Chapter Nineteen - Revelations

Lani stared after the junior doctor she'd had as her aide as he walked out of the room. Her legs trembled and she had to hold on to the bed for support as exhaustion swept over her. For several hours she'd fought to save John Sheppard's life; two times she'd been convinced he'd died, one time she'd almost stopped breathing herself.

The medical examiner stared at her patient, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. He looked so peaceful in his induced sleep, so young – gone was the burden of command, the lines of worry and tightness of pain around his eyes. Still, even though she'd managed to repair his badly injured body, he was from out of danger. She wouldn't say she'd done a hasty work but so many complications could easily occur in his condition and down here in the trapped air, with old germs, without proper equipment and the required blood for a transfusion she could only sit by and watch him die.

Lani carefully reached up with her still gloved hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks only to sob as she realized the glove was red with his blood. A surge of anger and despair coursed through her body as she undid the gloves and threw them on the floor. She then sank to her knees next to the bed and she wept. Everything was catching up with her, from the day of the first meeting with the government to organize the Triple group, to the arguments with Military Organizer Katan, to the revelation of enhanced research down in the experimental bunker, to the exile of the tribe's people after the statement made about the prophecy. Then there was the deception of the resistance group and then the betrayal of the military as she informed the resistance of recent plans taken toward them. Then came the day she first met John Sheppard, the day the civil war broke out and the vicious creatures tried to extinguish the entire civilization on the planet, they still did actually. She had no idea of what was going on on the streets above, for all she knew everyone she held dear could have been killed.

Lani took a deep breath and took a moment to gather herself before she once again got up on her feet.

The junior doctor walked back into the room and shook his head. "I'm sorry but I couldn't find his friend anywhere. The Alpha outside the door told me she'd gone to help the others."

Lani nodded with a ghost of a smile. She'd realized from the first time she'd met Teyla that the Athosian was a strong woman, a woman of action yet diplomatic. She didn't seem to be the type of woman who'd like to sit idle. She'd gone to help the others even though her concern for Sheppard had been great.

The medical examiner nodded to her junior colleague. "There was nothing she could have done here. I just hope that she's successful wherever she is."

The doctor nodded and turned to the door. "I'll prepare for him to be taken to the main infirmary."

Lani nodded, watching him leave. She then turned to Sheppard and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you've fought long and hard on this planet but from what I can gather it's not the first time you've fought for your life," she said softly, remembering all the healed scars on his body. "Please hold on a little longer, John, that's all I ask."

OOOOOO

Rodney yelped as he stumbled on the uneven ground and went down hard on his knee. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes for a moment before he was gently helped to his feet by two of the young soldiers.

"It is not that far away now," Dadan said from behind.

"I wish we could contact the others," Rodney said hollowly. "I seriously hope, for his own sake, that Sheppard is still alive so that I can kill him myself."

"Teyla's with him," Ronon said.

"Why does he have to attract problems wherever he goes?" Rodney continued, ignoring Ronon's statement. "He's going to be the death of me one day."

Ronon smiled faintly as he pushed the scientist forward. "Move McKay, we haven't got the whole day."

Rodney grumbled and hastily glanced at the life signs detector still in hand, relieved when there was no one else in the vicinity.

Dadan, who was walking slightly ahead of them suddenly stopped at the end of the corridor, marked by a large double door.

Rodney went forward to sweep his hand over the door console and let out a deep sigh of relief as the door responded to his command. He walked into the room, not quite sure what to expect and came to a halt at the bottom of an ancient stair.

Rodney swallowed as he glanced up and saw the massive, rather impressive staircase, leading upwards several floors. The darkness in which it was hidden was replaced by a glowing light only to turn into a brightly lit room as the system sensed the presence of the ATA gene carrier.

The tribespeople stared amazed at the enormity of the large hall in which the staircase was situated.

"This is new," Rodney mumbled under his breath.

Ronon coughed as dust tickled his throat. "No one's been in here for ages," he grumbled and headed for the first flight only to be stopped by a faint force field. Surprised, the Satedan stepped back.

Rodney stared at it, temporarily dumbfounded by the security measures. "This is strange," he mused.

"You are not of the sky people?" Dadan asked curiously as he studied the Satedan.

"No he's not," Rodney returned succinctly.

"You are not from the same place?" Dadan inquired further.

"We're not from the same planet," Rodney let on but he didn't turn to face the old man. Instead he continued to look at the force field and try to work out how to turn it off.

"Turn it off, McKay," Ronon said gruffly, rubbing his hand from where it had connected with the force field.

"I would if I could," the scientist returned sarcastically. "It's raised to protect this section from within. I have no access to it from here. I can't reach the Lantean system from the chair room and certainly not from here. I am open to suggestions – although I doubt you have any."

OOOOOO

Teyla stumbled but she didn't fall. She watch up in the ominous sky, filled with storm clouds, and then ahead of her. Everywhere she looked lay dead people, broken toys, broken mobile merchants' tents and burning vehicles. She clipped her last magazine in place and tightened her grip around the P90. She sensed them as she walked carefully down the lane, she felt the presence of the Wraith. There was an eerie silence settling over the mourning city, oppressing everything else.

The Athosian didn't hesitate as the Wraith came around the street corner toward her, she let lose the weapon, her face a mask of determination. Several Alpha members suddenly joined her from behind, helping her.

The leading lieutenant smiled at her as she lowered her weapon and nodded at them. "Military Defense Officer Rodin thought you could use a hand ma'am," he said politely yet with awe in his voice at her fighting spirit.

Teyla smiled sadly as she thought of Sha and Rackie. "How are they?" she enquired carefully.

