John limped into the saloon with Ronon's assistance and pointed to a table in the corner. "Over there."
Ronon nodded and helped John hobble over to one of the few remaining empty tables.
"Thanks," John added as Ronon deposited him in one of the chairs.
He groaned a moment later as Dex settled his foot on a second chair. John shifted in the chair, trying to find a position that didn't press on his collection of bruises and studied the people scattered around the room.
A low murmur filled the room as townspeople trickled into the saloon and joined friends or family huddled at various tables. John glanced up and saw more people crowding the balcony overlooking the main floor. Rance and one of the serving girls carried trays of food and mugs from table to table. Most of the townspeople accepted the offered bowls and mugs with a grateful nod or a smile. A few sat with dazed expressions, ignoring everything and everyone around them.
John noted the piano was thankfully silent.
"Should you not have the doctor look at your leg and foot?" Teyla asked as John shifted in the chair.
John shook his head. "Ronon's patch job is fine for now," he said. "Besides," he nodded to a young man kneeling in front of a woman a few tables away, "I think their doctor has his hands full."
The woman sat with one arm wrapped tight around a young boy. Another younger child sat on the boy's lap. The woman held her other arm against her chest and stared at the wall behind the bar, ignoring the bowl the serving girl set in front of her.
"Sarah?" the young man said with a gentle smile. "How are you doing?"
Sarah's head slowly turned, and she glanced at him with a dazed expression. "I'm all right, Doctor Mitchell" she replied. "Check the boys."
Mitchell reached for Sarah's arm. "I've already done that, remember? Other than some cuts and bruises, they are both just fine. They are a little worried about you, however."
Sarah glanced at the boy sitting next to her. "Jacob?" She brushed her hand over the bruise on Jacob's face. "You're all right?"
"Yes, Mama," Jacob replied. "Charlie is too." He patted the younger boy's shoulder. "Your arm?" He points to the arm Sarah held against her chest. "You're hurt."
"Will you let me see it?" Mitchell asked Sarah.
Sarah stared at Mitchell for a moment longer, then held out her arm.
Mitchell carefully extended her arm, feeling along the bones, and tsked when he reached her wrist. "I think your wrist is broken," he murmured, glancing at Sarah's face. "It doesn't feel like the bone is severely displaced, though. I should be able to set it easily enough, and then we'll wrap it. In a few weeks, it will be good as new."
Sarah smiled, and John thought she looked a little more aware of her surroundings.
Mitchell held her hand in one of his and braced his other hand just behind Sarah's wrist. "Ready?" he asked.
Sarah bit her lip and nodded. She squeezed her eyes shut, and John saw Jacob wince when Sarah whimpered as Mitchell reset the bone.
"There, all done," Mitchell said. He waited until Sarah opened her eyes and smiled. "Okay?" he asked.
Sarah blew out a breath and nodded.
Mitchell wrapped Sarah's wrist then pulled a bottle out of the bag sitting on the floor beside him. "Take these," he added, handing her a couple of pills. "You want to be careful using that hand for the next few weeks until the bones heal."
Sarah nodded. "Thank you," she said and swallowed the pills.
"You're welcome." Mitchell tousled Jacob's hair, picked up his bag, and walked over to John's table.
"You were the ones they pulled out of Logan's collapsed jail cell, weren't you?" Mitchell asked John and glanced at Rodney.
"John Sheppard," John said, holding out his hand.
Mitchell smiled and shook John's hand. "Jamie Mitchell. I'm the doctor here in Dakan" He nodded to John's tattered and bloody trouser leg. "Need me to take a look at that?"
John twitched his foot and shook his head. "It's fine."
Mitchell gave him a measured look, then turned to Rodney. "What about you? That bandage on your head could do with being changed."
Rodney reached up and winced as his fingers brushed the bloody bandage.
"Here," Mitchell said and set his bag on the table. "Let me see."
Rodney gave John a startled glance.
"Let him check it," John said, and Rodney snorted.
"Like you let him check your leg?"
Jamie waited a moment, then, at John's nod, stepped over to McKay and carefully removed the bloody bandage. "Looks like you took a pretty good knock," he said with a glance at Rodney's face. "Any headache? Feel like you're going to be sick?"
Rodney shook his head.
"You seem a little young to be a doctor," Teyla said, holding out an antiseptic wipe.
"My dad taught me everything he knew," Jamie said as he took the offered wipe and cleaned off the blood still oozing from the cut over Rodney's eye.
Teyla glanced around the room with a puzzled frown.
"He was culled. About a year ago," Jamie said with a sad smile.
"I am sorry for your loss," Teyla said.
"Yeah," Jamie replied and ducked his head. He finished with the wipe and probed the edges of the cut with his fingers.
Rodney hissed and jerked his head back with a scowl.
"Sorry," Jamie said as he examined the cut. "This isn't too deep. It should heal in a week or so."
He reached into the bag and pulled out a roll of gauze, but Teyla held out a self-adhesive bandage. "Here," she said.
Jamie nodded, opened the sterile packaging, and carefully covered the cut. "Let me know if you have any double vision or start feeling dizzy."
Rodney touched the clean bandage with his fingers.
"What happened to that arm?" Mitchell asked and nodded at the bandage wrapped around Rodney's hand and wrist.
"Scrapes mostly," Rodney replied, curling his arm against his chest. "Teyla, umm, took care of it."
Mitchell studied McKay for a moment, then picked up his bag. "Let me know if you want me to change the bandage."
Rodney glanced at John then nodded.
"Thanks, Doc," John said.
Jamie nodded, picked up his bag, and moved to the next table.
Rance arrived a moment later and set four bowls and four mugs on the table. "Skilly," he said, nodding at the bowls. "And tea."
"Thank you," Teyla replied with a smile.
Rance grunted and picked up the empty tray.
John picked up his spoon and glanced around the room. "Where's Addie today?" he asked, dipping his spoon into the bowl of porridge.
