SGA-15 Brimstone

by Wilson, David Niall

  There was a small two-seat sofa, and he sat down beside her, not as close as she obviously would have liked, and took the drink. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “You know the answer already.”

  “But it’s insane!” he protested. “He’s going to kill you all.”

  “Saul decided that we should go out in our prime. He’s planning something big, an entertainment grander than any the city has ever seen. There will be dancing, drinking, feasts, and battles. We still have quite a few adversaries and he wants them all to see action. Once it all starts, the plan is to keep the grand party going until we hit the sun, and go out in glory. Something like that.”

  “You realize he’s crazy? Certifiably crazy.”

  Mara shrugged. “We have been here for a very long time, John Sheppard. It may not even be possible for me to convey the depths of boredom a person can reach. Under such conditions, who am I to guess at sanity, or insanity? It has been a very long time since anything truly thrilled me — since anything made me feel truly alive. Although…”

  She moved closer to him and laid a hand on his leg.

  “I don’t hold what Saul is doing against him,” she continued. “I think, though possibly for different reasons, that it’s probably for the best. The difference between Saul and I is that I would not willingly trap you or your team in our fate. There is nothing to be gained by holding you here, other than the possibility of an entertaining battle.”

  She sipped her drink, and then smiled. “I have to say, your friend Ronon is a very impressive man.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Sheppard got to his feet. “You’re telling me that we’re all headed into the center of a sun, and you want to talk about Ronon and what a fine specimen of a man he is? We need to be finding a way off this moon, or a way to break into the Star Drive and turn it around. Don’t you even care that you’re about to die?”

  Her smile was bland. “It would at least be a novel experience.”

  “This is so twisted…” He backed away a step. “I have to get out of here, I have to — ”

  “Wait,” Mara said. “I can help you.”

  “How?”

  “Saul has convinced most of the citizens that you and your people are great warriors and should be conscripted at once and readied for battle.” She gave a wry smile. “It doesn’t hurt his cause that the other choice is the citizens themselves going into battle — most of them haven’t been more than a few paces from a bed or comfortable seat in years.”

  “It wouldn’t be much of a battle,” he growled. “The only two of us who could even use your weapons are me and Rodney, and Rodney wouldn’t even know which way up to hold it.”

  “Then Ronon cannot — ”

  “He doesn’t have the gene, no.”

  Mara was silent.

  Scrubbing a hand through his hair, Sheppard said, “Okay, I’m going to tell Saul we’ve decided to drink the Cool Aid — that we’ll stay and enjoy the city. It might at least buy us some time… I think he expects defiance.”

  “It won’t work,” Mara said. “It’s already been decided, you have no real choice. I believe that I can keep you out of it — at least at the beginning — but there is nothing I can do for the others. If Saul believes that I want you at my side, he will allow me that. He has allowed me many things over the years, though I never gave him what he truly wanted. I can keep you safe, for a time.”

  “We need to buy time for everyone,” Sheppard said. “How long have we got before Saul starts this grand entertainment of his? It isn’t that long before all of Admah starts feeling more like a furnace than a city.”

  “The first entertainment is set for tomorrow night,” Mara said. “Your people will be taken to the arena in the morning to be prepared and scheduled. There is no time to run them through the standard training. There are other warriors — your people may not be called first — but Saul will want to make this as interesting and unique as possible, so I fear he won’t wait long.”

  “I’ll talk to him.”

  “He won’t listen,” Mara said. She moved still closer. “But I can remove you from the group. I can keep you free — help you — and perhaps together we can find a way out for your people.”

  “Why? Why are you helping us?”

  She gave an elegant shrug. “If you cannot believe that it is out of compassion, then believe this — the purpose of these last days is to eradicate the terrible tedium of our lives, John Sheppard, and I find that the thrill of finally standing up to the status quo is more intriguing than a final night watching monsters of our own creation destroy men and women — or vice versa.”

  “And why should I trust you?”

