“Yes, sir.” Sheppard took a breath, marshaling his thoughts. “After we got through to Altantis, everything was fine for a while. We didn’t have the power to dial the Milky Way again and we were running down the ZPM that was left, but as long as we were careful, McKay figured we had about eighty hours before we’d have to abandon the city, and that would still leave a decent reserve in the ZPM for when we came back. And we were planning to come back. We combed the Ancient database, found a series of addresses, sent teams through — Athos was the most promising. We made a deal with Halling — he’s the leader of these people, sir —”
“Not Ms. Emmagan?” Jack asked.
Teyla’s smile widened, though it was no more sincere. “I am a trader, General O’Neill.”
“But not without influence among your people,” Jack said.
She nodded. “That is also true.”
Dangerous, she was dangerous, and Jack hoped they could find a way to end up on the same side. “Go on, Major.”
The rest of the story was basically the same as the one Sumner had told, but with a few crucial differences. Weir had brokered a deal with Halling, promising to respect their concerns about too much activity in the city and offering medical help as well as encouraging expedition members to volunteer to help with the Athosians’ gathering.
“Something that we appreciated,” Teyla interjected, “as this is our high trading season, and we are always short-handed then.”
Jack nodded. He’d seen enough of the rhythms of nomadic peoples in the Milky Way to have some idea of the pattern and the work involved.
“But then the Wraith showed up.” Sheppard’s face was bleak. Jack slanted a look at Teyla; her expression was unreadable. But then, the Wraith were a normal hazard of life in Pegasus. “Elizabeth — Dr. Weir was killed, along with two other expedition members and three of Teyla’s people. A dozen more, our people and Athosians, vanished and are presumed dead, taken by the Wraith to be fed on later. As a result, Colonel Sumner decided, over the objections of Halling, Charrin, and other Athosian leaders, that the expedition needed to move into the city so that we could defend ourselves.”
“I gather you objected, too?” Jack asked.
Sheppard met his eyes squarely. “I did, sir. And was overruled. We relocated to the city, and — as we’d been warned — the Wraith came back. We suffered more casualties before we were able to beat them back, and they came again four days later. I believed, and said to Colonel Sumner, that we were being targeted because we were in the city, and that the Wraith were trying to destroy us rather than to collect… food. I recommended that we withdraw to the Athosian settlement, but Colonel Sumner rejected that idea.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Colonel Sumner then proposed that we take control of the Stargate, in hopes of preventing further Wraith attack. He also proposed interdicting the Athosians’ normal gate travel so as to ensure that they weren’t — inadvertently or otherwise — giving away our location to the Wraith.” Sheppard took a deep breath, his back rigid. “This meant that the Athosians’ trading season was effectively halted, which meant they were unable to import a number of products, Satedan medicines, ammunition for their own weapons, everything they don’t make themselves, all of which they need if they’re going to get through the winter. I couldn’t go along with that, not when no other provision was being made to alleviate the hardship we were causing. Some others agreed, and — Teyla took us in.”
Jack was silent for a long moment. This was desertion, at best, and pretty much what he should have expected from the man who stole a helicopter to go after his missing squadron-mate. Sheppard had gone against direct orders then, too. And also for good reason. “I’m not going to tell you how much trouble you’re in, because I figure you know that.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If the Wraith only show up because people are in the city, why did they attack you the first time?”
“We think it was a routine Culling,” Sheppard said.
Teyla leaned forward. “The Wraith attack every world now and again. Usually, if they find no resistance and no sign that humans are trying to develop technology that might allow us to stand against them, they Cull to fill their feeding pens and then do not return for some time. Had they not seen Colonel Sumner’s activities in the city, I do not think they would have returned at all, and had the city been abandoned on their return, they certainly would not have come a third time. But now Colonel Sumner has challenged them, and made clear that he has the weapons with which to do so, and the Wraith will not rest until he is destroyed.”
Jack took a sip of his cooling tea, buying time. “What’s your alternative?”
