SGA-15 Brimstone

by Wilson, David Niall

  “Me next!” Ronon offered, pressing forward.

  Teyla struck him in the chest hard enough that the sound of the blow echoed through the room. “Sit down!”

  Everyone at the bar roared with laughter at this. Ronon frowned, but he was smiling. He did as he was told and dropped onto the nearest seat, lingering over the glass of wine he was served and staring out at the room as if he was searching for a woman to help him with the first sip.

  “This place makes me nervous,” he said to Teyla, his voice low but loud enough for Sheppard to catch. “They’re all staring at me.”

  “Well, they’ve probably just never seen such a fine physical specimen.”

  “You think? Because it’s only the old men who are staring.”

  “You know, I believe you may be right.”

  Sheppard was about to comment when Mara gripped his arm possessively, her fingers caressing him through the fabric of his uniform with disturbing persistence. Her eyes sparkled and she sipped her wine slowly as he studied her face and tried to work out what the hell was going on. Suddenly, she put down her glass and stood.

  “You know, John Sheppard, we really are wasting too much time here. You are visitors, and you’ve seen so little. You and your people are the talk of the city…why not let me introduce you?”

  He glanced over at Teyla, and she gave him a subtle nod. “All right,” he said then, “as long as I don’t have to drink from all their lips before they tell me their names.”

  Mara laughed. “I like you, John Sheppard,” she said. “I like you very much.”

  She linked her arm with his and pulled him away with a smile. “Come with me. You will find that you already have many friends here. They’ve been watching you and talking about you since Saul brought you through the door.”

  * * *

  Teyla watched from her table as Sheppard was led — almost literally by the nose — into the crowd. Soon, he was lost from sight.

  “I am not comfortable here,” she murmured to Ronon. “These people are…unnatural.”

  “Jealous?”

  “No, of course not. But I do not trust her. For all her good will, she was quick to separate us from Colonel Sheppard. He is the ranking officer — if I was planning something, this is exactly how I would proceed. I am going to follow them and watch for trouble.”

  “You do that,” Ronon said. “I’ll stay here and keep my eyes open. I’m hoping to meet one of those dragons.”

  He saluted her with his glass and turned his warrior’s gaze upon the pulsing room. She knew him too well to be deceived; he was as uneasy as herself.

  * * *

  As always, Sheppard demanded the impossible.

  Just get us a link to Atlantis, McKay. Just find a hole in their shield in the next ten minutes. Just figure out how this ten thousand year old computer system works — I’m sure it’s compatible with Vista!

  Well, this time it was a no go. There was nothing in their Disney Princess quarters to help, no handy docking station and animated paperclip. His scanner only told him so much, and today the headline news was that the alleged storm was a lie and there was only one thing to do — get out of the city and hike back to the gate, dial up Atlantis and go home.

  End of story.

  Stuffing the scanner into his jacket, Rodney left their quarters and headed back toward the hive of scum and inequity that was Admah’s meat market. He needed to find Saul and he needed to find out exactly what was going on with Moon Base Alpha.

  He could hear the thump of music and smell the alien aromas of food and people before he stepped through the doors, pausing to let his eyes adjust to the dark. He saw Saul right away, standing beside the dancer on the small stage. The woman continued to sway and move as Saul spoke to her, and the musician never hesitated. But Saul’s gaze wasn’t fixed on the dancer — strange — and as he spoke, Rodney realized he was watching Sheppard cross the floor arm in arm with a beautiful woman.

  Typical.

  Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he made his way across the room.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Saul smiled, stepping down from the platform as Rodney drew closer, careful not to disturb either dancer or musician. “He rarely repeats a song, or a sequence of notes. I’ve been listening to him for a very long time and I can’t remember the last time I noted a repetition.”

  “Fascinating, I’m sure,” Rodney said. “There must be literally millions of variances possible, depending on the range of the instrument. But I didn’t come over to ask about the music — I need to ask you some questions. If you have time, that is.”

  “There’s nothing but time here,” Saul said, his expression serene.

  “Yes, that’s what has me confused. Tell me why it is, with all the time in the world at your fingertips, you launched yourself directly at the heart of the sun?”

  “I did not say that we had,” Saul replied. “You jumped to that conclusion from your limited observations.”

  “Well, if you didn’t do it,” Rodney said, confused, “then who did?”

  “All will be made clear in due time Dr. McKay. Are you always so impatient?”

  “No, usually I’m incredibly patient. It’s just when I’m trapped on a moon on a collision course with the sun that I get a little tense.”

  Saul’s smile was less friendly. “I would have thought a man of science such as yourself would appreciate coming slowly and carefully to new knowledge.”

  “So tell me, slowly and carefully, that you do intend to steer away from the sun,” Rodney said. “I mean, you’re not really going to fry yourselves are you? I say this because I’ve given some thought to the best and worst ways of dying — believe me, I’ve had reason to worry about it — and I have to say that self-immolation is a spectacularly insane way to go.”

  “As I said, all will be made clear in time.”

  “Really. Could you be any more cryptic?” Rodney sighed and attempted to swallow his irritation. “So, the star drive is under control of a command computer, yes? And the computer is still functional?”

