Author's Note: Yeah, so crazy long chapter! Ahhh! It took forever to write; I had so many characters doing so many different things and I wanted to have everything climax now so we have two nights to settle back down. This chapter was therefore extremely hard to write, and I revised it several times. Finally, I realized I would just have to publish it or I would keep revising it for the rest of my life. So here it is, I hope you enjoy it! Please review if you are still reading this story; I will finish it! Hooray for Christmas in March! Oh, and as a side note, I tried to make the dialogue reflect our guys with accents. So that is why Zelenka's and Carson's dialogues contain spelling mistakes.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything referenced or anything Stargate Atlantis.
Zelenka studied the chess board with a master's calm, while inside reveling at the bizarre turn this game had taken. He had signed up to keep Elizabeth company for an hour, and this was his morning. He figured there was no better way to make an hour go quickly than to play several games of chess. (He supposed it would end up being several games; after all, he was the chess champion of the base. His quickest game had been a minute forty seconds.) However, he was unprepared for Elizabeth's strange plan of attack.
Really, he should have seen it coming. Elizabeth was the leader of the base, after all. Either she was secretly an excellent tactician, or the strain of command had jolted a few screws loose. In fact, when Zelenka came in that morning, Elizabeth had looked preoccupied. She also looked much better; the enforced rest had restored color to her cheeks and she was gaining back the weight she had lost while ill. But perhaps her rest had given her too much time to think; she kept muttering phrases like, "what am I going to do," and "I had no idea," and "you think he could have told me himself." Yet, she did not seem really angry, but pleasantly flustered. Zelenka shook his head and stared bemused once more at the game board. Women made no sense to him.
Elizabeth's side of the board was a mess. She wasn't really using her queen; that piece was being duly guarded by her knight. All the other pieces were fixed in some odd pattern that Zelenka couldn't detect, and this setup was wrecking mass havoc with the board. Every logical move Zelenka made was thwarted with an illogical Elizabeth move. For example, she would put a castle in the way of a pawn, only to have a bishop as a backup. When Zelenka took the obvious move, she wouldn't retaliate but set up an attack elsewhere. She also was very conservative about her pawns, hardly moving them at all except to scoot them out of the way. Meanwhile, she kept looking towards the door, as if she expected an enemy to come through any moment.
Zelenka sighed and looked at the crazy configurations before him. Time to end this now! Not really concentrating, Zelenka moved his queen in for the kill. "Check," he stated.
Elizabeth nodded and moved her queen in to take out Zelenka's. Zelenka stared, bewildered. Elizabeth's queen was now in enemy territory, surrounded by hostiles on every side. Shrugging, he dispatched her queen. Then, he watched in amazement as she moved her knight in... and checkmated his king.
"How... how did you do zat?" he exclaimed.
Elizabeth looked at him and gave a wry grin. "Sometimes a leader must sacrifice for her people," she stated.
Zelenka felt a chill go down his spine; the words hung oddly in the air, as if there were something prophetic about them. Elizabeth didn't seem to notice, though, and Zelenka didn't have the nerve to bring his forebodings up.
"Another game?" she asked brightly.
"No," Zelenka replied. "Let's just talk about Rodney's new power dewice instead. I'm sure you vant to hear how it's coming along."
oOo
Rodney was struggling with the last circuit on the device. John stood next to him, looking rather bored (his thoughts were on someone else). Rodney had worked through the night in what John was deeming the "Mad Scientist Obsession" in order to get his power device operational again. "Really, John has been more of a hindrance than a help," Rodney reflected. John had forbade him from using Elizabeth as a translator until her bed rest term was over, and so Rodney had to make the best of the translation. He was pretty sure he understood the directions now, though. Well, perhaps 97% sure...
"Are you ready for this?" he asked as he snapped the final circuit panel closed.
John shrugged. "Rodney, I trust you, but if you get me stuck on that ceiling... you better find a good place to hide."
Rodney rolled his eyes and waved off John's threat. "Ready?" he asked, an excited grin breaking out on his face. He reached out and pressed the control panel. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the entire lab went pitch black as every light went out.
oOo
Carson was shaking his head at Ronon. Ronon sat on an infirmary bed trying to look chagrined, while in reality had the biggest smile on his face. Teyla was sitting right next to him, also looking quite bemused. They were both covered in bruises from an intense sparring session, but Ronon sported a cut on his head that needed stitches while Teyla was massaging her wrist. Carson practically growled in displeasure when he saw them.
"Really, what is the point of all this?" he scolded. "Ye get beat up enough as it is out there! I always have to sew ye back up like some demented tailor, and then ye go back again for seconds. Thirds! What is the matter with ye?"
