Blood Rituals – The Futility of Resistance
by Angel Ruse

Sheppard, Beckett, McKay and Teyla gate to a world with a deadly secret—will Sheppard and Beckett become the victims of genetic exploitation? Sheppard and Carson whump. No Slash.

Sheppard awoke to the not-so-pleasant sensation of quite possibly the worst case of nausea he had ever had the misfortune to endure. He lay there on his cot, paralyzed because he knew if he moved he would probably die a horrible death—or at least he would want to, anyway. He dared to open his eyes and the light, faint though it was, made him groan.

"What have you done to him?" he heard Dr. Beckett hiss. John saw a figure in the next cell slam into Carson, knocking him to the floor. The doctor cried out as the guard kicked him.

"Temper, temper, Beckett," Atius responded. He was in the cell too, directing the guards above Carson. "Hold him."

Sheppard watched uselessly, knowing he could do nothing to save his friend. They kicked him again as he tried to roll away, then viciously jerked the doctor to his feet. Beckett tried to shove their hands away from him and was rewarded with a punch to the face. The Colonel saw a small shower of red droplets hit the floor. "Atius, you bastard!" he growled, trying to sit up. His stomach churned, disagreeing with his idea that upright was a good idea.

The Khon'Suan doctor ignored him. The guards pressed Carson onto his cot and held him down, roughly punishing any flinch or twist he made. His arms were held back, forearm up, and John knew what was coming. Like a vulture stalking its prey Atius closed in with one of his needles and descended. "Such resistance," Atius admonished as he started taking blood from the Lantean.

"I'll give ya resistance," Beckett retorted, trying to free his legs. The guard holding them took out a long knife and pressed it to Carson's stomach threateningly.

Atius removed several vials, then said the familiar prayer and took out another tube of catalyst. "This is a less potent variant," he explained as he jabbed the doctor again. "Unfortunately the Rose of Ienarna, the key ingredient, only reacts to live hosts. A shame. I could lose you both without ever finding the correct mix."

When it was done Atius stood and the guards left Carson alone. Beckett sat up and John saw his friend's face was covered in blood coming from his nose and lips. "I'm a'right, lad," he said quietly, trying to rub the blood from his skin.

"I'm sorry, Doc," Sheppard replied. His voice concealed his anger just barely.

The Khon'Suans entered Sheppard's cell next. The Colonel rolled from his side onto his back as Atius came to stand above him with a curious expression. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

John glared up at him, tempted to call him a few choice words. As it was, he knew this man was probably his only hope of getting treatment any time soon, so he remained civil. "Like I been…oh God…been stuffed in a barrel and thrown down a mountain." He rubbed his stomach and closed his eyes again.

The strange doctor hummed in thought. "I just don't understand. I've never seen this reaction before. Some of the earlier journals, maybe, but lately?"

"Well, you'd better bloody figure out how to undo it!" Carson growled in retort. "What is this stuff you're giving us? Poison?"

Atius frowned. "Of course not. It is a simple genetic flagger, nothing more. As I said, I've never seen this reaction before." He looked at the doctor. "How are you feeling now?"

Carson was rubbing his eyes. "Drained. 'Course that might be because your beasts beat the crap out o'me."

Sheppard shivered. He could sympathize. He felt cold and achy all over, like he was coming down with the flu. His muscles were painfully tense. "Don't suppose you know what to do about this, do you?"

"I'm a doctor. I can find the answer given time." There was a moment of silence. John wondered if he had time.

Carson was irate with Atius. "You'd better find that answer fast, then, shouldn't you?" He put his hand to his stomach and groaned, "Bloody hell."

Sheppard watched as Atius eyed his friend speculatively. He didn't like what he saw in those deceptively friendly eyes. "We'd better find the answer." He motioned to the guards. "I need both Colonel Sheppard and the good doctor in my lab. You will be cooperative, won't you, Beckett? For your friend's sake?"

