Survival of the Fittest7
John moved swiftly down the cliff side. Silently. He had found a narrow but useful trail. Stomped over the vines and moss that clung to every inch of ground. The hoots and grunts were still all around him. But not close. He skidded over the sheer edge, pulled back to grab a length of vine clinging to the rocky wall at his back. He skirted the dense growth. Bracing himself he jumped over the edge, landed on his feet. But rolled into the undergrowth. Spit out a fern as he surveyed the site. The men were walking slowly. John scooted closer to his own men. Scrambled to his knees. Waited. Waited.
"How's the arm?" Evan asked, eying Matthew.
The botanist flexed it. Groaned. "Sore. I may have pulled something major. Major." A brief snort of amusement.
"Don't worry. We'll get out of here," Ronon assured. He wiped his split lip with his bound hands. Stared at the mutated men.
"I just hope the colonel's with Moira," Evan said grimly. "Wherever that is."
"He is. He won't leave without her," Ronon stated. He met Evan's gaze. Shared understanding passed between the two men.
"She's alive," Evan realized. Relaxed.
"How do you know?" Matthew asked. "Those natives could have killed her out of hand by now."
"She's alive," Ronon agreed. "Of she wasn't these guys would be shot to hell by now."
"What makes you say that?" Matthew asked, puzzled.
"Because he knows me," John answered. He moved to them, began cutting the ropes.
"Colonel! Is Moira–"
"Safe, major. Covering us."
"Thank God! Can we go now?" Matthew stammered.
"What about Josephes, sir? Ronon said he was still alive–"
"And back in Atlantis by now," John said. "Ronon?"
"I've been biding my time," he complained.
"Oh oh." John glanced up as he heard hoots and grunts. "Here come the rest. Follow me. Do not engage unless necessary." He handed the men the extra guns.
"What? Now you don't want me to–" Ronon protested.
"Not yet. Not until we–" Gunfire ricocheted near them. A wave of men rushed towards them. "Come on!" John led them in a dodging run towards the trees. "Moira, now would be a good time!" he urged under his breath.
Moira watched their escape. Heard the gunfire. Saw their escape in danger of being aborted. "Shit." She fired, nearly fell backwards, adjusted her stance on her knees. Sighted. Fired awkwardly. A stream of bullets cleared a perimeter as the men fell back, shouting.
"What the–" Evan wondered.
John smiled. "That's my woman! This way!" The men veered, ran.
Moira fired, fired, keeping the horde back while her friends made the tree-line. Disappeared into it. She kept firing, laying ground cover until the gun suddenly stopped. The empty clip fell out. "Oh oh." She dropped the P90. Grabbed the 9mm out of her pants. Clicked off the safety. Fired. Fired. Paused. "Can't waste ammo," she muttered. Watched the mutants swarm ahead. "Hurry, John. Hurry!" she urged.
The men ran. Paused. "Which way?" Matthew asked.
"They're coming in fast, sir!" Evan warned, lifting his gun to fire.
"Also from the ridge! There! And...there!" Ronon gestured with his gun. Smiled. "Yours."
John shrugged. "Yeah, just great, our party meets yours." He scanned the foliage. "All right. Go there. Up to that red flowering thing."
"An early rhododendron, if I'm not mistaken, or perhaps a new species of hibiscus that–"
"Like I said, the red flowering thing!" John snapped. "Shoot if you must. We need stealth more than firepower. I'll go retrieve Moira and join you. Move!"
Moira stared at the city. It was empty, completely devoid of mutants. She scanned the towers. The moss. The density of structures, curious. Further along a deep pool glimmered cobalt. Hearing noises she whirled. Held the gun ready. Waited. Waited.
"Don't shoot!" John called. "Moira! It's me!" John crawled out of the tunnel, smiled. "Time to go."
She relaxed, handed him the P90. "It's out of ammo. Is everyone all right?"
"For now. Let's go. You first."
"You...John? John!" she scowled.