Rodney made a few unintelligible noises, and John elbowed him in the ribs.
"Gone," Rance replied shortly and walked away.
Rodney looked up from his bowl, his spoon halfway to his mouth. "Gone? As in …"
"Hyram mentioned something about several people missing before we found you," Teyla said.
John pursed his lips. "It sounds like whoever these bandits are, they aren't above kidnapping."
"How does that change our plans to assist the townspeople?" Teyla asked.
"It doesn't," Ronon replied.
John swallowed a bite of porridge and nodded. "Ronon's right. If anything, the fact that these bandits are kidnapping people just means these folks need our help even more."
The saloon doors swung open, and Hyram walked into the room, her expression grim as she stood not far from John's table. Logan saw her and crossed the room with his hat in his hand.
"Losses?" she asked Logan in a low voice.
John's ears perked up, and he glanced at Ronon.
"Three dead," Logan replied. "Frank and his two boys. The blacksmith was one of the buildings hit by that cannon. Probably set something on fire. They were trapped inside."
Hyram ducked her head. "We have people missing, too," she said, and John noticed her hands clenched behind her back.
Logan nodded. "I counted five from town."
"There are at least eight more missing from the outlying houses," Hyram said. "Mostly women and children."
"Probably so we'd take their demands seriously," Logan growled.
Hyram frowned. "Demands? There were demands?"
Logan nodded, put on his hat, and pulled a folded paper from his shirt pocket. "Ezra found it pinned to the wall of the water mill with an arrow."
Hyram read the paper with pursed lips and shook her head. "Have you mentioned this to anyone else?" she asked, looking up at Logan.
"No," Logan replied. "And I made sure Ezra knew to keep his trap shut about it too."
"What's going on?" Rodney asked, dropping his spoon into his empty bowl and glancing from Ronon to John and then at Logan and Hyram.
"It sounds like these bandits took more than a dozen people hostage," John replied. He nodded to the paper Hyram handed back to Logan. "And they're making ransom demands."
"What do you want to do?" Logan asked Hyram.
"What can we do?" she replied in a whisper. "They are holding thirteen of our people." She took a deep breath, glanced around the room, and straightened her shoulders. "I'll tell them the news."
Logan nodded and stepped back as Hyram made her way through the crowd. She stopped at the nearest table and spoke softly to the two women seated in front of her. The women nodded, and Hyram squeezed their hands before moving to the next table, comforting several others as she slowly made her way across the room to the bar.
"Friends," Hyram said, standing with her back to the bar and her hands clasped in front of her, watching the room.
The last murmurs of conversation died, and the room fell silent.
"This is not the end," Hyram continued. "We will not allow these barbarians to destroy the town we have built."
"First the Wraith, and now common villains," a woman on the other side of the room lamented. "How much more can we take?"
"We are strong," Hyram replied to the woman as she studied the rest of the room. "Together, we can stand against this scourge. We will endure. Storefronts can be rebuilt. Crops replanted -"
"They took my boy," Cal shouted. "They took my boy! How are you going to get him back?"
More voices chimed in, and John watched as the mood in the room swung from shock and sadness to anger. He didn't envy Hyram. It was one thing to command a military organisation, quite another when dealing with civilians. He was constantly impressed by Elizabeth's ability to balance compassion for the people under her command against the sometimes impossible decisions that came with leading the expedition. Hyram, it seemed, had a similar ability.
Maybe once all of this is over, he should introduce Weir to Hyram, John thought to himself.
Hyram raised her hands. "Friends, please!" she said. "I know you are upset. Angry at what has happened. I am too." She waited for the room to quiet, then continued, "But we cannot let what has happened here destroy everything we have spent so much effort building. As for our missing people …" She took a deep breath and nodded to Logan.
Logan stepped forward. "This was found this morning," he said, holding up the paper. "It's a list of demands."
"What sort of demands?" a voice in the crowd asked.
"Food. Tools. Other necessities. Along with several carts and horses," Logan replied. "We're to have the horses hitched to the carts and the carts loaded and parked near the water mill by sunset the day after tomorrow. If we meet their demands, they promise to return our people and leave."
Ronon snorted. "Until they come back."
Several people seated nearby heard him and turned, glaring in Ronon's direction.
"Ronon is right," John said to the room at large. "Giving in to these demands won't solve your problem. You need to stand up to these people. Show them you won't be intimidated."
"You'd be condemning the people they took to death," Cal countered from one of the nearby tables.
"And you're condemning yourselves to a lifetime of terror if you simply give in," John replied.
"They have our children," a woman cried.
"If you desire your children to grow up free of fear from these raids, you must be willing to fight for yourselves," Teyla replied.
Several others joined in, and the noise level in the room increased as more and more people chimed in.
Hyram raised her voice over the din. "Friends! Please!" she shouted. "This solves nothing!" She waited until the volume in the room dropped, then turned to John.
"Colonel Sheppard, thank you for your input, but this is not your concern."
"Maybe not. But it's a battle we're willing to help you fight," John replied.
"Why?" Cal demanded, scowling at John. "What do you get out of this? Are we just trading one form of subjugation for another?"
"No," Teyla said. "It is true we have only just arrived on your world. But we do come as friends."
Hyram studied John for several long seconds.
John stared back. "You know we're right," he said to Hyram. "If you give in, you'll never be free of them."
Hyram blew out a breath and nodded. "What do you suggest we do?"
"Get rid of that Wraith cannon," Ronon replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh, is that all," Cal scoffed. "Just march into the hills and take it away from them. That's your big plan?"
"Impossible!" someone shouted.
"We have to do something," another voice replied, and several others agreed.
"Of course, you'd say that, Jace," Cal countered, standing and glaring across the room. "The only thing you lost was a few head of bovine. Some of us would like to see our loved ones again."
John winced as a sharp whistle cut through the increasing hubbub. "Quiet down!" Logan ordered. Few people heeded the order, and Logan whistled again, holding the note until everyone else fell silent.