Teyla looked down at her arms, properly chastised, though her eyes still danced with merriment. She had been tired of all the inactivity, and had headed to the sparring room to do some fighting stretches. She had met up with Ronon there, and soon the two were locked into a duel. It had been so fun; both Ronon and Teyla were a higher level of fighting, and their spar turned into an exhilarating dance of leaps, punches, and sticks. Teyla appreciated Ronon's skill, but seeing him in action was the icing on the cake. It was all she could do to keep her face expressionless.
Ronon was grinning widely, though it was his "I've just fought so I'm happy" grin. If Teyla could have read his mind, however, she would have learned that Ronon felt much the same way. He had liked Teyla a lot longer than she had him (in a more than friends way, of course), and during the fight it had been a pleasure to just be near her. It was also exhilarating to fight with someone so skilled; sparring with scientists just didn't cut it. While Carson tended to his cut (which was far worse than Teyla's sprain), he shot a furtive glance to Teyla and was surprised to see a half-hidden grin. The grin spoke volumes to him; Teyla had enjoyed their sparring session much more than he thought. It made Ronon's heart skip a beat; it was all he could do to keep his face expressionless.
Carson had just finished with Teyla's wrist when the lights went out. "Rodney?" he called in exasperation. "If he's lost us power for the rest of the day, I'm gonna kill him!"
"John'll get him first," Ronon commented dryly.
oOo
Elizabeth was sitting up in bed, feeling extremely bored. It felt as if the four walls were closing in on her. In fact, from time to time the patterns on the wall left by the different colors of Ancient paint seemed to shift into pictures. They changed slowly, distorting into odd-angled shapes with the shortening and lengthening of the shadows from the light in the window. Elizabeth had tried to keep her mind occupied, however people just weren't meant to spend all day in bed. She had tired of sifting through mission reports on her computer, tired of reading John's copy of War and Peace, tired of waiting for the next meal to come and break the monotony. Her body felt sore and weak from the lack of physical activity, while her brain was too awake for her to actually go to sleep.
"If I stay here any longer, I'll go mad," Elizabeth thought as she stared at her door. For the umpteenth time that day, she looked at her father's watch. Ten-thirty. (Zelenka had come at nine and had only really stayed a half-hour. Elizabeth believed it was a new record for him; Zelenka was extremely bad at just 'shooting the bull.') Two hours till lunch still. Then three more hours till her next visitor, then another hour till her customary dinner with John.
John. Just the thought of him made Elizabeth's heart flutter, though the reality of his feelings had settled on her like a weight. She was constantly second-guessing herself, wondering if he really felt that way about her or if it had all been something she just imagined. And, if the feelings were truly real, then what would become of them? You didn't date a person who worked for you; that went against every rule of command. Still, though Elizabeth was technically the boss, John was the highest ranking officer there. He outranked her when it came to military situations. And in the military, you could date if you were the same rank.
"Dating?" Elizabeth thought in dismay. "Okay, that's it, I HAVE to get out! I'm going stir crazy stuck in here!"
Elizabeth dressed in her loose-fitting jogging clothes, though she was definitely not going to attempt jogging. Really, she had only been planning a short, five-minute walk. But once she was outside (to her delight, there was no one to see her in the hall), the change of scenery felt so good that she just extended her walking time. Then she did it again. Her lungs felt okay while doing this; they crackled a bit when she breathed, but on the whole she felt stronger than she had in days. She kept her pace relatively slow and stayed in the more deserted parts of the city, not wishing a run-in with anyone (especially John). Finally though, her lungs had started to burn, and she had to stop. Elizabeth looked around her surroundings; she was in a windowless hallway on level four. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, and was just about to head back when every light in the hall went out.
"Well, that's just great," she muttered into the darkness.
oOo
"Rodney? What happened?" John called out, his voice edged with frustration. He was holding a flashlight above Rodney's head, the beam looking frail in a gloom that was so black it seemed unreal.
"Working on it!" shouted Rodney in his, "leave me alone" voice.
John gave him thirty seconds, then tried again. "Rodney?"
"Just hold on a minute! Oh, no..."
"Oh no what?"
"Oh, no. No no no, this is not good."
"RODNEY?"
Rodney jumped up and glanced at John, his face speaking volumes. John felt his heart skip a beat. "What did you do?"
Rodney looked away, gesturing half-heartedly at the machine. "For some reason, the device is not making power... it's eating it. I knew I should have disconnected it from the city grid!"
"What? It's eating energy? Like that oil slick thing we found the first few weeks here?"
"Kind of like that... only this is just a mechanical problem. We are not dealing with a sentient monster."
"No, just a Rodney-made monster."
"I resent that!"
John bit back the snide comment he was about to make when his radio beeped.
"John, what's going on?" Elizabeth's voice came through loud and clear.
John rolled his eyes. "See what you did?" he muttered at Rodney. Then, he clicked the radio back on. "Just testing McKay's new toy."
"Let me guess... it didn't work."
"What gave you that idea?"
