The Cynical Soldier

Chapter Two

Lorne took a step closer to the table, nodding to Sheppard as he took a seat and turned to Weir to issue his report.

"We arrived at the trading post and as our information detailed there was a market. Webegan trading for the things we agreed upon. It was going fine, they had everything we needed and it was all going smoothly."

He turned and reached out for one of the parchments pulling it to him and rubbing it between his thumb and forefingers.

"Parrish saw this nailed to what seemed like a central notice board, he just stood there staring at it. We all moved over to see what had affected him…" Lorne shook his head. "I've been looking at this for over an hour now and I still can't quite believe it. To start with I thought it might be some sort of wanted poster or some thing out of date from before..."

He sighed before continuing. "As you can see, it's an advert for an auction of a soldier." He waved a hand over the others on the table, "we found more around the town, nailed to taverns, shops and such. We asked around and apparently this race is well known for selling people well trained in the art of war. From the sounds of it they sell Ninja type's which people purchase and use as bodyguards or to make an army or even as a single assassin to carry out their dirty work.

I know McKay doesn't fall into that category but," he shook his head again in disbelief as he stared at the image looking back at him, he swept a hand over the parchment, "that's definitely him. They say that the notices appeared two months ago. Apparently, these appear three months before the auction. They only sell soldiers through an auction and their gate is only available during the times specified by this," he finished as he raised the parchment with one hand.

"We need to check the address, now, and see if it's accessible." Sheppard stated and there was steel in his voice.

"We already tried from the planet, Sir. No access. We tried to find out where the planet was in the hopes that we could reach it by space but no-one there knew. I thought maybe there was a chance that we might find something in the database if I brought this back. The rest of my team are still on the planet, trying to find out if there is anything we missed. They are under orders to report back today, in four hours, I'll notify you if they find anything new."

Sheppard turned to Weir. "If we go back to the planet where we thought he… you know… maybe we might find a clue there. It's obvious that it was a trap, maybe we can find something in the DHD there that will give us access to their gate."

"Colonel, we now know that McKay was not killed in that explosion. However, until today we were totally convinced that he had. We are talking about technology we know nothing about or an illusion that was beyond our comprehension. Either way, they fooled us once and took someone from right under our noses. I am sorry, but until we know more about them, at least where they live, I cannot and will not give them the chance to do so again."

Weir turned to Teyla and Ronon, "Have either of you heard of these people before?"

Ronon shook his head, "I didn't leave Sateda much and while I was running I didn't interact with other people. I only took note of what the planet could give me to keep me alive."

Weir nodded and looked to Teyla who was shaking her head. "We never had a need for the things they offer. I have heard of some planets that trade in people but we never ventured there or had anything to do with people who did. I can give you a list of planets I know of that trade in slaves but I would recommend against visiting such planets without a strong contingent of soldiers. These people have no thought for an individual's rights and we could easily find ourselves the object of unwanted attention."

Weir nodded, "Then we will have to hope that the Ancient's database comes up with something. I will notify Zelenka and ask him to look for anything that might give us some information. I am afraid that all we can do now is to wait until the auction, unless Parrish finds something. I suggest, Colonel that you use that time to plan for anything."

She rose from her chair, taking one of the parchments with her. As she left, Sheppard could hear her asking Zelenka to meet her in her office. He looked up as he heard Lorne standing, "I'd best go get my all clear, I'll be in the infirmary if you need me, Sir," Lorne said, nodding to Sheppard.

Sheppard could only nod in acknowledgement before looking down at the parchment that had never moved from under his hand. He carefully peeled his hand aside as if scared the image would have gone or changed. He looked down at the image of Dr. Rodney McKay, deceased until an hour ago.

"He's alive," whispered Teyla, her voice slightly breathless with excitement and disbelief.

Sheppard raised his eyebrows and nodded. What could you say when there were no words to describe the emotions, far too many emotions. They had been on stand down for the last month at Heightmeyers insistence so they could deal with their loss. Neither of them had been able to.

Silence killed them, reminded them he wasn't there. Ronon had talked more in the last month than he had in the last year and John was sure it was to cover the unbearable silence. Every time they ate, they remembered his love of food. Atlantis was here and working because of McKay's work. Everything, everywhere reminded them that Dr Rodney McKay had died on their watch and there was nothing they could do to bring him back… except… now there was.

"We've got a second chance. This time we're bringing him home alive. We can't take anything at face value. I want scanners, puddle jumpers, everything." He glanced at the two of them and they were both nodding with determination.

Sheppard looked down at the image and smiled. "One month and Atlantis won't be so quiet anymore." He didn't need to look at the other two to see their smiles.

"Let's go get an early lunch and then we can start planning," Sheppard said as he stood. "Lorne should be finished by then."

They walked through the halls to the Mess without feeling the world crashing in on them and for the first time in two months they ate without it feeling like a wake and without the food turning to ash on their tongues.

