Chapter 19: In the Ancient City.
The sun was barely above the horizon when Simion came to the clearing outside Gia's cave at her request.
The sky was aglow with pinks and oranges as the sun rose above the horizon, and Teyla knew it would be another hot, dry day. She had no idea how many hot, dry days the planet had seen in recent years, and she began to speculate what might happen if it didn't rain soon. Teyla knew that the situation for these people was becoming desperate, and if it wasn't resolved quickly, Gia and her people might starve.
Simion had proposed a brief postponement before the negotiations could proceed. Yet, Gia's readiness to recommence the talks immediately, despite the circumstances, showcased her unwavering determination.
After Gia's return from Lila's burial, Teyla sensed a desperation in her words, a concern that went beyond the loss of her daughter. It was clear that Gia's primary worry was the survival of her people and their future. Rulan and Carson, understanding this, had joined them for a long, intense discussion that stretched into the night, their emotions running high. Luckily for Teyla, Halling had slept most of the night, but unfortunately, she hadn't, so she was exhausted before the morning negotiations began.
Carson was looking after Halling for the morning so Teyla could attend the meetings uninterrupted. It was always a relief when she could relinquish the responsibility of looking after her baby for a short time - although she couldn't wait to see John again, and then he could help look after his son.
Teyla emerged from the cavern, the early morning light casting a golden glow on her features, just as Simion stepped into the clearing, his figure silhouetted against the rising sun.
"Good morning, Simion; I am grateful you are here. Gia will be along in a minute, so please sit down. Would you like a cup of tea while we are waiting?" She was ready for her morning tea, even if Simion didn't want any.
She smiled, remembering the first time she'd met John and how she'd offered him tea. It was over ten years ago, and she knew then that he would become an essential part of her life.
"No, thank you, Teyla." Simion looked thoughtful as he continued, "I hope you are happy to sit in on talks."
"Yes, I am pleased to do so, and I am fully committed to assisting in any way I can," Teyla responded, her dedication to the cause shining through.
Before the conversation could progress, Gia exited the cave. She was full of poise and grace despite the recent loss of her daughter. Her blue eyes twinked in her weathered face, and she had an enormous grin, a testament to her resilience. Again, Teyla could see she was an excellent leader for her people.
"Simion, I am so happy you are so punctual," Gia said, bowing her head before sitting at the conference table.
"I am grateful you wish to continue talks given Loth's behaviour." Simion responded, "Again, I am sorry for his behaviour. Loth left his home weeks ago and stayed in the underground tunnels near the Ancient city. He made grandiose claims that the city belonged to him and his people and that no one else could enter." He turned to Teyla before continuing, "I understand your husband and friends had a run-in with Loth's little group."
"Yes, they did, and none of them was harmed, so think nothing of it," Teyla replied with her usual serene tone. She didn't want to focus on that right now because they were here to negotiate.
"Shall we begin," Gia suggested with a voice filled with hope and optimism, her words resonating with a sense of possibility.
Simion nodded, "First, I would like to discuss the history of my people so you understand that we have always been willing to trade with your people."
When Gia nodded, Simion continued, "Several cycles ago, I came across the hologram in the ancient city explaining what had happened to my people. At the time, I felt angry that my people had left my ancestors behind. I also felt angry at your people for a while because, according to my history, your people wanted to possess the ancient city for themselves. But as I looked into the history of this planet more, I realised there was nothing further than the truth. I learned that the Corean people came peacefully; they only wanted to explore and study the city. Although I understand a group of Careans have decided to try and take over New Hilaring and infiltrate Atlantis and the Pegasus galaxy."
"The city is called Ilaria," Teyla interjected when Simion took a breath, her eyes lighting up with pride as she described the ancient city, its towering structures, and its mysteries, "and yes, the Coreans have already infiltrated Atlantis, but John and his friends are trying to retake the ancient city on New Hilaring and Atlantis at the moment."
