The Other Side of the Story: John's Point of View
Interlude 2: And how reliable are these contacts?
"Thank you for sending my team Sir," I spoke to General Landry via my mobile a short while later. Rodney was still tapping away, trying to get a likely heading for Sabina ... until he did there was nothing the rest of us could do except hover around him, trying not to look impatient.
"I figured you could use the backup," Landry returned. "Just keep an eye on Ronon and Teyla – we wouldn't want an intergalactic incident and neither of them is used to Earth customs."
"Of course Sir," I smiled in spite of the seriousness of the current situation, well able to imagine what sort of incident Ronon would be responsible for. "McKay's tracing the signal before it was lost, trying to extrapolate a likely heading. We need to figure out who's responsible for this ... McKay mentioned the Trust."
"This is certainly within their usual modus operandi," Landry admitted. "I'll speak with our NID contact, Agent Barrett. He'll know whether the Trust has been active lately. We should have something for you within a few hours."
"Thank you Sir," I replied gratefully.
"I understand the personal element here Colonel," Landry said seriously. "For that reason alone I know how driven you'll be to resolve this quickly. But don't forget Sabina has information that represents a significant threat to national security – the longer it takes to find her the more risk there'll be negative fallout from this. I trust you'll do what's required to see that doesn't happen."
"Understood," I replied reluctantly before signing off. I stood for a moment, staring into space as I contemplated the implications. I wasn't happy with the suggestion Sabina might be put at risk to get a quick resolution ... but I guess the fact I was still on the case despite my very personal connection was something to be grateful for. Not that I would have let them take me off the case but that was a whole can of worms I was glad not to have to open.
"Is everything all right John?" Teyla put a hand on my arm to draw my attention back to her.
"General Landry just pointed out that Sabina's a walking threat to national security," I said grimly. "He didn't say it explicitly but the message was pretty clear. We've got free reign to do whatever it takes to get her back before whoever's got her finds out more than they bargained for."
"I've got it," Rodney's announcement drew everyone's attention instantly.
Teyla and I moved to look over his shoulder as he explained what he'd found. "The Apollo picked up a few seconds of movement before the signal cut out. Coupled with the point of origin here and taking into account probabilities based on frequency of route the most likely destination is Denver."
"Okay, let's check out the road between here and there, see if we can pick up any clues," I motioned for the others to follow me, waiting impatiently while Rodney packed up his gear, and then leading them to the car park.
It was a confusion of motion before finally I had us all in the car and heading off down Highway 87 towards Denver.
"Why do I have to sit in the back?" Rodney complained, despite the fact that Teyla was back there with him.
"You don't want to turn your back on me McKay," Ronon advised with an amused grin.
"Yeah right," Rodney muttered. "We're on Earth Conon – this is my home turf and your Wraith killing skills aren't quite as valuable here."
"Rodney," I ground out impatiently. "Why don't you concentrate on letting me know when we get to the last place Sabina's signal registered?"
"Fine," Rodney muttered, bringing up the laptop readings and comparing them to our GPS numbers. Silence reigned for a few minutes until Rodney called out "We're close enough, pull over here."
The spot Rodney brought us to had my heart sinking as we all got out of the car. There was no turn off road, no structures in the distance, nothing that would suggest a reason for bringing Sabina this way.
"There's nothing here," I muttered, turning to stare back down the highway.
"There might be nothing significant about these coordinates," Rodney reminded me. "It may have taken this long from the airport for them to, you know, remove or otherwise disable Sabina's transmitter."
"So we're no closer to finding her," I concluded grimly.
"Sheppard," Ronon called me over to his position, pointing out what looked like fresh tire tracks in the dirt. "Someone parked here."
"And that's significant because?" Rodney asked sarcastically.
"Because when they were done they headed back that way," and Ronon pointed back the way we'd just come.
"So not Denver then," I felt the anger rising inside as the meaning became clear. "They could be anywhere – including another state if they went back to the airport."
"Um ... I guess," Rodney said miserably.
"Okay, let's head back to the SGC," I decided abruptly.
Teyla and Ronon reacted immediately by taking their former places in the car but Rodney hesitated, waiting for me to move first.
