"So, how ya feelin', Ronan?" John asked as he finished strapping on his pack.

The large man looked over at his friend and shrugged. He wasn't the type to openly show emotion, and he had no desire to start now. They were going to Manaria, where many people from Setedia were rumored to have gone. Uncomfortable at the thought, considering what had happened the first time he'd encountered those from his homeworld, he would never admit to how nervous he was to see his people. "I'm fine. Can we go now?" he said firmly.

"Snappy. Dial up the gate guys!" John called, grinning back at Elizabeth and her fellow scientists.

"You have a go, John. Be safe," Elizabeth replied as she nodded to them in return.

The world was beautiful. With the gate situated near the city, people were hustling and bustling around as if they were just like the rest of the universe. The planet probably wasn't the most advanced in…well the galaxy, but they certainly didn't seem to notice. Ronan smiled as he looked on his people, it felt good to be home…or at least on a world where he might recognize someone.

Although, there was also another feeling on the planet, a different feeling. He couldn't help but notice that while he was happy to be "home", he didn't feel at home.

"Still wanna do this, big guy?" John asked casually as though this wasn't the hardest decision in the world.

However, for Ronan it was, and he knew what Atlantis was risking by allowing him to go. He knew that they found him valuable and that they wanted to keep him, but John had made the offer, and was serious about it. The only way Ronan would stay was if he knew Atlantis was where he was meant to be, and for that, he had to try to at least return to his people.

"I have to do this, Sheppard," he said confidently. He felt John clap him on the back.

"I know. Just wanted to make sure my Chewy was still in there and hadn't suddenly turned hide to run," the colonel said with a grin.

Ronan looked over at the man and offered a small smile; he appreciated his friend's support. Hell, having Teyla, and even Rodney, here to support him through whatever he was about to face took him by surprise. "I'm ready, come on."

They stepped into the natural movement of the crowd, and occasionally John caught some of the odd looks thrown at his team from the surrounding people. He tried not to show them any attention, hoping it was just the surprise of seeing an old friend. However, when he felt his younger brother elbow him in the ribs rather ungracefully, John realized he couldn't ignore this much longer. "What?" he hissed at Rodney.

"Uh, the looks, dear brother, are one thing, but there's a couple guys over there by that cute little bakery that look ready to pounce," Rodney whispered back as he tried to be inconspicuous with his pointing. Sadly he didn't succeed very well and several looked in the direction he indicated.

"Great, well, just try to act natural," John replied quietly under his breath.

"Uh…John, we're not dressed anything like these people, it's not like we naturally blend in."

"Right…I didn't say blend in, I said act natural: something that seems to be complicated for you."

While they had been baiting one another, they didn't notice the two goons that approached their small group of four. And, because of their inattention they practically ran right into poor Teyla, who simply shot them a glare that nearly rivaled one of Rodney's famous glares.

"Specialist Ronan Dex," greeted one man with a sneering tone.

"Caleb, nice to see you," Ronan gritted through his teeth.

"I feel you should come with us Ronan," the other man urged, his order however seemed softer, perhaps more sorrow-felt.

"Where?"

"To see Panos," goon number one snapped.

"No. Why would I want to see him?"

"Ronan, please don't make this harder than it has to be, he's already got a bounty on your head. If you come quietly, maybe he'll let you off free, or maybe he'll at least let you live."

"Let me live? What?" If people hadn't been paying attention before, they certainly were now as all eyes fell on the angry Setedian and the two guards.

"Ah, Ronan, could you keep it down? People are staring," John hissed in a whisper, his hands slowly rising to the pistol at his side.

"Ronan, perhaps we should do as these men say." Teyla made the calm suggestion as she noticed some people becoming angry in the crowd.

Squaring his shoulders, Ronan turned and looked at them for a moment. When he saw the look in Sheppard's eyes, he knew he would listen to Teyla. Shooting daggers back at the men, he nodded. "Let's go."

They followed the two guards who led them into one of the far buildings across town.