Logan scowled around the room. "Now," he said once he had the floor. "If Colonel Sheppard here has a plan, I, for one, would like to hear it."
A low murmur rose from the far side of the room, and Logan glared at the small huddle of men in the corner.
John glanced at the corner and wasn't surprised when he saw Ezra in the center of the group, scowling back at Logan.
"Ezra, you got somethin' to add?" Logan demanded.
Ezra narrowed his eyes. "Nothin' that can't wait."
"All right then," Logan said, turning to John's table. "Colonel?"
John glanced up at Logan and smiled. "Give me just a second to confer with my team."
Logan frowned but nodded.
"Colonel?" Teyla asked, leaning forward. "You do have a plan, do you not?"
"Sort of," John replied and glanced at Rodney. "But you're going to hate it."
Rodney narrowed his eyes. "I already hate this entire idea of sticking around after Logan tried to trade us to the Genii."
John took a deep breath, anticipating the explosion. "Ronon's right," he said to McKay. "The best way to stop these bandits is to take away their ability to use that cannon."
Rodney stared at him for several seconds, and John saw the moment the light dawned. "You have got to be kidding!" he exclaimed, and John shushed him with a quick glance at Logan. "Are you insane?" Rodney continued at a marginally lower volume.
"Can you disable the cannon or not?" John growled.
Rodney grimaced and rubbed his forehead. "Probably," he finally admitted. "Radek has had one of the cannons from that dart you shot down on Thenora in his lab for months now. We've been studying it when things like the Wraith attacking the city weren't going on."
"You have?" Teyla said with a startled glance at Ronon.
"Mmm," Rodney replied and turned to John. "I had planned to use it to test the hybrid cloak and shield emitters before …" McKay's voice trailed off, and John had a flash memory of Rodney lying in the infirmary after the prototype emitter array had exploded.
"There are a few things I can do to disable it, I guess," Rodney admitted.
"Good. What I wanted to hear," John said, turning back to Logan.
"It's not that simple," Rodney said, and John clenched his hands under the table.
"You just said you could do this. What's the problem?"
"For starters, I don't have any tools. In case you forgot, Logan stripped us of everything except our clothes."
"I'm sure Logan will return our stuff," John replied.
"Second," Rodney continued, rubbing the back of his head, "you can barely walk. How are you going to climb a mountain and fight who knows how many of these bandits?"
John grimaced. He wasn't thrilled about this part of the plan, but it couldn't be helped. If they had any chance of taking out that cannon, Rodney was the only one who could do it. And John didn't trust anyone other than the team to watch his back.
"I'll manage," John replied. "Don't worry about me."
"You would risk all of our lives by coming with us, Colonel," Teyla said. "And possibly make your injuries worse."
John clenched his jaw and tried to ignore the throbbing ache in his foot. Which was the worse option? he asked himself. Risk all of their lives by going with them, or stay behind knowing he'd be unable to help if something went wrong?
"You know I am right," Teyla said in a low voice. "Ronon and I will go with Rodney. We can deal with any guards while Rodney disables the cannon."
"We can still simply leave," Rodney suggested.
"Not an option," John told him. "These people need help."
Rodney threw up his hands and sat back in his chair. "This plan sucks," he muttered.
John waited a moment, making sure McKay wouldn't say anything else, then slowly stood. The constant throbbing in his lower leg increased to pounding as soon as he tried to put any weight on his foot, and John balanced himself with one hand on the back of his chair. "That cannon is the key," he said, looking around the room. "Doctor McKay here," John rested a hand on Rodney's shoulder, "has extensive knowledge of the technology in question."
"I wouldn't say -" Rodney started to say, but John tightened his grip on McKay's shoulder.
Rodney winced but got the message and stopped talking.
"As I was saying," John continued. "Doctor McKay has extensive knowledge of the technology in question. A small team made up of McKay, Ronon, and Teyla," he nodded to each of them in turn, "should be able to get close enough to the cannon for McKay to disable it without attracting any attention. Once the bandits realise the cannon won't work, that should make them think twice about attacking you again, and you can negotiate for the release of your people on an even playing field. Chances are they won't be as eager to fight once we take away their big gun."
"And we're supposed to just trust that you will do what you say you will?" Ezra asked with a sneer.
"Ezra," Logan started to say, but Ezra interrupted.
"No," Ezra said, pushing off the wall. "The only thing we know about these people is that at least two of them are wanted by the Genii for who knows what crimes. What happened to turning them over and getting the reward?"
"There won't be any reward," Logan said.
Ezra gaped at Logan. "And who told you that?"
"I talked to Sheppard -"
"Really?" Ezra gave a disdainful snort. "You're taking his word over that of the Genii who have always -"
"You'll mind your tone, boy," Logan growled and stepped toward Ezra. "I'm still the sheriff in this town."
Ezra started to argue, but Hyram interrupted. "That's enough," she ordered.
Ezra clenched his hands into fists but backed down.
Hyram watched Ezra for a moment, then turned to the rest of the room. "I believe Colonel Sheppard's plan will work," she said. "Does anyone have another idea?"
The men and women in the room traded glances, but no one offered a different plan.
Hyram waited a few moments more, then turned to John. "Colonel Sheppard, we accept your offer to assist with this matter. When will your team be ready to leave?"
"They're ready now," John replied.
"We are?" Rodney asked, looking up at John.
"No time to waste," John replied. "If you want to catch those people up in the hills by surprise, you need to go now while they are resting."
"What about us resting?"
John did his best to hide his rising impatience. He knew McKay and the others were probably tired and sympathised. But he also knew it was safer to make the attempt in daylight when the bandits were more likely to have their guard down.
"You're telling me you'd rather climb a mountain in the dark?" John asked with a pointed glare at McKay.
Rodney scowled back, but he was the first to look away. "So much for getting some sleep first," he grumbled, rubbing the bandage on his head. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
"They're ready now," John repeated to Hyram and turned to Logan. "We will need the items we left with you last night."