He smiled. "I insist." He gestured towards the tunnel.
"You bastard," she complained. Moved to her hands and knees. Crawled into the tunnel.
John laughed. Followed her. "It's a purely military decision, baby, I swear."
"Bullshit, colonel!" He laughed again.
Moira moved to her feet swiftly. "Where–"
"There. The red flowery thing."
"You mean the rhododendron?"
"Whatever! That red–" He pushed her back as the mutants suddenly tore through the trees. "Go! Go!" They ran up the slope, darting over vines.
"Moira! Here!" Evan gestured, relief on his face seeing his teammate. He grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the small rise. The cliff edge was only inches away from them.
John joined them, whirled. Mutated men surrounded them. "Great."
"Sir, there's a pool down there. Further up the ridge if we can reach it," Evan suggested. A howling chorus nearly drowned his words.
"I say we shoot our way out," Ronon observed.
"No. There's too many of them!" Matthew objected. Staring as the mutated men moved closer. Cutting off all escape. Except the cliff.
"That pool is near the city's edge," Moira said. "We should go back there. There's something down there. I saw a light. A flash."
"She's right, sir. There was a weird humming sound. I could feel it but I couldn't really hear it," Evan confirmed.
"That must be what they're trying to uncover," Matthew realized.
"Where the hell is baldy?" John asked, debating. "Okay. Move slowly up the cliff." As they stepped the men growled. Snarled. Waving stick and guns. "Stop!" John ordered.
"I still say we shoot it out," Ronon repeated.
Moira sighed. "The things I have to do." She stepped past Evan, past all of her colleagues.
"Whoa, Moira, you–" John caught her arm.
She turned to him. "As soon as you can you all need to make for the ridge. Jump over the edge to hit the pool. I'll be right behind you."
"What? Like hell, Moira!" Evan protested, but her gaze was locked with John's.
"Trust me. You'll know when to go," she insisted.
John considered. Freed her arm. Nodded.
"Sir! You can't let her!" Evan exclaimed, moving. The men snarled. Shouted.
"Easy, major. You heard the lady. Wait for our chance. She knows what she's doing. Exactly what she's doing," he realized.
"Watch and learn, boys," Moira sighed. She stepped boldly past her friends, into the clearing. Silence fell abruptly. "Niko!" she called. "Niko! Eso! Eso Niko!"
"She, she speaks their language?" Evan asked. Shocked.
John shrugged. "Some of it."
"Niko!" she repeated, trying to approximate the guttural words she had heard. The men parted. The leader stepped into the clearing. Headed for her. Paused. Glanced past her to the watching team. Looked at her. She smiled, strolled to him, swaying her hips. "Niko," she purred, voice sultry. Breathy. "Niko eso? Eso Niko." The leader appeared stunned, whether by her bold approach or her appropriation of their language she couldn't tell
Moira paused. Gestured. Shook her head. Spoke the words she hoped were right. Pointed at the men behind her. Denial. She gestured as Niko had, swaying her hips. Pointed at John. "Eso! Eso!"
All eyes hit John. He smiled, raised a brow. Raised his open palm in a slight wave. "That would be me," he acknowledged, guessing her meaning.
"Huh? Sir, what is she–" Evan asked, bewildered.
"Later, major."
Moira turned back to Niko. "Eso...na!" She gestured, shook her head. Spat. Niko laughed uproariously. As did the other mutants. The noise was loud, filling the air.
Ronon grinned. "I wish I knew what that meant."
"So do I...but I think I was just insulted," John agreed.
Moira began to circle the leader, swaying her hips. Sashaying boldly. She ran her hands over the broad shoulders of the man. "Niko eso," she purred. "Niko eso good? Hmm?" She paused, touched his chest, stepped back. Circled again. Paused to glance at the team. "You can start moving, boys," she urged. She circled again, humming. Gyrated slowly. Ran her hands over her damp clothes, over her breasts, her hips. Licked her lips. Smiled.