  “All systems of the city are functional except those which we have purposely shut down.”

  “Then you must have control over the field that’s preventing any signals from reaching the surface. You could shut it down and allow me to contact — ”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He glanced around the room, obviously distracted; he was still watching Sheppard and the woman, barely paying any attention to Rodney’s questions. “I’ve told you the dampeners are physical in nature. They aren’t controlled by an electronic console, or a computer program. It was never our intention to remove them.”

  “Then take me to the surface and let me walk back to the gate,” Rodney insisted. “I only need a few moments up there to open a wormhole and…”

  “Did you forget about the storm?”

  “Ah yes, the ‘storm’. How could I forget?”

  Saul turned toward him suddenly, his eyes dark and his back board-straight. “You’re wasting your time, Dr. McKay. No direct communication is allowed out of this city. I believe I explained fairly clearly how we have prevented detection by the Wraith, and I’m not about to break that successful silence now.” He took a breath, forcing a smile. “Why don’t you relax and enjoy yourself? I’m sure even you can find a suitable distraction here. There are so very many.” He swept his hand in an arc across the room and smiled as he turned and walked away.

  “If you’re still worried about the Wraith,” Rodney called after his retreating back, “then why lower your shields? Why allow us to detect you?”

  Saul either didn’t hear him or ignored him completely and continued walking.

  Just at that moment Teyla passed by, focused on something ahead of her. He called out, but just like Saul she didn’t answer.

  “Right,” he grumbled, “Rodney McKay being ignored in a nightclub. How novel.”

  He pulled the scanner out of his pocket, but it still held no answers.
>
  * * *

  As Teyla crossed the huge hall, she kept Sheppard and Mara in her sites, their path winding in and out of small alcoves. Here and there, Mara grabbed someone else by the arm, or called out to a friend and introduced them to her guest. Despite the detours, Teyla noted that the woman was working herself steadily toward a particular set of doors along the far wall. Just as she was about to follow and see if she could get close enough to hear what they were talking about, Teyla felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around and found herself face to face with Saul.

  “I trust you’re finding everything to your liking?” The man’s features were a mask of serenity and peace, but something danced just beneath the surface of his eyes that made her nervous. He kept his hand on her shoulder, and she fought the urge to brush it off like a bug.

  “Yes, everything is well, thank you. Perhaps we may speak later, but right now I need to have a word with Colonel — ”

  “Excellent.” Saul cut her off, but did not release her. “Somehow, I knew you’d enjoy it here. I sensed it about you.”

  Teyla forced a smile, aware of the need to maintain good will. “Your hospitality is admirable. But, excuse me, I need to catch up with Colonel Sheppard.” She glanced over her shoulder, but Sheppard and the woman were gone.

  “Your Colonel Sheppard seems to be well taken care of at the moment. Why don’t we sit and share some wine?” His smile widened. “You can tell me all about your home world and I can introduce you to a few of our citizens. The more people you know, the easier it will be to fit in here. Perhaps we have some common ground. If Atlantis is inhabited again there should be opportunities for trade.”

  Teyla shot a sideways glance at the point where she had lost sight of Sheppard, but the two had not returned. “Very well,” she said. “Perhaps you can tell me more about your people. Specifically the one they call Mara.”

  Saul nodded as he pulled her toward the bar and eased her into a seat. She saw Ronon, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he pretended to watch the dancer. She smiled, but it was an uncomfortable attempt and she doubted Saul was convinced.

  “Suppose you go first,” he said, sipping his wine. “Tell me about Atlantis. I’ve been there you know, a very long time ago. For you, it would be lifetimes.”

  “I’m afraid that the current inhabitants of the city would be very unfamiliar to you,” she said. “Your people — who we call the Ancestors — have been gone for a long time.”

  “Fascinating,” Saul said. “And your people rule the city now?”

  Teyla shook her head. “No, that is a long story.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Mara held Sheppard’s hand as she pulled him through the door and into the darkened passageway beyond. They stood together in the cool darkness, until she passed her hand over a small panel. A series of lamps illuminated a long, winding staircase that passed up into more darkness. Sheppard stopped for a moment, disoriented by the sudden change in light, but Mara tugged insistently at his hand, urging him forward.

  “Come on, John Sheppard,” she said. “I have something to show you — something important. You’re going to love the view from up here. It’s extraordinary.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  He followed her up the stone steps, trying not to watch her too closely as she climbed ahead of him. He scanned the walls as they went, looking for anything that might help him understand what was going on, or give him insight into the city’s systems. They climbed for a very long time, until finally stepping out into some sort of observatory. The ceiling was domed and appeared to be made of crystal, or heavy glass. He stared up through it into the night sky. >From that vantage point he felt like he could see every star in the universe.

  “We’re not supposed to come up here,” Mara said. “Saul says that it’s too close to the surface, and that if there were scans in progress we might be detected, but I’ve been here many times over the years. I’ve watched Wraith craft fly directly over the city, and they never suspected a thing. I think he just doesn’t want us away from his entertainments. It’s very beautiful, don’t you think? I wanted to share it with you.”

