Night was upon Atlantis, but for Rodney McKay, the day had just begun, his surrogate daughter lay cooing in her crib, going between crying and whimpering for someone to hold or feed her. Rodney, clad in his boxers and t-shirt, gently scooped Lauryn from her crib and settled himself into a rocking chair Teyla had brought fromthe mainlandtwo weeks earlier. As though he'd been doing it all his life, Rodney held her in his arms, and rocked back and forth.
"Tiny little fingers, tiny little toes," he said grinning as he gently held her foot in his hand. She had gained four to six pounds already since they had found them. Carson had joked if Rodney didn't feed and treat her so well she'd still weigh what she did on the planet. Her hair had grown darker and was growing longer, although it was still very thin and silky.
"You need sleep Lauryn," he said simply as he gently continued to rock her. She looked up at him and stuck out her tiny pink tongue. "Did Uncle John teach you that? Great my little girl is going to be a heathen, hey put that back in your mouth young lady," she didn't move, but her mouth finally opened up into a giggle, "oh you think its funny do you," he stuck his own tongue out at her and blew a raspberry at her.
He grinned as she mimicked him, blowing a tiny raspberry right back at him. He pressed a kiss to her soft blemish free forehead, "we're not playing games here kiddo," he said softly.
She tried to mimic his words, moving her mouth as he did, "sleep," he whispered. She must have understood him, her blue eyes began to grow heavy and close.
"I love you sweet one," he whispered, words he hadn't spoken for years.
Colonel Steven Caldwell sat in the briefing surrounded by some of the best people he had ever met. He would never openly tell any of them that, after all he was supposed to be a hard-nosed colonel with no heart. He was here to run a tight ship and that's what he meant to do.
To his left was Dr. Elizabeth Weir, she headed up the mission, she had done an amazing job surviving their first year; he was sure she'd do just as good a job this year, and he had been impressed at how well she seemed to control herself at times. Especially when it came to the egotistically man seated right beside her.
Dr. Rodney McKay, was a self-proclaimed genius, although according to Sheppard, Rodney really was one of the smartest men on Atlantis. Caldwell had a little issue with the younger scientist, but it was easy to see that while he was annoying and had a tendency to drive people up the wall, he indeed had friends and their respect was high. Just over two and a half months ago, Rodney's team had found a small infant girl, Rodney had almost instantly taken her into his heart, Steven had never seen anyone care so endlessly for someone so little. That was when Steven had decided to give the younger man a chance to prove himself.
To Caldwell's other side was the military commander of Atlantis, a position Caldwell had orginally wanted: Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, a strong willed, but amazingly smart young man. Caldwell had heard plenty of stories back on earth, both from Jack O'Neill and many other superiors about this man. And one thing he knew about the boy, was that John never gave up on anyone without a fight.
On John's other side sat a young woman named Teyla, Caldwell wasn't exactly sure to make of this woman yet, she was indeed amazing in more ways than one. But she was an alien and that brought Steven his doubts. Although both Weir and Sheppard had stated that she had been working with them since day one of being on this planet and that it was because of her they ever stood any chance against the Wraith. After Teyla came Ronan Dex, a runner from the Wraith, he was a strong man, with guts and a high tolerance for pain. He was smart, although alien, Steven had already started developing a strange trust in the man.
To Ronan's side was the last person, the one person Caldwell had instantly trusted for one reason or another. And that was Dr. Carson Beckett, a Scottish Doctor who knew his place but was not afraid to speak out against things when ready. He had just enough fear in him to prove he wasn't egotistically but enough brains to go up against both Sheppard and McKay.
Caldwell had the feeling however, that Sheppard, McKay and Beckett had a very different kind of friendship. They were three people that no one would ever expect to see together. After all one was annoying as hell, the other was stubborn and perhaps a little egotistically and the last one tended to be lacking the social skills for certain endeavors. But if there was one thing Caldwell had learned in the military it was not to judge people by how they looked. Each one had learned to hold their own by now, and far more than that they had learned to work together for the cause; whatever it may be.
"It should be a simple mission, we're going to see what M36-X97 to possibly offer us, see if we can't get anything in return for some of our supplies, now that we have them by the dozen and all," explained Sheppard grinned.
