~ Left Behind ~
An Author's Note follows the chapter.
Word Count, Chapter 3: 3543
Disclaimer: 'Stargate Atlantis' and its characters are not mine. I would not have left them under the aegis of those whose interest lay elsewhere.
SGA ~ SGA ~ SGA
From a corner of the infirmary Elizabeth and Lorne watched and waited. Carson Beckett had acknowledged their arrival with a short nod and a quick return to the work at hand. Teyla appeared to be disoriented and groggy. Rodney's vocal agitation was interrupted when he suddenly fell silent, his eyes rolled back and he violently trembled. Ronon seemed the least affected; he had strongly resisted any care for his wrist while loudly insisting he needed to leave to go after Sheppard. A quiet word from Beckett and a calming hand on the big man's shoulder and Ronon eventually had settled down enough to be tended.
Finally, with his patients under the care of his staff, the doctor walked over to the duo in the corner to give his report. "The scanners certainly speed up the process and remove most of the guesswork." Beckett let out a relieved sigh. "We're lucky; there are no serious physical injuries and they'll all be fine. Teyla is bruised, shoulder and hip from the fall. Rodney bruised one elbow and both knees, rather badly; he'll be limping for a long while. He hurt his hand, a painful sprain. Ronon's wrist requires surgery. The blade missed tendon and bone but there's minor muscle damage." He turned to observe that the three teammates were being settled on beds and moved to a quiet area in the complex. He spoke again in a speculative tone. "There's very little drug remaining in their systems. The broader symptoms of drugged behavior are due to disrupted neural activity. It feels a bit like being drunk. Teyla has slurred speech, Rodney a stutter. Plus they're all experiencing spasms, like a palsy, and their motor coordination is compromised. The effects are wearing off, but there are still substantial changes in their brain chemistry."
"Wraith stunners?" Lorne suggested.
Beckett shook his head. "The effect is too long lasting. And the device would have to make contact or would have some kind of discharge that leaves that mark on their necks, like sunburn." He turned back to his listeners. "And I don't think the purpose of the device is to incapacitate or render the subject unconscious. The drug would do that ~ make them, let's say, 'controllable'."
"For interrogation purposes?" Lorne inquired urgently.
"Not 'controllable' in that way." The doctor clarified, "They wouldn't be responsive to questioning. They would be semi-conscious, or, more like sleep-walking," he further explained.
Elizabeth entered the conversation. "May we talk to them?"
Beckett sighed. "I'm giving them fluids because they're slightly dehydrated, along with light pain medication and vitamins." He looked at Elizabeth, Lorne, then Elizabeth. "They need rest and time for their bodies to do the work. Don't take too long."
"We just need to ask a few questions, Doc," Lorne assured.
The Scot smiled. "Ye'll have a fight on yer hands with Ronon. I'm keeping them for observation, but he wants to join ye."
The major tapped Beckett on the arm, then went to stand at the foot of Teyla's bed. Ronon's bed was to the right, McKay's to the left. They were all half-reclining and waiting to tell their stories. "What happened?"
Rodney snorted. "What h-happened?! I'll t-t-tell you what h-happened! We were a-ambushed and they t-took Sh-Sheppard!"
Lorne's gaze sharpened. "I thought the MALP showed no inhabitants at the outpost. Who are 'they'? Ancient descendants?"
"No," McKay shook his head, "j-just squatters. If they h-had the gene th-th-they wouldn't need Sh-Sh-Sheppard. And it's not an-an-an Ancient outp-p-post anymore, it's m-more like an ant-t-t-hill in overd-d-drive," McKay groused.
"What do you mean, Rodney?" Elizabeth asked.
"Those idiots d-d-dismantled everyth-thing!" Rodney bellowed. "We c-could have had ac-ac-ac-cess to all k-kinds of T-Tech, but those f-f-fools took it ap-p-part and used the p-pieces t-t-to–"
Ronon interrupted impatiently, "We don't have time." He glared, his expression emphasized by the bandage over the cut on his eyebrow. He suddenly tensed and looked down at his hands, resting on his thighs. He spread his fingers wide, then made fists until the tremors stopped. He re-focused his attention on Lorne and delivered his information in clipped, short tones. "Gate's in a close area, a clearing in the woods. Path's obvious, overgrown most of the way. City's about five kilometers, a straight shot coming out of the Gate."
Teyla spoke, enunciating each word slowly and clearly. "It is a large configuration, but not as large as Atlan'is. And as Ro'ney said, they have altered it. Now there is far more than Ances'or architecture, and it is…very crowded."
"What sh-she m-means," Rodney added testily, "is th-there are p-probably fifty th-thousand people in that b-beehive and those intellectual in-insects b-built their city by d-d-deconstructing th-the original Ancient b-buildings." He threw his arm up in a dismissing gesture, then gasped and cradled his hand at his chest.
