Remember, Never to Forget---20
John breathed through his nose and frowned when he tried to open his mouth. Something prevented him from doing so and even moving his tongue seemed impossible. He briefly remembered having a tube down his throat after a crash, but at least then he'd been able to move his tongue. His eyes shot open and he tried to breathe past the intrusion, but his body convulsed with nauseating pain. He sat forward, reaching for the edge of a table and tried to pull the offending contraption from his mouth, but all he did was add to the agony that twisted through his skull.
"Fighting it will only make it worse, John."
John recognized the hated voice and turned to stare at the man who sat watching him with a smug smile on his face. His hands fisted at his sides as anger raged within him and his frustration increased with the realization that he was helpless in this man's presence.
"Are you ready to apologize for your behavior, John?"
'Go to hell!' John thought and wondered if Hawk could see the anger in his demeanor.
"You are a stubborn slave, John, but stubborn in your case is a weakness. It has been several hours since I placed the Chulacquer in your mouth and I'm sure you must be hungry," Hawk said and lifted the cover from several plates of fruits, vegetables and several different dips.
John stared at the food and felt his stomach rumble at the exotic flavors he detected. He had no idea how long he'd slept, but if the growling sounds from his stomach were an indication than it had been several hours.
"Well, John, are you ready to apologize or do I enjoy this meal while you are fed through a tube?"
John stood up and turned his back on the bigger man, anger increasing as he heard Hawk's laughter.
"Very well, John, I will have Kudrone prepare the proper nutrients for you."
John looked for some way to escape, but the only door was behind his tormentor and he knew Hawk would not allow him to escape. He thought about trying it anyway, but a voice of reason spoke in his mind. 'John, this is not the time. Swallow your pride for once or there'll be nothing left for me to find.'
"What are you thinking about, John?" Hawk asked having seen the change come over his 'slave's' face.
John could not give in that easily and in spite of the warning voice in his head shoved the tray of food off the table. The plates hit the wall with a resounding thud as the food splattered across the floor. He shoved the table and heard Hawk curse as it struck his legs.
"Oh, John, you will clean that up and then I will take pleasure in feeding you through that tubing," Hawk warned.
'John, you need to control your temper. You can't win against him…not if you keep provoking him.' John's anger deflated as again 'Rodney's' voice sounded in his mind. God, he wished he knew who Rodney was and why the man seemed to be the voice of reason. That just didn't seem to fit, but he had no explanation as to why. With Rodney's voice in his head, John reached for several towels and began cleaning the mess he'd made.
Hawk watched his recalcitrant slave with a mixture of pride and anger. He didn't know why John had given in so quickly and hoped he hadn't broken the man's spirit that easily. John was strong, stronger than anyone he'd ever met, and that was something he didn't want to curtail, but he did need him to understand who was in charge. He waited for the other man to finish cleaning and then stood in front of him. "Are you ready to apologize?"
John shook his head and turned away. Cleaning up the mess he'd made was one thing, apologizing for being who he was, was not going to happen. He stood his ground, his eyes locked on Hawk's as if in challenge and a small smile was born on his captor's face.
"You will learn, John, but for now I will Kudrone bring the nutrients and feed you," Hawk told him.
John watched him use the keypad and sank onto the bed as Kudrone appeared a few minutes later. He held a tube, shaped like a thick syringe in his hand and passed it to Hawk.
"This is complete, Hawk, and should hold him for eight hours," Kudrone explained.
"Very well," Hawk said and turned to his captive. "John, this can be done with you sitting in a chair or I can have Kudrone restrain you until it is complete."
"John, believe me you'd much rather be sitting in the chair," Kudrone warned, relieved when the younger man moved to do as he suggested.
John swallowed his pride, nearly choking as he sat down and stared at his self proclaimed owner. Hawk smiled as he attached the syringe to the tube leading down John's throat and took malicious glee. John fought the pain as the substance was introduced to his stomach and gripped the arms of the chair tightly until Hawk finished and removed the syringe. He knew he could stop this, but only if he continued to swallow his pride.
'Pride Goethe before the fall, Lad.'
'I hear you, Carson…I don't know who the hell you are, but I hear you,' John thought and listened as Kudrone and Hawk talked about him.
"I ask you again, John, do you apologize for your behavior?" Hawk repeated his earlier question and was surprised and pleased to see the dark head nod once. "Very well, but displease me again and the punishment will be swift and harsh!"
John felt the clamps being released and the tube was pulled from his throat. His stomach churned and he grabbed for anything he could use, surprised when Hawk handed him a basin and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. Whatever he'd been fed through the tube made a return trip until all he did was dry heave, his body shaking with the force of his sickness. He had no idea how long it took for his body to realize his stomach was empty and he sat back in the chair as Hawk passed him a cool, wet cloth. "Thanks," he managed in a voice he hardly recognized as his own.
"You brought this on yourself, John," Hawk told him. "It will go easier on you if you do as I say…when I say it."
"I've never been one to take orders…Rodney…"
"Rodney?"