"Well, John, it was kind of hard to miss the lights going off."
John frowned at that. "How would you know the lights went off? You've got a window in your room; unless the power device is also being an energy vampire and sucking the light out of the sun you shouldn't have noticed."
There was silence for a moment. Then, the radio clicked again and a guilty Elizabeth replied, "Well, I'm not in my room, John."
"WHAT?"
"I couldn't take it anymore! I was bored! I thought if I could just go for a short walk... I could rest more efficiently."
"Elizabeth, when I get out of here I swear I'm going to..."
John never got a chance to finish his threat, though, because McKay loudly stated, "look, could you two continue your argument later? I've got work to do, and neither of you are helping any!"
John sighed and clicked back the radio again. "Look, Elizabeth, got to go. Stay where you are and don't move until we get the power back on. And for heaven's sake don't even think about making your way over here; it's halfway across the base from your quarters. I'll let you know when Rodney has the device fixed."
He clicked his radio off before he could get a protest and watched as Rodney struggled with the circuits in the dark. Then suddenly, electric sparks began to shoot out of the device.
"What's going on?" asked John.
"The device is sucking in too much power; the capacity circuits are overloaded. In a few moments, this thing will explode."
"How big of an explosion?" exclaimed John.
"It could be enough to take out this lab... or this entire floor."
"Well, that's just great then! How do we shut it down?"
"I can't." Rodney bemoaned. "Not without running the risk of electrocution. I can't even begin to think of how to turn this off and diffuse the energy..." Then, suddenly, Rodney's eyes became very bright.
Wasting no time to talk, Rodney grabbed a bucket from behind a desk and dumped out its contents (a dozen or so power crystals that had been found at random places throughout the city). He then ran into the lab's bathroom.
John watched, bewildered. "Rodney?" he called out cautiously.
"Get behind the desk in the corner," Rodney screamed. John jumped to obey, though he was still wondering if Rodney had lost it. A few moments later, Rodney came out carrying a bucket full of water.
"Shine the flashlight on the device," he yelled at John.
John moved his beam from Rodney to the device. He had no idea what Rodney was doing... then suddenly an arc of water flew through the air and landed squarely on the device. Sparks flew everywhere as Rodney was thrown backwards across the room. The device continued to spark and sputter, throwing out a fountain of brilliant hot white sparks. Thick black smoke puffed up to the ceiling. Then, the device whined like a dying animal and was silent. Darkness ruled all.
"Rodney?" John coughed as he clambered back over the desk and looked at the wreckage of the lab. "Rodney? Are you okay? Answer me right now!"
"Why are you yelling?" an irritated dazed-Rodney voice asked. "I mean, seriously, I just got thrown across the room and into a desk after being singed by a volley of burning white lightning. What on earth made you ask if I'm okay? Of course I'm not okay! I need to get to the infirmarary right now!"
John felt an immense wave of relief wash over him. If Rodney was complaining, then he was fine. His spirits improved as the lights flickered back on, one by one. Zelenka marched into the lab, followed by a team of scientists. They had been busing themselves at the main power grid, and were now coming in to tackle the lab itself.
"Rodney, vhat are you doing on the floor?" asked a concerned Zelenka.
"I'm seeing if it's more comfortable down here; what does it look like I'm doing, you moron? I'm grievously injured!"
A moment later, John had picked his way through the rubble of the lab and was next to Rodney. Rodney was already sitting up, shaking his arms out like the entire thing was nothing.
"Grievously injured?" John asked.
Rodney looked up at him with full indignation, ready to release another tirade about his "delicate body structure." Then, the memory of the stories John was telling and the conversation he had had with Carson yesterday came back to him, and instead Rodney sighed and shook his head.
"Well, now that you ask, I believe only my pride is injured."
John was shocked. He stared at Rodney a full minute before Rodney snorted back indignantly, "What, can't a guy be humble?"
John shook his head in amazement. "I didn't think you could be," he answered.
Rodney rolled his eyes. "Here, help me up so I can properly dispose of this hunk of junk."
John glanced at the pile of rubble in the center of the lab, then turned to glare at Rodney. "What were you thinking? Dumping water on that thing; you could have been killed!"
Rodney rolled his eyes. "Well, it was either that or let the device blow up!"
John frowned. "How did that work, anyway? I mean, Atlantis was submerged. Most of Ancient tech is waterproof."
Zelenka looked shame-faced at Rodney, then stated slowly, "it vasn't all Ancient."
Rodney scowled. "Look, we were missing a couple of pieces, so... we jury rigged the ones we needed using our own tech. Quite a stroke of genius, if you ask me. I mean, it's not easy getting those things to fit together!"
John tried to keep his temper down. "Yeah, it would have been genius IF IT HAD WORKED!"