  Mara rose to her feet, very close, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. “The best reason of all,” she said. “Because you have no other choice.” She put a hand to his chest, eyes speculative. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to spend the night here?”

  Sheppard drained his glass and shook his head. “Not a chance. My place is with my people.”

  Without another word, Mara turned and opened the door. Sheppard followed her into the hall and back toward his quarters, watching the graceful sway of her walk and wishing their visit was something other than it was.

  Back in their quarters, everyone was waiting for his return. Their heads jerked up when they heard the door open. Every head, that is, but Rodney’s. He sat folded over his laptop, frowning. He paid no heed to Sheppard when he entered the room, nor did he notice the sudden agitation of the others. He simply read the screen and plucked at the keys as though nothing else in the world mattered.

  “What did you find out?” Teyla said.

  Sheppard clicked the door shut behind him and stepped a bit closer, clearing his throat and lowering his voice. “It seems that we’re going to be the grand finale in some bizarre gladiatorial game.”

  “We have to fight? Those things?” Teyla thrust an angry finger toward the hallway where the walls were lined with posters featuring all manner of mutant combatants.

  “That’s Saul’s plan. But wait, it gets worse.”

  Rodney glanced up as if startled by Sheppard’s voice. “Worse?”

  With a sigh, Sheppard sank down onto a bed. He was tired — he’d not slept for at least twenty-four hours — and the insanity of the situation was getting harder to process. “Saul believes that every single one of us is genetically capable of operating their weapons. He plans to put all of us into the battle.”

  “What?” Rodney was on his feet then, frowning and clutching at his laptop. “Are you kidding?”

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?” He gave a bleak smile. “But don’t worry, I set Mara straight. I told her that only you and I carry the gene. We’ll probably be the only ones to fight.”

  Rodney stared. “Only ones? But…but…I can’t fight those things.”

  “Well, I told her that too but considering the circumstances, you better learn. And fast. The battles begin tomorrow night. They’re coming for us in the morning.”

  “But,” Cumby said, “what about the choice? What if we choose to join them, to become citizens and watch the entertainment with the rest?”

  “Yeah, turns out that’s not an option” Sheppard said. “They’re not looking for new citizens, they’re looking for a grand finale. And we’re it.”

  Rodney sat down hard, staring at some point across the room, his jaw slack. “Even if I can make the weapons work, I can’t fight those things. I can fight computer viruses. I can fight a recalcitrant power system. But I can’t fight monsters. I’ll die.”

  “We’re heading into the sun, Rodney. Unless we can get the hell outa here, we’re all going to die.”

  “Point taken,” he said. “I’ll get back to work.”

  “I wish I had the gene,” Ronon said. “I’d love to fight one of those monsters. I mean, after fighting the Wraith all these years, how bad could it be?”

  There was a knock at the door. It was rapid an
d strong and made Sheppard think of a process server he’d known on Earth. He stepped across the worn carpet and pulled open the door, stepping back so that everyone else could see. Saul stood in the doorway, flanked by two of his guards. He was smiling his usual humorless smile.

  “Ah, Colonel Sheppard! You are well, I trust?”

  “As well as you could expect from a group of prisoners on a moon plunging into a star.” It was Sheppard’s turn to fold his arms over his chest and scowl. It was a fair impression.

  “Well, then,” Saul said and stepped inside. Behind him the two large guards stood very still. Their expressions might have been chiseled from stone. “I know you spent some time with Mara, so I take it that you’ve heard about our final entertainment.”

  “Yeah, I heard. It’s a great plan except for one thing — I already told you that only two of us are genetically capable of using your weapons. Those two are myself and Rodney. If you put the others in that arena with those creatures you’ll be sending them to their deaths — and, more importantly for you, it’ll be very, very quick and very, very boring.”

  “Why should I believe you? You have no reason to tell either myself or Mara the truth.”

  “I see,” Sheppard said, looking at his feet and frowning. Either Mara had shared their conversation with Saul, or he had had a bug planted in her quarters. “On the other hand, I have no reason to tell you a lie. If I was going to send one of my men into the arena, do you think I’d choose Rodney? I thought you were after a fight. If you are, you’ll have to be starting with me.”