"Rodney…I…he's a friend…I think," John said and suddenly felt as if he would pass out. He frowned when Hawk gently pushed him back on the bed and eased a blanket up over him.
"Rest, John, and perhaps we will explore the outlying grounds when you feel up to it," Hawk offered.
"Go outside?" John asked softly.
"If you promise to behave and do as I tell you…"
"No promises...I'll try," John answered and relaxed as sleep beckoned to him.
Hawk watched over his property for several long minutes, finally turning away when it appeared the man was sleeping. He thought about the single name John uttered on several occasion and wondered who Rodney was, and why it seemed as if John had latched on to him as if he was an anchor on a stormy ocean. "Whoever Rodney is he will pay if he touches my property," Hawk vowed before leaving the room.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Dr. Rodney McKay bristled as he was forced to walk through the corridors wearing nothing but the suit he'd been born in. Shazzia had decided she enjoyed seeing him naked, and had gone so far as to place a collar around his neck and attaching a leash to it. He closed his eyes and silently cursed the wish he'd made when John had returned from his encounter with the Travelers.
Shazzia gave a whole new meaning to the word cruel and her threat of a very public 'royal spanking' had caused him to clam up and obey her commands. He'd sat between her outstretched legs during the entire meal while she fed him the fruits and other unnamed delicacies. Now, with darkness overshadowing the daylight hours, she was leading him back to her sleeping quarters and Rodney understood what was expected of him.
"How well do you know John?"
Her question shocked him, because when he'd tried to broach the question earlier she'd cut him off. "I…he's a friend."
"I would have thought a smart man like you would have chosen a more suitable friend. I mean John is in the military while you are a civilian and rather brilliant if I am correct…"
"I am and John may be a 'grunt', but he also passed the MENSA test and that is not an easy feat by any standards."
"You sound as if you respect him?"
"I do…I'm the reason everyone thought he died out there. I…"
"You were the one who caused my ship to explode?" Shazzia snarled and grabbed him by the collar angrily.
Rodney grabbed her arms, but could not loosen her hold as he struggled to breathe. He could sense the rage building inside her and knew this could only end badly for him. His lungs burned from lack of oxygen as she savagely tightened her grip and shook him with a strength he'd never felt before. Shadows of darkness formed around him as she continued to put pressure on his throat. A strangled gasp escaped before his tormentor struck him across the face and the darkness fell as he spiraled into unconscious.
Shazzia's anger eased as the man she held went limp and she realized she'd kept too much pressure on his throat. She released him and watched as he dropped to the floor before touching her finger to the pulse point at his throat. It was faint, but she knew he was alive despite her attack. Rodney McKay was responsible for the loss of one of her slave ships and for that he would pay dearly, but she would not kill him.
Shazzia reached down and lifted the unconscious man in her arms. She no longer cradled him as she had during the first few hours; instead she threw him over her shoulders and strode toward her private chambers. Once there she dropped him onto the mat at the foot of her bed and reached for the manacles bolted to the floor. She wrapped them around his ankles and stood up, admiring the physique in spite of her anger.
Shazzia made her way to the cabinet near the window and looked out over her fortress and knew she could not let McKay's actions go unpunished. Perhaps a public whipping was in order, but she didn't really want to mark his body in such a way. She turned back to her captive and smiled at the thought of making him sorry he'd destroyed something so valuable and an idea formed, an idea that could only be completed if she could get John back.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Major Evan Lorne looked at the men anxiously waiting to start the mission. There were twelve Atlantians counting himself, Teyla, and Ronan. Suduko and 12 of Trazdia's men would join Major Wallace in attacking the fortress from the rear, while the remaining men would join his group and attack from the front. Thanks to Suduko's information they knew there were no entrances from the east and west side of Shazzia's compound.
Trazdia had left two men to watch Domitar's home and would report to them if the elderly man made any attempts to contact Shazzia. Domitar had always allied himself with the High Priestess and if he found out about the upcoming attack he would send word to her. His men understood how important it was that the attack remained secret and Suduko had assured Lorne that Trazdia's men would do everything in order to maintain that secrecy.
The plan was to take the cloaked jumpers as close to the fortress as possible and wait for the Bays to open. Suduko had told them Shazzia's ships made regular stops and would be leaving from both the front and rear exits at the end of the first cycle. Once inside they would wait for a signal from Lorne that things were in place. The men would deploy, leaving one man on each jumper in case they were discovered.
"Does everyone understand what's expected of them?" Lorne asked.
"I think we've gone over everything, Major," Trazdia said and looked around at his men. They'd brought there own weapons and plenty of ammo and each man seemed ready and anxious for the action to start. He knew they were well trained and could handle anything, but he was not familiar with the Atlantians and worried about whether or not they could handle themselves. Suduko had told him Major Lorne knew what he was doing and that the Atlantians all had military training. Trazdia glanced at the big man standing at the edge of the group and wondered why a former 'runner' from Sateda would form an alliance with these people.
