Chapter Text
Colonel Marshall Sumner did not pride himself on his patience, but nor did he consider its lack a flaw. However, as he listened to Dr. Zelenka rattle on (for the fourth time) how Stargate DHDs didn’t store information like a computer (making it impossible to determine any sort of chronological order), he wished he had just a bit more of it. He did manage to rein in his temper and not snap at the little Czech (which wouldn’t have accomplished anything except fluster the mousy fellow and slow him down further).
As soon as Zelenka had the addresses, he sent him to the monastery with Ford to continue their work finding Dagan’s ZPM. Then he took Teyla with him back to Atlantis and went straight to Elizabeth’s office. Without speaking, Teyla held out her hand for the tablet, anticipating Marshall’s wishes. He handed it over and sat opposite the expedition leader. She looked calm on the surface, but he could detect the worry in her blue-green eyes.
“We got the last few dozen addresses dialed from their ‘gate,” he said without preamble. “I sent Zelenka and Ford back to help find the ZPM. Maybe we can get something from this disaster.”
Elizabeth’s lips quirked the slightest bit. “We don’t know yet if it’s a disaster. Let’s call it . . . a debacle.”
He almost snorted. “Very well. Debacle.” He shifted to look at Teyla as the beautiful Athosian scrolled through the information. “Anything?”
“As Dr. Zelenka said,” she began after a moment, “there’s no way to know in what order these addresses were dialed. I do see the address for the Genii homeworld.” She turned the tablet to display the familiar symbols. “So far, I see nothing . . .” she trailed off and frowned.
Elizabeth immediately leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk surface and clasping her hands. “What? Another address you recognize?”
Teyla handed her the tablet. “This one. I’ve never been to this world, but I recognize the symbols. I remember one of the elders of my people telling me about it, a long time ago.”
Marshall took the tablet when Elizabeth offered it and gave the address a once-over. “What did she tell you?”
“Very little,” Teyla admitted, looking slightly chagrined. “It was one of three worlds she said we must never go.”
“That’s all?” Marshall pressed.
Teyla nodded. “I am sorry, Colonel.”
Elizabeth shifted. “Is she . . . still with us? Would she be able to tell us more?”
Marshall met her eyes. “You think this could be where Kolya took Sheppard and McKay?”
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth replied, “but you yourself said you didn’t think the Genii took them to their world.”
He held up a hand. “I said I had a gut feeling, is all,” he corrected. “Exploring every world dialed in the last couple weeks could prove to be just a waste of time.”
It was Teyla’s turn to shift. “I agreed with your instincts, Colonel. I believe more is going on than meets the eye. Every single world on this list is a normal place for the Daganian people to go. Except for this one. It seems highly coincidental.”
Marshall studied the young woman’s dark eyes. He could see his own conviction mirrored in hers. Sheppard sure chose well with this one. “To be clear, the Genii homeworld is on this list. Kolya could have taken our people there.”
Elizabeth looked at both of them in turn. “Neither of you think that’s what happened.” Not quite a question.
There was a chance his instincts were wrong. There was always a chance. Teyla gave him a single nod, and Marshall took a slow breath. “No,” he confirmed. “I don’t think that’s what happened.”
“Charin, the elder I spoke of,” Teyla said, “is in the mainland settlement.”
Though he knew exactly what he wanted to do, Marshall waited for Elizabeth to make the final decision.
The expedition leader mulled it over for only one or two seconds before giving a brief nod. “Go.”
Marshall immediately rose, not wanting to waste any time. “We’ll be back as soon as we can. I told Ford to check in after four hours, whether they’ve found anything or not.”
She nodded. “Good luck.”
Beckoning Teyla to follow, Marshall tapped his earbud. “Sumner to Miller.”
A second later, “Miller here, Sir.”
“Back to the Jumper bay, Lieutenant. We’re heading to the mainland.”
“On my way,” the Lieutenant replied.
As he headed toward the stairs to the bay, Marshall glanced down at Teyla. “I appreciate your input,” he told her.
She didn’t smile, but there was a certain warmth in her eyes. “I only hope I am not wasting our time.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Can’t explain it, but something tells me we’re on the right track.”
“I feel the same,” she agreed. “I am only surprised to hear you say it.”