Logan nodded. "Your gear was in one of the drawers of my desk. That gun didn't do much damage to the front of the building. Everything should still be there."
Hyram glanced across the room. "Ezra, you have been following the route of these barbarians for a few days now. Do you know where they are hiding?"
Ezra glowered at John for a moment, then focused on Hyram. "Based on the fact they attacked with horses, they have to be up in the high meadow," he grudgingly replied. "It's the only place where they could find enough forage to feed a couple dozen animals."
"Good. Since you have concerns regarding the motives of Colonel Sheppard and his people, you will accompany them, acting as a guide and providing whatever assistance is required."
Rodney dropped his hand from his head and gave Sheppard a startled glance. "I'm not sure I like that idea."
John silently agreed, but before he could argue, Hyram gave John a stern look and added, "Is there a problem, Colonel Sheppard?"
John shook his head. "No, ma'am," he told her through gritted teeth. "I'm sure Ezra will be a great help."
"Then it is settled," Hyram said. "Your team will leave within the hour."
"Lovely," Rodney grumbled as the meeting broke up. "What could possibly go wrong."
"You'll be fine," John said. "Get in, deal with the cannon the fastest way you can, and get out. Don't get fancy."
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
Ronon leaned against the wall behind Sheppard's chair with his arms crossed over his chest and watched as the townspeople filed out of the saloon. A few smiled or offered words of thanks as they walked past their table, but most left without acknowledging them one way or the other.
Sheppard sat in his chair, and Ronon heard the low groan as he rested his foot on the chair next to him.
"Perhaps one of us should stay with you," Teyla suggested.
"No," Sheppard replied. "Your job is to get Rodney to that cannon. I'll be fine."
The last of the townspeople trickled out of the saloon, and Ronon relaxed his stiff stance. Hyram and Rance stood near the bar, speaking in low tones while the serving girl cleared dishes from the tables. Logan said something to Hyram then motioned for Ezra to follow him.
"I'll bring you your gear," Logan said as he passed their table.
"Thanks," Sheppard replied.
Logan nodded, tipped his hat to Teyla, and left.
"Be at the water mill in ten minutes," Ezra growled as he followed Logan. "Don't be late. I ain't waiting for you."
"You aren't giving the orders on this mission," Sheppard told him.
Ezra glanced down at Sheppard's bandaged foot. "Pretty sure it ain't goin' to be you."
Ronon held his arms at his sides and shifted his weight, anticipating Ezra trying something.
Sheppard glanced at Ronon, gave a minute shake of his head, and focused on Ezra with a neutral expression. "We're on the same side here."
Ezra snorted. "Are we?" he asked, his voice rising. "I'm not so sure of that. You get here right before those raiders attack. You somehow just know that their main weapon is some sort of Wraith device. And you just happen to have an 'expert'," he stabbed a finger in McKay's direction, "with you who can conveniently disable this supposed Wraith cannon." He dropped his hand and glared at Sheppard. "You may have all of them fooled," he waved his arm at the empty saloon, "but not me."
"Do you think we somehow magically knew what was happening here?" McKay demanded. "You really are an idiot."
Ezra took a step toward McKay, and Ronon blocked him with a hand on Ezra's chest.
"What is going on over here?" Hyram asked, walking over to the table.
Sheppard glanced up, and Ronon stepped back.
Ezra continued to scowl at McKay but stayed where he was.
"Just working out some details regarding the mission," Sheppard replied with a genial smile.
Hyram crossed her arms over her chest. "Colonel, if you are going to suggest Ezra stay behind, I'm afraid I must insist on him accompanying your team. For their safety as well as the safety of the people those barbarians kidnapped."
"And I agreed," Sheppard replied. "I was just explaining to Ezra here that Teyla would be taking the lead on this mission. Not him."
"I ain't takin' orders from strangers," Ezra retorted.
Hyram studied Sheppard for a moment, then turned to Ezra. "You will, however, take orders from me," she said and waited for Ezra to nod. "Teyla is in charge," she continued. "You will not bring shame to either me or this town by disobeying her. Do you understand?"
"So they have you fooled too -"
Hyram slapped Ezra's face.
Ezra raised one hand to his cheek and clenched the other into a fist.
Ronon shifted his weight in response, ready to restrain Ezra if necessary.
"This is my town," Hyram said in a tone that brooked no argument. "You will do as I say. You are to follow Teyla's orders and act as a guide. If anything happens to any of these people," she nodded to Teyla and McKay, "I will hold you personally responsible. Am I clear?"
Ezra glowered for a few moments, still rubbing his face, then jerked his head in a stiff nod.
"Go," Hyram ordered. "Colonel Sheppard's team will meet you at the water mill when they are ready to leave."
Ezra stomped out of the saloon, and Hyram turned to Teyla. "I thank you for your assistance dealing with the cannon. May the Ancestors protect you." She nodded to each of them in turn, then followed Ezra.
"That sounded ominous," McKay muttered.
"Going to wait outside," Ronon said.
"Leave Ezra alone," Sheppard admonished.
Ronon gave him a stiff nod and pushed through the swinging doors.
The sky was a clear blue, and heat radiated up from the dirt road, now dried into an uneven series of ruts and potholes. Ronon settled the particle weapon in its holster, adjusted the leather duster to hide the gun, and watched as Hyram and the townspeople worked to clean up the mess left behind from the previous night's attack.
Ezra stomped out of the sheriff's office across the road with a rifle in one hand and a rucksack over one shoulder. He glanced at the saloon, and Ronon saw the scowl on Ezra's face. They stared at each other briefly before Ezra turned and walked down the rutted road toward the water mill.
Logan walked out of the same building a few minutes later carrying two familiar tac-vests, McKay's backpack, and a couple of knives. He spoke to Cal and another man working clearing rubble from the building next door, then crossed the road.
"Logan's coming back," Ronon called to Sheppard over the swing doors.
Ronon heard chairs scraping across the wooden floor, and Sheppard appeared with his arm draped over McKay's shoulder.
