Know Thine Enemy

By AJ Wesley

Chapter 1

His chest was on fire. He didn't even think he'd been running that long, but it felt as though his lungs would burst. His feet were like lead weights as he concentrated on simply getting one foot in front of the other. John Sheppard was not having a good day.

Ahead of him, Rodney stumbled, nearly fell. He grabbed hold of the nearest tree and held on for dear life. His chest heaved and his legs trembled. McKay wasn't having a good day, either.

Sheppard caught up to him, anxious but welcoming the respite. "You okay?" he asked, surprised he managed to say as much.

"I can't...I need…" McKay wheezed.

Sheppard nodded. "I know. I feel like I've gained about fifty pounds."

"You have."

Sheppard's eyebrows crept upward. "Excuse me?"

McKay coughed, then sucked in another breath. One of his hands came away from the tree long enough for him to gesture toward the sky. "Red sun."

Giving Rodney half an ear and their surroundings the other, Sheppard said, "Like Krypton?" He was sure the scientist gave him the patented McKay glare for the comment, but he was too occupied to be baited.

"Red giant has...greater gravity...makes this planet...revolve faster. Creates a...denser gravity...here."

"Thanks for the physics lesson, Rodney, but save your breath. You're gonna need it."

McKay groaned. "I thought we lost them! Didn't we lose them?"

Sheppard readjusted his grip on the P-90. "I wouldn't count on it." He tapped his headset. "Teyla, this is Sheppard."

There was an unnerving moment of silence before the Athosian's voice sounded in his ear. "Yes, Colonel."

"Where are you?"

"Ronon and I have reached the clearing. Colonel, the gate is under guard."

Another moan from McKay.

Sheppard uttered a curse under his breath. Who the hell were these guys? "Can you take them out?"

"I believe we can."

"All right. Look, we've got a bunch of 'em on our tail. We'll meet you there. Hold on as long as you can. Sheppard out." He tapped his headset and glanced at Rodney. "Rest time's over. Let's go."

McKay nodded, a pained look on his face. He took a few steps, but it was not the pace Sheppard was looking for.

"A little more speed there, McKay."

"Look, Colonel, I'm going as fast as I—"

"Over here!" came a shout from behind them.

John spun, leveling his weapon, but their pursuer, still yards away, ducked behind a tree. "Damn it."

"Running now," Rodney squeaked.

"Good idea." It came out a growl. Not particularly aimed at the physicist, more at their situation, but if it kept Rodney motivated, what the hell. John took off after McKay as fast as his aching legs could carry him.

oooOOOooo

Ronon peered through the brush at the stargate—and the men stationed around it—then glanced at Teyla. He smiled. "Only four."

Teyla returned his smile. "'Piece of cake,' as the colonel would say."

They skirted the gate, staying just inside the tree line until they were behind it. Teyla clipped the P-90 to her vest and drew her knife. Gunfire would only bring more of them. She waited, watched, judging the pattern of their patrol. There. Ronon saw it, too. He holstered his weapon and followed Teyla into the clearing.

It was over in a matter of moments. Two guards lay dead, two unconscious. Ronon retrieved his knife from the chest of his opponent, his eyes scanning the surrounding woods for any sign of Sheppard and McKay.

Teyla activated her headset. "Colonel, the stargate is secure." There was no response. She glanced at Ronon, her heart doubling its beat. "Colonel?" She listened, but all was quiet until she heard Ronon mutter.

"Piece of cake..."

oooOOOooo

The projectile whizzed past his ear and embedded itself in the tree a foot in front of him. Conventional weaponry? He knew of only one race other than his own that used such weapons. No. Couldn't be...

"Colonel, the stargate is secure."

Well, that was good news, anyway. John wanted to respond, he really did, but he could barely breathe, let alone speak. He had McKay by the arm, forcing him to keep pace. They couldn't afford to lose ground, not now. As they neared the edge of the wood, their cover diminished. The large trees were fewer in number, replaced by dense thicket spread across the path, catching their clothes and tearing their skin.

"Colonel?"

Hang on, Teyla, he thought, but didn't have the breathto say. We've gotta be close. Gotta be—

Too late he felt Rodney falling. His grip on the scientist's arm was so tight, he couldn't loosen it in time to keep from going down, too. Prone in the thicket, Sheppard found the breath to utter a curse. Ignoring the pain that spiked through his hands, he pushed himself up onto his knees and turned back to McKay. "Get up, Rodney!" he demanded.

