Caged and Broken-Winged (2/2)
Part 1
While Teyla was not a doctor, she had some knowledge of medicines. It was thought among her people that anyone who would lead them should have familiarity with as many skills and professions as possible. How could she properly lead if she did not understand what her people could do? And yet nothing she had seen among her own people and their allies could have prepared her for what the people from Earth were capable of. They had understanding and technology that far surpassed anything she had encountered before.
Whenever she had the opportunity, she learned what she could from the doctors and nurses in the infirmary -- enough, at least, to understand the terms they used, and to be able to perform what they considered to be basic "first aid." (The incident with the Iratus bug early in her time in Atlantis had given her a good start on that knowledge, at least.)
She volunteered without hesitation when Colonel Sheppard was assigning people to guard the doctors on their visit to the women's complex. Not just for the medical knowledge, but also because she wished to see for herself the condition of the women of this culture. They had been told two very different stories; she needed to see what the truth was.
She walked beside Dr. Beckett as they traveled the path towards the village. His team and their guards trailed behind them. It was not a large group, fortunately, just a few doctors and nurses. They would, he had said, assess the situation and determine the best course of action from there, including whether or not they would need more personnel. She hoped not; it was far easier to protect the smaller group, should it come to that.
He glanced at her sidelong. "You seem nervous."
"I am... uneasy," she confessed. "I am not certain what to expect when we get to the women's complex."
"Oh, aye." He shook his head. "Tymas was able to tell me some, but I'm not sure how much to trust it. I don't know that they would let us see it if it was as bad as he said."
Teyla nodded her agreement. "How is he?"
"He's alright. He's a good lad. Very attentive of his sister."
"And how is she?"
"There are positives signs, actually. She's begun to register outside stimuli -- her pupils react to light, loud noises make her flinch. Given the state she was in when she came through the gate, her progress has been remarkable."
"Is that because of something you did?"
"No, no. We believe the drugs she was given here have been working their way out of her system. With any luck, we'll soon see her normal state. I suspect we'll learn more from her than from the ladies here, to be honest. It's difficult to diagnose a problem when you can't see the symptoms of it."
Their conversation was cut short as they entered the village. A small group waited in the square to take them to the women's complex. It lay in the opposite direction from the stargate, away from where any visitors might accidentally wander. The path to it was clearly frequently traveled by the village inhabitants, however.
Teyla listened as their guide, an elder by the name of Sorin, described the complex to Dr. Beckett while they walked. "There are four buildings, all connected, with a courtyard in the center. We feel it's important that the women get fresh air on a regular basis. The men on duty are paired up and assigned to care for groups of twenty to thirty women at a time. They bathe and feed them, make sure that they perform sufficient physical activity each day -- to prevent stiffness and sores and other problems from immobility -- and guide them to receive medical care when necessary. They are also, of course, responsible for ensuring that every woman receives her daily dose. If any woman in their care begins behaving erratically, they are to report that immediately, and act to subdue her if necessary."
His casual tone bothered Teyla, though she strove to hide it. "How many women are currently in the complex?"
"Nearly three hundred."
Her steps faltered. "That many?"
Sorin nodded. "It is difficult," he acknowledged. His tone was no longer so casual. "I will confess, we have considered... limiting the number of girl children in our community, to prevent the caretakers from being overburdened. Thankfully, no such measures have needed to be implemented."
Teyla shuddered. Beside her, Dr. Beckett did the same. "Thankfully, indeed," he muttered.
The elder's comments brought to light something that had already been bothering Teyla. She had not be certain how to broach it. Even now, she spoke carefully. "How is it that you have children at all?" At Sorin's look of shock, she apologized, "I know it is a private subject --"
"It is." He frowned fiercely at her.
She was undaunted. "And yet I must ask. The women here have no will to give consent..."
Sorin's long, stony silence was enough of an answer.
She felt herself grow angry. "They are made to bear children against their will." She made it a statement, not a question. "They are made to carry a man's child -- to lay with him? Without being able to choose for herself? Without even being in control of her own body?"
"They are not aware of what is happening to them!" Sorin snapped, turning to face her. "They are less conscious of the process than a herd animal brought to breed."
"That does not make it right!"
"Right?" He stepped closer. "Would it be right to let our people die out?" He lowered his voice, desperation creeping into his tone. "What other choice do we have?"
Dr. Becket laid a hand on the man's arm. "That's why we're here." His eyes were on Teyla. "To hopefully present another option. A better one."
Sorin let out a breath, the anger draining from him. "Then let's make haste, so that better option may be found, and quickly."
Nauseous and uncertain, Teyla remained quiet as they resumed walking down the path.
The women's complex was similar in appearance to the buildings of the village -- single level stone structures that looked sturdy and well-crafted. There were few windows and only one main door in the nearest building, which they entered. Inside, it was comfortably appointed, though the decorations were sparse and impersonal. Teyla found herself immediately longing for the beauty of Atlantis or the warm charm of Athosian dwellings. To spend much time in this spare place would be to invite madness.