****************

Rodney sat on his haunches, just within the shadows of the cave. His eyes shone out of the darkness, hard and alert, as he listened to the surrounding forest.

His muscles on edge, ready to push him into action if needed. He could hear the rain falling through the trees, leaves moving from the weight of the water. His head rotated silently causing the light to move across his face.

His eyes narrowed in concentration as he filtered the natural sounds of the wildlife moving amongst the foliage. There. His movements froze as his eyes flicked to a point in the panorama before him.

A scream broke through, bloodcurdling and full of fear and cut short. A smile seeped onto his face but did not seem connected to the shine in his eyes. He rose silently and sauntered to the mouth of the cave. See how I return the gifts you gave me. He snorted. I hope you took time to appreciate my modifications before you died.

He glanced to the rear of the cave to ensure the tools he had procured from those he had killed up close were hidden from view before he turned and sprinted into the forest. The surroundings embraced him as he moved amongst the trees, sprinting easily and silently through the half shadows.

He headed towards the clearing he had prepared. He changed the way he moved and suddenly he left a trail of wreckage and noises that echoed behind him. He left a clear trail to follow through the clearing and with another change to his movements he fell silent again as he exited the glade. Moving through the forest like a ghost he reached his destination and using his strong arms he pulled himself up into the tree, pulling up the rope behind him. He flexed his left hand, checking the minor injury, before he took hold of the guide ropes in each hand and waited.

He saw the two remaining hunters move cautiously into the clearing, they were twitchy. He sneered at their jarring nerves, clear even from the distance that he watched them from. They crept into the clearing with rifles sighted and held in an iron grip as they swept the rifles around the glade. Every three or four sweeps the blonde one on the right would cast a quick glance to the floor to check the trail that Rodney had left.

Every step forward was pre-empted by a wide sweeping arc of the foot to clear the brush aside to see the ground beneath before they stepped to it. They had learnt that dead leaves could hide your death.

Jumpy much Gentlemen. Half his mouth raised in an ugly sneer as he tightened his grip on the ropes watching intently. Suddenly he pulled hard on the rope in his right hand and listened as it tugged the pin loose down in the glade. In the blink of an eye the two soldiers watched the pin snake out of the clearing which meant the blonde man didn't see his death till the last second.

The sprung loaded branch, now released, flew from where it had been hidden in the ground, tearing through the fragile camouflage that had hidden it so well. It whistled as it travelled through the air stopping with a reverberating jolt as the lethal spike at its apex drove into the mans chest, pushing life out. There was no scream, just a shuddering shocked gasp as he hung dying.

Rodney watched the man's dark haired colleague freeze in shock at the sudden attack. Nothing moved, even the forest around them fell silent in anticipation that was almost palpable. Just the gentle thum, thum of the rain fell in the background.

The dark haired man took a staggering step forward and then, realising the danger, he froze throwing a quick exploratory look to the ground, searching for the signs of a second device. Only a lazy mind repeats itself, Rodney thought sardonically.

He watched as the man approached his dying friend and slowly edged round, "Scansa?" His friend's name he presumed as the man's voice echoed through the glade. The blonde's eyes flittered open to show slithers of blue and a wet, bubbling moan escaped his lips as a little blood fell down his chin.

The dark haired man gave a hunted look in all directions and Rodney could see the fear in his wide eyes as he looked in his direction before looking back at his friend. He watched as the man slung his rifle over his shoulder and grabbed his friend by the shoulders. "I am sorry, Scansa." The words should have been a whisper but with nothing to drown them out the words carried easily to Rodney who watched the whole scene with cold eyes.

The black haired man pushed hard forcing his friend off the spike, pain forcing his friend to throw his own head back, screaming in agony against the sky as the rain fell gently around them. He spun his friend quickly supporting him and started to make his way out of the glade by the exact spot they had entered following a path he knew to be safe.

Rodney was in no doubt that the man remembered there had only been one trap set each time so far. He watched carefully as the man led his friend from the clearing. Just as he passed the last tree Rodney pulled the rope on his left with all his strength. The man froze as the sound of the pin being released echoed loudly, and that was his second mistake. The first was continuing after the first man was killed.

A heavy arm came swinging down, gravity giving it speed as it slammed both men into the trunk behind them before he had even managed to release his friend. Pinned in place he was unable to reach his rifle, still slung over his shoulder. He struggled against the bar that held him but it was stuck fast, pushing precious air from his chest and lungs.

Rodney scrambled down and jogged to the edge of the clearing, making sure that their missing numbers had not been replaced. After making sure these were the last of them he advanced across the glade.

He ignored the pale blonde who was already living life on borrowed time. He kept his cold gaze on the dark haired man pinned in place, who had frozen as he advanced. The terror in the man was clear and only intensified as Rodney leant in close with hatred and murder in the lines of his face. In cold, crisp notes of hate he asked, "Who am I?"

Cont/d……