Dark Element
Powerless

A dark world leads to the discovery of an Ancient long imprisoned by his own people. The team is placed in grave danger when Beckett sets him free.

Water. Without it the human body cannot survive. Ecosystems would turn to ash and life would cease. Both Teyla and Ronon were sick of it.

"It's really coming down." An astute observation, certainly, but it didn't take a comment from the Satedan to tip anyone else off. And he wasn't entirely accurate. The rain was not merely 'coming down'. That would imply some sort of gentility about the act. No, the rain was more hurling itself towards the ground at terminal velocity like a starved Wraith chasing a rabbit.

Teyla shoved her wet hair out of her face, trying to see him in the downfall. Each second her eyes were open the rain stung her, making concentration on visual searching very difficult at best. How their host was leading them anywhere definitive was beyond her comprehension. Cullen claimed to know these woods like the back of his hand, but the rain was so thick she couldn't see how he could see anything.

They had no choice but to continue, however. Oh, there had been a calming of the rains before they had set out on this journey. After a troubled, but mercifully dry, rest in the small inn, morning had dawned through gray clouds and intermittent showers. It wasn't going to be a pleasant trek to the temple, certainly, with all the mud and the burst of sprinkles now and then. But fearing for the lives of their companions Teyla and Ronon had insisted on leaving, so with a certain amount of reluctance Cullen had agreed.

The weather had turned terrifying and caught them nearly three quarters of the way towards the temple. Now the three of them were slogging their way through the forest while the ground shuddered beneath their feet. The forest was thick and more than once each of the companions had taken turns being struck in the face by branches and leaves blowing, falling into puddles as the mud gave way beneath their steps, and being pelted by falling sticks.

"Are we almost there?" Teyla shouted over the gusting winds when she spotted Cullen nearby.

He thrust his arm out, motioning towards the path ahead. "Almost! It should be right ahead of us!" She took little comfort from his assurance, praying inwardly he would prove her doubts wrong.

It took a little longer than he had led the Lanteans to believe, but some indeterminate amount of time later they came upon a structure. A canopy of metal and glass covered the ground for a distance, then melted into a stone building. In the distance they could see an angry sea churning with the storm. Without hesitation the three of them bolted for the threshold beckoning them beneath the cover of the glass.

Once underneath the protective covering Teyla leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. It was amazing, the difference. She could finally see straight, could finally think straight, now that she wasn't being beaten half to death by the elements. Still, she wasn't completely relieved. "The glass?" she breathed, straightening to look at her companions.

Ronon was already examining their surroundings. "No damage from the weather." He pointed. "There's a big branch up there. Must have hit pretty hard, but there isn't even a crack. There must be some sort of shielding around the surface of the building.

She was taken back to when McKay had inadvertently closed himself up in an Ancient personal shield, preventing him from eating. "We may not be able to open the doors if we cannot find the source," she observed quietly.

"Maybe not," Ronon agreed, then shrugged as he sat down on a nearby stone bench. His dark eyes fixed on Cullen. "I think we better talk about this Dark One."

Cullen gave a derisive snort. "Superstition."

"What makes you so sure?" Teyla asked him. She wasn't one to believe in demons, but she knew tales had a way of being rooted in something real. She suspected this Dark One might just have been a Wraith.

"Please." The local waved his hand. "It's been thousands of years since the legend began. The only reason I know anything about it is because the town's always spreading some sort of story about how the 'Dark One's gonna get you if you don't eat your supper' and the like. More likely he was just some dark king of the ancient world."

Ronon crossed his ankles and leaned back. "These stories tell what this dark king looked like? What happened to him?"

Cullen shrugged, and then sighed as he realized they weren't going to let up. He sat down right on the ground and looked up at them with a patronizing expression. "Okay. I'll humor you. Let's see, the story goes that once the temple was dedicated to the Ancestors. They lived here in peace, surveying the lands around them for centuries. Then from out of the temple came the Dark One. No one's told me the story of his origins. We just know he did terrible things and took the souls of the Ancestors until they finally came here in greater numbers to stop him." He knit his brow in thought. "Some say he was an Ancestor, if that tells you anything."

"An Ancestor?" Telya repeated, unable to contain her surprise.

"I know," Cullen agreed, shaking his head. "Honestly, I think the Ancestors themselves are myths, much less some sort of gods. But the authorities'll give you something to worry about if you dare mention that particular theory in mixed company. Believe me, I know. And…"

A thunderous crash echoed, stopping Cullen's words dead in their tracks. He raced to his feet and whipped toward the direction of the noise. Teyla followed him to the pane of glass separating them from the rain. What she saw frightened her. The waters of the sea had broken upon the shore hard, knocking back a lone tree that was now being carried back out with the tide. They watched as it floated beyond sight. And then the water surged forward again, coming closer. It was still a good few hundred yards away, but those waves were gathering strength as the storm raged on.

