Trials of Faith – Chapter 9
Rose and Fell
'This is Weir declaring a medical emergency, Doctor Beckett to the Jumper Bay.'
Elizabeth watched the Stargate nervously, practically yelling down the microphone strapped to her ear. Major Lorne had left only fifteen minutes ago, and already he had radioed that they were coming home.
'Teyla's in a state ma'am, you best have Carson on stand by.' He had informed her.
'Where is Colonel Sheppard?' Elizabeth asked quickly.
The radio paused. 'He's with Teyla ma'am.'
'Alright, just get home safe.'
She waited, like everyone in the control room. If one of them hurt, they all hurt. So far from home in a galaxy full of danger, you found yourself relying on those around you like they were family. After everything they had been through, they had bonded together closer than any blood relatives ever could. It was something about facing danger in the eye on several occasions and knowing that you were not alone. Like Teyla was not alone. She has her team with her, the way it should be.
Elizabeth began to pace. She was about to yell down the radio to the Major when the Jumper stormed into the room, the Gate shut down and the ship ascended quickly. Elizabeth tore up the stairs to the Jumper Bay where Carson and a team of medics waited anxiously for the Jumper to land.
The door opened and chaos spilled out of the small vehicle.
'She's not breathing!' Was the first desperate moan she heard from John as he quickly lowered himself onto the still form of Teyla already on a stretcher, giving her mouth to mouth and carefully avoiding her ribs.
Carson rushed on, instructing his team to carry her off immediately and take her to the infirmary. He put the ready IV drip and blood bag into her arm directly, carrying out resuscitation procedures on the way.
John, Ronan and Rodney followed closely, all of them looking filthy and yet she could see their skin was pale with sick worry.
Elizabeth jogged to John's side.
'Sheppard!' She called.
He didn't turn to her. 'There's a Wraith Hive on Medda destroying the city. We found Teyla fighting a Wraith, there was a girl in the trees who we brought back with us. Teyla was mumbling…'He paused. 'She wasn't able to say much.'
'Are any of you injured?' She stared at the blood on his mouth, wondering if he had been punched – repeatedly. There was a lot of it.
'It's not mine.' He whispered as they turned into the infirmary, Doctor Beckett snapping into action, ordering Nurses to pump her full of drugs, hooking her up to a monitor. A flat line haunted their eyes.
John couldn't breathe. They had been too late.
He watched her lifeless body, battered and broken. But still beautiful, and strong. Even in death her form gave off a sense of authority and pride, a feeling of warmth he could never live without. Even in death…John shook his head. No. Not dead. Teyla was not dead.
Carson set the defibrillator, cutting away some of the material from above her breasts. The team watched in horror as he was passed a large needle full of a yellow liquid. Adrenaline. He slammed it into her chest. John felt his knees go weak. Rodney and Weir turned away. Ronan watched. Carson pumped the liquid into her heart before withdrawing it, a nurse passing him the panels.
'Clear.' He yelled. Nurses stepped back. Electricity shot through Teyla, she arched and fell back. The line was still flat. The single sound cutting John to pieces.
'No pulse. Charging.' An eternity passed as he waited a few seconds.
Teyla's eyes were closed. She wasn't moving. That's not how she should be.
'Oh god.' Rodney groaned, over come with emotion. Elizabeth put a hand on his arm. John didn't listen.
Rodney was not mourning because Teyla was not dead.
Carson put the panels back on her chest. 'Clear.' Thwack. Body arched and fell. The line was flat. Carson paused to feel her pulse, as though wishing the equipment were wrong. His eyes welled.
John looked at him, his eyes widening.
'No pulse.' Carson glanced at the group, his eyes straying to John.
John stepped forward, menace and agony flooding his voice. 'Do it again.' He breathed.
'Colonel-'
'Again!'
Carson lingered only a moment before charging the panels.
John came to her, touching her hand. It was cold. 'Come on Teyla.'
'Clear.' John stepped back.
They all looked on, knowing that this was it. It was now or never.
Thwack. Arched and fell.
…the tone changed.
The line rose and fell.
'I don't bloody believe it! She's got a pulse!' Carson exclaimed, smiling at the group before turning to a Nurse quickly. 'Prep her for surgery immediately.'
