NIGHTMARES
Chapter 5
Once Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Keller had successfully convinced Kate Heighmeter of what was happening to them, the three of them began heading back to the control room, where Teyla and Rodney were waiting.
They were almost there when they could hear muffled voices floating through the air. And they could all tell it was an unhappy voice. Colonel Sheppard rushed with the two women following close behind. Peering across the vast hallways, they could see Major Lorne holding his gun towards an unseen asailant and shouting angrily.
John turned to the two frightened women. "I think it would be better if you two waited here." They both nodded silently in return, and John took off crossing the floor in moments. He threw his back against a wall, trying to remain unseen by Lorne's attacker. "Lorne!" he whispered loudly. "Lorne, whats going on? Who's back there?"
Lorne looked petrified. His extended hand holding his weapon was shaking furiously and his eyes were filled with tears. John watched, confused, as Lorne was completely oblivious to his presence.
His eyes were fixed on whatever he had trapped in one of the many dark corners of Atlantis.
"You can't be here! It's impossible! You're not real...GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!" he screamed.
"Major Lorne! Report!" John yelled surprising Lorne.
Lorne's eyes flinched for a second and he noticed the Colonel slowly approaching him. "Colonel! I've trapped one of them! It's here, its right here!!"
Colonel Sheppard swung out widely from the wall's protection to look towards the darkened alcove. His eyes opened wide in surprise and horror as his gaze fell upon a young woman that he recognized as one of the many technicians on the science team, crouched, sobbing in the corner.
"Lorne, lower your weapon immediately! That's not a monster, it's a civilian!" John shouted holding out an arm towards the Major.
Lorne's eyes squinted into the dark in disbelief and then back towards the Colonel. "Sir, I know what it is! Don't let it fool you! Don't let it into your mind!!!"
Colonel Sheppard held his tongue and tried to reason with Lorne, understanding his confusion. "Listen, I know there's some really strange stuff going on here Major, but I assure you that is a person and not anything else! Now holster that weapon! Now, Major, that's an order!" Lorne's body stiffened right away.
John slowly approached the woman; his hands held out to show he meant her no harm and started speaking to her gently.
Lorne looked hesitant for a moment, almost considering what the Colonel had said. Then his eyes lit up like a fire when the sobbing technician began to stand and Lorne shot her dead in the chest. John ran forward to catch her flailing body as it hit the floor and watched in horror as she gasped her last breath.
"LORNE!" he cried.