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x_erikah_xTitle: Foreign Concepts
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
x_erikah_x
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence and torture
Word Count: ~26,000 in 11 chapters
Genre: Gen, H/C, Action, team friendship
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex and other cameos
Spoilers: Set at the end of season five, but no specific spoilers
Disclaimer: Stargate and its characters belong to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. No infringements of rights is intented.
Beta: Many thanks towildcat88. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Author’s Note: The full fic has 11 chapters, all finished and edited. I’ll post daily until it’s finished.
Summary: When the team first arrives on Milania, they are impressed with their level of accomplishment. The feeling soon fades when they discover how deep their xenophobia goes.
Rodney pushed the brakes down slowly until the truck came to a complete stop. He had quickly gotten used to driving the weird vehicle after figuring out they weren't so different from Earth cars. They didn't go as fast, and the road was far from perfect, but it was certainly quicker than going on foot.
Rodney looked at left, then right, then ahead at the intersection. "So, what now?" he asked.
Ronon shrugged. "The trucks marks go ahead." He waved at the muddy road.
"We should stay away from the main road," Teyla said from behind him.
Rodney nodded. "It would be a lot easier if we had a map, you know."
"Just pick one side. More soldiers will come soon," Ronon urged him.
"I don't need to be reminded of that!" Rodney turned his head left and right again. "Look, there are fewer mountains that way." He waved, forming a semi circle going from from ahead to their left. "The city that has the gate didn't have any mountains." He looked back at his team.
It wasn't the most flawless conclusion, but it was the best they had. They could have been moved anywhere on the planet, if they were even on the same one. There was no reason to assume they were close to the gate, but they could only hope. Finally Ronon and Teyla must have seen the reasoning behind his idea, because they both nodded in turn.
"Okay," Rodney said as he started turning. "Left it is." He pressed the accelerator and started moving again.
###
Ronon gripped the wheel tighter and growled in frustration over the thin rain that was blocking his view. He shifted his position, finding the cabin too low and the bench too close to the front. Driving that thing wasn't as hard as Ronon had imagined, but a lot more uncomfortable. It hadn't looked that way when Rodney had been driving, but exhaustion had won over and Rodney had to give up his driver position in order to rest. Ronon hadn't complained since Rodney had driven for almost five hours.
Even after driving for so long, the team hadn't encountered any resistance or signs of civilization other than the old muddy road. They had passed two more intersections, turning on both to make it harder for them to be followed. The rain would take care of covering their tracks and now they would only have to worry about possible search parties.
Ronon turned and saw Rodney sleeping next to him. Teyla had fallen asleep while watching over Sheppard who still hadn't woken up. It almost looked normal. It was like those Earth movies, when a family would go inside their car and drive for days to relax. They hardly ever managed to relax during the trip, but in the end everyone would fall asleep and cuddle around each other. Ronon wondered how close to reality those movies were. He hoped they were really close.
Another hour passed and Ronon was bored of seeing the same unending road surrounded by dark trees on both sides. The rain kept falling, looking like it would go on forever. Ronon looked back from time to time and saw that the prisoners in the rear were exposed to the weather, cold, shaking and hurt from the battle. Ronon decided to drive closer to the trees to offer some kind of protection.
###
John drifted back from sleep, hearing a loud engine and feeling the vibrations of a moving car. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at a white ceiling which he didn't recognize. He turned his head and saw the back of a leather seat, realizing he was lying down in the back of a car. Supporting himself on his arms, he attempted to sit up, groaning when pain reminded him of what had happened. He pushed himself up and leaned against the closed window. Teyla was asleep sitting opposite him while Ronon was driving and Rodney appeared to be dozing in the front passenger seat.
"Ronon?" John coughed from the roughness of his own voice.
Ronon snapped his head around and a grin quickly appeared on his lips. "Hey. You okay?"
John nodded. "Yeah. I guess." He looked behind and saw the cargo area of the truck filled with prisoners. "What happened?"
"We escaped. You got hit."
John smiled slightly. "I kinda remember that part. Where are we?"
"Driving. I don't know."
"How long?"
"A lot." Ronon shrugged. "About ten hours."
"Ten? Wow. Been out for too long." John leaned his head back. He had just awakened and was feeling sleepy already.
"How you doing? Any pain?"
John groaned as he attempted to shift his position. "A little." He took a couple of deep breaths. "I'll live." John closed his eyes.
"Good."
"Uh... need anyone to take over the wheel?" John asked. If they had been driving for so long they would have to take shifts.
Ronon made a noise that could have been a laugh. "Not you." He looked back, smiling. "I'm okay."
"Anyone... anyone hurt?"
Ronon shook his head. "We're fine." He glanced back. "Don't worry about us, okay? Everything is under control so why don't you go back to sleep?"
John raised an eyebrow. "Don't like the company?"
Ronon chuckled. "Nah, you just worry too much."
"Well." John turned to look outside. "That's my job." The trees passed slowly and a faint breeze blew from the front window.
"I think you could use some time off."
John smiled. "Why only me?" he asked softly, but managing to be heard in the middle of the rumble of the truck and the clapping of rain.
"You're the worrier."
John blinked to get rid of sleep. "What about Rodney?"
"He vents." Ronon glanced at John. "You don't."
John remained silent. He knew he should probably have said something in return, but nothing came to mind. Instead, he watched the forest going and the rain drops hitting the ground.
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep again.
###
Richard watched the blue glow reflecting on the gate room floor as Chuck dialed M6X-345 again. Richard's grip on the railing was loose, but the tightness in his chest wasn't. They had been dialing daily for almost a week. No response on any channel. The only MALP they had sent through had shown a square filled with soldiers for a second before being sprayed with bullets and shutting down. They couldn't risk sending a team under those conditions.
If they could use a jumper then things would be a lot easier. But the presence of a concrete building too close to the gate made that impossible. And now Richard had no other choice but to keep dialing in. At first it was hourly, then it went down to four times a day, then twice, and finally only once every twenty six hours.
"Nothing, sir," Chuck informed as he shook his head.
Richard sighed and nodded.
"How long until the Daedalus gets there?" he asked.
Chuck thinned his lips. "Another twelve hours, sir."
Richard nodded again and turned around. Another twelve hours of waiting until all their doubts and fears could find answers.
###
Teyla rubbed the back of her neck as she drove. It had been several hours since they had started coming this way and they still hadn't encountered anything. The presence of a road indicated there must be something ahead, but they were all unsure of what it was.
More hours passed until Teyla saw the first sign of civilization. She shook Rodney's shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked around in confusion.
"Look." She pointed at the houses that started appearing at the distance.
Rodney sat up straight. "Hey," he called as he turned behind.
Teyla heard soft hushing of voices from the back of the truck as they got closer to what seemed to be a village. The buildings weren't tall and they were made of light brown bricks, all perfectly aligned and clean. They looked exactly how the Milanian houses were at the edge of the capital city, but situated in the middle of heavy forests instead of a growing city. Teyla slowed down as she entered a paved street.
It was night and the lights inside the houses were on, with no one on the outside. She saw moving shadows through the windows that were blocked by curtains.
"Should we stop?" she asked.
The people on the truck whispered and stared. Teyla knew that they were hungry and that they needed directions, but if these villagers were as xenophobic as the prisoners feared, it would be hard to get some help. Still, they could not drive without a destination forever.
"Do we know where we're heading?" John asked from behind.
"No," Rodney answered.
"Then yes, we should stop," John finished.
Rodney waved his hand around and turned. "But what if they alert the soldiers?"
"If they are gonna do that, it doesn't matter if we stop or not; they can see who we are even if we keep driving," Ronon said.
"Ronon's right." Teyla felt a tapping on her shoulder that she soon realized to be John.
"Stop near that building. It looks like some kind of store."
"What do you suppose we do?" Rodney glanced back at John.
"Well, we nicely ask for help."
"And if they don't, we got guns." Ronon raised his weapon.
"Which we won't use unless we have to," John reminded him.
Teyla slowed the vehicle until it stopped. They were next to a store selling canned products and fresh fruits. There was a family inside, looking at them through the glass.
Rodney opened his door and exited the truck, followed by Teyla, John and Ronon. Most prisoners remained in their places, but the ones who carried weapons got down as well. John went over to them.
"We won't need those." He waved at the guns. "We will try to get some food without resorting to violence first."
A middle aged man with gray hair and a scar on the side of his face scowled. "And they'll simply give it to us?" He spat on the pavement.
"We won't know until we try," John said slowly.
"And because they are so nice to us outsiders, they will gently turn over the food and send us on our way with the blessings of the Ancestors," another man, younger that the previous one, said as he raised his weapon to his shoulder.