Simion smiled at Teyla before continuing, "Yes, Ilaria. Anyway, Gia, I understand your ancestors were escaping a planet on the brink of war, and all they wanted to do was live in peace with our ancestors. I understand they even offered to leave and find another planet to call home. But my ancestors allowed them to stay and explore the ancient city. Your ancestors settled further south so my people could be left in peace. However, I understand our people were always open to trade until Loth took control of the council, and it all stopped. I could never understand why. I also know that generations ago, a ship crashed on your part of the planet, sending poison into the air, and I understand it has affected your people for generations."
Gia nodded, and Teya didn't miss the tears in the woman's eyes. " Yes, and unfortunately, that has affected my people for many generations, to the point where there hasn't been a healthy baby born to my people for fifteen years."
Simion's eyes filled with sadness, and his voice was concerned. "Tell me how we can help, Gia?"
"As you know, it has not rained on this world for a long time, and I feel that eventually, my people will die out. Even with the spring under the ancient city, we cannot continue to exist on the world. I was going to ask the people from New Hilaring to help me find another home for my people. I hope that you will consider coming with us."
"I have been in contact with Minister Toth, and he has offered to help in any way necessary, even if that means finding a new world to call home. He is also eager to meet with your people, Gia."
"In that case, I propose we involve Minister Toth in our discussions," Gia declared with unwavering determination, hoping to inspire hope for her people.
While the conversation was happening, Teyla looked at the clouds on the horizon. By this time, the sun had risen above the horizon, and dark, ominous clouds were in the sky. She hoped it would rain soon but knew that even one torrential downpour wouldn't save this planet or its people.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a roar of thunder, and the long-awaited rain came pouring down in torrents.
The air was warm and humid, so Teyla ran into the rain, laughing and dancing. Gia and Simion joined her, and soon, Carson arrived, stating that he'd left Halling with Rulan, who had come to help. At that moment, they were not just individuals but a united front against the challenges that Gia and Simion's people faced.
The rain lasted for over an hour, and by the end, they were all drenched, but Teyla didn't mind. The rain, however brief, offered a glimmer of hope for the planet's inhabitants.
oOo
John turned to look at his team as apprehension overcame him. The time had arrived to retake the ancient city on New Hilaring, now under enemy control. Their people's fate and their planet's future hung in the balance. The plan was soundly thought through, but as always, anything could happen at any moment.
"Are you ready, guys?" he asked his team, his voice brimming with a sense of unity that bound them together, making them feel like a cohesive unit ready to face any challenge.
"Yeah, let's get this over with, "Ronon grunted.
"Not really," Rodney replied, "but when am I ever ready to run headlong into danger?"
Sheppard could see that Rodney's face mirrored his own, but Ronon was ready for a fight as usual. Although John wondered what had happened to him, he used to be the first one ready to rush headlong into trouble. Perhaps he was cautious because he was getting old and had three children—just another thought to be tucked away in an overcrowded corner of his mind.
He was immensely grateful that Teyla wasn't here, his protective instincts kicking in. Although she could hold her own in a fight, he still wanted his children's mother to be safe—especially since she'd just given birth to their son.
He turned back and shone his flashlight at the rock wall before them. With its towering walls and intricate architecture, the ancient city loomed above them. The ladder on the rock face they would need to climb to reach the city was just a tiny part of the grandeur. He had no idea what he would find when he opened the trapdoor in the ceiling. The corridor above the shaft was supposed to lead to a tiny room that would lead to a corridor and eventually to the control room - at least, the schematics told them.
The other two teams were coming through different tunnels, which should exit on either side of the control room. John hoped that everyone was on time and that they could mount a simultaneous attack on the gate and control room. The plan was simple yet risky, and the success of their mission hinged on its execution.
Taking a deep breath, he began his ascent up the ladder. When he reached the top, he carefully opened the trapdoor enough to peer out. After a quick scan, he was happy to see that no one was in the tiny room above. He let out a sigh of relief and began to climb out.
