Fic: Torment 13/20
Title: Torment
Author: chokolaj
Rating: T
Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: The title sums it up pretty well. Shep whump!
I have a freelance project to finish up, so unless I get that out of the way ahead of schedule, I won’t post again until next week, sorry!
This chapter was a bit difficult to write, so I hope I was successful in what I was trying to attempt!
--//--
A concussive bang reached their ears as muted noise while the floor beneath their feet shook minutely. Before any of them could process what had occurred, the three kneeling before them fell to the floor, unconscious. L.Cpl. Andrews checked on them to find their pulses strong and steady. However, none of them would wake.
Elizabeth and Dr. Row exchanged weary glances.
“What is that?” L.Cpl. Andrews asked, staring past them.
Along a turn in the corridor just where the darkness overtook light, there was a hint of blue being cast upon the wall. It was gradually growing more pronounced to the point where one could see that it was flickering like candlelight.
Elizabeth took a step forward, though every fiber in her being begged for her to take flight in the opposite direction.
L.Cpl. Andrews cocked his head, listening.
Dr. Row stiffened.
There was a faint snapping sound…quite similar to that of the firecrackers that one threw onto the ground to make noise.
Something was coming.
--//--
Slithering worms to the front, a dark passageway to the back, and a dead lieutenant colonel lay in the center.
Ronon’s ears were ringing and he shook his head as he slowly lifted himself off the ground. He saw Rodney and Zelenka doing the same. Teyla was already standing and making her way over to Sheppard.
Their impressive firepower had conquered the barrier of threads that had separated them from their leader, but it had only scared off a little less than half of the worms.
The worms squirmed and slid into knots in little heaps - waiting for the perfect moment to strike back. Their slim bodies were a dark purple, yet every time their skins met, a spark of blue would light up their entire exoskeleton. In a way, they were rather intriguing.
Teyla knelt in the grime; its disturbing warmth a sharp contrast to Sheppard’s cold form.
Rodney stood at her shoulder, a grim expression marking his features. Zelenka bowed his head, standing from afar as Ronon backed up to them, his blaster pointed at the worms. The worms had yet to advance like before.
“Did we….”
“It was the only way, Rodney.” Teyla spoke softly.
“It was his order.” Ronon reminded them.
“He is dead.” Teyla confirmed, after her fingers left the colonel’s carotid.
The hissing and snapping of the strange worms was the only noise that followed her proclamation.
“Move.” Rodney suddenly knelt and shoved Teyla aside. He pounded his fist into Sheppard’s chest once, pausing for a response. When none came, he proceeded to do chest compressions. Teyla moved in swiftly to breathe into Sheppard’s mouth at the appropriate moments.
“The hatch! We can get out through there!” Zelenka exclaimed, pointing into the darkness beyond Sheppard. “We’ll radio a medical team once we are on the surface.”
This time it was Ronon doing the shoving and in one swift move, he had scooped up the limp form of Sheppard over his shoulder. Teyla switched on the light upon her P90 and lead the way.
They had not traveled more than a few feet when the grime upon the floor grew more uneven and rough.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Teyla shone the light upon their feet as they paused for only a brief moment. There were thousands and thousands of flaky white shed skins, long and snake-like, littering the floor.
Snap! Hissssss.
Ronon pointed his blaster behind them. Rodney pointed his 9mil and Zelenka stepped closer to Teyla as she shone her light back the way they’d come.
Hundreds of tiny slithering bodies were rushing towards them. Slithering through the grime, sparks flashing, and hissing their anger.
Firing their weapons, the group turned and ran. Shed skin and decaying bodies crunched beneath their feet. Artificial light bounced along the corridor in a dance with the brightening blue of flashes behind them.
They could see the end of the corridor drawing to a close up ahead.
The worms were picking up speed: their hissing growing in intensity. Some were slithering up the walls, seemingly defying gravity. Others were flinging their bodies, making flying advancements of several feet to gain ground.
“There!” Zelenka shouted, pointing upwards where Teyla swung her light up along spokes in the wall leading up to a hatch above them.
There was a thick mass of white threads webbing across the underside of the hatch.
Without a second thought, Ronon blasted the threads then turned to fire at the advancing worms.
Teyla scurried up the ladder while Rodney and Zelenka flattened against the back wall, watching in fear as the worms closed ground between them.
The hatch was covered in grime but Teyla didn’t care. She rammed her shoulder into it, forcing her weight into opening it.
Blessed daylight flooded into the corridor.
The worms closest to them froze while the ones further back scurried quickly away. The four exchanged a brief look of relief before they hurried up the ladder.
Fresh salty air greeted them. Blue sky spread beyond the towering spires of Atlantis welcomed them. The long gray plateau that was the Eastern pier lay out before them. Ronon laid Sheppard gently upon its surface. Teyla and Rodney knelt beside him and immediately resumed CPR.
Zelenka tapped the radio in his ear and called for reinforcements while Ronon pointed his blaster down the hole from which they came.
“What about the others?” Teyla exhaled heavily. They were all out of breath, their hearts and minds racing from what they had just experienced.
“I’ll go after them.” Ronon nodded.
Before any of them could protest, the Runner had climbed back down into the hole and disappeared from sight. The echoes from his blaster faded quickly.
Rodney continued chest compressions. Sweat broke upon his forehead. Desperation painted his face.
Teyla breathed into Sheppard’s mouth, nearly forgetting to breathe for herself. Tears were stinging her eyes, occasionally falling upon the pale face of the man they were trying to save.
Zelenka swore in Czech, his voice raising as he demanded help over his radio.
Time was against them.