Rodney threw his hands up as if pleading for understanding. "Just be thankful our technology is not waterproof," he stated grimly, "or else we'd be having this conversation in a very different place right now."
John then watched in amazement as Rodney walked over to Zelenka and bent over to help him with the cleaning. The two worked compatibly, Rodney was acting like he almost respected Zelenka. One thing was for sure; Rodney had changed. Barely; it was so small it was almost unperceivable... yet it was there. Rodney was manning up!
"Colonel Sheppard, this is Dr. Weir."
John tapped on his radio. "Go ahead."
"I can see Rodney fixed some of the problem, anyway, as the lights are back on here. How's it coming?"
John rolled his eyes. "That's really not supposed to be any of your concern right now, Dr. Weir."
Wrong thing to tell your superior. "The hell it is my concern, Colonel Sheppard! You many be in control temporarily but you are definitely not the head of this mission..."
John winced and cut her off. "Sorry; things have been crazy here as of late. Where are you; I'll tell you everything that happened as I escort you back."
Silence for a moment. Then, the radio clicked as Elizabeth stated, "Don't worry about escorting me back, John. I know you have tons to do."
That sounded fishy. John narrowed his eyes and asked in his best question-with-a-loaded-gun-in-it tone. "Elizabeth, where are you?"
"Um... in the hallway on level four."
"WHAT?" John exclaimed incredulously. "That's on the other side of the city! What on earth were you thinking?"
"I kind of lost track of how far I'd gone."
"Stay there, I'm coming to get you." John clicked out, then glared at Rodney as if Elizabeth's behavior were all his fault. "Why is it that when people get PhDs they loose all their common sense?" he asked exasperated to no one in particular.
McKay snorted in reply. Zelenka hadn't caught the comment; he was too engrossed with the twisted metal monstrosity that had once been the Ancient power device.
oOo
Elizabeth debated actually running back to her room. She knew the confrontation between her and John would not be pleasant, yet the way she was feeling about him right now... well, she had no idea how she'd act. She felt like she could say anything; her heart fluttered in expectation of seeing him, yet her temper rose with John's dismissal of her command. Above all, she realized that she was exhausted. The long walk had taken everything out of her (though she hadn't realized it at the time), and the thought of having to walk all the way back was torturous. In fact, even standing didn't feel very good anymore. Elizabeth sunk slowly to the ground, careful to use the wall to prop herself up. It would not do for John to find her passed out on the ground again.
A few moments later, Elizabeth heard the door opened. She turned to look and saw a very frustrated John glaring at her. But as he took in the sight of her looking tired, pale, and spent... the frustration melted away. In two big steps he was right next to her.
"Lizabeth? Are you alright?" he asked nervously. "Do you need Dr. Beckett?"
Elizabeth frowned at John, and though her thoughts felt fuzzy, she was able to reply in a very Elizabeth-like manner. "Dr. Beckett? John, I'm just a little tired. I walked more than I should have."
Hearing Elizabeth's tone put to rest some of John's fears. "You shouldn't have walked at all!" he exclaimed. "I mean, really Elizabeth! Are you trying to kill me?"
Elizabeth looked up at him in confusion. "Kill you? What on earth do you mean?"
John knelt down in front of her, his deep hazel eyes boring into her green ones. "What I mean to say is... every time I think of you in danger... I have a mini heart-attack. Alright? So just have a little more care for yourself, okay?"
Elizabeth felt her heart speed up. "Why would you care so much?" she asked quietly, though she had been told the answer by others. She just had to confirm it for herself.
John sighed deeply. He knew he had to answer her this if he ever wanted to make his move, yet opening up his feelings? That was more tormenting than getting fed on by Todd. "Because..." John began, looking to the ceiling as if he would find the words up there. "Because... if I ever lost you... life wouldn't be the same. It would be darker somehow... and I would be like... like a shadow of myself... heck, I'm no good at this!" With that statement, he leaned in and kissed Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's eyes opened wide in surprise, then slid shut as the realization, "he loves me" took full effect. In fact, she was just starting to kiss back when she had to pull away for a coughing spell. John held her close while she attempted to get her breath back.
Elizabeth felt mortified! "Oh my," she thought as her coughs subsided, "how pathetic is this? I finally get my feelings for him sorted out, and when we finally get to kiss I cough all over him!"
John didn't seem to mind, though. "Let's get you back to your room," he stated as he gently picked her up.
Elizabeth blinked in confusion. "You're not going to carry me all the way back, are you? It's a long way."
"We'll head to the infirmarary for a wheelchair. Besides, I want Carson to have a look at you."
"He's going to kill me."
"I'll make sure he doesn't." John replied steadily. "After all, if he did, where would I be?"
oOo
Teyla ran into Georgiana Tucker in the hall. She smiled and waved at the young archaeologist; she had given the woman sparring lessons from time to time. Georgiana smiled and waved back, shifting a large box onto her hip in order to do so. Teyla looked at it curiously.
