She straightened with pride as she said this.
Sheppard nearly gasped in surprise, his mouth hanging open in a very unattractive manner.
"You're from Sateda?!" He choked out.
It was her turn to appear surprised. "You know of Sateda? What has happened? How are my people? Is the war going well?"
"Um...well.." Sheppard hung his head for a second before looking back up at her. "Sateda was destroyed by the wraith ten years ago. The planet is gone."
Tears sprang to the woman's eyes and her head sunk into her hands. "Did...Did anyone survive?"
"A few. A friend of mine was a Satedan warrior. He was captured by the wraith and turned into a runner."
"How did he survive?" Sara's mouth hung open in shock.
"He's tough. My people were able to remove the tracking device and deactivate it." Sheppard shrugged.
"But they were so strong..so unbeatable..we made sure of it. There was no chance of defeat." Sara continued to shake her head in denial.
"'M sorry." Sheppard's eyes were filled with pity. "How long have you been here?"
She sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "Twelve years...They wanted me because I was the head scientist of a certain branch that was researching the creation of large explosives."
"They wanted you to build bombs?"
"Yes. At first I refused but soon I did as I was told. Working as slowly as I could." She seemed ashamed to have given in but Sheppard understood. He had been close to breaking too many times to count.
"Where are the bombs now?" John asked.
"I don't know." She shrugged.
He was about to speak again when the door opened with a loud creak. Sara disappeared back into the shadows so quickly that by the time Sheppard turned back she was gone. Sighing, he turned back to the door to watch Sora strut into the room.
"Sleep well, Sheppard?" Sora asked him, absent-mindedly twisting a lock of her curly, red hair.
"Can't say I did." Sheppard straightened, sitting up on his knees.
"Shame." Sora stalked towards him. Sheppard didn't like the look in her eye, a shiver running down his spine.
"Tell me, why do you do this?" She asked. "You have the power to order Teyla's surrender and yet you go through this to protect her. She isn't even of your people."
"Some people are worth more than one's own self." John mumbled.
"Are you saying that Colonel John Sheppard, Commanding leader of Atlantis, and a proven warrior is of less value than a murdering tribeswoman like Teyla?" Sora slowly walked around him, gently lifting the corner a John's shirt. She tsked, eying the deep bruising and swelling encompassing his whole back.
"Cut the flattery, Sora." John stared ahead, unable to see what she was doing. "Teyla's worth more than me and she's also no murderer."
Sora pulled the ends of his shirt back down suddenly, forcing a hiss from the Colonel's lips. "I no longer wish to talk." She said, stalking back to face Sheppard. Sora sunk to her own knees in front of him, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Though you may be an enemy, I find you very attractive..." She cooed, placing light kisses over his neck and face.
"Sora, hate to say this. You're not really my type of girl..umm." Sheppard mumbled and she nibbled on his ear, working her way down to his lips.
"Shut up, Sheppard. Don't think I enjoy putting you through this."
He gave a disbelieving huff, pulling back to the extent of the chains.
"Alright, so maybe I do." She gave a giggle, a insane laugh that caused John's muscles to tense further. Her mouth was slowly working it's way downward. He was almost relieved when the brown haired man walked in. Sora broke contact immediately, pushing herself up to her feet. The relief that Sheppard felt was quickly squashed when his gaze fell across the thick chain in the man's hands and the angry look in the man's eyes. He looked to the floor, summoning strength he wasn't sure he had.
"Time's up." The man growled. Sora nodded and pulled a radio from her belt.
"Dial the 'gate." She ordered, accepting the syringe the man handed to her. Turning to the camera, she spoke up. "Colonel Carter, are you receiving?"
"We are." Sam's voice cut through the static in reply.
"Are you prepared for the trade?"
"No." Sam's voice was resolved.
Sora turned to him and nodded to the soldier, who grabbed a fist full of John's hair and pulled back once again.
"Sora, don't-" Teyla's voice broke through.
"Will you give yourself over to me then?" Sora demanded.
"No, she won't." Shepard ground through his teeth. The man pulled back further, eliciting a hiss of pain from him.
"I asked Teyla." Sora rolled her eyes as though he was an annoying four year old.
"Sorry." He mumbled.
"No-" John could barely hear her reply but he did catch the waver in her voice.
Sheppard nodded.
"Very well." Sora moved closer to him and placed a hand behind his neck to steady him. At first he thought he was the only one who noticed her finger idly weaving his way through his black hair but the guard noticed and tightened his grip in Sheppard's hair and pulled until John thought his neck would snap. Sora saw this as well and soon her prisoner was spasming at the end of the shackles as he was whipped with the chain, repeatedly. Black tendrils crept into his vision and soon John was conscious but not aware of his surroundings.
A.N.- The button really wants pushed. Just a little review....and again, no flames, I've had my share of fires for one year and many more to come....