"Tough," was the instant answer. "And we are no softies either ma'am. We've encountered several of the beings while trying to find you. Control has managed to reroute communications but it's not a hundred percent. We made contact with Hospital Section One, help is on the way to control. Now, our immediate problem is to get rid of those creeps still riddling our streets. We estimate there will be at least fifty of those creatures in our vicinity."

They all jumped as the Network was turned on and every screen that had survived the fighting and bombardment came to life. A familiar face turned his cold grey eyes upon them and, when he spoke it was with directness and brutal honesty.

Meren Kal sat ramrod straight on the chair back in the media building, everywhere around him was burned circuitry and the smell of burned flesh but he was oblivious to it after so many hours in the room.

"It is time," he began seriously. "It is time that we start to tell each other the truth. And the truth is, as you have seen, that we're not alone. The Inner Circle has been aware of activity among the stars for quite some time but of fear we have not pursued to investigate further. Maybe then we would have been able to prevent much of what has happened here today and avoided all the lies over the past years – for generations even."

"For over two years the government has sanctioned the building of a prototype ship based on blueprints found in the city down below. A city that we now know is named Askula. The government has been concerned about the activity among the stars for a long time but has lacked the means of further investigation. Man has longed for space a long time but the means have not been present."

"We are all aware of the power problems that we currently have and that problem will not be easily solved," he continued cryptically. "Within every statement I make lies a deeper truth, ones that I cannot go into here. Sufficient to say is that we will all stand united for the sake of our planet, our city and our ancestors. What we have witnessed here today is a repeat performance of something that happened here a very long time ago. A battle named in a prophecy, a battle where some of the sky people stayed behind to save our ancestors from extinction. It is all true, we are their heritage and we shall all be proud of that. It is over now and we have won, all of us have won even though no one might feel like a winner."

OOOOOO

Several blocks from where Teyla stood, Sha struggled to get off the examination bed and gingerly reached for his shirt. The broadcast had been displayed all over the city and he couldn't agree more with the man; no one felt like a winner. As far as he was concerned they still hadn't reached their goal.

His rippled stomach muscles was hidden mostly by bandages, sore and bruised. His left shoulder had been pulled back in place and was now a colorful area in various purple nuances. His left temple had been cleaned from the caked blood and the wound had been sealed with spray plastic. The rest of the various small cuts and bruises were superficial and only added to his haggard appearance. Anyone who saw him would take him for dead on his feet unless they saw the determined spark in his eyes. Sha had constantly bullied the poor nurses checking up on him about Rackie's condition and had let out a deep sigh of relief when it was reported to him that the young engineer would make a full recovery, although he was suffering from a broken leg and a rather severe concussion.

Being a high ranking military officer had its perks and for the last half hour Sha had been staring at the digital pad, which he'd demanded they give him, displaying the Lantean city map. Three of the large spires had been left as monuments of what had once been but, as far as he knew, no one had ever entered any of them. Many had tried but they seemed impenetrable, also after the incidents with the plague and other strange occurrences affecting members of the survey teams sent to the old city many had begun to fear the place. Now they knew better.

Teyla and her colleagues spoke of the city as a bright and beautiful place, as did Dadan and his people, although they also spoke of the magic city with all its infinite powers. Sha had chosen to believe in the prophecy a long time ago and it was with greater understanding to everything that had been going on so long ago that he was now trying to make sense of the marvellous place. Despite the fact that he couldn't read the language he considered it, weighted tactics and reasoned with himself about the plan. He prided himself on having a fair grasp of things as he reached for the communications box that one of his lieutenants had left for him next to the clean shirt.

"Team Alpha One, please come in," he said into the microphone on the side of the gadget.

There was a burst of static over the link before the team leader acknowledged him.

"Military Defense Officer, sir," came the serious voice.

"Lieutenant. Have you caught up with Teyla?" Sha asked.

"Yes, sir," he returned.

Not waiting for a reply Sha spoke directly to the Athosian. "Teyla, I think you should have your friends look at the larger spire at the outskirt of this city," he said. "I can't read the language and there's no means for translating it here but something, I don't know why, I can't explain it, tells me there is a chance to find your gate there."

"I read you, Sha," Teyla returned softly, when she spoke again a tinge of concern had seeped into her voice. "Are you well?"

"Don't you worry about me, Teyla," he said lightly. "There are far better things to grow concerned about. Is there any way to contact Doctor McKay or Ronon?"

"I tried using my radio before but was met by static only," she said regrettably.

Sha nodded despite knowing she couldn't see it. "Leave the Wraith to my Alpha teams, Teyla and meet me…" he trailed off then addressed the lieutenant. "Where's your present location?"

"Two blocks south of Hospital Section One, sir," came the reply then the voice hastily added. "No offense, sir, but should you leave the hospital?"

"Just deal with the Wraith, Lieutenant," Sha returned, rather annoyed, as he carefully shrugged into his fresh shirt. "Teyla, meet me in the lobby."

"I'll be there shortly," she acknowledged.

"And just where do you think you're going, sir?" A young nurse asked as she came into the room.

"Out," he said rather sternly as he collected the gadgets he needed and took a step toward her and the door.

"I…"she began as she tried to block his way. "I can't let you out, sir."

"Get out of my way, please, nurse and let me help those who need it. I'm sure you have wounded to take care of," he reasoned, his blue eyes boring into her soul.

She wasn't used to dealing with higher officers, lower grades she could handle. Therefore she hesitated as he walked toward her, his full height towering at her. He was one of the highest ranking military officers, who was she to stop him if he really needed to go? Surely the doctor had cleared him? Maybe she was just misinformed in the chaos surrounding her. Still uncertain, the nurse moved aside to let the officer pass.

OOOOOO

To be continued