Ronan looked around and shook his head in disgust. Before he could voice his own thoughts he heard Rodney whisper it behind him, "Amazing how this Panos lives like a god while everyone else lives on the streets, looking poor, dirty and well…smelly."

He grinned at this, Rodney was correct. It hadn't always been this way. However, Rodney had an amazing way of putting things into perspective for everyone, and usually he tended to be correct.

"Thank you Rodney for that…picture," mumbled John as he shook his head and grinned.

"Guards, why are you not…oh….my Ronan," a woman who was just walking out of a nearby door stopped and looked at the tall man staring back at her. Her face was full of seriousness, however she didn't say anymore.

"Leena," Ronan replied stoically.

"Guards, leave us," she ordered.

"But Le…" one of the guards began.

"I said leave us!" she hissed. She waited until the two guards disappeared before looking back at Ronan, "You should not be here, you are not safe."

"What are you doing here? You're no safer here than I am; Panos…has done bad things."

"I know that Ronan, but he employees me, and as much as I may not like it at times, or like him, he's our leader. He is a terrible man, and we've learned that your stories are true. You shouldn't have come here."

"What has Panos done?"

"He kills those he used to work with; he has them convicted of war crimes. Ronan he has the highest bounty upon your head. He says the only way for you to pay for your wrong doings is to die. You cannot stay here."

"Where else would you have me go, Leena?"

"Wherever it was that you were."

Not about to be run off, he scowled. "I will face Panos."

"Ronan you mustn't, I can lose my job. Truly I don't mind, but I cannot watch you die at the hands of those who have known you all your life."

"Leena, I will not let him kill you for letting me go. If he wishes to face me like the true man he is…then he shall. Take me to him."

Leena's dark chocolate eyes looked over the teammates, then, finally she nodded, "Very well."

She led them further down the hall into another chamber. It was a large, and a single man with greasy raven hair sat at a desk. Hearing footsteps approach, he looked up from whatever he was working on and his gaze landed on Ronan and his team.

"Specialist Ronan Dex," sneered the man as he eyed them with contempt through his onyx black eyes. "How nice to finally see you again, and you're looking well."

"Panos, still trying to run everyone's life into the ground?" Ronan remarked snidely.

"You realize I have you for a bounty on sixteen worlds? You're the most wanted man alive, currently. And yet, here you stand before me. What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

Ronan just glared at the man, not giving him the satisfaction he so obviously was looking for. The man called Panos continued, "Very well then, lock him up!"

"Whoa! Wait a damn minute here!" John suddenly countered.

"Sheppard," rumbled Ronan's warning tone.

"No way, you haven't done anything. What the hell is he accusing you of?"

"War crimes and treason!" growled Panos.

"Hey buddy…" began John again.

"Sheppard," growled Ronan louder, "this is my fight!"

Panos grunted out a maniacal laugh as he watched two of the guards enter, "Take him to a cell, the trial begins at high noon tomorrow."

"What?" Teyla and Rodney yelled.

"You three would do well to leave, you do not belong on this world. You never should have come. Now go home."

"Now you wait one damn minute!" John began to move towards Panos. However, two more guards intercepted him, their fists punching him right in the gut, bringing him down to his knees. Teyla and Rodney instantly moved over to flank their team leader.

"Who is to represent Specialist Dex?" Rodney called out suddenly.

Panos' narrow eyes landed on McKay, making the scientist shift uncomfortably, as he appeared to consider the question. "Would you be volunteering?" he asked.

"Yes, if it means we can stay here, yes."

"Rodney," John hissed out in pain.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Very well, you are his benefactor. But I should warn you, many do not like Dex, they will not see kindly to what he has done."

"Yeah about that…what did he do?"

"He brought the Wraith to our city."

Ronan looked at his three friends and sighed from behind the bars of his cell, "Don't try to save me, your efforts will only get you killed."