They were given a brief tour of the facility. Each group of women had a large room to themselves, with beds and tables and chairs for each of the occupants. Bathing rooms were centrally located to be shared by several groups. Each of the four buildings had its own kitchen and medical rooms. The center courtyard was supposed to be a garden, but it was nearly as spare as the decorations inside. According to their guide, the plants and paths in the garden had to be kept at a low height and density to ensure that no one could be lost or hard to get to in the case of a problem.
Throughout the tour, they saw groups of women going through what was apparently their everyday life in the complex. Had Teyla not seen Alana for herself, she would have been shocked at the complete blankness of these women. Even with that experience, it was unpleasantly jarring to see so many women in one place with the same vacancy in their eyes.
After the tour, the doctors got to work. Teyla accompanied Dr. Beckett as he examined women from several of the groups in the first building. From what she understood, it was always better to have as large a "sample size" as possible. The more women were examined, the more chance they had to understand what was wrong with them.
The women were, of course, easy to handle, never fussing or complaining the way a normal patient would. Their male caretakers were less at ease with the process. They did not seem disturbed by Dr. Beckett, however. Instead, they cast wary glances at Teyla. One particularly uneasy man addressed Dr. Beckett directly. "Is it safe for her to be here?"
"Oh, aye. Well, as far as we can tell. No female visitor to your village has sickened before, correct? And if there is some airborne toxin, she's already been exposed. I have ordered that she and all of my female staff avoid physical contact with your ladies, though." He patted the shoulder of the woman he was examining, smiling sadly at her. "She should be alright," he concluded with a glance at the man.
"Ah," was the only response. If anything, the doctor's answer seemed to cause him to be more uneasy, rather than less. He avoided Teyla for the remainder of their time with that group.
They eventually emerged once again into the courtyard. At least two groups were out "enjoying" the fresh air. Women of all ages sat or stood around the courtyard. None spoke. None moved. It was nothing she had not seen again and again over the past two hours, but out here it was... different. They were like bleak statues among the ragged bushes and trees. It was unnerving -- and yet she could not look away. She found herself looking at each woman-statue, staring, hoping for some sign of life beyond the rise and fall of her chest.
It was that hope that drew her eyes to the only human motion in the garden. After an instant's surprise, she realized that the movement came not from a woman, but from a male caretaker sitting beside one of his charges. There was something off about the way they sat -- very close, with the woman's body almost hidden from sight. Frowning, Teyla stepped closer. The man's movement was somehow furtive. She could not see his hands, but as she neared, she realized that one was up the young woman's shirt.
"Excuse me," she called sharply, walking faster. "What are you doing?"
The man leapt up as though she'd hit him. "What?"
She spared a glance for the girl. That blank expression had not changed, but her clothing was disarrayed. So was the man's. Teyla glared at him. "What were you doing?" she demanded, though she had little doubt of the answer.
He held out his hands, palms out. "Stay calm."
"Stay calm?" She took another step towards him. "When you were --"
"Guards!" His shout startled her. Why was he calling for the guards? His next words made as little sense, though they were aimed at her. "Put the weapon down."
"I am not pointing it at you!"
"Everything will be alright."
She was still staring at him, bewildered, when several hands grabbed her. They were neither gentle nor friendly. She struggled against them, shouting with surprise as they tried to take her weapon. She tried to fight them off, but they were too many. She cried out for Dr. Beckett as the men swept her feet from under her, throwing her painfully to the ground. The impact stunned her, knocking the air from her lungs, and it was long minutes before she was aware of anything else.
***
"I am fine," Teyla assured them for the fifth or sixth time.
Elizabeth fought the urge to make a face at her. "You're lucky you didn't get a concussion."
The Athosian woman mustered a wan smile. "Dr. Beckett assures me I have a thick skull."
"Even so." Elizabeth wasn't able to smile in return. "It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry."
Teyla frowned. "Why are you sorry?"
"I shouldn't have allowed you to go. I should have realized their prejudice would run so deep. The elders dealt with us so evenly that it didn't occur to me that the rest of the men wouldn't be so open-minded."
"I should have thought of it, too," John said, nodding to Teyla. "I'm sorry."
"Perhaps we all should have." Teyla shook her head gingerly. "I knew they were wary of me, but it did not occur to me that my carrying a weapon would be seen as a threat. Though," her expression turned fierce, "to be frank, I would have used it as one on the man I approached. I trust he is being punished?"
"He is," Elizabeth assured her grimly. "Twenty lashes and a public shunning to last three weeks. They take this sort of thing very seriously."
"As well they should," John muttered, looking ill.
Teyla sighed her agreement. "Then the headache is worth it."
"Regardless, the incident does emphasize the need to find a better solution for those women. Quickly."
"Yes." Teyla glanced around the infirmary. "Have the doctors found anything yet?"
"They've only just begun. Carson tells me it will take some time." She grimaced her impatience. "They did leave a small team on the planet, to continue checking out the women and to make sure there's nothing there that they've missed. I ordered that the team be entirely male -- I'm not letting any of our female personnel back there without a damn good reason." She didn't like the restriction, but she wasn't about to put any more of her people in harm's way.
Teyla nodded. "Did Dr. Beckett remain?"
"No, he's here. He's checking in on Alana, Tymas' sister."
"Actually..." John nodded towards the door. "Speak of the devil."
