Part 2 - Time to Make Progress

A cool evening breeze swept across the Athosian encampment causing the bonfire to crackle and flare with renewed life, but the revival was short lived as the breeze died down again. Someone moved to place more wood onto the fire and the flames leapt at it with a hungry greed until the fire was once again crackling bright and giving off much appreciated warmth. It wasn't winter yet but the nights had already turned cool, so the celebrants of the impromptu party were gathered within the vicinity of the fire.

Laughter rang out from one particular direction and a lone pony-tailed head turned to observe them. His annoyance was clearly etched on his face but the dark shadows of his hiding place kept him from being noticed.

Kavanagh hated parties but when this one had been suggested, he had jumped at the opportunity to go as it gave him another chance to observe his prey. His obsession for revenge had grown over the months since his humiliation but he kept it well buried deep within him.

Stage 2 was progressing as planned and he was now an accepted member of the expedition. He'd even made some friends along the way and was given regular off-world assignments but regrettably, never with Sheppard and his team.

The scientist turned his head again towards the man in question and observed how candidly Sheppard acted with the people of Athos and his friends in Atlantis. Several children sat near his feet looking up at him with delight and adulation. Weir sat to his right equally enraptured and obviously enjoying a moment of relaxation, while McKay sat nearby stuffing himself with a plate laden with local food. Teyla was situated to Sheppard's left, along with Ronon, Beckett, several of her people and other members of the expedition, all clearly enjoying the get-together.

Again, laughter echoed across the camp as someone told another joke and Kavanagh clenched his fist with loathing and frustration. His hatred boiled and he decided that he couldn't stand here any longer and listen to their high spirits. So, he began to move towards a nearby wooded area with the intention of taking out his loathing on some poor tree or something.

With eyes almost blinded with bitterness, he didn't see the short Athosian man standing in his path until he nearly ploughed him down. The little man yelled out and staggered back, his own annoyance and bitterness written across his face.

At first, Kavanagh thought it was because of his interruption but it soon became apparent that the native had also been observing Sheppard's group. So thinking, nothing gained, nothing ventured, Kavanagh quietly asked. "Don't you like their intrusion here?"

The Athosian looked up at the tall scientist as if gauging the implication of his words. An unnatural smile crossed the natives face. "I've got nothing against your people in general. It's him I don't like."

"Him?" asked Kavanagh as if he didn't know what the man meant.

Once again, the little man weighed him up before answering. "Lieutenant Colonel - aren't we gorgeous - Sheppard," he said scowling towards the man in question.

Ah, so it looked like the man's opinion was based on jealously, Kavanagh thought to himself before replying. "Yes, I know what you mean. He does rather think a lot of himself, doesn't he?"

"Well, I don't know about his own ego but he has got my darling Teyla wrapped around his fingers and in her eyes, he can not do anything wrong."

Kavanagh liked what he heard and decided to feed the little man's ire. "Yes, that's so very true. I find it so unbelievable, especially after he was the one to bring disaster down on your people and wake up the Wraith."

The native nodded wildly. "Yes, the Doucav did just that."

"I'm sorry but what's a Doucav?" asked Kavanagh. Although, he had a good idea it was the Athosian word for devil.

"It means evil one in our language. One who manipulates others for his own foul plans and destroys all within his path."

Even Kavanagh thought that this description of John Sheppard went a bit over the top but maybe he could utilize the man's hatred of him. So steering the Athosian away, Kavanagh found a quiet area in the woods for them to sit and talk in private.

When the little man settled down onto a fallen log, Kavanagh fished in his backpack and produced the two bottles of beer he had brought with him from Atlantis. Offering one to the Athosian, he whispered. "Was Teyla your girl before Sheppard came along?"

The man looked uncertain for a minute before he took a strong gulp from the bottle. Then as if the beer gave him courage, a look of fury crossed into his eyes. One caused by a jealous obsession. An illusion of transgressions filled his mind and his desires came to life. "She was my beloved," he fantasized, "And I'm sure we would be married by now but the Doucav changed all that. He came and bewitched her with his false and disgusting charm. He took her away from me. From all of us." Taking a swig of his beer, the man continued to rant. "She was so perfect until he came and spread his evil. She used to look at me with love but now she looks through me as if I no longer exist."

Kavanagh decided to stay silent as the man paused again to guzzle another mouth full of beer. "I want her back in my arms. I love her so much. I love her," he repeated as he clenched his hand so tightly around the bottle that Kavanagh was afraid it would break, "I want her back, but as long as the Doucav remains, she will never be mine…" The Athosian finished with a wail that threatened to spill over into sobs.

Placing a calming hand on the man's shoulder, Kavanagh let a sickly smile spread across face, one that the native didn't notice in his distress. This could be the moment he had waited for and now he was presented with someone that could be manipulated to either do the dirty deed or help him get rid of Sheppard. Taking a gamble that the man was genuine in his extreme dislike of the colonel, he asked. "If you want her back why don't you remove the Doucav?"

"How can I rid the planet of one such as him? He is powerful and has many others under his spell."

"Maybe that is the case for some, my friend, but I'm not under his spell and together we can work to free Atlantis of Sheppard. What do you think?" questioned Kavanagh.

