PRIMIS : THE HOPE
Chapter Two
SGA SGA SGA
John leaned his head onto his arms, protecting it from the glutinous fibre that were the bars of his cell. He heard a slight stirring from Carson's direction behind him but it was just him turning in his sleep on one of the organic beds again. John had become accustomed to the sound. A quick glance Ronon's way found him remaining still in his deep sleep. John grimaced. His friends must have been awake and worried for a long time to be that gone in unconsciousness that they had not roused in the few minutes that he had been awake now. A sudden thought, cursing his lapse in concentration, had John racing over to check the rough, slimy, but solid walls, and that's when he saw them. Damn!
The tiny hidden vents were at just the same level as their sleeping heads to have entered into their noses and mouths the moment that they had lain still long enough. Damn it! He had not been aware enough to warn them to check first. It was one thing about this Hive he had forgot to mention to them and he would punish himself for that error for a long time.
Walking over to his friends, John reached under Ronon's thick hair searching for a pulse and repeated the same with Carson. Both were strong, so John was a happy person. He hoped they would not be out long. Ronon had stirred slightly at his touch, so he presumed he wouldn't be long in waking; and Carson was already squirming every so often.
The question of how long they had all been out was just something he hoped the others could tell him when they did wake up fully as he had no idea himself.
Once again, John checked out his own strength and pushed himself through a short exercise routine whilst he waited on his friends waking up. He managed it well, with hardly a sweat. It felt good to be in better shape, but a dull headache simmered in the background, and his arm tingled with the wanting of his fingers to dig into the ever-present gnawing pain from before. He simply would not entertain scratching it anymore he decided; although he reckoned that might be a failure of his soon. All in all, he felt the best he had in a long time. Whatever the queen had had injected into him was abating and he couldn't have been more relieved to get rid of that ill and painful feeling.
John sat down with his back to the bars and watched over his sleeping friends - nothing else to do but wait. Unfortunately, his thoughts would make up different scenarios of Teyla and Rodney and the others not making it back to Atlantis for whatever reason. He curled his fists. This was no time to dwell on bad things. He had to – could only – deal with the here and now. It was only fair to Ronon and Carson not to get melancholy with his own thoughts.
After a few minutes, John cocked his head to the side. He knew somebody was walking fast towards his cell as he could hear definite steps walking with urgency. John didn't feel like facing the wraith at present, so he chose to ignore them.
"That's no way to greet an old friend ignoring me like that!"
John whirled on his back side so fast he almost dislocated his knee caps on the doors.
"Arla!"
"The one and only, my boy." Arla stood before him with a tray of food and a smile as broad as the room. She hurriedly put down her tray on the floor.
John now stood and they embraced for a long time through the bars as best they could before John broke away and stepped back to appraise her. She looked tired, worried and slightly dishevelled, but John, at that moment, thought that she looked like a million dollars.
Words were not necessary for each of their faces showed the warmth and love that they had for the other, but John eventually held her hand and broke the silence. "Any word on…"
Arla was quick, perhaps too quick, to update him – to John, it showed him how on edge she really was. "No. Nothing. John, I fear he is not on this Hive. Perhaps he is even…dead." She struggled not to cry.
"We will find him." John told her. "Now that I am feeling better, I am your best hope for that, so do not worry."
"And are you?... Better that is?"
John nodded, allowing a smirk. "Sure am." He jerked his thumb backwards at Arla's glance over his shoulder. "They've been knocked out. They'll be awake again soon."
Arla smiled in understanding and took both his hands. "I can't stay long. They will know I am missing and send a drone. I brought you all some breakfast."
"So, it's a new day?"
"You didn't know?"
"John ran a hand through his hair. "Had a rough idea. Please, Arla, as much as I love speaking with you, perhaps you had better go, and when I get a chance, I'll come for you and we will get out of here."
Arla made to go but stepped forward suddenly and cupped a hand to John's cheek, thumbing his rough skin with a slight growth of stubble as she looked deep into his eyes. "You got Torren home to his mamma. I know for sure you can keep your word and find me, John Sheppard."
John gulped suddenly, fighting back a tear that threatened to escape. The emotions of her words bringing their time together come flooding back.
