Remember, Never to Forget--13
Ronan was beginning to believe Suduko was a friend in spite of his misgivings. The man seemed to have contacts and was willing to use them to help in the search for John Sheppard. He was convinced now that John was alive, but it seemed like they were at a standstill in their search for the missing man. A man he considered more than just his team leader, Sheppard had proven his friendship again and again during the time Ronan lived on Atlantis.
Suduko had agreed that Ronan could go with him when he visited Domitar, but he'd given his word that he would not interfere in Suduko's business. The problem was Ronan would do anything in his power to help John Sheppard and deal with the consequences at a later date.
Standing outside the rough structure that Suduko had disappeared into; Ronan took the time to look around. The buildings were similar in size and structure and looked as if they'd recently been painted. Domitar's building looked darker than the others and the Setedan wondered how the elderly man could still do business without helpers.
"Excuse me," a female said and Ronan smiled in spite of his misgivings as she hurried past.
An animal, similar to the pictures of dogs Sheppard had showed him darted toward him from between the buildings and Ronan smiled as a small boy hurried after it. A flash of his past made him ache for the loss of his own world and the love of his life, but he knew someday he would find happiness again. He leaned heavily against the small craft Suduko had used to transport them to Domitar's business and brushed the hair away from his face impatiently.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Suduko knew the big Setedan would wait outside, but he also knew the man would come barging through the doors if he thought Domitar was holding back information on their missing friend. He'd known the elderly man for many years and knew of his 'acquaintance' with High Priestess Shazzia of Denubia. Suduko knew from his own captivity that Domitar was more than an 'acquaintance' and that he would have to tread carefully if he wanted the information. He watched the elderly merchant speak with several customers before they were left alone.
"What brings you to my humble abode, Suduko?"
"Information…"
"Are you buying or selling it?" Domitar asked seriously.
"Neither, I know you are in contact with Shazzia and I want information about a slave she acquired several months ago," Suduko said, knowing the older man would respect his truthfulness.
"Shazzia does not appreciate it when I speak to others about her business. So tell me why I should answer your queries?"
"I know all about Shazzia and I know of her love for soldiers. The slave I speak of is a soldier and if Shazzia is willing to deal I am sure his friends would pay any price she asked. She is seeking to impress the Genii, but she may find they are not so easily impressed."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Suduko," Domitar warned. "Shazzia would not hesitate to destroy you if you interfere in her dealings."
"Shazzia might just find I am not the same man I was when she captured me…you would be well advised to keep that in mind. When you see her tell her I have an offer for her and it would be wise on her part to listen to what I have to say."
"I had a visit from Drakar earlier and he told me they found a body that was identified by the strangers staying under your roof. Was it not their friend?"
"They say it was, but I know Shazzia, Domitar, and she would be furious if one of her slaves died without her being aware of it," Suduko answered, his voice filled with a hardness reserved for people he distrusted.
"Shazzia knows the value of her property…if the slave was hers then the body should be returned to her…"
"No, his friends will bring him home where he will be honored as befitting his station."
"He is a slave…that is…was his station. Nothing can change that," Domitar warned.
"I changed how she saw me…"
"You escaped and Shazzia didn't think it was worth the trouble to bring you back, but you should heed my warning, Suduko, because if you try to mess with her business she will not hesitate to teach you your proper place in her world."
"I am not afraid of Shazzia, and I can assure you I have my own contacts and friends who would not hesitate to take her down if she even tried to mess with my affairs!" Suduko shot back angrily.
"You honestly believe that, Suduko?"
"Yes, I do. Shazzia has often underestimated her enemies and has lost enough battles to know she isn't some all powerful slaver…not since the day I escaped and took several others with me. We have all kept in touch and should Shazzia ever try to move against one of us she will find a force she has never met before," Suduko told him, a sarcastic grin on his face.
"Perhaps someday she will test your strength, Suduko, and I will be there to watch your downfall," Domitar said, taking a deep breath of the sweet smelling cigar he'd lit.