--tbc--
Answers will begin to filter in now as we draw closer to the end of this fic. :)
Author: chokolaj
Rating: T
Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: The title sums it up pretty well. Shep whump!
I have a freelance project to finish up, so unless I get that out of the way ahead of schedule, I won’t post again until next week, sorry!
This chapter was a bit difficult to write, so I hope I was successful in what I was trying to attempt!
--//--
A concussive bang reached their ears as muted noise while the floor beneath their feet shook minutely. Before any of them could process what had occurred, the three kneeling before them fell to the floor, unconscious. L.Cpl. Andrews checked on them to find their pulses strong and steady. However, none of them would wake.
Elizabeth and Dr. Row exchanged weary glances.
“What is that?” L.Cpl. Andrews asked, staring past them.
Along a turn in the corridor just where the darkness overtook light, there was a hint of blue being cast upon the wall. It was gradually growing more pronounced to the point where one could see that it was flickering like candlelight.
Elizabeth took a step forward, though every fiber in her being begged for her to take flight in the opposite direction.
L.Cpl. Andrews cocked his head, listening.
Dr. Row stiffened.
There was a faint snapping sound…quite similar to that of the firecrackers that one threw onto the ground to make noise.
Something was coming.
--//--
Slithering worms to the front, a dark passageway to the back, and a dead lieutenant colonel lay in the center.
Ronon’s ears were ringing and he shook his head as he slowly lifted himself off the ground. He saw Rodney and Zelenka doing the same. Teyla was already standing and making her way over to Sheppard.
Their impressive firepower had conquered the barrier of threads that had separated them from their leader, but it had only scared off a little less than half of the worms.
The worms squirmed and slid into knots in little heaps - waiting for the perfect moment to strike back. Their slim bodies were a dark purple, yet every time their skins met, a spark of blue would light up their entire exoskeleton. In a way, they were rather intriguing.
Teyla knelt in the grime; its disturbing warmth a sharp contrast to Sheppard’s cold form.
Rodney stood at her shoulder, a grim expression marking his features. Zelenka bowed his head, standing from afar as Ronon backed up to them, his blaster pointed at the worms. The worms had yet to advance like before.
“Did we….”
“It was the only way, Rodney.” Teyla spoke softly.
“It was his order.” Ronon reminded them.
“He is dead.” Teyla confirmed, after her fingers left the colonel’s carotid.
The hissing and snapping of the strange worms was the only noise that followed her proclamation.
“Move.” Rodney suddenly knelt and shoved Teyla aside. He pounded his fist into Sheppard’s chest once, pausing for a response. When none came, he proceeded to do chest compressions. Teyla moved in swiftly to breathe into Sheppard’s mouth at the appropriate moments.
“The hatch! We can get out through there!” Zelenka exclaimed, pointing into the darkness beyond Sheppard. “We’ll radio a medical team once we are on the surface.”
This time it was Ronon doing the shoving and in one swift move, he had scooped up the limp form of Sheppard over his shoulder. Teyla switched on the light upon her P90 and lead the way.
They had not traveled more than a few feet when the grime upon the floor grew more uneven and rough.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Teyla shone the light upon their feet as they paused for only a brief moment. There were thousands and thousands of flaky white shed skins, long and snake-like, littering the floor.
Snap! Hissssss.
Ronon pointed his blaster behind them. Rodney pointed his 9mil and Zelenka stepped closer to Teyla as she shone her light back the way they’d come.
Hundreds of tiny slithering bodies were rushing towards them. Slithering through the grime, sparks flashing, and hissing their anger.
Firing their weapons, the group turned and ran. Shed skin and decaying bodies crunched beneath their feet. Artificial light bounced along the corridor in a dance with the brightening blue of flashes behind them.
They could see the end of the corridor drawing to a close up ahead.
The worms were picking up speed: their hissing growing in intensity. Some were slithering up the walls, seemingly defying gravity. Others were flinging their bodies, making flying advancements of several feet to gain ground.
“There!” Zelenka shouted, pointing upwards where Teyla swung her light up along spokes in the wall leading up to a hatch above them.
There was a thick mass of white threads webbing across the underside of the hatch.
Without a second thought, Ronon blasted the threads then turned to fire at the advancing worms.
Teyla scurried up the ladder while Rodney and Zelenka flattened against the back wall, watching in fear as the worms closed ground between them.
The hatch was covered in grime but Teyla didn’t care. She rammed her shoulder into it, forcing her weight into opening it.
Blessed daylight flooded into the corridor.
The worms closest to them froze while the ones further back scurried quickly away. The four exchanged a brief look of relief before they hurried up the ladder.
Fresh salty air greeted them. Blue sky spread beyond the towering spires of Atlantis welcomed them. The long gray plateau that was the Eastern pier lay out before them. Ronon laid Sheppard gently upon its surface. Teyla and Rodney knelt beside him and immediately resumed CPR.
Zelenka tapped the radio in his ear and called for reinforcements while Ronon pointed his blaster down the hole from which they came.
“What about the others?” Teyla exhaled heavily. They were all out of breath, their hearts and minds racing from what they had just experienced.
“I’ll go after them.” Ronon nodded.
Before any of them could protest, the Runner had climbed back down into the hole and disappeared from sight. The echoes from his blaster faded quickly.
Rodney continued chest compressions. Sweat broke upon his forehead. Desperation painted his face.
Teyla breathed into Sheppard’s mouth, nearly forgetting to breathe for herself. Tears were stinging her eyes, occasionally falling upon the pale face of the man they were trying to save.
Zelenka swore in Czech, his voice raising as he demanded help over his radio.
Time was against them.
--tbc--
Answers will begin to filter in now as we draw closer to the end of this fic. :)