"We're in some serious trouble," Ronon murmured, watching the fearsome sight. He shared a wary look with Teyla.

Cullen was panicked. "My god! I've never seen it that high before!" He covered his mouth, watching in horror as a huge wave chased the sand. "I've gotta get back to town and warn them before it's too late. The sea runs close on the other side of the mountain. Too close." He turned back. "You better come too."

Ronon shook his head. "We have things to do here."

"You're insane!" the younger man said urgently, throwing his arm towards the water. "Do you see that? It'll rip you apart when it gets this far inland! The temple might be protected, but you aren't."

Lightening flashed and thunder shook them. Teyla pulled Cullen towards the wilderness. "Thank you for your help, but we must stay. You, however, must go now if you want to reach them in time!"

He hovered for a long moment, between trying to convince them to come and just taking off. When he saw the resolve in both their faces he chose the latter and disappeared into the trees within minutes. Teyla turned back to Ronon gravely. "Let us hope we can get into the temple."

"You don't have to sell me," he replied, motioning towards the complex with his head. He pulled his gun out of his coat, shook the water off it, and they ran for it.

It was a total Darth Vader moment. Well, that was what Rodney called their current situation, anyway, citing the final scene in Return of the Jedi where Luke tried to help his dying father off the Death Star. He had quickly followed that thought up with the reassurance that he wasn't going to leave Carson behind.

Through the windows flanking their sides they could see terrible flashes. Carson found his eyes drawn to the glass separating them from the tumult going on outside. He was no stranger to rainy weather, naturally. It came with the territory of his heritage. But what was going on out there was madness. He had never seen the like of such a storm and had no wish to see one ever again.

One arm slung around McKay, he stumbled through the shadows like he had taken a swill from his great uncle's "special" brew. The recollection made him smile despite the terrible reality of his current whereabouts. He had only ever tasted of that dark liquid once, having snuck into the barn late one autumn's night with his friends, and once had been quite enough for him. He had never walked so crooked in his life save for then and now.

The idea of using the gurney as transport quickly died when they realized how much trouble it was to push and push quietly. And Rodney couldn't carry the ailing doctor with his arm the way it was. All in all it was slow going, but Beckett counted it a miracle he had made it this far without falling flat, help or not.

There was no sign of Aerien. No telltale lights shimmered down the dim hallways, no noises announced the presence of their host. It should have been a relief, but neither of them could say they were comforted by the fact. Each step was one closer to a possible encounter.

In the dark the halls seemed endless and foreboding. After a few twists the physicist had confessed, finally, that he really wasn't entirely all that certain they were on the right path. In his exhausted state Carson had said nothing; it was all he could do to keep himself conscious, much less able to help his friend to navigate.

Halfway down a shadowy hallway that was lit only by the pale sea-blue wall of storm outside, McKay broke the silence and asked, "How are you feeling?"

They paused and the doctor looked up. "Wee bit shaky, but other than that, ready fer a marathon," he replied cynically, then promptly lost his balance.

"All right," Rodney breathed, catching him and easing him back towards the wall. "I can take a hint." He let Carson drop to the floor for a rest, then traipsed across the way to take a seat in front of him. He rubbed his fingers through his hair wearily, sparing the doctor a glance.

Carson took a long, deep breath and closed his eyes as he leaned back against the wall. He could feel the thunder in the walls and floor each time it rolled. He could also sense Rodney's discomfort each time it crashed as well. He opened his lids halfway to peer at him. "Ya a'right, Rodney? How's the arm?"

"Huh?" the scientist replied distractedly, then looked away from the window that had caught his attention. He took a speculative breath, looked about to say something, then waved his hand. "Hurts like Hell, but at least I'm breathing, right? I'm fine."

"What else is wrong?" Carson pressed, though he had an idea of what was bothering his friend. "Ya been quiet since we started." He had tried so hard to hide his weakness from McKay, but he knew his wearing down was as easy to see as the storm raging just a wall away.

Rodney shrugged, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "Well, I just…" He looked at Carson with an unreadable expression. "What do you mean you're not cut out for this?"

The doctor closed his eyes again. "S'at what's botherin' ya, lad?"

"Yeah, it is," Rodney told him flatly. The Scotsman could almost feel his friend frowning. "And where the hell do you get off telling me to leave you because you're dying?"

"I said it so ya'd save John."

"In the meantime what, then? You gonna just give your life to that nutcase because you think it's going to save lives?"