"And then I got Teyla captured, along with my friends. I'm not doing so well on escaping the Wraith here, am I?" Was all he could manage to say to Arla, but she just smiled at him sadly and John felt a small smile escape him also. "...I hope you can come back again soon."
"If I can I will, but they like to change our duties all the time – probably just to annoy us."
"Are you with anybody you know from before?"
Arla nodded. "No-body I am close to."
There came the familiar noise of a pair of drones coming their way, so John diligently gathered about their old food items and empty water jug, and swapped for the fresh items from Arla, handing them through the various misshapen holes with neither another word spoken. He walked away from her and concentrated on the drones; not really wanting to attract their attention her way.
"What's up, guys?" John forced cheerily their way.
The drones stopped walking just before Arla and she took this to be her escorts back to the workers living quarters. She walked into place between them and soon walked out of sight. John turned his face away and filled out three of the cups with the cool water which he suspiciously sniffed and then sighed. Were they poisoned? He wouldn't know what to do without water just now anyway, so he might as well drink some; his mouth felt so dry.
He was on his third gulp when Ronon let out a low groan and rolled about on his bed, eventually lying still on his back. He flung an arm over his eyes.
Knowing how important it was to stay away from Ronon's fists upon waking up and not knowing where he was, John kicked his blanketed foot with his own boot and waited on the larger man focusing on him.
"Shep…" Ronon coughed out, before accepting his cup of water.
"Present and correct."
"Okay? Ronon, slouched over, his long legs stretched out in front of him, and accepted the water.
"What?" John asked.
"Feeling, okay?"
"I'm good."
Ronon raised an eyebrow, still looking woozy. John managed to laugh. "I am, actually. Not bad at all. How are you, big guy?"
"Feel like I have had too much of Zelenka's home brew – and that's saying something!"
John grimaced. "You must feel bad. If it makes you feel any better, if it's the same stuff they knocked me out with before, it won't last that much longer."
Ronon raised an even higher eyebrow. "Before? You've managed to miss telling us that." He accused.
"Yeah, son. What are you talking about?" Carson said from his other side, coughing in between words and wiping the drug induced sleep from his eyes.
John was beside him in a second and helped him sit up, laughing at the state of his hair. He was giving himself a run for the money with the waywardness of it after waking. John licked his fingers and flattened it down, knowing the joke would make the doc laugh.
"Very funny!" Carson said and accepted his cup of water from the newly upright Ronon.
"When I was first captured, they knocked me out in the cell I was sharing with Torren. I imagine you guys have had the same treatment."
"Colonel. I do not remember you telling me that little piece of news. I should know about these things."
"Ah, cut me some slack, doc. If I remembered everything that happened to me, I'd be…" Upon seeing Carson's shocked expression, John clamped his mouth shut and looked to Ronon for support, knowing he never gave much away to do with his health. To his chagrin, Ronon just put his hands to his hips and gave him a look that said "you are on your own with this one!"
"But you are right, sorry." John eventually said. "Arla brought breakfast."
"Arla was here!" They both said in unison.
"For a minute or two." And just like that, John's mood plummeted.
Carson noticed and got up from his bed on legs only slightly wobbly. "Any word of her husband?"
"No. It doesn't sound great. She has been all round the hive and nobody has seen him."
"He could be on the surface somewhere."
"Yes." John sighed.
"So, son. How are you? And, what bloody time is it anyway?" Carson now stood yawning, albeit shakily.
"It's morning, some time." John shrugged.
"Why did they knock us out anyhow?" Ronon said.
"Probably didn't want any trouble from you for a while." John reasoned, watching Carson's roving eye weighing him up. He held up his hands. "Stop it. I'm fine – really!"
"I'll be the judge of that!" Carson said walking towards him.
John laughed and allowed his doc to check him over as best he could. "Satisfied?" He asked when Carson snorted and walked back over to his bed to sit down.
"From what I can tell, you seem to be okay. Is that our breakfast? I'm famished."
"Yeah." Ronon added.
John picked up their breakfast tray and placed it on the end of Carson's bed. The three friends ate the bowls of the grey oat like mixture and a slice of reasonable tasting fruit cake, washing it all down with another cup of water.
Between the pacing, work outs with Ronon, and endless conversations about Earth with Carson, John had eventually grown quiet and thoughtful. Emotions not missed by his two friends.