Teyla stepped forward. "Do not give them reasons to hate you."
"We will first ask nicely without shooting or threatening anyone," John announced firmly. When everyone remained silent, he turned and walked to the store.
The place was now empty and the people inside seemed to have slipped through the open back door in a hurry. The counter was empty and the boxes they had been carrying were down at the ground. Upon seeing it, the men waiting outside also entered and started picking up the food and taking it back to the others waiting in the truck. Teyla took a leather bag and started filling it while John walked around the counter and began going through the papers in the drawers.
"We don't have much time, kids, so hurry up," he said.
She watched him for a while, seeing the way he hunched and held his side. His face was tense with pain and his clean dressing was beginning to show a small red dot. He supported his weight on the wall and took a deep breath as he wiped his forehead.
"You should wait in the truck," she said.
He shook his head and didn't look up. "I'm okay for now. I'm just looking for a map or something."
She walked towards him. "You shouldn't strain yourself."
He finally stopped what he was doing and glanced at her. "I'm gonna sit here while I look then." He sat down at a bench with a drawer on his lap.
She moved away to continue with her task, but saw how he took a deep breath and held his chest.
A minute had passed when John got up from his seat with a paper on his hand.
"We have to go, can't stay around to be found." John pressed a hand on his shoulder. "I think I found a map." He waved the paper as he walked out.
The team followed and the men that had sat down to eat some fruits got up as well. They all entered the vehicle and Teyla drove them out of the village.
###
Ronon shifted on his seat uncomfortably. The rain had finally stopped, but the pavement from the village had ended and was replaced by the soft mud of a whole night of drizzle. The truck slid sideways when he turned and he struggled to keep the thing going forward.
He hated driving.
"Why can't you drive, Rodney?" he growled.
"Because I'm navigating." He turned the big paper around and followed a line with his finger. "Someone's got to make sure we're going the right way."
"And are we?"
Rodney put the map down. "Yes. According to this, the main city of Milania should be right ahead. I imagine that the big red circle must be the stargate. At least the position of the streets and the distance to the capital seems right."
"How long?" Teyla asked.
Rodney shrugged. "Another hour."
Ronon groaned.
"You know," Rodney continued. "If we had stayed on that main road from the prison, we would have gotten there long ago."
"We would have been caught if we had stayed in that road," Teyla reminded him.
The next hour of driving was as painful and boring as all the previous ones, but finally they seemed to have arrived somewhere. The road was now paved and buildings could be seen in the distance, growing in size as they drove forward.
They entered the first street as indicated by Rodney and noticed the lack of activity. It was day and the sun was high, yet Ronon didn't see the activity that had been present when they had first arrived in that planet. Everything was completely deserted.
"Hmmm..." Rodney looked around. "Where's everyone?"
"This can't be good," Sheppard commented from the back seat.
Ronon continued ahead, the small brick constructions giving space to taller buildings the farther from the suburb they got, but still no sign of people. Ronon took his gun from the seat next to him and put it on his lap.
"How far to the gate?" Sheppard asked.
"Several blocks. We have to cross the city," Rodney said as he pointed at the map.
Ronon felt a tap on his shoulder. "Just drive fast, okay, buddy? This is looking too messed up," John said.
Ronon accelerated. "Got it."
He looked inside the big glass windows and saw all the offices empty. They passed some residential buildings and the curtains were all closed. There was no way to know if there was someone inside. He slowed down as he got near the center of the city then hit the brakes suddenly when he turned a corner.
The Government Building was surrounded by soldiers. Hundreds of them.
"Crap."
###
John bent down when bullets started popping the metal exterior of the truck.
"Down, everyone!"
"God! I knew this was too good to be true!" Rodney shouted.
"Drive, Ronon!" John yelled above the roar of Teyla’s and Ronon's weapons fire.
The truck accelerated again and made John crash to the back of his seat. He slid sideways and poked Ronon’s shoulder, asking for his gun. John went back to his window and shot back at the battalion that was now running to their vehicles. He hissed when another window broke and showered him with glass.
He got up again to shoot, the recoil of the rapid fire make his shoulder spike with pain. The truck turned abruptly and John fell sideways on top of Teyla, groaning with the complaining bruises. He rose, firing two quick sprays of bullets and felt the dull click of an empty gun.
"Great!" he complained as he tossed the gun aside.
He looked at Teyla when she stopped shooting as well.
She shook her head. "No more bullets."
"Oh, God! We're not gonna make it!" Rodney cried out as he tried to stay low and failed when the truck did another sharp turn. "What are you doing?" he shouted. "The gate is that way!" He raised his hand in the direction they had been following.
The truck turned another corner and slid slightly to the left. John grunted when he hit the side of the car.
"We have to stay clear of their fire; we're out of bullets," Ronon growled as he tried to keep the vehicle steady.
He whipped around a corner again. The strategy was working and the chasing soldiers couldn't stay on the same street as the team for long enough to get a shot.
Another turn, more banging and sliding on the leather seat.
"Do you even know where you're going?" Rodney squeaked.
"Yes, McKay!" Ronon growled. "Just taking the long way around."
The truck slid on the pavement and the tires screeched.
"Look out, Ronon!" Teyla warned as a tall car appeared right beside them.
It appeared that the soldiers weren't as stupid as John wished and had noticed their little strategy. They were no longer trying to follow them and had decided to simply follow the main road.
Ronon turned away and changed his direction at the last minute, leaving the pursuers behind on the main road. He turned again and again, skipping a few turns and going for unpredictable.
"Left, left! You have to turn left, Ronon!" Rodney waved his hands madly.
"I know!" Ronon yelled with uncontrolled anger.
Ronon bent left and followed on a straight line, now going the right direction to the gate. The square started appearing right ahead, and John fell forward when the truck stopped suddenly and veered slightly to the left. John raised his head and saw the gate surrounded by a barricade of soldiers.
The prisoners in the back started climbing down and running for cover, firing their guns. John gave his team the signal and they exited as well, running behind the truck next to the scar-faced man from the village.
Scar Face rose from his position and fired at the nearest soldier, his bullets hitting home and downing the enemy. Another middle aged man made a run for it to try to grab the soldier's gun, but went down on the way, sprayed by a wave of bullets from a hidden opponent. Scar Face saw it and shot the attacker, injuring but not killing.
John exchanged looks with Scar Face and both nodded. Scar Face rose and fired at the enemy’s position, giving John the opportunity to dive and grab the fallen weapon, going back to his previous position successfully. He nodded his thanks and started firing. Scar Face's bullets soon ran out, followed by the few other guns the prisoners kept, leaving John the only one armed.
The soldiers soon noticed it and started firing back in full force, opening their way towards the truck. John couldn't rise to fire and had to shoot blindly, hoping to hit something.
After a while, John heard Scar Face's rapid breathing and looked at him. Scar Face looked back, then eyed Ronon, nodded and dashed out, drawing fire away from the truck. John peeked over the fender and let loose a barrage of bullets, killing two soldiers. He looked at where Scar Face had run and saw his bloodied body in the street.
John turned back and glanced at his team, seeing Teyla holding a pair of knives. She adjusted her grip on the handles, not to use them to fight, but to throw. John nodded at her and rose from his position at the first opportunity. She rose as well and threw both knives. Two soldiers fell dead with blades through their hearts. John continued to shoot when the enemy ran from their exposed position, giving Ronon the opportunity to grab two guns from the nearby bodies. Ronon kept one and gave the other to Teyla, and both started shooting.
More soldiers fell. The team was defending from a point of advantage, surrounded by buildings and the truck, while the Milanians defended an open square. John hoped they could hold on for long enough to diminish the attackers down to a point when they could run and gain some ground. Ronon hit another one, lowering the soldiers’ numbers to a handful. John pinpointed the location of each shooter and passed the positions to his team. He instructed Ronon to run to the next barricade while John and Teyla provided cover fire. Ronon nodded and prepared.
John and Teyla rose and shot at precise locations. Ronon made it to safety and started firing. John nodded and signaled Teyla to go while he and Ronon covered her. Next went Rodney and John stayed for last.
He crashed down at the new position, giving himself no time to think before going back to firing. He could see the square clearly now and realized the team wasn't far from the DHD. They all exchanged glances. Ronon pointed at six different locations and Teyla added another two. John agreed at the positions of the aggressors and and they all looked at Rodney.
"What?" he barely kept his tone to a whisper. "Why me?"
"Rodney, you have to trust us," Teyla begged.
"Oh, God!" Rodney closed his eyes momentarily then crouched and nodded. "Okay." He took a few deep breaths.