"Perhaps it will be you who will be surprised by the power we have. Tell Shazzia if she did enslave John Sheppard and 'caused' his death then she'll find out that her power is not as far reaching as she thinks," Suduko said and left the elderly man staring at his back. He exited into the bright sunshine and found Ronan impatiently waiting for him.
"Did you find out anything?" the Setedan asked.
"Not much, but he knows more than he's telling me. Domitar and Shazzia have known each other for many cycles and he is loyal to her. It will take some time to find out where she is holding your friend, but I have my contacts and they will help us."
"Sheppard's been missing a long time," Ronan offered as they climbed into the small craft.
"Do you believe he is still alive?"
"I do…why else would they try to make us believe that body was Sheppard?"
"Are you and your friends willing to do anything to get him back?"
"Damn straight we are," Ronan said, using one of Sheppard's sayings that brought a hint of a smile to his face.
"It could get ugly."
"I can do ugly…and if you were forced to listen to McKay speak about how much smarter he is than everybody else you'd know the real meaning of ugly," Ronan said with a grin.
"Please, promise me you won't expose me to that."
Ronan just smiled and turned his attention to the landscape as the craft sailed high over the trees. He thought about McKay and his penchant for rubbing in just how smart he was, and realized the man truly was a genius no matter how you looked at it. Ronan could not fault him for taking pride in his accomplishments, but he would never let the scientist know that because it would go to his already swelled head.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Hawk studied his captive's sleeping face and wondered what his dreams were about. At times a ghost of a smile appeared and John seemed to be seeing something that made him happy. Other times a tear slid from closed eyes and slowly trailed down his cheek as his body shuddered, but he remained locked in whatever dream or nightmare he resided in.
Hawk wondered if the nightmares stemmed from his time with Shazzia or before. It never occurred to him that he was part of the images that warred in John's dreams. Hawk felt he was John's protector and that punishment was something he had to deliver in order to keep tight rein on the stubborn slave. He reached out and touched his hand against the sleeping man's forehead and realized John was running a fever. He knew the wounds were probably harboring some infection and gently cleaned them before spraying them with the antibiotics formulated in his private labs.
"I hope you don't make a habit of this, John," Hawk whispered and eased the blanket up over the man's waist. "I would hate to have to mark your body permanently."
SGASGASGASGASGA
Drakar watched the house, relieved when Kierra and Bendor lead their guests away from the house. He knew they were headed toward the scenic peaks because they carried several containers that were used to keep food cold and a basket that held several blankets. He waited until they were far enough away that his presence would not be detected before racing toward the hut at the back of the house. He hoped the body was being kept there because it was the only place that would be cold enough to keep it from decaying even further. If all went well he should be able to set the incinerating device and be back at Domitar's home before it activated.
Drakar checked the door, but found it padlocked so he made his way around the back and checked the window. It too, was locked, but the merchant didn't let that stop him. He grabbed a rock and broke the window, disengaging the lock before opening it and climbing inside. There was nothing that could hide the smell of the decaying body and he quickly set up the incendiary device and turned back to the broken window.
Drakar was able to lift his upper body out the window, but was unprepared for the devastating blow that sent him sprawling back onto the floor. He landed against the dead man and heard a hiss as if air was escaping and the smell threatened to empty his stomach. He managed to get to his knees, but his assailant stood over him and struck him a second time with the blunt end of an axe. Drakar went down hard and lay still, watching through slitted eyes as his attacker reset the device and exited through the window.
Drakar's vision blurred, but the sound of the countdown made him move in spite of the pounding in his skull. He staggered to the window as the sound increased and threw himself outside and managed to crawl away from the building just as fire erupted inside and the stench of burning flesh reached his nostrils. He felt the darkness closing in and there was no doubt in his mind who was behind the attack.
Domitar must have arranged for his death at Shazzia's insistence, there was no one else who knew that he was going to destroy the evidence in Suduko's home. He knew someone would return and prayed he could stay awake long enough to warn Suduko and John Sheppard's friends. Time passed slowly, but before long he heard the sound of a small craft and opened his eyes when a hand touched his chest.