  Sheppard felt her press against his back, felt her breath against his neck. “It is beautiful,” he replied. “It feels like we’re standing right in the middle of all those stars. I can see why you come here.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer. “Exactly.”

  Carefully, Sheppard disentangled himself from her grasp. “Listen, I know this is probably not what you expected from me just now, but let me ask you a few questions, okay?”

  The corners of her lips drooped. “I suppose.”

  She drew nearer once more, playing with the buttons on his shirt. “You ask your questions, and I’ll try not to get…distracted.”

  “We’re staring out at the night sky, right?”

  She frowned. “Of course, you can see it…”

  “Where’s the storm?” Sheppard said. “Saul told us that we couldn’t go to the surface to contact our people because of horrible storms sweeping across the surface.”

  She looked down in silence.

  “What’s really going on here?” he pressed. “Is there any way that I can get a message back to my people? I need to be able to contact them next time they open the gate.”

  Mara bit her lip and turned away. Then, as if making up her mind about something important, she turned back.

  “I’m afraid that isn’t possible.” She drew closer, her lips brushing his neck as she sighed deeply. “Saul isn’t going to take you to the surface, and there aren’t any storms. There never have been any storms. I’m sorry, but you can’t contact your people.”

  Sheppard stepped closer and reached out a hand, laying his palm on her cheek. He smiled and said, “That’s a shame. I have dozens of friends back in Atlantis who would love this place.”

  He leaned in, close enough to breathe his words softly into her ear. She shivered, and he knew that his moment had come. It was a cruel trick to play, but he had no choice.

  “But they can’t come if they don’t know. There must be a way I can get word to them, to tell them about the wonders and the entertainment — the hospitality. How can I reach them? How can I let them know?”

  She glanced up at him, as if checking his sincerity, then dropped her eyes. “I’m sorry, it’s impossible. You can’t dial out and they can’t dial in — there are protocols in place that prevent any gate from connecting with Admah more than once.”

  “Protocols?” He drew back with a sick feeling, eyes narrowing. “What sort of protocols?”

  “Once a connection has been established with another gate, it can never be dialed again. That’s how we’ve kept our secrets all these years. We’ve had our problems, and our small invasions, but they were cut off from their people and eventually they were forgotten. No one who comes here can ever leave and their home world can never send a search party.”

  “What?” He stepped back in horror. “No one can leave…?”

  “You think us cruel?” She sighed. “I understand, but you must try to understand too — our people fled this galaxy, abandoned us alone here. What choice did we have? How else could we survive? Saul believed — ”

  “Saul.” And how come that wasn’t a surprise?

  “Saul created the protocol,” Mara confessed. “Long ago, he was head of our science counsel. It was his plan to seal us off, to install the dampeners and separate us from those who meant us harm. I’m not familiar with the technology used to create it, I only know that it has been in place and has protected us for a very long time.”

  Sheppard pushed her out to arm’s length. “Protected you? By trapping your enemies here? If the Wraith ever dialed your gate, they’d come through and be trapped — but they’d still be here.”

  “I told you,” she said, “the Wraith have come through. We aren’t without defenses, and they thought they were trapped on a lifeless world. We picked them off a few at a tim
e. The protocols limit the numbers and assets of any attackers. Saul and his men have handled the rest.”

  “And what about travelers who aren’t your enemies? What about those who only came here to explore or offer trade? Where are they?”

  “The protocols are in place to keep us safe,” she repeated.

  He stepped back, disgusted. “Do you know what’s funny?” he said. “When we came here, our first priority was to search for survivors. We saw that your city was plunging into the sun and we thought ‘Hey, there might be people in trouble over there.’ Some gratitude.”

  “We did not ask for your help.”

  He glared at her. “Fine. Well, if Saul created the protocols, then Saul can reverse them. We’re just going to have to get them switched off.”

  “There is no way to reverse them. They have been engineered into the system itself. Saul says — ”

  “I don’t care what Saul says. I’m getting my team the hell out of this city and you can either help me or get out of my way.” He pushed past her. “Maybe you’re happy to be a prisoner for the rest of your life, but that doesn’t work for me.”

  She looked stung, like he had just slapped her in the face. “I thought you liked me, John Sheppard.”

  “Are you kidding me? You just told us we’re trapped here.” He took a breath. “Look, I do like you. Why wouldn’t I? You’re a beautiful woman and you’re the first person in this city to tell me the truth, but this changes everything. You have to see we can’t just stay here.”

  She nodded and bit her lip. The corners of her eyes welled with tears, but she managed to keep them under control.

  Sheppard watched her for a moment longer and then turned away. He hurried down the stairs and back toward the main room where he’d left the others. After a moment he heard Mara’s footsteps echoing on the stairs as she followed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sheppard ploughed back into the main room, blinking to accustom his eyes to the semi-darkness and flickering lights. The giant party that was the heartbeat of Admah continued unabated. If anything, there were more dancers and musicians, more laughing revelers and passionate couples than before. It took a moment to orient himself, but as soon as he spotted it he returned to the bar where he’d met Mara. The rest of the team — including McKay — had gathered around a single table, where Saul sat talking to Teyla. A couple of the local women hovered near Cumby, full of smiles and seduction.