However if there was one thing Caldwell had noticed about this group of people, it was that nothing was ever easy or simple. He had seen hundreds of mission reports, and while all the teams tended to have their share of injuries, Sheppard's team seemed to have more than any group, and it certainly didn't seem to be because they were careless. They just ran into trouble nearly every time.
"Well then, let's keep it simple, Major, you have a go," stated Weir as she eyed Caldwell. He hadn't taken over direct control yet, but sometimes she felt like he would swoop down and take her position as ranking personnel on this mission. She knew they wouldn't accept him, not the way they had accepted her after awhile. Even Bates had come to respect her…before he had died of severe injuries caused by a Wraith.
"Let's saddle up boys and girls, I wanna get back in time for the movie tonight," grinned Sheppard as he herded his team out of the briefing room. The room was instantly filled with chatter, as usual Rodney and Carson drifted towards John, as they spoke. Carson looked to be making a serious comment to both of them.
Caldwell took a moment to watch the three, whatever Carson had said caused John and Rodney to smile. Carson reached out and smacked Rodney in the arm in a friendly brother like manor before nodding a goodbye and joined Elizabeth by her side..
John and Rodney headed down the stairs to the main gate room and continued talking, Teyla and Ronan were also heading down the stairs. Weir smiled softly at Caldwell kindly and headed out of the briefing room. She came to stand next to one of the newest comers to Atlantis and smiled.
"Dial it up Jake," she said simply to the man.
Jake nodded and quickly dialed the destination, "Be safe and good luck," Elizabeth called as she waved goodbye to them. Her three closest friends and the newest member of the Atlantis crew stepped through the event horizon, as always Sheppard and Rodney heading up the team, Ronan next, and Teyla in the back.
"Sure has changed," grinned Beckett from her side.
"Hm?" Elizabeth looked at him in question.
"It used to be Aiden and John in front, Rodney always went back. Then last year…at some point, Rodney began taking the lead with John."
"Those two have changed greatly," Elizabeth agreed softly.
"Yes, and in many good ways…well I should go, I've got wee Lauryn to watch today," Carson said smiling.
"Have fun," Elizabeth said grinning.
If Rodney didn't know better he would have guessed they were on earth as they stepped through the other side of the worm hole. The place was beautiful, plush green grass, a homey dirt road, and beautiful huge trees standing several feet high.
"Nice place," grinned John as he watched the wormhole disengage.
"Think the people are as nice?" Ronan asked.
"Let's go find out," Sheppard suggested.
The four team members began the hike towards the town. Indeed many things had changed, John smiled as they were all silent; that was the biggest difference of all. McKay rarely complained anymore, he had found his place, although John was fairly sure a lot of McKay's new attitude had a little to do with the beautiful little baby that had come into their lives nearly three months ago. Rodney had gone from sarcastic scientist to loving father.
The small colony was roughly an hour's walk from the gate, as John figured it. It was a simple place, similar to that of Indians, with tee-pees, huts and campfires around everywhere. There could only possibly be about one hundred to a hundred and fifty people in the settlement. They were obviously not the most high tech group of people.
"Telon! Telon!" cried a young boy, perhaps in his mid teens as the boy ran across the settlement, where the largest tent stood in the middle of the surrounding tents.
A short man, perhaps no more than 5'6 or 5'7 stepped out, he had dark black hair, and tanned olive skin, his hair looked as greasy as his personality: Shiny and deceitful to hide the lice that lie beneath the surface. He was chubby, perhaps two hundred to two-fifty pounds, not by any means a whale of a man, but considerably over weight for a man of his stature.
"I am Telon, Welcome to Nirnee," the man greeted smiling an almost hospitable smile.
John wasn't convinced, but he didn't meet the eyes of his teammates, afraid that if he did the man would see his doubt, "howdy, I'm Colonel John Sheppard, this is Dr. Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, and Major Specialist Ronan Dex. We're from Atlantis."
"City of the deep," there were several gasps through the crowd that had begun to form.
Rodney took a look around, finding something very suspicious about these people. He heard John mutter something about being peaceful explores when it hit him, there was no one under the age of twelve, and of these people he didn't see a single person older than him or John.
"You are a Doctor, of medicine?" Telon questioned Rodney.
Rodney turned towards the leader and shrugged, "uh, no of science, I study stars…" he explained obviously not helping his case.
"Come with me," the leader turned, Rodney looked at John who nodded.