The team was riveted on her. "Men," she complained. "Go now. John, now!"
"Wha...oh...go now," he repeated. "Lorne." He shoved the major in the shoulder "Go slowly."
"Wha...oh...yeah. Sir." Evan grinned at his distraction.
"You heard the jungle queen. Go. One by one." John looked back at the clearing. Moira was circling again. Her provocative walk, her swinging hips, her swinging hair irresistible. Her damp clothes clinging to every curve. Every mutant was riveted, staring. Silent. The leader was staring, open-mouthed.
Moira glanced over her shoulder. Finally the team was moving slowly along the ridge. Tripping and forced to turn away to watch their steps. Evan. Matthew. Ronon. She turned, circled, ran her hands on Niko's chest. Took his hands and ran them over her breasts. Darted back before he could grab. She laughed. Ran her hands along her hips. Fingers sliding to her crotch before drawing away, a teasing motion. She turned. "John!" she scolded. "Go! Now!"
"I'm enjoying the show, Moira," he retorted, watching every move she made.
"Go! I'll be right behind you. Promise." She turned back to Niko, hummed. "Niko eso," she moaned.
John backed up the slope, forcing himself to move. To step. But he couldn't stop watching. "Moira," he said, his voice sounding hoarse.
She sashayed around Niko, deliberately swinging her hips, sticking out her rear, arching her back to cup her breasts. "Eso, eso," she whimpered in longing. Turned. Blushed. "Damn it, John"! Saw his hand sliding unconsciously down to his crotch. "You're as bad as they are! Go!"
John jerked his hand away, grinned with embarrassment. "Damn, Moira, you...lots of eso," he teased. Turned and climbed the ridge.
She smiled, turned back to dance around the leader. Hummed. Stroked. Waited. Waited.
"Sir?" Evan asked, looking past him.
"She's coming, major. Give her a second." John looked back down the ridge, trapping the laughter his words had inadvertently produced. "We're all coming," he muttered. "Moira!"
Moira stopped, scrambled as the leader grabbed at her. Ripped part of the bottom of her shirt. The fabric's damp threads parted easily as he yanked. "No eso!" She kicked at his crotch. Niko squealed, doubled over in pain. She whirled, ran.
"Moira!" John called, began to head down the ridge.
"Go! Go! Jump!" she shouted, racing into view. A tremendous cacophony erupted behind her.
"Go! Jump!" John ordered, stepping up the ridge.
"Jump!" Moira shouted, running towards John. The horde followed, screaming.
"Get down!" John shouted. As Moira dove for cover he fired into the surging mob. "Moira!"
She scrambled to her feet. "Jump!" she shouted, crashing into him.
John grabbed her, pivoted, threw them over the edge. They fell, fell. Hit the water. John loosened his grip, pushed them up, up towards the surface. They broke the water, gasping and spitting. John eyed the ridge. It was lined with the mutants.
"Sir! Here! Moira!" Evan beckoned.
"John! Come on!" Moira pulled his arm. They swam towards the ground. Were pulled out of the water. "Evan, can you find the–"
"This way!" Evan led them through a maze of broken masonry. Through the thick, at times impenetrable moss. The ground vibrated under their feet. "Moira."
She stepped next to Evan. A rocky outcropping surrounded an array of crystals. Glowing in bright colors. "Listen." There was a faint hum. "I can almost hear it. Just below our auditory threshold."
"Ancient tech. But very...old. Old-fashioned," Matthew commented.
"What's powering it?" Ronon asked, circling it. "I don't see a ZPM."
"We need to get back to the Jumper," John said, brushing past them. "This isn't important right now. We need to–"
"No!" Moira grabbed his arm, but she was too late. John's fingers brushed the device. The vibrations stopped. The lights dimmed. Went out with a flash. "Oh oh."
"What?" John asked.
"Turn it back on!" Matthew urged.
