Author's Note:
Thank you for your reviews for the last chapter ... we're on the home stretch now! Hope you enjoy the latest chapter ...
December 20th
It took the remainder of the day and the better part of the next before Torrell finally showed up. The time had been well spent convincing Privic of the necessity to play along initially, but Evan still resented the need to spend even more time on Olesia. He'd had more than enough of the planet, and of the absence from Atlantis.
Lorne sat beside Colonel Sheppard, the two peering out the window as they watched the criminal gang leader stride into the village like he owned the entire planet. Torrell led a group of twenty five equally unkempt individuals, most with that smug countenance that declared they believed the universe owed them something and they'd gladly take it for themselves by whatever means necessary.
"Hasn't changed," Sheppard murmured.
"I take it that's not a good thing," Lorne commented, having never met the man himself.
"Not especially," John replied. Keying his radio he spoke quietly. "Rodney, how's it coming?"
The scientist was camped out as close to where Torrell usually left the Olesian ship as he could get. As soon as the coast was clear, with Ronon and Teyla there to ensure any guards left on board were taken care of, McKay went to work. Jennifer had transferred back up to the Daedalus when they'd beamed down a couple of teams to assist in apprehending Torrell and his men – the fact that she was close but safe served to have Evan feeling pretty optimisitic about what they were planning.
"It'd be faster if you stopped checking in every five minutes," Rodney retorted irritably. A condition of Privic's agreement to let the bandits raid the village one final time was that the Atlantians not destroy the Olesian ship. Since that ship technically belonged to the people they were trying to help and would really give them a leg up on recovering from the months of aggression, Sheppard had agreed, not letting on to Privic that they'd never intended to destroy the ship. It made Rodney's job harder but he'd been confident he could deliver results without the need to randomly rip out components in the hopes that one of them would ground the ship beyond immediate repair.
"So …. about the same as usual then," John quipped, sharing an amused glance with Evan. "Any trouble?"
"They left two guards," Ronon replied. "We took care of them." Lorne shook his head - Torrell was arrogant in his dominance over the Olessian settlement, to the point he'd left little protection for the ship he relied on to give him an edge over his victims. Did he really believe in his own people so little that he genuinely didn't think they'd ever challenge him? Whatever the reason, Evan had to be thankful for the lack of opposition, leaving their back up forces undetected and ready to respond should there be major problems in the village itself.
"Good," John didn't ask what 'taking care of them' meant in practice. "Listen, we'll keep you updated on Torrell's movements."
"We will do likewise on our progress here John," Teyla promised.
Signing off, John redirected his attention outside. Torrell had fronted up to Privic and was currently pushing the older man around, laughing when Privic stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Sir," Evan ground out.
"I know Major," Sheppard replied. "Privic knew what he was signing on for – we need to respect his decision."
"He's unpredictable Sir," Evan pointed out. "Plus he's lost everything that meant something to him, aside from this village. That's the kind of guy who makes rash decisions."
"We'll keep an eye on him," John replied.
"Bring me Eldon!" Torrell shouted, loudly enough for Evan and John to hear. "I want to see my old friend!"
"Eldon?" Privic prevaricated.
"Don't lie to me old man," Torrell warned. "Eldon's here and I want to see him. There's something I need him to do for me."
"Is it possible Torrell knows about Eldon's little trick with the gate?" Sheppard mused in a low tone.
"The last female he kidnapped was a close friend of the girl Eldon's sweet on," Evan offered grimly. "I'd say if he was convincing enough Torrell probably knows everything she did."
"Crap," John muttered, frowning. Eldon was in the hut with the elders – he's insisted on staying with his people to minimise the risk the Lantian's would be discovered ahead of time. Evan posted Coughlin with the younger man, his team mate dressed to pass for one of the locals should Torrell start searching the huts. Lorne imagined Nate was arguing with Eldon not to give in to Torrell but equally sure Eldon wouldn't stand by and let Torrell hurt anyone on his behalf.
"Eldon!" Torrell shouted. "Come out here!"
There was a pause and then the door of the meeting hut opened and Eldon came out. He walked nervously towards Torrell, his head low.
"Ah, there you are!" Torrell slapped a hand on the younger man's back hard enough to have Eldon staggering forward.
"T-t-torrell," Eldon stuttered.
"You have something I want," Torrell announced. Up until then he'd been armed but not in an in your face way. Now, he raised his weapon – a pistol like gun that fired laser shots – and pointed it straight at Eldon.
"I-I d-don't kn-ow w-what you m-mean," Eldon protested, throwing Privic a panicked glance.
"Go along with him," Evan urged in a low voice, his entire attention fixed on the scene outside.
"The Stargate switch," Torrell mocked. "Your little invention is the talk of my settlement and it strikes me as something I can make use of. Hand it over." The gun was up, the tip resting on Eldon's forehead.
"Wait!" Privic cried. "He doesn't have what you want."
"And how do you know that old man?" Torrell kept his gun on Eldon as he turned to the village leader.
"Because I do, right here," Privic held up Eldon's ancient homemade tool.