"Ronan, you and Teyla…get to know our friends here," John quickly followed Rodney and Telon.
Telon led them to a building perhaps fifteen minutes from the settlement, the building was made of heavy wood, and not very secure looking, "many of our young children are being afflicted by terrible disease," explained the man.
"Uh, I don't treat…" Rodney was shoved inside, and took that as a point. John followed in behind him.
Rodney looked around, two or three cots filled each of four rooms, only six children occupied the rooms however, as Rodney stepped over to one he felt his stomach turn and begin to burn it's way up his throat. What the man called a disease couldn't possibly be any known disease; it looked like the children had been tortured.
The first child was a girl, with shoulder length blonde hair, she was beautiful, or had been before someone or something turned her into a bruised monster.
"I…I'd like….I'd like to get her back to my lab…run some tests," Rodney stuttered horrified by this poor girl, she couldn't possibly be older than nine or ten. As her big green eyes met Rodney's, he felt his heart go out to her, unlike any other person or child he had ever felt before.
"You can save her?" questioned Telon.
Rodney turned and looked at Telon and then at John, "I…I won't know until I run some tests," he replied as he knew Carson would reply. But like Carson would know, or even John, this little girl probably wouldn't even survive the trip home.
"Very well, you save her and we talk about trade," spoke the man.
"We'll do our best," John replied.
Rodney reached out and smoothed back the soft honey colored hair, "what's your name?" he asked gently so not to frighten the already terrified little girl.
"Katarina," she whimpered to him.
"Hi Katarina, my name is Rodney and this is my friend John, we're going to take you home with us and try to help you, but I think we need to talk okay?" the girl slowly nodded, "don't be afraid, I'm going to pick you up."
Moments later John and Rodney were making their way back to the camp, neither spoke a word to each other, afraid that if they opened their mouths they would vomit from the stench of chlorine, vomit, urine and defecation.
Ronan and Teyla saw them coming, John simply nodded towards them, and together they bid a goodbye to Telon, girl in arms and made their way back on the long trek to the gat.
"What the hell happened?" Ronan asked as they hiked toward the gate.
"Now isn't the time or place to talk," stated John as he watched the girl who slept soundly in Rodney's arms. The poor girl was covered in scraps, bruises, marks, cuts, bumps, and what John could only describe as small burns that probably had come from a cigarette or cigar.
"Dial up the gate Ronan," Rodney said as the girl in his arms began to grow limp and unresponsive. She had tensed with every step previously, but suddenly she wasn't moving anymore, and Rodney was beginning to fear the worst about the tiny child.
Dex ran ahead the last ten yards and rushed through dialing Atlantis, he punched in his GDO and quickly stepped through, Teyla and Rodney followed closely afterwards, John took a final glance around then stepped through the event horizon.
The small boy from earlier also took a quick look around, and followed the four Atlantians' through the gate, unsure what he was getting himself into.
Elizabeth had been speaking with Caldwell when the wormhole engaged and seconds later, Ronan, Teyla, Rodney and John appeared. A small girl was being held in Rodney's arms, and closely behind John stepped a little boy who was looking around wildly.
"I need a medical team now!" cried Rodney as he cradled the girl closer.
"Colonel, we had a stow away," Dex said suddenly as he rounded his teammates holding the twelve year old boy as the child squirmed and tried to cry out for help
"What the hell is going on here?" Caldwell asked as he ran down the stairs, as Elizabeth also descended the stairs, Carson Beckett came hurrying in with three members of his medical staff.
"Dear God," whispered Carson as he spotted the child Rodney was holding.
Rodney attempted to put her down on the litter they had brought from her, but instantly the girl began to fight. If she had been unresponsive before, she certainly wasn't now.
"Shh, it's all right, lass; no one here will hurt ya," Carson whispered gently.
"I'll bring her," Rodney stated.
"Bring the boy, Teyla," John demanded.
They were all quiet for the next several minutes, finally Rodney convinced the girl to allow Carson to hold her for a moment while he checked her out. Although her cries were weak, Rodney could feel them pulling at his heart strings. His mind wandered to Lauryn, what she might look like, what if had been her. He shook his head quickly and felt his brother's hand on his shoulder. The boy on the other hand had finally settled down enough to stand in Ronan's arms without throwing a good kick to the man's privates.
