I had heaps of trouble trying to post this, otherwise the update would have been posted earlier. Thanks for the reviews. Sorry that I didn't manage to thank everyone in my last chapter as I was in a rush (had a boring conference to attend). Anyway, I would like to personally thank Domino, auStraliS, sherryw, McGateFan, Reyson, drufan, TheNaggingCube, StarSkimmer, Esmilla, TangledPencils, Titan5, amsilcox, reen21200 and Ditzyleo for reviewing one or both of last two chapters. I loved reading what each one of you had to say.

Chap 5: Burning Ring of Fire

Ronon continued to scowl as he saw Adric leave his post and disappear into the crowd. The fire started out small at first but it quickly spread into a ring of fire around the team. Ronon knew that pretty soon it would get bigger and there was a good chance that smoke inhalation would kill them first before the fire got to them. Ronon didn't wait. With the knife gripped tightly in his hand, he began sawing through the ropes between his and Teyla's side. However, he couldn't go fast, as he had to do it with stealth otherwise the Genii watching them would note his movements and shoot him where he stood.

Teyla, he saw, knew what was happening by the sideways glance she had given him. She pursed her lips in a worried determined line and whispered something to Sheppard, who was positioned on the opposite side of the pole from where Ronon was. McKay was the only one who remained clueless that the team now had some means to escape. When scientist saw the lighted pyre, he went into a full-blown panic attack that even impressed Ronon at some of the curse words he used towards the Geniie. In a way, Ronon felt a little sorry for the scientist, for he was the only one in their team who didn't know what was happening. The Satedan felt sure that Teyla had informed Sheppard about the knife. However, Ronon couldn't afford to enlighten the scientist, for the distraction that Rodney was unwittingly providing was proving useful for him: it took the Genii soldiers' attention away from him which was what Ronon needed. It wasn't long before the scientist started to puff at the flames, vainly attempting to blow them out as they got closer to his feet: laughter broke out from the Genii as they now gathered to watch Rodney's antics. The ropes were thick and stubborn, and with greater intensity, Ronon scowled and began sawing through them with his knife.

o-O-o

Sheppard didn't say anything, except to outwardly frown when Teyla told him that Ronon had a knife and was now attempting to cut through their binds. The kid Adric had done well - better than he had expected. From amidst the growing flames, he saw the Genii leader, Koden, looking up at him with a smug smile on his face before a crackle from his communicator got Koden's attention. The Genii leader brought what looked like an earth version of a walkie-talkie to his ear, said a few words and placed it down in his pocket again. Then he approached Sheppard, looking at the growing flames licking at closer towards John's feet.

"Colonel Sheppard! Dr. McKay! I am to inform you that I just received word from Kolya. He sends his greetings and for me to tell you that he regrets that he is unable to witness your and McKay's demise himself as he has other matters to attend to. However, he assures you that he will arrive tomorrow morning through the gate to pay his respects over your charred remains."

At Koden's words, Sheppard heard McKay hissing frantically at him. "Sheppard?! What are you going to do now, huh? Shepherd, sheep, remember? If you don't do something soon, we'll be crispy-fried, and I'm..." he paused as if thinking for something profound to say, "I'm going to come back and haunt you for the rest of my life!"

"Don't you mean death, McKay? Cos to haunt, you have to be dead," Sheppard replied caustically. "Besides, a haunting from you? For eternity? Not going to happen. We're coming out of this alive, Rodney. Just try to stay positive." But despite his words, Sheppard cursed softly to himself, Rodney was right. They had to escape soon otherwise they would be 'crispy-fried' as McKay had so eloquently phrased it. The flames were already getting bigger, almost licking at their feet. He needed to persuade the Nonamers to help them. The kid was good, but Adric obviously needed help to get the villagers moving. Also, if he knew Ronon the way he did, the Satedan should be halfway through cutting their binds by now. The coils that they were tied to were thick, it wouldn't be an easy job despite Ronon's strength; he knew that it would take time. John straightened, it was time he lived up to his surname and led these lost sheep to do the right thing. Hopefully, what he said would galvanize the crowd into action and take further attention away from the Satedan.

"Listen to me!" Sheppard shouted to the villagers watching the rising flames and growing heat. Already John could feel the sweat breaking out from his skin. It wouldn't be long before the smoke and heat became unbearable. Come on, Ronon, hurry up!