"I shouldn't have left Sabina alone," I said angrily, kicking one of our rear tires because there was nowhere else to direct my frustration.
"You were just at the bar getting drinks," Rodney said incredulously. "Are you gonna escort her to the ladies in future?"
"I knew this was a possibility," I insisted. "I should have been more on guard."
"Back in the Pegasus galaxy I'd have to agree," Rodney replied. "But here on Earth? No one even knows her – she was anonymous before she went to Atlantis and she's only been back here twice since then. Apart from your brief foray into domestic bliss Sabina's done nothing to even create a paper trail of her existence, let alone drawn attention to herself in any kind of obvious way."
"I know that Rodney," I growled, "and yet here we are with her missing and us scratching our heads because we don't even have any leads!"
"Yet," Rodney retorted. "We don't have any leads yet. Even the fact that they knew about her transmitter - enough to turn it off anyway - could end up being just the clue we need to find her."
"She went with them willingly," I couldn't help but point out something that was probably obvious to everyone.
"They threatened her with hurting you?" Rodney concluded weakly.
"Yeah – she didn't fight them because she was protecting me," I turned away, looking back down the road rather than see his expression. How did you deal with that sort of knowledge - that the person you loved had subjected themselves to who knew what kind of torture willingly to keep you safe? I couldn't - I had to bury it deep along with all the other worries buzzing for a place inside my conscious thoughts.
"We'll find her John," Rodney promised softly, putting a hand on my shoulder before getting into the car.
"You hear that Sabina?" I thought determinedly. "Hold on because we will find you."
Taking my place in the drivers seat I got us back on the road, all the while suppressing the rest of that thought ... hopefully before it's too late.
oOo
"Colonel Sheppard this is Agent Malcolm Barrett." Back at the SGC General Landry introduced me to a tall lean man wearing a suit and a serious, intent expression.
"Agent Barrett," I held out a hand for the requisite handshake, all the while wondering if ... okay and praying that he'd have some good news.
"Colonel Sheppard," Barrett replied, shaking my hand with a firm confident grasp. "I've checked in with our contacts within the Trust. There were some rumours about a contract they've put out to tender for what they're calling warfare enhancements. Nothing that would suggest a kidnapping."
"And how reliable are these contacts?" I asked grimly.
"About as reliable as it gets," Barrett replied promptly, not put out that I was essentially questioning the quality of his intel. "If they'd hired someone to kidnap Ms Scott we might not have found out before hand but we'd certainly know about it by now."
"You said warfare enhancements," Rodney said curiously. "What does that mean?"
"We're still chasing it up," Barrett admitted. "At this stage all I can tell you is that it's got something to do with personnel, not equipment."
The worried glance I shared with Rodney at those words said we were both on the same wavelength. Barrett was pretty observant for a suit ... he picked up on the silent communication and immediately called us up on it.
"I take it that's not news to you?" he asked.
"Oh it's news," I denied the conclusion he'd made. I exchanged a glance with General Landry, registering his subtle shake of the head. Agent Barrett didn't know about Sabina's background and at this stage the General didn't want him to. "Let's just say there's a reason there could be a connection between that and Sabina's disappearance."
"I have the highest level clearance," Barrett complained, irritable about the obvious secrecy.
"Not this high," Landry replied in a tone that clearly suggested Barrett should drop it. "Find out what you can about that project Agent Barrett – get back to me as soon as possible ... with some leads."
"Of course," Barrett agreed, looking intently in my direction before striding quickly from the room. Once he was gone I couldn't help but comment on what we were all thinking.
"I guess we know why they took Sabina now," I rubbed at the back of my neck, worried even more despite us now having something we could follow up.
"They are interested in Wraith DNA?" Teyla queried.
"Not just that," Rodney offered weakly, casting a concerned glance my way before continuing. "If they're talking enhancements for our soldiers then they need a way to artificially merge Wraith and human DNA."
"And for that they need the only person from around here who's already got both," I concluded grimly.
Authors Note:
Next Up? Fortunate Journey Season 4 Chapter 4 ... not sure if there'll be a chapter tomorrow yet ... I'll do my best.