"Aww … did Dad take away your toys?" Torrell mocked, laughing as he shoved Eldon with the gun. Eldon stumbled again and looked as though he'd like nothing better than to jump Torrell and pummel him until he felt better. "Still – he strikes me as more malleable that you," Torrell lowered the gun and looked at Privic. "Give me that switch and I might even consider leaving you alone … for a few months."
"Why would we hand over our only bargaining chip to you?" Privic sneered. "You and your men disgust me."
"Hey boys!" Torrell laughed. "Looks like our little leader grew some balls since we were here last." Turning to Privic all humour dropped from his face. "I think we're gonna have to retrain you." Without warning he slammed his gun against Privic's head, sending the old man crashing to the ground.
Lorne was on his feet and out the door before Sheppard could react.
"Damn it!" John muttered, jumping up to join his 2IC before the other man got himself killed.
"Stop!" Evan yelled, running until he was beside Eldon. With one arm he moved the young man out of harm's way, all of his attention on Torrell. "Look, just take what you want and leave us the hell alone!"
"And who might you be?" Torrell's eyes narrowed as he took in Evan's attire. "Atlantis?" The criminal let out a burst of laughter before eying Privic. "You called in outside help? I have to say, I'm impressed."
Evan shifted to help Privic to his feet. "I bet it makes you feel big, picking on your elders … on women and children. You feel like a man using that gun against people who are unarmed?"
"This is the best you could do?" Torrell sneered at Privic, ignoring Evan. "And these people elected you their leader? Fools!"
It happened fast. Torrell's weapon was firing straight at Privic. Evan didn't think – he just reacted, leaping to the right as he pushed Privic out of the way.
The energy burst hit him square in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground. The pain was all encompassing … his vision blurring and his ears full of the roar of his own heart pumping frantically Evan was aware for long enough to register P-90 weapons fire, and then there was nothing.
Jennifer paced the infirmary on the Daedalus, her attention more on worries about what could be going on, on the planet below than her own location.
"Relax," Doctor Baker soothed.
"I'm trying," Jennifer returned.
"Sheppard to Keller."
"Oh God," Jenn swallowed weakly, knowing that tone in John's voice. Someone was in need of medical attention.
"I'm here," she replied, already moving to grab her medical kit.
"We need you down here asap," John advised, signing off before she could ask why.
Jennifer exchanged a speaking glance with her fellow doctor. He was the one to radio the bridge and request an immediate beam down to the planet.
Materialising in the middle of the village, Jennifer hurried over to where John stood, a few of the locals gathered around two figures on the ground. Everything in her froze when she realised one of them was Evan. She was at his side instantly, the medical scanner in her hand, with no recollection of how she got there.
"It was a laser weapon," John squatted beside her. "Point blank range."
Nodding, Jennifer ran the scanner over Evan's chest. There was only a small circle of blood on his shirt but as she watched the display her whole being sank. To see so little external evidence of injury, aside from the fact that Evan was unconscious, falsely advertised the seriousness of the situation. Whatever he'd been hit with it was powerful, cutting through muscle and bone and missing his heart by almost too small a margin.
"I need to get him to the infirmary immediately," Jennifer's voice was blank … her personal emotions on ice, numb to the seriousness of the situation. She couldn't think what ifs – they wouldn't help Evan. Never before had she been more grateful for the hours of training and experience that let her fall back to her Doctor persona. She wasn't helpless – she was the one with the power to help Evan. He'd be okay because she wouldn't rest until he was.
John moved to radio the Daedalus.
"No," Jennifer shot out. "They don't have what I need. Getting Evan to Atlantis is the only way to save him."
Nodding, John activated his radio. "Sheppard to Daedalus."
"Caldwell here."
"Sir, I need you to beam myself, Major Lorne, Doctor Keller and Eldon to the Stargate down here immediately."
Caldwell didn't question him, thankfully. "Acknowledged. Stand by."
A moment passed during which Jennifer pressed a hand to Evan's chest and silently begged him to hang in there. Then Caldwell was advising them that the beam out was about to take place. Again Jennifer felt the warmth of the beam, materialising directly in front of Olesia's Stargate in the same position. Sheppard reacted instantly.
"Eldon – undo whatever the hell you did to the gate," he snapped out, throwing the young man the tool he'd grabbed from Privic before contacting the Daedalus.
Eldon pressed buttons frantically, giving Sheppard a nod when he was done. John didn't speak – he punched out the address for Atlantis and moments later was greeted by the shimmering pool of not water.
"Atlantis, this is Sheppard. We have a medical emergency – Major Lorne is down."
"I need the OR prepped for surgery and a team ready to assist," Jennifer added. All of her attention was on her fiancé – she might not have said yes but in her mind that was a formality. He looked so pale and so still she kept a finger to the pulse point in his neck, the slow but steady beats reassuring her that he was still with her. "Hang in there," she begged softly, using her other hand to smooth back his hair tenderly, her emotions leaking through the control she was clinging to.
"Acknowledged Colonel," Colonel Carter replied to John's message. "You'll have what you need."
Sheppard moved to Jennifer's side. "It's not going to hurt him more if I pick him up, is it?" he checked. When Jennifer shook her head he bent, hoisting Evan up in a fireman's hold and charging for the gate with Jennifer hot on his heels.