"Your gear," Logan said, handing over the vests.
"Thanks," Sheppard said. He let go of McKay, checked the vests, handed one to McKay, and pulled on the other.
Logan handed over a pair of sheathed knives next.
Sheppard fitted the combat knife into the slot at the back of his vest and handed the smaller knife to McKay.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" McKay asked, taking the knife.
"Hide it somewhere," Sheppard replied.
McKay turned the small knife over in his hand, then stuck it in his back pocket.
"I said hide it, McKay," Sheppard said with an impatient eye-roll.
Logan pulled a strip of leather thong out of his pocket. "Give me the knife," he said to McKay, holding out his hand.
McKay hesitated, then handed over the knife.
Logan pushed the thin strip of leather through the clip on the back of the sheath, eyed McKay for a moment, then tied the thong in a loop with the knife dangling from the bottom.
"Take that jacket off, and roll up your shirt sleeve. Loop the leather over your shoulder with the knife hanging against your body," Logan told McKay, handing back the knife.
McKay took the knife with a look of distaste but did as Logan suggested.
"You're sure this plan of yours will work?" Logan asked Sheppard.
"This is not exactly comfortable," McKay grumbled as he settled the knife, then rolled down his sleeve and put his jacket back on.
"It's not supposed to be comfortable," John replied. "But if anything happens, it could save your life." He adjusted his tac-vest and turned to Logan. "My people are very good. Don't worry. They'll get the job done."
"I hope you're right, Sheppard. There's an awful lot of people countin' on you."
"What else is new," McKay muttered under his breath as he buckled his tac-vest.
Logan gave McKay a puzzled frown. "May the Ancestors protect you," he said, tipping his hat to Teyla. He turned on his heel and followed Cal and another man carrying several lengths of wood down the road toward the general store.
Sheppard pulled his earpiece out of one of the vest pockets and checked the radio. "Check?" he said over the radio.
Teyla nodded.
"Check-ins every fifteen minutes," Sheppard ordered, glancing at each of them in turn. "I want to know everything happening while you're up there."
"Understood, Colonel," Teyla replied.
McKay checked his pack, then clipped it to his vest.
"Ready?" Sheppard asked McKay.
"If I said 'no', would it matter?" McKay replied.
"Nope," Sheppard said, and while he kept his tone light, Ronon saw the worry lurking in his eyes.
"Then I guess I'm ready."
Sheppard grasped McKay's shoulder and looked first at Teyla, then at Ronon. "Watch your backs."
"We will return as quickly as possible," Teyla replied.
Sheppard nodded and let go of McKay's arm.
Teyla stepped off the boardwalk, and Ronon gave McKay a light shove to get him moving.
"Yes, yes, I'm going," McKay grumbled. He glanced back at Sheppard, then followed Teyla down the road.
Ronon was about to follow when Sheppard tapped his arm. He waited until the nearest townspeople were several paces away, then said, "Keep an eye on Ezra. I don't trust him."
Ronon grunted. The sentiment went without saying as far as he was concerned.
He stepped off the boardwalk and checked the sun's position as he hurried to catch up with Teyla and McKay waiting under a tree next to the water mill. McKay grimaced and tugged on the jacket sleeve where the knife was hidden. Ezra stood a few paces away near a path leading up into the foothills of the mountains, alternatively shifting the rifle from hand to hand or adjusting the strap for the rucksack.
" … gets the job done, I guess," McKay said as Ronon stopped next to Teyla. "But there are a few things I'd do to make it more efficient for producing energy."
"The water wheel seems sufficient for the town's needs," Teyla said.
Ronon glanced at the creaking water wheel and watched as water tumbled and splashed over the worn wooden slats.
"But with the improvements I have in mind, it would work even better," McKay countered.
"Are we going to do this or not?" Ezra growled from the edge of the path. "It's almost noon. I thought you people were in a hurry."
Teyla took a deep breath, then turned to Ezra. "You told Hyram you thought you knew the location of the raiding party's camp?"
"Yeah, It's probably in an open meadow in the saddle between those two peaks." Ezra pointed at two low peaks in the foothills above the town.
"How long will it take to reach the camp?"
Ezra shrugged. "Couple of hours." He gave McKay a disdainful glance. "Assuming you can keep up."
McKay started to protest, but Teyla rested a hand on his arm.
"We will keep up," Teyla assured Ezra.
"Don't we need ropes or something if we're going to be climbing mountains?" McKay asked.
Ezra snorted, and Ronon's hand drifted toward the particle weapon.
"The raiding party was on horseback," Teyla said to McKay. "If the animals can traverse the path, we should be able to do the same." She turned to Ezra and added, "Ezra, you will take point, please."
"I'll go behind him," Ronon said, his hand still hovering near his holster.
Teyla glanced up at Ronon and nodded. "Rodney and I will follow you."
Ezra spun on his heel and started up the path without a word or a backward glance.
Ronon waited for Teyla's nod and followed.
"Oh, this is going to be just great," McKay muttered.
Ezra set a quick pace while they were still near the town. There was none of the taller sagebrush, just more of the same low scrub brush they had seen near the stargate and little shade. Ronon heard the stream play off the rocks to his left, but the path soon bent away from the water. The trail near the town was wide, and the slope was gentle enough to allow them to walk abreast and move quickly. After the first hour, the path narrowed, and they were forced slow down and hike in single file as their elevation increased.
Ronon kept one eye on Ezra in front of him and the other on their surroundings as they climbed higher into the foothills. He heard Teyla checking in with Sheppard and glanced behind him.
The path had curved around the mountain as it climbed, and the town was currently out of sight. The snowy peaks of the taller mountains marched in jagged rows in front of them, and Ronon was silently grateful they wouldn't need to climb the steeper mountains.
"What are you looking for?" McKay asked as Ronon surveyed the barren landscape.
"Guards," Ronon replied, glancing at McKay.