John touched it. Nothing. He smacked it. "What did I–"'
"You just turned off the only thing keeping those enzyme-addled cavemen relatively sane! Good going, flyboy!" she scolded.
"What? How–"
"The auditory hum! We can't hear it, but they can. It probably controls the worsening side effects of the enzyme!" she explained.
"In other words, sir, you just set loose a rampaging horde of cavemen," Evan translated.
"Crap," John noted.
Ronon laughed. "So, now what?" He glanced around. Heard the abrupt increase in sound. In pure animal rage. Incoherency. "They're coming from all over."
Matthew fiddled with the crystals. "It's dead. The ATA gene triggered its release."
"Good work, colonel," Moira acerbically commented. Hands on hips.
"Look, I didn't know! I–" he argued.
Moira turned. "All right, boys. These cavemen are going to be experiencing increased adrenaline surges. They'll be faster, more bloodthirsty. But we're smarter. Most of us." She glanced at John. Before he could protest she resumed. "They have heightened senses, so we'll have to rely on stealth."
"I already said that!" John argued.
"And silence," she continued, ignoring him. "This way." She began to stride through the ruins.
"Sir?" Evan asked, trying not to laugh.
John sighed. "You heard the jungle queen. Ronon, on six. Lorne, point. Parrish, middle. Go." John darted ahead, caught sight of Moira. "Hey! Jungle queen! Hey, your highness!"
She whirled. "What? What is it now?"
He shoved her against a stone wall. Kissed her. Pulled back. "Just asserting my claim." He flashed a grin.
She shoved him. "Men! Come on!"
"I'll lead–"
"You've done enough!" she snapped. "Somebody's got to save our skins."
"After you, your worshipfulness," John replied. "Chewie, step it up!" he called over his shoulder. The grunting echoed. Louder. "Run! Moira, run! Come on!" he shouted.
Moira ran, leading them out of the city, into a waterfall. They dove through the curtain of water into a cave.
John stopped. "Go! Go!" He pushed Matthew into the cave. "Ronon!"
Ronon whirled, firing his gun. "Go! They're right on our tail! Thirty or forty! Ravening things! Moira better know what's she doing!"
"That makes two of us! Go!" John fired , crouching as Ronon passed him. Darting into the cave. He stared at the advancing menace.
"Sheppard!"
John fired, spun, ran after Ronon. Climbed after him. Bullets zinged. Something sliced into his arm but he kept going. Slipped. Fell.
"John! John!" Moira yelled. She beckoned as he looked up, up the cliff. "Move your ass!"
He smiled. "That's my fine, fine ass," he corrected. Began to climb. Ronon fired as did Evan, covering him. As he reached the top Ronon hauled him over the side. "Go! Go!" he ordered.
He shoved Moira ahead of him. They ran out of the cave, whirled.
"Push the rock! The rock!" Moira shouted. The men rolled an enormous boulder over the opening. Effectively blocking it, at least temporarily. Matthew collapsed , exhausted. Ronon checked the perimeter, gun at the ready. Evan leaned against the rock, catching his breath. John stepped to sit in the shade. Winced as he checked his arm. Blood flowed. Moira moved to him, ripped his sleeve open at the shoulder.
"Hey! You could at least buy a guy a drink first."
She smiled, wiped the blood with a clump of moss. "Analgesic, remember? Don't eat it. Looks like the bullet went straight through."
"Good. Ow!" He winced at her probing.
Moira tore a strip off her ripped shirt, shortening it yet again. She bound the injury. "Too tight?"
"No...not nearly enough," John commented, eyes on her breasts as the wet fabric clung. Molded to her. He met her scowl, smiled. "I'm fine, Moira. Don't you worry," he assured quietly.
Moira stepped to Ronon. "What do you think?"
Ronon frowned. "It will take days to reach the higher ground. The Jumper is way over there," he pointed to the distance. "Lots of climbing. Those things know the terrain better than we do."
"We need allies," she realized, scanning the foliage.