"Okay. What's up, Sheppard?" Ronon finally asked, pushing his shoulder slightly.
John scratched his stubble. "Nothing. Just thinking."
"About Teyla and Rodney? They will be fine."
"You don't know that, Carson. But, no – I was actually thinking about my plan to get us out of here."
Ronon sat down quickly, dreadlocks flying. "You have a plan? Here?"
John couldn't help a slow smirk spread across his face. It pleased his friends greatly to see him like this: seemingly in control of himself; thoughtful, relatively pain free, and more hopeful, despite their current predicament.
"Come on then, out with it!" Carson prodded.
John flicked both ears with his hands and carved his arm on the air pointing to the walls. Carson, of course, understood what he meant, but it took Ronon a minute longer to understand the Earth saying, but laughed when he got it. "I don't think they can hear us though." He pointed out.
Still, John moved them into a huddle so he could whisper.
He looked at Ronon and then Carson; with whom he scrunched up his face. "I haven't told you but I have dreams. Weird dreams that I am with a woman that is trying to hold conversations with me back on Earth."
"Nothing too weird about that, son"
John scratched his head; thought about his arms too, but battled his will against digging his fingers into the red flesh. "It is weird when I tell you that the woman; whose face was never too clear in the beginning, I now recognise as being the Wraith Queen, Mus'va'lan."
"Was that her way of trying to turn you into joining with her; reading your mind like she wanted to do all alone?" Ronon asked.
"Must be." John said wearily. "Thing is she made a mistake." John said, allowing the same thoughtful smile to creep back on his expression.
"Oh?" Carson looked over John's shoulder to double check nobody was there: this was getting interesting.
"I think…" John paused. "…this is going to sounds crazy. But I don't think she's truly Wraith."
There he said it out loud. Something he had been mulling for a long time.
"What?" Both Carson and Ronon said in unison.
"Look, I know to you guys, you see this typical looking Wraith Queen, but I see…oh, bloody hell, I might as well go in fully with this disclosure! I see a beautiful woman: albeit with the skin tone and eyes of a Wraith, and, I've lost…"
"…your bloody marbles, son!"
Ronon was quiet, mulling over his friends words although he was as shocked as Carson. To them they knew they saw an evil Wraith Queen that looked as non-human as only a Wraith can be – pointed teeth and all. Nevertheless, Ronon ignored Carson's outburst and poked his knee. "Go on." He encouraged knowing he was seldom wrong with what he said so he must truly believe she was a beautiful woman.
John pulled in a breath and let it out slowly. "I think there is something unique about our Queen. I can sense…something… something that, at the moment, I cannot fully comprehend or put into words, but I suspect that somehow she is using some sort of force; some concept to project that she is Wraith; but to me she looks almost human – chilling and puzzling, but human features none-the-less. It's been flummoxing me for months now and I'm only just making sense of it." He leaned forward. "Don't you see? The poison she injected into me so she could mind meld 'stronger' with me? 'Stronger' had nothing to do with it – she couldn't fully do it without that concoction whatever it is, or whoever got it for her! Yes, I can still feel her at the back of mind probing – but the pure pressure has gone, just leaving a dull ache that follows a normal Queens probing. In other words manageable – not like the searing pain that I had been experiencing. She's gone. Artificially, anyway, she is gone."
John had thrown the words out excitedly and Ronon and Carson could only stare at him and let the words permeate until they reasoned what he said could be true.
"Could be done, I suppose." Carson at last offered, hands clasped and a worried expression on his face. "Bothers my mind as to what else they could have done to you with these creations."
"Don't think about that just now, think about how this could be. I feel she is Wraith – but not!…and something unknown to me if I am honest."
Ronon stood up so fast, John reached for a side arm that wasn't there. "Sit down, Ronon."
Ronon raised his arms. "This is nonsense, surely."
"SIT down!" John shouted and then quietened his voice. "I can only tell it as I know it." He felt the need to emphasise. "And…"
"I knew there would be an 'and'…"
"Ronon, you sound like Rodney."
John now stood and forcibly made Ronon sit on the bed. "Both of you, be quiet. Do not draw attention. They will be here soon enough. Let's talk while we can."
Ronon sat and Carson patted his knee. "Sorry."