"That's a strange box," she stated. "I've never seen one with cloth on the top like that."
Georgiana grinned. "It's a quilter's box," she replied. "I was going to quilt with Dr. Weir this afternoon, but she is not feeling up to it. So, I was heading to the lounge. Care to join?"
Teyla nodded. "I'll join you for a cup of tea; I'm curious to see what quilting is."
Both of the women turned and headed to the "lounge." Nicknamed the lounge by Colonel Sheppard, the place was actually an open space with a full glass wall and roof adjacent to the canteen. The place had become a rec room of sorts. There was a pool table, a foosball table, and several other table games the Dadelus had supplied them with. The floor had been covered with a few nice carpets to make the place look more like a living room than the sterile open space it had been, and many of the Lanteans (particularly the off-duty military personnel) had made good use of it.
Teyla and Georgiana settled in at a table in the far corner of the room. Georgiana opened up her box and pulled out several strips of fabric that had been sewed in intricate, colorful patterns.
"My mother taught me how to do this," she told Teyla. "She always said quilting is good for the soul."
Teyla smiled as she inspected the delicate geometric design. "Why is it good for you?" she asked after a moment.
Georgiana smiled. "The quilt tells the story of the person who makes it. The colors they choose, the pattern they use, it all adds up to who they are as a person. Some say quilts can even tell you some things about yourself you don't even know; it pulls people together like thread pulls the different fabrics together." After a beat, Georgiana asked, "Teyla, would you like to make a square?"
Teyla nodded after a moment of thought. "Maybe this art will tell me what to do about my budding feelings for Ronon," she thought with a wry chuckle.
In and out, in and out went Teyla's needle, and in an hours time she had a completed (though simple) square of various shades of brown fading to black. A single thin gold strand of fabric wove its way through, connecting all the colors while maintaining a perfect wave. As Teyla examined it, she felt she could see something in the cloth. The colors! How they faded into each other, complemented each other, strengthened each other.
"Just like Ronon and I," Teyla thought with a sigh. "Whether he knows it or not, we belong together... just like the colors on this quilt square." Then, realizing that her logic was a nutty as a squirrel's, Teyla handed the needle and thread back to Georgiana. Teyla may have taken the symbolism of her quilt square too far, but the result was actually what she had hoped for... and more.
"The next time I go to the mainland for the day, you will have to come," Teyla said gratefully to Georgiana. "I would be honored if you would teach my people this art."
Georgiana grinned a mysterious smile. "So, I take it sewing helped you reach a decision?"
Teyla narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. Georgiana was an extremely perceptive person... which made her an excellent archaeologist. Still, Teyla would have rather her revelation about Ronon go unnoticed.
"Don't worry," Georgiana said after another moment. "Your secret is safe with me!"
Teyla shook her head in admiration at the young woman's skill. Teyla just couldn't win.
oOo
The Seventh Night was all for honoring the singles in Athosian culture. Almost every Lantean had come for this night. The war games were officially over, with Dusty coming out in first place (not really a surprise there). There were only two nights left after this one, and everyone wanted to be a part of the fun before it was over. However, the concept of a night devoted to singles left some of the Lanteans confused.
"Okay, is it just me, or is this really bizarre?" asked Rodney as several Athosians ranged from teens to young adults came swarming out of tents dressed in yellowish orange.
"There is nothing strange about this at all," Teyla fired back, her own orange sash looking unnaturally bright in the light of the setting sun. "Athosians honor everyone in their culture; they believe everyone has a purpose at the place they are at. For instance, being single is just as great an honor as being married; single people have more time to devote to hunting. They also have more time to practice their fighting skills and are the first to defend against the Wraith. Therefore, they are honored soldiers, and all the families hold them in high regard."
Rodney sighed as a young Athosian woman handed him a yellow scarf. "I'm not single!" he barked, irritated. The woman jumped away.
"Gee, McKay, how was she supposed to know that?" Sheppard admonished. (He had just come from the jumper; the Lantean party was so big they had to take two and Sheppard had just finished landing.) The young woman smiled at John and held out the yellow scarf Rodney had just rejected. "No thank you, I'm not single," John stated, grinning at the heavily stunned looked that blossomed on Rodney's face. Then, he checked the time on his new combat watch. "I have to get dressed! Have a good time in the parade, Rodney!" Rodney watched John leave. His mouth was still hanging open in shock.
oOo
The Athosian singles marched up to the cave, looking like fire in the light of the setting sun. Everyone else was camped out on the overhanging roof of the cave, watching as the singles climbed up the hill like tongues of flame. Their climb was the strangest sort of dance ever seen; at first it just looked like a side-by-side parade. Then, some of the singles came running up the hill, while some fell back in an intricate pattern of triangles.