"We need ammo. We're almost out," Evan complained.
"We need a plan." John moved to his feet. He joined Moira, looking round the greenery. "If you don't mind?"
She snorted. "Be my guest, colonel."
He smiled. Stood surveying the terrain. "Allies. You're thinking of the caves?"
"Yes. I don't think they'd harm us." She frowned. "Me. They might perceive you as a threat. All of you," she noted, gaze encompassing the men as they gathered round.
"All right, jungle queen. Over there," John pointed up a mossy slope. "Cave entrance." He glanced back. The noise of their pursuers was getting closer. Louder. Sounds of pure incoherent rage. Disturbingly the rock blocking the cave was moving slightly. "Crap. Let's go. Lorne, flank. Ronon, six. I'll take point. Moira, go. Parrish, behind me."
They began to climb the ridge again, catching vines to avoid falling. Drenched with water and then sweat they persisted as the sun beat down upon them. Unrelenting. The moss was slick under their feet. There was a tremendous crashing noise, then a roar of rage.
"Sheppard! They're through!" Ronon shouted.
"Double-time, now!" John ordered. They climbed faster, catching each other before they fell. Clambered past a waterfall, darted under the next. Into a dark cave.
"Stop!" Moira halted them as their P90 lights hit multiple eyes. Reflecting a yellowish gleam. Skeletal figures cringing. Growling. Moira waved the men behind her. Advanced slowly. "It's all right, we won't hurt you," she soothed. Speaking softly. "We need your help. Hear them? Bad men come." She pointed towards the cave entrance. The mutants' roaring reverberations could be heard. "Help us, please."
"Moira, hurry," John urged. "We can't hold this position."
"Oh? I thought you could hold any position, John. Being a colonel and all," she added, smiling at him briefly. Ronon laughed.
"I've only got one clip left, sir," Evan informed. "If you go on I'll hold them off."
"Negative. We all go. Moira?"
"Yes, yes." She turned. "Follow me. Keep your weapons lowered. No aggressive motions." She eyed the men. Nodded. "Go...go..." Moira followed the creatures. The men exchanged suspicious, disbelieving glances, followed her. "Train your lights on the ground. It hurts their eyes," she instructed, treading carefully over the uneven rocks.
"Moira, we're going down. We need to be going up," John cautioned.
"Patience, John. We'll go up soon enough," she assured.
"After going down?" he asked, "Because I really, really like that, you know," he teased. The edge to his voice made her glance at him. He smiled, raised a brow.
She frowned. "Dial down the testosterone," she warned.
"Eso, baby," he taunted, unable to resist.
"Shut up, John. River to cross."
"Okay. Lorne?"
Evan approached. "No hostiles yet, sir."
"Good. Let's go."
Moira carefully crossed the water. It was cold. She followed the skeletal creatures. "This way? Okay. Thank you." She glanced over her shoulder. John was on her heels, stomping through the water. "See? Up." They began a slow ascent.
"I hear water," Evan remarked.
"Keep moving," John advised. A second later he sprinted ahead as they emerged into another cavern. "Wait!" He caught Moira's arm. The creatures scattered at his sudden movement.
"John!"
"Ssh!" He held up his free hand, halting the men behind him. Water poured down at the opening, a loud cacophony. Sunlight glittered brightly on the liquid. Creating miniature rainbows. "Head out. Slowly."
Moira darted under the water. Out onto a precarious ledge. She started down. Dusk was rapidly falling. A violet hue blotted the sky. Lightning flashed. She slipped but John caught her arm.
"Stop." He scanned the area. Turned. "It will be dark in one hour. We can't risk traveling in this terrain. We'll hole up in that cave. It's a good defensible position. Parrish, are any of these fruits edible?"
Matthew moved to examine the luscious bounty hanging from the trees. "Yes, colonel. Several are. Excellent sources of protein and water."
"Good. Let's gather what we can, and some water. Looks like we get to spend the night."