Jo Graham - Death Game

“You’re right. I don’t.” John felt a huge grin plaster itself to his face. “Rodney, what’s going on?”

“I’m here with Carson and Major Lorne,” Rodney replied. “We came to rescue you, you dumbass.”

“Good to talk to you too,” Ronon said.

“Is that Ronon? How is that Ronon? Wasn’t he on the island with Zelenka?”

“Yes, but…” John began.

There was the sound of a scuffle at the other end, and Lorne’s voice returned. “Let me do this. You can complain about your sunburn later. Colonel, where are you? We are on the roof of the palace overlooking the main courtyard. Dr. Beckett has a cloaked jumper parked just behind me.”

“You’re right above us,” John said. “You see a pair of double doors set flush in the pavement? We’re in the chamber right below them. I’ve got Teyla and Ronon and Zelenka, and a bunch of civilians we’ve rescued from the Wraith.”

“I see the doors,” Lorne said steadily. “There are two Wraith guards almost over your heads. Sir, do you know there’s a Wraith cruiser here?”

“That’s what shot me down,” John said. “I’m aware of it.”

“The Cruiser has powered up,” Carson said, presumably from the jumper’s sensors. “But hasn’t started lifting off.”

“Probably because Radek tore up their power grid,” John said. “They’ve got quite a complex down here, but Radek already turned off everything below ground level. If I were them, I’d power up the ship too.” He glanced at Ronon. “So much for taking the ship. We can’t do it if they’ve got their shields operative.” An idea was beginning to form. “Go back and get Zelenka. I’ve got a better plan.”

“That’s your clever plan?” Rodney said indignantly. “Rush them?”

“It’s a classic,” John insisted into his radio. “Two guards. Me, Ronon, Teyla. Plus you, Cadman, Lorne with a P90, and six Marines.”

“So that’s six to one odds in our favor? You call that a clever plan?”

“I like six to one odds in my favor,” John said indignantly. “Less chance of somebody getting hurt.”

“How about we shoot these guys, you get Zelenka to get the door open, and we all get out of here?” Lorne put in. “How hard can that be?”

“That was my plan,” John said. “Well, except that I thought Zelenka could get the door open first, and we’d rush these guys together.”

“I think me, Cadman, and six other guys can take two guards,” Lorne replied dryly. “Sir.”

“Ok,” John said. It would be kind of embarrassing if they couldn’t. Lorne plus seven Marines on two guards. Yeah. He looked at Ronon and shrugged. “You do that. Ronon, go get Zelenka. Let’s get this door open and get out of here.”

He waited, crouched on the stairs beneath the door for what seemed like several very long minutes before the familiar sound of fire above rattled across the metal and stone. Lorne wasn’t taking any chances with those Wraith, or sparing any ammunition.

Ronon came back up the stairs with Zelenka, everyone else crowding into the corridor below.

“Can you get the door open?” John asked.

Zelenka shrugged and started prying the cover off the control panel with Ronon’s knife. “Certainly. Give me a moment.”

Teyla came up the stairs and crouched beside John. “Ronon told me that Rodney was here. What is the plan?”

“Lorne and his guys took out the guards. Radek gets the door open, and then we’re out of here. Carson has a cloaked jumper parked on the roof. We just run for the jumper.”

“On the roof?” Teyla’s eyebrows rose. “Do you think these people can climb up onto the roof?”

John looked at her bad shoulder, the one she hadn’t mentioned. Teyla probably couldn’t climb onto the roof, much less Nevin or Jitrine. “Ok. No. Hang on.” He flipped the radio back on. “Carson? Can you bring the jumper down here in the courtyard with Lorne covering you? We’ve got wounded who can’t climb.”

“It’s pretty tight,” Carson replied. “But I’ll give it a try.”

“Oh come on!” Rodney’s voice came over the radio. “It’s not that small of a courtyard!”

“I said I’d give it a try, didn’t I?”

John listened for the sound of the jumper’s engines above, hearing nothing. Of course he heard nothing. Carson had the jumper cloaked. He looked at Zelenka. “The door?”

“I am working on it.” The scientist had his head bent to the door panel. “It would help if I could see what I am doing.”

“Here.” Teyla switched on her flashlight and shone it at the panel.

Zelenka looked around with a quick smile. “Thank you.”

“Are you going to take all day?” Rodney asked over the radio. “You know the Wraith heard when we started shooting?”

“Rodney, keep your pants on,” John snapped.

“Keep my pants on! After I spend three days hunting your sorry ass all over this planet? No sleep, wild animals…”

The doors shook, a strip of daylight showing between them.

“It is unlocked,” Radek said.

Ronon put his shoulder to the left hand door. “Ok. Let’s get this thing open.”

John took the other side and pushed, the doors opening slowly on well greased tracks. They were heavy, but reasonably well balanced. As the gap between them grew, he saw Rodney’s face staring down with a concerned expression that changed to irritation as he saw them.

“Oh really,” Rodney said to Zelenka. “You didn’t leave the doors powered?”

“No, Rodney. I am sorry I have not done this as brilliantly as you would,” Zelenka snapped, climbing out into the sun. “I am sure you would have done a much better job.”

“I would have,” Rodney said, crossing his arms on his chest.

“I should like to see you try, you claustrophobic weasel!” Zelenka snapped. “Down in those caves you would have been calling for your mommy!”

“At least I wouldn’t have screwed up something as simple as opening doors,” Rodney snapped back. “Or been a complete dead weight.”

“Dead weight?” Zelenka’s glasses were trembling on the end of his nose, which was roughly level with Rodney’s chin. “I do not even have expletives enough for you!”

John stepped between them. “Not now! You can do your Lois and Clark imitation later! Everybody, get in the jumper. Rodney, help Teyla up the steps. She’s dislocated her shoulder.” He looked down at Teyla, who was coming up behind Nevin and Ailan. She didn’t seem to need any help.

“Oh.” Rodney elbowed past Nevin to grab Teyla’s good arm. “It’s ok. I’ve got you.” He put his arm under hers helpfully.

“Thank you, Rodney,” Teyla said sweetly. Her eyes flicked up at John with a look of amusement.

Zelenka headed for the jumper, spewing what were no doubt words he wouldn’t find in a Czech to English dictionary, followed by Jitrine and Suua.

Ronon had his energy pistol in hand and had taken up position next to Cadman. He glanced at her sideways. Cadman did look awfully small with a P90.

Cadman grinned at his pistol. “It’s not the size of the boat. It’s the motion of the ocean.”

It must have taken a moment to translate, but then Ronon roared with laughter.

There was a sudden blast of fire from one of the doorways around the courtyard, and John threw himself to the ground, returning fire with the Wraith stunner. Three, maybe four. He saw one of the Wraith move, coming forward to just behind an ornamental planter. Great. Stun beams were very effective on flesh, but much less so on ceramic. He could probably shoot at that thing all day and not bother the guy behind it.

Fortunately, that wasn’t an issue with a P90. Lorne laid down fire that sent the planter flying in a hundred fragments, the Wraith behind it diving for cover.