"I thought the whole reason … we were up here now … was that there wouldn't be anyone awake," McKay argued, taking a deep breath with every pause.
Teyla tapped off her radio. "Even if most of the raiding party is asleep, they would be foolish not to post a watch."
"Are you going to talk all afternoon, or are we going to move?" Ezra demanded from higher up the path.
"How much farther is this meadow?" Teyla asked.
"At least another hour's hike," Ezra replied.
Teyla nodded and stepped around McKay. "We should find a place to stop and rest," she said to Ezra.
Ezra shook his head. "Knew you were soft," he sneered.
Teyla pursed her lips. "We must conserve our energy," she replied with deliberate patience. "It will serve no purpose to rush forward only to end up captured or worse due to inattention or exhaustion."
Ezra glowered for a moment, then said, "Fine. There's a place where the track opens up about twenty minutes from here."
"That will do," Teyla told him.
Ezra grunted and started up the narrow path again.
They reached the open area thirty minutes later, and Ronon watched as McKay flopped on the ground with his back against a boulder, alternately rubbing his head and left leg. Ezra glanced at him, then wandered over to another rocky outcrop and pulled a canteen from the rucksack.
"Colonel Sheppard, this is Teyla," Teyla said over the open channel.
"Sheppard. Everything all right up there?"
Teyla glanced at Ronon and then McKay. "We are fine, Colonel. We stopped in an open area to rest. The meadow where Ezra believes the raiding party is camped is not far from here. We should reach it in another thirty minutes or so."
"Understood," Sheppard replied. "Watch yourselves."
"We will. Teyla out." She tapped off her radio and crouched in front of McKay. "Rodney? Are you all right?"
McKay lowered his hand from the bandage on his head, and Ronon saw the pain lines around his eyes. He squinted at Teyla and said, "On top of getting shot with an arrow, I've now had a building collapse on top of me. How do you think I feel?" He shook his head and closed his eyes. "Let's just get this over with. The sooner we find that cannon, the sooner I can die in peace."
"I do not believe you are dying," Teyla replied with a tiny smile as she handed McKay a couple of pills and sat beside him.
"Not so sure about that," McKay grumbled. He took the pills with a swallow of water from his canteen, then fished a power bar out of his vest pocket, opened it, and ate it in a few bites.
Ronon leant against McKay's boulder, swallowed a few sips of water, replaced his canteen on his belt and glanced up at the sun. "Five hours to sunset," he said, glancing down at Teyla.
He noticed McKay had his eyes closed again and shifted against the boulder until he cast a shadow over McKay and Teyla. One less thing for him to complain about, Ronon told himself.
Teyla looked up at him, and Ronon shrugged, a bit embarrassed getting caught in the solicitous act.
A breeze wafted through the open area, stirring up a tiny dust devil but doing little to dispel the afternoon heat. Ronon heard a few small animals scurrying amongst the rocky outcrops as silence descended on their little group.
"Were you able to learn anything about the Wraith tracker over the past two weeks?" Teyla asked into the silence.
"Umm." McKay opened his eyes and glanced up at Ronon. "Not much. In some ways, the tracker is even more complex than some of the Ancient tech we've found. The power functions alone are going to take months of study."
"You thought there might be a way to block the tracking beacon," Teyla said, and McKay nodded.
"I still think it might be possible. Isolating the frequency band should be simple enough. Devising a way to disrupt the signal long-term will be the hard part."
"But you can do it?" Ronon asked.
"If we find another Runner, I will probably be able to block the signal for an individual tracker. Figuring out a way to disable every tracker out there all at once might take longer."
Ronon grunted and glanced up at the afternoon sun. "We should move," he said to Teyla.
Teyla glanced at her watch and stood. "Are you ready?" she asked McKay.
McKay took another quick drink, stowed his canteen, and nodded. He braced a hand on the boulder, but Ronon grabbed his arm and pulled McKay to his feet.
"Ezra," Teyla said, walking over to their reluctant guide. "Where is the meadow from here?"
Ezra pointed to a saddle above them and to the right. "There."
Ronon looked up and thought he saw the outline of the underside of the cannon jutting over the edge of a narrow plateau.
Teyla shaded her eyes as she peered up at the plateau and nodded. "We will follow you," she said to Ezra. "But we must be cautious. As we get closer to the camp, guards will likely be posted. Our best chance of success lies in stealth and surprise."
"I know what I'm doin'," Ezra replied and started up the path.
The trail continued its curve, and the town became visible below them again. Ronon saw people moving in the town and the animals grazing in the paddocks below, but they were too high for him to make out details.
Thirty minutes later, the path crested the narrow plateau with the cannon. Ronon grabbed Ezra's arm, stopping him from walking into the open area.
"You mind?" Ezra growled, jerking his arm free of Ronon's hold.
"Quiet," Ronon hissed and inched past Ezra.
Ronon unholstered the particle weapon and braced his back against a rocky outcrop. He peered around the edge of the outcrop and surveyed the plateau. The ground was gravelly stone with no vegetation. The Wraith cannon sat on a wooden carriage supported by two large wooden wheels. Two wooden blocks stopped the wheels, and a series of wooden arches extending out from the base of the carriage supported the long barrel. Wires extended from several points along the top and bottom of the cannon to a wooden box, close to three feet long and at least a foot and a half wide beside the carriage.
Ronon didn't see any guards stationed near the Wraith weapon and slowly crept forward until he stood next to one of the carriage wheels.
"Clear," he said, glancing back at the rocky outcrop.
Teyla, McKay, and Ezra stepped forward and stopped next to the bulky box with the wires.
"This is incredible," McKay said as he stepped closer to the cannon. "When was this planet last culled?" he asked with an absent glance at Ezra.
"What difference does it make?" Ezra asked with a scowl.
McKay turned to him and pointed at the cannon. "Because this is a particle cannon from a Wraith dart. Someone actually managed to pull it out of the ship, repair it," he pointed to several dents and cracks in the housing, "and fashion a workable adaptor for the power supply." He tapped the bulky box with the toe of his boot.
