Thank for the lovely reviews. I am updating much quicker than usual with this chapter.
The jumper landed heavily on the uneven ground of the desert planet. For now, the ground felt stable, although the weather conditions were clearly not the kind that anyone sane would venture out into. Rodney immediately grabbed his tablet, desperately working to find some kind of entrance to whatever lay below the surface crust, knowing there must be some way in, somewhere. Ronon was fiddling with his stunner, checking and re-checking it, unable to keep still but too restricted by the limited space in the jumper to pace around as he would normally. Teyla was next to Cat, her arm around her friend's exhausted shoulders. Cat was fitfully dozing, the strain of the effort to link with John too much for her. She couldn't know, but her head drooped in a way that almost exactly echoed the shape of John's as he slept in his chains. Minutes ticked by as the team took a final breather before whatever might happen next.
Rodney let out a tired cry. 'Okay, I think I've found some kind of entrance. The trouble is, I've no idea what lies beneath it and the sensors suggest it's narrow and steep, and goes on for some time and god knows what the landing is like at the bottom. If i didn't know any better, I'd say it most reminds me of one of those huge death slides you get at adventure parks. I have no idea how it opens either, but it is right by the gate and seems to match almost exactly the last place we saw Sheppard. It could well be how he was captured in the first place. Makes sense, when you think about it. We are lured to the planet; the Genii have probably been watching us coming and going on various planets and understand enough about our 'patterns' to know that Sheppard always heads out of a gate first.' Rodney remembered the first time he had gone through the gate on a mission with his friend, then just another cocky flyboy in his mind. Every other senior military man he'd known had always let his ordinary foot soldiers take the lead, following the protocol of protecting the most important officer, but Sheppard was different. Since then, Rodney had understood the total and absolute bravery of the man, unwilling to lead his team into any danger that he hadn't tested out first, which was probably why he always got into so much trouble. 'I guess they also have some kind of surveillance system to check that it was he who activated whatever kind of door it is. For all I know, they may even have developed a sensor that can be tuned to specific life signs, if they were determined to capture him, rather than randomly grab whoever stood on the entrance. The seemingly 'volcanic' activity we experienced last time doesn't seem to match with my readings of the planet either. Perhaps they set up some kind of massive vibration from below which caused the ground to move as it did. I just don't know right now. Whichever, I'm really not sure what we do other than stand in the right place and jump up and down.' The thought that it was John specifically who the Genii wanted was worrying in itself. Nobody had voiced their real fears: that no ransom had been asked for; no deal requested; no news of his survival or otherwise. Whoever had him clearly had was not looking for any kind of exchange and that could only suggest that they had no intention of letting him survive.
Ronon shifted. 'So, we head off, jump up and down on the entrance and rescue Sheppard?' The question was rhetorical and Ronon's call for action.
Cat shifted and began to ready herself, causing Rodney to pass an urgent look in Teyla's direction. While there may be some clearer evidence of sixth sense between Cat and John, this team understood each other so well that no more comment was needed. 'You must stay here, Cat,' Teyla said firmly to her friend.
Car began to object. She needed to be with them when they found John; she might be of use if they couldn't find him; she couldn't bear to be left behind; not know what was happening. The team was resolute in the face of all her objections.
Rodney had the last word. 'It's a long way down that shaft and we don't know what's at the bottom. You could do yourself damage, but more importantly you could hurt the baby. John wouldn't want to place either of you in danger for his sake. You know that. And, if anything happens to us, or we don't get to him in time, you need to be able to escape: to keep your baby safe at all costs. If you stay here, you might be able to contact him again and re-assure him. I don't know if we'll be able to establish radio contact from below the surface, but I'll try.' He glanced at his friends for support, and then continued,' Stay here and wait for us. If we're not back in 2 hours, or you haven't heard from us, or if the weather conditions worsen and the jumper is in danger, then you must dial Atlantis and return.'
Teyla and Ronon placed re-assuring hands on her shoulders, and Ronon nodded confirmation with a slight smile, then before she could disagree they were gone, leaving her alone with her thoughts and fears and a whispered 'good luck.'
***
How long he'd managed to sleep, he had no way of knowing. The plan to stay still and let his arms go numb had worked to a point but as he shifted his legs to gain some purchase on the ground the movement caused rivers of agony to flow up his from his shoulders to his fingers as sensation returned. 'Nice one, John,' he cursed under his breath as he tried to find a more comfortable position. The voice that came out was course and weak and his throat was sore. How long since he'd had a drink of water? Again, no way of knowing, but given the strange hotness that was creeping over his body, it was way too long.
