Chapter 3: Prisoners
John awoke in the darkness, having no idea what was happening to him. He felt warm and couldn't move. Something held him tight and felt like a warm blanket - the smell was a little disconcerting, though.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he became more aware of his surroundings and realised he was on a Wraith ship. He tried to look around, but the thick fibres of the wraith bonds prevented him from moving. He attempted to gaze up and down the corridor, but the bonds across his chest were almost crushing him. He was sure if he managed to move, he would suffocate.
He strained to listen, but there was no sound, so either he was alone, or the other prisoners were beyond speech. Or dead - fed upon by the Wraith.
The tiny vibrations running through the soles of his feet told him they were moving. Farther away from a place where his team could find him.
Suddenly, his mind clicked into gear, and he remembered Rollo. He hoped the kid hadn't ended up in one of these cocoons. It was only a matter of time before John became a Wraith's next meal. He knew that eventually, his luck would run out, and he would die at the hands of the Wraith, but Rollo was too young for such a horrible death.
John had been fed upon to the point of death before, and at the time, he'd prepared himself for death, but miraculously, Todd had returned his life. It was one of the most painful things he'd ever experienced, and he didn't want Rollo to go through it.
He wondered if Rollo was in the same corridor as him. Or was he being kept somewhere in the bowels of the ship?
There was only one way to find out, "Rollo!" He yelled as loudly as he could.
Silence reigned in the corridor, so either Rollo wasn't there, or he was…, well, the end of that sentence didn't bear thinking about.
His thoughts turned to Jallel. What had happened to her? Was she still on the planet? Or was she trapped inside one of these feeding cocoons? He then thought of Trixie. What had happened to the tiny dog that had caused all this? He was sure the Wraith didn't feed on dogs, so was she dead or somewhere being experimented on?
There was only one way to know what was happening to his young friends. That was to escape. He certainly didn't want to die right here. Not when the children needed him.
Struggling, he tried to reach for his knife, and for the first time since he had awoken, he realised his left arm was working, and there was no sign of injury.
A terrible thought struck him. Has a Wraith fed on me and then returned the years it took?
He shuddered at the thought and tried to put it out of his mind. There was no way he could look at his chest for a feeding scar, so the only thing he could do was try to escape.
The deathly silence was interrupted by loud footsteps heading his way. He sure hoped he wasn't about to become someone's meal.
Two of the biggest, ugliest Wraith drones he'd ever seen stopped near him, and he prepared himself for the worst.
"The queen wants to speak with you." Wraith one said.
"Look, Tom. Can I call you Tom? What if I don't want to speak with the queen."
The other drone he'd decided to call Jerry.
Suddenly, the tendrils that held him against the wall were released, and he felt Tom's hands around his neck. The next thing he knew, he was flying through the air before his head connected with a wall, leaving him dazed and in pain.
He should have known better than to open his big mouth, but for some reason that he couldn't explain, he couldn't help himself.
Tom and Jerry grabbed him under his arms and dragged him to his feet. If his head hadn't been so fuzzy from where he'd connected with the wall, he would have tried to fight them.
They dragged him through the hive ship towards the Queen's chamber - at least, he assumed that's where they were going.
A few minutes later, Tom and Jerry threw him on the floor at the feet of the Queen.
He looked up from the floor to see a red-headed Wraith queen sitting on her throne. She was as pale and green as any Wraith he'd ever seen, and he was sure she was at least a foot taller.
He tried to speak but found he couldn't. Instead, the Queen knelt beside him and ran her finger down his cheek. He was positive she was going to try and scramble his mind for information but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't.
"Ah, John Sheppard. I have been looking forward to meeting you."
How the hell does she know who I am? He wondered. Oh well, I guess I'll find out sooner or later.
"I wish I could say the same," he replied and instantly regretted it. John expected to be fed upon but was relieved that she chuckled.
"Yes, my sisters have told me about your sense of humour, and I must admit I find it quite amusing."
That's how she knew about him. He should have known that Wraith Queens would talk.
By this time, she was sitting on her throne again, and he was kneeling in front of her.
"Why am I here?" He asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
Before the queen could answer him, he asked what had been on his mind almost from the moment he woke up, "Where's Rollo?"
The Queen answered him with a twisted smile, "Do not worry. The boy will come to no harm if you cooperate with me."
"And what do you need me to do?" John asked with trepidation.
The Queen stared at him, making him feel like a tiny bug under a microscope that she wouldn't hesitate to squash if she felt like it.
"Perhaps you should have a meal and see the boy first."
He wondered what the queen, or Morticia as he decided to call her, was up to. Usually, she would have been trying to scrabble his brain to get information out of him.
She signalled to her drones, and the next thing he felt was a stunner blast to his chest. The last thing he heard before he lost consciousness was a hideous beast roaring.
oOo
Rodney was beyond tired, and all he wanted to do was sleep. But he knew if Sheppard stood a chance, he needed to find a way through the gate.
