Chapter 7
"This is foolish, Sheppard," Selene said.
Sheppard had taken the opportunity to reload the M-240, but he'd made sure to get it pointed at Selene as quickly as possible. "How in hell's name did you get past our security?" Sheppard glanced at her slightly distended mouth. "What are you!?"
Selene sighed, clearly impatient. "We cannot stay here. More are coming."
Sheppard glanced back Lorne. Lorne took a quick look at his motion sensor, and nodded at Sheppard.
"Fine. Talk on the way," Sheppard spat. "Give me even half a reason and we will burn you down on the spot."
"Sheppard, isn't that a little harsh?" Teyla asked. "She did help-"
"Not now!" Sheppard snapped.
Teyla put up a placating hand. "Sorry," she said.
"What the fuck are you people waiting for? MOVE OUT!" Sheppard snarled.
The crew leapt into gear, suddenly afraid of their irritated commander.
"You," Sheppard waved the barrel of the M-240 at Selene. "Move."
The team retreated further into the city in professional silence. What would've normally been a painfully slow leapfrog style retreat went much faster due to Lorne's motion detector being able to tell the team if any surprises awaited them.
Selene dropped back in the column a bit, where she could talk to Sheppard without being easily overheard. "You've been bitten," she said in a low voice.
"So?" Sheppard asked.
"I would guess that you're feeling generally angry, tense, and probably feverish at this point," Selene said.
"What of it?" Sheppard demanded.
"You were bitten by a lycan," Selene said.
Sheppard grimaced. "Ah. I think I saw this in a movie once."
Selene rolled her eyes, which Sheppard had noticed had returned to their natural color. "You will turn, and soon. The lycan that attacked you was old and powerful. People bitten by older lycans turn more quickly and are more powerful after the change."
"Any possibility of a cure?" Sheppard asked.
"It's been tried," Selene said. "No one has managed it yet."
Sheppard broke into a cold sweat. He ruthlessly suppressed his atavistic fear, not having time for it. "How long?"
"Hours, maybe a day," Selene said.
"Dammit. Will I still retain control of myself even when I'm...you know, doing the nice doggie thing?"
"Normally you wouldn't, but...you were bitten by an older lycan, and that helps because you will inherit much of that lycan's power and self control...and you are extraordinarily resilient in your own right John Sheppard. More so than anyone I've met."
Sheppard shrugged. "We've had to survive out here without much support from Earth. I guess we are used to it. So, why so nice all of a sudden?"
"I have no quarrel with humans, Colonel," Selene said. "The only reason I'm here is to prevent the destruction of my own species."
"Yeah, about that," Sheppard said. "You want to fill me in?"
Selene looked away from Sheppard. "Humans have told many stories down through the ages about lycans and werewolves. They have told many stories about my kind as well."
Selene turned back towards Sheppard and her eyes had taken on that unsettling blue hue. This time Sheppard got a better look at her. Her mouth was slightly distended again, but this time he could see why.
Fangs.
"Holy shit," Sheppard whispered. "You mean all those stories are real?"
"Most of the stories are laced with foolish myth, but yes, vampires are real and I am one."
"Huh," Sheppard said. "So how is it you can tolerate sunlight?"
Selene looked sharply at Sheppard. "You learn of our existence and the first thing you ask is why I can walk in the daylight?" she asked, somewhat incredulous. "You are at times a strange man, Sheppard."
"Ugh, you sound like my last girlfriend," Sheppard muttered. "You didn't answer my question."
"It is true that most of us can't tolerate the sun. A few of the very oldest can. I am...different," she finished.
"Different how?"
"It's complicated," she said. "A long story and we probably don't have time for it right now."
"Hmm," Sheppard said. "I wonder how the brass are going to react to the knowledge that there are two other sentient species besides humans living on Earth."
"You must not tell them!" she hissed. "We are few in number. We survive by not being noticed!"
"How the hell am I supposed to cover this up, even if I wanted to?" Sheppard asked.
"Damnation," Selene said. "Just don't tell anyone else for now," she said.
"Fine, but this isn't going away. We'll have to deal with it at some point."
"Later," Selene said.
"Later," Sheppard agreed.
"Contact!" Lorne called out. "Motion in the next room!" Lorne motioned towards the doorway at the end of the hallway.