"Yeah, well, we're not going to just stand by and watch you…"

"You're not going to fight this, and that's an order, Sheppard," Ronan stated, looking at the man with his hard dark eyes. "Atlantis needs you, that means you have to be careful. I'll be fine, I can handle myself."

"Oh, and where you're standing instills so much confidence in me," John retorted.

"Ronan, we must do something. Is there nothing we can do to convince the people of your world that it was another man who brought the Wraith upon them?" Teyla asked.

"These people don't care about justice, Teyla; they want revenge, a scapegoat for all the deaths that have occurred to their loved ones. If you had a chance to kill the wraith that stole your father's life, would you not kill him?"

Teyla was silent as she looked at him sternly; she knew deep down inside that she would kill the Wraith. "There must be someone," she finally managed.

"When I traveled among the worlds, running from the Wraith, I heard of this world, I also heard of the people on the outskirts of town, try to find a man named Dariees, if he still lives, he can help me."

"All right, at least that's something. Meanwhile you be careful too, Atlantis needs you."

"Don't worry Sheppard," Ronan replied calmly.

"It's my job to worry."

Teyla offered Ronan and Rodney a warm smile before they turned and left the two men alone in the large room. Ronan sighed and pressed his face against the cold metal bars.

"Ronan, I'm no lawyer, but I know how this works. I need you to tell me everything for starters, if people are going to listen to you, then they need to begin by hearing the truth."

"It was supposed to be a quiet night…the Wraith had left, we were just supposed to try and relax that evening, I had been injured and was ordered bed rest, my superior took over my guard for me that night. The Wraith came, none of us ever saw it coming, Dariees and I, we were right next to each other, I remember him looking over at me and asking me if he had heard anything about more Wraith coming, he said no. One single Wraith had gotten into the city, within minutes they were swarming everywhere."

"So your leader…at the time he was the one who allowed the Wraith in that evening?"

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

"He's Panos."

Rodney blanched, "My god, are you serious?"

"Dead serious, Rodney."

"All right, well we'll do our best, but essentially your people are the ones who will decide your fate, and guilt or innocence."

"I know."

"I'll need to go and speak with Panos and some of his men."

"McKay, they're a bad bunch. But there's one, Panos' right had man, or woman as it is….she is my sister, Leena. She changed her last name to protect herself, no doubt. However she will listen to you."

"Right, don't worry Ronan; we'll get you out of this."

"Excuse me, I am looking for a man named Dariees. Have you ever heard of such a man?" Teyla asked as she and John made their way through the busy outskirts of the city.

"I may know of this man you speak of. Why?" came one man's voice. They looked down to see a slightly haggard looking individual sitting on the ground, holding what looked like a bottle of alcohol to John.

"We need to speak with him; he may be able to save a friend of our friend's life. It is important."

"Depends who the friend is."

"His name is Dex," John finally spoke up.

The older man's eyes lit up within seconds of hearing the name and he smiled. "Specialist Ronan Dex?" the man asked as he slowly stood.

"That is the one. Please, can you tell us where this Dariees is?"

"You're speaking to him, though most people call me Reese. Dex was the only one to ever call me by the full name. I haven't spoken or seen Dex in nearly eight years. Is he alive?"

"Not for long. Look is there somewhere else we could talk privately?" John asked glancing around the street.

"Certainly, follow me."

Leena sat at a small desk in an office just outside of Panos' office; no one really had access to either place, so she was beyond a little surprised when one of Ronan's people stepped into the room. She opened her mouth to call for help, when he placed his finger to his lips, shushing her and pointing to the gun in the holster. Taking it out, he moved closer and laid it on her desk. "We need to talk," he said quietly.

Leena eyed the gun and then the man. Deciding quickly he was indeed a friend, and no foe, she nodded. "Very well, the walls are sound proof. Please have a seat."

"Thanks." He sat down and studied her for a moment. "Look, Ronan told me some things and he believes you are the only person who can help him right now. And at the moment, I'm starting to agree. If you can help your brother, you have to tell me."