Carson was smiling as he approached. "Not in this case, I think, Colonel. I come bearing good news. Alana is, for lack of a better term, awake."
Elizabeth frowned slightly. "Awake?"
"Perhaps 'aware' is more appropriate. She's conscious of her surroundings and she's even able to speak."
Elizabeth felt a surge of relief. "That's fantastic!" The sentiments were echoed by both John and Teyla.
Carson nodded, clearly pleased. "She's still a bit vague, but that should wear off. We should soon see what she's really like under that cloud of drugs."
"I'd like to speak with her, if possible."
"Aye, I thought you might. She's up for it, though I'd prefer you keep it short."
They followed him into the isolation room Alana was occupying. The change in the girl was immediately noticeable. Her eyes were fixed on her brother, who stood at her side, a joyous look on his young face. A smile stretched Alana's lips, though her features were still droopy with the drugs. Even with the lingering effects, there was a feel of life about her that had been missing before.
Elizabeth found herself smiling as she entered the room. She hung back, though, until the girl's gaze swung around towards them. Then she stepped forward slightly, hoping her smile was reassuring. "Hello, Alana. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Dr. Weir."
"You... at the gate." The girl's voice wavered but was understandable. Her eyes slid to John and Teyla, who had come in after Elizabeth. "You -- on the path."
"Yes." Teyla smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Elizabeth saw her hand tighten on her brother's. "Almost... me."
"Good. I'm glad." With a glance at Carson, Elizabeth stepped forward again, to the end of the bed. "Would it be alright if I asked you a couple of questions?"
Alana blinked slowly. "Okay."
"Do you remember what things were like at the women's complex?"
"Mm." She closed her eyes. For long moment, Elizabeth thought she had fallen asleep. "Like seeing... in water," she said finally. "Moving in a dream." She opened her eyes, meeting Elizabeth's gaze again. "Doesn't feel real."
Elizabeth nodded. "Do you know why you were there?"
"Women go. We're sick." One of her shoulders lifted in the ghost of a shrug. "Didn't feel sick."
"You never felt sick? Or acted sick?"
"No."
Elizabeth nodded again. Softly, making sure she had Alana's gaze, she asked, "If you had the choice, would you go back?"
For the first time, she felt like she had the full weight of the girl's attention. "No," she said clearly. Her fingers were tight around her brother's hand. He looked back at Elizabeth, alarmed, but relaxed when she nodded to him.
"We're doing everything we can to make sure you never have to," she told the girl, and was rewarded with a smile.
***
Two days passed. Teyla recovered from the incident in the women's complex with no more than a bump on her head and a scrape on one elbow. Ronon gave her grief for being overpowered by several small, relatively untrained men. She retaliated by dropping him on his rear several times in one practice session. He quickly ceased his mocking.
Unfortunately, Alana's recovery was not so easy. Teyla did not follow the girl's progress closely, but she was in Dr. Weir's office when Dr. Beckett came to deliver disturbing news. "Alana had an outburst," he told them, his face grim. "She hit her brother. With no provocation, according to the nurse who was present. They were talking about perfectly ordinary things when she shrieked something nonsensical and slapped him. Repeatedly. The nurse had to physically restrain her."
Teyla's heart felt like a stone in her chest. She glanced at Elizabeth, whose eyes closed briefly. "We knew it was a possibility..."
"Aye," Dr. Beckett agreed softly, "but I'm not sure the boy did."
"How is he?" Teyla asked.
"Physically, he's alright. Emotionally..." He shook his head.
Elizabeth opened her eyes, regarding the doctor steadily. "Have Dr. Heightmeyer talk to Alana."
He nodded. "I called her before I came. She's with her now. Tymas is with one of the other counselors, Dr. Garner."
"Good. Keep me posted."
He and Dr. Heightmeyer updated them and the rest of the command staff later that day. Neither of the doctors looked happy when they entered the room. Teyla did her best to prepare herself for bad news.
"Alana is getting worse," Dr. Heightmeyer confirmed almost immediately. "In addition to violent outbursts -- she had another when I spoke with her this afternoon -- she is also hearing things. Whispers, voices, other sounds that aren't there. She's having trouble distinguishing between what's real and what's not."
Elizabeth leaned forward. "Is it possible this is a side-effect of the drugs she was given?"
"Unfortunately not," Dr. Beckett replied. "From the blood drawn from the women in the complex as well as from Alana herself, we've been able to determine relative levels of the drug in the system. As of this morning, Alana was completely clear of it. Nothing should be left in her body to produce side-effects."
"Is there anything you can do for her?" Teyla asked.
The doctors exchanged a glance. "That's actually a two-part question," Dr. Heightmeyer told her, nodding to Dr. Beckett.
"If you're looking for a cure," he said gravely, "the answer is no."
Elizabeth started. "You're certain?"
"You've barely had two days to look, and you're giving up already?" Rodney's tone was incredulous.
To his credit, Dr. Beckett did not flinch. "After looking at a number of brain scans, it became quite obvious. A portion of their brains is physically damaged in a way that we don't have the ability to repair."
Teyla looked away. Even Rodney could only manage a quiet, "Oh," in response. After a moment, Elizabeth cleared her throat to ask, "Can you tell what caused the damage?"
