Sorry the update didn't come sooner! Gah. Hopefully some of you guys stayed around. I've pretty much got this story in the bag. During one of my classes I figured out everything I wanted to put in it and all the chapters - so all I need to do now is stay on top of this and write the darn chapters. This chapter will be short...Hopefully the next chapters won't be as short.

X Varda X - Thanks for being the first reviewer! I hadn't really thought of this as a Rodney whump fic, but then I thought about it...and evil things came to mind...so yeah. This story is Rodney's worst nightmare...Thanks for reviewing by the way. ;)

ElisaD263 - Thanks for reviewing! Sorry I didn't get this chapter uploaded sooner!

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis or the crossover it's with....Speaking of that, has anyone figured out what the crossover is with? It should be pretty easy. Oh well. Anyway, I do own this plot though, so don't steal it.

Always remember to review!

Chapter one

5 hours earlier

The sky was beautiful. Purple, blue, and gray were splashed together like a painting to create the scenery that laid before John. From his position, sprawled on a lawn chair (that had been snuck in last visit to Earth), he could see the sky and the vast openness below it. The sea churned softly, small waves splashing against Atlantis producing a soft spray that tickled his face. A cool breeze came in from the North East caressing him.

It was a good day, John thought as he laid in his chair. He was alone on the balcony just enjoying the day and the scenery. A glass of water sat on the ground beside him and his radio laid forgotten beside it.

He was on vacation for at least three days.

He couldn't help but feel he was slightly forced into the vacation after Dr. Weir had found out he hadn't taken one in - well, a long time. But as he sunk lower into his chair, he couldn't help but enjoy it.

With a content sigh, he closed his eyes and just leaned back, letting the sounds of sea soothe him.

"Sheppard!"

John started, eyes snapping open. He looked around for the source but found no one near him. His eyes turned towards his radio and he reached out to grab it, but hesitated. He pondered momentarily whether or not he should really pick it up as he was on vacation.

"Sheppard, answer the damn radio!"

John groaned and picked it up, placing it back in his ear. "Sheppard here. What seems to be the problem?"

"Finally!" came a familiar impatient voice. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Vacation. Remember?"

There was silence. "Oh, right." There was a moment where John could here his friend talking to someone else. "Well, you're not on vacation anymore."

John raised an eyebrow and sat up. "What's that supposed to mean? What's happened?"

"Something huge."

"Rodney, getting a paper cut is huge to you." He couldn't help but smile at the indignant squawk on the other side. "Look, where you?"

"The conference room."

"The conference room?"

"That's what I just said!"

"That's not what I meant."

"Well, when you say 'the conference room' like that you generally think it means 'the conference room?'."

John groaned. "Alright, alright. I'll be there in a couple minutes."

He looked back towards the beautiful sea and sky before letting out a long sigh. He had a feeling it was going to be a long day.

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There were four of them in the conference room. Dr. Weir sat at the end of the table, hands locked underneath her chin, her expression solemn and worried. Rodney and Zelenka were off on one side of the room arguing about some sort of audio feed that was on the tablet in front of them. Occasionally, one would steal said tablet from the other claiming that the other was an idiot, but it was generally shared between them with only minor qualms. It was obvious they had already been appraised of the situation as they had pointedly ignored Dr. Weir's explanation to John.

He leaned forward, eyebrows furrowed. "Disappeared? Like disappeared-disappeared, or just can't find them disappeared."

Dr. Weir sighed. "We couldn't find them at all. After they missed the check in we activated the probe but we couldn't find any clue as to where they went."

"And the campsite was deserted?"

"Yes. We couldn't get very accurate readings from the probe so I sent Major Lorne's team in to see if they couldn't find out what happened and where the expedition was."

"So, why are you telling me?" John asked, leaning back in his chair, staring intently at Dr. Weir. She had closed her eyes and had taken a deep breath.

"That was two hours ago. Major Lorne hasn't reported it since."

John felt a chill go down his spine. "You know how it is," he tried. "I'm sure he's still trying to rope up all the scientists."

"John."

He stopped. "What has the probe shown?"

"Nothing," she sighed. "Absolutely nothing. There is no sign of his team or the expedition."

"How many people were on the expedition?"

"Ten scientists and five military personnel."

"Only five?"

"It was thought to be a friendly planet."

"Right." John thought back to previous reports on M5S-687. "Wasn't there a village nearby? What are they doing?"

"They're gone as well."

John started. "What? An entire village too?"

"Yes," Dr. Weir grimaced. "As far as we can tell they're all gone. The probe we sent covered the entire area, albeit superficially, and we saw no one. They're all gone."

John nodded his head slowly as he leaned back into his chair, absorbing the details. "Rescue mission?"

