Chapter Two

The lights in the dingy, cramped space flickered uncontrollably but no one cared. The dry crunching of the ground beneath booted feet echoed within the victims ears, reminding her that she was trapped. The piercing screams that left her lips from agony resonated off the walls violently. The chains around her rattled against the metal table behind her as she tried for the tenth time to break free.

She had been foolish, thinking that she could escape these people so easily. She should have dialled a random place and gone through and then contacted Atlantis. But... wouldn't most people call for help as soon as they could, despite the consequences?

Reva's head lolled onto her chest heavily as one of the few guards stepped away from her. At the moment, all she could hear was the annoying drip, drip, drip of water from a tap that was out of view. She wanted this to end.

Once the footsteps ended, their leader, Kolya approached, grabbing her chin, forcing her to look up at him. Reva felt a shiver run through her. Why did he want her? What could she possibly give him? Despite all the torturing so far, he hadn't really asked her much.

"That was not something you should have done," Kolya said as though speaking to a child. "You are gonna have to now take your punishment. Now tell me, which one you would prefer..."

He gestured to one of his guards, who came forward immediately, ready and eager to please his superior. "You can choose to be shocked, burnt or fed to a hungry, starving Wraith.... which would you like?"

The chains which were connected to the ceiling straightened as Reva moved her body downwards, ignoring the hand that remained under her chin, attempting to pull it loose. But it didn't work.

He removed his hand slowly as his head tilted to the side in curiosity. As the next words left his mouth a small smile graced his lips.

"You still have yet to give me an answer..." he said lightly."If you make me choose, I will make sure all of them are given to you."

Reva wet her lips thickly as she attempted to settle the thoughts racing through her mind and the rapid beating of her heart. "Please," she sobbed. "I just want to see my brother..."

"Yes, your brother..." Kolya spoke, his tone difficult to decipher. "You must miss him, yes? Thinking something must have happened? He's been on Atlantis this whole time though, hasn't he? Do you not wonder why he didn't look for you?"

"H-he tried..."

"Did he?" Kolya asked with a small chuckle. "How can you be so sure?"

"He... he wouldn't... abandon me..."

"I love the blind faith you have in him," Kolya said with a faint smirk. "But enough about him, you have yet to make a decision."

Reva inhaled with a hiss as her back melted against the cold metal table even further. She licked her dry, cracked lips before answering, her voice shaky.

"I would prefer to be shocked..." she said eventually.

"Shocked? Really?" Kolya questioned.

Reva ignored his taunting tone as past memories of her brother flooded back to her. It had been so long since she last thought about him. It was something she had to stop doing. It always brought back too many memories and feelings, most of which were too painful to revisit.

She remembered when she was five and Ronon was eight. He had returned from a hunting trip with their grandfather and Ronon was telling her all about it, showing her the new moves he had come up with, showing her the weapon he had used. It made her feel excited. Since then she had always wanted to be just like her brother. She still did in fact. He was calm and fearless. Everything a leader and mentor should be.

One of the guards came forwards and stopped at Kolya's side, holding something out to him which he gently took. Reva leaned her head against the back of the table, her breathing ragged.

"Do you know what this is?" Kolya asked, holding the weapon close to Reva's face.

Slowly, she lifted her head and opened her eyes as far as she could. Her eyes glided over the weapon several times but couldn't work out what it was. She had never seen anything like it before. It was dagger-like, the gray handle grooved to for an easy grip but the top wasn't a blade. It was an odd cylinder shape with a bright blue light glowing within it.

Reva shook her head in response to Kolya's question, feeling unable to use any words.

"It is a Lantean stun weapon," Kolya informed.

Being told what it was still didn't help but Reva was sure of one thing. "You're not Lantean..."

"Perhaps," Kolya said arrogantly. "But one does not have to be in order to use their weaponry. You must simply possess the required gene."

A frown appeared between her brows. What was he talking about? Reva didn't understand what he meant. She had never before come across anything that once belonged to the people of Atlantis.

"Do you have it?" Reva asked curiously.

"No, unfortunately but one of my guards does," he answered.

Reva watched as Kolya rolled the weapon in his hands several times, looking it over. She could only guess that he was in no rush, that he had all the time in the world for this. Reva had to admit, his lingering made everything feel worse. Part of her just wanted it over already.

Eventually, Kolya handed the weapon back to the guard who had given it to him and the guard moved closer to her. Kolya stepped back and watched the weapon spring to life, the blueness exploding from its small chamber, blinding Reva in the process. She turned her head and waited for the pain to reach her which didn't take long.

Rounds of hoarse screams rang throughout the room and sobbing filled the almost quiet pauses. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks leaving tear tracks on her dirty face. As the door burst open her eyes rolled up into her back of her head.

Shouts of a different kind sounded through the room. "Kolya!" a voice shouted. "Step away from her, now!"

It was a voice Reva did not recognise but it spoke words she was thankful to finally hear someone say. Her eyes remained closed, feeling too heavy to open but she took deep breaths, trying to slow the dizziness in her head.

"I said move away from her!"

"Colonel Sheppard," Kolya spoke gently. "I should not be surprised at how you keep coming to ruin my fun."

"I think maybe you should have not underestimated us, like you always do," Sheppard said quickly. "You stayed here out of arrogance, thinking we wouldn't come to help her."

"You can take her if you wish," Kolya said evenly. "I don't have much use for her."

An almost unnatural growl sounded in the room. It was almost something Reva recognised...

Heavy booted footsteps came towards her slowly. "Keep moving," Sheppard spoke loudly.

Kolya backed away as did his men, all of them holding up their hands in front of them, silently asking Sheppard and his team to hold their fire.

"Untie her," Sheppard ordered.

Someone stood before Reva and removed the chains holding her against the metal table. She groaned as she slumped forwards, rolling off the table, into the arms of the person in front of her. She was dragged away from Kolya and his men and lowered onto the dirty ground carefully.

"Reva?" a voice questioned.

The knot in the pit of her stomach unfolded itself and her chest fluttered with utter happiness. Her eyes opened half way and focused upon the person holding her and it was just the person she had wanted to see.

"Ronon..." she coughed out.

"I'm here," Ronon said quietly. "I'm here."

It was the last thing Reva heard before everything faded out of focus and turned black.