By this time, the man was decidedly tipsy from the beer. Not enough to affect his already sick mind but enough to loosen his tongue even more. "I think that is a wonderful idea, mister….mis…?"

Kavanagh didn't want to get too personal with a near stranger, so he offered. "Just call me Kav for now. And what is your name, my friend?"

"Davon," the Athosian answered before breaking into a fit of giggles. "We make a good team. Kav and Dav, Doucav killers."

"Yes, Doucav killers, but we must make it look like an accident," Kavanagh suggested, "We don't want to land into trouble over this."

"Oh no, I want to be free to marry my darling Teyla, but how do we make it look like an accident?"

Kavanagh didn't reply for a minute as he thought of how best to approach the subject. Eventually, he murmured. "Well…a direct assault is out of the question. We need something that kills him without there being any suspicion of foul play. Say a poison that leaves no trace for Dr. Beckett's team to find or a deadly bite of a creature or something."

Davon's face suddenly lit up with a brilliant idea. "I know the very thing," he murmured. "During my travels to trade with other planets, I heard about a deadly insect that bites its victims without them even realizing it, but once someone is bitten, they die a most painful and horrendous death. The toxin is very slow acting in humans but totally fatal as there is no known cure. As you can imagine this creature is greatly feared."

"Sounds perfect, but where is this creature to be found and how do we handle such a thing?" asked Kavanagh with concern, thinking solely of his own precious skin.

"It inhabits the planet Menzur in the Menzurian system. When we get there, we need to find a man called Galen. He deals in exotic creatures including the Turaka. That's the name of the creature."

"He must be a brave fellow!"

Davon laughed out loudly and Kavanagh cringed thinking everyone would hear him. Luckily, several giggles and hiccups later, Davon sobered enough to continue. "Yes, he is but all we need to do is give him enough wealth and the creature is ours. Galen will tell us how to handle the insect correctly and how best to make sure that the Doucav is bitten."

Yes, indeed, Kavanagh thought to himself although, he hoped the wealth required wouldn't be beyond his means. Apart from that, this was working out fine and even though the plan would needed some refinements, it could really work. "Right, I'll see to it that you get the funds required to purchase the insect. I'm afraid, I shall have to leave that to you because getting off world alone would be impossible for me. If you can acquire the item, I'll see to it that Sheppard, I mean the Doucav is taken care of."

Davon nodded enthusiastically. "It's a deal, Kav. This trader will want some of your medicines for sure, and weapons and the like."

Kavanagh winced over the request. "Medical stuff won't be a problem but I can't get my hands on weapons, I'm afraid. The Doucav and his followers keep a tight control on them."

The Athosian stared at the scientist for a moment and for the first time Kavanagh registered the obsessive madness shining in the man's eyes. For a minute, he questioned the wisdom for involving such a man in his plans. However, the harm was already done but maybe he would need to assess the situation once the deed was completed.

Davon suddenly came out of his trance like state of insanity to reply. "All right, get what you can and we will see if it enough payment for the trader."

"It's a deal, Dav. Now we must rejoin the party and act as if nothing has happened." Kavanagh ordered and the man gave a curt nod. "I'll get back to you as soon as possible but don't worry if you don't hear from me for a few days or so. Above all else, this is our plan and must remain our secret. Is that understood?"

Again, Davon nodded with a hiccup as he lifted the now empty bottle to his lips. A look of utter disappointment across his face at finding it empty, but it vanished quickly as he gestured with the bottle. "Here's to Dav and Kav, Doucav destroyers."

"Yes, to Dav and Kav," Kavanagh toasted the man with his almost full bottle.

-SGA-

John Sheppard looked around the briefing room to catch Elizabeth's eye. She smiled warmly at him before asking. "Have you got anything to add, Colonel?"

"No, not really, it seems a little strange that the Sovian people have suddenly changed their minds about letting us explore their Ancient ruins. I mean aren't they the very people that ran Lorne's team off their planet several weeks back."

"Yes, they are, but they maintain that it was a little misunderstanding and as long as we abide by their rules and don't interfere or try to contact them during the stay, they will allow us full access to the site for three of their planetary cycles."

John looked at the others. "Oh terrific, three long days babysitting a group of scientists," he mumbled.

Elizabeth looked thoughtful, as she knew how much John hated this kind of work. "Your team doesn't have to go, John. We could give this one over to Captain Clarkson's team."

John was just about to answer her when McKay interrupted them. "You know I'm kind of interested in those ruins and I would like to be part of that team."

Sheppard sighed loudly. "That's decided then. If Rodney wants to go, we all go."

Elizabeth nodded. "If you're sure?"

"Yep, I'm sure. Why don't you go find yourself some fellow explorers, Rodney and I'll organize the logistics for our stay."

Before Sheppard had hardly finished the sentence, Rodney was out of his seat and quickly disappeared.

"I would say he's enthusiastic about this." Elizabeth commented to the others.

"Yeah, he is but we're not, isn't that so?" asked John, pointedly looking towards Teyla and Ronon.

They both nodded but seemed resigned to their babysitting duties.

Tbc

Hi there, hope you liked this chapter and thanks for all the great reviews to date. One little note, I've changed the spelling of Kavanagh's name after finding out on GateWorld that it hasn't got a - u - in it. I always thought it was spelt Kavanaugh.