"Can you disable it?" Teyla asked.
"Probably," McKay replied and peered under the cannon.
"Why don't we just push it over the side of the cliff?" Ezra asked, pushing against one of the wheels.
The cannon rocked with the movement, and McKay braced his hands on the other side of the wheel, stopping the motion.
"Because if we did that, there'd be nothing left to study," McKay told him, and Ezra scowled. "An actual working Wraith cannon." McKay brushed a hand over the top of the cannon. "The possibilities of what we can learn are endless." He turned to Teyla and added, "We need to figure out a way to get this back to Atlantis."
Ezra snorted. "Figures. You tell Hyram you're here to 'help' us," he mimed the quote marks, "But really you just want the cannon for yourselves."
"We are here to help you," Teyla replied. "Pushing the cannon over the edge would make too much noise. There would be no time to escape before the men in the camp discovered us." She gave McKay a pointed glance and added, "Doctor McKay will make certain the cannon can no longer be used to threaten Dakan."
"Yes, yes. Shouldn't be a problem," McKay replied, running his hands over the cannon barrel.
Teyla watched McKay for a moment, then turned to Ronon. "Stay here," she said. "Ezra and I will watch the path leading to the encampment. We will alert you if we see anyone coming down to check on the weapon."
Ronon nodded and watched as Ezra and Teyla disappeared up the path.
McKay unclipped his pack, rummaged through it, and pulled out a roll of tools. "The easiest thing would be to disconnect the power supply and take it with us," he muttered as he examined the bulky box. "The question is how …" He reached for the latch on the top of the box. "Glah!" he gasped and stumbled away from the box, shaking his bandaged hand.
"What's wrong?" Ronon asked.
"There's an electrical current running through the latch," McKay replied.
"On purpose?" Ronon took McKay's wrist and saw the reddened tips of his fingers.
"Good question. No way to be sure unless I can get the box open and look at the wiring."
"So you can't do anything to the cannon?" Ronon asked, letting go of McKay's arm.
"I didn't say that." McKay examined his fingers, flexed his hand a few times, and focused on the cannon. "I'll just have to do it the hard way." He crawled under the gun and lay on his back, looking up at the various points where the wires ran into the cannon.
"The trick is going to be finding the power coupler," he muttered to himself and glanced at Ronon. "This isn't going to run me over, is it?" he asked Ronon.
Ronon pushed against one of the chocked wheels. The cannon rocked back and forth but didn't roll. "Nope."
McKay glared at him for a moment, then focused on the underside of the cannon, mumbling to himself as he traced the various wires with his fingers.
"Ronon, can you hear me," Teyla's voice whispered from the radio ten minutes later.
"Read you," Ronon replied, tapping his earpiece. "Any signs of movement in the camp?"
"A few of the men are beginning to stir. Is Rodney almost done? We will need to leave soon."
Ronon glanced at McKay crawling around under the cannon. Several wires dangled from various parts of the cannon, and McKay held a screwdriver in his bandaged hand as he worked to disconnect a piece of the device.
"Still working," Ronon reported. "Any sign of the captives?"
"Yes. They are being held in a cage on the far side of the camp."
"Alive?" Ronon asked.
"From what I can see, yes. A few appear to be injured. I can see the makeshift bandages."
Ronon grunted.
"I've almost got this," McKay said, tugging on something Ronon couldn't see. "I just need to …" The piece came away from the underside of the cannon, and McKay sat up with a triumphant expression. "Got it!"
"McKay's done -" Ronon started to say over the radio. He heard a rifle shot and ran toward the path leading up to the camp.
"Ezra! Wait! You must not -" Teyla cried.
The transmission cut out.
"Teyla?" Ronon called over the radio. "Teyla!"
"What's going on?" McKay asked as he crawled out from under the cannon, still holding the piece he'd removed from the gun in one hand and a screwdriver in the other.
Ronon heard a second rifle shot and a thundering noise coming from farther up the valley. He raised the particle weapon and started up the path. "Stay there," Ronon ordered McKay. "Teyla?" He called over the radio. "What happened."
The thundering noise increased, and Ronon realised it was the sound of horses stampeding down the path toward them.
"Ronon?" Teyla said over the radio, and Ronon blew out a breath of relief. "Ezra has released the horses from their paddock. The animals are heading directly toward you and Rodney. You need to find shelter."
Ronon lowered the particle weapon and ran back to McKay.
"Get down," Ronon ordered, pushing McKay toward the cannon.
"What's going -" McKay dropped the piece from the cannon and stared, wide-eyed, at the upper end of the path as dozens of horses charged toward them.
Ronon shoved McKay under the cannon.
McKay hesitated for a moment, then huddled under the cannon with his arms over his head.
Ronon stood behind one of the large carriage wheels and watched as the frenzied animals stampeded down the hill. Dust hung thick in the air as the horses plunged down the incline and into the open area around the cannon. Ronon heard McKay coughing near his feet and tried to cover his mouth and nose with the collar of his duster.
Even in their panicked state, the animals stayed clear of the plateau's edge. They passed within a few feet of the cannon, and Ronon heard the pained squeals coming from below as the horses forced their way through the narrow chute.
The thunder of hooves died a few minutes later, though dust still hung thick in the air.
McKay crawled out from under the cannon with a stunned expression. "Are they gone?" he asked, coughing as he stood.
"They're gone," Ronon said, watching McKay bent forward with his hands on his knees as he coughed.
"Horses don't normally do that," McKay wheezed as he straightened.
"Blame Ezra," Ronon replied with a grunt.
"What? Why would -"
Ronon held up one hand, silencing McKay, and held his other hand against his earpiece. "Teyla? Say again."
"Are you and Rodney all right?" Teyla asked again in a low whisper.
"We're fine. The horses are gone. They're heading toward the town."
"You and Rodney need to find a place to hide," Teyla said, barely audible over the radio. "Several men from the encampment are heading toward you."
