Chapter 3: A Visit to Hilaring.
John studied the people in front of him. They were short, looked malnourished and wore masks that covered their faces. Their hands looked deformed, and it was a wonder they could hold a knife, let alone use one to defend themselves - at least they didn't have guns. Their faces looked disfigured under the masks, and he wondered what happened to these people.
One of the people spoke, "Why are you here? Are you here to destroy what's left of our home?"
John wasn't sure what the stranger meant by that because, as far as he knew, the radiation from a damaged ship hitting the planet was what destroyed their home.
Rodney would research the ship later, and then they might figure out what happened.
"We're here to do some exploring," he answered truthfully, "we understand the ancient city of Ilaria is on this planet, and we thought we might like to look at it." He finished off his speech with his most charming smile. He almost kicked himself for being so truthful because he knew the scavengers wouldn't be impressed. The strangers seemed angry enough, so the last thing he wanted to do was upset them in any way.
Oops, too late, John thought when one of the strangers spoke angrily, "No one visits our sacred shrine without permission from our leader. The punishment for the crime is execution, and only our leader can determine the fate of those who enter without permission. We are not without heart though, we allow people to prepare for the afterlife before we execute them.."
"That's big of you," Rodney replied sarcastically.
The strangers came closer, and John immediately raised his weapon.
"I am Rulan," the tallest stranger announced, "please do not struggle. We will take you to our leader to see if he'll grant your request. And if he doesn't, you will be free to go, on the condition you don't enter our sacred shrine."
John knew if he tried to fight in this situation, they could enter the afterlife sooner rather than later. At least if they followed the scavengers, there was a chance they'd get out of this alive. The way he felt right now, the last thing he needed or wanted was a fight with these people.
He lowered his weapon and introduced himself, "I'm John. This is Carson, Rodney and Ronon," he said, pointing to the others. "And we will come peacefully. If you lead the way."
The lead scavenger - yes, that's what he'd decided to call these people - grabbed his arm and dragged him in the opposite direction to the city. The rest of the scavengers did the same with his friends.
Ronon was struggling, and it took two people to try and contain him. John shook his head slightly at the big man, hoping he'd get the message and go quietly. He was relieved when the man grunted and stopped struggling.
Once Ronon had settled down, John tried to focus on where they were going. He didn't know why they were moving away from the city and was still trying to work out who these people were. Were they the descendants of the Hilarians, or had some other race moved to the planet? And what of the other city? Where did it fit into the picture?
Five minutes later, Rulan stopped and let go of John's arm. He thought about running but knew if he did, one of the scavengers might stab him or one of his friends. Besides, his arm, head, and back were beginning to throb. So he wouldn't get far.
Rulan opened a trapdoor in the ground and before John could react, was shoved down the gaping hole beneath. Ronon, Rodney and Carson quickly followed. The trapdoor was closed, leaving them in darkness.
John heard and felt his broken bone pierce the skin, and he knew he was in big trouble. He managed to grit his teeth to stop a scream from escaping his lips. However, he moaned loudly.
"Is everyone alright?" He asked when he managed to unclench his teeth.
The pain in his arm was excruciating, and he was shaking all over, but he needed to know the others were okay.
"We're fine," Rodney replied, "but this galaxy hates you for some reason."
Rodney had a point. His luck in Galaxy KK203 sucked, and John wished he'd never come here again.
"Thanks for reminding me, McKay. Not that I need reminding because I have the scars to prove it."
"Hilaring hates you too," Ronon commented before pulling a flashlight from his pocket. Carson then pulled one out of Tac Vest, so at least they had some light to see by now.
Rather than making a scathing comment to Ronon, John rolled his eyes.
"Let me look at your arm, General?" Carson soothed, and the tone in the doctor's voice made John angry.
"I'm not a child, Carson, so stop mothering me."
"I'm going to look for another way out of here," Ronon suggested before taking off down the tunnel.
John sat with his back against the wall and took his time to inspect his surroundings. All he saw was a tunnel leading away from a solid stone wall. If there was another way out, it was through the tunnel Ronon had run down.
It was cold and dusty, the perfect place to pick up an infection in his broken arm. I must be in pain if I'm beginning to think like Rodney.
"Did you see their hands?" Rodney asked, interrupting John's thoughts.
Carson was too busy mothering him to answer Rodney's question, so John answered for the doctor, "Yeah, It's probably got something to do with the radiation. When the ship, crashed, radiation was released into the air, affecting the people living on the planet. I assume the radiation caused defects in the following generations. Am I correct, Doc?"
"I don't need an explanation, Dr Sheppard. I was merely mentioning it."
