Where am I? What time is it? How tight are the ropes this time? What's the next getaway plan? These questions rang through John's head as he woke up. Argrose had certainly taken John's latest attempt more seriously. Metal cuffs more seriously. John blinked, trying to clear his fuzzy vision. A blur a couple of feet away seemed to be Argrose. It was hard to tell though because no matter how hard John blinked his vision never cleared. He sat up with minimal dizziness but the blur didn't seem to take much notice, he was wrong there.
"How do you feel?" The voice, that was now clearly Argrose, mocked.
"Peachy." John snapped angrily.
"Good, wouldn't want you feeling bad. You might try to leave me." Argrose continued in his mocking tone, enjoying his small victory.
"Me? Leave you? Never, havin' way to much fun." John's voice dripped with sarcasm
"I'll hold you to that next time you try to escape."
"I've been known to break sarcastic promises."
"Perhaps, but you are almost as good of an escapist as myself. You did a nice job of surprising me."
John blinked. He was complimenting him? John didn't give any indication he was surprised, instead he snarked, "Takes one to know one."
Argrose chuckled, "You know, if we weren't on opposite sides I might actually like you." Argrose wondered how loyal to his people John Sheppard really was. If he isn't It would be nice to have someone who knows what is going on in the galaxy right now. I have no knowledge of what is happening right now.
However, it seemed John Sheppard had other plans. "Nice try, but I don't generally team up with criminals who've drugged me"
"Perhaps you could make an exception this once." Argrose tried one last time. John smirked. Argrose heard the message loud and clear. "Lets go then." Argrose hoisted John up again. John then discovered another effect of Argrose's drug. His body was slow to respond to any of his brain signals. It was like watching a video where you heard people speak and after a second or two you saw their lips move. That was the way John felt. He wanted to move his legs, but it would take about two seconds before his legs actually moved. This time it was going to be a bit tougher to escape.
"Its definitely Colonel Sheppard's blood." Carson said confidently.
"And it is without a doubt the room where Argrose Bolue was." Rodney put in.
"We've been searching the area extensively but if Bolue was able to get himself to a working transporter he could be anywhere in the city by now." Lorne said remorsefully. Himself, Dr. McKay, Ronon, Teyla, Dr. Beckett, and Dr. Weir were all in her office.
"I figured out that he was awakened sometime the night before last. Also the reason we hadn't come across the room before was because the system had... crashed if you will. It was repaired and somehow during the process criminal Bolue was awakened."
"Why didn't the Ancestors just kill him?" Ronon asked.
"His crime was fairly small, in the Ancient's eyes he wasn't deserving of the death penalty. As he kept escaping though he did a little murdering to get out. The Ancients put him in stasis so he would never have the chance to ascend." Rodney explained. "They still didn't know much about ascending, but since they were getting closer they didn't want to risk Bolue figuring it out."
"What was John doing down there in the first place?" Elizabeth piped up for the first time in the seemingly depressing meeting.
"He wanted to go for a walk. His gene made him realize there was something wrong. He got a sales call from the guy downstairs selling him a bad day. Could be any number of reasons. That's not going to help us find him." Rodney answered.
"True. Has he or Argrose turned up on the sensors at all?"
"No. Not yet. Its possible he came up while I was checking Argrose accommodations. But uh, well, not there anymore."
"Keep searching. If nothing else this Argrose will have to contact us soon. He can't go forever without food and water. He probably won't want to stay on Atlantis much either. Dismissed." Elizabeth ended the meeting. Lorne, Teyla, and Ronon left to continue the search.
Rodney walked over to Elizabeth and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll find him."
"I know. Its just..." Elizabeth sighed. "Its hard enough when he gets into trouble off-world. It as if since he got someone else out of trouble he had to even it out by getting into trouble with one of the most dangerous criminals."
"That's Sheppard for you. You should rest Elizabeth. I'll wake you the moment there is anything on him." Rodney said.
"Thank you Rodney, I think I will."
Argrose finally stopped in a small room. As soon as the doors closed behind them Argrose let go of John. His body still slow to respond, John hit the floor hard. "Ow." He mumbled. Thankfully John's vision had cleared to the point where every thing just had a slight fuzz around it. His body would now respond after one second instead of two, but John decided he would pretend it still took two. Hoping it would fool Argrose into preserving his drug and John would continue to regain control. So far as he could tell it was working. John struggled into a sitting position, which was incredibly hard, but he managed... eventually.
"Where to after here?" John asked, only for the sake of asking. Knowing without a doubt that Argrose wouldn't answer. He was right. Argrose pretended he didn't hear John. He had ceased all communications when John had made it clear he wouldn't help Argrose.
"I'm just gonna talk to myself for a little while. See, I get bored easily. That's one of the reasons why I can't stand bed rest.-"
John, being the master of irritation he was, received a punch to the side of face. Argrose was definitely easily aggravated which, John had to admit, was almost fun. However, the punch caused him to bite his cheek and blood flooded his mouth. Argrose was angry enough with him to replace the gag. John sighed through his nose, being deprived of the use of his mouth, and laid back on the floor with a thump. All he could do was conserve his energy for the inevitable escape plan.
Argrose hacked into the sensors being used in the main tower. He located the search teams and plotted a route around them to the next place he could check. Turning back to John Sheppard, Argrose sighed. It wasn't particularly easy carrying him through the city, John Sheppard squirmed the entire time. Giving the man a beating didn't keep him from squirming either. Even with the drug John Sheppard refused to make it simple for Argrose. Attempting not to show his annoyance, Argrose lifted John Sheppard for yet another struggle through the halls of Atlantis.
John had been unable to rid himself of the bonds around his ankles because they weren't rope. John decided he wouldn't pull the door trick again. John decided to slowly tire Argrose, without aggravating him to the point of knocking him out, until he could break away. Then he saw his chance. A hallway, which he was relatively sure had a transporter. Breaking away from Argrose, John dashed down the hallway, putting as many corners between him and his captor. He heard the stunner go off several times. Fifteen minutes later John paused and listened intently. He could not hear anything, he cautiously made his way towards the nearest transporter. Stopping every ten or so steps to listen.
Argrose had been caught of guard when John Sheppard broke away. He fired at him six times before John Sheppard rounded a corner. Argrose ran after in pursuit. After much weaving through the halls Argrose became aware John Sheppard was heading for a transporter. Argrose wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Argrose continued as quietly as a ghost.
He peeked out of one corner half an hour later. John Sheppard had successfully made it to a transporter.
"Stop." Argrose said loudly enough for John to hear. John halted with a long-suffering sigh. Argrose couldn't help but smile. "Did you really think you could escape me entirely?" Argrose teased.
"It worked at first. Couldn't hurt to try." John answered dryly.
"Oh I disagree Colonel. It could hurt very much." Argrose responded. It would feel good to take out his annoyance and anger on John Sheppard. Argrose fired the stunner and watched the colonel fall. He was going to find a nice quiet room where he could make himself feel better.