Remember, Never to Forget--18
John was shocked when the doors opened to reveal a huge warehouse filled with varying shapes and sizes of equipment. He recognized several smaller pieces, but did not know why he knew what they were. John spotted two men standing near a large piece of machinery and moved toward them when Hawk tugged on his collar.
"Kudrone, show John the items you want im to activate," Hawk ordered.
"John, do you know what this is?" Kudrone asked.
"Not a clue…never saw it before," Sheppard told him.
"It does not matter," Kudrone observed. "The Ancient gene is very strong in you and you should be able to activate this by simply touching it."
"Sit in the chair, John," Hawk ordered and shoved the man forward. They were hoping the chair would have special qualities and would enable them to activate other pieces of Ancient technology.
John looked at the chair with a mixture of curiosity and fear, but he had no choice as Hawk forced him into the seat. His hands went to the pads at the end of the arms and a dull light began to glow beneath his fingertips. The chair reclined as if guided by unseen hands and John jerked as if burned.
"I told you the gene was strong," Kudrone said. "He isn't even trying and the damn thing is working. John, what else can you make this thing do?"
"I don't know," John answered, wincing as he moved his arms and caused the pain in his arms to intensify.
"It seems to be tuned in to your mind, John, think about what you want it to do," Hawk ordered.
John closed his eyes and wished he was invisible, but he knew that was not the case as Hawk and Kudrone continued to tell him what he should be doing. He pushed up out of the chair and glared as his captor forcefully shoved him back down. "I don't know how!" John snarled.
"Try harder!" Hawk ordered.
Kudrone used a monitoring device and checked the readings from the panels, but nothing had changed since the captive had first sat down. The hand held device was a simple piece of equipment, but it had taken his science team a long time to figure out how it worked. "John, do you have any idea what this chair is used for?"
"No, damn it I don't!" John snarled, blinking as his body tingled as if touched by an electric current. He tried to stand, but Hawk pressed him firmly back in the chair. "Look, I don't know what this shit is and I don't know how it works!"
"It seems it doesn't really matter, John," Hawk told him.
"What the hell does that mean?" John snapped.
"It means the Ancient Technology is reacting to the gene you carry," Kudrone explained. "The Gene is so strong in you that you're able to make things work without knowing you're doing it!"
"I don't give a damn," John snarled and again tried to leave the chair, but cried out when Hawk pressed against the puncture wounds on both arms.
"I do…you will stay put until Dr. Kudrone releases you. I want to know what this is for and whether it will help protect my interests," Hawk warned. "If you do well you will be reward…if you don't…"
John glared at the other man as he left the warning unspoken. There was no doubt in his mind what Hawk meant, but he refused to show any fear. He moved his fingers slightly and concentrated his anger on making the equipment work. He watched Hawk's face and wished there was something he could do to wipe the smug look off his face. As if the equipment were reading his mind, Hawk's face blanched and a cry of pain was torn from his throat as his body was thrown back against the wall.
"What the hell did you do?" Kudrone asked.
"I showed the bastard he screwed with the wrong man!" John snarled and turned to Kudrone. A momentary pause allowed just enough time for Kudrone to dive behind several pieces of equipment as a circuit fired and a surge of electric current was sent in a steady stream from the chair. John could hear several of Hawk's people calling out warnings, but he paid attention to the controls of the chair.
"You will pay for that, John!" Hawk warned s he pulled himself to his feet.
John concentrated on turning the chair and aiming his attack at the man who proclaimed to be his owner. He felt the spark begin as the current increased, but before he could aim his attack the chair began to shut down. 'No,' he thought and concentrated on what he wanted to do, but there was no answering surge of electric current. He had no idea why the chair had suddenly stopped working, but as Hawk slowly strode toward him, John reacted instinctively.
John pushed away from the chair and stood facing his enemy with a coldness he'd never felt before. There was no doubt in his mind that Hawk would make him pay for what he'd done, but he didn't regret it. His only thought was that he'd been unable to finish the job he started. John moved to the right as Hawk reached for him. His right hand landed on an object leaning against the chair and he gripped it tightly as he brought it around in front of him.
"Put it down, John!" Hawk warned.
"Go to hell!" John told him. He pressed against the small indistinct light at the center and felt the shock of energy flow through him. His body surged with strength and he automatically used the energy staff as a weapon to defend himself from Hawk's attack. He swung it in a short, tight arc and pressed the tip to his nemesis' shoulder, jumping away as Hawk screamed in agonized torment. John heard movement behind him and brought the weapon under his arm in a stabbing motion and was rewarded when he heard a grunt of surprised pain from behind him.
John kept his eyes on the big man in front of him as Hawk regained his senses and moved in to attack again. He learned fast and ducked under John's attack, but did not quite move far enough as John adjusted and made a stabbing motion with the weapon. The two men, both Alpha males, were not willing to give ground as the fight for supremacy continued.
"You can make this easier on yourself if you drop that weapon now," Hawk warned.
"I don't think so!" John said with a hint of a cocky smile. He adjusted the weapon, holding it in both hands as he faced his enemy, but a sound from behind him came too late as something stabbed into his right shoulder. "Oh crap…" he spat as his vision blurred and his legs gave out. He fought to stay conscious and lifted the weapon, but his arms felt leaden as he fell forward and he surrendered to the calling darkness.
"How long will he be out?" Hawk asked angrily.
At least a couple of hours," Kudrone answered as he removed the sharp object from the captive's shoulder. "I believe it would be wise to keep him away from the equipment until we know how to control his abilities."
"I agree," Hawk said with a slight smile. "At least we know both pieces of equipment can be classified as weapons."
"Yes, but he seems to be the only one able to use them," Kudrone observed.
