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Guide did not enjoy running. He preferred to fight his battles aboard a hive, outsmarting and outmaneuvering his enemies through his millennia of command experience and cunning. Some enemies, however, you never met in space, and this type required physical combat, or failing that, a hasty tactical retreat.
He’d only been on the planet for twenty minutes, carefully making the trek towards the Stargate, when they appeared.
It was sheer luck alone that he’d been aboard a dart fighter when his hive had been attacked. The rival hive came out of hyperspace so suddenly there'd been little time for defence. He'd only just managed to navigate the dart into the planet's atmosphere when he was hit by debris from his exploding hive.
Sudden pain, then silence, screamed in his head, but he pushed it aside, using all his skill to bring the fighter down in one piece. He'd attempted to land close to the gate, but he was still a half a day on foot away when he'd crashed down.
He’d survived the impact, his injuries healing before he escaped the wreckage, yet it wasn't long before a new danger made itself known: Bola Kai.
Normally, the primitive, wild bands would be of little concern to an advanced species like the Wraith, and were dealt with by drones armed with stunners. However, on this occasion, Guide was alone and had no weapons other than his hand.
Sensing their presence before seeing them, he slid silently behind a dense patch of scrub, just as three dirty, fur-clad men with unkempt, scruffy beards emerged from between the trees. They hadn't spotted him. If he acted quickly, he was confident he could overpower them.
Gliding out from his camouflage, Guide struck without warning, leaping the distance to land within range of the closest in the group. Aware his advantage wouldn't last, he didn't squander it, and, striking like a snake, snapped the man's neck before moving on to the next.
His instincts proved correct, for while he had hold of the second one, the third swung at him with a wicked-looking axe. Despite being a primitive culture, their weapons could cause serious damage if allowed to get too close. Guide sidestepped, shifting his grip and relocating his current captive to use as a shield. The axe struck flesh with a wet thud, followed by gurgling sounds as it embedded itself deep in the man's chest.
Dropping the now-dead weight, Guide leapt forward, catching the man as he tried to free his weapon from the flesh of his companion. A sharp pain in his side told him he’d missed the smaller knife in his prey's left hand, but it didn't matter. Now this one was alone, Guide could afford to take the time to feed. Slamming the man to the ground, he ensured he was unconscious before starting to feed.
He'd only taken one gulp of life force when the tell-tale sounds of more Bola Kai approaching from his left interrupted his meal. At least six, he thought with alarm. Too many. He needed to feed, but he couldn't risk staying here and being surrounded.
Sacrificing his meal, he opted for the next best option, lessening numbers, and brought a nearby rock down sharply on the man's head. Turning away from the fast-approaching group, Guide began to run.
A horn sounded from somewhere behind him and was answered a moment later by another in front and to his right. Hissing with frustration, he altered course, trying to keep his general direction to the Stargate while avoiding more groups.
It was not to be his day, and breaking out from the forest cover, Guide almost ran straight into a larger group occupying a clearing. They were already armed, no doubt prewarned of a hunt by the horn, and the nearest man launched himself at Guide, stabbing viciously with a spear.
Guide roared as the weapon pierced his shoulder. Grabbing the filthy beast-man by the throat, he dug his claws in and then tore them away, ripping it open. Red liquid splashed onto his hand, and he cursed the waste of lifeforce from death this way, but he had no time to stop. Whirling around, he darted back for the tree cover, narrowly missing an axe throw, which struck a large, moss-covered trunk with a loud thunk as he dodged past.
The next several hours were spent in a constant rotation of running, fighting when he had to, and trying to stay hidden. The silence in his head was a constant torture, but he’d already endured the same for many years; one more day wouldn’t break him. He was trying to head towards the Stargate, but it seemed the savage locals had realised this and were attempting to drive him further and further away. Each time he thought he might have evaded them, the horns would sound, and he would have to alter course.
They had a distinct advantage in numbers, and while he could run for longer than humans, whenever he outran one group, another would pick up his trail, with fresh warriors hankering for the chance to take down a Wraith.
On several occasions, he'd been forced to fight small groups, and he’d already killed half a dozen or more, but every time he tried to feed, more of the barbarians appeared. They kept him on the move and growing weaker every hour from his constant exertion and compounding injuries.
Some time ago, he’d finally managed to slip past a couple of groups and had made good progress closer to the gate. He had just seen the large, distinctive ring standing in a clearing, visible over a rise but still several forested hills away, when three separate Bola Kai groups converged.
Aware he could never win a fight against so many, he attempted to run again, but a lucky throw and his own miscalculation from exhaustion, allowed a bola to strike his legs, causing him to stumble to his knees with a snarl.
Guide was down. He’d been so close, but now his chance at escape was over.
Already the horde was advancing. His eyes were still on the ground in front of him, but he could hear their steps. They were close, so close, and had completely surrounded him.
