Authors' Note: Hi there, just so you know, this story was co-authored with my friend Nimeria. This story is as much hers as mine.

Disclaimer: We don't own anyone or anything you recognize. Except for ourselves. And that last bit's only a "maybe" on a good day.

Why to Always Have an Escape Route

Chapter 19

--------------------

Everyone: (insert profanity of choice here)

(They remain unseen among the shadows)

Taylor: Right. So... What now?

Sheppard: We get their attention. (He closes his eyes and almost immediately the lights start flickering in a very distracting way. Unfortunately, Kolya's men take advantage of it and put guns to the heads of the distraction team)

Mary: Curses, Sheppard.

Sheppard: (swears violently under his breath and steps forward) Kill them and you die.

Jack: 'Bout darn time, Colonel.

Daniel: We got here as soon as we could Jack. You guys alright?

Jack: Well, other than the guns at our heads, just peachy.

Sheppard: (points his gun at the guy who seems to be in charge in Kolya's absence, who looks ready to pull his trigger on Ronon) I really don't advise that.

Kiran: No?

Sheppard: No.

Kiran: And why not?

Sheppard: (indicates the Jewel McKay is holding) Because we found what you were looking for. And as I said before, kill them and you die.

Kiran: I am Kiran. Kolya's right hand. (Sheppard nods, not seeming surprised) And you must be Colonel Sheppard (Kiran looks at McKay) and Dr. McKay. Nice to meet you.

McKay: Can't say the same.

Kiran: You know that there is no way you could stop me from killing this man.

Sheppard: Were you not listening? Jewel. You. Death. I thought I was clear.

Kiran: (scoffs) You can't know how to use it. You must have only just discovered it; else we would be dead already.

Daniel: (waves hand to get Kiran's attention) Uh, we can use it you know. We just thought you might want to leave without dying.

Kiran: You know we cannot do that. We are under orders.

Sheppard: Ah, yes. And where is the Bastard? Doesn't seem to be here at the moment, now is he?

Kiran: He is with the prisoners. Your people. I'm sure he'd be glad to join us. (He lifts his hand to reveal a radio. In the background is heard the sound of gate symbols being dialed but no one pays it notice.) Shall I call him?

Kolya: No need.

(The gate whooshes as a wormhole forms; Mitchell and Teyla, who'd been relatively close to the gate throw themselves to the ground, their captors are not so lucky and are disintegrated in the 'Kawoosh'. Kolya fires shots and all hell breaks loose.)

Taylor: (confused in all the chaos around her manages to notice the gun aiming at Ronon where he can't see it) Ronon!

(She lunges and pushes him out of the way, managing to phase herself out so the bullet goes right through her.)

Ronon: Thanks for that.

Taylor: Yeah. Sure. Anytime (looks around to try to find her twin as Ronon walks off but is unable to as Jessie has gone invisible to wreak havoc that way)

(As Ronon walks forward, doing his part to rid the world of Kolya's minions, Taylor is suddenly left in the open, still looking for Jessie)

Mitchell: (reaches up and pulls Taylor down) You'll be wanting to find something to hide behind.

Taylor: Right.

(Taylor manages to find a console and crouches, still vainly looking for Jessie.)

Jack: (shouting from across the room) I'm running low here people!

Daniel: Jack! Here!

Jack: (catches the clip Daniel tossed) Thanks!

(Suddenly, one of Kolya's men falls forward and lands on his face in front of Teyla, who promptly knocks him unconscious)

Teyla: That was not an accident.

Jessie: Nope.

Teyla: You would be the invisible one, yes?

Jessie: Yep.

Teyla: Many thanks, friend.

Jessie: No problem. Gotta go!

(Taylor notices Jess's actions and follows the very very vague outline of her twin across the room, trying to draw Jessie's attention.)

Taylor: (hissing) Jess! Jess! Jessie! (notices that Kiran has also noticed the outline and is aiming at Jessie) JESSIE!!! (lunges forward, knocks her twin out of the way, phases through the bullets again)

Sam: Taylor, get Jessie and go back to cover! (she shoots Kiran)

(Taylor pushes Jessie toward her control panel hide out and doesn't notice the gun Kolya has aimed at her. The bullet hits her hard enough to throw her backwards against the wall behind the panel. Taylor screams and everything seems to slow down. Seeing the preoccupation of the team, Kolya makes a break for the gate which only Sheppard notices. Sheppard runs from behind his cover, and rushes toward Kolya, only to notice that one of the nameless soldiers has taken notice of Taylor.)

Sheppard: Damn.

(He alters his route to stand in front of Taylor and shoots at the soldier, while helplessly watching as Kolya runs from cover to cover, heading for the gate.)

(Mary looks up and notices Taylor's gone down.)

Mary: Damn. (She runs up behind Sheppard and checks Taylor's pulse) Good, she's alive.

Taylor: (groggily) Hi Mary.

Mary: Hi Taylor. Let's get you somewhere safer. Ok?

Sheppard: You got her?

Mary: Yeah.

(Sheppard checks, and seeing no one aiming for the girls, runs after Kolya)

Mary: Alright, Tay. Here we go. (She lifts Taylor under her arms and drags her backwards.)

Taylor: We're moving.

Mary: Yes we are.

Taylor: But I like it here.

Mary: I know.

(Another soldier sees the two girls)

Taylor: It's pretty here.

Mary: Hush. We're almost there.

Taylor: Where are we going?

(Ronon shoots the soldier aiming at the girls, but not before he gets a shot off, hitting Mary in the arm)

Mary: Holy...owwwwww. Jessie!

Jessie: (pokes her head up) Yeah-oh! Coming!

(Jessie runs over to the others, going invisible as she runs)

Jessie: Mary, I can't move you both.

Mary: That's fine, take your twin. I can walk. (The three off them manage to get to cover.)

(Meanwhile Kolya has made it to the gate.)

Sheppard: Kolya!

Kolya: Colonel Sheppard. We meet again. I'm afraid I can't stay to talk.

(He jumps through the gate as Sheppard shoots.)

Sheppard: Damn. (Dejected as he's pretty sure he missed because Kolya was already through the gate, he turns to survey the room. Everything is slowing down as the Genii are slowly being killed off. Sheppard notices where the girls are and makes his way carefully over to them, knocking off two or three Genii on the way.)

-------------------------