"How is your research coming? Are you any closer to finding a way to synthesize the Ancient Gene?"
"No luck so far…even with John's blood," Kudrone answered.
"Keep working on it," Hawk said and reached for the unconscious man.
Kudrone watched as his friend lifted the male off the floor and seemed to cradle the limp body against him. Hawk had many slave, but none had ever had this kind of effect on him. Whoever John was, he seemed to be something of an enigma where Hawk was concerned. He continued to watch as the big man walked out of the large room and finally turned his attention back to the chair. He sat down and concentrated on making it work, but nothing happened and he shook his head in disgust before returning his attention to categorizing the equipment.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Suduko watched as Lorne went through the same motions as Rodney McKay had done to enhance the signal made from his ship to Lorne's home base. It amazed him how far more advanced McKay and his people were compared to his world's technology. Teyla and Ronan had described the Puddle Jumpers and how they could be used to invade Shazzia's fortress without her knowing they were present. It gave him hope, hope that they could succeed and hope for a future without having to worry about invasions.
Suduko knew it would take a lot of time to open new talks with the people of Atlantis and even longer to forge new bonds and hopefully form new allies. Perhaps there would come a time when he would actually travel with McKay's people to Atlantis and see the city of the Ancients for himself. He returned his attention to Lorne as the man began to speak.
"Dr. Weir, it's Lorne…"
"Major, please tell me you have good news," Weir's voice came over the ship's speakers.
"I wish I did, but I'm afraid we've run into some trouble," Lorne answered.
"What kind of trouble? What's McKay done now?"
"Dr. McKay's been kidnapped…"
"By who?" Weir asked, her voice filled with worry.
"We're pretty sure it was High Priestess Shazzia. Suduko knows where she's taken him, but we have a problem," Lorne explained.
"What kind of problem?"
"Her fortress is impregnable…at least as far as Suduko's people are concerned. They don't have the same equipment we have…"
"What do you need, Major?"
"We could use a couple of Jumpers and reinforcements," Lorne answered.
"Major Wallace and his team should be ready in less than an hour. They'll take two Jumpers and leave as soon as you give us the coordinates," Weir assured him.
"Sending the coordinates now," Lorne told her and hit the send button on the small console.
"Major, have you heard anything new about Colonel Sheppard?"
"Not yet, Dr. Weir, but I believe that's why Dr. McKay was taken. It looks like Shazzia is trying to get Colonel Sheppard back from the man she sold him to," Lorne explained.
"All right, Major, but be careful and don't let anyone else go missing," Weir said.
"Will do," Lorne said before disconnecting and turning his attention to the others.
"How long before the…Jumpers get here?" Suduko asked.
"It depends on how long it takes for the teams to get ready," Teyla answered. "Hopefully they's be here by nightfall."
"We'd best get back to the Retreat and see if Trazdia and the council are willing to help us rescue McKay," Suduko observed.
"Will they help?" Ronan asked softly.
"I believe they will once we tell them we should have the element of surprise on our side," Suduko said and expertly piloted the ship through the heavy atmosphere.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney opened his eyes and tried to move, but his body felt as if it was weighted down. His limbs were heavy and refused to obey his simple command as he forced his eyes open. There was something strange about his surroundings and he frowned as he lifted his head and realized it was the only part of his body he could move.
"Not good…not good at all," he whispered, closing his eyes and praying he would wake to find it had all been a dream. He lifted his lids to half mast and hoped his vision would clear and he would indeed be back in his quarters on Atlantis. His breathing became labored as his eyes told him what his mind already knew. "Oh, God, we're not in Kansas anymore," he snapped and tried to free himself.
"I thought you would never wake up," Shazzia said upon entering the room to find her captive panicking as he struggled to free himself.
"Who are you?"
"I am High Priestess Shazzia of Denubia, but you already know that, Dr. McKay," the woman said and watched the emotions flitting across the pale face. She could see tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead and reached for a cloth to wipe them away. "Are you ill, Dr. McKay?"
"No…yes…I'm on the brink of a hypoglycemic reaction…"
"What is that?" Shazzia asked curiously.
"It means I need to eat something soon or…"
"Ah, so you are hungry?"
"That's what I just said!" McKay snapped.
"Perhaps I could have something brought to you or you could join me for the evening meal…"
"I'd rather eat alone," McKay spat.
"Very well…I will have my personal physician insert a feeding tube…"
"No…I don't need any tubes!"
"I refuse to release you while you are in this room, but if you would like to join me then we can forego the feeding tube. It is your choice, Dr. McKay," Shazzia told him.
McKay wanted to refuse, but the thought of being fed through a tube made him sick and he sighed heavily. "I'll eat with you," he snapped.
"You need to rephrase that and ask permission to eat in my presence," Shazzia said and saw the anger flare in her captive's eyes.
"I would prefer eating with you as opposed to having a tube shoved down my throat," the Canadian told her.
"Who said the tube would be placed down your throat?" the high priestess asked, her eyes twinkling maliciously as she eyed Rodney's lower body.
"Where are my clothes?"
"I'm not sure I want you clothed," Shazzia said and smiled when the captive's eyes lit up in a mixture of anger and coyness.
"You can't be serious?"
"Why not…there is nothing wrong with your body and I believe I'd enjoy watching you squirm."
"I think I'd rather have the tube," McKay whispered.
"As you wish," Shazzia told him and stood up. "I will send…"
"No…no, please, no tubes," the Canadian said, disgusted with the choices he'd been given and hoping he'd chosen the lesser of two evils as she released his arms. 'Next time I complain about wanting the sexy alien I hope no one is listening,' McKay thought, reluctantly following the woman from the room and hoping the heat in his cheeks was from fever and not the embarrassment he felt.
TBC