"Can we use Jumpers?" Lorne wanted to know.
"You'll have t-to," Rodney said curtly. "There's no D-DHD."
"How'd you make it back?" Lorne queried intensely.
"There's broken T-Tech everywhere. Including a d-dilapidated Jumper." Lorne's eyebrows rose. "The oafs don't know w-w-what they have," Rodney mourned. "I j-jury-rigged the Jumper DHD."
"Okay, Jumpers. And then what?" Lorne encouraged.
"Go slow, at first," Ronon counseled. "Out of the clearing, over the trees, then it's good. Forest opens into grassland."
"What are we walking into?"
"Hills. Natural defenses. Limited weapons. Concealment. They watch the Gate, even though we didn't see anyone. Their guards have some kind of adjustable camouflage."
"I hate to r-rain on your l-little military parade," Rodney inserted tersely, "but it m-may not be as easy as you th-think to find Sh-Sheppard. The MALP showed us n-nothing. Get it? No-thing. We d-didn't have any idea there was a p-population until we op-pened those doors. And even when w-we could s-see it, the out-t-side w-wall didn't register on any s-screen. S-Something interfered, a c-counter-f-field."
Lorne took a moment to digest the information. "We may have to do this the old-fashioned way," he considered.
"It's possible, once you're p-past the Ancient wall, the J-Jumper sensors could work. P-P-Probably. Maybe. And th-then it would be easy t-to locate Sh-Sheppard's transmitter," Rodney offered. "Th-th-the counterfield should r-recognize a Jumper."
"Where would they hold Colonel Sheppard?"
"Perhaps where we were all held," Teyla proposed. "In the Ances'or section. There is very little lef' intac' excep' the wall."
Lorne gestured at Ronon. "That mark on your neck. Is that how they took you? What was the weapon?"
Teyla felt her neck. "We do nod know. When we woke the mar's were there. We have no mem'ry, only a feeling or a dream of voices we heard while we were asleep. John did no' fully wake, but he could open the doors. We were almos' to the Gate when they…appeared. They pushed us through the Gate and made us leave John behin'."
"I should go with you," Ronon pressed.
Elizabeth stayed in the background as Lorne responded with a steady look at the big man. He let his gaze wander from the drip bag, down the tubing, at the slack fist and finally, to the immobilized and bandaged wrist. "Not this time, Ronon." A small smile briefly lifted the corner of Lorne's mouth. "Your job now is the hard one ~ to wait and trust us to bring him back."
"See if you can find my laptop!" Rodney shouted as the major departed. "And our w-weapons! And the MALP, although it's p-p-probably a lawnmower by n-now," he grumbled.
Elizabeth nodded to the three, then hurried to catch up with Lorne. "Major," she hailed as she matched his pace, "if this is about the gene, do you think you should be the one to lead the rescue? If something went wrong, we'd have to rescue you, too."
"Yes, ma'am." Lorne gave a curt nod. "I've considered that."
What he meant, Elizabeth thought, was he'd considered it and disregarded it. She stopped walking in order to face him directly. "Major, if we lose you, my two most senior military officers will be missing, in a possible hostage situation. I can't lose you both." There was steel in her voice.
Lorne held her gaze, as if gauging how far he could push. "I'll contact Major Clift; he'll lead on-site. Gene-therapy pilots, who won't leave the Jumpers, and non-gene troops." A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Looks like I'll be following my own orders ~ wait and do nothing." He reached for his earbud. "Excuse me." He turned away, then took off jogging.
Elizabeth walked briskly to her office, where she knew there were mountains of work to do and where she knew she would accomplish absolutely nothing ~ nothing but wait.
Eleven minutes later the Gate activated. Elizabeth quickly left her desk to take a position on the balcony. She watched the kawoosh retract, and then the first Jumper lowered into position in front of the Puddle. Major Clift's brief communication was to tell her they would make contact in twenty-minute intervals.
"Bring him home, Major."
"We will, ma'am."
The little ship disappeared in the shimmer, then the second Jumper dropped into place momentarily before passing through the event horizon. The Gate shut down.
"Be safe," Elizabeth whispered. She was still standing on the balcony when Lorne joined her.
"They're going in cloaked," he informed her quietly, "armed with stunners in addition to standard gear. If we're lucky we'll be in and out before anyone knows it. Clift's a good man. Captain Ito's job is to guard the Gate and keep it open, once Rescue One tells her they have the colonel. Even if the sensors won't work, she has an eye for detail. If the locals are monitoring the Gate, she'll know it. And she'll handle it. She's a good pilot."
Elizabeth nodded, not really hearing the words. She glanced at her watch and became aware of a preternatural stillness in the Gate Room. She looked around the space, which was more crowded than usual with people milling about, personnel who had to be aware that John Sheppard was missing, even if they were unaware of the details; the anxiety had an almost physical presence.