  Teyla stepped forward, placing herself between Sheppard and Saul. “What you’re doing is barbaric! Forcing people to fight and die for your entertainment? Not to mention the creation of those…creatures. Do you think you are gods? Do you care nothing for the sanctity of life?”

  “I care very much, young lady. I also care about honor and dignity. That is why I’ve devised this plan — this final ‘Entertainment.’ My people deserve a proper farewell…a wake to be remembered.”

  She tilted her chin in defiance. “Remembered by who?”

  There was silence. Sheppard took Teyla’s arm and pulled her away from Saul.

  “No, I get it,” he said. “Go out with a bang. I mean, if I have to go out, I guess fighting a dragon, or a Woard, would be the way to do it. A final battle against all the odds. A last chance at victory and glory.”

  Saul’s gaze moved to him, calculating and suspicious.

  “Take me,” Sheppard said. “There might even be a time to let me practice with those Ancient weapons of yours.”

  “I must say, Colonel, you surprise me,” Saul’s cynical expression belied his mild words. “I marked you as a brave man, but this is not what I expected. Maybe you understand us a little better than I believed that you did. Very well, it will be as you wish.”

  He turned to Ronon and the others.

  “The rest of you can wait here. I’ll send someone for each of you when it is your turn.”

  He nodded curtly and marched out of the room. The guards seized Sheppard’s arms and turned him toward the door.

  “Colonel Sheppard!” Teyla called, starting toward him.

  “Don’t,” he warned, meeting and holding her gaze. “It’s okay. It’s better this way.”

  She subsided, casting a worried look at Ronon. The Runner just gave Sheppard a slight nod. He understood — Ronon always understood how the game was played. “Good luck.”

  Sheppard winked. “Won’t need it.”

  And then he was through the door and he heard it close behind him with finality.

  Now it was time to see whose side Mara was really on.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When the door had closed and Sheppard was gone, Teyla was unable to contain herself. “Why would he just go with them? He said we should stay together and he didn’t even put up a fight.” Her fists were clenched and her eyes sparked with anger.

  Ronon shook his head. “Something’s going on. Sheppard wouldn’t just leave us behind.”

  “He shouldn’t have let them separate us,” Teyla said. “We need to get off this moon and back to Atlantis, and now before we can do that we must also find John.”

  Suddenly, Rodney shot up from his seat on the bed. He looked like a parent about to get irritated with bickering children. “I don’t see what you’re so upset about. I mean, you saw the wink, right? Sheppard winked. And a wink means a plan. That’s why he went with them. He has a plan.”

  “What plan?” Cumby objected. “What plan, Rodney?”

  “How should I know? I don’t have a little Sheppard decoder tucked in behind my ear. I just know the wink.”

  “He’s right,” Ronon said. “It doesn’t feel right, because we don’t know everything that’s going on. But if he let them take him that easy, Sheppard has a plan.”

  Teyla shot him a doubtful look and sat down. “What do we do in the meantime? Simply sit here and wait for them to take us to our deaths? I do not wish to stay in this room like a sitting duck.”

  “Sitting duck?” Ronon said. “Not me. They’re welcome to try and take me anytime they like.”

  “Oh swell,” Rodney sighed. “I’m stuck on the far side of a broken Stargate holed up with Sitting Duck and Crouching Tiger.”

  Teyla frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  Before he could answer there was another knock at the door. He exchanged a wary glance with Cumby as Teyla and Ronon stood to meet whoever — or whatever — came through it. Ronon pulled the door open with a jerk and Saul stood just outside, flanked by his two burly guards.

  “Where is Colonel Sheppard?” Teyla said, chin raised in defiance.

  “Colonel Sheppard is fine. No need to worry.” Saul stepped forward, into the room and Teyla backed up a step. “It’s the rest of you I’d be worried about. Colonel Sheppard has friends.”