The Lantean doctor glared, but nodded his acquiescence. "Aye, I'll cooperate for his sake."

Two Khon'Suan men entered the cell with Sheppard while Dr. Atius took his key to Beckett's cell. John tried to sit up to accommodate the idea of travel, but when he didn't move fast enough he was grabbed and forced to stand. His head spun and for a moment he couldn't even think of whether or not he could move, much less do it.

"Let's go," one of the guards growled in his ear, shoving him forward.

John stumbled into the bars of his cell and was directed outward by his none-too-kind captors. Beckett tried to come to his aid, but the guard to Sheppard's right pushed him roughly away, causing the Scottish doctor to sputter angrily.

By the time they were in the lab the trip was a blur to Sheppard. He stumbled to the nearest cot and bent forward onto it, resting his upper body. Carson was finally allowed to approach him, and came up to his right, placing a reassuring hand on his back. "A'right, lad?"

"I'm all right," Sheppard replied, his voice weaker than he had thought it would be. He hated that. "You?"

"Bit woosy, but I've been worse. Come on, then. Up ya go." Beckett helped him stand and then aided him in getting onto the cot. He could see the doctor's skin was suddenly pale and his eyes tired. His concern must have showed on his face. "Don't worry. We'll get this sorted out in no time. Promise ya that."

Sheppard put on a wan smile. "They don't pay you the big bucks for nothing, do they, Doc?"

Carson smirked and felt for his pulse rate. "Aye. S'why I'm a filthy rich playboy out in th' middle o'Pegasus, gettin' my arse whipped every time I give a jag backwards."

"Give a jag backwards?" Sheppard repeated. "Not sure I wanna know what that one means."

The doctor shook his head. "Hush now."

"Enough, Beckett," Atius said firmly from across the room. "We have little time as it is. You'll need to understand the catalyst before you can aid me. Come into the lab."

Rolling his eyes, his jaw set, Carson gave Sheppard one last look over. "Try not to worry about it, son. We'll be on Atlantis, laughin' about all this before you even know it."

"Laugh is a pretty strong word," he replied, and then Beckett disappeared. Letting out a breath, John turned his head towards the door to see what his two friends were doing. Unfortunately they were there, waiting for any and all escape attempts.

Not that he thought he would get away with it, if he could even dare try. Of course he would have given it his all if he had been left alone, but Sheppard couldn't help entertaining a mental image of himself hitting the floor and staying there.

He relaxed on his back, trying not to think of the pain, but it was hard. Sheppard closed his eyes and hoped that sleep would take him away from all this until Carson could find out how to cure him, but it felt almost as if he were too tired to even fall asleep.

He wouldn't be given the chance right away, as it was. The door to the lab rooms opened and the two men guarding it murmured in respect to the one that entered. Sheppard opened his tired eyes as Indaali came to stand over him. "Colonel Sheppard," he said, eyes trailing over his prone form. "My, but you do look ill."

"Gee, think?" John grunted in reply. He glared at his captor. "My people won't let this go. They'll come with their advanced weapons. Then what?"

The Minister did not appear alarmed. "What indeed? It does not matter when your people come or what they do. It will not be long before the Wraith reach this world and accept their sacrifice, and as long as that happens all else fades away. So it has been to keep the peace."

Sheppard grit his teeth in frustration. "Do you honestly think it even matters to them? You're just a…" he leaned his head back wearily, unable to continue.

"Keep your strength," Indaali told him quietly.

He wanted to use his strength to kick this man into next Tuesday, but Sheppard settled for a hard glare. The moment was interrupted by a loud crash at the window nearby. Wind sailed into the room, smoothing over him and he shivered. John shot his gaze to the side, hoping beyond hope it was someone to rescue he and Beckett from this surreal little fairytale castle of weird science. There was nothing there except a shattered window and the broken edge of a tree branch. Strange, but for the barest second John thought he had seen a dark figure beyond the sill.