After carefully climbing out, he looked around, hoping that no one was in the room with him, and he was happy that it was empty. Just as John was about to open the trapdoor and indicate that the others should follow, he heard a noise from the other side of the closed door. He immediately pulled out his weapon and looked for a place to hide - a ridiculous notion in a small room. John held his breath as the door opened and hoped that whoever was entering wouldn't see him - again, an absurd idea.
Before he had a chance to blink, he heard a gunshot, and it didn't take him long to realise it wasn't his gun. A few seconds later, he knew for sure when a piece of hot molten lead ripped through his lower right leg. "Aww crap", he muttered, hearing the sickening crunch of bones being shattered before falling to the ground.
As he came to terms with the pain he was experiencing, John vaguely heard a conversation happening around him, and he tried to listen intently despite the agony he was in. The fact he wanted to pass out didn't help either.
"Why did you shoot him?" One man asked.
"I am sorry, Lannar, but he had a gun, and I was afraid he would shoot you."
Despite the excruciating pain, John's thought processes were intact, allowing him to piece together the situation. So this is the infamous Lannar, who wants Atlantis for himself. However, he saw an opportunity to feign unconsciousness and gain insight into their plans.
"Never mind, Zannar, take General Sheppard to a cell and have a doctor look at his leg, but tell the doctor only to treat him if he's about to die."
Sheppard couldn't help but find the situation ironic. These guys really are a bunch of nut jobs. They don't want me to die, but they want me to be in pain. Well, I'll just play along and pretend to be unconscious, so they'll get nothing out of me.
Someone grabbed his injured leg, and it was so painful that he almost screamed but managed to grit his teeth so no sound came out. He didn't need to pretend to be unconscious because he could feel the darkness encroaching, and in a matter of seconds, he was more than happy to let it take him.
oOo
Ronon faced the rock wall and tried to wait patiently for a sign from Sheppard that it was safe to enter the room above. Seconds ticked by before he heard a noise, and it sounded like someone was entering the tiny room above. He sensed then that Sheppard was in danger but knew he could do nothing but listen.
He turned to the others in the tunnel and put his finger to his mouth, indicating they should be quiet. That was right before a gunshot shattered the silence.
Ronon's instinct was to climb the ladder and see what had happened, but a hand on his arm restrained him, and he was surprised to see it was Rodney. He nodded at his friend and listened to what was happening above them. He could still hear whispered voices and was positive none were Sheppard.
The whispers died down and disappeared, so Ronon knew he needed to act. If he were going to search for Sheppard, he would do it alone—his determination was unwavering, although he might take McKay with him. His resolve was like a steel rod, unyielding in the face of uncertainty.
He turned to the soldiers behind him and made a decision he hoped he wouldn't regret later: "I want you to go and tell Minister Toth what is happening. I also want you to tell the troops to stand down. We might need help at some point, but for now, McKay and I will handle it." He paused before continuing: " How long will it take to bring Teyla back from Hilaring?"
"We can have her back within a day because we still have ships at our disposal that are faster than the supply ship you were on," one of the soldiers replied.
"Recall Teyla and Carson," Ronon suggested, "but keep the ship she's on at a safe distance until you hear from Minister Toth. I will be in contact with him as soon as I'm able."
Without hesitation, the soldier saluted him and urged the troops to leave Ronon and McKay to handle the situation. Their loyalty and trust in Ronon's leadership were palpable, even though they had just met him.
"Why did you send them away? We can use all the help we can get, "Rodney said in an urgent whisper.
"Because the more people that storm the city, the more chance Sheppard is being harmed; that's if he hasn't been already!" Ronon's response was forceful, underlining the intensity of the situation.
Rodney sighed, and Ronon couldn't fault the man's bravery. McKay was very different to the man he'd met almost ten years ago. He used to think Rodney was a coward, but the scientist had come through for them time after time, and now Ronon thought he was one of the bravest civilians he'd ever met.
"Are you ready, McKay?' Ronon whispered before slapping the man on the back.
"Sure, why not," Rodney replied sarcastically, "I love to run into danger."
"Good man, "Ronon replied, oblivious to the sarcasm in Rodney's voice.