The gate had been active for almost five hours, and he wondered what the Wraith were looking for. It was more than likely that no one was still alive on the Nafari home world, so why were they spending so much time there? Perhaps they were looking for Sheppard. But he was sure the Wraith would have found Sheppard by now.
Jennifer had left twenty minutes ago, claiming she had a shift in the infirmary. She had also threatened to sedate him if he wasn't in bed within an hour. He was just about to do as she said when his com activated.
"McKay here," he answered, activating his earpiece.
He was surprised to find Woolsey on the other end, "Dr McKay, can you please report to jumper one for a rescue mission? It appears the gate has shut down, so Lorne is arranging a mission to search the planet."
There was no way Sheppard was still on the planet. Rodney was sure the Wraith would have picked him up by now, and they would be long gone. And as for the hideous beasts, there was a strong possibility they were still there.
Rather than explaining this to Woolsey, he answered simply, "I'll be there as soon as possible."
"You have twenty minutes, Dr McKay. Woolsey out."
Twenty minutes until they went on a mission to find absolutely nothing. Perhaps he would mention this to Lorne, but Lorne would insist on going anyway.
As he approached the jumper twenty minutes later, he heard Carson and Teyla arguing. And he had a good idea of what it was about, so he stood outside the jumper and listened.
"Carson, I am going on this mission with or without your permission. If there is any chance we can find John, I want to be there."
"But Luv, you have a broken ankle, and if we get into trouble, you won't be able to run to safety."
"Do not worry, Carson. I will wait in the jumper."
"But what if there is a problem and we crash the jumper."
"Do not be so negative, Dr Beckett. It will be fine."
Rodney waited to see if they said anything else. When he was sure they'd finished arguing, he entered, and it surprised him that Ronon and Lorne weren't there.
"It's just a waste of time anyway," he announced before sitting behind the pilot's seat. "If the Wraith are gone, chances are they have Sheppard. And what about the hideous beasts?"
"I believe that is what the Wraith came back for," Teyla surmised. "They were part Wraith."
"How do you know that?" Carson asked softly.
Rodney certainly wanted to know the answer to that question, "And why do you say that?"
"I sensed they were part Wraith. Considering the Nafari people have never reported these beasts before. I assume they belong to the Wraith and are important to them."
"That's a great theory," Rodney began, "but how can we prove it?" He sighed and answered his own question," I guess I can do more research when this mission is over."
"Let's get it over with then," Ronon said, entering the jumper with Lorne.
"You do realise that the Wraith and Sheppard are probably gone."
"Yes, Dr McKay, that is a strong possibility, but we should go and look for clues anyway," Lorne replied. " Now sit down and be quiet. Then we can get this mission underway."
Rodney sat behind Lorne while Ronon sat in the co-pilot's seat. Teyla and Carson sat at the back of the jumper.
He had no idea how long this rescue mission would last, but it would be nice if they found Sheppard alive and well and got back to Atlantis within an hour - as if things would be that simple.
oOo
Pins and needles in his extremities were the first thing John noticed as consciousness returned. The next was how hard the surface he was laying on was. A loud moan invaded his thoughts, and it didn't take him long to figure out the sound was coming from him.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and found he was in a small Wraith cell. Rollo was sitting beside him and staring at the opposite wall.
"Are you alright, Rollo?" He asked the boy softly, not wanting to startle him.
Rollo turned to look at him, and looking at the boy's tear-stained face, he could see Rollo had been crying.
John did his best to sit up and drag himself across the tiny cell so that his back was against the wall.
"I'm alright, John. It's you I have been worried about. What happened to you?"
The last thing he wanted to do was worry his young friend, so he changed the subject, "What happened to you?"
"When I woke up, I was in a room like this, and a lady was sitting with me. She told me that her name was Athena and she would look after me."
John's first thought was, that she was a Wraith worshipper, but again, he didn't want to worry Rollo, so he didn't voice his thoughts. Perhaps she was a prisoner as well.
Changing the subject again, John asked, "Have you found Trixie?"
"No, I don't know what happened to her. I hope she's still on the planet. I have not seen Jallell either, so hopefully, she's with Trixie."
Rollo looked like he would cry again, so John sat up and awkwardly put his arm around the boy, "I hope they're on the planet too."
He didn't know where Trixie or Jallell were, but the one thing he did know was that he needed to protect Rollo at all costs.
John wanted to look down at his chest to see if there was a feeding scar, but he decided to wait until Rollo was asleep so he wouldn't scare him.
Suddenly, he remembered the roar he'd heard before being stunned and wondered if the hideous beasts from the planet were on the ship.
Rollo's small, terrified voice interrupted his contemplations, "Are the Wraith going to feed on us?"