“I do not think there is a good one,” Teyla answered. “And I fear that as much for my own people as for yours.”
Sheppard grimaced. “Actually, sir… If we were to withdraw from the city, abandon the camp and maybe even dial a few outgoing addresses, we might be able to convince the Wraith that we’ve given up and left this planet. But it needs to happen now, before the Wraith are any more deeply engaged. I was hoping that you might be able to help persuade Colonel Sumner to see reason.”
Teal’c tipped his head to one side. “That may be more complicated than it seems, Major Sheppard.”
“Yeah.” Jack sighed. “You see, part of my problem is that we — SG-1 — are not from your particular timeline. When Janus’s experimental device — went off — it not only transported us to Atlantis but took us to a different Atlantis.”
Sheppard bit his lip. “You’re sure, sir?”
“The evidence is incontrovertible,” Teal’c said.
“Then we will have to try something else,” Teyla said firmly. She gave Sheppard a look that smacked distinctly of I-told-you-so, and rose to her feet. “In the meantime, General O’Neill, and Teal’c, I regret to say that you must remain here for the conceivable future.”
Crap. Jack looked from her to Sheppard. “Are you telling me we’re prisoners, Major?”
“No, sir,” Sheppard said, with a shifty smile, “not at all —”
“I am sorry, but yes,” Teyla said. “I trust you will behave accordingly. And I must ask that you hand over your weapons.”
From the cave mouth, Jack heard the click of bolts being thrown, and looked over his shoulder to see two big men covering them with rifles. “Ok…”
“Please place your weapons on the ground and then you will step back from them,” Teyla said. “And your radios.”
And that ruined their only chance to jump her and get away. Jack nodded and laid his P90 on the ground, then unclipped his radio and set it beside the weapon. Teal’c copied him and they both stepped back three paces. Teyla still didn’t move, but a third man slipped forward to collect them.
“This is not what we agreed,” Sheppard said, fiercely.
“They are not what you promised,” Teyla answered. “And they are no good to me.”
“Hey,” Jack said. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
“I hope so,” Teyla said. “For all our sakes.”
It had been a less than profitable day working in the power control center, and Daniel was having to make an effort to keep from snapping at sweet Dr. Kusanagi, trying so hard to see the bright side of everything. No, he wanted to say, no, we haven’t actually accomplished a damn thing, especially when you consider that the answer to a whole bunch of our problems is about a thousand yards away. But that wasn’t kind, or even fair, and he ran his hand through his hair, trying to wipe away the frustration.
Ahead of him, Sam and McKay were discussing whether or not it made sense to try to get the city’s weapons working again, and he lengthened his stride. “You know, Sam, we should really talk some more to the Athosians before we go making exactly the kinds of changes that they tell us will bring more Wraith —”
“Actually, we had thought of that,” McKay said. “Believe it or not. And this is more of a last ditch effort to keep us alive if we fail to make any kind of
deal, which so far we have signally failed to do —”
Daniel raised his hands in surrender. “Ok, ok.”
“I don’t think a naquadah generator’s going to be enough though,” Sam said.
For a moment, McKay looked beaten, but then he shook his head. “We’ll find a way,” he said, and turned off to his improvised hut.
Daniel and Sam walked on toward the mess hut, Daniel frowning as they got closer. There was Ford, looking nervous, but there was no sign of Jack or Teal’c. “Sam…”
“I see.” Her hands tightened on the stock of the borrowed P90, but relaxed again. They weren’t going to get anywhere fighting, Daniel thought. And maybe it wouldn’t come to that.
“Colonel Carter!” Sumner stepped out of the main building, the setting sun throwing his shadow almost the length of the street. Like a cheap effect in a bad Western, Daniel thought, and forced himself to stay silent.
“Colonel?” Sam stopped well out of reach, frowning as though she was puzzled.
“I don’t suppose you’ve seen General O’Neill.” Sumner’s voice was taunting.
“He didn’t come back with Ford?” Sam put just the right note of surprise into her voice. “What happened? Do we need to send someone out after them?”