"I'd still like to know the answer to what the hell happened?" Steven demanded himself as he looked at his best team.
"I honestly don't know Colonel, we got there, spoke with Telon, the head of the colony for maybe five or ten minutes. I told him Rodney was Dr. McKay, and seconds later we were being led into some…"
"Death house," whispered Rodney as the images of the children filled his mind.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth questioned.
"That little girl was one of about six or seven small children that looked like that, and I honestly don't think she was the worst." Stated John.
"She's my sister," came the boy's reply from where he now sat beside Ronan and Teyla.
"What's your name son?" John asked as he moved over to the boy and looked the boy in the blue eyes.
"Dominique."
"What happened to your sister Dominique?" Steven inquired gently.
"I do not know."
"I do," came Carson's gentle reply from the door.
"How is she?" Rodney stood up instantly and questioned.
"Teyla, why don't you take this little fella in to his sister, she could use the support now," Carson suggested.
"All right, come with me," Teyla led the boy in without an argument, realizing something was no doubt up.
"What's wrong Carson?" Elizabeth broke the silence once the boy was far enough away from her.
"Aside form the obvious injuries, this girl is lucky to be alive; she shows signs of physical, mental and perhaps sexual abuse, I couldn't put her through the tests for that. I was hoping she would tell me that in time. However I'm not sure we have much time with her."
"What do you mean?" Rodney questioned.
"It was almost as though she's been tortured and re-injured again and again. As I said it's amazing she's even alive. The chest x-rays and tests we ran…show an amazing amount of adrenaline in her blood, her lungs are bleeding…she's bleeding from the inside out. I haven't heard of symptoms like this since my med student days."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean someone's gassed her with hypochlorous and hydrochloric acid…" Carson stated.
"Wait a minute…you mean Chlorine Gas?" Rodney asked completely speechless.
Four stunned looks met his, and Teyla looked confused and perhaps a little lost, "Carson these people don't even look like they were caught up with the third world countries on Earth," bit John.
"My guess is they hid things, just like the men who used it as chemical warfare during WWI. Either way this girl has more than trace amounts of it in her system."
"How long does she have?"
"Two days, at most, and it's not going to be pleasant couple days."
"I've seen it," whispered John.
"So have I," replied Rodney.
"So now what, we can't just go back there and ask them about something like this?" John pointed out.
"You're not going back at all," stated Steven Caldwell.
"We have to Colonel, first off we have one of the boys, second off there are at least six children like this little girl that are dying, and deserve to die in less pain. There could be hundreds more dying at this very moment," Rodney said suddenly fighting for this.
"Explain," Elizabeth spoke in exasperation.
"I was looking at the people in the settlement, Elizabeth there is no one under that boy's age, and certainly no one older than me or John, and we're only thirty-six and thirty-seven. The oldest person there is Telon and he's probably forty."
"Are you saying these people are killing themselves with chemical warfare?"
"God I hope not, but, well frankly, I don't know, that's why we have to go back. We have to try and find out what the hell is going on, on this planet and help these people."
"No young girl would subject herself, nor could she; to the kind of torture she has survived."
"How did she even survive?" Caldwell questioned worriedly.
"It looks as though some…idiot who believes he's a doctor tried to fix her up, and did a spotty job at that," replied Carson.
"So what, we just wait till she dies and take her back to her planet?" Rodney growled in frustration.
"No, I want to keep her here, she's safe here, but I think you best find out what's happening to these children."
"We will, but first we probably should talk to Dominique, and the girl, is she up to it Carson?" John questioned.
"You're welcome to try, but don't go upsettin' her," Carson said as he led them back to the room where she was sitting on a hospital bed.
Dominique sat at the edge of his sister's bed, she looked terrible, ashen white, her lips a terrible purplish blue color, her breathing raspy. Every time she coughed she would hack up blood. It made Rodney wince, fighting the urge to rub his chest in pain.
"You can help my sister?" he asked as Carson, John and Rodney neared the bed.
"No lad, I can't. I'm sorry, both of you, but there's too much damage lass…you're dying."
She coughed harshly, allowing Teyla and Carson to help her, as she laid back she nodded, "I know…" she gasped out. Carson sighed and gently pressed the oxygen mask to her face.
