A?N: Thanks for all reviews, they have been really wonderful!
WHIP NO MORE
By ErikaHK
Chapter 6
Dr. Elizabeth Weir sat in her office staring the activity on the Gate Room through the glass window. They were preparing a MALP probe to be sent back to M5X-434 after the first attempt in contacting the team through the radio failed. They were now five hours late and Major Lorne with a team of marines were ready and waiting by the 'gate. They would go through as soon as the MALP showed no hostile activity on the vicinity of the other side.
The technician below looked up at her and gave a thumbs up, indicating they were ready. She stood and walked to the Control Room.
"Dial the 'gate." She said to the Canadian technician that promptly obeyed.
As soon as the stargate kawooshed, the probe began moving. It reached the other side and a clear image appeared on the screen before her. After a few seconds it was cut off by an energy blast and several bullet shots that came from an unknown location. The image was taken over by static and she sighed loudly hugging her chest.
She was ready to order deactivation of the 'gate when a voice came over from the other side.
"Hold your fire!" A male voice spoke loudly.
"What is this?" Another voice came.
Elizabeth signaled the young technician. "Open the comm." The channel was open and she started. "This is Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Identify yourselves and what you have done to my team."
No response came.
"We are peaceful explorers, we mean you no harm. We just want our people back."
"I'm authorized by Freyr to begin negotiations for the release of the Atlantian prisoners." The first male voice spoke.
"What have you done to them?" She kept a calm and steady voice, even though her heart pounded with concern.
"They are still alive, if that's what you mean." The voice came cocky.
Elizabeth paid extra attention on the tone used by the man since all she could do was hear and not see him. Being an experienced negotiator, she knew what each tone meant. This one meant that the team could be injured and probably by the hands of those people.
"We do not negotiate with terrorists." She repeated the phrase often used in these situations with her best commanding voice.
"It's either negotiating with us or picking up the remains of their bodies. You choose." The man said steady and calm. It wasn't a trained statement, he meant that.
She closed her eyes and took one deep breath. "What are your terms?" She didn't intend on negotiating, but she could try to gain some time and some information about who those people were.
"We want one hundred units of the bigger weapons you men were carrying."
There was no way she could agree to those terms. By the expression on his face, Lorne that now moved close to her, agreed with that.
"I'm sorry, but what you're asking is impossible. We don't have that many." She tried to sound convincing which in fact wasn't difficult, since that was very close to the truth.
"That's not my problem. Its twenty five for each one of your people. The exchange will take place in a neutral planet." The man showed signs of irritation.
"How do we know you'll keep your end of the bargain?"
"You don't. That what is called deal. We trust you and you trust us." Now that was a trained statement. "Don't double cross us or the little man will be the first to go." He paused then continued. "The first twenty five weapons will be delivered in six hours. Do you know the place called Heran?"
Of course she did, everyone did. They were famous traders of the Pegasus Galaxy. They had a loose law enforcement, meaning that a number of activities that were considered illegal in many planets could take place there. She didn't want to agree to those terms, but there was little choice. She would have to work with this time frame to come up with a plan to get the team back. She wanted more.
"I need more time to get the weapons you want. Six hours is not enough."
"Like I said, not my problem. Be there."
With that more shots were heard and then silence. She stared at the blank screen for a few seconds before nodding for the technician to deactivate the 'gate. She looked at the major with a concerned face and invited him to her office.
"They look like pros, ma'am." Lorne begun as soon as she sat down.
"Yes, they do. And you know we can't bend to their wishes." She folded her arms on the desk, keeping strait.
"Yes, ma'am. What's the plan?"
Her concerned face deepened. She didn't have any. She sighed and finally said softly. "I'm open to suggestions. I don't think they would be fooled by flunk weapons and they didn't look like the friendliest bunch."
"The MALP showed five hostiles guarding the 'gate. Even in defensive positions they could be overrun by our superior arm power." Lorne rested his hands on the P90 hanging on his vest.
"You would be completely exposed the second you go through. I'm not ready to risk casualties." She nodded a firm no.
"We have stun grenades. We can throw them seconds before we go through and get there firing at everyone." He spoke slowly and confidently.
"If this doesn't work we will be risking the lives of Sheppard and the others." She really didn't like this plan.
"I'm sure he would approve, ma'am."
"You don't know what's out there or how to find them." She made a commanding voice. "We need more than that on our plan. If we storm that planet, we need to know exactly where to go and extract them quickly before they find out we are there."
"What if we knew?" He made a face that suggested he had a plan.
"What are you suggesting?" She was now curious.
"We get a jumper through." He spoke like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"We already discussed this. There isn't enough space on the other side."
"We could make the space. Just blow up a clearing. We go through, overpower the guards by the 'gate, place a few C4s on the trees enough to get a couple of cloaked jumpers through. Then we locate our men using their transmitters and extract them."
He sounded confident. There was moment of silence while she considered his plan.
"Can you pull that off?" She asked waiting for an honest answer.
"The men and I are ready to do what is necessary to ensure their safety, ma'am." He gave her the answer she needed.
"I'll authorize it. Get the men and the jumpers ready."
…
Again he was at the stake, the bruises and lacerations on his wrists made worse by the ropes tying him to the pole. Freyr circled him menacingly with the whip on his hand. No one has spoken a word so far.
John tensed waiting for the strike at any second. He was ready for it. He kept repeating that to himself. He was ready to face any consequence for his loyalty to Atlantis and his responsibility.
Ready to look into the man's eyes and say 'no' over and over again.
Ready to watch the others suffering for as long as it takes.
He was ready.
He wouldn't show weakness.
He wouldn't amuse Freyr. He wouldn't feed his pleasure.
He kept the resolute expression and hid his feelings away from the surface. Detached from them. It was his duty. He just repeated everything over and over again inside his mind until he convinced himself it was true. The only truth.
"Say." It was the only command that came from Freyr.
"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard US Air Force, serial number…"
Strike. He flinched. The pain spread and burned him.
"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard US Air Force…" He continued with the stern voice.
Strike. He hissed and panted.
"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard US Air Force…"
Another strike. Another flinch. Another grunt. He fought to keep the air flowing to his lungs.
"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard… US…"
Strike. Stronger than before. His legs threatened to fail.
"Lieutenant Colonel… John Sheppard…"
Strike. He held tightly on the rope to avoid buckling.
"Lieutenant Colonel… John. Sheppard…"
Strike…
…
TBC…