Suddenly, he cried out in pain. The sneaky doctor had set his arm while he was distracted.
When the pain subsided, he glared at the doctor, "Will you stop that?!"
"Sorry," Carson muttered while bandaging his arm up again.
Once the pain subsided, John pulled Rodney down beside him and whispered angrily in his ear, "I thought I told you never to call me Dr Sheppard!"
"Don't get your boxers in a twist, General," Rodney replied," No one can hear us."
"I can hear you," Carson said with a grin, "I always knew you were far too intelligent for a mere soldier. What's your PhD in?"
John sighed. Now Carson knew his secret, and he wondered how many others on Atlantis knew, "Aurenuautical engineering, and it's supposed to be a secret."
"Well, your secret is safe with me, General. And I promise I will only call you General Sheppard."
"Thanks, Carson," he whispered. Thankful that his doctor would keep his secret.
He was about to comment on how weary he felt when Rodney started to panic.
"So, do you think they will leave us to die?"
"I don't intend to sit around and find out, " Ronon said when he reappeared and sat beside John.
"What you, find Chewie?" John asked with gritted teeth. His pain was at an all-time high, and he wished he could pass out, but he knew they needed to find a way out of this tunnel.
"There's a network of tunnels, and some of them seem to lead in the direction of Ilaria."
"Okay, let's get going then, "John suggested, struggling to his feet.
"I don't think so, General. I want you to rest for half an hour." Carson stated firmly.
"Look, Carson, I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to. I don't know what those scavengers have in mind for us, but I don't want to stick around and find out. When we return to Atlantis, you can mother me all you like, but now's not the time."
"At least let me give you something for the pain?"
"As long as it's not morphine, Doc. I need to keep moving."
"I don't have any morphine left, "Carson replied, "so it will have to be extra strength Tylenol."
"That'll do, Doc."
He took the pills off the doctor and took the canteen Ronon offered him and downed the pills. John knew that the Tylenol wouldn't make a dent in his pain, but he had no choice but to keep going. For the sake of the others, he needed to remain strong.
By this time, his mind was racing. He knew they needed to find fresh water and food soon, but he didn't say anything because he didn't want to worry Rodney or Carson.
"Can we eat something before we get going?"
"No, Rodney, we can eat along the way," Carson suggested, handing him a half-eaten power bar.
With a lot of effort, John managed to stand to his feet. His arm hurt like hell, but on the plus side, he barely noticed the pain in his back.
Carson grabbed his good arm to try and steady him, and he was immensely grateful - although he wouldn't tell Carson that.
Ronon led the way as they walked down the tunnel, with his flashlight cutting a swath through the menacing darkness. He followed behind with Carson, and Rodney brought up the rear.
John wanted to bring up the rear and watch their backs, but Carson didn't want him to get into a knife fight because of his severely broken right arm.
He knew he could shoot better with his left hand than most marines could with their right and had proved this on their first mission to Ilaria two when he was brain-damaged and weak down the right side.
Sighing, he followed Ronon through the dark, narrow tunnel, wondering if this day could get any worse.
Forty-five minutes later, they approached a large, sandy cavern with phosphoresce on the walls, and John didn't like the look of it. There were bones scattered across the floor, and they looked like human remains. There were pieces of faded fabric of many colours littering the floor, and some draped over complete skeletal remains.
John was exhausted and wanted to rest, but he knew he needed to stay on his feet and keep moving. He didn't know when he'd get to lie down, but he sure hoped it was soon. When they returned to the jumper, he might even let Rodney drive.
"Is…that…going to happen…to us?" Rodney stammered.
"No," Ronon answered, "look at how the bones are arranged. Some have a cloth covering them. I think this is a burial ground for these people."
"Aye, I agree. Look at how the hands are lain across the chests," Carson pointed out.
John looked closer at the remains, "Look at how the hands are deformed, like the scavengers who caught us. The skulls look deformed as well."
"This place is creepy," Rodney whined, "can we keep moving, please?"
John was about to agree when he suddenly felt dizzy and had to sit down. His arm was throbbing, and he felt sick. John sat still, trying to quell the nausea, but it didn't succeed, so he turned to the side and began retching. He kept retching long after whatever was in his stomach was expelled.
When he finally finished, he felt even worse and soon realised Carson was rubbing tiny circles on his back.
"Are you alright, General," Carson soothed, much to John's annoyance.
He remained calm rather than angry with his friend, "Yeah, I'm fine, so can we get moving?"
He allowed Ronon to help him up, and then he started to walk towards the exit of the large cavern, hoping the others would follow.
"Hey, Sheppard," Ronon called out, "do you know where you're going?"