Ronon fingered the particle weapon in his other hand. "Let 'em come."
"There are at least four of them heading toward you. Any sounds of gunfire are certain to bring more. Did Rodney succeed in disabling the cannon?"
"Yeah," Ronon replied, glancing at McKay and then at the cannon.
"Then you must find a place to hide and wait for the men to leave," Teyla told him. "It is too dangerous to try and fight them."
Ronon scowled up the valley. The idea of running or hiding from a fight ran counter to his instincts. He glanced behind him and saw McKay standing near the cannon, watching him.
You aren't alone now, Ronon reminded himself. Sheppard will never forgive you if you get McKay killed in a firefight.
Ronon clenched his hands into fists and scowled at McKay.
"What?" McKay asked.
"Pack your gear," Ronon growled in reply. "We're leaving."
McKay stared at him for a moment longer, then knelt next to the roll of tools.
"Ronon?" Teyla whispered.
"We're leaving," Ronon replied. "Where are you?"
"I am hiding behind a rock outcrop at the edge of the encampment. I do not believe the men are aware I am here."
Ronon watched McKay pack his tools and then turn in a circle, the roll of tools in one hand, searching the ground near the cannon. "Where's Ezra?" Ronon asked Teyla.
"I am not sure," Teyla replied, and Ronon heard the hesitation in her whispered voice. "We split up to watch more of the encampment. Ezra released the horses for some reason, but I lost track of him during the chaos."
Ronon clenched his jaw. He had known Ezra couldn't be trusted. Was he working with the raiding party? Ronon wondered. What other possible reason could he have for causing the stampede and alerting the men in the camp?
"Go!" Teyla told him. "I will catch up with you when it is safe."
"We'll meet you at the rest stop," Ronon said.
"Understood. Teyla out."
Ronon kept the particle weapon at the ready as he backed to where McKay crouched next to his backpack.
"Ready?" Ronon asked, turning to McKay.
"Umm, almost," McKay replied. He glanced at Ronon, then froze, the color draining from his face.
At the same time, Ronon heard a scuffle of feet on the upper path. He whipped around with the particle weapon raised.
Four men stood in front of him, all with rifles pointed at them.
"Umm," McKay muttered.
Evil grins bloomed across four faces, and Ronon saw the men tighten their fingers on the rifle triggers. He had less than a second to decide whether to shoot or get McKay out of the line of fire.
Choosing the latter, Ronon twisted around, pushing McKay to the ground just as the rifles fired. Ronon heard McKay groan as they hit the ground. Something went flying over the edge of the plateau, and Ronon felt a searing pain along his bicep. Ignoring the pain, he rolled off McKay and returned fire.
One of the men fell, but the remaining three had their weapons pointed squarely at Ronon's chest.
"Drop it," one of the men ordered, his expression hard. "Or I'll have one of the boys shoot your friend."
Ronon tightened his finger on the trigger for the particle weapon.
The man jerked his rifle to Ronon's right and fired.
Ronon heard McKay yelp behind him but refused to turn around.
"Hey!" McKay exclaimed.
"Next one goes in him," the man said to Ronon, re-adjusting his aim. "Drop. It."
Ronon scowled at the man for a moment longer, then lowered the particle weapon.
"Toss it over here," the man ordered.
Ronon tossed the weapon toward the man, who bent and picked it up.
"Now get up," he ordered. "Keep those hands where I can see 'em."
Ronon stood, keeping his body between McKay and the three remaining rifles.
"You," the man said to McKay, "get up."
McKay used one of the wheels to pull himself to his feet and stood next to Ronon.
"Just ease that pistol you got out of its holster and drop it on the ground," the man ordered.
McKay dropped the Beretta on the ground and raised his hands.
"Search 'em, Harlan," the man ordered.
The man on Ronon's left lowered his rifle, handed it to the third man, and stepped forward.
Ronon growled low in his throat as he approached, and Harlan hesitated, glancing at the leader.
"Go on," the leader said. "He tries anything, we'll shoot his buddy."
Harlan closed with Ronon and quickly patted him down. He pulled two knives from Ronon's belt, one from the leather bracer on his left arm, and another from each of Ronon's boots. He looked sideways at Ronon as he cradled the knives in his hands and stepped back.
"I think that's all of them, Wayne," Harlan said.
Ronon clenched his jaw and glowered at Wayne.
"Check the other one," Wayne ordered, flicking his rifle at McKay.
Harlan handed off Ronon's weapons to the third man and swallowed. "He don't look like someone who would have a bunch of concealed knives," Harlan said with another glance at Ronon.
"Do it anyway," Wayne ordered.
Harlan stepped in front of McKay and frowned. "Hey, Wayne," he said, pulling the earpiece out of McKay's ear.
McKay jerked his head and glared at Harlan.
"He's got one, too," Harlan said, pointing to Ronon and holding the earpiece out to Wayne.
"Gimme that," Wayne said. He took McKay's earpiece, dropped it on the ground and smashed it under the heel of his boot. "Get the other one," he ordered Harlan.
Harlan hesitated, then reached up and removed Ronon's earpiece.
Wayne crushed it as well and jerked his chin at McKay. "Finish searching him."
Harlan gave McKay a quick pat down and stepped back. "Nothing," he reported.
Wayne nodded. "Let's get 'em back to camp. Kade's gonna have some questions about what they were doin' up here."
"What about this?" Harlan asked, holding up McKay's pack.
"Leave it," Wayne replied. "They ain't goin' to need it."
McKay winced as the man dropped the pack.
"Move," Wayne ordered, waving the rifle toward the path leading farther up the valley.
"What about Ned?" the third man asked, pointing at the body.
"We'll take these two to Kade and come back for him. Bury him proper," Wayne promised.
The man glanced at the body, nodded, and turned toward the upper path.
Wayne pushed McKay and then Ronon in the back. "Get goin'. And don't think about tryin' nothin'. You do, and I'll shoot you where you stand."