John joined Ronon who had already gone back to defending their position while Teyla shot in the opposite direction. Rodney ran and stopped behind the concrete building before continuing. John concentrated on his targets for a few moments, but failed to find Rodney the next time he looked up. Heart pounding, he skimmed the ground and saw the glimpse of feet rushing inside the small office. He tapped Ronon's shoulder and indicated the direction, mouthing Rodney's name as he did so. They both rose and ran to the building, slamming their backs against the concrete wall, one on each side.
John took a couple of deep breaths and nodded at Ronon before peeking inside. He saw nothing. He signaled Ronon to enter and followed.
He heard an electric buzz a moment before he hit the ground, unconscious.
###
Teyla moaned as she opened her eyes. Numbness slowly faded from her extremities, leaving the sensation of ants climbing on her. As senses gradually came back to her, she found herself in a seated position and tied to a chair, her hands bound behind her.
She looked around. She was inside a dark room with a weak lamp on top and her team tied up to chairs, facing each other. Ronon was awake and pulling his binds, his face darkened with rage. Rodney was moaning as his head lolled on his chest and John was still unconscious.
A man walked into the light and stood in the middle of them. She recognized him as being their escort when they had first arrived in Milania. Percle.
He watched each one of them with scowl on his face. He stayed on John and approached his chair. Ronon growled, jumping and banging his chair on the floor, almost making it crash with him on top.
"What do you want from us?" Teyla asked slowly and serious.
Percle did not turn. He reached for John's face and lifted his head. It fell when Percle let go.
"Leave him alone," Ronon said, his voice full of anger.
Percle turned and walked near Ronon. "If you had behaved he wouldn't be in such a bad shape."
"I'm gonna kill you!" Ronon bellowed.
The officer stared. He turned around and walked towards John. She gasped in shock when Percle punched John's face, making his head roll on his neck limply. Ronon yelled and jerked.
Percle turned and walked around in a circle, staring at each one of them. Teyla glared at him, anger making her blood boil, and Ronon snarled promises of death and vengeance as their captor passed. Percle stopped in front of Rodney and pulled his head back by his hair.
Teyla heard Rodney's hard panting. "What do you want from us?" she repeated.
Percle did not respond. Instead, he let go of Rodney and extracted a rod from his clothes, making it spark against the chair. The metal frame sizzled and Rodney's head arched backwards in pain, his neck rigid and teeth pressed tightly against each other, muffling his voice as he screamed.
Teyla pulled her binds as Ronon thrashed in his chair. She felt her wrists burn as she tried to loosen the rope. The buzzing increased. Rodney yelled and Teyla felt blood trickling down her hands.
###
Steven was sitting in the mess, an empty coffee mug on the table. He watched the blue hue of hyperspace through the window and wondered if there was anything as beautiful and boring at the same time. One day he would go crazy locked up in a spaceship like this. If it wasn't for the finest crew in two galaxies he probably would already have.
The scenario would change soon enough. He looked at his watch. It would be only another ten minutes until they arrived at M6X-345. As crazy as he was to have some action, he hoped the rescue wouldn't get too exciting. He also hoped it wouldn't have the result that he continued to leave only at the edge of his mind. It had been too long since they’d had news about Sheppard's team, but they had been missing for long periods before. They knew how to take care of each other and Sheppard was also one hell of a lucky guy.
Steven got up from his chair and headed for the bridge. The Atlantis database had very little about the planet other than its name, Milania. Steven had read Woolsey's report that said that their first MALP had detected a large concentration of people in a city surrounding the gate, supported by images. It was also reported normal but increased activity around the gate. The second MALP, however, worried Steven. It had been destroyed in a clear act of hostility and it indicated something must have happened to the team. The frozen frame immediately before its destruction showed something Steven knew too well. Barricades, soldiers, weapons, sandbags, barbed wire and armed soldiers prevented anyone or anything from coming through the stargate and that included puddle jumpers.
He could only hope they subcutaneous transmitters would still be working. They made very dull rescue missions, but Steven would rather have dull and successful than impressive and ineffective.
"Major Marks, what's our ETA?" he asked as he sat on his chair.
"We'll be coming out of hyperspace any moment now, sir."
Soon after Marks said that, the blue of hyperspace faded and was replaced by the blackness of normal space and a planet right ahead.
"Please, establish a geosynchronous orbit over the gate. I want to see what's down there."
"Yes, sir." Marks pressed several commands and watched his screen closely. "Sir, I'm reading ten life signs in the area surrounding the gate."
Steven narrowed his eyes. "Only ten? The MALP showed a hell of a lot more than that."
"Yes, sir. All other life signs in the city seems to be concentrated inside buildings and none of them moving a lot except for three around the gate."
"What about their subcutaneous transmitters?"
Marks shook his head. "No subcutaneous transmitters anywhere on the planet, sir."
The lack of subcutaneous signals could either mean that the team wasn't there or that the transmitters had stopped working. Steven shifted in his seat. The sudden lack of activity around the gate could be an indication that something must have happened to make the nearly thirty signs drop to ten. They needed to know what was going on on that planet.
Steven leaned forward. "Are all of the lifesigns around the gate moving? What are their positions?"
"Six of them aren't moving. They seem to be inside a building."
Steven raised from his seat and leaned on Marks' console. "Is it possible to beam down a team of marines without them being noticed?"
Marks nodded. "Yes, sir."
Steven straightened. "Okay, instruct a team of marines to beam down with Wraith stunners to figure out what's going on around that gate. Tell them to stun any hostiles in the vicinity and to find Sheppard's team."
###
Teyla watched as Ronon thrashed on the floor. Two soldiers were taking turns kicking and shocking him, even though the chair was still bound to his body. He fought back, spinning and turning, and managed to bend the legs of the chair in a way that it would not stay up anymore.
Teyla closed her eyes in order to concentrate on the rope binding her wrists.
"Stop," Percle said in a controlled tone, making the grunting and the struggling be replaced by silence.
Only one sound now reached her ears. Ronon was breathing hard through his teeth, enough to make Teyla know the rage he held in each exhale.
She controlled her breathing when her attempts to loosen the ropes started to have a little success. She bit her lip and opened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling to keep her focus behind her. She wanted to hiss from the lacerations she was making but she suppressed it. The bonds burned and broke her skin, making her hide a smile when she felt her hands moving more easily because of the blood.
Percle was saying something but she couldn't make out any of the words he whispered.
Teyla squeezed her eyes and twisted her hands around, closer and closer to pulling the larger part of her hand through. She gasped in surprise when her hand broke free. She removed the rest of rope and held it with both hands.
Opening her eyes, she directed her gaze to the soldiers around Ronon's chair, their backs facing her. She tried to twist her foot, but found it still tightly bound.
Percle moved away and walked to Rodney's unconscious form. Teyla took that opportunity to try to untie her legs. She bent low and lifted her face to watch as Percle grabbed Rodney's hair, gaining a few grunts from Ronon. Percle turned back to Ronon and Teyla hurried. At the first sign that the knot had loosened, Teyla moved to the other leg. Teyla looked at Ronon and noticed his brief glance at her, unnoticed by Percle. Ronon talked back at Percle, his loud and angry words distracting the officer. Teyla smiled and a few seconds later, both of her legs were free.
The guards who had been only watching Ronon so far, stepped towards him, ready to grab their pain sticks. Teyla rose and bolted ahead, grabbing her chair and bringing it up against both of their backs. She lowered her body and twisted around, dragging a leg under the soldiers to make them fall. One of them dropped his rod and Teyla rolled, grabbing it on the way and stopping by Percle. She didn't hesitate before using the stick and giving him the taste of his own torture.
One of the guards rose from the floor and she jerked around, kicking his head and knocking him unconscious. She kicked the other one as well, but fell on her back when her other foot was swept off the ground. Percle moved to grab her arms, but she was faster and got out from under him, reaching out to retake her weapon. He held her leg when she crawled away, forcing her to turn upwards, bringing her other leg along to kick him on the side. He grunted and took his knife, which she also kicked away. She jumped back to her feet and kicked him twice in the face, once on the chin, then again on his temple. He fell down, dazed, and slowly reached inside his suit.
She stepped forward to finish the job and cried out when he suddenly pulled a second knife from his back and stabbed her foot. He extracted the knife and was moving to strike again when he stopped, his body halfway up and the knife falling from his hand. She looked down and was surprised to see John crawling and dragging his chair behind Percle, a bloodied knife being pulled from her attacker's back. She looked at Percle as blood leaked out of his mouth, eyes frozen in shock as he slowly fell, his eyes finally sliding shut.
She breathed deep and blinked pain-filled eyes. Her foot failed to uphold her, and she crashed on the ground.
"Teyla."
She opened her eyes and saw John looking directly at her; his face was sweaty and he shook slightly. She bit her lip and inhaled to control herself.
"I am all right, John," she assured him.