Carson opened his eyes with a knit brow, gaze raking over the angry physicist. "Rodney, ya don't understand…"

That was exactly the wrong thing to say. It showed in McKay's face. "No, maybe not, but what I do understand is that I've got a best friend that's scaring the complete crap out of me right now." He motioned to himself. "Do you know how annoying it is to try and survive through this house of horrors with this friggen worry weighing me down every step? God, Carson, are you trying to get me killed?"

"O'course not," the doctor replied in quiet tones. He sighed as he groped for some sort of response that wouldn't increase Rodney's upset. In the end all he could say was, "I wasn' tryin' ta worry ya, lad."

"Yes, I know." Rodney rolled his eyes, but Carson could see beneath through that particular mask, straight to the shaken state behind it. "You were trying to be selfless for Sheppard's sake. I get the whole St. Carson mystique, really, I do. But there's ways you could play that card without telling me you're dying. I mean you're a doctor. I don't know if you're just being you or telling the truth."

"I'm sorry," Carson said softly.

Rodney shook his head. "Not sorry enough."

Beckett felt his ire beginning to stir. He glared across the hallway. "What d'ya want from me, Rodney? I can' take it back now that it's done. What d'ya want me ta say?"

"I want you to say you don't give up!" The scientist matched his glare, then sighed. "Isn't it obvious, or are you going to make me get all gushy about it? I want you to live! So shoot me!" He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. "I'm tired too, you know. I'm scared out of my damn mind. But I know you're cut out for all this, I know you'll survive, because if I can, so can you. Trust me, not that egocentric maniac, will you? For my sake, to get me through this hell, if you can't do it for yourself."

For a long moment the doctor just stared at his friend. He didn't know how to reply right away; he was speechless. The words inevitably had all the tact and sugar one could expect of any given Rodneyism, but when you got right down to it Carson knew why he had said all he did. Because he cared.

"I'm sorry, lad," he whispered, giving McKay a misty-eyed look. "I…I'll make it through this, and so will you." He didn't know if the first of that was true or not, but he was darn well going to pretend it was if it would make Rodney stop worrying about him long enough to survive.

Rodney opened one eye at that response. "Oh god, you're not crying, are you?" he asked point-blank.

Carson laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Naw. I yawned when ya weren't lookin'."

"Yeah, right." Rodney pursed his lips and studied his friend, then stood up to get the weary doctor moving again. He stretched his hand out. "You gonna make it?"

"Aye, I'm gonna make it." Carson gave the other man a reassuring smile, glad to have peace between them again, and just as their hands met a set of footfalls echoed from around a nearby corner.

The doctor froze, startled. Rodney used his fear as motivation and urged his friend up into his not so steady hold to find a hiding spot. He pulled Carson back away from the direction of the noise, groping with a free hand at a nearby doorknob. It was locked and the scientist cursed before moving on towards the next one.

A sudden beam of light poured through the hall. As McKay jerked uselessly at another locked door, Carson turned his eyes towards what he assumed would be their doom. The light turned the corner, stretching towards them from fifty feet away. Any second now it would fall upon them.

"Rodney," he breathed, going tense in fear. Had Aerien already taken care of John? The figure behind the beam was dark, draped in shadows. The light became too intense to stare into as it closed in on them. He squinted.

"Okay," McKay breathed, putting Carson against the wall to support him. He stepped back and fumbled through his pockets, hand shaking. He found what he was looking for just in time. Whipping the gun up, he pointed and closed his eyes as he fingered the trigger. "This is it!"

Two shadows separated, each flying towards opposite sides of the hall. Carson gasped in realization even as Ronon hissed, "McKay! Put it down!"

When the gun hit the floor the doctor felt as though he would collapse from the sheer stress of the moment. He leaned back and splayed his fingers along the wall, taking a long breath. Rodney shook his head, looking between Ronon and Teyla with a shocked expression. "Holy…you should've said…I could've…" he stammered, then rubbed his forehead. "I need a vacation."

"Yeah, well, I guess we're lucky you aren't a very good marksman," Ronon stated dryly as he picked the weapon up and handed it back. He glared at the scientist. "Which is more than I can say for your skills at getting us out of that hole we've been stuck in."

"Hey, look, pal…" Rodney began defensively, then noticed something. "Why are you two wet?"

It was Teyla that headed off any arguments. Her eyes raked over both men, noticing the ragged state they were in. "Something has happened. What is it?" She looked at Beckett gently.

"God, we have been trapped here with the Ancient's answer to Satan," Rodney explained angrily. He motioned off in the general direction they had left. "He's been torturing us and we just now broke out of his happy little lab, which is where Sheppard is, before you ask. He's waiting for that…oh god, he's waiting for Aerien! All he's got is his P-90. Ronon, you have your gun, don't you?" The big man opened his drenched jacket and metal flashed in the soft light. McKay nodded enthusiastically. "Good, good! Keep it ready. We need to move like now, because he could be anywhere and believe me, you do not want to meet him without firepower as your greeting."