"Not yet," came the regretful answer. "I thought perhaps it was actually caused by the drugs, but a scan of a prepubescent girl -- one who has never been dosed -- revealed the beginnings of similar damage. Our current theory is that something in their bodies reacts badly to the hormone change at puberty, but it is only a theory."
"So right now, you can't prevent this from happening to the next generation, as well." Elizabeth's quiet statement hung in the air, punctuated by Dr. Beckett's reluctant nod.
John spoke up. "So you can't cure it, and you can't prevent it. What can you do?"
Dr. Heightmeyer leaned forward, folding her hands on the table. "Alana's symptoms bear a close resemblance to schizophrenia, though there are some differences. I'd like to try her on some of the meds commonly prescribed for that condition, as a starting point. If we could find something that worked to minimize her symptoms, it could provide us with a solution."
"Wait." Rodney stared across the table. "Your 'solution' is to medicate them? Every single woman in that village?"
Dr. Heightmeyer looked back at him steadily. "They're already being medicated."
He blinked. "Right."
Ronon spoke up for the first time. "So how's this any better?"
"With the right combination of meds, they'll be able to think clearly. To talk and communicate with the people around them. To take care of themselves. Compared to their current state, I think it's a thousand times better."
"Yeah, but it's not that easy." John caught Dr. Heightmeyer's eye. "Is it?"
"No," she acknowledged with a nod. "It's not. Finding the right medication is something that will have to be done for each woman individually. It's not a simple thing, either. It takes time for a prescription to reach its full effectiveness. Side effects can render even the most effective medicine unbearable for the person taking it. Many patients stop taking their medicine because they don't like the way it makes them feel, or because they start to feel stable and decide they don't need it anymore. Some prefer to self-medicate using alcohol or recreational drugs." She shook her head, meeting Elizabeth's gaze. "It's a rocky road. I don't see what other choice we have, though."
Teyla watched Elizabeth, glad -- as she often was -- that she was not the leader here. Her people's problems had often been difficult, but they were never on a scale like this. Elizabeth was silent for a long moment before she nodded. "Do what you can with Alana, and keep me posted. If and when she shows improvement, we'll take the option to the elders."
***
It took time and patience, but after a few weeks, Alana did begin to improve. Elizabeth went back to the village to talk to the elders. They were understandably disappointed that the doctors hadn't been able to find a cure. Their reactions to the option that was presented were mixed. Some, including Korrin, were optimistic and enthusiastic. Others were less so.
Prentt, one of the elders who had been openly hostile in their first meeting, was nearly beside himself. "You expect us to have women among us who can -- and probably will, according to you! -- stop taking their medication and revert to the violence we have so long tried to keep them from? We should put ourselves and our children in danger simply because you say so?"
Elizabeth gave him a steely look. "Is there no violence among your people already? Are the men in your community so perfect they never raise a hand in anger or act irrationally?"
Prentt growled. "It's not the same thing!"
"It's similar enough, Prentt, and the point is well taken." Korrin stared at his compatriot until the younger man subsided. Nodding to Elizabeth, the Eldest continued. "We will punish any woman who acts violently, as we do for a man. Steps may have to be taken for any woman who causes disturbances after stopping to take her medications, as well."
Elizabeth nodded cautiously. "I do suggest that you work with our doctors in cases like that -- it could be that a different set of medications would be more acceptable to her."
"Agreed. Of course we will have to work closely with your doctors in any case, to ensure that all of the women are given the best chance for a normal life."
Another elder down the table frowned. "I still fail to see how this is a better solution than what we have now. The current system works. Yes, it is a burden on the men, but we willingly shoulder it. And it does not force us to rely on outsiders."
The man in the next seat glared at him. "The current system does not work, you fool."
"It does!" He glared back. "Our community is strong and peaceful."
"Our community," Korrin said heavily, "is half-dead." He looked around the table, catching every eye. Even the most dissident of the elders stayed silent under that regard. "We have too long imprisoned the women of our community. We have too long taken away their will. For their own good, yes. But for too long. It is time to give their will back to them. To let them think. To choose. We have the means, now." He nodded to Elizabeth, who nodded back silently. "We owe it to our women to do what we always swore we would: we must give them their lives back, to do with as they wish.
"It will not be an easy road. Our lives will get more difficult. More complicated. And yet, we will sleep easier, knowing that we have done not what is easy, but what is right. That is all we can do. The rest will fall as it will."
Elizabeth left the meeting house feeling cautiously optimistic, herself. She wasn't sure the elders understood just how difficult things could get -- not just because of the issues surrounding the women's medication, but in terms of fallout from the years of physical and mental imprisonment. Alana swore the time she spent in the women's complex was like a vague dream, difficult to remember. Elizabeth hoped that would be true for the rest of the women. Without that, the community could be permanently fractured.
Despite the uncertain future, it was hard not to have hope. That hope grew as they walked through the village and saw Alana standing with Tymas outside of a house. The girl held a young child in her arms, and she was laughing happily. Her eyes met Elizabeth's briefly and she nodded once, smiling broadly. Elizabeth smiled back. As she and her team headed towards the stargate, she couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.
