Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard took the lead of the group, M74-392 was supposed to have people similar to the Athosian people, with a decent amount of crops. Several Athosians had spoken highly of these people.

However John had his doubts, the planet was chilly, it was hard for him to believe there was anything at all on this planet to make crops grow. This was conducive weather to be growing food.

Flanking John's sides were Teyla and Rodney; his younger brother having now been out of the hospital for nearly two weeks since his run in with the lemon was almost completely back to normal. But John could now officially understand why his brother cringed every time someone even mentioned citrus fruits.

Ronan pulled up the end, looking around, making sure they were in no danger. The four friends fit together well, Ronan protected everyone, John protected Teyla and Rodney, and Teyla mostly protected Rodney, who attempted to protect himself.

"Is anyone else cold?" John asked suddenly.

"I stopped feeling my toes about two minutes after stepping through the gate," replied Rodney.

"What kind of crops to they grow on this planet anyway?" John requested.

"I am not sure, it has been many years since we have worked with the Halens, they were generous people when I was young…but then years change people," Teyla replied.

"Teyla!" called a voice from a few feet away. The four teammates looked ahead and smiled. A young man, probably a little younger than Teyla waved to her.

"Miki," Teyla greeted the young man in a similar fashion with both their heads together.

"It is good to see you again," the man, Miki said smiling.

"And you as well, Miki this is John Sheppard, Rodney McKay and Ronan Dex," she introduced.

"It is nice to meet you all…" the man said offering each man a smile.

"I thought you had left this world many years ago?"

"I did…but I have returned I am now second to his highness," explained Miki.

"Congratulations, that is quite an honorable position."

"What's the highness'…name?" John questioned as he and Rodney both paused to think about his grammar.

"Halem Kayle," replied Miki.

"Wonderful, now we'll know, lead the way," John said grinning kindly.

Rodney quickly caught up with his brother and looked at him, in a quiet voice he spoke, "John…I've got a really bad…"

"Don't worry, my spidey sense is tingling too Robin," mumbled John.

Rodney looked at him in wonderment and smiled, "you do realize those are from two totally different comics?"

"Of course I do," John said smiling in return, "Superman and The Fab Four," John replied in a mocking tone.

"I hate you," lied Rodney.

"As long as you don't hate me because I'm smarter than you."

"On no, don't worry that's not an issue," Rodney said earning himself a playful smack in the back of his head.

The town seemed further along than the Athosians had been, but not nearly as far along as the Genii had been…then again they'd been building nukes under ground. Rodney stuck close by his brother as they made their way through the homestead. "Come with me," Miki spoke as he led the four Atlantians through the door of one home.

"Miki," spoke a severe strong voice. Rodney, John and Teyla's faces swiveled around as they took in the sight of the man standing before him. He was young, perhaps thirty-two earth years or less. He had dark black hair and frightening cold brown eyes.

"King Halem," Miki greeted as he bowed down before his king.

"John he…" Rodney began.

"I know," mumbled John stunned. The man looked very familiar…frighteningly so, and yet neither man could suddenly place the king's face.

"Hi, I'm Colonel John Sheppard, this is Doctor Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan and Specialist Ronan Dex," John greeted.

"Welcome to Halen, I am King Halem, what way may we help you?" the man spoke with confidence, but John sensed an underlying tone of annoyance and perhaps even fear.

"We're here to trade with you…"

"We do not trade with strangers," the man spoke firmly.

"We just met….you could at least get to know us."

"I have little interest in trading with people as you…but if you insist we shall come to know you, I will grant you one night and a day to remain here starting tonight. You are not to interact with anyone aside from Miki and myself."

"Ah…okay," John replied almost a little too willingly for the rest of his team.

They ate with around a small fire just outside of the main city, after dinner Ronan offered to take the first watch, followed by Teyla, then Rodney and John would finish off the evening, as he always had and always would. Rodney sighed as he turned again, trying to find some position that wouldn't make his back stiff come tomorrow morning.

"Rod, if you don't stop I'm going to kick you," mumbled John from next to him in the tent. They only had three tents, and Teyla refused to sleep in the same tent with any of the guys for obvious reasons, so John offered to share with his brother, in case their favorite wookie decided to strangle the scientist in the night.

"I'm sorry," grumbled the scientist.

"Don't be sorry just stop…what's bothering you anyway, you've been quiet since dinner…"

"There's something weird about the king..." mumbled Rodney as he rolled over on his back and looked up at the top of the tent. "He looks so familiar…"

"That he does little brother," John sighed.

"Koyla…" came Rodney's sudden ghastly voice.

"What?"

"Koyla…he looks like Koyla," whispered Rodney.

"Nah…couldn't be, right," replied John.

"John…"

"Rodney go to sleep."

"I'm suddenly not in the mood to go to sleep without a gun or AK-47 by my side."

"Nah, with your luck you'd blow our heads off," John joked softly.

"Thanks," mumbled Rodney as he closed his eyes and sighed.

John paused and looked over at his brother for a moment, his "spidey sense" as he had called it earlier was no longer just tingling but it was at full awareness, to the point he was waiting for something to just go wrong. Rodney was right, the king held a striking resemblence to their least favorite Genii. John closed his eyes, with the intention of feverently protecting every member of his team, especially Rodney and himself, there was no question that Koyla had it in for both men, and John wasn't going to give him any chances in capturing or hurting anyone on his team.