He shook his befuddled head, trying to clear the gauze that shimmered on the surface of his eyes, but to no avail. 'So not good news,' he thought. Weakness had reached into every part of him, a weakness that showed him all too clearly that, if he wasn't miraculously rescued soon, then he'd not make it. All he had to sustain him was the memory of the strange hallucination and the glittering ring on the floor. Both became one and the same, seeming to channel all his memories of Cat which came crashing down, like jumping under an ice-cold waterfall on a steaming hot summer's day, keeping him alive, keeping him going, keeping him awake. He tried not to think about the old wives' tale that all your life flashes in front of you in the moments before you die, preferring to escape to the best memories, the best times they'd had together. The first time he saw her, with her beautiful, clear-seeing blue eyes catching his as he stood on the balcony in the gate room and the strangest sensation he'd had then that this was something special. The battles followed by the making up, which almost made them worthwhile. Their wedding night on New Athos and the games she loved to play, exciting and surprising him with their passion and inventiveness. Their times on the East Pier, their 'place', reserved for many of the most important moments of their relationship. The surprising joy of finding out he was to be a father, yet another amazing and beautiful experience she had gifted to him. He allowed his thoughts to wrap around him like a soft blanket, taking away the reality of the pain and his situation. The vision had been so real at the time, but he knew it must have been a figment of his, increasingly demented, imagination. Still, it was a lovely vision; she'd touched his face; she'd told him they were coming for him; he'd hang onto it as long as he could, allow it and his remembrances to sustain him.
The sound of heavy footfall echoed along the corridor and a familiar shadow soon towered over him. Charel 's smile told ominously of things that were about to come. 'So, John, have we had time to consider our position?'
He paused, wanting to make some quip about people who insist on using the third person for effect but too exhausted and weakened to find the right witty repost, then tried to clear his throat and in as strong a voice as he could muster replied hoarsely, 'Well, yes I have. And, I have to say that my 'position' leaves much to be desired.' A glimmer of something akin to relish crossed her face as she thought he was about to give in. 'But, if you could just undo my arms and give me a nice soft sofa to sit on, I'm sure it could be much improved!' Her smile turned to one of anger. She raised her large hand and, this time not content with a slap, she punched him hard, his left cheekbone making an alarming 'crack' as fist met flesh, repeating the action as if to make quite certain she'd done maximum damage. He felt hot metallic liquid stream from the side of his mouth before he collapsed once more into unconsciousness.
***
In the jumper, Cat grasped her left cheek, wincing at the sharp biting pain which came from nowhere, jerking her hand up to her mouth to wipe away the non-existent blood, involuntary tears washing over the soreness. 'Oh, my God, John!' she shouted into nothingness. 'Whoever is doing this to you, I'll kill them, I swear.'
***
The trio stood in the swirling landscape, gritty sand whipping their faces as they attempted to stand up to the violent winds, standing as close to the place where John was taken as possible. They couldn't hear each other talk; they couldn't see each other; they didn't know what would happen next. Rodney was attempting to tap into his tablet, trying to find possible readings to lead them to any kind of opening. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble and, before they could shout a warning to each other, it gave way beneath them. Sand flew around them, choking their throats and grazing any skin left open to the elements; then, as quickly, it disappeared and they were sliding away from the sky and into darkness. Rodney's approximation of a death slide was frighteningly accurate. He felt his stomach lurch as he picked up speed, aware of other bodies around him, beaten and buffeted by the sides of the slide and the impact with other body parts. It felt like minutes, but it was probably only seconds, before they landed in a heavy heap at the bottom, thankfully their fall broken by some carefully laid matting.
Ronon was the first to rise. The place was desolate and quiet. He'd expected some kind of welcoming committee given Rodney's various theories and turned to his friend with a quizzical raise of his eyebrow.
'I know, I know,' grumbled Rodney. 'Give me a minute.' He checked the life-signs detector. 'Well, I guess that disproves my theory about surveillance on the surface. If this is where Sheppard fell, then it was either accidental and they picked him up later, or planned in advance, which I'm beginning to be more convinced about. There must be sensors underground that trigger the mechanism if pressure is placed at the right spot. How we get out of here is another matter entirely, though.'
'Let's not worry about that, now,' growled the big Satedan impatiently. 'First we find Sheppard, second we kill the bastard responsible for hurting him, then we escape, if necessary taking out every Genii on this base in the process. Anyone have a problem with that?'
He looked at his colleagues with a fiery stare that suggested they might argue back and dared them not too. Rodney paused for a minute and then simply shrugged his shoulders and in his best Shepperdise said, 'Sounds like a plan!'