While Teyla was not a doctor, she had some knowledge of medicines. It was thought among her people that anyone who would lead them should have familiarity with as many skills and professions as possible. How could she properly lead if she did not understand what her people could do? And yet nothing she had seen among her own people and their allies could have prepared her for what the people from Earth were capable of. They had understanding and technology that far surpassed anything she had encountered before.
Whenever she had the opportunity, she learned what she could from the doctors and nurses in the infirmary -- enough, at least, to understand the terms they used, and to be able to perform what they considered to be basic "first aid." (The incident with the Iratus bug early in her time in Atlantis had given her a good start on that knowledge, at least.)
She volunteered without hesitation when Colonel Sheppard was assigning people to guard the doctors on their visit to the women's complex. Not just for the medical knowledge, but also because she wished to see for herself the condition of the women of this culture. They had been told two very different stories; she needed to see what the truth was.
She walked beside Dr. Beckett as they traveled the path towards the village. His team and their guards trailed behind them. It was not a large group, fortunately, just a few doctors and nurses. They would, he had said, assess the situation and determine the best course of action from there, including whether or not they would need more personnel. She hoped not; it was far easier to protect the smaller group, should it come to that.
He glanced at her sidelong. "You seem nervous."
"I am... uneasy," she confessed. "I am not certain what to expect when we get to the women's complex."
"Oh, aye." He shook his head. "Tymas was able to tell me some, but I'm not sure how much to trust it. I don't know that they would let us see it if it was as bad as he said."
Teyla nodded her agreement. "How is he?"
"He's alright. He's a good lad. Very attentive of his sister."
"And how is she?"
"There are positives signs, actually. She's begun to register outside stimuli -- her pupils react to light, loud noises make her flinch. Given the state she was in when she came through the gate, her progress has been remarkable."
"Is that because of something you did?"
"No, no. We believe the drugs she was given here have been working their way out of her system. With any luck, we'll soon see her normal state. I suspect we'll learn more from her than from the ladies here, to be honest. It's difficult to diagnose a problem when you can't see the symptoms of it."
Their conversation was cut short as they entered the village. A small group waited in the square to take them to the women's complex. It lay in the opposite direction from the stargate, away from where any visitors might accidentally wander. The path to it was clearly frequently traveled by the village inhabitants, however.
Teyla listened as their guide, an elder by the name of Sorin, described the complex to Dr. Beckett while they walked. "There are four buildings, all connected, with a courtyard in the center. We feel it's important that the women get fresh air on a regular basis. The men on duty are paired up and assigned to care for groups of twenty to thirty women at a time. They bathe and feed them, make sure that they perform sufficient physical activity each day -- to prevent stiffness and sores and other problems from immobility -- and guide them to receive medical care when necessary. They are also, of course, responsible for ensuring that every woman receives her daily dose. If any woman in their care begins behaving erratically, they are to report that immediately, and act to subdue her if necessary."
His casual tone bothered Teyla, though she strove to hide it. "How many women are currently in the complex?"
"Nearly three hundred."
Her steps faltered. "That many?"
Sorin nodded. "It is difficult," he acknowledged. His tone was no longer so casual. "I will confess, we have considered... limiting the number of girl children in our community, to prevent the caretakers from being overburdened. Thankfully, no such measures have needed to be implemented."
Teyla shuddered. Beside her, Dr. Beckett did the same. "Thankfully, indeed," he muttered.
The elder's comments brought to light something that had already been bothering Teyla. She had not be certain how to broach it. Even now, she spoke carefully. "How is it that you have children at all?" At Sorin's look of shock, she apologized, "I know it is a private subject --"
"It is." He frowned fiercely at her.
She was undaunted. "And yet I must ask. The women here have no will to give consent..."
Sorin's long, stony silence was enough of an answer.
She felt herself grow angry. "They are made to bear children against their will." She made it a statement, not a question. "They are made to carry a man's child -- to lay with him? Without being able to choose for herself? Without even being in control of her own body?"
"They are not aware of what is happening to them!" Sorin snapped, turning to face her. "They are less conscious of the process than a herd animal brought to breed."
"That does not make it right!"
"Right?" He stepped closer. "Would it be right to let our people die out?" He lowered his voice, desperation creeping into his tone. "What other choice do we have?"
Dr. Becket laid a hand on the man's arm. "That's why we're here." His eyes were on Teyla. "To hopefully present another option. A better one."
Sorin let out a breath, the anger draining from him. "Then let's make haste, so that better option may be found, and quickly."
Nauseous and uncertain, Teyla remained quiet as they resumed walking down the path.
The women's complex was similar in appearance to the buildings of the village -- single level stone structures that looked sturdy and well-crafted. There were few windows and only one main door in the nearest building, which they entered. Inside, it was comfortably appointed, though the decorations were sparse and impersonal. Teyla found herself immediately longing for the beauty of Atlantis or the warm charm of Athosian dwellings. To spend much time in this spare place would be to invite madness.