“O’Neill didn’t come back with Ford, no,” Sumner said. “In fact, he deserted the patrol —”
“Deserted!” Sam sounded genuinely shocked. “General O’Neill would never —”
“He did.” Sumner cut her off without hesitation. “And since there’s every possibility he’s gone over to the locals, I’ll have to ask you for your weapons.”
“Wait a minute,” Daniel said.
“That was an order, Dr. Jackson.”
Daniel spread his hands, let Ford pluck the pistol from his holster.
Bates reached for Sam’s P90 and she didn’t resist, only the set of her mouth betraying her anger. “You’re making a mistake, Colonel.”
“I doubt it.”
“Wait,” Daniel said again. “How do you know they deserted? You said yourself that the Athosians are dangerous. What makes you so sure they haven’t been taken prisoner?”
“They were both fully armed and they’re well-trained. No native is going to take them by surprise.”
“But —” Daniel caught Sam’s look and closed his mouth over the rest of what he’d been going to say.
“While I don’t have any reason yet to doubt your loyalty,” Sumner went on, “I also have no choice but to secure this camp. Sergeant Bates, take them to the cells.”
“Oh, so you’ve got cells,” Daniel said, and jerked away from Bates’s hand on his shoulder.
“Unless you want to go in handcuffs, Dr. Jackson,” Sumner said.
“Fine,” Daniel said. “Fine, I’m going. But if I were you I’d start looking for O’Neill…”
Sumner ignored him, turning away.
“Colonel,” Sam began, and Bates blocked her way.
“I’m sorry, Colonel. This way.”
The cells were exactly that, a remnant of some Ancient lock-up that had survived the destruction of the city. Sumner’s men had cleared the steps that led down to the four surviving cells as well as a single, well-barred ventilator shaft, and set up a lantern in the center of the corridor between the cells. Too far to be reached from inside the cells, Daniel noted automatically, not unless you had a fishing rod or something like that. Beyond the last cell, the wall had crumbled and the floor had fallen in, leaving a black gap between the stones.
“Are you sure this is solid?” Daniel asked, but the Marine escorting him didn’t answer, just hauled back the barred door of the first empty cell.
“Don’t do any tap-dancing,” Bates answered, from the top of the stairs. “No, don’t put the Colonel in with him.”
Damn. Daniel kept his face impassive as Sam was shoved into the cell across the corridor, and the Marines dragged the door back into place, securing each one with a modern combination lock. At least the machines that had created the force fields were long gone, Daniel thought. He could see the six evenly spaced holes where the projectors had been. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to pick a combination lock, either — unless… He waited until the last of the Marines had pounded up the stairs. They pulled the door closed behind them, leaving only the lantern for light, and Daniel grabbed the bars of his cell door.
“I don’t suppose you know how to pick a lock?”
“No. And I don’t have any C4, either.”
“Damn.” Daniel turned, surveying the narrow space. Sumner had left them each a cot and blankets, plus a covered bucket in the back corner. There was a bottle by the door, and when he investigated, it was full of slightly stale water. “Looks like he uses these on a regular basis.”
“Yeah.” Carter came to her own door. “Do you really think Jack’s a prisoner?”
“I think he’d have come back if he wasn’t,” Daniel answered. “He’d have known Sumner was likely to do exactly this if he didn’t show up.”
Something moved in the cell next to Daniel’s, a shape moving out of the shadows that resolved into a tall man with a beard and long locks held back in a neat tail. He was taller than Teal’c, Daniel thought, though not quite as big, but that didn’t make him any less impressive… He was dressed in plain pants and a white shirt under an oddly asymmetrical vest and a well-cut leather coat: not the clothes of a nomad, Daniel thought, his attention sharpening even further.
“So what’d you do?” the stranger asked, and rested his arms on the bars between his cell and Daniel’s.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Daniel answered. “I’m Daniel Jackson.”
“Specialist Ronon Dex.”
“Military?”