Looking between them in alarm, trying to soak up all McKay had told them in such a short little burst, Teyla shook her head. "Dr. McKay, perhaps you should start at the beginning."

"We don't have time!" he snapped, already motioning towards Carson. "Ronon, take his other side, will you? We have to get him to the transport rings or somewhere else safe, and then go back for Sheppard before he does something stupid."

"Like what?" Ronon asked, inserting himself beneath the doctor's left arm. The burden lifted from him as Rodney took his right was enough to make the doctor sigh gratefully.

McKay turned his head, looking past Carson's weary expression as he replied, "Like die."

Neither Teyla nor Ronon could supply them with a scanner, unfortunately, but the search was quicker now with help. Carson hung between the two men trying his hardest to do his part, but he had the sinking feeling he wasn't adding all that much power to their momentum.

Somewhere along the way they found the transport room. Never did a piece of technology look so good to any of them. McKay and Ronon eased the doctor down into the claw-marked chair, the same he had examined what felt like forever ago. And then the scientist disappeared into the transport room, muttering fantasies of food to himself in excitement as he dashed away.

Teyla moved to stand in front of Carson, looking down with a soft expression. "Are you all right?"

Carson nodded. He gave her a wan smile. "Nothin' a few weeks hidin' in me room won't cure."

"This Aerien person do this to you?" Ronon asked with a hard edge to his voice. "Is he really all that dangerous?"

The doctor repressed the urge to shudder. "Aye, lad. He's an Ancient. He has…powers…I can't even describe it." He looked up gravely. "Don' let him touch ya."

The other two exchanged glances, but before either of them could respond Rodney came flying out of the transport room with an enraged expression written across his features. "So help me god, I'm gonna kill that son of a…"

"What is it?" Ronon pressed, not letting him continue his tirade.

Rodney glared, throwing his arms up. "See this? See this darkness? There's a reason for it, you know." He kicked at a stray paper on the floor. "No power. Whatsoever. I'm guessing our friend didn't pay his bill."

"So what do you have to do to get it going again?"

The question made Rodney roll his eyes. "Hell if I know. Do a rain dance? I knew, knew, knew something was going to go wrong. Nothing can ever be easy, because no. What would the universe want to make things easy for? And…"

"Dr. McKay, calm down," Teyla urged him pointedly. "You say this mad Ancient could be anywhere, yes? Then that is all the more reason to keep our voices down. We need a plan."

McKay opened his mouth, closed it again, opened it once more and let out a sigh. "Right. Okay. Well, first we need to get Sheppard. Top of the list. I say you leave that to me and Ronon, and you and Carson stay here. He's in no condition for a rescue, not that I am, but you know." He waved his hand. "No time like the present to run in, guns blazing, and die, right? Ready?"

Ronon nodded, and just as the two men turned to depart Carson stopped them, calling, "Rodney?"

The scientist turned around. "Yeah?"

"Don't ya think ya'd better leave us yer gun, lad?" He had noticed Teyla's empty-handed state and had no desire to meet Aerien without at least a fighting chance.

McKay wavered, however. "Last time I left a man a gun…"

Carson cocked his head to the side. "I'm not goin' ta shoot meself, Rodney, leastaways not in front o'Teyla." He smirked to reassure the other man. "I might have ta after ya give me another servin' o'that chicken o'yours, though. But that's later on an' this is now."

"Funny, funny guy," Rodney muttered, handing his firearm off to the Athosian. He shook his head, then he and the warrior were off.

And then he and Teyla were alone. He could see it in her eyes, the questions that threatened to come now that there was time to answer them. His little evasive answer from before wouldn't stall her. "You are injured," she observed, moving near him. "How bad is it? Can I help?"

It felt strange to be talking to her. He took a shuddering breath and realized just how certain he had been that he would never walk out of this place alive. "N-no, lass, thank you. I'm just…just a wee bit tired."

"What did this Ancient do to you?" The doctor knew she would have trouble equating the Ancients with the idea of torture and terror.

Carson turned his head away from her with a sigh. He couldn't speak it aloud right now, couldn't tell her the terrible things he was trying so hard to keep locked away from the surface of his heart. And true to her insight she picked up on that distress quickly and did not ask any more of him than he could give.

Her warm hand met his shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze and he reached up to give it a grateful pat. Carson didn't want to close himself to his friends like this, but he just couldn't go through it again.

As always, thank you thank you+huggles:-)