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Rodney couldn't help but squeal as he covered his face protectively with his arms. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, waiting for the blade to pierce his skin. When the blow never came, Rodney couldn't help but crack open an eye. There before him the man stood still, his arms still above his head. His eyes were wide as he looked down at the scientist, surprise written into his expression. As the man became to slant forwards, Rodney hastily shuffled away, letting him fall soundlessly to the ground. Rodney stared at the unmoving form of the soldier, only now noticing the large arrow which stuck out of his back. Teyla stood a short distance away, a bow in her hand.

"Teyla!" he shouted happily, getting to his feet. "I have never been so happy to see you!"

Teyla glanced at him with a stern expression and pulled a knife from her belt. "Here" was all she said before running in to battle.

Rodney looked helplessly down at the blade in his hand and swallowed hard.

Looking up, he watched as Teyla took on yet another soldier. Rodney stood still, watching as the two continued their brutal attacks. She ducked under the man's arm and hit him square in the back, causing him to falter. He swung his arm forcefully around again, but Teyla had seen it coming. Grabbing his bicep and shoulder, she chopped viscously at his exposed neck causing him to drop to his knees. With out a hesitation, she slammed the heel of her hand into his back, watching as he fell forward to the floor. Stealing the knife that still lay unused in the man's sheath, Teyla started off again, rage fuelling her. Rodney stared at the two lifeless bodies of the guards on the floor, the sound of the battle going on around him slowly growing mute. Swallowing hard, he extinguished the fear that was growing inside of him. Raising the knife he ran in to battle, shouting the best battle cry he could.

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Jennifer was the first to admit that she wasn't good at certain things, and being forced in to battle with an army of highly trained killers was one of them. Being careful as to not attract unwanted attention, she shuffled across the Athosian settlement finding refuge behind a fallen cart. She sighed and looked out over the mayhem that now took hold of the usually peaceful village. Peering over the top of the cart, Jennifer saw a man with his head bleeding laying unconscious a short distance away. Swallowing hard Jennifer stood, and true to her nature, crept over to him. Inspecting the wound on his head she let out a sigh. Heavy hands on her shoulder made her turn round, gasping in horror. A soldier towered over her, his helmet missing. His small eyes looked down at her through faceless features. His black hair was glued to his head with sweat and his skin was covered with cuts, dirt and blood. Jennifer whimpered. He struck her to the ground, causing her to cry out. A cloud of dust jumped up in the air, blinding her. Squinting through the brown haze, she could faintly see the glint of the man's knife as it came down. She grabbed his hand, forcing it away from her face. The knife was so close to her face she could feel the tip of it caress her face. Closing her eyes she tried with all her might to push the knife away, but the man's strength outweighed her own. Feeling the muscles in her arms quivering she turned her face away. Suddenly the man was tackled to the ground and Keller shot up, her head shooting to the side. There she saw the man and Teyla struggling for the knife, fighting furiously, against one another. Finally getting the upper hand, Teyla got to her feet, the knife held tightly in one hand. The man jumped to his feet, too, and rushed towards the Athosion, Teyla sidestepped and hit him hard on the back, sending him falling with a loud clash to the floor. With the sound of battle dying down behind them, Teyla took the time to pick her friend up. Jennifer glanced at her wide eyed, shaking.

"Are you unharmed?" she asked calmly. Keller nodded her head and swallowed. Teyla inspected the knife still held tightly in her palm, frowning.

"What is it?" Jennifer asked.

"These solders, they are Luminati… we have no quarrel with them. What could they possibly want with us?" Teyla replied, lost in her musings. A loud battle-like cry erupted from behind her, causing her to turn on her heel. Teyla's eyes went wide with fear and surprise as the solder she had just 'defeated' charged towards her, his weapon raised high above his head. Inhaling a sharp breath, Teyla raised her own weapon, but the solder had already brought his weapon down, tackling her to the floor. Jennifer stared at the tangle of limbs on the ground, her eyes wide.

For a moment everything lay still, nothing but the distant sounds of battle going on behind them. Jennifer took a shaky step forward, reaching out with trembling hands.

"Teyla," she called softly. Again, the two stayed motionless. "Teyla?" the doctor called again stepping closer. A grunt of effort broke the silence as Teyla pushed the man off from top of her, exposing the knife she left embedded in his chest. Keller sighed a breath of relief and ran to the Athosian's side, helping her to her feet. Dusting herself off, Teyla nodded her thanks. Jennifer smiled back grimly. In that instant the sound of something ripping through flesh could be heard. Teyla watched in horror as Keller fell to the ground, a large arrow, pointing from her chest.

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As the night drew to a depressing end, Athos was left strewn with rubble. Huts had been burned to the floor, crops destroyed and lives taken. The sign of the new morning arrived as the sun shone over the mountaintops, bringing with it a new brightness. Choking smoke touched the heavens, a fleeting reminder of the night before. A white blanket of frost covered the trampled grass and a haze of mist lingered in the air. Athos was silent. John scanned the remains of the small village; it was empty, barren and bare. He watched as the Athosians scavenged what was left of their home, helping the wounded and mourning the lost. The bodies of Athosians and soldiers lay scattered across the floor, children's toys left discarded in the dirt and small fires kept burning the now insignificant rubble of the village. With the sight becoming too much to bear, John closed his eyes and turned away. He opened his eyes in time to see Ronon, Rodney and Lorne coming towards him. Following them was a small girl - the same one that had been sitting with them at dinner hours before the attack. Her face no longer held the wide smile, nor did it hold the brightness like before. Tears streamed down her pale face as her small hand was held in Ronon's large one.

"Sheppard, we can't find Teyla or Keller," Ronon said, his voice rough.

"Here," came a small tired voice from behind them. Teyla appeared from behind a mountain of hay. They could see her face, hands and shirt were stained with blood as she got closer to them.

"Jesus Christ!" John shouted, grabbing her arm lightly. She pulled out of his grasp and looked at the three with a sad expression.

"What is it?" Rodney asked,

Teyla sniffed. "Its Jennifer