Furious, Indaali snapped his fingers and the guards attended to covering the gaping hole as best they could. He reached for Sheppard's wrist, pulling insistently when the Lt. Colonel tried to evade. The Minister jerked his arm towards himself. "What strong blood must flow through these veins that carry the heritage of the Ancestors."

"Did you have a reason for being here besides boring me to death?" John hissed.

Indaali pulled a knife out of the inside of his stately robe, startling the weakened Lantean. He cut along Sheppard's palm, making a larger wound than he might have if John hadn't jerked away. The Colonel grunted in pain, favoring his hand when he was given control again.

Lifting the knife to shine in the light, the Minister watched as the blood on its surface dripped like a crimson tear down the blade. The light in his eyes was disturbing. "I hold before me your life, Colonel Sheppard," he whispered reverently. "Isn't it amazing how such knowledge, such experience as you have gained can be stricken from this universe by the mere stopping of this river of life?"

Sheppard tightened his uninjured fist, wanting to strike at the Minister. Indaali knew it, too, and opened his arms to invite such an attempt. "Go quote your twisted poetry somewhere else," John growled, closing his eyes once more.

Indaali laughed. "I shall. Have no worries, my friend. I hear you and Beckett befriended the young girl in the dungeon."

"We spoke to her," John replied carefully, looking up at Indaali.

The Minister nodded and sheathed his blade without cleaning it of John's blood. Then he turned away and left without explaining why he had brought up Iryll.

Sheppard had a bad feeling he didn't need an explanation.

After a brief rest on a rude cot in the cave where, McKay had learned, the rebel Khon'Suans did their scientific dirty work, he found himself to be in poor spirits and sore all over. Minal Iilara had opened up and explained a little more to both he and Ronon about their religious differences with their current government, and he had to say he could understand her position a bit better. He was even willing to give her plan a chance to succeed.

At this particular moment, however, he was crouching in the trees with Ronon and one of the guards—the same one that had been so tough-talking to him as a matter of fact. His name was Usani and he had no wife and no children, for he feared losing them to the blood-thirst of one of Khon'Sora's nobles as his sister had lost her son.

"Now, let me get this straight," McKay said, knitting his brow, still unable to believe what he was hearing. "They drink the blood. They actually…and do they…do they bite their victim's neck?"

Usani gave him an odd look. "What would they do that for?"

Rodney shook his head. "No reason. So, what they just cut you open and…?"

The Khon'Suan pursed his lips. "Mercifully, I've never been taken to Winnowing Grove, else I could tell you the procedure in great, morbid detail," he said distastefully. "All I know is that death is slow."

McKay grunted in interest, then noticed Ronon staring at him. "What?" he demanded, but the big man said nothing.

"Shh!" Usani hissed, and then pointed out towards the city they had been watching.

And there was what they had been waiting for. The three men watched as two guards escorted Teyla from the high walls of Khon'Sora. The plan had been for Minal to suggest to Indaali that they rid themselves of her to maintain internal security because they had no way of knowing what sorts of technology the Athosian possessed. In this way they could remove Teyla from harm's way and employ her help in the rescue, assuming that ever got under way. Rodney had his doubts.

The guards led Teyla to the edge of the forest and Usani motioned for them to be exceptionally still and silent. She walked proudly, with a deadly determination in her eyes that Rodney recognized. She would have returned if they weren't about to whisk her away.

The Athosian leader entered into the trees and the guards that had brought her began their journey back towards their city. Rodney pushed himself into a standing position and began to tiptoe around the massive tree they had been watching from.

Ronon tried to grab him, but McKay dodged and crept onto the path behind Teyla. He knew no matter what he did he would startle her, but keeping her silent was paramount. And then an idea came to mind.

Picking up the pace, but making sure every step he took was as silent as silent could get, Rodney made his way to her back and when he was within pouncing distance he did just that. His right hand went for her mouth and his left arm snaked around her waist. Perhaps not a solution he would usually employ, but he was feeling lucky today. He had seen it in enough movies to know how it worked.