"I'm going in the general direction of Ilaria."
"You're right, Sheppard. I'm just messing with you," Ronon replied with a grin.
John rolled his eyes and let Ronon take the lead. He was happy to walk alongside Carson because he was feeling weaker by the minute and knew he would pass out at some point.
oOo
Teyla slowly walked into the control room with her hand on her back. Her back was aching a lot these days, and she couldn't wait for her son to be born. Sure, she had to give birth to him, and when he was born, looking after him would be intense, but she was so tired of carrying him around in her stomach.
She'd decided she didn't want any more children after this one. She was in her forties now and didn't think her body could take much more. She only hoped John agreed with her because she didn't know what she would do if he wanted more. That was a conversation she wasn't looking forward to.
Torren and Charin were delightful children; she loved them with all her heart and would love the baby the same. Sometimes, she wanted to get back to the life she had before she became a mother. Maybe she was selfish right now, but that's how she felt.
When she arrived in the control room, Lorne and Chuck were dialling the gate. It was time for a check-in with John and the team, and she'd like nothing more than to hear her husband was safe and well.
Finally, Chuck dialled the eighth symbol, and she held her breath in anticipation but was disappointed when it didn't lock.
"Try again," Lorne demanded, and Teyla sensed his frustration.
She watched as Chuck dialled again, but she already knew the outcome. John was in trouble. John Sheppard could find trouble in a locked room and had always been that way. It was one of the things she loved and hated about her husband.
The seventh Chevron engaged without any problems, but when Chuck dialled the eighth symbol, it didn't lock - again.
"John's in trouble again, is he not?" Teyla asked, approaching Lorne and Chuck.
"I don't know what's happening, but I'm going to call an emergency meeting straight away," Lorne announced before heading to John's office.
She was about to follow when pain ripped through her abdomen, and she groaned before thinking, now's not the time. John's not here."
When the pain subsided, she realised Chuck was contacting Jennifer, "Control room to Dr Keller."
All she could do was listen to a one-sided conversation.
"Teyla appears to be having contractions."
"I don't know."
Chuck disconnected his coms and turned to face her, "Do you think you can make it to the infirmary?"
"I am fine, Chuck." She told him before leaving the control room.
The last thing she needed was to be fussed over. Surely she wasn't in labour because she still had four weeks before the baby was due, and John had to be here to see his baby born. The pain wasn't anywhere near as bad as when she gave birth to Charin, so maybe it was a false alarm.
She'd just left the control room when another contraction ripped through her stomach. The contractions weren't too bad at the moment, but she thought she should go to the infirmary just in case.
As she tried to stand, she contacted the infirmary to let Jennifer know she was on her way.
"Teyla to Jennifer, come in, please?"
"Go ahead, Teyla?"
"I am not sure, but I may be having contractions. I am coming to see you now."
"Okay, I'll see you when you get here, and I will examine you, Keller, out."
Now, all she had to do was get to the infirmary without having another contraction.
oOo
John's arm throbbed with every step, and his head was pounding. He was thirsty and would give anything for a tall glass of cold water. The tunnel was dark and narrow, and he couldn't walk upright. It was beginning to annoy him, but he tried to keep his cool because Rodney was complaining enough for all of them.
"How much longer do we have to walk through these ridiculous tunnels? For all we know, the Scavengers are looking for us, and when they find us, they're going to kill us."
John stopped and faced Rodney. He spoke to him with quiet anger, "It will take as long as it takes, so why don't you be quiet and walk faster? And even if the scavengers aren't looking for us, they'll know where to find us because you won't shut up!"
Thankfully, Rodney was quiet. However, John didn't miss the constant glares the scientist gave him.
Five minutes later, they reached another large cavern, and it looked like people were living there. Although, he wasn't sure how recently.
Wooden Chairs surrounded tables, and broken pots littered the floor. Candles lighted the area, with some of the tables upturned. But what was most disturbing were the tufts of brown hair scattered across the floor.
"Surely…they…can't…be?" Rodney stammered.
John shuddered at what the bears had done to him on Ilaria Two, and the last thing he wanted was to face them again. "I guess they could have evolved on the planet. Someone could have transported them in the last ten thousand years, or they might be a different species altogether."
"Let's get moving," Ronon suggested, "because the last thing we need is to come in contact with those bears again. Or anything like them, for that matter."
"I couldn't agree more," Sheppard said before walking towards the exit.
Before he could exit, five men walked into the room with what looked like stunner rifles. These men were as tall as the Hilarians they'd encountered on the planet ten thousand years ago, and there was no disfigurement in their faces or hands.
