Chapter 5
Third Verse Same as the First…
"Come out, come out!"
He obviously wanted everyone to know he was there.
Teyla felt his proximity increase with each taunting call over the headset. Since the speaker had acquired a standard issue communication device from the expedition, there was only one being it could possibly be. He had probably taken it from the marine detail he had killed on that lonely little planet.
She had guessed right when the intrusions began. Actually, there was no guessing involved because she knew who it was the moment the whispers teased and taunted her. He continued the mental onslaught baiting her to reveal the team's position. He knew exactly what to look for in order to do such a thing because he had done it before. Those invading murmurs had controlled her once. Her weakness could doom them all.
"I can feel your presence, Teyla. You can't hide forever and I have your teammates' lives in my hands. I know you must have figured out what the common denominator is."
Ronon's muscles shifted and knotted at his post near a window slit. He glanced quickly over his shoulder to give her a supportive nod before returning his gaze to the window to keep watch outside. Her team's trust wrapped her in confidence. Teyla looked at the two unconscious men on the floor lying near the earthen wall. She knew this part of the game was almost up, but she would play it out for as long as possible. There would be a second part and she had to prepare for that.
"Teyla, with a press of a button I can induce pain." The voice enhanced the shudder that rippled through her when her two friends' bodies reacted.
Sheppard and McKay's muscles immediately went rigid and their faces scrunched as cries came simultaneously from their mouths. Ronon leaped from his position at the window and landed on top of McKay. Teyla fell immediately on top of Sheppard. They clamped their hands over their friends' mouths as the screams reached a crescendo.
With their hands over vibrating lips, their speaker continued to goad them in their ears. "Or, I can wake them up…"
Sheppard and McKay's bodies relaxed and their eyes slowly opened amidst blinking. They looked at each of the other two teammates in confusion as to why they were in such an alarming and intimate position. Teyla wanted to console them and laugh with them over the absurdity of the situation. She wanted to tell them this was all a poorly executed joke. It was not to be.
Before any questions could be asked and answered, the voice came across the radio again. "I can remove sight, hearing, speech…or I can just stop their body functions, altogether."
John and Rodney's eyes widened as their lungs exhaled and their bodies went completely still. Teyla and Ronon looked into lifeless eyes and then into each others panicked ones. She clutched at the thin fabric of John's t-shirt in desperation. It could not end this way and the look Ronon gave Dr. McKay revealed the same reaction.
The speaker toyed with them as his point was made. "Or not."
John and Rodney's lungs expanded to take in air and their hearts resumed beating underneath their breast bones once again. Confused and startled eyes locked onto the person lying on top of them and begged for an explanation.
Teyla and Ronon's only answers were long, relieved exhales.
"I will also dial the Ring and include Dr. Weir in this game. We have Sgt. Stackhouse and his team so they can corroborate my story and the readiness I possess to carry it out. We'll be dialing Atlantis shortly; now whether I continue to give and take is all up to you. Or, do I get to make contact and we have a nice peaceful, civilized conversation? Dr. Weir, Col. Sheppard and Dr. McKay can quietly sleep through it since it will be just between you, me and Dr. Beckett. I know their answers already."
Sheppard and McKay went immediately back to sleep leaving Teyla and Ronon to make the decision. The two exchanged resigned glances and settled on their plan of action, or, more truthfully, inaction. If nothing else, she had the trust and respect of her team to carry her to whatever end lay ahead. Teyla clicked her earpiece.
"Michael, what do you want?"
"Only the ability to protect ourselves. Atlantis made us what we are and it is time to accept that responsibility and provide us with assistance. All of this will ensure that assistance with a less likely chance of a double cross."
She could hear his not completely unfounded loathing he held for Atlantis and its residents, but there had to be more. Their lives were paltry in comparison to the overall situation.
"Why should we help you? You hold their lives in your hand but there are more lives at stake than just those three and the rest of us on this planet. That is not enough for a deal." She left John on the floor and moved to one of the slit windows in the hideout to look out. Seeing nothing but thorns, she continued around until she saw boots standing just off the path. Ronon joined her and aimed his weapon.
"Because, I have information to trade and another…what did they call it? Oh yes, another card up my sleeve. I also have that wonderful contingency plan, the bomb."
Ah yes, that, she thought. "You could destroy this planet and it would change nothing," she countered.
The boots moved closer to the blind. "I didn't say anything about this world, now did I?"
Eight, standard issue, military boots soon staggered into sight. "I also have my other hostages-- should we whet our appetites on them while you make up your mind?"
Upon seeing Stackhouse and his team, Ronon's jaw clenched and rolled as the grip on his weapon increased. He knew that there was little choice. Michael could not be trusted and his terms were severe. Talking and waiting were her only options for the immediate future.
"We did not come to kill you, but have no problem with it. We do have to eat after all. We want to trade and that's where this crisis ends." Michael lowered himself down on to his hands and knees and looked brazenly into the blind. "We have much to discuss, Teyla Emmagan."
Ronon held his shot and Teyla contemptuously glared at the yellow eyes. "You have a truce." For now, she added to herself as she motioned for Ronon to move the cap stone.
Now it was time for another negotiation with so much more at stake than just fruit.
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Zelenka clicked from view to view on the flat screen looking at the images the Ancient scanner had uncovered in Dr. Weir's brain. "It's exactly like it," he confirmed.
"Aye, I thought so. They snuck one by us. It masked itself as part of her nervous system and waited for a signal. I'm assuming, since there hasn't been any trouble before and it struck all three somewhat simultaneously, that the signal originated on the planet the team's on." Beckett walked over to Weir's bed. She slept naturally for the moment. He was not looking forward to when they made contact with the planet again. "Do you think you can isolate the signal and block it?"
"If there is a signal to be picked up, then I can figure out how to block it," Radek stated confidently. "Getting the device out is going to be the hard part." Zelenka nervously pushed on his glasses even though they were as far as they could go on the bridge of his nose.
"That's another, aye. I was hopin' that all the information or data from the lab on Ixion would shed some light on the problem."
"Yes, since this is just like the probe from the chair and probably created from it…since the chair could retract it…I see no reason for there not to be schematics or an owner's manual of some sort." Zelenka slouched. "But, the probe from the chair was attached to a mechanism and this isn't. That could cause another problem."
As Radek contacted the handful of scientists with expertise in Wraith computers and equipment, Carson realized that, yes, it very well could. The ganglia of the probe-like device could not be removed by conventional Earth methods, too much gray matter in the way. Also, it was imbedded in areas that he could not get to without definite brain damage. It was a damned if you do, damned if you don't type of problem.
In some ways, Carson already knew all about that. What he needed to obtain was an off switch and an angel on his shoulder to guide him through this mess.
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A/N: First off, let me just thank everyone reading and reviewing. With the system down, I know it takes a little extra work to keep up with all the stories. We, the authors, can get our reviews so please don't hesitate to leave feedback. We just can't reply unless we email directly. I just really appreciate the extra time you're having to take. Thanks!