I'll do my best to ensure that doesn't happen," John replied more confidently than he felt. "We should find a way to escape and get off this ship before that happens."
"How?"
"Well, we need to get to the dart bay and steal a dart."
Rollo's eyes lit up, "can you fly one?"
"Yeah, I've needed to fly one on occasion."
"Cool," Rollo replied, and John was glad that the boy's tears had dried up.
John looked around the room, hoping to find something to eat because if he was going to attempt an escape, he couldn't do it on an empty stomach. His eyes scanned the cell twice before he noticed a small plate of fruit, and alongside it was a jug of what he assumed was water. Two small cups sat beside it.
"If we're going to attempt an escape, I can't do it on an empty stomach. Have you eaten Rollo?"
"Athena gave me a plate of fruit and a drink of water."
"Okay, but maybe you should eat some more because who knows how long before you eat again."
When the boy nodded, he handed him a piece of fruit and a small cup of water. They ate in silence, which gave his mind time to formulate a plan to get out of the cell. He didn't know which direction the dart bay was, but perhaps he could find a computer console along the way.
Once he'd finished his fruit and cup of water, he pulled the knife out of his boot and hid it behind his back. It was time to put his plan into action. He was going to try and kill the guards. It wasn't much of a plan, but it was all he had.
Winking at Rollo, he stood to his feet and approached the door. He hoped the boy would catch on to what he was trying to do and stay back. Rollo winked back, and a look of understanding crossed the boy's face as he took a few steps backwards so he was standing against the wall.
"Hey, Tom, Jerry!" John called loudly.
He was sure the cell was well guarded but could always hope it wasn't.
His suspicions were confirmed when the Wraith he'd named Tom came and peered through the fibrous tissue covering the exit.
"What do you want, human?" Tom sneered.
"I'd like to speak to your manager. These accommodations are disgraceful, and I want better." The minute words were out of his mouth, he regretted it.
Tom reached in, put his hands around his throat, and picked him up. Rather than letting go, he started to squeeze his throat, cutting off his airways. His vision began to blur as he struggled for breath.
"I do not like you, human. If I had my way, I would enjoy feeding on you and your little friend."
Suddenly, he felt himself flying across the room for the second time that day. Right before his head connected with the wall and he lost consciousness, he saw Jerry pick up the knife he'd dropped, and he heard Rollo calling his name.
oOo
Teyla stood at the open hatch of the jumper and watched the others get further away. Ronon, Carson, Rodney and Lorne were looking for Colonel Sheppard. Her leg was aching, and she was still getting used to crutches, so she had no choice but to remain in the jumper and do what Carson had asked.
When they had come through the wormhole, Teyla hadn't sensed the Wraith or the hideous beasts on the planet. She hadn't sensed a Wraith hive in orbit either, so the Wraith were definitely gone. The only question was - was John still on the planet? Unfortunately, she suspected that the Wraith had him, and if that were the case, she didn't know how they would get him back.
She had been standing at the open hatch for ten minutes, and her friends were long gone, so she decided it was time to go inside and close the hatch. As she turned around, she saw a tiny black blob running towards her, and her instincts told her to see what it was. Next, she heard a child's voice, and it seemed upset.
"Trixie, please stop running," the little girl sobbed.
She hobbled to the back of the jumper just as the little black ball of fur ran in. It didn't take her long to realise it was a tiny dog.
The little girl kept her distance from the jumper and looked afraid.
Teyla hobbled closer and got a good look at the child. Her fair skin was covered in mud, as were her tattered clothes. Her dark brown hair was knotted and had fallen out of its ponytail. Whisps of hair hung around her face and blew in the gentle breeze. Her big brown eyes were wide, and she looked like she would cry.
"Please do not be afraid," She said gently, "my name is Teyla."
"My name is Jallell," the girl said cautiously.
"Are you here alone?"
With that question, the girl started to cry, so Teyla crossed the distance - the best she could on crutches - and put her arm around the child.
"Come inside the jumper, Jallell? Then you can tell me what happened," Teyla suggested softly.
When she had hobbled into the jumper, Teyla closed the hatch and sat on one of the benches in the back. With a wave of her hand, she indicated that Jallell should sit beside her.
When Jallell finally sat down, Trixie jumped on her lap, and for now, the child was calm.
"What happened to your leg?" Jalell asked.
Teyla wondered how much she should tell Jallell, but if the child was on the planet, chances were she'd seen the hideous beasts.
"I broke my ankle running from some terrible creatures on this planet."
Jallell nodded, "Rollo and I heard them every time we tried to exit the caves where we were hiding. We hid in the caves when the Wriath came while my Mom went to look for our sister Stella."
Jallell's tears were flowing freely again, and Teyla feared the child would stop talking, but she kept going.
"John found us and told us that the Wraith had culled our planet, and there was a good chance that Stella and Mom were dead. Well, he didn't exactly say that, but Rollo did."