"How is my favorite brother," came the threatening voice. King Halem turned to stare at the man, fear written all over his younger features.

"What are you doing here?" Halem questioned.

"Imagine my surprise when I learned that you were striking up bargains with those from Atlantis," the man said in a deep menacing voice.

"I have not struck up anything Acustus… if anything I was merely waiting…"

"Waiting for me? I told you what to do if they ever came here! They are still alive, so you obviously did not listen," the man sneered as he stepped out of the shadows.

He was tall, with dark hair and dark eyes, a single scar ran down his right cheek. Halem looked at his right shoulder, where he knew lay another scar…one his brother still held a grudge over to this very day.

"They are a tough bunc…" the man gagged when he suddenly felt a blade at his throat and the wall against his back.

"People don't like weak leaders Halem, I hate weak people…I also hate people like Sheppard and McKay, I told you what I want you either make it happen or you will be the one suffering my wrath instead of the scientist do you understand."

Halem tried to swallow past the knife, "ye…yes," he managed.

"Excellent," hissed the older man as he released his brother and shoved him against the wall. "Have a wonderful evening my dear brother." With that the Genii walked out of the tent, leaving his younger brother to rub his neck in fear and hesitation.

The Atlantis team was up early by the next day, John had easily explained that they would not be trading on this planet, and that after the little tour today, there would be little to no interaction with these people again if their hunch was correct. Miki came around and offered to give them their tour, he led them through town, and around to various different buildings, until finally he led them to the mines.

"This is where we do all of our work," explained Miki.

"You send people in there?" John could vividly remember his grandfather's stories about the days of the war, when people worked in the mines and died of lunch cancer, and tuberculosis as well as other various lung conditions.

"Ah…this is my wife Alana," Miki introduced.

Rodney felt his stomach clinch at the thought of them sending women down there.

"It is men, women and children. We need all the help we can get at times."

"They're nowhere near structurally sound," Rodney murmured as he took a step into the mines.

"Rodney!" ground out John.

"Do you enjoy working down there?" Teyla questioned as she kept her eye on both John and Rodney. John had shared what they had discovered last night, and she also felt it her responsibility to watch over the two way ward brothers.

A sudden rumble split the air and their conversation. Ronan made the quick move before anyone else, and grabbed the scientist just in time to get him away from the sudden collapsing of the mine, dust came from the mine entrance.

"Dala!" screamed Alana as she ran into the mine.

"Alana!" cried Miki as quickly followed her in the mine.

"No Miki!" yelled John as he ran in after the man, afraid of what would happen. The mines weren't safe.

"John!" Ronan hurried in right behind his friend and commander, he was not about to lose Sheppard, after all he really wasn't that fond of the one named Caldwell. To Rodney it looked like some stupid cartoon, person after person after person running into to save the one before them. However, out of instinct he began to move towards the mines to grab his brother and pull him back. Rodney and Teyla turned in horror as the rumble began in the mines, "NO!" screamed Rodney in fear. They watched the rocks plummet from the ceiling, Rodney began to move but Teyla grabbed his arm.

"Let me g…"

"Rodney, you will do no one any good if you go in there, especially not your brother."

"Teyla…" Rodney said looking at his friend.

"I understand Rodney, trust me, but we must be careful."

Rodney suddenly turned around and glared at the King, "you stupid fucking bastard!" he screamed as he grabbed the stunned king.

"Rodney!" yelled Teyla

"NO! You did this! THAT'S MY BROTHER!" Rodney screamed.

"You will collect their bodies then leave, I shall not help you," with that the man detached himself from Rodney and turned to leave. Rodney looked over at the rubble, passing Teyla he hurried over to the side and began to take rock by rock off. Teyla watched sadly for a few minutes, knowing he had to deal with this first. She quietly contacted Atlantis, letting them know what happened and was pleased when they agreed to send help. Moving over to Rodney she gently touched his rigid shoulder.

"Rodney come," she said ever so quietly, the touch was just enough two bloodied hands came to Rodney's face as he began to shake his head in disbelief. "Come sit down," she crooned.

Carson, several of the military teams, Elizabeth, and a few scientists showed up twenty minutes later. Rodney was sitting by the edge of the cavern, a despondent look coloring his pale face. His hands were covered in dirt and blood. Carson spotted him and immediately moved to his dear friend; Elizabeth also hurried to his side, while Teyla briefed the others with what had happened.

"Rodney?" Carson said gently. Two blue blood shot eyes gazed up at him as though he were completely lost.

"John…" he mumbled.

"We'll get him out of there, but right now I need to take care of you, okay?" Carson spoke gently, hoping his friend would actually hear him.

"Me?"

"It's okay Rodney, breathe," whispered Carson gently. Reaching out he began to look at the two hands, they were bloodied, torn and bruised, but they would heal. Carson knew however, that if John didn't survive this, Rodney's heart would never heal.

"Let's take a walk lad," Carson said drawing his friend from the mines. Rodney felt like he was walking in some kind of haze. He followed his friend willingly.

They were silent for a few minutes, Carson was just about to say something when he felt a cold jab in the back of his neck. Raising his hand to grab whatever it, he was stunned to pull away a small dart. He cast Rodney a glance, only to him doing the same, then the two men collapsed unconscious to the ground.

"Excellent…leave the doctor, he is not worth my time," the familiar voice spoke as the man stepped over Carson to Rodney.

Two other men reached down and lifted Rodney's dead weight into their arms. Koyla smiled and nodded, "let's go then."