John breathed a moment, closing his eyes. He touched her hand again, taking it in his. He looked for something to say, anything – meaningful or sarcastic. No words came.
Ronan touched his shoulder. He turned to see all of them smiling at him and then looking to the bed, to a body whose chest steadily rose and fell.
'I need to clear her airway and sort out the perforated lung – she may be breathing now, but it could change in a second.' He hoisted a white coat on as Teyla was wheeled into surgery. John ran to the observation room, the team close on his heels.
The hours passed, the day went on. John stayed put in front of the window, leaning against the glass, watching. Ronan paced at the back of the room, Rodney sat, sleeping, his head bowed down on his chest.
Elizabeth walked in holding a tray with coffees. She passed one to Ronan who grunted appreciation. She placed one on the chair next to Rodney for when he woke. She took the last two remaining cups and approached John.
'Hey.' She said gently.
As though coming out of a trance, John shook his head, smiled weakly and held the cup to his chest.
'How you doing?' She asked quietly.
'I'll be better when Teyla is kicking my ass on the training mat again.' John said, no happiness in the comment.
'That could be a while.' Elizabeth watched Beckett, his skilled hands the only thing keeping their friend from death.
'I give it a month, tops. There is no way Teyla could stand doing nothing for any longer then that.' John did grin this time.
'Less.' Ronan said. John turned and smiled.
'Probably.'
Elizabeth smiled, sipping the hot liquid. It kept away the chill, the darkness of the room. She sighed.
'Maybe this isn't the best time, but I need to talk to you. All of you.' John and Ronan looked at her. Rodney snored. 'The girl, that came with you. We can't find her.'
John frowned. 'She disappeared?'
'It's possible in all the chaos that she panicked; it's been quite the day for her. For all of us.' She glanced down at Teyla. 'We need to find her, but before we do-'
'What about the cities sensors?' John asked, turning his attention back to the operation.
'Apparently, she can hide from them.'
That made John pay attention. 'What do you mean she can hide from them?' Ronan joined them at the front.
When they had found her cowering behind the tree, they thought nothing of her. She was another soul to save. And then Teyla's condition worsened and he forgot her completely.
Elizabeth looked at them in turn. 'You better wake Rodney.'
John glanced at Ronan. They both paused. 'Well, I'm not gonna do it.' Ronan rolled his eyes and walked over to the scientist. John turned to Elizabeth. 'He won't hurt Ronan.'
Rodney had been woken and various insults were thrown, and no violence John noticed since Ronan had been the one to nudge him. There had been a moment when Ronan dangled the coffee cup above the sleeping scientist, about to tip the contents onto Mckay's head. Elizabeth and John had spotted this in time. Ronan set the cup down and nudged him – hard. Mckay fell from the chair and shot to his feet, yelling something about 'space leaves.' John smirked and raised his quizzical eyebrow. Insults ensued.
Elizabeth allowed them to enjoy the moment, smiling at her colleagues – her friends. She then turned the conversation down a more serious alley.
The Councilmen of Tolas, four in all, were among the survivors to gather at the gate looking for aid which Atlantis had promptly provided when the Jumper had returned with Teyla. When the Councilmen had heard of Teyla's injury and the strange young woman that had accompanied them, they had insisted on speaking with Doctor Weir in person. They gated to Atlantis and swiftly informed Elizabeth of the situation. Suffice to say, Elizabeth had been less than happy.
The whole situation was disturbing – so many deaths for what could be a false hope. Worlds had placed their whole faith in one young woman with a sketchy past in the belief that she could save them. She had been running, leaving nothing but destruction in her wake, and now she had run to Atlantis. She supposed that if this girl had any chance of discovering who she was and what she was capable of, then there was no better place than Atlantis. Especially since the Ancients had been the ones to bring her people to this galaxy. She would ask Mckay to go through the Ancient database.
Elizabeth told the team this information, knowing that they would all need to understand the situation if they were to help. If this girl could defeat the Wraith, then they would find a way.
John and Ronan were mostly silent except for the occasional remarks on choices people had made; Rodney had been the main problem. She almost wished that he had stayed asleep.
Elizabeth finished and Rodney launched into criticism mode.
'Well, they're all profoundly stupid.' He laughed. 'If I were Teyla, I would have been pissed too, I mean, all those people died for nothing!' He explained matter-of-factly.
