The Cynical Soldier
Chapter 3 – Issue 2
Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon left the mess. As they walked through the halls of Atlantis they saw that word was already spreading.
Many still thought of McKay as a spiteful and petty man but not one of them failed to realise the man was responsible for saving their lives more than once. A fact easily forgotten in his presence yet magnified in his absence. Many had questioned their chances of prolonged survival since news of his death.
It was taken as granted McKay would be back as good as new, he had survived against the odds so many times, no one seemed to doubt it. General consensus was all McKay needed it seemed was breath in his body and a thought in his head. No one appeared brave enough to ask out loud why two months had already passed.
In the two months since his death McKay's name had been used as if made of fragile glass to be handled delicately and sparingly and spoken tentatively in their presence as though they would break at the sound of it. The braver members of the expedition came on tenderfoot, nervous about approaching the people who felt his loss more than most, and asked if it was true.
Sheppard had nodded and stated with a tight smile, "We can't reach him for another month, but yes he's alive," torn between not wanting to give them false hope and wanting to give them something. Maybe it was because Teyla knew him better than most but no one questioned the blandness of his voice or how the euphoria had left his eyes. All the visitors sighed deep and contented in relief as they turned and left, light footed and sure.
Teyla had watched Sheppard closely during each exchange, watched him grow quieter and more thoughtful at each one. Now as they walked through the hallways, it was Teyla who breached their quiet thoughts.
"They believe he will return alive."
Sheppard nodded in response. Ronon glanced between them but sensing she had more to say remained quiet, returning his gaze to the hallway ahead.
"You do not," Teyla stated. Her words were unusually hard and tinged with anger bringing Ronon's attention back to them to watch with open curiosity. Sheppard had grimaced at her words and now scanned the hallways.
"Not here," he said softly. "I don't want to take this away from them."
Teyla nodded but the lines of her body remained tense. They reached the Military Conference room with its smooth walls of midnight blue, unbroken by windows, with earth tables of yellow beige, flooded with spotlights in the ceiling.
Sheppard locked the doors after they entered. "I'm not saying this won't occur to the others but just in case I want to keep this just between us, those who know McKay best."
Teyla and Ronon exchanged glances as they took their seats. Sheppard paced in front of them before turning to face them. "I'm happy he's alive… hell I'm ecstatic," he huffed a laugh as a smile spread over his face which Teyla and Ronon returned but remained silent. He leant on the table, palms spread and arms locked straight.
His eyes roved, searching out the words he couldn't find as the smile melted away to be replaced by frustration. "We don't know what they've done to Mckay and it may be nothing but," he looked intently into their eyes, "he's been missing for two months now."
He pushed himself away from the table in frustration and anger. "They're selling him as a soldier for god's sake. I mean this is McKay we're talking about. For that to happen they would have needed to change him, and I'm worried about how much."
"He fights with us," Ronon grumbled.
"That's different and you already know it is. Sure he'll fire a gun but only if he has to, only to protect us and yeah he can be a pretty dangerous guy but he lacks that killer instinct. He does only what's needed to protect us and Atlantis, nothing more. He uses science not guns. You know he's not the soldier they're advertising and we have to face the fact that the man we rescue may not be the McKay we know."
Sheppard took a seat opposite them and looked between the two of them as he spoke. "What if they've messed with his mind, brainwashed him or something? He's been missing so long."
"I've seen enemies fail to keep him time and time again. What if he's changed so much he doesn't know us anymore? If he thinks we're the enemy we may not be able to hold him long enough to fix him, not to mention all that genius directed at us. People forget how dangerous he can be."
"So what do you suggest?" Teyla asked. "Are you saying we should not bring him back to Atlantis?" Scepticism tinged her normally balanced voice.
"That's just it," Sheppard stressed, looking from one to the other. "He loves Atlantis and if anything can reach him it's her. Even if he doesn't remember us, I can't believe Atlantis can't reach him."
"But did you not say it could be dangerous to bring him here. Dr Weir would not risk Atlantis, even for Rodney," Teyla stated gently.
"That's why we shouldn't tell her," Sheppard said warily as he watched them. "We're considered experts on McKay and if we say we think he's safe, if we all agree then…" Sheppard shrugged, watching them.
"But did you not say Dr Weir and Dr Beckett knew Rodney before you?" Teyla asked.
"They've known him longer, from before Atlantis, but he's changed a lot and although they've read the reports I don't think they've contemplated those changes or comprehend just how dangerous he could be. I don't think they will even consider McKay a danger but if they do, if it comes up then we need to be agreed we can convince them otherwise."
"And you think we should," Ronon asked, before shrugging. "Don't get me wrong. Personally I don't see a problem, I never had trouble dealing with McKay before but if you really think he can be dangerous should we really bring him back."
Sheppard looked at him hard. "Don't underestimate him Ronon, I've seen far to many of our enemies make that mistake. I almost did it myself. Trust me, his mind more than compensates for his lack of fighting capabilities. If I'm bringing him back to Atlantis I need you to see the danger here."