Ronon climbed the ladder and carefully lifted the trapdoor to peek out. Thankfully, the room seemed to be empty, so he climbed out. When he did, he was angry by what he saw. There was a pool of blood in the middle of the room, and he could only assume it was Sheppard's. It was a lot of blood, so it was clear Sheppard had been shot; he only hoped the wound wouldn't be fatal.
Rodney followed him out, and the scientist looked horrified, "Is that Sheppard's?" he whispered.
"Yeah, I think so, "Ronon replied softly. If we follow the blood trail, we could find Sheppard, but I want to try to avoid getting caught, so for now, we stay here."
"So we have to sit here and stare at that blood?" Rodney asked, and Ronon didn't miss the terror in his voice.
He looked at Rodney and wasn't surprised to see how pale he'd become. His usually lively eyes were now wide with fear. " No, we don't have to stay here. Stay behind me, and we'll try to find somewhere else," Ronon reassured, trying to comfort the scientist.
Ronon carefully opened the door, his heart pounding in his chest. His relief was palpable as he found the corridor empty. The air was thick with tension, and every sound seemed amplified. After a cautious look in both directions, he stepped outside, his weapon ready. A room with an open door on the other side of the corridor caught his eye. His hope surged as he saw it was empty. The only downside was its size, which made it more like a closet than a room.
"You really want to hide in here?" Rodney complained from the corridor.
"Yes!" Ronon hissed, "I don't think they're going to come looking for us in a closet; now get in." At least Ronon hoped they wouldn't look for them in a closet.
Ronon grabbed Rodney and pulled him into the tiny space just as he heard voices at the other end of the corridor. After gently closing the door, he put his finger to his lips, indicating that Rodney should be quiet.
The voices drew nearer, their words becoming more apparent to Ronon's ears, each syllable adding to the tension he felt.
"You don't think Sheppard was alone, do you!? One man growled.
"Of course not," the other replied, "I guess there might be more people hiding in the underground tunnel under this room."
Ronon knew it would be a long wait, so he managed to sit on the floor in their cramped room, gesturing for Rodney to do the same. The scientist looked like he was about to protest, but a glare from Ronon silenced him, and he reluctantly took a seat. The discomfort of the cramped space was evident on Rodney's face.
The voices faded, and Ronon surmised that the men would explore the underground tunnel they'd come through. He only hoped they wouldn't find the others any time soon. Still, they should have reported back to Commander Voth by now, and he hoped the Coreans didn't know about all the tunnels running under the city because if they did, he was positive they would have found Commander Voth and his underground military headquarters already.
There was nothing left to do for now but wait and hope that Commander Voth and his troops hadn't been discovered. He also hoped that Sheppard was okay, and if he weren't, someone would pay.
oOo
The rain dried up, and the sun came out, leaving the day hotter. Teyla enjoyed being wet for a while, but given the heat, it wasn't long before she dried out.
The morning proceedings had gone well, so they decided to break for lunch after the rain. Simion had gone home to join his family, and at the moment, Teyla was feeding Halling at the conference table and enjoying the view. Carson sat beside her with Gia, but Rulan had gone home to enjoy lunch with his son.
Once Teyla had finished her lunch and Halling was sleeping, she turned to Gia with a spark of curiosity in her eyes and asked her a question she'd been longing to ask, "Gia, have the Wraith ever visited this planet?"
Gia looked at her with wide eyes, "the Wraith?" She asked with confusion.
"They are pale green beings that can suck the life out of you with their bare hands, " Carson explained, "they feed by draining the life force of humans."
Gia looked horrified, and Teyla wasn't impressed by Carson's explanation because she would have assumed he would be more diplomatic, but even after ten years, Carson still surprised her.
"Have you ever come across them in the ancient writings?" Teyla asked, not wanting to pursue Carson's previous comment.
"No, I do not believe they have ever visited this world," Gia replied.