Ronon huffed, but nodded. John understood. He was freaked out, HE was freaked out. But he knew what he said was true, and he had to share it with them. There was something not quite right with this Queen and Hive in general.
"Ronon, perhaps you can answer me this. In my dream images she wears a thick cape with a large hood. But on one occasion, it slipped and I caught sight of her neck with a large, almost black tattoo of some animal imprinted on her skin. I can't ever remember seeing an animal or image on a Queen before."
"No. That's new." Ronon agreed. "What did the animal look like?"
"Almost bird like really…wings, rounded head with a long beak; but the body had four long legs that were wrapped around her throat and neck, and a long tail that disappeared down her neck and the rest was hidden under her cloak."
"Sounds like a mystical animal that lived in the far north of Sateda. Nobody ever caught one, but they were described several times by those there for the ice hunting although it was hard to know if the stories were true or not."
"Ice hunting?" John wanted to know.
"Yeah. Like you showed me on Earth. Whales, seals etc…in the snow and ice. Cold anyways. Any animal living there has to be tough; a survivor. What you describe sounds like a Duk'tara. Mythical, but seemingly real, hardy animals that hunt on the snow coasts, but they are not birds; no wings, so not exactly as you describe."
"Near enough, though, to be of something one of us has heard of before."
"Wraith do not tattoo animals or the like on their skin. Each marking is usually a family or designation example. So, our Queen, in your dreams, is entirely different." Ronon pointed out.
"Dreams are like that." John said.
"True, but your subconscious always come out in them." Carson said.
"What are you saying? Is it mine's we are talking about here – or hers?"
SGA SGA SGA
Richard Woolsey had just put his idea to the substituted senior crew of five sitting in his office, and he sat back in his chair awaiting the expected barrage of abuse and destruction of his idea to save; not only Atlantis, but the Colonel, Ronon and Carson. He wanted them to know it had not been an easy one, but as far as he could think, this was the only one he could come up with to stop the superior strength of this Queen: Mus'va'lan.
Lorne, usually stoic, leaned forward on his arm that moments earlier had hit the desk's top. "What?"
Woolsey waited on the rest, and it came.
"You CANNOT be serious!" Rodney, red faced and chin out.
"This is so very wrong. Carson would not allow it." Keller.
Radek. "It can only mean more trouble ahead of a different kind."
One person did not comment, so it was to her Woolsey looked to next. "Teyla?" He asked, noting how pale she looked: how down right weary. He knew he had, more than anybody, just put this squarely on her lap – devoid now of her son for the moment: Amelia giving them the peace to have this meeting without him constantly crying for John.
"Teyla?" Woolsey repeated in almost a whisper so that they wouldn't sting so much if he said it quieter.
Teyla, for her part, just raised her eyes and took in each of the team that was left on Atlantis. She was still mulling over Santana's expression every time she caught him watching her. He looked like he was genuinely happy she was back with her son, but there was an air of sadness about him she did not understand. Certainly, since the roles had been reversed and he was now in their custody, Santana seemed almost on their side at times; almost apologetic for everything he had put them through - and would further put them through no doubt. It was her that insisted he be locked up and away for them for a time. She could not bear to look upon the man who had hurt John, and who expected them to just simply hand over Atlantis and everybody on board as simply as that.
Suddenly, her eyes sparked with life. "Chol. We will have everyone go to Chol that is on board Atlantis before we reach the Hive." She meant Torren as well, as John's last words to her had been to leave him behind, knowing full well they would attempt a rescue of some kind. "We cannot endanger everyone with this mission."
"I had thought of that too, Teyla. I have already spoken to Major Lorne about organising the evacuation. Should you wish to stay behind with Torren that is your prerogative?"
"Stay behind. What an impossible choice!"
Woolsey nodded and looked her in the eyes, a side smile stopping his deliberations for a moment. "I am aware of that."
Teyla bit her lip, glanced at a staring Rodney quickly, who just nodded her way, and she was pleased with that. She knew she had his backing on whatever decision she made – although realistically there was none. But, of course she would head out and try and rescue John. At least Torren would be safe on Chol. John had wanted that in his earlier hinting, so Teyla sighed and spoke, "You know I am needed if you go ahead with your plan. I have to be able to enter this Queen's mind again…if I can." Leaving Richard no option but to drop his head and sigh. She was correct. Teyla would be vital to his plan.