The corridor ahead appeared to be chiselled out of solid stone and echoed eerily as they walked along it. They were heading towards the nearest cluster of life-signs, hoping to get lucky. Someone would know where John was being kept and they were all past the point where they cared how they found out. As individuals, you would be hard-pressed to find more caring, gentle, loyal or fair people, but if a member of their 'family' was threatened or hurt, woe-betide anyone who got in there way or who was responsible. Years of fighting against outrageous odds, against dangerous foes, had taught them to battle even harder when their backs were against the wall, but also that the team mattered above almost everything else, each prepared to sacrifice themselves for the other. Even Rodney, once the epitome of selfishness, would give up his life or freedom to save one of his friends, and this was John, his rock and his best friend.
Ahead there was a glimmer of light and the laughter of several male voices. Ronon gestured to Teyla and Rodney to stay behind him as he crept forward to the entrance of the room. Inside were three Genii soldiers, in the familiar green/grey uniform, playing what looked remarkably like a Pegasus version of poker around a small round table. They were clearly not expecting company and their weapons were stacked casually against the wall behind them. With practised stealth Ronon took out two of them with his blaster before they could even move, then pinned the third to the floor, arms pulled tightly behind his back, a look combining surprise and terror on his young features.
'Stay still and you will not be hurt,' said Teyla, kneeling by the soldier. 'All we need you to tell us is where Colonel Sheppard is being kept and your life will be spared. It is your choice. Ronon here is quite angry and would be very happy to kill you all, but I can stop him if you just 'play the game'. Rodney smiled at Teyla's Earth expression. She'd picked up many over the last seven years or so, some not entirely as polite for a 'lady' as they ought to be.
By the look on his face, the Genii was clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place: should he refuse their request, he was clearly in danger of losing his life but Charel was a dangerous woman too and he certainly didn't want to do anything to get on her bad side. The pressure on his back clearly decided him, though. 'He's being kept in the lower chamber. There's a strong room and a cell down there.' He looked around in time to see the weapon being pointed at him before he was stunned into unconsciousness.
'Okay, let's tie them up and head out. Time is of the essence here.' Ronon and Teyla roughly secured the soldiers and then the trio headed back out into the corridor. Unseen, a surveillance camera followed them as they ran in the direction of the lower levels.
***
John was rudely awakened from unconsciousness by a sharp punch to his abdomen, which took his breath from him in its unexpectedness and force. He managed to force a 'what?' from his dry lips before more blows rained down on him, hitting him from all sides, breaking ribs and bruising already damaged flesh. He was aware of at least three people around him and that one of them was Charel. When finally it stopped, she leant forward and lifted his chin in an awful parody of the tenderness shown to him by Cat in his 'vision'. 'Now, John. You need to know that it is over for you. Word has reached us that your friends are here, but don't get your hopes up. You'll be dead before they reach here, let me assure you. And then we can deal with them too. I told you it was hopeless.' At this she took a long knife from the table behind her and held it to his neck. 'I've had enough of playing these futile games. If it had been up to me we would have executed you the moment you arrived. It is time you paid for your crimes against the Genii. And when your friends arrive they will find your life already extinguished in the brief moments before we take theirs'.
John closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable. In one last gasp attempt he stretched his mind beyond the prison, trying to find that connection, if it really existed, with Cat; hoping for the chance to say goodbye. For the briefest moment he was sure he felt her and heard her voice and he thought the words 'I love you' as loudly as he could, before he felt a searing agony in his stomach as the knife found its home. Charel laughed as she twisted it, then stood back to watch his life-blood literally drain from him. He had always thought death would be painful and shocking: instead, a strange peacefulness washed over him as his body began to fade. He was vaguely aware of blood pooling around his feet and of a distant shouting, then he felt his heart begin to slow with the effort of pumping less and less of his life around his body. At the last, he saw through his fading eyes three familiar figures run into the room and Charel's body arch as Ronon's stunner hit her, then everything went black as he accepted his fate.
The sight that met Ronon, Rodney and Teyla as they entered the room was heart-rending for the three friends. Rodney felt rather than heard the stunner go off next to him, totally focussed on the man before him, aware of the knife in his gut and the red river beneath him. He ran to his friend and felt for the non-existent pulse, then turned with tears in his eyes to the anxious face of Teyla. 'It's too late,' he whispered shakily, 'he's dead.'
Cat screamed with agony at the pain that knifed through her stomach, terrified for John and for their child. 'No!' she screamed as she fell doubled up to the floor. Something terrible had happened. Had she felt him reach out and touch her in the moments before? Had she heard him say 'I love you'? 'No!' she screamed again. 'You will not die. I will not let it happen. John, John listen to me. You have to fight. You can't leave me, do you hear? I won't let you. For God's sake and our child's, you have to stay with us.
TBC
Okay, now I really do need some reviews to keep me going. I think I'm exhausted just writing about these events! You all know how much your reviews encourage me to keep writing.