Sheppard looked from one to the other. "I know it might be dangerous but I believe it's our only option if we want McKay back." He leant forwards, voice turning earnest. "But he can't be forced. We have to make sure it's one of us that talks to him first. I think we've got the best chance of reaching him. If we can convince him to return without force then he won't be dangerous. As long as he's not forced into a corner he should be safe."
Silence fell over them to be broken by Ronon. "And if we can't convince him?"
Sheppard visibly deflated. "I just don't know." His voice was heavy with defeat. Eventually he leant back in his chair with a sigh. "Well, we've got a month to think of a plan B." He shrugged with a brittle smile. "There's always the hope that he's still the same and they haven't changed him at all." It was clear from his voice that he didn't believe a word of it. McKay had been gone too long not to remain unaffected one way or another and they all knew it.
He took a deep breath and leant forward. "We'd best call Lorne to join us so we can discuss the rescue mission. We can talk about these things another time, just so long as we're agreed that McKay will not be a danger to Atlantis if it comes up." He raised a questioning eyebrow to which Ronon and Teyla responded nodding with determination. They would stand by their teammate, whatever happened.
Sheppard relief was visible as he grinned, raising a hand to his ear, "Sheppard to Lorne."
"Yes, Sir?"
"We're in the mission room, can you join us?"
"Yes, Sir, got the all clear from the Doc, just finishing up in the mess hall so I can be there in ten minutes, unless you want me to come straight away, Sir?" Lorne enquired.
"No, that's fine. See you in ten." Sheppard signed off and leant forward again. "Thank you," he said softly. "I know he means as much to you, but I also know what I'm asking you to risk…"
Teyla placed her hand on top of Sheppard's, smiling. "I cannot believe McKay would harm Atlantis, that even with a killer instinct he would kill indiscriminately so I agree. If I am asked, I will say he is safe."
Ronon looked from one to the other. "He would do no less for me. If asked, I will say he's safe."
Sheppard nodded, grinning. It seemed with this agreed a weight was lifted from his shoulders that enabled him to revel in the earlier euphoria. "I still can't quite believe it, McKay alive."
Teyla's return smile was radiant and Ronon's wolfish grin broad.
Sheppard unlocked the doors and the readied the room for the discussions ahead. They had just connected the main view screen when Lorne arrived. Sheppard indicated the chair in front of the laptop which was connected to the screen. As Lorne sat down, Teyla, Ronon and Sheppard fell into chairs around him.
"Where do you want to start, Sir?" Lorne asked.
"Until we know if Zelenka can get us closer by space or if we will be using their stargate there is not a lot we can plan. I think we should start by listing all possible scenarios and dangers we might encounter on the planet. We can then spend the next month finding 'fixes' for the list, finalising a list of supplies and the personnel required. Agreed?"
They all nodded and proceeded to do just that. It quickly became clear that they would have to include Zelenka in their next meeting as a lot of suspected problems would require technical 'fixes'.
At 17:00 Lorne received word from Parrish. He was just getting the all clear at the infirmary and he would be there in fifteen minutes. They continued with the list but with a distracted air, each trying to second guess the information Parrish would bring. The fifteen minutes dragged an eternity, not helped by the constant clock watching.
Eventually, Parrish arrived. He came into the room with a spring in his step.
"What did you find out?" Sheppard asked as soon as he was through the door, indicating a chair as he said so.
Parrish sat down. "Nothing more on McKay or the auctions but I found the name of a previous buyer that would be willing to talk to us. I told them we weren't convinced about the 'quality' of the goods being sold.
"I've been given a name, Sangerra Malenda. They purchased a bodyguard that is still in their 'possession'," the last word dripping with disdain. "At the very least we might be able to learn more about the race and their defences, at best I am hoping we can actually speak to the bodyguard to find out their procedures, training, anything that gives us an idea of what they're doing to McKay and where he will be held during the auction."
"Well done, Parrish. When do we visit this Malenda character?" asked Sheppard.
"I have to go back tomorrow to find out. I have stressed the earlier the better."
"You've done well, Parrish. Why don't you go get something to eat in the Mess?" Sheppard said with a smile.
"If it's all the same, Colonel, I'd like to help."
Sheppard smiled warmly. "We won't be doing anymore today. In view of what you've said, we're better waiting till we know more. One more thing before we finish for the night though."
Parrish looked at him questioningly.
"Thank you for finding him," he said softly. Ronon clapped Parrish on the shoulder with a wide grin that lit up his eyes as Teyla reached out to place a hand on his, "Yes, thank you."
Parrish blushed as he replied. "Just right place, right time. I'm just glad one of us was there, the thought this auction could have proceeded without us ever knowing. He could have ended up anywhere."
"Well, the only place McKay is going to end up is home, here in Atlantis," Sheppard stated, to be answered by smiles and determined nods.
"Now, as we can't really go any further till tomorrow we may as well discuss tomorrow's mission instead and then I'll go report to Dr. Weir."
They got down to business, discussing staff and supplies for the return trip to the planet. Eventually, with everything finalised Sheppard left to meet Elizabeth to get the all clear for the mission.
Cont/d…..