'They died for a belief, Rodney.' Elizabeth corrected.
'Oh yes, and we all know how that works out, don't we?' He snapped.
'Mckay-' John warned.
'Move things with her mind?' He repeated incredulously. 'Uh, hello! Laws of Physics people! Let's not forget that everything these uneducated people say is impossible.'
John rolled his eyes. Rodney was rarely subtle, even at the best of times.
'I mean, yeah, okay, they're from another galaxy, therefore things could be different over there, but telekinesis? Elizabeth, tell me you threw these nuts back through the gate with strong advice on visiting psychiatrists? If they were smart enough to invent such an occupation, which given their history with the Wraith, you would think it would evolve naturally-'
'Rodney!' Elizabeth yelled. The scientists paused. 'Those nuts are sitting patiently in my office waiting to see the girl.' Rodney rolled his eyes, slapping a hand to his forehead. 'And by the way, we have seen some pretty extraordinary things here in Pegasus. You're saying that there isn't the remotest possibility that this girl has such a power?' She narrowed her eyes fixing him with a stare.
He shuffled.
'The remotest…remotest possibility?' He mumbled. They glared. 'Then no. In my professional opinion, there is no way that a person can move an object with their mind. Not unless some sort of advanced technology were involved which tapped into higher brain functions without reducing the person to a vegetable, and linked them with the heavy sub-space particles of matter the object is made of.' He paused, watching them accepting his answer. 'But then…' His mind strayed.
'What?' John snapped.
'Well, she is an alien. Who's to say how her brain is constructed?' Rodney explained sheepishly. 'We need to find her.' He turned to Elizabeth. 'Run tests.'
'How do you propose we do that since she's gone all Houdini on us?' John asked.
'We could do it the old fashioned way and look.' Rodney snarled.
'Alright, Colonel, I'd like you to organise teams and do a sweep of the city. She is –' she paused and looked at Rodney '- potentially dangerous, and afraid, so approach her with some care.'
John hesitated, his eyes creeping back to the room below. She could see that all of them were reluctant to leave.
'Carson says that the surgery could be another five hours.' She explained gently. 'We'll be in contact via radio; I can inform you of any developments.'
Rodney seemed convinced. 'I'll take a look at the sensors and see what I can do.' He left quickly. Ronan lingered, waiting for Sheppard to make his move.
John looked at Elizabeth, took one last look at Teyla on the table, and left for the armoury.
John had no intention of shooting the girl, unless she started levitating heavy objects in an attempt to squash them all like bugs, then there would be much shooting. But like Elizabeth said, she was probably just afraid. She needed someone to explain things to her.
Rodney had stayed in the control room fiddling with wires below the control interface, confused as to how she could be shielding herself from detection. He was convinced that she had some sort of device on her person and that she wasn't doing it with her mind.
Three teams swept the city while Mckay speculated. One led by John, another by Ronan, and the other by Major Lorne.
John had taken to searching around the control tower, believing that she would not stray far from people. He made it quick, keeping his team jogging. He wanted to find the girl and then get back to Teyla. He could barely concentrate on the search while images of her lifeless body floated through his mind.
'Rodney, have you got those sensors working yet?' He asked, frustration working its impatient little tones into his voice.
The radio was silent for a few seconds before Mckay snapped 'They are working, look, I'm telling you that the trouble isn't coming from our end. We can see you fine.'
'But you can't see Miss moves-things-with-her-brain?' John prodded.
'Apparently not.' The radio was silent once more.
'Colonel? This is Major Lorne.' Sheppard answered immediately.
'Give me some good news, Major.'
'Sorry, Sir. She's not anywhere in the North pier.'
John bowed his head. He did not have time for this, he didn't care if she was this special being or not. He wanted to get back to the observation room.
'Alright. Start on the East pier.' He sighed, signalling for his team to begin moving again.
'Yes sir.'
They continued on.
Ronan had separated from his group; they had gone on their own path while he took his toward the tip of the pier. He liked to hunt alone. There were no distractions, no one else to worry about.
He held his gun loosely at his side, spinning it every now and then. He was not worried about the girl. She may be powerful and he may be stupid for not believing in it, but for once he had to agree with Mckay – the whole thing sounded like a false hope that did nothing more than waste lives.
