A/N:
Thank you so much for reviewing.
Kalethan- Teyla
They followed the oddly dressed men towards a set of buildings made of a sheer black stone. Looking around her, Teyla watched as people went by in droves, each group in different coloured clothes. Their envoy explained that social distinction was of paramount importance in Kalethan society, and people were most often distinguished by the colours they wore, though clothing style at every level was similar. It seemed they had no use for fashion, and the designs were utilitarian, with the focus on function. The idea that people at different levels could not talk to each other socially was an unpleasant concept for Teyla, who thought back on her own people. She began to suspect that this was one of the reasons behind why her people and the Kalethan ceased trading. Their were no clear distinctions between her people, everyone helping and doing the work of others. Many only differed in respect, as materialism was not a concept of Athosian culture. Even competition held no place except in martial fighting, and that was a necessary method for survival and improving their abilities against the Wraith.
They entered through a side door, which immediately set Teyla on alert. The room they entered had white-washed walls and contained a long metal table. Not the most welcoming of chambers. There were an exact number of chairs for each of them.
"Seems odd you knew how many of us were coming." John said as he was led to a chair at the head of the table. His team and the Kalethans sat along the sides, a space between the Kalethan's and outsiders, leaving John feeling over-exposed.
"Lucky guess," came the shortest man's reply. He had fly away hair combed over a bald spot, and he appeared to be sweating despite the chillness of the room. Teyla gathered that he was the head of the envoy. Ronon was sitting beside Teyla, and he leaned over towards her, whispering in her ear.
"Something's not right."
"I know." Teyla glanced at John, who was sitting very stiffly in his chair. Outwardly he looked calm, but she could tell he was feeling uncomfortable, with the Kalethan's eyes on him. They had yet to look at anyone else but the lieutenant colonel.
"No, something's really not right." The vehemence in his voice set Teyla on edge. She began viewing everything that was said and done in a threatening way, though it wasn't such a stretch. The air began to feel colder.
"It is a pleasure to have you here, Atlanteans, Athosian and Satedan. My name is Chiles Arkham Thane. These are my aides." He gestured to the men on either side, but did not give them names. "And your names are?" Each team member identified themselves, but he stopped paying attention after John introduced himself. All eyes remained on him. Teyla opened up negotiations, and Jennifer said her piece about Atlantis' medical ability. This was the main point of the meeting, and yet the main focus of the Kalethans seemed to be Sheppard. Every question was asked of him, even though it was Teyla or Jennifer who ultimately answered. Ronon sat on the edge of his seat, and Sheppard, originally taking the attention in good humour, was getting more suspicious by the minute. Rodney's questions went unanswered, and any questions about their own technology were deflected.
Jennifer moved to show them the medical supplies she had brought, but John motioned under the table for her not to.
"So, Mr. Thane," John leaned forward on his elbows. "You told us the last time we were here a little about your weapons technology."
"Yes, yes. In exchange for some of your medical technology." He immediately turned it back around towards them with the precision of a trained diplomat. Teyla readied a reply but it seemed John had had enough. He spoke first.
"Seems as if we've been giving you all of our information. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding the subject." Jennifer coughed at Sheppard's bluntness. Teyla felt the need to intervene, but before she could get a word out Thane spoke.
"Quite right. We have a good reason for that."
Clank.
John waited for further noise, noise of an attack. Nothing happened.
"Well, that was anticlimactic." John was on his feet, as was Ronon. Jennifer was staring at the table top as if it could solve her problems, and the Kalethans were looking around them as if they were waiting for something. Teyla adjusted her P-90 on her lap, ready for anything that might happen.
A door they hadn't noticed before opened from behind John. As such, he was the first to be hit by their stun weapons. Ronon got two shots off before he was taken down. Within three seconds the fight was over, all the visitors subdued.
Teyla woke up to find herself on the floor of a cell. Ronon was already at the bars, glaring at something beyond. The cell was large enough for the big man to pace in, but Rodney was lying in the middle of the floor, his body splayed out. Jennifer was lying on the only pallet. She was still unconscious, so Teyla suspected that Ronon had put her there.
Her head ached, and her body felt stiff. She tried to get up, but her legs were shaky, and she felt light headed. She had a small cut on her forehead from where she must have hit it when she fell unconscious. Wiping the dried blood away, she looked around for John, but he wasn't in the cell with them. Getting up, she moved over towards Ronon. The corridor outside their cell was empty. There was a vacant cell beside them, but that was it.
"What do you think they want?" Ronon turned to her.
"I don't know. Where is John?"
"Haven't seen him."
"Do you think he is who they were after?"
"They didn't pay any attention to the rest of us, and John's the only one of us with the Ancient gene, as far as they know."
"You noticed that, too?"
"They didn't take their eyes off him. And they definitely weren't going to tell us anything about their weapons technology. This smelled wrong from the start."
"I agree, but that does not help our situation. Have they demanded anything of us?"
"A guard walked by ten minutes ago, but he didn't say anything."
"Wha-huh?" Jennifer twisted on the bed and swung her legs over the side. Teyla and Ronon moved to stand around her. She wavered a little bit and Ronon grabbed her arm.
"Hey, you ok?"
"Where are we?" She looked around her. "Oh! Is Rodney ok?" She jumped off the pallet and kneeled at his side.
"We are all fine, Jennifer. However, John is missing." Teyla moved over to the bars and tried to look towards the end of the corridor.
"Missing? Wasn't he stunned first?"
"Yeah, but he wasn't put on the cell with us." Ronon's gruff voice was laced with concern.
From down the corridor they heard a door open and then close. The sound of footsteps and something being dragged came closer to their cell.