He couldn’t help a slight chuckle. “Do I come across as rigid?”
Now she did smile. “That is not necessarily a bad thing.”
The good humor lasted until they reached the bay. Miller was already waiting for them, and he gave a quick salute. “To the settlement, Sir?”
“Yes,” Marshall confirmed. They boarded, and he turned to Teyla once more as Miller raised the little ship through the bay ceiling. “So, what can I expect from this Charin?”
Teyla’s expressive face gentled with fondness. “She is like a grandmother to me. She is wise and very kind. She took me in after my father was taken by Wraith.”
They didn’t speak again during the rest of the short flight, and Marshall couldn’t help but notice (not for the first time) that Miller wasn’t quite the pilot of Sheppard’s caliber. Many Athosians bustled about through the canvas and animal-hide tents and pavilions. Marshall only recognized a few of them, having spent nowhere near as much time among them as Sheppard. Teyla didn’t pause to make any introductions, heading straight to a large tent in the middle. She pushed the flap aside and held it open for Marshall.
The interior was surprisingly comfortable and tidy, and Marshall’s eyes went immediately to the aged woman reclining on a bed covered with blankets and furs. Her bright eyes shone out from her lined face, keen and alert, and she smiled at her visitors. Teyla went right to her, giving the typical greeting of touching their foreheads together.
“Charin,” she said in a low, loving voice, “I hope I am not disturbing you.”
“Never, Teyla,” Charin replied, voice a bit reedy but strong. “You know you are always welcome here.”
Teyla straightened. “Colonel, this is Charin. Charin, this is Colonel Marshall Sumner, leader of the Atlantis military contingent.”
Charin seemed to appraise him for a moment before her smile returned. “Ah, yes. Young Sheppard’s commanding officer. He spoke highly of you. I see his praise was not misplaced.”
The words surprised Marshall (as did the revelation that she’d already met Sheppard), but he didn’t address them. “Sorry to barge in like this. Teyla and I were hoping you could provide us with a little information.”
“I don’t know what I could possibly know that you don’t,” Charin said, “but I will help if I can.”
Teyla held out her hand for the tablet, and she showed the ‘gate address to her elder. “I remember you showing me these symbols,” she said, “many years ago. You said it was a world we must never go. I was hoping you could tell me why.”
Charin didn’t even glance at the tablet. Her eyes narrowed as she peered up at Teyla. “Why are you asking about it?”
Marshall cleared his throat. “We believe two of our people were sent there.”
Charin’s dark eyes flicked to his, piercing and shrewd. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she nodded as though reaching some conclusion. “You mean John and his Tectumque.”
“Yes,” Teyla confirmed before Marshall could speak. “At least, we believe so.”
Charin sighed. “If this is true, you may already be too late. Those who go to this world never return. But more than that, my child, no Aspectum would ever be safe there. This is the homeworld of the Kastites.”
Marshall felt a clench somewhere in his gut. “Kastites,” he repeated when Teyla’s eyes met his. “They’re that tribe you told us about a few weeks ago, right? The violent Wraith worshipers who hunt Sentinels.”
There was no mistaking the fear in her dark eyes. “Yes,” she all but whispered. “But . . . why? Why would Kolya have sent them there? That is a death sentence.”
For a moment, Marshall didn’t reply. His thoughts raced, trying to think like a hardened soldier who was also a Guide. A Guide who’d met a Sentinel he badly wanted. A memory rose to the surface of his thoughts, of Sheppard telling him about his brief conversation with a Wraith queen down on the geothermal drilling platform. She didn’t seem bothered by the fact that Sheppard was already bonded. Icy dread gripped him.
“Maybe,” he said quietly, “he knows something. Maybe the Wraith have a way of tampering with the bond between Sentinel and Guide.”
“It is true that Wraith have never cared if an Aspectum was already bonded,” Charin said. “I have never met an Aspectum who escaped the clutches of the Wraith, so I can do no more than speculate.”
Teyla looked at her elder again. “Are you saying . . .?”
Charin shook her head. “I am saying nothing, child.” Now to Marshall. “No one returns from that world because there is no returning. For any except those who command the power of the Ancestors.”
He blinked. “You mean, there’s something wrong with the DHD?”