"That's where your wrong sir, I don't have to help anyone. The only reason I'm listening to you is because you were dumb enough to put your gun on my desk. Didn't anyone ever tell you that you're an idiot? By the way, how did you get in here?"

"Lady, I'm a genius. I built a nuclear war head when I was twelve. Really it's not that complicated to get through a system like yours. Seriously though, do you really want to see your brother die?"

"I don't want to see anyone die, it's not I who condemns innocent people to death."

"Yes, but you stand by and allow it. Are you willing to stand by now, when it's your brother's life on the line, and allow him to die?"

"I have not seen him in many years, and even before then he was less of a brother than he was a father…"

"Leena, he wouldn't have sent me to ask for your help if he didn't believe you would be at least willing to try and help him."

"Panos was not always a bad man. He was captured by the Wraith as a young teenager, they did terrible things to him…"

"Now he's the one doing terrible things. Don't just stand by and let this happen to your people, Leena, they are you're people too. Please, there must be something that you can do that will help us. Even if you don't need your brother, we do. He is a valuable member of our team."

"Who are you in the first place? You people just showed up."

Starting to have a lot of dialog here and little description. Maybe you could add some.

"We're…we originally came from the Ancient city, until it was destroyed. There are just a few of us that remain, we need your help. Please Leena, give me something…anything."

"Very well, we will help you. I know of a few that do not like Panos and feel he is ruling with a heavy hand."

"Thank you," Rodney stood up to leave; he had his hand on the door.

"Hey genius," she called as she held up the gun.

"Oh, yeah…sorry," grinning he took the gun from her and snuck out of the room, in hopes no one would see him.

"Hey aren't you one of Ronan's friends?" came a voice from just outside the door.

"Shit," Rodney muttered as he took off flying down the hall, quickly followed by the guard. He wasn't looking ahead when he ran head long into what he assume was another guard, and landed flat on his back.

"Runt ain't he!" grinned another man. Four now formed a ring around the scientist in the center of the court yard.

"Let me go, come on guys!" Rodney whined, hoping his brother would come soon and rescue him like he usually did.

"What are you doing here runt?" asked on of the men as they scooped him up off the ground.

"Nothing," lied Rodney.

John and Teyla were making their way back from the outskirts of town when they heard the commotion. "Sounds like a bunch of teenagers fighting," John mumbled.

"Rodney," Teyla said looking at John.

"No doubt. Let's go see what the idiot genius has gotten himself into this time."

They broke into a run and came upon the fight just in time to see Rodney hit one of the guards, then go down under another flailing fist.

"Whoa! Whoa!" John called as he grabbed his brother and lifted him off the ground, "Easy slugger," he said grinning, as he apologetically looked up at the four goons.

"Look guys, I'm sorry, my friend here goes a little crazy sometimes. Come on Roddy, it's time to take your medicine." John didn't say another word as he dragged his half coherent brother from the scene before the guards could respond.

"I had it handled," muttered Rodney as he tore his arm away from his brother's grip, grunting as pain seared through his shoulder and right up to his bruised jaw.

"Sure you did. Come on slugger, we've got some help we'd like you to meet. And I think maybe we should get you back to Atlantis for at least tonight, let Carson take a look at you." John smiled as he slung an arm around his brother's shoulder, "You've got a mean right cross baby brother, remind me to not get on your bad side." John and Teyla grinned as Rodney simply glared.

"This may sting a bit," Carson muttered as he began to swab at the cut just above Rodney's eye with the iodine.

"Ouch!" hissed Rodney as he tried to bat Carson's hand away, however John quickly held the bruising knuckles stead fast.

"You're sure you can get Ronan out of this?" Elizabeth asked, eyeing her team.

"We've got quite a few willing to help us. Although they're afraid of what might happen if an uprising were to occur, there are enough of them that they feel they can take Panos down, as long as they're all in it together."

"What about people on the inside? We can't afford to have everyone against the government and suddenly watch innocent people die."

"No, we've got a few on the inside as well, including Panos' right had person. I think we can get the people to listen to us."