She heard a noise outside the door and froze in place when it shot open, brightness blinding her. When her eyes adjusted, she saw five shadows moving swiftly inside and kneeling next to each of them. She smiled when she recognized their Earth uniforms.
"'Bout time," Ronon said as the marines secured the room.
###
The first thing John noticed was a familiar and constant beeping noise. Then, he felt a cannula in his nose and decided the beeping must be coming from him. His senses were slower than usual, but he smiled when he realized that the disinfectant smell and this exact combination of sensations could only be coming from one place in the galaxy.
He slowly opened his eyes, taking his time to adjust the brightness.
"About time!"
The voice made John turn his head around to see Rodney on the bed next to his. He was half sitting, propped up by pillows and in white infirmary scrubs. John narrowed his eyes, trying to recall what had happened. The last thing he remembered was stabbing Percle's back, then failing to obey Teyla as she demanded him to stay conscious.
"What hap--?" he asked, his voice rough and making him cough. He cleared his throat and tried again. "What happened?"
"The Daedalus showed up," Ronon answered from a bed next to Rodney's. He leaned forward, finally showing his face from behind Rodney.
John nodded, his head melting on the pillow. He had been so out of it, exhaustion and all the injuries piling over each other, that he had no idea how he had been able to remain conscious for long enough to twist his hand out of his bonds, let alone act on a scene he’d had almost no time to register.
"Are you okay?" Rodney asked.
John remained at the same position, looking up at the ceiling.
"Are you in pain, John?" Teyla's voice came from near him and made his head turn to look at her. She was also sitting on a bed, surrounded by a fluffy pile of pillows, Torren in her arms. "We were worried. Of all of us, you are the one that was most affected by injuries."
John smiled and nodded. "I'm fine." His team was safe and okay, so he was also. "How long has it been?"
"A little over a day," Ronon answered.
John tried to sit up to have a better look at his team, but was prevented when his side twinged slightly.
"Why so long?" he asked, a little short of breath.
"Hmmm." Rodney turned around slightly towards him. "You had a bout of fever and would have had a bad infection if we hadn't gotten home when we did." He smiled. "Luckily, our antibiotics work wonders against Milanian bacteria."
John smiled. "Lucky. What about you guys?"
"Ah." Rodney pointed a finger up. "I've got a bunch of scrapes and bruises, not to mention burn marks from those horrible torture devices, but considering everything and looking at your condition, Sheppard, I guess I'm pretty good." He nodded.
John laughed.
"I got nothin'. Don't even know why they are keeping me." Ronon waved an arm at himself and grinned.
John raised an unbelieving eyebrow. "Really?"
"Ronon had two broken ribs and several cuts and bruises as well," Teyla said.
"Ah, that was nothing. Had a lot worse." Ronon sat on the middle of his bed and bent his legs.
John turned to Teyla.
Teyla turned her attention away from a playful Torren and looked at John. "Except for a deep cut on my foot that seems not to have made any serious damage, I'm perfectly fine," she said as she bowed her head slightly. "But it seems I will be several days without being able to walk." She turned her head away from Torren as he tried to pull her hair.
John nodded and let silence fall.
"Are you okay?" Rodney asked after a few seconds.
"Huh?" John turned to Rodney.
Rodney narrowed his eyes. "You haven't spoken much."
John shrugged. "I'm okay." He breathed deep. "It's just that..."
"Just what?" Rodney urged him with a waving hand.
"I... just wish I had seen how everything turned out in the end." John exhaled and made a conscious effort to look at their eyes.
"That's it?" Rodney asked.
John shrugged. "Yeah."
Rodney chuckled. "What's up with you and being in control the whole time?" He raised a hand. "We are okay, everything was under control and Teyla even managed to escape on her own." He shook his head. "You don't need to keep your eyes on us the entire time, you know. We are perfectly capable of taking care of things while you are busy passing out."
"Yes, John. You don't need to feel bad about anything that happened."
John nodded. He had all the faith in the world in his team. He always had and always would, but they were the closest thing to family that he had and he felt like he should have been there for them. If anything ever happened to any of them, it would be John's fault. He wouldn't be able to live with the guilt of it.
"Yeah, you're right." He tried to smile.
They had escaped the prison. They had worked together even though they had been put in separate blocks and had managed to provoke a rebellion even without sharing their plans. All because they already knew it. No words and no planning had been needed.
His smile finally warmed his face. "We are a team. We work together." He looked up at them.
"You're damn right we are." Rodney nodded firmly.
"We should do something," Teyla said. "To celebrate family and friends." She looked at each one of them. "What do you think?"
"Yeah, I'm in if it involves food." Ronon threw a hand up.
Rodney's eyebrows shot up. "Me too." He also raised a hand.
John grinned. "I guess it's settled, then. We should have a party."
###
John held his side as he jumped out of his bed. He walked near the table and picked a bowl of jello. All blue. Rodney must have been in charge of this part. He was quietly returning, hoping no one would catch him, when he heard Keller clearing her throat behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to her, smiling sheepishly.
"I was kinda hoping no one would see. You most of all." He pointed his finger at her, hoping an honest and lighthearted approach would ease her wrath.
By the way she was tapping her foot, he was thinking it hadn't worked. He winced and resumed his way back to bed.
"You could have asked, you know," she said as she walked over to check on him.
"What's the fun in that?"
"I told you," Teyla said while sitting up and turning to face him, the finger she had over the call button showing who had betrayed him.
He shook his head. "I thought this was a party to commemorate team, friends and family. This means no stabbing teammates, friends and family on the back."
"Who's stabbing whom?" Rodney asked as he entered the infirmary.
"I was merely worried you would fall from bed," Teyla said in a slow and calculated tone.
John directed an unbelieving eye at her.
"So," Rodney said as he rubbed his hands. "Where's Ronon with the rest of the food?" He looked around.
"Here." Ronon entered carrying two trays, one with a huge pile of sandwiches and the other with a big mountain of popcorn in a large bowl.
He placed both down on the table that had been brought to the infirmary and gained a yum of approval from Teyla.
"Okay." Rodney rubbed his hands. "Since we are all here, let's start eating." He grinned and grabbed two packages of sandwiches.
"Other guests were invited, you know..." Keller elbowed Rodney lightly on his stomach.
"I mean, the important guests are already here," he said with a mouth full.
John grinned and dipped a spoon into his jello.
"Ronon?" Teyla asked, her eyes big and glancing at the popcorn.
Ronon took the entire bowl and put it on her lap.
"Hey!" Rodney protested. "We are supposed to share!"
"I brought it for her." Ronon crossed his arms.
Rodney opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Teyla.
"I can share." She waved her hand at the big white and yellow mountain.
Rodney walked over to her and grabbed a hand full of popcorn while holding his other sandwich under his arm.
"This is supposed to be about team, friends and family. Meaning, no stabbing each other's backs," Rodney repeated John's words.
Woolsey entered the room and walked over to them. "I see you have started without me."
"Rodney has." John waved his spoon at Rodney. When everyone eyed him and the pot of jello he was eating, he continued. "I was just hungry."
They laughed. John decided to ignore them and continued eating.
"Am I late for the party?" Lorne asked from the doorway.
"By all means." Woolsey waved him in.
Lorne entered, followed by Zelenka, both men carrying the helium balloons they had reserved for Torren’s first birthday. Chuck and Amelia came in right behind and settled bottles of drink on the table. The team all looked at the colorful circles that floated over Lorne’s and Zelenka's heads.
"It's a party, isn't it? A party needs balloons," Lorne explained and tied the strings on Teyla's bed.
Zelenka did the same on John's and soon soft chatting started.
After a few moments, a loud gasp came from the entrance, making everyone snap their heads around. Torren stood at Kanaan's feet, eyes wide, marveling at the colors floating by his mom's bed. Teyla laughed.
"Come, Torren." She waved her arms.
Torren walked to her in small unsteady steps, closely watched by his father.
"Ma." Torren opened his arms, asking to be held. Teyla picked him up, much to his delight, and waved him around to make him laugh.
Kanaan smiled proudly and everyone laughed. Jennifer held Rodney's hand and both smiled warmly at each other while Woolsey moved closer to Lorne to ask about daily reports. John saw the stray look his second in command gave him, as if begging for rescue. John smiled and shrugged, turning his head back to Keller to show he was still off duty.
The afternoon was over before John had the chance to realize how much he had laughed, eaten and talked. He settled his head down on his pillow as night crawled in, a smile on his lips showing how much he had enjoyed his time with his team and friends.
His family.