Perhaps the Wraith are indigenous to the Pegasus Galaxy, Teyla thought. But if that is the case, why did a wraith cruiser shoot down an ancient craft for Ilaria two ten thousand years ago? That may be a question she would never know the answer to.
Carson, however, voiced his thoughts: "If the Wraith never came to this planet, is it possible they never came to this galaxy? And if so, why was an ancient ship shot down ten thousand years ago?"
"Carson!" Teyla chastised, "I have no idea why the Wraith have never come here or why that ship was shot down, but I am sure that Gia does not know either. "
"Sorry, "Carson muttered.
"Do not worry, Dr Beckett. As we need to return to proceedings." She turned to Teyla before continuing, "When do you think we can arrange a meeting with Minister Toth?"
"I can visit the Hilarians after lunch if you want," Teyla suggested. And Dr Beckett can accompany me."
"That will be acceptable," Gia stated. When Rulan returns, I will tell him to go and find Simion. Then I will have a rest while I wait."
Teyla didn't miss the resolve in the woman's eyes. She bowed her head and began eating her meal. Halling had been fed and was fast asleep, and hopefully, he would stay that way for a while.
oOo
Sheppard was abruptly pulled out of his slumber, the jolt of pain in his right leg a brutal awakening. If only they hadn't disturbed him.
He found himself in a soft bed, a familiar comfort that momentarily tricked him into believing he was back on Atlantis under Jennifer and Carson's care. But the reality of his situation quickly set in. He was still in the ancient city of New Hialring, but the question remained: Where exactly was he, and more importantly, was he a prisoner?
John knew there was only one way to find out, so he carefully opened his eyes and found a tall, dark man with brown eyes and black hair beside his bed. The man wore a white coat, so John assumed he was a doctor. The problem was he wasn't sure how much doctoring the man was doing because he was still in agony.
He looked around the room and was surprised to find it was a small white room. All that was in the room was a soft, comfortable bed on which he was lying. There was a door on one side, and he wondered if it was locked.
"Who are you?" John whispered, hoping the man could hear him.
The man whipped around and smiled at him, "General Sheppard. I see you are awake."
"Why am I here? Am I your prisoner?" The questions burst out of his mouth, a mix of fear and confusion palpable in his voice despite the pain.
"Shhh…," The man replied.
John hadn't realised his voice had become louder, as he still believed he was whispering. This stark realisation added to the tension he felt.
"In answer to your question, you are a prisoner here. But do not worry because I am here to help."
"How?" John whispered, feeling confused.
"My name is Carson, and I am a Hilarian doctor who has been undercover for years. I have a plan if you're interested, but I will need your help."
John stared at the man in front of him. Why did these people keep naming their children after him and his friends?
"Okay…but can you do something about the pain in my leg first?"
"I can give you something," Carson replied, "but your captors cannot know what I'm doing because I'm still under cover."
He nodded and tried to look down at his leg. It was placed on a large pillow and was bandaged, but it still seemed to be bleeding.
"What have you done to my leg?" He asked, his panic beginning to rise.
"I have stitched the wound and bandaged it, but unfortunately, the bullet is still in your leg. That is why we need to act quickly. I can't help you any more than I have because I don't want to blow my cover."
John gulped at the reality of the situation, "What do you have in mind?"
Carson looked at him thoughtfully, "I can stun everyone in the gate room, but I cannot break the lock on the gate. Can you?"
John chuckled despite his pain, "So these guys still haven't cracked Zelenka's code."
"No, can you do it?" Carson implored.
"Yeah, find me a computer, and I can probably do it. If you can find McKay, I know he can definitely do it."
"I can get you a computer, but I have no idea where your Dr McKay is. Lannar and Zannar haven't been able to locate him."
If John knew Ronon, the man would have a plan and stay hidden for now. Chances are that McKay was with him.
John nodded at the doctor, "Get me a computer, and I'll help you."
"I will need to let the scientist know you are helping me. At least the ones that are on our side."
All he could do was nod. He wasn't sure he trusted this man, but for now, it was his only hope because if John didn't have surgery for his leg soon, he might not make it.
TBC…