"Damn it, Carson! Ow!" Rodney hissed again, attempting to pull his head away, which only brought Carson's hand around to hold it firmly in place.

"Well if you would stop trying to play with the boys that are bigger than ye, stupid git."

"You wanna go!" Rodney suddenly bit as Carson applied a somewhat nasty jab of the cotton swab on a deep part of the cut.

"Easy, Ali," John growled.

"Would you sit still and be a big boy for one moment, please," Carson glowered.

"Will he be okay?" Elizabeth asked finally.

"Oh yes, his cracked skull will heal just fine," muttered Carson.

"Carson," Elizabeth said warningly.

"Aye, two stitches on this wee cut here, some ice on that pretty purple bruise on his jaw, and a heavy dose of Vicodin for the night, he'll be good as new tomorrow and complaining up a storm."

"Thank you!" Rodney snapped.

"Okay, boys, that's enough. Don't make me separate you two," Elizabeth replied, trying to hold her grin back.

"Sorry," mumbled Rodney as he tried to relax and allow Carson to finish stitching him up.

"Don't look at me, I'm the doctor, I'm always right," Carson replied surly as he glared at his patient.

Their trials were very similar to the setup of those on Earth. Rodney sat at a large table right beside Ronan, while John and Teyla were outside the courtyard rounding up the people for the fight back.

"Tell the people what it is you have done, Specialist Dex!" called Panos grinning wildly.

"I have done nothing! Panos is your man! You have heard the rumors he spoke, you have heard rumors he has started! He is the man who has betrayed you repeatedly to the Wraith."

"Liar!" yelled Panos.

"Why should we believe you?" spoke one man from the crowd that had developed in the gallery.

"You shouldn't!" came another voice. Everyone turned to see Leena standing there, "However, I am the right hand of your king, and I tell you here, now, Dex is not the liar. Panos is the traitor, he has profited from telling the Wraith where we live! He no longer needs to yield great power over you. Every day we allow him to control our lives, but no more! How many lives have you seen him take for treasonous acts no one has ever witnessed? How many rumors have you heard brought on by Panos! Do not allow him to condemn another life!" she called as she stepped up to the front of the court room. "How long before it is your life, or the life of a loved one he tries to kill."

"Do not listen to her! She lies!" yelled Panos. However it was far too late for him, the thoughts were now engrained in everyone's mind.

"If not to her, then perhaps me. I was once respected before Panos threw me out of his city, exiled to never be seen again! Allow me to tell you the truth; I was there when he was captured the first time, and the second. Even now he makes a similar deal with them. We will be culled again, we cannot stop it from happening. If you all wish to die, you can go on listening to Panos. Or you can try to fight back!"

The court was in an uproar, everyone yelling and screaming in fear or anger. Ronan looked over at Rodney, who was slowly taking out his pistol. "Don't worry, we're getting you out of here," whispered Rodney. Ronan nodded.

Rodney, John, Ronan, and Teyla remained for another few days until things began to settle down. After several hours of deliberation and choices by the people, Panos was exiled to live out the remainder of his life on another planet. It had been considerably harsh, however everyone had agreed to it, so that was his decided fate.

"Are you sure you must go?" Leena asked as she looked up at her brother.

He smiled and shrugged. "I've been away for nearly eight years, you won't miss me, believe me. Don't worry, I'm always come back when you need me. Just open the gate and send this transmission, and let us know what you need. We can help you in any way. You guys are on your way to being a free world, just be careful okay," Ronan said gently.

"I will, thank you for all of your help," Leena said, smiling as she wrapped her arms around her brother's neck.

"You're welcome. Take care of your people now, Leena, you're their leader," he said pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Smiling Ronan joined his three friends and teammates, and with a final look back they headed to the gate. "So Rodney, John told me about the fight. Are you the new title weight champion?" he grinned as he gently pushed his friend into John.

Rodney rolled his eyes and groaned, "Funny ha ha. Did John tell you about wrestling? Very cute, I will get you back for this."