"Ronon, Teyla, Lorne, stack up!" Sheppard ordered, moving to the side of the door. "Everyone else, take up defensive positions. Ronon, get ready to open it. Selene, you're with us." He looked her over and came to a decision. "Major Lorne, if you would, please let our guest here borrow a weapon."
Lorne tossed Selene a Benelli M4 semi-automatic shotgun. She checked the weapon expertly, shouldered it, and nodded to Sheppard.
Ronon keyed in the unlock code and held his finger above the button that would open the door. He nodded to Sheppard, showing his readiness.
Sheppard's M-240 was too unwieldy for breaching and close quarters combat. He slung the weapon and drew his 1911 .45 caliber pistol, activating the small, but very bright flashlight attached under the barrel.
"Go!" Sheppard ordered.
Sheppard was first through the door. He aimed the pistol straight ahead and lined up on the first thing he saw...
Which was a wounded human.
"Clear!" Sheppard shouted. "Friendlies."
"Damn are we glad to see you," a man in US Army fatigues said. Sheppard recognized him as Major Donnelson, commander of Team 3.
"Major," Sheppard greeted. "You got any wounded?"
Major Donnelson nodded grimly. "One." He pointed to a supine form behind him.
"Elizabeth!" Sheppard said.
She was in bad shape. She had severe lacerations and blood was spilling from her. Two medics were working on her frantically, battling heroically to stop the bleeding.
It was a battle they were steadily losing.
Her breathing was shallow and rapid, and her eyes had that distant look of someone in shock. "Selene," Sheppard motioned for Selene. "Has she been...you know, like me?"
"No," Selene said. Sheppard noticed her eyes had gone blue again and her breathing was shallower. It's all the blood, Sheppard thought. I guess she's thirsty. "She doesn't have long," Selene said.
"Are you sure?" Sheppard asked.
"I have seen thousands of humans die in all my years," Selene said. "She does not have long."
Sheppard ground his teeth in frustration. "Is there nothing we can do?"
"Maybe if we had some blood coagulants and equipment for a transfusion, we could save her. As it is, we don't have any options. Well, except..."
"Except what?" Sheppard asked.
"There might be a way," Selene said. "But you most assuredly will not like it."
"I don't like Dr. Weir dying either," Sheppard said. "Tell me."
"Lycans can be born naturally, or they can be turned, like you," Selene said. "So it is with my kind."
"You've got to be shitting me," Sheppard said.
"Sir," Major Donnelson said. "I have no idea what's going on here, but if your friend can help, she'd best be doing it soon."
Sheppard rubbed his eyes. He had no right to make this decision for Elizabeth. He had no idea what was involved in being a vampire, or if Elizabeth would even want to live that way. A debate warred in his head, but it was really only a formality. He knew immediately what his choice was.
He loved Elizabeth, and in that moment he finally admitted it to himself. He couldn't let her go, whatever the cost.
"There's no guarantee it will work. Many humans don't survive the change. If she gets past the change, she may yet bleed out, but at least this way there is a chance," Selene said.
"Do what you can," Sheppard said.
"Please step aside," Selene said to the medics. Sheppard watched as her eyes went icy blue and her fangs extended. The bite was surprisingly gentle and brief.
"Just like that?" Sheppard asked.
"Just like that," Selene said. "Have your men continue to try to control the bleeding. If she survives, when she wakes she will be...well, thirsty if you take my meaning."
"Great," Sheppard said.
"We will deal with it when it comes," Selene said. "We must keep moving."
Sheppard nodded. "Major Lorne, where's the nearest communications tower?"
"About a mile to the southeast," Lorne answered. "What are you thinking?"
"The Daedalus was en route for a scheduled visit," Sheppard said. "She was supposed to be here by morning. If we can get a message out, maybe Caldwell can bring in reinforcements when he gets here."
"Worth a try," Lorne said.
"How far is the communications tower from the south pier?" Sheppard asked.
"Not very far," Ronon said. "Less than a 5 minute jog."
"Good. The south pier is wide open. Fighting these things in close quarters is suicidal, if we get them into the open we can use our heavier weapons to better effect," Sheppard said. He checked his watch. "We've got four hours until daybreak and a lot of work ahead of us. Let's move."