Minutes crawled by silently. The suddenness of the stargate activating was thunderous after the previous unusual quiet. Marines snapped into their defensive positions.
"Receiving Captain Ito's IDC," Chuck intoned.
"Atlantis, we are in play," a female voice declared.
Lorne calmly ordered, "Captain, report," while Elizabeth realized she was holding her breath as she awaited the reply.
"Sir, Rescue One's sensors do function beyond the Ancient perimeter; they located the colonel's transmitter. It's a ground game now ~ teams on the way, Lieutenant Helms providing intel from the air. Rescue Two's sensors still don't register anything even from this height, but we can see the clearing and surroundings. The derelict Jumper's got company, plus there's activity at the Gate; they know something's up."
"Try to keep them from learning what 'something' is."
"Yes, sir. Contact in twenty minutes. Ito out."
The Gate shut down, leaving an eerie calm. No one moved. Elizabeth let her gaze wander around the Gate Room. There were even more people present than earlier, people sitting on the main steps, standing in hallways, talking in hushed voices.
"Is it as hard as you led Ronon to believe?" Elizabeth asked.
"Ma'am?" Lorne questioned, still staring at the Gate.
"To be the one left behind to do nothing."
The major tensed, then exhaled deeply. "You have no idea."
Elizabeth allowed herself a small smile. She crossed her arms. "Oh, I think I have some idea."
Lorne turned and eyed her steadily. "Yes, ma'am." He maintained his gaze a moment before returning to his Gate vigil.
"What about the other teams?" Elizabeth needed to know.
"Chuck managed to contact them while we were in the infirmary. They can wait; they're both on routine missions. Mercer's picking up more grain and Hale's accompanying a med unit to administer aid after a bad flood."
Elizabeth checked her watch again. John Sheppard had been missing for ninety-two minutes. She tried not to think of what could happen in that amount of time. She continued to stare at the stargate, willing it to activate. She checked her watch again. Thirteen minutes to go. There was no sense in trying to work; she wouldn't be able to concentrate. Finally she took a cleansing breath and unfolded her arms. She needed busywork. "Major, I'm going to make tea. Would you like a cup?"'
"Uh, yes, ma'am, that would be nice."
Elizabeth left the balcony with a determined stride and entered her office. She removed a small electric kettle from her desk drawer; herbal tea was one of her treasures, a daily interlude she allowed herself. While the water heated she contacted the infirmary for an update on the teammates' conditions; the three were improving physically but were increasingly agitated about being left in the dark regarding the rescue mission. Doing nothing was, indeed, a very difficult task. She imparted the news that the sensors had located Colonel Sheppard, so it was simply a matter of time before he was back in the city. After she signed off she studied her hands, clasped on the desk in front of her. Treaty negotiation was a stressful job, but nothing like being the leader of the Atlantis Expedition. These were her people. It was personal.
The sound of the first chevron locking brought Elizabeth out of her reverie. She glanced at her watch, astonished at the time, as she hurried through the Control Room and to the balcony.
"Captain Ito's IDC," Chuck stated.
"Scheduled update," Ito began.
"Go ahead, Captain," Lorne answered.
"Sir, they expect to reach the colonel soon and we have no reason to believe they've been detected. There's increasing activity near the Gate, however."
"Are the locals trying to interfere?" Lorne inquired.
"I don't know, sir," the captain replied, "but they have to know something's going down because of Gate activity, and if it's not going down here, they'll connect it to the colonel. I've informed the major things may heat up for him."
"Understood, Captain."
"Yes, sir. Ito out."
Elizabeth returned to her office, her previous interest in tea long gone. She re-heated the lukewarm water and while the tea steeped, she radioed Beckett to relay the latest news and received word that the patients were anxious but improved after the prior update. Elizabeth rechecked her watch; six minutes down, fourteen to go. As she strode by Chuck's desk, carrying the steaming mugs, she mentally reviewed the previous times she'd had to wait out an unknown situation offworld. She handed one mug to Lorne. The Gate activated before either took a sip.
"It's Captain Ito," Chuck confirmed.
"Sit-rep, Captain," Lorne demanded.
"Sir, the colonel has been liberated. ETA at the Gate sixteen minutes. Request a med team in the Jumper Bay; retreat to Rescue One is not without incident."
"Copy that." Lorne gestured at Chuck to contact Medical.
"Sir, our presence at the Gate is still undetected but we have a possible situation here."
"Keep it contained, Captain."
"Yes, sir. Signing off. Comm channel will be left open to keep the wormhole active."