The End
Final Note: Thanks so much for staying with me. I really enjoyed writing this story and had a lot of fun making them escape the prison. I'm glad it's finally over, because this fic ate my brain for several months. \o/
Author:
x_erikah_xRating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence and torture
Word Count: ~26,000 in 11 chapters
Genre: Gen, H/C, Action, team friendship
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex and other cameos
Spoilers: Set at the end of season five, but no specific spoilers
Disclaimer: Stargate and its characters belong to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. No infringements of rights is intented.
Beta: Many thanks to
wildcat88. All remaining mistakes are mine. Author’s Note: The full fic has 11 chapters, all finished and edited. I’ll post daily until it’s finished.
Summary: When the team first arrives on Milania, they are impressed with their level of accomplishment. The feeling soon fades when they discover how deep their xenophobia goes.
Chapter 9
Rodney pushed the brakes down slowly until the truck came to a complete stop. He had quickly gotten used to driving the weird vehicle after figuring out they weren't so different from Earth cars. They didn't go as fast, and the road was far from perfect, but it was certainly quicker than going on foot.
Rodney looked at left, then right, then ahead at the intersection. "So, what now?" he asked.
Ronon shrugged. "The trucks marks go ahead." He waved at the muddy road.
"We should stay away from the main road," Teyla said from behind him.
Rodney nodded. "It would be a lot easier if we had a map, you know."
"Just pick one side. More soldiers will come soon," Ronon urged him.
"I don't need to be reminded of that!" Rodney turned his head left and right again. "Look, there are fewer mountains that way." He waved, forming a semi circle going from from ahead to their left. "The city that has the gate didn't have any mountains." He looked back at his team.
It wasn't the most flawless conclusion, but it was the best they had. They could have been moved anywhere on the planet, if they were even on the same one. There was no reason to assume they were close to the gate, but they could only hope. Finally Ronon and Teyla must have seen the reasoning behind his idea, because they both nodded in turn.
"Okay," Rodney said as he started turning. "Left it is." He pressed the accelerator and started moving again.
Ronon gripped the wheel tighter and growled in frustration over the thin rain that was blocking his view. He shifted his position, finding the cabin too low and the bench too close to the front. Driving that thing wasn't as hard as Ronon had imagined, but a lot more uncomfortable. It hadn't looked that way when Rodney had been driving, but exhaustion had won over and Rodney had to give up his driver position in order to rest. Ronon hadn't complained since Rodney had driven for almost five hours.
Even after driving for so long, the team hadn't encountered any resistance or signs of civilization other than the old muddy road. They had passed two more intersections, turning on both to make it harder for them to be followed. The rain would take care of covering their tracks and now they would only have to worry about possible search parties.
Ronon turned and saw Rodney sleeping next to him. Teyla had fallen asleep while watching over Sheppard who still hadn't woken up. It almost looked normal. It was like those Earth movies, when a family would go inside their car and drive for days to relax. They hardly ever managed to relax during the trip, but in the end everyone would fall asleep and cuddle around each other. Ronon wondered how close to reality those movies were. He hoped they were really close.
Another hour passed and Ronon was bored of seeing the same unending road surrounded by dark trees on both sides. The rain kept falling, looking like it would go on forever. Ronon looked back from time to time and saw that the prisoners in the rear were exposed to the weather, cold, shaking and hurt from the battle. Ronon decided to drive closer to the trees to offer some kind of protection.
John drifted back from sleep, hearing a loud engine and feeling the vibrations of a moving car. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at a white ceiling which he didn't recognize. He turned his head and saw the back of a leather seat, realizing he was lying down in the back of a car. Supporting himself on his arms, he attempted to sit up, groaning when pain reminded him of what had happened. He pushed himself up and leaned against the closed window. Teyla was asleep sitting opposite him while Ronon was driving and Rodney appeared to be dozing in the front passenger seat.
"Ronon?" John coughed from the roughness of his own voice.
Ronon snapped his head around and a grin quickly appeared on his lips. "Hey. You okay?"
John nodded. "Yeah. I guess." He looked behind and saw the cargo area of the truck filled with prisoners. "What happened?"
"We escaped. You got hit."
John smiled slightly. "I kinda remember that part. Where are we?"
"Driving. I don't know."
"How long?"
"A lot." Ronon shrugged. "About ten hours."
"Ten? Wow. Been out for too long." John leaned his head back. He had just awakened and was feeling sleepy already.
"How you doing? Any pain?"
John groaned as he attempted to shift his position. "A little." He took a couple of deep breaths. "I'll live." John closed his eyes.
"Good."
"Uh... need anyone to take over the wheel?" John asked. If they had been driving for so long they would have to take shifts.
Ronon made a noise that could have been a laugh. "Not you." He looked back, smiling. "I'm okay."
"Anyone... anyone hurt?"
Ronon shook his head. "We're fine." He glanced back. "Don't worry about us, okay? Everything is under control so why don't you go back to sleep?"
John raised an eyebrow. "Don't like the company?"
Ronon chuckled. "Nah, you just worry too much."
"Well." John turned to look outside. "That's my job." The trees passed slowly and a faint breeze blew from the front window.
"I think you could use some time off."
John smiled. "Why only me?" he asked softly, but managing to be heard in the middle of the rumble of the truck and the clapping of rain.
"You're the worrier."
John blinked to get rid of sleep. "What about Rodney?"
"He vents." Ronon glanced at John. "You don't."
John remained silent. He knew he should probably have said something in return, but nothing came to mind. Instead, he watched the forest going and the rain drops hitting the ground.
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep again.
Richard watched the blue glow reflecting on the gate room floor as Chuck dialed M6X-345 again. Richard's grip on the railing was loose, but the tightness in his chest wasn't. They had been dialing daily for almost a week. No response on any channel. The only MALP they had sent through had shown a square filled with soldiers for a second before being sprayed with bullets and shutting down. They couldn't risk sending a team under those conditions.
If they could use a jumper then things would be a lot easier. But the presence of a concrete building too close to the gate made that impossible. And now Richard had no other choice but to keep dialing in. At first it was hourly, then it went down to four times a day, then twice, and finally only once every twenty six hours.
"Nothing, sir," Chuck informed as he shook his head.
Richard sighed and nodded.
"How long until the Daedalus gets there?" he asked.
Chuck thinned his lips. "Another twelve hours, sir."
Richard nodded again and turned around. Another twelve hours of waiting until all their doubts and fears could find answers.
Teyla rubbed the back of her neck as she drove. It had been several hours since they had started coming this way and they still hadn't encountered anything. The presence of a road indicated there must be something ahead, but they were all unsure of what it was.
More hours passed until Teyla saw the first sign of civilization. She shook Rodney's shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked around in confusion.
"Look." She pointed at the houses that started appearing at the distance.
Rodney sat up straight. "Hey," he called as he turned behind.
Teyla heard soft hushing of voices from the back of the truck as they got closer to what seemed to be a village. The buildings weren't tall and they were made of light brown bricks, all perfectly aligned and clean. They looked exactly how the Milanian houses were at the edge of the capital city, but situated in the middle of heavy forests instead of a growing city. Teyla slowed down as she entered a paved street.
It was night and the lights inside the houses were on, with no one on the outside. She saw moving shadows through the windows that were blocked by curtains.
"Should we stop?" she asked.
The people on the truck whispered and stared. Teyla knew that they were hungry and that they needed directions, but if these villagers were as xenophobic as the prisoners feared, it would be hard to get some help. Still, they could not drive without a destination forever.
"Do we know where we're heading?" John asked from behind.
"No," Rodney answered.
"Then yes, we should stop," John finished.
Rodney waved his hand around and turned. "But what if they alert the soldiers?"
"If they are gonna do that, it doesn't matter if we stop or not; they can see who we are even if we keep driving," Ronon said.
"Ronon's right." Teyla felt a tapping on her shoulder that she soon realized to be John.
"Stop near that building. It looks like some kind of store."
"What do you suppose we do?" Rodney glanced back at John.
"Well, we nicely ask for help."
"And if they don't, we got guns." Ronon raised his weapon.
"Which we won't use unless we have to," John reminded him.
Teyla slowed the vehicle until it stopped. They were next to a store selling canned products and fresh fruits. There was a family inside, looking at them through the glass.
Rodney opened his door and exited the truck, followed by Teyla, John and Ronon. Most prisoners remained in their places, but the ones who carried weapons got down as well. John went over to them.
"We won't need those." He waved at the guns. "We will try to get some food without resorting to violence first."
A middle aged man with gray hair and a scar on the side of his face scowled. "And they'll simply give it to us?" He spat on the pavement.
"We won't know until we try," John said slowly.
"And because they are so nice to us outsiders, they will gently turn over the food and send us on our way with the blessings of the Ancestors," another man, younger that the previous one, said as he raised his weapon to his shoulder.