And then suddenly he was in the air, flying over her hip towards the ground where he hit and groaned out in pain. He looked up to see her in a defensive stance, dark eyes blazing. "What did you think you were doing?" she demanded of him when she saw who it was. She stretched out her hand.

Rodney accepted and stood with her aid. Nearby Ronon was leaning against a large tree, arms crossed and smirking. Usani was busy making sure no one had heard McKay's attempted attack. "I was trying to keep you from, well, doing what you just did, for one thing. Then there's the need for quiet with those bloodsuckers so close. Your throwing me just tipped them off however, so we'll probably be taken straight back to Khon'Sora to become part of their charming dinner habits."

"Quiet," Usani barked, approaching with an annoyed look. "They didn't hear."

Teyla looked at Rodney. "Why did you not simply inform me of your presence?"

"I didn't want to startle you," he said.

She gave him a politely dubious look. "I could hear you coming the moment you entered the pathway. You could not have startled me."

McKay waved his hand, feeling embarrassed and annoyed. "Right. Can we just get moving? It's going to take me forever to work out the kinks in my back."

And so Usani led them back towards the marshes. Teyla eyed her companions gravely. "Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Beckett have been taken captive," she informed them. "Indaali insists they are dead."

"Well, he's lying," Ronon rumbled, eyes moving, watching for predators of any variety.

"Do you know what he wants with them?" she asked.

McKay nodded with a disgusted expression. "Seems he's hungry and figures their blood might hit the spot."

It took her a moment, but when she understood his meaning her eyes darkened. "Then we must rescue them. It may already be too late."

Minal had reported differently not too long ago. "No, see apparently that genius Atius poisoned Colonel Sheppard with the drug they use to aid in the absorption of the blood. Indaali won't be drinking until they modify it. This gives us a little breathing room." McKay frowned as they came upon the entrance to the marshes. "I hate this place."

"So do Indaali's lackeys," Usani grunted, entering without care.

The journey through the wetlands afforded McKay about fifteen minutes of grumbling before Usani threatened to shoot him, and then another fifteen he spent in peevish silence. When they finally reached the caves and entered, McKay threw himself into the nearest chair and took out his radio, fiddling with it absently. Then he noticed something.

At the back of the cave was a large door that none of the guards would let him approach last night. Iilara had told him it was where their chief biologist did his research on the antidote, but she wouldn't permit him to examine their work even though she claimed to trust his intention to get off this planet without interfering with their plans.

Now that door was open. "Dr. Syren?" Usani called, raising his crossbow.

A shadow emerged from the door and Rodney blinked. It was the scientist that had been on the run when they had first exited the Stargate. He looked ragged, as if he had been working the night through. Perhaps he had been. Syren held up a tube of clear liquid. "It can't be completed," he said simply.

Usani dropped the aim of his weapon. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I have no way to complete my work. The equation cannot be solved. There is something missing and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what it is." The doctor sank down to the floor, back against the wall.

"Anything can be solved," Rodney stated firmly. "You're just tired."

Syren raked his gaze over McKay. "There is no plant on this world, no chemical I can manufacture, that can permanently neutralize the catalyst. The Rose of Ienarna is too potent."

McKay shook his head. "The rose of what? Look, it doesn't matter. It can be solved. You can't just give up now that you're so close."

"Who are you, stranger?" the biologist asked tiredly.

"A man that has solved the unsolvable." He waved his hand towards the back. "Now let's get you some coffee or whatever passes for that here and get you back to work, 'kay?"
A/N: Thanks you guys! I can't tell you how tickled pink I am at how well I've been received into this section of :-D Why, not since I saw Carson's….

And the whump gets a bit worse. Major whoopins for both boys next chapter. ;-)

Email: angelruseATgmailDOTcom
Archive: Go for it.
Disclaimer: Don't own the fine hineys of Shep or Beckett. Don't mean I can't imagine I do.