Author's Note: Been really busy with life in general lately. Will try to update more often, but I have no intention of abandoning this story.
Chapter 5
They found Abramson an hour after the alarm had gone off.
Sheppard had obviously been in a bad mood about the whole situation, for which, Selene couldn't blame him. She'd lost people under her command before and knew that particular brand of pain.
They'd taken Abramson to the infirmary and Dr. Beckett was clearly stumped by what the autopsy was showing him. No big surprise there. A half turned lycan would generate some odd results when subjected to a DNA mapping.
She had been surprised at the extensive nature of the tests Beckett was running on Abramson's body. Full DNA mapping was hardly a normal test run during an autopsy, but the environment the expedition operated in was far from normal.
She had hacked the medical database and read the test results. Though she was educated, genetics was not her strong suit. She knew enough to know that the transformation Abramson had been going under was abnormal, but more than that she couldn't say. She had the raw data however. If she could devise a way to get the data back to her people on Earth, they'd be able to make sense of it.
"What do you think Dr. Shackleford?" Sheppard asked.
She broke free from her brooding about the lycan. "The tech guys tell me that the database," she motioned to the ruined Ancient-built computer system in front of her, "is largely gone. They think they can get some data out of it, but probably not much. What interests me more is the nature of this facility."
"Oh?" Sheppard asked.
Selene motioned towards the examination tables. Like the rest of the outpost, they were decrepit and deteriorated with age. Dirt was scattered on them liberally and there was obvious water damage from all the rainwater that had come through the building's roof over the years. "These were clearly intended to hold and study Wraith. The straps are far stronger than would be necessary for human subjects, and I recognize the equipment by each table from the briefing packet. That equipment is suitable for suppressing the basic telepathic capabilities of the Wraith."
Sheppard nodded. "Damn shame about the database."
"Indeed," Shackleford agreed.
Sheppard yawned. "Man, it's been a long day. Aren't you tired?" he asked.
She faked stretching for his benefit. "A little, I suppose."
"It will be time to head back in about an hour, and it can't come fast en-"
Sheppard was interrupted by his radio. "Sheppard here," he said.
"Sheppard this is Weir. We've got a problem on Atlantis."
"What problem? Did Rodney blow up an alternate universe again or something?"
Selene blinked. "Colonel, what do you mean by again?" she asked.
"Long story," Sheppard whispered.
"No," Weir said over the radio, exasperated. "There's...something, we don't know what, spreading out of the restricted areas in the city. One of Major Lorne's men disappeared. He sent out a distress call before we lost communications. We heard gunfire. Then additional patrols came under attack. Parts of the city we control are going dark steadily. We have no idea what it is."
"Dammit," Sheppard swore. "The city always keeps a few surprises for us doesn't it?"
Selene kept her expression neutral. I have to get in there and see what's happening.
"Let's go," Sheppard said, taking off at a jog towards the gate. Selene paced him easily. "We're coming Elizabeth, hang tight."
"No John, don't."
"What?" Sheppard asked incredulously.
"Whatever it is, it's spreading. Thermal sensors are showing ever increasing numbers of something hostile. Major Lorne doesn't know if he can hold them. If the city is lost-"
"That's not going to happen, Elizabeth," Sheppard said.
"Someone has to survive this to reclaim the city if we lose here, someone has to get the word out. Take your team to the Alpha Site."
No! Dammit, Selene swore to herself.
"Elizabeth-" Sheppard began.
"Now, Colonel," Weir said.
"Fine," Sheppard said. "Sheppard to all personnel, fall back to the gate. McKay, dial up the gate."
Fuck, she swore to herself again. I've got to get back to Atlantis.
She kept pace with Sheppard back to the Stargate to find it dialed with an active wormhole. "This is McKay," she heard Rodney. "Requesting clearance...understood, Alpha site. We're incoming momentarily. Standby."
Selene looked around. Sheppard was standing right next to her, within easy arms reach. Rodney and Teyla were 10 yards away. Close enough that she was confident she could get to them. Ronon was 25 yards away. That would be tough, she'd only known the man for two days but she recognized how dangerous he could be. There were several others, but they were all scientists and support personnel. None of them were a real threat.
Shouldn't be a problem...
Her eye color shifted to icy blue as she drew on her strength. With a rush of wind she ran past Sheppard, striking him on the neck as she went, hitting the correct pressure point.
Sheppard hadn't even fallen halfway to the ground by the time she reached Rodney and Teyla. Rodney dropped just as easily as Sheppard had. Teyla was slightly better, striking at Selene. The strike was slow, so slow, she watched Teyla's kick move through the air lazily. She evaded easily and swept Teyla's leg, dropping her to the ground.
Selene charged after Ronon. He got off one shot that tagged her in the arm. She grimaced as her flesh burned under the impact, but then she was on him. She dropped him without fanfare and ran back the DHD. She closed the wormhole to the Alpha site and started a new sequence to open the gate to Atlantis.
The gate dialed so slowly it felt like a thousand years to her. At last, the final chevron locked and activated. She hit the button on her IDC, and hoped that Stargate Control would drop the force field.
Teyla struggled to her feet, eyes wide. Selene met hers for an instant, and time seemed to stop. Selene heard half formed thoughts that were not hers.
What are- Selene heard in her mind. The thought was cutoff as she ran through the Stargate in the blink of an eye.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Oh, dammit," Sheppard groaned. "What the hell happened?"
"You got beat up by a girl," Ronon said, pulling Sheppard to his feet.
"What?"
"That Dr. Shackleford, she dropped you like a pro. Never seen anyone do it that fast."
"Speaking of fast," Teyla said, "did you see how quickly she moved?"
"Yeah, I did actually," Ronon said, rubbing his aching head.
"What in the hell was that all about?" Sheppard said. "Where did she go?"
"I think she went back to Atlantis," Telya said.
"You think?" Sheppard asked.
"I just..." Teyla stammered. "I don't know how to describe it. I looked into her eyes before she went through the gate, and I knew."
"Knew how?"
"It was like...you remember the time I made telepathic contact with the Wraith? It was like that, sort of."
"Son of a bitch," Sheppard said. "Rodney. Rodney!" Sheppard nudged Rodney with his foot. "Wake up!"
"Ow," he groaned.
"Ronon, dial Atlantis," Sheppard said. "Let them know that they may have a Wraith infiltrator. This week just keeps getting better."
Ronon began dialing the gate. "You got beat up a girl," he deadpanned.
"No I didn't," Sheppard protested.
A long silence stretched between them. "That's what it looked like to me."
"Ronon," Sheppard said warningly.
"You got beat up by a girl," Ronon repeated.
"Yeah, well. So did you," Sheppard mumbled grumpily. Ronon chuckled.
The gate activated and Sheppard hit his radio. "Atlantis, this is Sheppard, come in."
Nothing.
"Atlantis, this is Sheppard, come in."
More nothing.
"Well, that can't be good," Sheppard said. "Ronon, Teyla, McKay, with me. Dr. Bannon," Sheppard motioned towards the white haired academic in charge of the team's scientists, "you're in charge. Take the rest of our people to the Alpha site and tell them what's happened."
"But didn't Dr. Weir order us to not return to Atlantis?" Dr. Bannon asked.
"Weir is no longer able to perform her duties and thus is no longer in command. I'm in charge for now." His justification, while correct on paper, was about as thin and was likely to get him into trouble. Assuming I survive, of course.
"I understand, Colonel," Dr. Bannon said. "Good luck."
"Activate IDCs and let's go," Sheppard said.