Teyla's heart was beating faster now. The child had seen John, but the only question now was - did she know where he was?
"What happened to John and Rollo?" Teyla asked as gently as possible.
"The Wraith took them. I mean, they were caught up in one of those beams."
Jallell looked at her with her tear-stained face and asked, "Was John a friend of yours?"
Teyla couldn't speak because if she did, she would start crying, so she nodded.
"Please don't leave me on this planet?" Jallell asked in a quivering voice, "it used to be home, but there is nothing left here for me."
"Do not worry, Jallell? My friends and I will take you to a safe place."
They sat in silence after that, and Teyla wondered how long it would be before her friends returned because the sooner they got back to Atlantis, the sooner they could mount a search for John.
oOo
Ronon knew the minute he entered the large, sandy cavern that John had been there, even before Carson pointed out the bloody bandages beside the stream.
The phosphorescent walls made it easy to see the numerous footprints littering the sandy floor, one set of large prints and two smaller ones. It also looked like there was a small creature's paw prints beside them.
"Looks like he was here with two kids, "Ronon muttered to anyone listening.
"It looks like there was a dog here as well," Lorne commented, coming up alongside him.
"Yes, it's clear he was here, but what the hell happened to him and the others from the cave?"
"I don't know, Rodney," Carson began, "but I do know that there's a lot of blood on these bandages."
Ronon wasn't listening to the conversation because he was trying to work out where the footprints went. They seemed to cross back and forth across the cave a few times before heading towards the exit.
Not bothering to tell the others where he was going, he followed the trail of footprints. Ronon had a good idea of what he would find when he exited the cave system, but he didn't want to tell the others.
A few minutes later, his suspicions were confirmed when he exited the cave. The footprints continued for about fifty metres, and then they stopped.
Ronon turned around to look at Lorne, who had been following him.
"Sheppard's been picked up by a culling beam."
"Yeah, I know," Lorne whispered before clearing his throat. "I think it's time we went back to Atlantis," Lorne said more loudly.
"Let's go, "Ronon agreed before heading toward the jumper.
He didn't know how they would find Sheppard, but there was one person he could ask. Although he didn't like Todd and wanted nothing to do with him most of the time, there was a good chance the big Wraith could tell them where Sheppard was. Even if he didn't know, Todd had connections and could find out. Ronon chuckled at the fact that he had just called Todd a person. Seven years ago, he'd never even considered that Wraith were people.
oOo
The next time John became aware, Tom and Jerry were dragging him through the halls of the hive ship in the direction of the queen's chamber, and he didn't feel well. Obviously, by the jackhammer rearranging his skull, he'd hit his head hard. His vision was blurry, and his stomach felt nauseous. John chuckled when he thought of hurling on the queen's feet. A grunt beside him caught his attention, and it didn't take him to realise that Jerry wasn't happy with him laughing - not that he was laughing. He actually felt like screaming and crying, seeing the situation he was in.
A few minutes later, Tom and Jerry unceremoniously dumped him on the floor of the queen's chamber.
"Ah, Colonel Sheppard, I trust the refreshments were satisfying."
Rather than bothering to reply, he looked at her and asked, "What do you want?"
"It is simple, Colonel Sheppard. I would like to ask you some questions."
He knew what was coming when she ran her long, cold fingers down his cheek. He suspected she had something to say about his attempted escape.
Kneel, A command he refused to follow, especially as he heard it in his head.
I will get the information I need one way or another. Again, he heard her voice in his head.
The pressure was building in his head as she tried to probe his mind, but he still refused to give anything away. He thought of Math problems, flying, his favourite songs, anything so he wouldn't give away any information. Not that he knew what she was after.
Just when he thought his head would explode, she released his mind, and he fell to the floor, only to find there was blood coming out of his nose and ears.
"My sisters were right about you. You are strong, but no matter. I will tell you what I want. It's simple. I need a pet because you killed the last one. Although I don't really know, I believe you killed Fluffy."
It took his scrambled brain a few minutes to realise what she was talking about, "you mean that hideous beast was your pet, and you named it Fluffy?"
"Yes, and because I find you so amusing, you will take his place," she said, running fingers through his hair, "but first, I will feast on your defiance."
Suddenly, she was on him and ripping his shirt open. Next, he felt her feeding hand slam into his chest, and then the queen started to feed. He felt the wraith enzyme flooding his system, and for an instant, it felt good. Then he felt his life begin to drain away right before he felt his nerves ripped apart. He felt weaker by the minute, and he wondered if he would ever see his friends again. Eventually, the agony he was feeling became too much, and he screamed. Just when he thought he was going to die, it stopped, and he slumped to the floor.
Now he was old, weak and tired, and right before he lost consciousness, he heard the sound of the beast roaring.
TBC…