Teyla stepped forward. "Do not give them reasons to hate you."
"We will first ask nicely without shooting or threatening anyone," John announced firmly. When everyone remained silent, he turned and walked to the store.
The place was now empty and the people inside seemed to have slipped through the open back door in a hurry. The counter was empty and the boxes they had been carrying were down at the ground. Upon seeing it, the men waiting outside also entered and started picking up the food and taking it back to the others waiting in the truck. Teyla took a leather bag and started filling it while John walked around the counter and began going through the papers in the drawers.
"We don't have much time, kids, so hurry up," he said.
She watched him for a while, seeing the way he hunched and held his side. His face was tense with pain and his clean dressing was beginning to show a small red dot. He supported his weight on the wall and took a deep breath as he wiped his forehead.
"You should wait in the truck," she said.
He shook his head and didn't look up. "I'm okay for now. I'm just looking for a map or something."
She walked towards him. "You shouldn't strain yourself."
He finally stopped what he was doing and glanced at her. "I'm gonna sit here while I look then." He sat down at a bench with a drawer on his lap.
She moved away to continue with her task, but saw how he took a deep breath and held his chest.
A minute had passed when John got up from his seat with a paper on his hand.
"We have to go, can't stay around to be found." John pressed a hand on his shoulder. "I think I found a map." He waved the paper as he walked out.
The team followed and the men that had sat down to eat some fruits got up as well. They all entered the vehicle and Teyla drove them out of the village.
Chapter 10
Ronon shifted on his seat uncomfortably. The rain had finally stopped, but the pavement from the village had ended and was replaced by the soft mud of a whole night of drizzle. The truck slid sideways when he turned and he struggled to keep the thing going forward.
He hated driving.
"Why can't you drive, Rodney?" he growled.
"Because I'm navigating." He turned the big paper around and followed a line with his finger. "Someone's got to make sure we're going the right way."
"And are we?"
Rodney put the map down. "Yes. According to this, the main city of Milania should be right ahead. I imagine that the big red circle must be the stargate. At least the position of the streets and the distance to the capital seems right."
"How long?" Teyla asked.
Rodney shrugged. "Another hour."
Ronon groaned.
"You know," Rodney continued. "If we had stayed on that main road from the prison, we would have gotten there long ago."
"We would have been caught if we had stayed in that road," Teyla reminded him.
The next hour of driving was as painful and boring as all the previous ones, but finally they seemed to have arrived somewhere. The road was now paved and buildings could be seen in the distance, growing in size as they drove forward.
They entered the first street as indicated by Rodney and noticed the lack of activity. It was day and the sun was high, yet Ronon didn't see the activity that had been present when they had first arrived in that planet. Everything was completely deserted.
"Hmmm..." Rodney looked around. "Where's everyone?"
"This can't be good," Sheppard commented from the back seat.
Ronon continued ahead, the small brick constructions giving space to taller buildings the farther from the suburb they got, but still no sign of people. Ronon took his gun from the seat next to him and put it on his lap.
"How far to the gate?" Sheppard asked.
"Several blocks. We have to cross the city," Rodney said as he pointed at the map.
Ronon felt a tap on his shoulder. "Just drive fast, okay, buddy? This is looking too messed up," John said.
Ronon accelerated. "Got it."
He looked inside the big glass windows and saw all the offices empty. They passed some residential buildings and the curtains were all closed. There was no way to know if there was someone inside. He slowed down as he got near the center of the city then hit the brakes suddenly when he turned a corner.
The Government Building was surrounded by soldiers. Hundreds of them.
"Crap."
John bent down when bullets started popping the metal exterior of the truck.
"Down, everyone!"
"God! I knew this was too good to be true!" Rodney shouted.
"Drive, Ronon!" John yelled above the roar of Teyla’s and Ronon's weapons fire.
The truck accelerated again and made John crash to the back of his seat. He slid sideways and poked Ronon’s shoulder, asking for his gun. John went back to his window and shot back at the battalion that was now running to their vehicles. He hissed when another window broke and showered him with glass.
He got up again to shoot, the recoil of the rapid fire make his shoulder spike with pain. The truck turned abruptly and John fell sideways on top of Teyla, groaning with the complaining bruises. He rose, firing two quick sprays of bullets and felt the dull click of an empty gun.
"Great!" he complained as he tossed the gun aside.
He looked at Teyla when she stopped shooting as well.
She shook her head. "No more bullets."
"Oh, God! We're not gonna make it!" Rodney cried out as he tried to stay low and failed when the truck did another sharp turn. "What are you doing?" he shouted. "The gate is that way!" He raised his hand in the direction they had been following.
The truck turned another corner and slid slightly to the left. John grunted when he hit the side of the car.
"We have to stay clear of their fire; we're out of bullets," Ronon growled as he tried to keep the vehicle steady.
He whipped around a corner again. The strategy was working and the chasing soldiers couldn't stay on the same street as the team for long enough to get a shot.
Another turn, more banging and sliding on the leather seat.
"Do you even know where you're going?" Rodney squeaked.
"Yes, McKay!" Ronon growled. "Just taking the long way around."
The truck slid on the pavement and the tires screeched.
"Look out, Ronon!" Teyla warned as a tall car appeared right beside them.
It appeared that the soldiers weren't as stupid as John wished and had noticed their little strategy. They were no longer trying to follow them and had decided to simply follow the main road.
Ronon turned away and changed his direction at the last minute, leaving the pursuers behind on the main road. He turned again and again, skipping a few turns and going for unpredictable.
"Left, left! You have to turn left, Ronon!" Rodney waved his hands madly.
"I know!" Ronon yelled with uncontrolled anger.
Ronon bent left and followed on a straight line, now going the right direction to the gate. The square started appearing right ahead, and John fell forward when the truck stopped suddenly and veered slightly to the left. John raised his head and saw the gate surrounded by a barricade of soldiers.
The prisoners in the back started climbing down and running for cover, firing their guns. John gave his team the signal and they exited as well, running behind the truck next to the scar-faced man from the village.
Scar Face rose from his position and fired at the nearest soldier, his bullets hitting home and downing the enemy. Another middle aged man made a run for it to try to grab the soldier's gun, but went down on the way, sprayed by a wave of bullets from a hidden opponent. Scar Face saw it and shot the attacker, injuring but not killing.
John exchanged looks with Scar Face and both nodded. Scar Face rose and fired at the enemy’s position, giving John the opportunity to dive and grab the fallen weapon, going back to his previous position successfully. He nodded his thanks and started firing. Scar Face's bullets soon ran out, followed by the few other guns the prisoners kept, leaving John the only one armed.
The soldiers soon noticed it and started firing back in full force, opening their way towards the truck. John couldn't rise to fire and had to shoot blindly, hoping to hit something.
After a while, John heard Scar Face's rapid breathing and looked at him. Scar Face looked back, then eyed Ronon, nodded and dashed out, drawing fire away from the truck. John peeked over the fender and let loose a barrage of bullets, killing two soldiers. He looked at where Scar Face had run and saw his bloodied body in the street.
John turned back and glanced at his team, seeing Teyla holding a pair of knives. She adjusted her grip on the handles, not to use them to fight, but to throw. John nodded at her and rose from his position at the first opportunity. She rose as well and threw both knives. Two soldiers fell dead with blades through their hearts. John continued to shoot when the enemy ran from their exposed position, giving Ronon the opportunity to grab two guns from the nearby bodies. Ronon kept one and gave the other to Teyla, and both started shooting.
More soldiers fell. The team was defending from a point of advantage, surrounded by buildings and the truck, while the Milanians defended an open square. John hoped they could hold on for long enough to diminish the attackers down to a point when they could run and gain some ground. Ronon hit another one, lowering the soldiers’ numbers to a handful. John pinpointed the location of each shooter and passed the positions to his team. He instructed Ronon to run to the next barricade while John and Teyla provided cover fire. Ronon nodded and prepared.
John and Teyla rose and shot at precise locations. Ronon made it to safety and started firing. John nodded and signaled Teyla to go while he and Ronon covered her. Next went Rodney and John stayed for last.
He crashed down at the new position, giving himself no time to think before going back to firing. He could see the square clearly now and realized the team wasn't far from the DHD. They all exchanged glances. Ronon pointed at six different locations and Teyla added another two. John agreed at the positions of the aggressors and and they all looked at Rodney.
"What?" he barely kept his tone to a whisper. "Why me?"
"Rodney, you have to trust us," Teyla begged.
"Oh, God!" Rodney closed his eyes momentarily then crouched and nodded. "Okay." He took a few deep breaths.