Rodney rose from the table suddenly. "Well, that's all good and well dropping people off at Chol, but I am sooo not happy with the first part of your plan - I'm sorry but your suggestion cannot be allowed to happen!" Rodney started up again with his argument.
"Rodney." Teyla said.
"No. You cannot silence me, he's…"
"Rodney!" Teyla shouted, then quieter. "It is a good idea."
Rodney whirled round to look at her, thumping his backside back down on his chair as he did so. "You think so? Teyla, this is madness." He looked at Lorne for back up.
"I have to agree." Lorne frowned. "I cannot afford to have any more of my remaining Marines killed because of any horrific actions I can foresee happening, Richard."
"I know what you mean, Major. I will not allow it to go that far, he…"
"I will not be party to it, Richard." Keller piped up.
Richard gulped. Of them all, convincing Keller was vital to his plan. He needed her on side. She, after all, was the Senior Doctor on Atlantis, and he needed her expertise to get his plan in action.
"I did hope to have you all agree to this, but, really, I can, and will, make this my order." He looked at Jennifer. "I am sorry, doctor, but I over-rule you. Please ready what you need as soon as you can." He looked towards Lorne. "A small contingent will be no doubt be necessary, but I am convinced they will not be needed…or killed."
"I am doing this against my better judgment as you are the boss, but know this, Richard, if anybody dies I will have to bring this up with the IOA."
"As you see fit, Major."
Richard Woolsey's rubbed his eyes; gritty and tired. The demands of command more and more detrimental to his health.
SGA SGA SGA
Teyla was back in her and John's quarters and she was willing herself to be positive about the upcoming mission – and failing drastically. Torren, she could see, was torn between playing with his toys and comforting her. He chose the latter in the end as he seemed to sense she needed some time to think. He missed his father terribly, and, although he did cry –a lot, he tried to bite some of it back as he was the man of the house until John returned after all. His dad had told him that would always be the case if he wasn't about. Torren quite liked that idea of emulating his father's strong persona, so he smiled now at his mother as she caught his eye and got the desired effect. A warm smile in return and a comforting embrace.
"I love you Torren John. What would I do without you?"
Torren looked thoughtful. "Survive." He said with a serious look quite beyond his years. His time alone with John on Chol had certainly gave him a unique upbringing up till now and his view of life was one no child of his age should really experience.
Teyla was slightly taken aback. "So grown up an answer, Torren…and probably true, but how broken hearted I would be!" She pulled him in and quickly kissed the top of his head; quelling torrents of tears for his sake.
"Are we going to bring back Daddy, and Uncle Ronon and Carson tomorrow?"
"Yes…some of us are. But as I said, Torren, you are going to stay on Chol whilst we do so with Amelia and Marie looking after you. Atlantis is possibly going to get hurt in the exchange, and we don't want that to happen to you too."
"Okay, mama, but why can't Jennifer stay with me?"
Yes, Torren, why can't she! Teyla mulled...could it be that her abilities of being a very good doctor might be needed if John and the others required some medical care.
Teyla tipped her son's chin up so he could look her in the eyes. "She is needed with us, just in case daddy is ill again, okay?"
"I do like Marie too!" He said, and Teyla laughed. "I happen to know she likes you too. Goodness knows why!" Teyla tickled her son's side until his laugh became infectious and she joined him in the hilarity.
"Besides." He finally gasped, needing air. "I know how to survive on Chol. Daddy taught me, remember?" And Teylas gut twisted again at the memory of these months of not knowing where he was or what had happened to him.
"I'm counting on you to show the others then." She ruffled his hair finally.
After a late meal, Torren in bed sleeping and his small amount of bags packed, Teyla stood staring at John's side of the bed willing his existence in it. But it remained a smoothed down sheet. Cold and impersonal.
She closed her eyes and tried to reach out to him. The lack of reply was as cold as the sheets she now slipped into. There would be no sleep for her tonight. There was far too much to worry about now. Richard Woolsey had added a dangerous twist to their rescue attempt; one which could easily go wrong in so many ways it frightened her to think of it too deeply. His idea had been daring, but, if executed in a focused way; not let nothing get past them – it might just work.
Or it could go very wrong!
SGA SGA SGA
To be continued…let the action begin!