"It's kind of like marching band," Lorne reflected as he watched the group nearest him continue the same pattern.
"The singles represent the fire to fight that is in all of us," Halling explained loudly. "This is why they wear yellow and orange, to symbolize their spirit of protection which never leaves the people. We are all a part of their family, just as they are a part of ours."
Some of the Lanteans nodded about that, although most were watching the march instead of listening. When the dance was over, everyone crowded again into the cave. The dance had gotten everyone riled up; the volume in the cave was extremely loud with people laughing and talking. But when Halling held up his hand for silence, all the people took their seats in an expectant hush. The lights were dimmed, the torches lit, and once again John was the master storyteller.
"As you remember," John began, "against Meredith's better judgment, the five had split up. The darkness of night had covered the castle like a thick suffocating blanket; it seemed at times to Queen Tala that they were suffocating inside the keep. Their descent into the dungeons didn't help either; the further down they trudged the thicker the air seemed to get. The way was eerily silent; so far they had come across no clown guards. If they had known there was a great feast going on, they might have felt more at ease; as it was, their journey felt like a fall into the abyss. Finally, they rounded a corner and saw flickering torchlight ahead. The musty scent of the air became riddled with the smell of filth; it was evident that some prisoners of the clowns led their entire lives out in the cells."
"Ahead was a single clown guard, looking in the flickering torchlight like an escapee from a college haunted house. He was none too excited about being the only one left behind when the festivities started, and his eyes locked onto Queen Tala like a predator eyes its prey."
"'What is this creature?' he asked."
"'Just a captive from the Fringe land,' the Silver Knight sneered. 'What's it to you?'"
"Here the clown guard smiled a sinister, fanged smile. 'Its a great deal of meaning when prey is caught fresh.' He stepped up to the group and in one swift motion caught Tala's face in his pale hand. He examined her as one would examine a ripe fruit. Then, just as suddenly, he let go of her."
"'Pennywise has sent you here to test me,' he snarled. 'Such a delicate morsel is reserved for Pennywise's table, not for the dungeons.' Then, the clown looked up at the Silver Knight's painted face, an evil grin accentuated large by his painted smile. 'I understand you now... you two stole her from the table! You thought you could come down here and eat her alone... but I'll have none of that. You must let me have the chief parts; the heart and the liver, or I will call down Pennywise himself!'"
"'Well, we can't have that now, can we?' the Silver Knight muttered. Then, in one swift motion, he brought out his short sword and rammed the butt on the clown's head. The clown went down like a rag doll. It may have just been the Silver Knight's imagination, but he even thought he heard it squeak." (Several of the Lanteans had to laugh at the image their minds produced at John's odd choice of words.)
"'Now, to business,' Queen Tala prompted. The trio took off down the corridors of the dungeon, searching each cell. However, their search was quickly becoming fruitless. It was a rather small dungeon, due to the fact that the clowns usually ate their prisoners, and every cell that was not empty sported a skeleton of sorts. In a short amount of time, the trio was coming to the end of the garrison. There was one more cell along the wall."
"Queen Tala was first to the cell, and when she peered in she shrieked and jumped back. Bones and the Silver Knight were at her side in an instant, and all three beheld a strange sight. A living man was glaring back at them! His clothes were somewhat ragged but were once brightly patterned, Gypsy in design, even now brightening up the dingy cell. He eyed the two "clowns" and Queen Tala, and at once broke into a mirthless laugh."
"'Well, if it isn't Harpo and Chuckles here to rescue me from my enforced isolation. Not only that; they brought me Raggedy Ann as a companion. Are we to be cell mates, my dear?'"
"Hardly,' Tala sneered. 'I am here looking for a woman who was captured a few days ago. Have you seen her?'"
"The Gypsy shrugged. 'I might have,' he stated. 'But, lady, if you want to know what I know, you must give something in return. A lot of good my information will do me if I die here in this cell. Get me out of here, and I'll tell you everything I know.'"
"Queen Tala thought a moment, then nodded. 'Very well,' she stated. 'Silver Knight, go and get the keys from our incapacitated jailor.'"
"The Silver Knight bounded away into the darkness, while Tala looked at the man before her. 'Who are you?' she asked."
"The man gave an impish grin. 'I am Evano, the Gypsy.' (Lorne practically turned purple with embarrassment, but he was also looking pleased) 'I'm here because I am the best thief there ever was; I am an acrobat of astounding prowess. I was also born under an unlucky star.'"
"'Well, that just explains everything,' grunted Bones."
"While the trio were enjoying the charms of Pennywise's dungeon, the Dark Knight and Meredith were also descending into the keep. Their descent was much faster, though, for though they stayed to the servant corridors, their search began in the top rooms of the castle. It was dreadfully difficult to see, however none of the clowns were around except the most unlucky of the servants, who were presently making merry in secret instead of going about their jobs. Room after room was empty, and the two saw no other beings until they reached the kitchen."