"You don't have to do this! I know that you don't want this! The Genii are not your friends! You don't have to listen to what they say! This is your village! Your home! You have a right to defend it! You have a right to decide who lives and who dies! Whether you wish to stand around and watch us being burned alive or whether you choose to fight back!"

The crowd grew uncomfortable and restless at Sheppard's words. He knew that he had their attention, which was a good sign. In the midst of the crowd, a young voice shouted: "Sheppard's right! This is our village! We don't have to stand for this! We should help the Atlantians!" John recognised the voice as Adric and gave a tight smile, but his frown did not go away.

Koden, Sheppard saw, now looked uncomfortable at this new development. He had allowed John to speak purely because he found it entertaining and he didn't think that Sheppard would be able to do anything from where he was. He wanted to see Sheppard beg the crowd for help and see him humiliated when no help arrived. It looked like he had misjudged these people. However, Koden's next words surprised John and the rest of his team.

"Toga! Where are you man?! We made a deal, control your people!" Koden shouted to the leader of the Nonamers.

The people hushed and wavered uncomfortably at the mention of their leader's name. There was a stirring, then the chubby form of Toga in his trademark flame-red hair stepped out from the crowd. "Don't listen to Sheppard or the boy! These Atlantians are not our friends! I've made a deal with the Genii, they said that they would protect us from the wraith if we handed Sheppard and his team over to them! It seems that the Atlantians are not an honourable people, they stole from the Genii what belonged to them and they killed in cold blood many of their people! The Genii are our friends not these Atlantians!"

Sheppard shook his head, it was beginning to get a little too hot for comfort now, the flames were rising, what was taking Ronon so damn long?! He coughed, his shoulder wound was killing him, he felt sick, dizzy and weak, but he couldn't display this weakness to the crowd. He had to convince them that the Genii were lying, that what Toga said was untrue!

"No! Those are lies! Toga did not hear the whole truth of the story! It was the Genii who betrayed us, who invaded our home City, who killed two or our people. They pretended to be refugees from a wraith attack who needed our help!" John could see that he got the crowd's full attention now. He also saw several of the young men in the crowd move to take strategic positions so that they could have a good line of fire at the Genii.

While John was halfway speaking, Toga tried to intervene, saying "No! No! Don't listen to him!" but Sheppard continued nonetheless, pushing on. He knew that he had the advantage and he wasn't about to let it go. It was his role now, all their lives depended on it: to be the surrogate leader for the Nonamers, their voice, their conscience, and as Rodney had once commented, their guiding shepherd, if need be.

"I don't know what the Genii told you or promised your people, but what I do know is that you can't trust them. You are better than them. I know some of you, many of you..., you also know Teyla Emmagan and the Athosians. They are an honourable people, would Teyla herself be here if I did not speak the truth?"

At this stage, Teyla spoke up, "John Sheppard is correct. The Atlantians are my people's friends and trusted allies, they aided my people, shared their City and homeworld with us, when Athos was destroyed by the wraith. They provided aid, medicines, hope for my people. A safer haven we could not have asked for. I have also seen these Atlantians help many others, those who needed to relocate to new worlds due to the destruction of their own homes. You can trust what John Sheppard says as the truth. It is the Genii who are the liars; they are deceiving you as they had deceived Sheppard and his people."

Sheppard took over, continuing on, glad that Teyla had spoken up. He could see that they were getting to the Nonamers. "The Genii cannot protect you from the wraith, no one can. All they can bring you is lies, dishonour and... " Sheppard's speech was cut short by a cry of pain as a Genii weapon was discharged followed by an angry shout of "Enough!" from the Genii leader Koden.

Pandemonium broke out then. It was as if the Genii firing the weapon at the bound Sheppard had finally broken the Nonamers out from their frozen stance and galvanised them into action. Several things happened at once: Adric and his young friends started shouting at the crowd to get out of the way before they started shooting at Koden and the other Genii soldiers; the villagers started to scream and panic; and the Genii started to fire back at young Adric and his friends. At the same time, Sheppard was knocked back by the bullet's impact; Teyla cried out John's name in alarm; Rodney turned, noticed that the colonel was bleeding badly from another bullet wound; and Ronon managed to cut through their binds, releasing all four team members from the pole.

o-O-o

TBC

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