He thought about Teyla. How she had died and how John had responded, so lost and emotional. Ronan loved Teyla, she was like a sister, and it cut him up inside to see her lying there so helpless. So broken and unresponsive. Teyla was the binds which tied the group together. When she had left the way she did, they had managed, but it had not been the same. They had missed her dearly, and had fought hard to get her back. They didn't expect to get her back like this. Ronan had pictured them walking onto Tolas, seen her beat up a few council members, have Sheppard talk some sense into her before bringing her home. She would be pissed for a few days, but she would most definitely be alive. They would have caught the injury earlier and she would have been fine.
Ronan pictured the scene below him, Teyla on the table, her chest had been opened and Beckett was playing around with parts. Right now, she was fighting for her life, and he wanted to be there fighting with her. And so did Sheppard by the sound of his voice when he spoke to Mckay and Lorne on the radio.
There was more there. More than a brother/sister relationship that he and Teyla had. Ronan could see it even if everyone else was blind. He had always been able to see things sooner than others, but that was because he stopped and looked, waited, and was patient until he found something he had never seen before. He knew something was there, and when he saw it, he would take action. It was how he lived through being a Runner. The Wraith were all about the killing and feeding, but Ronan was a dangerous creature for he had nothing to lose. They always knew where to find him because of the beacon they had placed in him, and yet they still seemed totally blind. Superior beings? More like utterly dependant on technology and stupidly neglecting their instincts. Ronan's instincts had served him well. They would tell him where the Wraith were, they told him that John and Teyla were more than friends – if they would ever admit to it– and they also told him that this girl they were after was close. Very close.
Ronan tensed, slowing his pace. The long corridor in front had many doors on either side, the left lead to another corridor with more rooms. Down the end, it stopped, the tip of the pier. It was a large balcony. They were three levels up, so it looked over the first level which extended out into the sea. She was on that balcony.
He thought over his options. Stick the gun in her face and demand that she follow him to the infirmary to be checked out, or talk to her calmly offering comfort and support. The third option was calling Sheppard and saying that he found her and that he should come and be all caring and nice. Well, he couldn't do that. She was a girl, and he didn't need Sheppard's help on that. He wouldn't be comforting or caring, so that left him with the sticking of the gun in her face, which he also knew wasn't going to be the right option. So that left him nowhere.
Ronan approached the balcony with options one and two in mind.
He stood by the doorway, glancing at the horizon as the Sun was setting. His gun by his side, he slid out onto the balcony.
She stood against the railing, her arms folded. Long blonde hair trailing down to her back fluttered in the wind. Her dress was thin, showing the curves. It also showed tears and dirt. It had once been a pale blue, he thought, but now it had seen nothing but mud and dust and blood. Her feet were bare, dusty, with cuts. She couldn't have been older than twenty five.
Ronan kept both of his hands on the gun but did not raise it. He would not underestimate her.
She sniffed turning to look at him. The first thing he saw was bright blue eyes, unnaturally bright, staring at him through tears of sorrow. Her face was streaked with dirt and blood, handsome cheekbones and bow lips lifted slightly in a weak smile.
'That will not be necessary.' She shook her head and then turned back to the dusk. 'I will not harm you.'
Ronan lifted an eyebrow.
'How do I know?' He asked, keeping his hands on his gun. 'Just met you - and some of the things people say about you warn me to stay close to a weapon.'
'Did these people not also tell you that I am on your side?' She cocked her head, not looking at him, but smiling anyway.
'So.' He paused. 'Are you evil?'
She laughed out loud, turning her back on the horizon.
'I think I am.' She studied him. 'Borus would tell me that I was something wonderful.'
Ronan went right on by asking who Borus was. 'Something?'
She nodded. 'Mmmh…not human, at least, not completely.'
She looked sadly at her hand, as though willing it to sprout a mouth and tell her what it was made of.
'You have a name?' He asked, taking a hand from his gun.
'I did.' She said. 'People call me Astra now.'
'Why change it?'
'I didn't.'
Silence. He did not sense that she was a threat. She wasn't right, but she wasn't about to use her supposed telekinetic powers to throw him from the balcony.
'Do you have a name, or do people mark you by your intimidating appearance?' She asked, unafraid of the man before her. He was tall, strong, moved like a warrior and was straight to the point. He reminded her of Borus, except this man was younger, spoke alot more – and he was far more attractive.