Elizabeth strained to hear the sounds of activity on the Jumper and tried to assign actions to the sounds. She glanced at the major, who stood still, staring at the Gate; she knew he didn't have to guess at the meaning of the sounds. The vocal exchange indicated more locals had arrived, carrying various unknown devices ~ something that could bring down a Jumper when it decloaked in order to pass through the Gate? Or something to destroy the Gate before the rescue was accomplished? The captain was concerned about the timing of Rescue One and whatever the locals were up to and how soon they'd be able to do it. Activity stopped, then Ito announced, "Atlantis, Major Clift reports extraction is complete. Colonel Sheppard is aboard Rescue One. ETA Atlantis seven minutes. I repeat, ETA seven minutes."
In the background the conversation continued. For Elizabeth it was like listening to a radio show and trying to envision the scene she could only hear. "What do you have, Burns?" "Captain, we need a closer look. I count eight more." "Okay, Lieutenant, closer look coming up… They're all at the Jumper?" "Looks like it. Ma'am, could they fire a drone or shut down the Gate with the Jumper's DHD?" "Not on my watch." There was a pause, then Captain Ito continued, "Atlantis, Rescue One is exiting the Ancient quarter. ETA Atlantis four minutes."
"Burns, I'm going in closer. Open the hatch. Can you get a clear shot? Stun only. I repeat, stun only. We do not want to alert others to our presence." Elizabeth listened closely and barely heard the whisper of the Jumper hatch. There was a long silence, presumably the Jumper had lowered for the lieutenant to find his targets. Still nothing. Hand signals? Then the sound of the Jumper hatch again, closing this time, Elizabeth assumed.
Captain Ito addressed the major. "Sir, permission to blow the grounded Jumper. It may have a cache of drones. I can clear the target of locals first."
"Do what needs to be done, Captain."
"Yes, sir." "De-cloak, Lieutenant. This is going to be close." The muffled sound of an explosion echoed in the Gate Room ~ "Hoo-wee! That cleared the deck! Nice shootin', ma'am. Look at that one run!" ~ then a second, much louder explosion. "Atlantis, downed Jumper is blown. Rescue One is on the way."
Seconds later the Puddle rippled and a Jumper appeared. After only moments in the Gate Room it began the ascent to the Jumper Bay. One down, one to go, Elizabeth counted silently.
"Rescue One is here, Captain. Come home," Lorne gently ordered. Elizabeth wondered how deep his calm really went.
"Copy that, Atlantis. Rescue Two is coming home."
Another interval of a few seconds and the Jumper appeared, immediately followed by the shutdown of the Gate. Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly and made the effort to release the hold she had on the railing. She took a steadying breath and walked over to place her mug on the corner of Chuck's desk, where she saw the other untouched mug of tepid tea; Lorne had left at a run before the second ship had fully crossed the event horizon.
Elizabeth gave Chuck a pat on the back. She had her foot on the first stair to the Jumper Bay when she became aware there was a surcease of silence. People were back at work, talking, even laughing, as if they were all suddenly able to move again.
At the Jumper Bay entrance Elizabeth stood aside to allow Carson Beckett and his staff to pass with the gurney. John Sheppard looked small and frail, his lids sunken in dark sockets. His pale skin contrasted with the unruly dark mop atop his head, and that somehow seemed frail, too. His jaw was pink and Elizabeth thought she saw several marks on his neck. Over by the Jumpers Lorne stood with Clift and Ito, his gaze following the gurney down the hallway ~ and he didn't look calm at all.
Elizabeth observed the solemn faces of the men waiting at the Jumpers. Like the stillness she'd noted in the Gate Room, animation returned suddenly when the gurney rounded the corner and Colonel Sheppard was no longer in sight. A light-hearted kind of one-upmanship began. Several members of the rescue team were injured. Most had cuts and bruises Elizabeth associated with bare-knuckle brawls, two had serious injuries to limbs and required assistance just to stand, and three Marines came stumbling down the Jumper ramp with a 'drunken' instability. Each of the injured insisted they had a lesser need for a gurney than the others and the stand-off was only settled when Lorne stepped in and assigned the three 'drunks' to sit on one gurney, and the two with the most serious injuries to take the other. They were all ordered to the infirmary for check-ups, regardless.
"The colonel will be okay, won't he, ma'am?"
Elizabeth recognized the voice of Lieutenant Burns, who was waiting in the second Jumper, out of the way. "I think he will be," she smiled gently. "You all did a great job."
Her comment was taken as an assurance. The joking began again, and the medics quickly moved to usher the entire group, on foot and on gurneys, down the halls to the infirmary.
As she started her own journey to the infirmary Elizabeth heard Lorne tell Major Clift and Captain Ito he wanted to hear every detail of what had happened.
Author's Note: The rest of this story will be posted within a couple days. I will say that posting multiple chapters certainly increases the number of reviews for a single story! Many thanks for the encouragement in PMs and reviews. It is appreciated!
Thanks for reading.