John wasn't in the mood for this, so he pulled out his weapon and was relieved when Ronon did the same.
"So, you want to explore the ancient city," the lead man said.
"Yeah," John said, "so if you just let us be on our way, no one will get hurt."
"I don't think so," the lead man said.
John was annoyed. He was sick of these people," Look, Kenny. Can I call you Kenny? We want to explore the city to try and find a way home."
What was it with him telling the truth? Ever since they'd landed on Hilaring, he'd been extremely truthful.
"No one can enter the city without permission from our leader," Kenny answered.
"Well, why don't you take us to him?" Ronon growled."We assumed that's where Rulan and his friends were taking us before he threw us in a pit."
One of Kenny's friends said, "Rulan is our sworn enemy. His people roam the surface and make grandiose claims about the ancient city being their ancient shrine. But the city belongs to us."
"Why does it belong to you?" Carson asked diplomatically.
Because we are the descendants of the Hillarian people, and the others came to our planet when their ship crashed two thousand years ago.
Well, that explained why the scavengers were different to these people. John also wondered how much these people knew about their history. "You realise your ancestors crash-landed on this planet twenty thousand years ago."
Kenny glared at him, "That is false doctrine and blasphemy. If you speak like that again, you will be executed.
"Why aren't you affected by radiation?" Carson asked, changing the subject.
Kenny shrugged his shoulders and ignored the doctor's question.
"When we find them, we will wipe every one of those scavengers off the face of the planet."
"Great, we've walked into another civil war," Rodney muttered.
"What did you say?" Kenny asked.
"Never mind," Rodney answered.
"Excuse me, are you going to take us to talk to your leader or not? Because I could use rest and eat some food if you can manage it." Carson suggested, and John was shocked by the doctor's boldness.
"I haven't decided yet?" Replied Kenny.
John lowered his weapon and nodded at Ronon, hoping he would do the same. Perhaps they could come to a peaceful understanding, and force wouldn't be necessary.
Unfortunately, Kenny and his friends didn't lower theirs, and before he could react, he took a stunner beam to the chest. His final thought before he hit the ground and lost consciousness was, When did I become so trusting?
oOo
Teyla was relieved when she finally arrived in the infirmary and could lie down. Although she hadn't had a contraction since the one she'd had outside the control room, she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep.
Jennifer had finished examining her, and she was waiting for the results. While she was waiting, her thoughts turned to John and her friends. What had happened to the gate, and why couldn't they contact Ilaria Two? Was John injured? Would he return to Atlantis before the baby was born?
She felt tears brimming in the corner of her eyes. They'd been through so much in the last year and deserved things to go their way. When John returned safely, she would challenge him about going off-world. He was nearing fifty now and had a family, surely that alone was enough reason for him to stay on Atlantis.
She remembered what John had said to Torren before he went on the mission. John told their son he wouldn't be John Sheppard if he didn't go on the mission to Ilaria Two. She knew John was right, so how could she ask him to stay on Atlantis and not go off-world? He'd tried it once before and was bored out of his brain.
Closing her eyes she decided it was time to sleep. Torren was in school, and Charin was in daycare, so she might as well rest while she could.
She was on the edge of sleep when Jennifer entered, "how are you feeling, Teyla?"
"I am fine, Jennifer. When can I go home?"
"I want to keep you here for another twenty-four hours, to ensure everything is alright. You're not in labour, but if you want this baby to go full term, you need to take it easy."
"Yes, Dr Keller."
Jennifer took her vitals and dimmed the lights before leaving the room. Once the doctor left, she was happy to close her eyes, and within a few minutes, she drifted off to sleep.
oOo
John moaned as awareness returned to him, and the first thing he noticed was he was lying face down in the dirt. The second thing he noticed was he was lying on his broken arm and it hurt like hell.
Voices whispering filled his senses, and he suspected someone was talking about him. He moaned again, hoping to get someone's attention.
Carson's voice invaded his senses, "It's alright, Lad. We're all here."
"What happened, where are we?"
There was silence and it seemed no one wanted to answer his question, so he opened his eyes, rolled over and looked at his surroundings.
He was in a small room, and it looked ancient. A small chamber was in the corner of the room, and it looked similar to a stasis pod, it was broken and he wondered if someone had shot at it. As he scanned the room he got the distinct impression he'd been here before although he didn't recognise it.
He turned to look at Carson and the man had a guilty look, "Carson have I been here before?"
"Aye, lad you have."
Scanning the room again, he tried to remember what this place was. And then suddenly it dawned on him, and he looked at his friends in horror.
"This is the room where I was kept when I was used to power city. This is where I was shot in the head."
TBC…