"No sooner had they stepped into the kitchen when they heard footsteps in the corridor. Two clown servants were coming back with empty kegs, sent to get more blood-wine. Meredith and the Dark Knight jumped behind a barrel in the corner and froze."
"'I don't think it's smart of Pennywise,' growled the first clown. 'After all, there are many more Queens that he could have. Really, if you think about it, he is wooing a being that is no better than a Junior Clown.'"
"'It's his life; what he does with it is his concern. I'm just happy his secretary MoneyPenny is still up for grabs.'"
"'The one with the double-oh-seven waistline?'"
"'Yup.'" (Many of the Lanteans groaned good-naturedly. The Athosians just looked confused.)
"The Dark Knight took a deep breath. The men would be in range in a couple of minutes; one quick leap and at least one would go down without a fight. But then, to his undying surprise, he heard Meredith call out, 'BAZINGA!'" (Rodney grinned as several of his team members shot him looks of admiration. It was good to be the hero for once... even if he had created the problem in the first place.)
"Meredith had taken one of the smaller, emptier barrels and had placed it under a small faucet. While the clowns had been gabbing, he had been letting it fill. When he shouted out, he snatched the bucket and with one quick motion poured water over the unsuspecting clown's heads. The Dark Knight watched in horror as they melted before him."
"'Oh, what a world,' Meredith groaned as the clowns turned in to puddles of white face paint, leaving their clothes behind."
"'How did you know the water would melt them?' demanded a surprised Dark Knight."
"Meredith shrugged. 'The wicked always melt in water,' he explained. 'At least, that's what the Wizard of Oz said this year at the Conjurer's Convention. I thought there'd be no better time to try out the theory, though I admit I was a bit apprehensive. One can never tell when the Wizard is telling the truth or not.'"
"'Well, it worked for these clowns.'"
"'Apparently. But I have a feeling we're going to need something stronger than water to defeat Pennywise with. After all, he kidnapped Queen Beth through a drainpipe. Odds are water does not have the same effect on everyone evil.'"
"The Dark Night frowned, then a crazy grin began to spread across his face."
"'What?' asked Meredith."
"'You know, we'd be able to get around much better if everyone thought we were servants.' He indicated the previous clown servant's wardrobe. 'What do you say?'"
"'I say you're nuts.'"
"The Dark Knight grinned. 'I'm positively batty,' he replied, picking out the first article of clothing from the mire."
"Now this occurred right about the time Queen Tala fished the strange man out of his cell. She stood there with her arms folded, looking imposing. The Silver Knight standing behind her helped that illusion along greatly. However, the brash young man seemed impervious to their glares as he sauntered out of the cell. He acted as if he owned the place! It surprised Queen Tala that he even deigned to mutter 'thanks.'"
"'Now that you are out, have you seen a lady brought in a couple of nights ago?' Queen Tala asked."
"Evano smiled thinly. 'Aren't we even going to be introduced?' he asked playfully. 'After all, it is obvious you are not clowns. Even a rival clown gang would not have set a prisoner free.'"
"Bones sighed. 'Let's get this show over with,' he muttered to Tala. The Queen nodded and held her head high. 'I am Tala from Gondor.'"
"Evano stared at her in mock surprise. ("Boy, Sheppard has it out for you," Mickelman teased. Lorne shot him an annoyed glance, but inwardly he was glad to be a part of the story). 'Not the Queen Tala of Camelot?' he crooned. 'With her trusty companions the Silver Knight and Bones the court physician? Your majesty overwhelms me.'"
"'Can I dispatch him, my lady?' asked the Silver Knight."
"Queen Tala glared at Evano. 'Obviously, you know us. We have yet to hear your title.'"
"Evano bowed low, continuing his mock-respectful behavior. 'I am a Gypsy Prince, over none other than this castle. I have been imprisoned here ever since Pennywise attacked my family... five years ago. That is how I know your royal persons; I have visited Camelot before and have been a guest in your royal tower. It's sad that you don't remember.'"
"Queen Tala could barely contain her rage. 'Liar!' she hissed. 'Camelot has never befriended the Circus Folk. You are friends of Clowns and Junior Clowns. Worse than that, you usually become slaves to such folk; setting up their tents for them and handling all their props. What have we ever to do with you?'"
"Evano shrugged as if it were the end of a long involved argument. 'Peace negotiations,' he said flatly. 'It would do you well to pay more attention to what your Queen Beth does in her spare time. And speaking of your Queen, I know where she is.'"
"'Where?' growled the Silver Knight, deftly flitching his sword to Evano's jugular."
"Evano laughed again, though not so mockingly as before. 'If you kill me, you'll never know,' he stated evenly. 'But, if you follow me, I'll take you right to her.'"