"Yes, I would like your team to go in to figure out where they went and get them out of there."

"Would like?"

"Your team doesn't have to do this mission. I know you are on vacation. I am only asking you to do so because of your previous experience in such affairs."

John nodded. "When can we leave?"

Dr. Weir smiled. "As soon as you get your team together and get the Puddle Jumper ready."

John stood up. "Don't worry, we'll herd the sheep back." He turned to leave, "Come on Rodney."

Rodney groaned, and stood up. "I can't believe we're sending him. I mean, he's talking about the scientists like we're sheep!" he griped.

"Well, you guys do tend to wander and graze a lot," John piped back.

"We aren't sheep!"

Dr. Weir leaned back in her chair, listening to the fading arguing as the two left. "Dr. Zelenka, have you discovered anything yet from the video transmission?"

Radek pushed his glasses up and put the tablet on the table. "No. So far most of our attempts have been unsuccessful." He fidgeted.

A raised eyebrow. "Most?"

"We did manage to get some audio moments before the taping stopped."

"Well, what was it?"

He swallowed thickly. "I-I shall show you." He pressed several buttons on the tablet before static roared and garbled noises shouted through the speakers on the tablet. They waited a moment, the static to loud to hear anything that was happening. Then they heard it.

Dr. Weirs' eyes widened as her face lost all color. Sinking down into the chair, she enclosed her face with her hands.

Tension rolled in the air as they just sat there, Elizabeth looking forlorn and Zelenka silent. Neither knew what the outcome would bring and neither could bring themselves to admit that something horrible had happened and that maybe -just maybe- it wouldn't be a rescue mission at all.

For what they had just heard through the static and interference were blood curling screams.

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"Life sign detectors?"

"Check."

"First aid kit?"

"Check."

"Guns?"

"Check."

"Oh, come on!" Rodney groaned, whirling around in his chair at the front of the Puddle Jumper. "Do we really need check all our equipment again?"

"One annoying scientist?" John said impishly.

"Check," came Ronans' rumbling voice.

Teyla placed a hand on Rodney's shoulder. "You know we must always make sure we have all the necessary equipment with us. It would be unwise to leave without doing so."

"Yup," John said. "Besides, we all know the one time we don't check will be the time we forgot something important."

Rodney just groaned and placed his head against his tablet. "This is going to take forever."

"Do not worry," Teyla said calmly. "We shall be leaving soon to look for the expedition and Major Lornes' team."

"Radios?"

"Check."

"I know that," Rodney snipped. "They probably just got stuck in that stupid complex they found the last time I talked to them."

"Complex?" Teyla questioned, tilting her head slightly to the side. "I do not believe I heard anything about this."

Rodney raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, uh, they found a complex a few kilometers from the village. They believed it was from the society that was there before them."

"Society before them?" John looked up from the pack he was looking in. "What society?"

Rodney groaned. "Don't you ever read the reports?"

John looked affronted. "Yes. But, you know, maybe the others haven't heard it yet."

"I read the report," Ronon replied.

John groaned.

"I was not able to," Teyla piped up, saving face for John who looked rather pleased. "Would you mind telling me?"

Rodney blinked. "Well Dr. Galeia and his team learned from the villagers that they actually came from another planet. They went through the Stargate when their planet started to die - something about Solar Flares. Anyway, so they found that planet, M5S-687, and settled there. It turns out there was a society there before them because the villagers found remains of buildings and stuff. Dr. Galeia and his team found a complex that was in pretty good shape and were going to explore it. That's the last I heard anyway."

"Do they know what happened to that society?" Teyla questioned.

"Uh, no. They haven't found any remains or anything." Rodney rolled his eyes. "Dr. Tello was looking forward to searching the complex to look for archeological remains. What kind of sicko looks forward to finding bones of dead people?"

"Is it not his job?" Teyla questioned.

"Yes, but bones!"

John rolled his eyes. "Not everyone wants to be a hypochondriac scientist that has an inflated ego."

Rodney glared at him. "Shouldn't you be - I don't know - checking to make sure we have everything?"

"Nope. We're done."

Rodney perked up. "Really?"

"Yes really. Now get out of my seat."

Rodney switched over to the seat next to the pilots chair as John sat down. Teyla and Ronon took the back seats, while John quickly looked over the control panel. "Sheppard to Atlantis. We are a go."

"Rodger that, wormhole engaged."

John maneuvered the ship down from the docking bay down in front of the Stargate. They could see Elizabeth on the other side of the glass looking out at them, one hand on the glass. "Good luck," she whispered.

They disappeared through the blue horizon, the wormhole winking out once they had reached their destination.