Trazdia watched as a Teyla Emmagan moved to stand beside the Satedan and admired the way she moved. Suduko had told him that she was well trained and he'd witnessed her and the Satedan working out before the initial meeting and discussion of the plan to attack Shazzia's fortress. He still thought it a foolhardy plan, but once he'd been shown how the Jumpers worked he could not find a reason to protest.
"Hank, you take Suduko and his men with you and contact me when you're in position. Trazdia, are your men ready?" Lorne asked as Wallace led the others toward the first jumper.
"My men are always ready, Major," Trazdia explained as Teyla and Ronan joined them. "I just hope the same can be said of yours."
"My men can handle themselves," Lorne answered.
"I guess we'll soon find out," Trazdia told him and headed toward the second jumper. It wasn't long before both Jumpers lifted off and headed toward Shazzia's Fortress.
SGASGASGASGASGA
John could not believe Hawk was actually allowing him to go outside. He wanted, no he needed to get outside in order to get the lay of the land if he was going to make good his escape. Aside from what Hawk told him, he had no idea what the planet was like. Hawk could easily have lied about the harsh terrain and the frequency of deadly solar storms.
"What are you thinking about, John?' Hawk asked as they stepped through the door and onto the dark soil of his world.
"Just wondering why?"
"Why what?"
"Why you're bringing me out here?"
"I want to prove to you I am not always cruel and to give you the chance to prove your apology was real. I warn you though…if you try anything stupid I will punish you."
"I hear you," John said sighing heavily as he grew quiet. A part of him wanted to lash out, but his throat and mouth were still sore from Kudrone's device and speaking made it feel like he'd been chewing on glass shards. He knew retaliation would be swift if he tried anything and that it was better to bide his time and find out what lay beyond the walls of his prison.
"See those mountains in the distance?"
"Yes," John answered as they slowly walked away from the compound.
"They erupt every six cycles and cause the ground to erode. The trees are strong and most survive, but there is a lot of dead vegetation the closer you get to the mountains. Perhaps, if you behave yourself, we will take a ship and explore the area."
John could hardly contain his excitement at the thought of flying again. He knew deep down that flying was an obsession for him, yet he could not begin to understand why. He looked around the area outside Hawk's compound and listened as his 'owner' explained about the different trees and wildflowers that were just peeking through the denser foliage.
"The red, yellow, and silver flowers lie dormant during the solar storms and bloom for several hours each morning. Don't touch the yellow flowers because they are toxic to most living creatures."
"Toxic?"
"Yes, we learned long ago that they produce a strong toxin when our skin comes into contact with the petals."
"What about the red and silver ones?"
"They are safe…as a matter of fact the silver flowers are used by Kudrone to make some of the strongest medications that fight infections," Hawk answered as he led John down a narrow, sloping trail.
John could not believe the breathtaking view of the valley that swept down through the mountains, giving way to a fast flowing river far below. The sky was a dizzying array of colors that blended with the thick brush and tall tress so well it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. John walked to the edge of the trail and stared down, blinking his eyes until they adjusted to the darkness below.
"That's no man's land, John. Nothing grows there, but there are creatures that live in the darkness and prey on anyone stupid enough to go in there," Hawk explained.
John heard the warning, but he knew if it came down to escaping he would gladly face the creatures and the darkness than stay a slave to this man. He moved to the opposite side and was again met by darkness, yet in front of them was a rolling valley for as far as the eye could see. If he stayed on the path he would be able to travel past the dark voids on either side of the trail.
"If you're thinking about escaping through the valley, John…"
"I wasn't…"
"If you are you should know that the trail goes directly through the void and many people have been lost once they've made that mistake. I won't allow you to try it," Hawk warned softly before facing his property. "The void is the main reason I chose to build my home here. The darkness and the creatures keep my slaves from escaping and keep out those who would take what is mine."
"I thought you owned everything…"
"I do, but I allow the others to build as long as they do not interfere with my people," Hawk told him and reached for a strange green object hanging from a tree covered in purple leaves. "Here, eat this."
"What is it?"
"It is called Takalo," Hawk answered. "It is very good…and should soothe your throat and mouth. It has medicinal qualities."
John took the object and studied it closely before watching Hawk peel back the sections and suck the gel from inside. He copied the move, surprised at how easily the shell could be peeled away and sniffed at the gel before tasting it. It was sweet and cool as he sucked it into his mouth and swished it around. The Takalo seemed to have a deadening effect on the inside of his mouth and the pain eased as he swallowed the insides.
Hawk watched his slave closely, pleased with the look on his face as he tasted the sweet Takalo gel. He'd known the healing fruit grew wild here and it was one of the main reasons he decided to bring him here. "There are many different varieties of Takalos and each one serves a different purpose and is very good for us."
"I bet Teyla would know about these," John said, frowning when a fleeting image of a beautiful woman flashed across his mind.
"Who is Teyla?"
"I don't know…she's someone I know I think," John said and cried out as agony twisted through his skull. His knees gave out and he would have fallen, but for the strong arms that reached out for him. He tried to fight when he was lifted off the ground, but flashes of light intermixed with familiar faces sent daggers of pain through his skull. Consciousness left him, but not before he realized Hawk truly was in control, at least for now.
TBC