"Dominique, buddy we need you to tell us how your sister got to be this ill…" Rodney spoke gently so not to frighten the girl or boy.
"I cannot," he said simply.
"Dominique, we really need you to tell us this information, if it's Telon you are afraid of you don't have to be…we can protect you."
"Perhaps you should take him to the conference room, I don't think the girl is up to many visitors right now," explained Carson.
"Okay Doc, update us if she changes," John said as he hefted the silent boy into his arms and headed into the conference room. It didn't take long before Teyla, Ronan, Elizabeth and Steven had joined the group.
"I cannot explain it," Dominique said with firmness and dignity.
"Please Dominique…" John began.
"Look Dom, your sister is dying, she isn't going to survive this and you know it. Now lots more people could and will die if you don't help us. We're not asking for you to give yourself up, we're asking that you help us save other's lives. Lives like your sister," Rodney growled harshly.
"Rodney…" Elizabeth's warning was gentle. However watching the boy, she knew Rodney's message had found its destination.
"It is truly an honor…"
"An honor…to di…."
"Rodney," this time it was Steven, with a much more menacing and barked tone, one that Rodney did not intend to fight against.
"As I said we consider it a great honor, to die for our god," spoke the boy.
"Why Dominique, why do you die, do you kill yourselves? Does Telon do it? Who dies?" Elizabeth questioned.
"We all must die, no one lives past forty but Telon…he says our god will smile upon us and give us the greatest of rewards for our sacrifices…."
"But why do you sacrifice Dominique, and why not everyone?"
"Only those younger than ten, and older than forty…"
"But why!" Rodney barked.
"Perfection…" it seemed almost spat out, and as every human ear heard that word they felt their stomachs drop, their hands grew sweaty, a swell in their throat.
"W…what do you mean perfect?" John asked quietly, praying the answer wouldn't come.
"Perfect, all of the same, we sacrifice those who are imperfect…" it was as though he were talking about the weather to a close friend. Like the answer should have been the most normal thing they had ever heard.
"What kind of imperfections?" whispered Rodney sickened to the core.
"Disease…"
"Hair…eye color?" Rodney spoke quietly.
"Yes, of course…"
"Who doesn't die?" John questioned.
"Blue eyes…dark brown hair…defective…people, diseased… impure…"
"Oh my God," whispered Elizabeth. She looked around at her people, Steven was rubbing his face with his hands. John looked sick, his eyes stuck on the corrupted child. Rodney looked positively green, ready to jump out of his chair and throw up. Ronan and Teyla looked neutral, and perhaps confused.
"How often…do the sacrifices occur?" questioned Steven quietly, almost inaudibly.
"One every week…" the boy spoke.
"Jake!" Steven called as he opened the door to the briefing room, "please take this young man back to the infirmary and have Carson get down here as soon as he can," Steve ordered as the young scientist moved over to him. Jake nodded and took the young boy by his hand.
All the remaining occupants were silent, trying to fathom how this could possibly be happening. "I…" Rodney shrugged.
"Yeah…that about sums it up," whispered John.
"I have missed something?" Teyla questioned.
"In the early nineteen hundreds there was a man named Adolf Hitler, he began quietly gathering his men, all the same blonde hair, blue eyes. He brain washed them into believing they were the perfect race, they were superior. Over several years he had his people collecting all the other people, at first people of the Jewish faith, then all faiths, and people with different sexual orientation, if he didn't like you, you generally died. These people were sent of to work or death camps, places similar to old prisons or military camps, the young healthy people would be worked until they were so weak they collapsed and died or managed to find away to escape. The older people or very young people were murdered. They were gassed, burned, tested, shot, starved, and dehydrated. Some managed to survive, but many just died," whispered John eyeing Teyla.
"And you believe this is what they have been doing?" Teyla speculated.
"Certainly sounds like that…my god, how do you stop someone like that?" Elizabeth whispered.
"Well some think Hitler poisoned himself…but I'm always up for a good bullet to the brain," John said harshly.
"John…we have to look at this…another way, we can't go in there with guns blazing, then they'll know we know….and that is a bad idea," Elizabeth reasoned.
"Carson?" John called as he and his brother walked into the infirmary. Carson looked up from the chart he had been looking at. He smiled, handing it off to the nurse next to him, he quickly gave her some instructions and then headed over to his friends.
"How's the girl?" Rodney inquired.