John joined Ronon who had already gone back to defending their position while Teyla shot in the opposite direction. Rodney ran and stopped behind the concrete building before continuing. John concentrated on his targets for a few moments, but failed to find Rodney the next time he looked up. Heart pounding, he skimmed the ground and saw the glimpse of feet rushing inside the small office. He tapped Ronon's shoulder and indicated the direction, mouthing Rodney's name as he did so. They both rose and ran to the building, slamming their backs against the concrete wall, one on each side.
John took a couple of deep breaths and nodded at Ronon before peeking inside. He saw nothing. He signaled Ronon to enter and followed.
He heard an electric buzz a moment before he hit the ground, unconscious.
Chapter 11
Teyla moaned as she opened her eyes. Numbness slowly faded from her extremities, leaving the sensation of ants climbing on her. As senses gradually came back to her, she found herself in a seated position and tied to a chair, her hands bound behind her.
She looked around. She was inside a dark room with a weak lamp on top and her team tied up to chairs, facing each other. Ronon was awake and pulling his binds, his face darkened with rage. Rodney was moaning as his head lolled on his chest and John was still unconscious.
A man walked into the light and stood in the middle of them. She recognized him as being their escort when they had first arrived in Milania. Percle.
He watched each one of them with scowl on his face. He stayed on John and approached his chair. Ronon growled, jumping and banging his chair on the floor, almost making it crash with him on top.
"What do you want from us?" Teyla asked slowly and serious.
Percle did not turn. He reached for John's face and lifted his head. It fell when Percle let go.
"Leave him alone," Ronon said, his voice full of anger.
Percle turned and walked near Ronon. "If you had behaved he wouldn't be in such a bad shape."
"I'm gonna kill you!" Ronon bellowed.
The officer stared. He turned around and walked towards John. She gasped in shock when Percle punched John's face, making his head roll on his neck limply. Ronon yelled and jerked.
Percle turned and walked around in a circle, staring at each one of them. Teyla glared at him, anger making her blood boil, and Ronon snarled promises of death and vengeance as their captor passed. Percle stopped in front of Rodney and pulled his head back by his hair.
Teyla heard Rodney's hard panting. "What do you want from us?" she repeated.
Percle did not respond. Instead, he let go of Rodney and extracted a rod from his clothes, making it spark against the chair. The metal frame sizzled and Rodney's head arched backwards in pain, his neck rigid and teeth pressed tightly against each other, muffling his voice as he screamed.
Teyla pulled her binds as Ronon thrashed in his chair. She felt her wrists burn as she tried to loosen the rope. The buzzing increased. Rodney yelled and Teyla felt blood trickling down her hands.
Steven was sitting in the mess, an empty coffee mug on the table. He watched the blue hue of hyperspace through the window and wondered if there was anything as beautiful and boring at the same time. One day he would go crazy locked up in a spaceship like this. If it wasn't for the finest crew in two galaxies he probably would already have.
The scenario would change soon enough. He looked at his watch. It would be only another ten minutes until they arrived at M6X-345. As crazy as he was to have some action, he hoped the rescue wouldn't get too exciting. He also hoped it wouldn't have the result that he continued to leave only at the edge of his mind. It had been too long since they’d had news about Sheppard's team, but they had been missing for long periods before. They knew how to take care of each other and Sheppard was also one hell of a lucky guy.
Steven got up from his chair and headed for the bridge. The Atlantis database had very little about the planet other than its name, Milania. Steven had read Woolsey's report that said that their first MALP had detected a large concentration of people in a city surrounding the gate, supported by images. It was also reported normal but increased activity around the gate. The second MALP, however, worried Steven. It had been destroyed in a clear act of hostility and it indicated something must have happened to the team. The frozen frame immediately before its destruction showed something Steven knew too well. Barricades, soldiers, weapons, sandbags, barbed wire and armed soldiers prevented anyone or anything from coming through the stargate and that included puddle jumpers.
He could only hope they subcutaneous transmitters would still be working. They made very dull rescue missions, but Steven would rather have dull and successful than impressive and ineffective.
"Major Marks, what's our ETA?" he asked as he sat on his chair.
"We'll be coming out of hyperspace any moment now, sir."
Soon after Marks said that, the blue of hyperspace faded and was replaced by the blackness of normal space and a planet right ahead.
"Please, establish a geosynchronous orbit over the gate. I want to see what's down there."
"Yes, sir." Marks pressed several commands and watched his screen closely. "Sir, I'm reading ten life signs in the area surrounding the gate."
Steven narrowed his eyes. "Only ten? The MALP showed a hell of a lot more than that."
"Yes, sir. All other life signs in the city seems to be concentrated inside buildings and none of them moving a lot except for three around the gate."
"What about their subcutaneous transmitters?"
Marks shook his head. "No subcutaneous transmitters anywhere on the planet, sir."
The lack of subcutaneous signals could either mean that the team wasn't there or that the transmitters had stopped working. Steven shifted in his seat. The sudden lack of activity around the gate could be an indication that something must have happened to make the nearly thirty signs drop to ten. They needed to know what was going on on that planet.
Steven leaned forward. "Are all of the lifesigns around the gate moving? What are their positions?"
"Six of them aren't moving. They seem to be inside a building."
Steven raised from his seat and leaned on Marks' console. "Is it possible to beam down a team of marines without them being noticed?"
Marks nodded. "Yes, sir."
Steven straightened. "Okay, instruct a team of marines to beam down with Wraith stunners to figure out what's going on around that gate. Tell them to stun any hostiles in the vicinity and to find Sheppard's team."
Teyla watched as Ronon thrashed on the floor. Two soldiers were taking turns kicking and shocking him, even though the chair was still bound to his body. He fought back, spinning and turning, and managed to bend the legs of the chair in a way that it would not stay up anymore.
Teyla closed her eyes in order to concentrate on the rope binding her wrists.
"Stop," Percle said in a controlled tone, making the grunting and the struggling be replaced by silence.
Only one sound now reached her ears. Ronon was breathing hard through his teeth, enough to make Teyla know the rage he held in each exhale.
She controlled her breathing when her attempts to loosen the ropes started to have a little success. She bit her lip and opened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling to keep her focus behind her. She wanted to hiss from the lacerations she was making but she suppressed it. The bonds burned and broke her skin, making her hide a smile when she felt her hands moving more easily because of the blood.
Percle was saying something but she couldn't make out any of the words he whispered.
Teyla squeezed her eyes and twisted her hands around, closer and closer to pulling the larger part of her hand through. She gasped in surprise when her hand broke free. She removed the rest of rope and held it with both hands.
Opening her eyes, she directed her gaze to the soldiers around Ronon's chair, their backs facing her. She tried to twist her foot, but found it still tightly bound.
Percle moved away and walked to Rodney's unconscious form. Teyla took that opportunity to try to untie her legs. She bent low and lifted her face to watch as Percle grabbed Rodney's hair, gaining a few grunts from Ronon. Percle turned back to Ronon and Teyla hurried. At the first sign that the knot had loosened, Teyla moved to the other leg. Teyla looked at Ronon and noticed his brief glance at her, unnoticed by Percle. Ronon talked back at Percle, his loud and angry words distracting the officer. Teyla smiled and a few seconds later, both of her legs were free.
The guards who had been only watching Ronon so far, stepped towards him, ready to grab their pain sticks. Teyla rose and bolted ahead, grabbing her chair and bringing it up against both of their backs. She lowered her body and twisted around, dragging a leg under the soldiers to make them fall. One of them dropped his rod and Teyla rolled, grabbing it on the way and stopping by Percle. She didn't hesitate before using the stick and giving him the taste of his own torture.
One of the guards rose from the floor and she jerked around, kicking his head and knocking him unconscious. She kicked the other one as well, but fell on her back when her other foot was swept off the ground. Percle moved to grab her arms, but she was faster and got out from under him, reaching out to retake her weapon. He held her leg when she crawled away, forcing her to turn upwards, bringing her other leg along to kick him on the side. He grunted and took his knife, which she also kicked away. She jumped back to her feet and kicked him twice in the face, once on the chin, then again on his temple. He fell down, dazed, and slowly reached inside his suit.
She stepped forward to finish the job and cried out when he suddenly pulled a second knife from his back and stabbed her foot. He extracted the knife and was moving to strike again when he stopped, his body halfway up and the knife falling from his hand. She looked down and was surprised to see John crawling and dragging his chair behind Percle, a bloodied knife being pulled from her attacker's back. She looked at Percle as blood leaked out of his mouth, eyes frozen in shock as he slowly fell, his eyes finally sliding shut.
She breathed deep and blinked pain-filled eyes. Her foot failed to uphold her, and she crashed on the ground.
"Teyla."
She opened her eyes and saw John looking directly at her; his face was sweaty and he shook slightly. She bit her lip and inhaled to control herself.
"I am all right, John," she assured him.