They were given a brief tour of the facility. Each group of women had a large room to themselves, with beds and tables and chairs for each of the occupants. Bathing rooms were centrally located to be shared by several groups. Each of the four buildings had its own kitchen and medical rooms. The center courtyard was supposed to be a garden, but it was nearly as spare as the decorations inside. According to their guide, the plants and paths in the garden had to be kept at a low height and density to ensure that no one could be lost or hard to get to in the case of a problem.
Throughout the tour, they saw groups of women going through what was apparently their everyday life in the complex. Had Teyla not seen Alana for herself, she would have been shocked at the complete blankness of these women. Even with that experience, it was unpleasantly jarring to see so many women in one place with the same vacancy in their eyes.
After the tour, the doctors got to work. Teyla accompanied Dr. Beckett as he examined women from several of the groups in the first building. From what she understood, it was always better to have as large a "sample size" as possible. The more women were examined, the more chance they had to understand what was wrong with them.
The women were, of course, easy to handle, never fussing or complaining the way a normal patient would. Their male caretakers were less at ease with the process. They did not seem disturbed by Dr. Beckett, however. Instead, they cast wary glances at Teyla. One particularly uneasy man addressed Dr. Beckett directly. "Is it safe for her to be here?"
"Oh, aye. Well, as far as we can tell. No female visitor to your village has sickened before, correct? And if there is some airborne toxin, she's already been exposed. I have ordered that she and all of my female staff avoid physical contact with your ladies, though." He patted the shoulder of the woman he was examining, smiling sadly at her. "She should be alright," he concluded with a glance at the man.
"Ah," was the only response. If anything, the doctor's answer seemed to cause him to be more uneasy, rather than less. He avoided Teyla for the remainder of their time with that group.
They eventually emerged once again into the courtyard. At least two groups were out "enjoying" the fresh air. Women of all ages sat or stood around the courtyard. None spoke. None moved. It was nothing she had not seen again and again over the past two hours, but out here it was... different. They were like bleak statues among the ragged bushes and trees. It was unnerving -- and yet she could not look away. She found herself looking at each woman-statue, staring, hoping for some sign of life beyond the rise and fall of her chest.
It was that hope that drew her eyes to the only human motion in the garden. After an instant's surprise, she realized that the movement came not from a woman, but from a male caretaker sitting beside one of his charges. There was something off about the way they sat -- very close, with the woman's body almost hidden from sight. Frowning, Teyla stepped closer. The man's movement was somehow furtive. She could not see his hands, but as she neared, she realized that one was up the young woman's shirt.
"Excuse me," she called sharply, walking faster. "What are you doing?"
The man leapt up as though she'd hit him. "What?"
She spared a glance for the girl. That blank expression had not changed, but her clothing was disarrayed. So was the man's. Teyla glared at him. "What were you doing?" she demanded, though she had little doubt of the answer.
He held out his hands, palms out. "Stay calm."
"Stay calm?" She took another step towards him. "When you were --"
"Guards!" His shout startled her. Why was he calling for the guards? His next words made as little sense, though they were aimed at her. "Put the weapon down."
"I am not pointing it at you!"
"Everything will be alright."
She was still staring at him, bewildered, when several hands grabbed her. They were neither gentle nor friendly. She struggled against them, shouting with surprise as they tried to take her weapon. She tried to fight them off, but they were too many. She cried out for Dr. Beckett as the men swept her feet from under her, throwing her painfully to the ground. The impact stunned her, knocking the air from her lungs, and it was long minutes before she was aware of anything else.
***
"I am fine," Teyla assured them for the fifth or sixth time.
Elizabeth fought the urge to make a face at her. "You're lucky you didn't get a concussion."
The Athosian woman mustered a wan smile. "Dr. Beckett assures me I have a thick skull."
"Even so." Elizabeth wasn't able to smile in return. "It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry."
Teyla frowned. "Why are you sorry?"
"I shouldn't have allowed you to go. I should have realized their prejudice would run so deep. The elders dealt with us so evenly that it didn't occur to me that the rest of the men wouldn't be so open-minded."
"I should have thought of it, too," John said, nodding to Teyla. "I'm sorry."
"Perhaps we all should have." Teyla shook her head gingerly. "I knew they were wary of me, but it did not occur to me that my carrying a weapon would be seen as a threat. Though," her expression turned fierce, "to be frank, I would have used it as one on the man I approached. I trust he is being punished?"
"He is," Elizabeth assured her grimly. "Twenty lashes and a public shunning to last three weeks. They take this sort of thing very seriously."
"As well they should," John muttered, looking ill.
Teyla sighed her agreement. "Then the headache is worth it."
"Regardless, the incident does emphasize the need to find a better solution for those women. Quickly."
"Yes." Teyla glanced around the infirmary. "Have the doctors found anything yet?"
"They've only just begun. Carson tells me it will take some time." She grimaced her impatience. "They did leave a small team on the planet, to continue checking out the women and to make sure there's nothing there that they've missed. I ordered that the team be entirely male -- I'm not letting any of our female personnel back there without a damn good reason." She didn't like the restriction, but she wasn't about to put any more of her people in harm's way.
Teyla nodded. "Did Dr. Beckett remain?"
"No, he's here. He's checking in on Alana, Tymas' sister."
"Actually..." John nodded towards the door. "Speak of the devil."