"I give her a day…at best. She's not doing very well, the damage to her lungs was far too severe."
"Carson…ah we sorta need you help," John began.
"Doin' what?"
"Well… uh, Elizabeth suggested the best way to stop the Nazi that decided to go about this exterminations….is to pretend like we're interested in working with them…"
"And why do you need me for something like that?"
"Well…see, for a couple things, is there anyway aside from oxygen that can protect us from breathing this stuff in?" Rodney asked.
"You won't like the answer I give ya," Carson answered simply.
"Oh…well that sounds just great…"
"Men back in the war would place cloths soaked in urine over their nose and mouths to keep from breathing it in," explained Carson.
"That's disgusting," Rodney murmured.
"It was war Rodney, there was nothing pretty about it, even you have to realize that by now."
"Sorry…" Rodney muttered in annoyance.
"You said you needed me for a couple things…what's the second?"
"Well…" Rodney said looking over at his brother.
"It was your idea," John shot back.
"You went along with it…"
"Just shut up and tell me," Carson barked looking at the two.
"They may not do business with us directly…and we're fairly sure they're not going to want to work with Teyla and Ronan…we need someone like you…."
"Like me?"
"Look you're the perfect description…their idea of the perfect race…."
"Excuse me?"
"You've got bleu eyes, and the dark hair…"
"You want me to help you fool this Telon man…by pretending we wish to rid Atlantis of the imperfect…people…I'm sorry boys, but I can't do it."
"Carson, we need you," John said.
"The answer is no, I can't pretend to be something I'm not, especially not this."
"Carson…." Rodney began.
"You've got blue eyes and dark hair…"
"Yes, as well as half a dozen allergies, hypoglycemia and sandy colored hair."
"My god Rodney, are you actually admitting your imperfections," John said grinning as he poked fun of his younger brother.
"I'm admitting that what you all take for perfect around here, they'll see as screwed up as that poor little girl. And the last thing I need to is die, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a father…"
"Yes we know Rodney," Carson rolled his eyes.
"The point is Carson, you could help us save dozens more of these kids, just like Katarina…" John hit all the right buttons, and he knew it. He watched as Carson's face go from stern and absolute, to teetering on the edge of giving in. "Like Lauryn," John knew it was a low blow the minute it was out of his mouth, words that caused each man to shiver involuntarily at the thought of this every happening to such a perfect little angel.
"Don't ever say that again," whispered Carson as he looked at John.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said it in the first place," John agreed sadly, realizing he meant every word.
"Carson…" Teyla's voice startled the three men out of their own thoughts.
"Yes lass?"
"She's…she's weakened…" Teyla whispered. Immediately the three men hurried to behind the curtain. The girl was lying on the bed, tears falling from her face as she looked at Carson in the eyes. He closed his eyes in pain as he waited for the coughing to subside and the line to become flat.
It took what felt like hours to him, as he heard the line finally flatten out, he felt his stomach drop, he'd never felt so hopeless at the thought of loosing someone so young for such a stupid reason as she was imperfect. Carson opened his eyes and looked at her beautiful face, she had been so very perfect, so beautiful, so full of life.
"Do you think she believed in a god?" John asked softly as he and his three friends looked at the lifeless body.
"I hope so," came Rodney's even quieter response, "it only seems fair that she is safe and happy in someone's arms…and that she believed that before she died…otherwise she died without purpose."
"I'll help you," Carson murmured as he gently pulled the sheet over the young girls head and closed his eyes against another wave of nausea.
"We should go get ready…" Teyla replied softly as she gently squeezed Carson's hand.
His eyes remained on the blanketed body, reaching out he placed his hand on her forehead, "rest in peace young one, may whoever your god is hold and love you forever…we will stop this."
Telon opened his arms in a welcoming gesture as Rodney, John and Carson slowly greeted him with forced smiles. Carson looked around at the people, making several of the same observations Rodney had made, everyone between the ages of twelve and thirty or so, all of them had dark brown hair…except Telon who had greasy raven colored hair and green eyes. Ironic how the men who desired the perfect race…were never the same. Hitler had also had black hair and darker eyes, he had also been raised Jewish.
"Telon, this is my friend Doctor Carson Beckett, he's a medical doctor."
"What of Katarina?" Telon questioned, his voice almost sounding concerned.