She heard a noise outside the door and froze in place when it shot open, brightness blinding her. When her eyes adjusted, she saw five shadows moving swiftly inside and kneeling next to each of them. She smiled when she recognized their Earth uniforms.
"'Bout time," Ronon said as the marines secured the room.
The first thing John noticed was a familiar and constant beeping noise. Then, he felt a cannula in his nose and decided the beeping must be coming from him. His senses were slower than usual, but he smiled when he realized that the disinfectant smell and this exact combination of sensations could only be coming from one place in the galaxy.
He slowly opened his eyes, taking his time to adjust the brightness.
"About time!"
The voice made John turn his head around to see Rodney on the bed next to his. He was half sitting, propped up by pillows and in white infirmary scrubs. John narrowed his eyes, trying to recall what had happened. The last thing he remembered was stabbing Percle's back, then failing to obey Teyla as she demanded him to stay conscious.
"What hap--?" he asked, his voice rough and making him cough. He cleared his throat and tried again. "What happened?"
"The Daedalus showed up," Ronon answered from a bed next to Rodney's. He leaned forward, finally showing his face from behind Rodney.
John nodded, his head melting on the pillow. He had been so out of it, exhaustion and all the injuries piling over each other, that he had no idea how he had been able to remain conscious for long enough to twist his hand out of his bonds, let alone act on a scene he’d had almost no time to register.
"Are you okay?" Rodney asked.
John remained at the same position, looking up at the ceiling.
"Are you in pain, John?" Teyla's voice came from near him and made his head turn to look at her. She was also sitting on a bed, surrounded by a fluffy pile of pillows, Torren in her arms. "We were worried. Of all of us, you are the one that was most affected by injuries."
John smiled and nodded. "I'm fine." His team was safe and okay, so he was also. "How long has it been?"
"A little over a day," Ronon answered.
John tried to sit up to have a better look at his team, but was prevented when his side twinged slightly.
"Why so long?" he asked, a little short of breath.
"Hmmm." Rodney turned around slightly towards him. "You had a bout of fever and would have had a bad infection if we hadn't gotten home when we did." He smiled. "Luckily, our antibiotics work wonders against Milanian bacteria."
John smiled. "Lucky. What about you guys?"
"Ah." Rodney pointed a finger up. "I've got a bunch of scrapes and bruises, not to mention burn marks from those horrible torture devices, but considering everything and looking at your condition, Sheppard, I guess I'm pretty good." He nodded.
John laughed.
"I got nothin'. Don't even know why they are keeping me." Ronon waved an arm at himself and grinned.
John raised an unbelieving eyebrow. "Really?"
"Ronon had two broken ribs and several cuts and bruises as well," Teyla said.
"Ah, that was nothing. Had a lot worse." Ronon sat on the middle of his bed and bent his legs.
John turned to Teyla.
Teyla turned her attention away from a playful Torren and looked at John. "Except for a deep cut on my foot that seems not to have made any serious damage, I'm perfectly fine," she said as she bowed her head slightly. "But it seems I will be several days without being able to walk." She turned her head away from Torren as he tried to pull her hair.
John nodded and let silence fall.
"Are you okay?" Rodney asked after a few seconds.
"Huh?" John turned to Rodney.
Rodney narrowed his eyes. "You haven't spoken much."
John shrugged. "I'm okay." He breathed deep. "It's just that..."
"Just what?" Rodney urged him with a waving hand.
"I... just wish I had seen how everything turned out in the end." John exhaled and made a conscious effort to look at their eyes.
"That's it?" Rodney asked.
John shrugged. "Yeah."
Rodney chuckled. "What's up with you and being in control the whole time?" He raised a hand. "We are okay, everything was under control and Teyla even managed to escape on her own." He shook his head. "You don't need to keep your eyes on us the entire time, you know. We are perfectly capable of taking care of things while you are busy passing out."
"Yes, John. You don't need to feel bad about anything that happened."
John nodded. He had all the faith in the world in his team. He always had and always would, but they were the closest thing to family that he had and he felt like he should have been there for them. If anything ever happened to any of them, it would be John's fault. He wouldn't be able to live with the guilt of it.
"Yeah, you're right." He tried to smile.
They had escaped the prison. They had worked together even though they had been put in separate blocks and had managed to provoke a rebellion even without sharing their plans. All because they already knew it. No words and no planning had been needed.
His smile finally warmed his face. "We are a team. We work together." He looked up at them.
"You're damn right we are." Rodney nodded firmly.
"We should do something," Teyla said. "To celebrate family and friends." She looked at each one of them. "What do you think?"
"Yeah, I'm in if it involves food." Ronon threw a hand up.
Rodney's eyebrows shot up. "Me too." He also raised a hand.
John grinned. "I guess it's settled, then. We should have a party."
John held his side as he jumped out of his bed. He walked near the table and picked a bowl of jello. All blue. Rodney must have been in charge of this part. He was quietly returning, hoping no one would catch him, when he heard Keller clearing her throat behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to her, smiling sheepishly.
"I was kinda hoping no one would see. You most of all." He pointed his finger at her, hoping an honest and lighthearted approach would ease her wrath.
By the way she was tapping her foot, he was thinking it hadn't worked. He winced and resumed his way back to bed.
"You could have asked, you know," she said as she walked over to check on him.
"What's the fun in that?"
"I told you," Teyla said while sitting up and turning to face him, the finger she had over the call button showing who had betrayed him.
He shook his head. "I thought this was a party to commemorate team, friends and family. This means no stabbing teammates, friends and family on the back."
"Who's stabbing whom?" Rodney asked as he entered the infirmary.
"I was merely worried you would fall from bed," Teyla said in a slow and calculated tone.
John directed an unbelieving eye at her.
"So," Rodney said as he rubbed his hands. "Where's Ronon with the rest of the food?" He looked around.
"Here." Ronon entered carrying two trays, one with a huge pile of sandwiches and the other with a big mountain of popcorn in a large bowl.
He placed both down on the table that had been brought to the infirmary and gained a yum of approval from Teyla.
"Okay." Rodney rubbed his hands. "Since we are all here, let's start eating." He grinned and grabbed two packages of sandwiches.
"Other guests were invited, you know..." Keller elbowed Rodney lightly on his stomach.
"I mean, the important guests are already here," he said with a mouth full.
John grinned and dipped a spoon into his jello.
"Ronon?" Teyla asked, her eyes big and glancing at the popcorn.
Ronon took the entire bowl and put it on her lap.
"Hey!" Rodney protested. "We are supposed to share!"
"I brought it for her." Ronon crossed his arms.
Rodney opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Teyla.
"I can share." She waved her hand at the big white and yellow mountain.
Rodney walked over to her and grabbed a hand full of popcorn while holding his other sandwich under his arm.
"This is supposed to be about team, friends and family. Meaning, no stabbing each other's backs," Rodney repeated John's words.
Woolsey entered the room and walked over to them. "I see you have started without me."
"Rodney has." John waved his spoon at Rodney. When everyone eyed him and the pot of jello he was eating, he continued. "I was just hungry."
They laughed. John decided to ignore them and continued eating.
"Am I late for the party?" Lorne asked from the doorway.
"By all means." Woolsey waved him in.
Lorne entered, followed by Zelenka, both men carrying the helium balloons they had reserved for Torren’s first birthday. Chuck and Amelia came in right behind and settled bottles of drink on the table. The team all looked at the colorful circles that floated over Lorne’s and Zelenka's heads.
"It's a party, isn't it? A party needs balloons," Lorne explained and tied the strings on Teyla's bed.
Zelenka did the same on John's and soon soft chatting started.
After a few moments, a loud gasp came from the entrance, making everyone snap their heads around. Torren stood at Kanaan's feet, eyes wide, marveling at the colors floating by his mom's bed. Teyla laughed.
"Come, Torren." She waved her arms.
Torren walked to her in small unsteady steps, closely watched by his father.
"Ma." Torren opened his arms, asking to be held. Teyla picked him up, much to his delight, and waved him around to make him laugh.
Kanaan smiled proudly and everyone laughed. Jennifer held Rodney's hand and both smiled warmly at each other while Woolsey moved closer to Lorne to ask about daily reports. John saw the stray look his second in command gave him, as if begging for rescue. John smiled and shrugged, turning his head back to Keller to show he was still off duty.
The afternoon was over before John had the chance to realize how much he had laughed, eaten and talked. He settled his head down on his pillow as night crawled in, a smile on his lips showing how much he had enjoyed his time with his team and friends.
His family.
Final Note: Thanks so much for staying with me. I really enjoyed writing this story and had a lot of fun making them escape the prison. I'm glad it's finally over, because this fic ate my brain for several months. \o/