Unable to speak, McKay waved a hand, signaling Sheppard to go on.

"Like hell." Sheppard wasn't sure where he found the strength, but he somehow managed to get up, grab McKay by the back of his vest, and haul him to his feet.

McKay took one step and his left leg buckled beneath him. He went down again, a cry escaping through clenched teeth.

And Sheppard knew they were in trouble. Grabbing the right edge of McKay's vest, he pulled the scientist over onto his back.

"My leg..." Rodney gasped.

Scanning McKay's leg, Sheppard confirmed his fear. "You took a hit," he said.

McKay lifted his head off the ground. "What?"

"You got shot, Rodney!" he growled. He tapped his headset as McKay let his head fall back to the ground with a groan. "Teyla, this is Sheppard. McKay's been hit. Dial up the gate and get back to Atlantis. We'll be right behind you."

"Colonel, we will not leave you. What is your location?"

"Forget it! There's too many of them." Once again, Sheppard hauled McKay to his feet, pulling Rodney's left arm around his shoulders. "Get back and advise Dr. Weir of the situation. Sheppard out." He secured an arm around McKay's waist and moved on as quickly as possible. Moments later, he heard the chevrons locking into place. So close. They were so close.

They broke through the clearing into the bright red sunlight that wreaked havoc on eyes accustomed to a yellow sun. Sweat beaded Sheppard's forehead and trickled down his back, and the king of all headaches throbbed behind his eyes. Yet, the sight of the event horizon spurred him onward, and the fact Teyla and Ronon were nowhere in sight relieved him more than he thought possible.

He could hear the shouts behind him, louder now, more distinct. Damn it. Just a little farther. Armed men poured into the clearing from all directions.

Just a little...

He stopped short, a weapon just inches from his face. They were surrounded, the doorway home just out of reach.

"Oh, this is so not good." McKay's voice caught in his throat.

"Now there's an understatement," Sheppard observed as he tried to focus past the twenty or so weapons leveled at his head. Weapons he recognized. "Hey, guys," he managed, feeling McKay slump against him in defeat. "How's it going?"

oooOOOooo

Teyla turned back toward the gate the instant her feet hit the floor. Ronon joined her a moment later. They watched and waited, and Teyla felt her hopes fade as the seconds ticked by.

"Please," she whispered.

Then abruptly, callously, the wormhole closed.

For what seemed an eternity, the gateroom was deathly silent. Teyla felt a presence behind her just before Dr. Weir's voice broke the stillness.

"Teyla? Where are Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay?"

Teyla turned, saw the concern in the other woman's eyes. "Since they did not make it back through the gate, I can only assume they have been captured."

"Captured?" Weir glanced at Ronon as if seeking another opinion. He nodded. "By whom?"

Teyla shook her head. "We do not know for certain. We were fired upon. Colonel Sheppard ordered us to return. We thought they were close, but..."

"But?"

"Sheppard said McKay was hit," Ronon told her.

Weir lost some of her poise, just for a moment. Then she squared her shoulders and tapped her headset. "Major Lorne, report to the Briefing Room immediately."

Teyla heard the confirming "Yes, ma'am" in her ear, and, at Dr. Weir's nod, followed her up the stairs.

Ronon's voice stopped them. "We need to go back. Now. There's no time for talk!"

Teyla glanced at Weir, saw her swallow her anger. She wished desperately she could signal Ronon to be silent. He did not yet understand these people.

Weir walked back down, but not all the way, the position giving her the advantage of looking down at Dex. "I understand your concern, Ronon. I really do. But sending anyone through that gate right now would be suicide. They'd expect us to come back."

"We can't leave them behind."

"We won't. But we need a plan of action." Her tone brooked no argument.

Ronon's eyes narrowed. Finally, he stormed past them.

Teyla placed a comforting hand on Weir's arm, offering her a small smile of support. Weir nodded her thanks and followed Ronon. Alone on the stairs, Teyla turned once more to the Ancestral Ring. Planning a strategy would take time, time she wasn't sure the colonel or Dr. McKay had.

TBC