"She didn't make it, I'm sorry," Carson said gently.
"It is well," the man replied.
"Uh…excuse me Telon…but where is everyone?"
"Bathing…" it put dread into their hearts at those words.
"When you say bathing?" Rodney began but felt his brother hit him hard in the side with his elbow.
"We're interested in doing business with you, my friends would like to take a look at the other children who are afflicted as Katarina was, if you would be willing to speak with me."
"That would be well, come, your Doctor McKay remembers where the hospital is…" John nodded to his friends.
It didn't take long to find the "bathing" house. It had yellowish smoke rising from it, "that's it," Carson stated.
"We're not going to just go in there…are we?"
"No, we'd have to be crazy, but we have to get those people out Rodney, take out the mask…"
The two friends pulled out their protection gears, gloves and their masks. Seconds later they entered what Telon had called the shower. For a moment the entire room was clouded with smoke, but after a moment it clears. Rodney felt his stomach drop and roll, bile began to rise in his throat.
Bodies…they were everywhere, young and old, all ages, all different types. And not a quick death, many were still coughing up blood, hacking and vomiting.
"This is…"
"Horrific," whispered Carson.
"What are you doing in here?" came a furious voice behind them.
"We've discussed this Telon…we want crops, not perfection…"
The door opened with a bang, John watched in horror as Carson and Rodney were tossed to the floor. Rodney rolled over and groaned as he looked up at John in contempt.
"We found them in the bathing house Telon," the two men spoke.
"Colonel…" began Telon.
"I'm sorry Telon…they…they must have mistaken it for the hospital, right boys," John said eyeing the two men.
"Aye…"
"Yes…well they shall not make such a mistake again. I'm sorry you are not the type of people we trade with Colonel."
"Why because we aren't perfect!" Rodney suddenly screamed as he jumped from the floor and dove at Telon.
"RODNEY!" screamed John, and that was when all hell broke loose...gun fire, screaming and yelling filled the air as John and Carson tried to grab Rodney.
"Everyone freeze!" yelled Ronan Dex as he stood there with his gun, Teyla on the opposite side of the small house, along with half the military on Atlantis.
"Good timing!" John gasped grinning.
"Rodney!" Carson dropped to Rodney's side and slowly rolled him over onto his back.
"How is he?" John asked as he knelt down by Carson's side. Rodney's eyes were shut tightly in pain, brow furrowed, his face pale, as he gripped his arm."
"He'll live," Carson said smiling.
"Let me make this clear, we're walking off this planet…and anyone who wants to come with us, if going as well…you won't come after us, you won't continue your purging." John said as he pulled out his gun and held it to Telon's face.
"You are a foolish man to believe anyone will follow you," Telon spoke.
"I think you'd be surprised, people don't like loosing their children to murderers like you, and they don't like dying horrific deaths. If you follow I will kill you with the very thing you use to rid yourself of the imperfect people."
"You may go," the man finally relented.
"Good, Carson, Teyla, help Rodney to the gate, Ronan get us a ten count, then head back to the gate, if they move…shoot them…and to kill," John said handing his gun over to Ronan, he then moved over to Rodney's side.
"How's the arm?" John asked as he, Teyla, Ronan, Elizabeth, Steven, Carson and Lauryn moved over to his bed.
"I'll live," Rodney replied, he grinned as Teyla easily sat the infant into his arms.
"So Carson says…well you'll be happy to know, that we've relocated the Nirnees to the mainland, they seemed to be satisfied with that for now. Several of the Athosian have offered to teach them how to create their own crops. We'll obviously peek in on them from time to time….but I think they'll be just fine."
"And you've told them they don't have to worry anymore?" Rodney asked.
"We explained to them there was no gate on the mainland and no way for Telon to get to them…some of them don't believe us, but it won't take long," John replied as he took a seat at the edge of the bed.
"It was very easy," spoke Teyla.
"I agree…perhaps a little too easy, but for now we should just thank our lucky stars you all survived it with nothing more than a bullet hole in the arm," Elizabeth spoke up smiling at Rodney.
"Yes well…no more bullet holes please, I have quite enough scars…." Rodney said smiling.
"So do we call this one a victory?" Carson asked.
"I don't think we've even started to win…let's just call it a step in the right direction," John answered as he gently tickled his niece's tummy.