Carson was smiling as he approached. "Not in this case, I think, Colonel. I come bearing good news. Alana is, for lack of a better term, awake."
Elizabeth frowned slightly. "Awake?"
"Perhaps 'aware' is more appropriate. She's conscious of her surroundings and she's even able to speak."
Elizabeth felt a surge of relief. "That's fantastic!" The sentiments were echoed by both John and Teyla.
Carson nodded, clearly pleased. "She's still a bit vague, but that should wear off. We should soon see what she's really like under that cloud of drugs."
"I'd like to speak with her, if possible."
"Aye, I thought you might. She's up for it, though I'd prefer you keep it short."
They followed him into the isolation room Alana was occupying. The change in the girl was immediately noticeable. Her eyes were fixed on her brother, who stood at her side, a joyous look on his young face. A smile stretched Alana's lips, though her features were still droopy with the drugs. Even with the lingering effects, there was a feel of life about her that had been missing before.
Elizabeth found herself smiling as she entered the room. She hung back, though, until the girl's gaze swung around towards them. Then she stepped forward slightly, hoping her smile was reassuring. "Hello, Alana. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Dr. Weir."
"You... at the gate." The girl's voice wavered but was understandable. Her eyes slid to John and Teyla, who had come in after Elizabeth. "You -- on the path."
"Yes." Teyla smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Elizabeth saw her hand tighten on her brother's. "Almost... me."
"Good. I'm glad." With a glance at Carson, Elizabeth stepped forward again, to the end of the bed. "Would it be alright if I asked you a couple of questions?"
Alana blinked slowly. "Okay."
"Do you remember what things were like at the women's complex?"
"Mm." She closed her eyes. For long moment, Elizabeth thought she had fallen asleep. "Like seeing... in water," she said finally. "Moving in a dream." She opened her eyes, meeting Elizabeth's gaze again. "Doesn't feel real."
Elizabeth nodded. "Do you know why you were there?"
"Women go. We're sick." One of her shoulders lifted in the ghost of a shrug. "Didn't feel sick."
"You never felt sick? Or acted sick?"
"No."
Elizabeth nodded again. Softly, making sure she had Alana's gaze, she asked, "If you had the choice, would you go back?"
For the first time, she felt like she had the full weight of the girl's attention. "No," she said clearly. Her fingers were tight around her brother's hand. He looked back at Elizabeth, alarmed, but relaxed when she nodded to him.
"We're doing everything we can to make sure you never have to," she told the girl, and was rewarded with a smile.
***
Two days passed. Teyla recovered from the incident in the women's complex with no more than a bump on her head and a scrape on one elbow. Ronon gave her grief for being overpowered by several small, relatively untrained men. She retaliated by dropping him on his rear several times in one practice session. He quickly ceased his mocking.
Unfortunately, Alana's recovery was not so easy. Teyla did not follow the girl's progress closely, but she was in Dr. Weir's office when Dr. Beckett came to deliver disturbing news. "Alana had an outburst," he told them, his face grim. "She hit her brother. With no provocation, according to the nurse who was present. They were talking about perfectly ordinary things when she shrieked something nonsensical and slapped him. Repeatedly. The nurse had to physically restrain her."
Teyla's heart felt like a stone in her chest. She glanced at Elizabeth, whose eyes closed briefly. "We knew it was a possibility..."
"Aye," Dr. Beckett agreed softly, "but I'm not sure the boy did."
"How is he?" Teyla asked.
"Physically, he's alright. Emotionally..." He shook his head.
Elizabeth opened her eyes, regarding the doctor steadily. "Have Dr. Heightmeyer talk to Alana."
He nodded. "I called her before I came. She's with her now. Tymas is with one of the other counselors, Dr. Garner."
"Good. Keep me posted."
He and Dr. Heightmeyer updated them and the rest of the command staff later that day. Neither of the doctors looked happy when they entered the room. Teyla did her best to prepare herself for bad news.
"Alana is getting worse," Dr. Heightmeyer confirmed almost immediately. "In addition to violent outbursts -- she had another when I spoke with her this afternoon -- she is also hearing things. Whispers, voices, other sounds that aren't there. She's having trouble distinguishing between what's real and what's not."
Elizabeth leaned forward. "Is it possible this is a side-effect of the drugs she was given?"
"Unfortunately not," Dr. Beckett replied. "From the blood drawn from the women in the complex as well as from Alana herself, we've been able to determine relative levels of the drug in the system. As of this morning, Alana was completely clear of it. Nothing should be left in her body to produce side-effects."
"Is there anything you can do for her?" Teyla asked.
The doctors exchanged a glance. "That's actually a two-part question," Dr. Heightmeyer told her, nodding to Dr. Beckett.
"If you're looking for a cure," he said gravely, "the answer is no."
Elizabeth started. "You're certain?"
"You've barely had two days to look, and you're giving up already?" Rodney's tone was incredulous.
To his credit, Dr. Beckett did not flinch. "After looking at a number of brain scans, it became quite obvious. A portion of their brains is physically damaged in a way that we don't have the ability to repair."
Teyla looked away. Even Rodney could only manage a quiet, "Oh," in response. After a moment, Elizabeth cleared her throat to ask, "Can you tell what caused the damage?"