"Meredith and the Dark Knight emerged from the kitchen wearing the tattered harlequin outfits. Meredith was in yellow and black, while the Dark Knight was in red and black. Both of them felt like they stood out way too much, yet when they entered the banquet hall, no one even gave them a second glance."
"The scene was one of mass horror." ("Mass horror?" Rodney grumbled. "Where does he come up with this stuff?") "There were clowns of all kinds everywhere! There were jugglers and acrobats, tumblers and bums! There were bear riders, pony riders, and a group of twenty-something stuffed into the most horrendous vehicle of all time... the VMW Beetle. But worst of all was the raised dais that stood at the end of the room, where, sitting on his throne, the evil Pennywise and Queen Beth sat."
"The Dark Knight stopped stock still. His Queen was barely recognizable. Her hair stuck out on all sides a curly red, and her skin was pale and patterned. The only things unchanged about her were her teeth and clothes... and even those were looking frail in the weak light." ("Have ye ever seen teeth look frail?" Carson asked to Dr. Belmont, the base's dentist. He burst out laughing, which garnered a look of murder from the Athosians around them.) "The Dark Knight stared for a few moments, then, without warning, lunged across the tables. He had no idea why he did it; perhaps it was that seeing Queen Beth so far gone unhinged him. Needless to say, he felt he was impervious to any danger, and in seconds he had practically flown across the room and had Pennywise at sword-point."
"'Let her go!' the Dark Knight demanded. The hall became pin-drop silent."
"'Really?' cackled the evil clown. "'This was your master plan? To hold me prisoner in my own castle, with my Queen by my side. Really? You couldn't have come up with something better?'"
"Let her go,' the Dark Knight enunciated slowly, 'or I will kill you.'"
"Pennywise suddenly locked his soulless eyes into the Dark Knights. 'You really think you can kill me, insignificant human? I am ageless; I am eternal. I am darkness, I am evil, I am the never-ending night.'"
"'You're wrong,' the Dark Knight spat. 'Even the night ends with the dawn. And so I will make an end of you!'"
"'Rubbish!' cried the Clown. 'My Queen? Assist!'"
"The Dark Knight sneered. 'She won't help you,' he said. But at that very moment, he felt a cold point of metal settle on his neck... right on his jugular." ("Must be the only artery he remembers from Anatomy class," Carson whispered to Dr. Belmont. This time, Dr. Belmont smacked him in reply.) "He dared to glance away for a moment and saw... to his horror... that Queen Beth was holding a sword straight at his neck."
"'Let him go,' she stated calmly, 'and no immediate harm will come to you, stranger.'"
"The Dark Knight stood there for centuries, feeling like a black hole of regret had opened in the pit of his stomach. 'Too late. I'm too late,' he realized." (Again Zelenka got that strange, shivering feeling up his spine. Whatever it was, it needed to stop!) "Finally, the realization that he was still standing on the dais came to him, and he slowly lowered his sword. Pennywise had won."
"Pennywise's goons then jumped up on the dais, pinning the Dark Knight down in seconds flat. Pennwise looked out into the silent crowd and spotted Meredith as if he had a spotlight pointing at him. 'There, the court Lore-Master!' Pennywise screamed out. 'Get him!' Meredith did the only sensible thing he could do in that situation; he fled."
"Tense minutes seemed to turn into hours, but at last the clowns came back. 'We lost him, sir,' they replied, cringing in expectance of what was to come. But Pennywise was in an exceedingly good mood; one they had rarely seen him in. He only killed off one of their number. Then, the dead clown's blood still dripping from his fangs, he turned to the crowd of clowns and opened his arms wide. Pennywise grinned evilly at the Dark Knight. 'At least we have you, Dark Knight. The ring-leader,' he snarled. Then, he smiled a hideous smile and chuckled menacingly, 'Your fate will be as follows: you will be feasted upon by your very own Queen... and your life will end at dusk tomorrow.'"
Lantean and Athosian both cheered, though some looked upset at being left on another cliffhanger. But at least they only had a day to wait! The rest of the evening passed by in a blur of talking, with Rodney acting uncharacteristically silent. John wondered if something was wrong with him, yet every time he got near to ask him another Athosian came up and told John how much they were enjoying his story. The praise was very encouraging, but after a while John was ready to go. There was only so many times you could say, "Thank you!" in a night.
Finally, everyone was packed back in the jumper, and the mainland was fading behind them. The loud chatting had turned to contented mumbling; all except for Lorne, who kept stating he had no idea he was going to be in the story and how pleased he was.
Halfway back to Atlantis, Rodney plopped himself down into the copilot seat. He remained silent though, shooting furtive looks at John every five seconds. John was tempted to see just how long Rodney could sit there without bursting, but he didn't feel like being that cruel.
"What do you have on your mind, pal?" John asked.
"Glad you asked, John. So, why are you not single?"