Dex nodded. “Off duty, though. Or I was supposed to be. Step through the Stargate, find out whether the Athosians were going to trade with us or not this autumn, their autumn, and — wham. Here I am. How about you?”
“Our commanding officer is missing,” Sam said. “Colonel Sumner thinks he deserted.”
“Did he?” Dex sounded only idly curious.
“He might be a prisoner,” Daniel said. “That’s Colonel Carter, by the way.”
Dex nodded again. “Colonel. Either you don’t rank him, or he’s gone rogue.”
“It’s — complicated,” Sam said.
“I got time.”
“Well, yes, we seem to have potentially quite a lot of that,” Daniel said. “But —”
Dex ignored him, his eyes fixed on Sam. “Well?”
“We’re not actually in his chain of command,” she said.
“Uh-huh.”
Sam lifted her chin. “No more than you are, Specialist Dex.”
Dex looked away. “Ok, point. But the man’s a nut case.”
“You won’t get any disagreement from me,” Daniel said. “Where are you from, anyway?”
“Sateda.”
Daniel nodded, trying to pretend the word meant something, but the stranger’s eyebrows rose.
“How about you? Where are you from?”
“We’re from another galaxy,” Sam said quietly. “Almost certainly from another timeline than yours. We’re trying to get back there.”
Dex let out a long breath in a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. “That explains a lot.”
“Such as?” The sudden sharp stare made Sam look almost like she was channeling Jack.
“Why that Colonel of yours is being an idiot.”
“What do you mean?” Daniel asked.
“Messing around with the Wraith enzyme. Everybody knows that never ends well.” Dex jammed his hands in his pockets.
“Actually, we don’t,” Daniel said. “Not that we weren’t beginning to suspect, but — tell me what’s wrong with it.”
The Satedan gave him a suspicious stare. “It makes people crazy.”
“Colonel Sumner says it protects them from Wraith attacks,” Sam observed.
“Well, yeah. At first. And it makes you stronger and f
aster, too,” Dex said. “But the longer you use it, the more of it you need, and the more crazy it makes you. First you start thinking everybody’s out to get you, and eventually you start seeing Wraith everywhere. But most people don’t last long enough for that to be a problem.”
“Great,” Daniel said. “And everybody knows this? The Athosians, too?”
“Sure,” Dex said. “People keep trying it. They keep thinking they’ve found a way to, I don’t know, remove the problem by changing the chemical makeup or something. But in the end, everybody ends up dead.”
“Everybody?” Daniel felt a chill that had nothing to do with the stone around him.
“Yeah.” Dex looked distinctly unhappy. “Usually they — the units that take the enzyme — kill off all the civilians around them before they turn on each other. That’s what happened on Hoff. Three cities burned to the ground before the government got things under control.”
“Wonderful.” Daniel looked at Sam, seeing the same unease in her expression. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
Sam nodded. “But how? And — then what?”
“I wish I knew,” Daniel said.
The bars and stone walls were uncompromisingly solid. Daniel worked his way methodically around the edges of his cell, feeling his way as the light faded further, but found no weak spots in stone or metal. The floor was solid, too, stone fitted so closely he could barely see the edges of the blocks; the frame of the cot was flimsy enough that he could probably break it apart, but that meant it wasn’t going to be strong enough to do much to the stone. In the cell opposite, Sam emptied her pockets onto her cot, and shook her head.
“Flashlight, half a power bar, multi-tool, granola bar, circuit tester. Ok, it’s one I adapted for Ancient crystals, but I don’t think that helps us much here. And the flashlight’s not much help. I could maybe start a fire with the batteries, if I had some steel wool, but I don’t think’s going to help, either.”
“No,” Daniel said. In the other cell, Dex had returned to his cot, stretched out with his hands behind his head and was apparently asleep. Daniel wasn’t sure he believed him, but he also wasn’t sure it mattered. “Damn it. We have to get out of here.”
STARGATE SG-1-19-23-Ouroboros-s08 Page 14