"Not yet," came the regretful answer. "I thought perhaps it was actually caused by the drugs, but a scan of a prepubescent girl -- one who has never been dosed -- revealed the beginnings of similar damage. Our current theory is that something in their bodies reacts badly to the hormone change at puberty, but it is only a theory."
"So right now, you can't prevent this from happening to the next generation, as well." Elizabeth's quiet statement hung in the air, punctuated by Dr. Beckett's reluctant nod.
John spoke up. "So you can't cure it, and you can't prevent it. What can you do?"
Dr. Heightmeyer leaned forward, folding her hands on the table. "Alana's symptoms bear a close resemblance to schizophrenia, though there are some differences. I'd like to try her on some of the meds commonly prescribed for that condition, as a starting point. If we could find something that worked to minimize her symptoms, it could provide us with a solution."
"Wait." Rodney stared across the table. "Your 'solution' is to medicate them? Every single woman in that village?"
Dr. Heightmeyer looked back at him steadily. "They're already being medicated."
He blinked. "Right."
Ronon spoke up for the first time. "So how's this any better?"
"With the right combination of meds, they'll be able to think clearly. To talk and communicate with the people around them. To take care of themselves. Compared to their current state, I think it's a thousand times better."
"Yeah, but it's not that easy." John caught Dr. Heightmeyer's eye. "Is it?"
"No," she acknowledged with a nod. "It's not. Finding the right medication is something that will have to be done for each woman individually. It's not a simple thing, either. It takes time for a prescription to reach its full effectiveness. Side effects can render even the most effective medicine unbearable for the person taking it. Many patients stop taking their medicine because they don't like the way it makes them feel, or because they start to feel stable and decide they don't need it anymore. Some prefer to self-medicate using alcohol or recreational drugs." She shook her head, meeting Elizabeth's gaze. "It's a rocky road. I don't see what other choice we have, though."
Teyla watched Elizabeth, glad -- as she often was -- that she was not the leader here. Her people's problems had often been difficult, but they were never on a scale like this. Elizabeth was silent for a long moment before she nodded. "Do what you can with Alana, and keep me posted. If and when she shows improvement, we'll take the option to the elders."
***
It took time and patience, but after a few weeks, Alana did begin to improve. Elizabeth went back to the village to talk to the elders. They were understandably disappointed that the doctors hadn't been able to find a cure. Their reactions to the option that was presented were mixed. Some, including Korrin, were optimistic and enthusiastic. Others were less so.
Prentt, one of the elders who had been openly hostile in their first meeting, was nearly beside himself. "You expect us to have women among us who can -- and probably will, according to you! -- stop taking their medication and revert to the violence we have so long tried to keep them from? We should put ourselves and our children in danger simply because you say so?"
Elizabeth gave him a steely look. "Is there no violence among your people already? Are the men in your community so perfect they never raise a hand in anger or act irrationally?"
Prentt growled. "It's not the same thing!"
"It's similar enough, Prentt, and the point is well taken." Korrin stared at his compatriot until the younger man subsided. Nodding to Elizabeth, the Eldest continued. "We will punish any woman who acts violently, as we do for a man. Steps may have to be taken for any woman who causes disturbances after stopping to take her medications, as well."
Elizabeth nodded cautiously. "I do suggest that you work with our doctors in cases like that -- it could be that a different set of medications would be more acceptable to her."
"Agreed. Of course we will have to work closely with your doctors in any case, to ensure that all of the women are given the best chance for a normal life."
Another elder down the table frowned. "I still fail to see how this is a better solution than what we have now. The current system works. Yes, it is a burden on the men, but we willingly shoulder it. And it does not force us to rely on outsiders."
The man in the next seat glared at him. "The current system does not work, you fool."
"It does!" He glared back. "Our community is strong and peaceful."
"Our community," Korrin said heavily, "is half-dead." He looked around the table, catching every eye. Even the most dissident of the elders stayed silent under that regard. "We have too long imprisoned the women of our community. We have too long taken away their will. For their own good, yes. But for too long. It is time to give their will back to them. To let them think. To choose. We have the means, now." He nodded to Elizabeth, who nodded back silently. "We owe it to our women to do what we always swore we would: we must give them their lives back, to do with as they wish.
"It will not be an easy road. Our lives will get more difficult. More complicated. And yet, we will sleep easier, knowing that we have done not what is easy, but what is right. That is all we can do. The rest will fall as it will."
Elizabeth left the meeting house feeling cautiously optimistic, herself. She wasn't sure the elders understood just how difficult things could get -- not just because of the issues surrounding the women's medication, but in terms of fallout from the years of physical and mental imprisonment. Alana swore the time she spent in the women's complex was like a vague dream, difficult to remember. Elizabeth hoped that would be true for the rest of the women. Without that, the community could be permanently fractured.
Despite the uncertain future, it was hard not to have hope. That hope grew as they walked through the village and saw Alana standing with Tymas outside of a house. The girl held a young child in her arms, and she was laughing happily. Her eyes met Elizabeth's briefly and she nodded once, smiling broadly. Elizabeth smiled back. As she and her team headed towards the stargate, she couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.