"What have you done, you bastard?" Suduko snarled and pulled the injured man to his feet.
"Please…Suduko…I am so sor…ry…"
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Drakar…you destroyed the body of my guest's friend and will pay with your life…"
"Dy…dying anyway…need to tell…tell you…Shazzia ordered the body…told…told me…make you be…lieve it was John Shep…Sheppard."
"Where is he?" Ronan asked, grabbing Drakar and lifting him off his feet.
"Sold…Shazzia sold him…not sure owner's name…talk…talk to Domitar…he knows…" Drakar said, eyes darkening as he succumbed to the coldness seeping through his body. "I hope…hope you find…find him and make…make her pay."
Ronan felt the man go limp and screamed in frustration as he let the body drop to the ground. He knew Drakar was dead, and fought the urge to tear him apart. A hand landed on his arm and he turned, nostrils flaring as Suduko smiled at him. "What?"
"At least we know John Shepard is still alive and it is time to keep tabs on Domitar's dealings with Shazzia," Suduko said and saw a hint of a smile form on the Setedan's face. "Now, why don't we put out the fire and get rid of this piece of trash before we join Kierra, Bendor, and your friends and give them the good news?"
"Sheppard's really alive," Ronan said, relief washing over him as he lifted the dead body and followed Suduko toward the small shed.
SGASGASGASGASGA
John could feel the cooling mist that hit his wounds, but did not open his eyes as Hawk spoke softly. He waited for the sound of retreating footsteps before opening his eyes and trying to find a comfortable position. The wounds made it hard to move, but he chose to ignore it in an effort to sit up and look around. He felt chilled and fought the tremors running through his body, and pulled the blanket up over his shoulders.
He looked at the glass on the bedside table and reached for it, praying it was water even as he downed the liquid. It was sweet, with just a hint of tartness that helped quench his thirst. He sat for several seconds and reached for the chain attached to the collar around his neck, pulling it in an effort to test it. He released his hold and ran the fingers of his right hand through his hair just as Hawk returned.
"Good, you're awake. I was beginning to believe I'd have to resort to tube feeding," the big man told him and placed the tray on the table.
"How long was I asleep?" John asked, his stomach rumbling as the aroma of whatever was in the bowl made him smile appreciatively.
"Nearly twenty seven hours," Hawk answered. "Go ahead and eat…it's a special blend of vegetables and meat designed to give you back your strength and help in the healing of your wounds."
"Where's Tyrel?"
"Tyrel is doing very well and has been rewarded for his victory in the cage."
"Rewarded?" John asked.
"Yes, he has been given the finest quarters a slave could have and has the freedom to order anything he desires…"
"Except his freedom," John snapped.
"Freedom is not everything it's cracked up to be," Hawk told him, handing the bowl to the other man.
"It is when it's taken away," John spat.
"How do you know you were a free man, John, when you have no memory of your life before becoming Shazzia's pet?"
"I know this is not what I was meant to be doing?"
"Then tell me what you think you should be doing," Hawk ordered.
"Flying…a Gateship…no, that's not right…a Puddle Jumper," John said with a ghost of a smile.
"I don't think I've heard of a Gateship or a Puddle Jumper…where did you fly those?"
"Earth," John said, frowning as a flash of images swam before his eyes. He knew that wasn't right, but he couldn't quite grasp what the other images were from.
"I have never heard of Earth. Is it a planet?"
"I don't know," John said and sipped at the thick soupy substance. It tasted as good as it smelled and he finished it under the watchful eye of his self-proclaimed owner. He placed the bowl on the table and lay back, closing his eyes as the pounding in his skull intensified.
"John…"
"I'm tired, Hawk…head hurts like a bitch," John said and hoped the man would leave him alone as he tried to sort out the images waging war in his mind. He reached for the image of the one man who seemed to be able to ease his torment and hoped it would follow him to his dreams.
TBC