She nodded.
“Right,” Marshall said, giving her a respectful nod. “This has been very helpful. Thank you.”
Charin reached out to him, and she squeezed his hand when he took hers. “Grace of the Ancestors go with you, Colonel. I pray you find them both.”
“Thank you,” he said again, strangely moved. With a glance at Teyla, he exited the tent.
She joined him a few moments later. “I am ready to leave at once, Colonel,” she said.
Marshall led the way back to the Jumper. “We’ll leave as soon as look up the address in the Ancient database and brief Elizabeth,” he said, “and before you ask, absolutely yes. You’re with me.”
He thought she looked relieved as she nodded. “Thank you.” Then, “I know I’ve already told you of the Kastites, but my warnings bear repeating. They are dangerous, Colonel. They behave like animals, not people. Should we encounter them, you must not hesitate to use lethal force to subdue them. They will not hesitate to show us the same.”
“If we take one prisoner,” he asked, “is it worth it to try interrogation?”
She appeared to consider. “Possibly. I have never encountered them, only heard stories.”
When they reached Atlantis, Marshall quickly radioed Elizabeth. “I’m sending Teyla to you,” he said, gesturing to the Athosian. “She’ll fill you in. I’m going to pay a visit to the queen down in the holding cells.” He switched to the military channel. “Sumner to Bates.”
“Bates here, Sir.”
“Meet me in the holding cells, Sergeant,” Marshall ordered.
“On my way.”
The holding cells were among the few places he actually rarely visited; Bates gave him regular updates about its inhabitant, and Marshall never saw the need to personally check in. This was the Sergeant’s purview, and it wasn’t the Colonel’s way to micromanage his Marines. Bates threw a sharp salute when he saw his CO.
“Here to interrogate the prisoner, Sir?”
Marshall nodded. “Or try, at least.”
Bates’ upper lip curled just the slightest bit in a scowl. “She hasn’t exactly been forthcoming.”
Having read the reports about her incarceration, Marshall didn’t expect to get much. Still, he had to at least try. He strode into the chamber, approaching the cell with purpose. The queen sat on the bench, as regal as though it were a throne of gold. She looked up without a trace of fear, wariness, or weariness. In fact, she managed to make it seem like she was the one looking down at him.
“She tries anything, Sergeant,” he said to Bates, “shoot her.”
“Yes, Sir,” Bates said, looking like he’d love nothing more than to end the creature’s existence.
The queen ignored everyone but Marshall, and her lips peeled away from her disgusting teeth in what he supposed was meant to imitate a smile. “Sumner,” she said, voice a sibilant hiss. “How rare of you to come visit me. Whatever it is you want, you know I will not capitulate. Not until you give me what I want.”
“Right,” Marshall drawled, folding his arms. “Sheppard.”
The queen made an odd, purring sound in her chest. “You should not keep my Aspectum away from me.”
Marshall pretended to think. “In what way is he yours?”
“In every way,” she replied, leaning forward.
He raised an eyebrow. “And you don’t care he’s already bonded?”
That awful not-smile returned to her snake-mouth. “A triviality.”
That’s exactly what she said to Sheppard. “I guess you mean it’s a triviality to kill his Guide,” he hazarded. “Pretty sure that would kill the Sentinel. I mean, I’m no expert, but I remember reading that, somewhere.”
The queen made an awful sound in her throat, and Marshall realized she was laughing. “Ah, foolish humans. How narrow and linear your way of thinking.”
Icy fingers clawed at Marshall’s insides. Does she know of a way to—? He cleared his throat. “Care to share what that means?”
“Bring my Aspectum to me,” she purred, “and I will show you.”
It seemed unlikely the queen would give him a direct answer, and Marshall considered what to say next. There didn’t seem to be any interpretation other than his suspicion; still, it would be nice to have an actual confirmation.
The queen’s eyes abruptly narrowed. “You are hiding something from me. He is not here, is he?”
Marshall hesitated for a split second. Well, maybe she can help in an indirect way. “No,” he said. “In fact, we think he might have been taken to a world with Kastites.”
For a moment, the queen looked startled. Then she started laughing. Low. Rasping. “If that is the case, Sumner, you should be afraid. Very afraid.”