Ronan grinned at the comment. 'Ronan.'
She smiled. 'Ronan.' Astra paused. 'I like this name.'
Ronan watched her – she was interesting, the mystery of her made her all the more intriguing.
'Weir says you're afraid of this place.' He stated, trying in his own subtle way to ease her mind.
'No.' She shook her head immediately. 'Atlantis is beautiful, just as it was in my dreams. But there are many things to be afraid of Ronan.' She paused, walking toward him. 'Of people I do not know…of the Wraith…of what I am supposed to be capable of.' She looked into his large brown eyes and felt safe all of a sudden. His kindness was cloaked by his warrior instincts telling him that she may be more than she seemed. She understood. It was the sign of a good warrior not to be lead astray by a pretty girl and to focus on the problem at hand. 'I am curious, Ronan, as to what it is you fear. I imagine that it cannot be much.'
Ronan looked down at her. 'The Wraith destroyed my home; I fear nothing because I have nothing to lose.'
Astra nodded. 'Then this is something we have in common.'
She smiled gently, Ronan stared back, unaware of what was happening exactly.
'You need to be checked out by some Doctors, meet some people.' Ronan explained.
She looked down and smiled. 'Yes, I thought as much. Who is the leader of Atlantis?' She asked.
'Weir.' He stated.
Astra blinked. 'That is a very short name for a leader – does he not have a title?'
'Doctor Elizabeth Weir is female.' Ronan corrected, turning toward the door, signalling for her to follow.
'She has medical skill?' Astra asked.
'No.'
'Then why is she known as 'Doctor'?'
'It's a human thing. I didn't ask.'
Astra smiled and nodded once more, the action was beginning to make him wonder again. It was like she knew, understood. Younger than he and yet she seemed wiser.
'Colonel Sheppard is the military Commander.' He informed.
'Yes, this I guessed. He is very distraught about your friend's injury.' She looked ahead into the dark corridor. 'She saved my life, I am in her debt.'
'Teyla will tell you that you owe her nothing.' Ronan pocketed his weapon. 'She has fought the Wraith all her life, she understands what you represent, even though it may be a lie.'
Astra stopped walking, Ronan continued and turned when he noticed that she was no longer by her side.
'You do not believe that I possess such abilities?' She asked coldly.
'Do you?' Ronan pinned her with a glare. It was the million dollar question.
'I do not know.' She continued walking. 'I am different to others. I sense things, I see things. I have been called strange many times, even cursed.'
Ronan raised an eyebrow. 'Do you ever think about the worlds that are destroyed because of you?'
She stopped again, her anger much more noticeable. She shook her head as though he had smacked her in the face.
'Yes.' She growled. 'Constantly.' Tears welled in her eyes. 'I would gladly give myself to the Wraith to save all of those worlds, and the many more that are to come!'
'Why don't you?' He asked, slightly annoyed.
'Because I have been told by others that I mustn't, that if there is the slightest chance that I can defeat them, that I must stay alive.' She stormed down the corridor. 'At first I didn't have a choice! Borus kidnapped me, kept me hidden. By the time I had escaped, I learnt that many worlds had been destroyed in the effort to find me. The only thing I focus on now, is not allowing their deaths to be in vein!' She turned on him quickly so that he came close enough to almost topple over her. 'There is something inside of me, but I do not know what. If I learn that it is nothing more than a stupid girls hope to please a galaxy of frightened people, then I will give myself to the Wraith!'
Ronan stared down, eyebrow raised. She had quite the temper for one so small. He liked it.
'Do you always speak your mind so bluntly?' She asked, her temper not yet cooled.
'Yes.'
She smiled slightly, more out of frustration than anything else. 'Wonderful.'
Ronan took her arm and led her down the corridor.
He put a hand to his ear to turn on his radio. 'Sheppard. I've got the girl; we're going to the Observation Room.'
Ronan paused, and when the Colonel did not answer, he raised his hand again. 'Sheppard.'
'Ronan this is Mckay!' It was Rodney, and he sounded out of breath. 'We read you! Something's happened in surgery! We're on our way there now!'
Ronan cast Astra a dark look and sprinted down the corridor, the girl following him closely.