  “No need to worry about us.” Rodney cleared his throat. “We’re just peachy, thanks.”

  “Our time here runs short,” Saul said.

  “Has anyone ever told you that you talk like the villain in a really bad science fiction movie?” Rodney replied. “I suppose by ‘Our time here runs short,’ you mean that whole crashing into the sun thing? Yes. I can see how that would put a crimp in your plans. Maybe you should postpone your little ‘entertainment’ and work on your real problem?”

  “But crashing into the sun is our plan,” Saul said. “It’s a grand and glorious end to our civilization.”

  “Really?” Rodney didn’t bother to veil his disdain. “And this is everyone’s plan? You took a vote? Because I’d be willing to bet that it wasn’t something the good citizens of Admah came up with over tea and crumpets. What did you do, threaten to throw everyone who didn’t agree with you into your arena?”

  “On the contrary, Dr. McKay. My people and I are in complete agreement on this. Boredom is a horrible thing. Its power grows as the centuries pass. When you can no longer grow as a civilization, when you’re stagnant, when life offers no more inspiration or challenge, it’s time to end the pain.”

  “Funny, nobody here looks like they’re in pain. They all seem exceptionally happy, as a matter of fact. Except for that whole impending doom thing.” Rodney stabbed a finger at one of the guards. “He doesn’t look like he’s in pain. Are you unhappy? Does your job as hired muscle no longer fulfill you? And you — did you vote for this suicide by sunburn plan? I’d bet not.”

  Saul grew ever redder in the face and the guards, whose sole focus was on the sputtering Rodney, didn’t notice as Ronon and Teyla slipped along the wall, toward the door. Suddenly, Rodney wheeled on Saul, his face crimson and his eyes blazing.

  “And what you’re doing isn’t glorious or honorable. It’s mass murder! You’ve been sending innocent people to their deaths for decades and now that you’re bored, you’ve decided to kill them all in one last blaze of glory? How is that honorable? How is that glorious? It’s got to be the most idiotic plan I’ve ever heard.”
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br />   “Stop them!”

  Ronon and Teyla were only a few feet from the door when Saul cried out his order. The guards spun at his command and sprang to block their way. They grabbed the fugitives by both arms and hauled them backward, away from the door.

  Ronon spun and drove back into the wall, crushing the guard who held him into the wall beside the door. Without hesitation he turned and slammed his fist up in a short, hard shot to the guard’s jaw. The man was stunned and Ronon pressed his advantage, swinging a second shot from his hip.

  Teyla cried out as she was thrown off balance and toppled backward to the floor. The guard — easily twice her size — reached for her, but she swept his legs hard, sending him crashing to the side with a roar of pain. In one swift motion, Teyla rolled onto him, caught him by each wrist as he fell, and flipped him onto his stomach, arms crossed over his chest. She held him there, pulling up on both wrists almost to the point where his arms were ripped from their sockets, one knee crushing his back.

  The guard at Ronon’s side recovered and delivered a smashing blow to the side of Ronon’s jaw. He staggered, just for a second, but the blow had no other appreciable effect on him. Ronon grabbed the man’s arm, levered one hand behind his neck and threw him against the wall.

  Teyla’s guard struggled and shifted beneath her until finally he had his legs curled beneath him. With a loud yell, he threw himself — and thus Teyla — from the floor. The two tumbled backward, arms and legs pin wheeling. The guard landed on top of Teyla, and no matter how she struggled, she could not get out from under him. He had her pinned, one hand to her throat, the other fending off her glancing blows.

  Rodney cried out at that and instinctively raised the laptop over his head, ready to deliver a crushing blow to the back of the guard’s head. In mid-swing he stopped, eyes locked on the computer. He hesitated, and in that moment, Cumby finally acted.

  Grabbing a heavy, decorative vase, he moved with surprising speed and slammed the vase into the back of the guard’s head. The man toppled off of Teyla like a broken doll and she rolled to one knee, turning.