He knew he needed to get up. He had to stand and spend his last moments with the honour of going down in a fight. But a part of him wondered what the point was. He was tired, not just from his recent chase, but in general. He'd lived for a very long time, after all.
Still, that was no reason to give up, and if this was to be his end, they would all pay dearly! It had only been a moment, but as he lifted his head, he wondered why they hadn't attacked yet. They were certainly close enough.
Raising his gaze, his eyes fell on a familiar figure. One he'd never expected to find on this godforsaken planet. Sheppard stood there, side-on, his weapon aimed towards the mass of Bola Kai, his eyes on Guide.
“Todd,” he nodded. “Saw you running. Thought you could use some backup,” the man drawled, his lips curling in a half-smile as he finished.
Glancing around, Guide finally noticed the group surrounding him. Not Bola Kai. Atlantis soldiers. He recognised Major Lorne to his left, along with six other uniformed men he didn’t know. Sheppard's team was positioned on his right, the dark haired man front and centre, and closest to his feeding hand. Even the former runner was there, and though he didn't look happy about it, he was still aiming his weapon towards the savages, Guide was pleased to see.
Rising to his feet within the protective circle of armed men, Guide had a moment of stunned amazement. Wraith didn't generally need protection, and humans certainly didn't provide it. And yet here was Sheppard, literally standing between him and his enemies, when Guide had all but given up.
Affection surged through him, and with it determination. His brother had come to his aid. He wasn't alone.
A cry from one of Lorne's men broke the silence as an arrow shot through the air, sinking deep into a thigh, just as several of the Bola Kai leapt forward, raising their weapons. It seemed to settle whatever decision Sheppard had been contemplating and, barking the order to engage, he took aim and fired.
Both teams immediately began to fire as well; a hail of bullets intercepted the feral horde, breaking their charge. Guide now surged forward, hungry and trusting his brother to defend his back. A bullet brought down one in front of him, and while life still lingered, he drank. Oh, the sweetness. Bola Kai never tasted very good, strong but somewhat bitter. Today – it was like nectar. Catching up another wounded mountain man, he savoured a few more delicious sips before the heart stopped pumping.
Spinning, Guide noticed one of the savages had circled around and was advancing on Dr McKay's position. Not a soldier, the scientist had wedged himself between two stumps and was firing his weapon without much aim and with even less success. Noticing Guide's sudden approach, his eyes widened in fear, but the Wraith ignored him, gliding past the terrified human at the last moment and snatching up the warrior just before he swung his mace at McKay's head.
Slamming his hand into the savage's chest, he forced him back against a tree. This one was not injured or dying like the others, and Guide was finally able to have a proper feed, feeling his fatigue fade and his strength return as he did.
Dropping the desiccated body, he looked up to see the remaining Bola Kai fleeing. Teyla was crouching beside the injured marine, assisting another with binding the wound.
A few had surface wounds, including Sheppard, who had a deep gash on his forearm. Guide stepped forward to offer him healing but stopped at the wary look the man returned. The Satedan, who had followed after some of the Bola Kai, obviously hating them almost as much as he did Wraith, now returned, watching him with poorly concealed hostility.
“You have impeccable timing, Colonel Sheppard,” Guide mused.
Sheppard gave a laugh. “It's been known to happen.”
He hummed in agreement. “Not to sound ungrateful, but what brings you here?”
“Would you believe a rescue mission?” Sheppard offered, with a smirk at Guide’s look of confusion. “Not yours. One of our science teams was captured by the Bola Kai. We got them back – most of them,” he added with a wince. “We’d just sent them back through the gate; that's when we saw you."
“And you don't leave your people behind," Guide said, not sure if he was asking a question or making a statement.
Sheppard replied, assuming the first, “You've proved useful in the past. Figured we'd help you out.”
"Ahh. I see." Guide felt a touch of disappointment at the man’s words, but then again, Sheppard didn't often say what he truly meant, so perhaps that was the case here. “Well, for what it is worth, you have my thanks.”
Sheppard was brought back to the present by Teyla announcing that the injured marine needed to be taken back to Atlantis.
“Right. Lorne, your team take point. Rodney, help Teyla assist Sergeant Peterson back to the gate.”
The group made their way slowly towards the gate, carefully watching for any remaining Bola Kai. They met with none, the power of their weaponry more than even the fiercest mountain savages would want to challenge.
When they reached the gate, Lorne was already dialling, and soon the blue vortex flashed open. Guide watched as Sheppard requested permission to come through, informing Atlantis they required medical assistance. He noticed Sheppard didn't mention anything about his own presence.
Sheppard and Guide both waited as the humans disappeared through the gate. After sending Ronon Dex ahead of him, Sheppard turned to face him.
“So what happens now, Sheppard? Am I to become your prisoner instead of the Bola Kai’s?”
The man frowned. “As far as choices go, I'd say it's the better option.”
"Perhaps,” Guide shrugged, as if he wasn’t sure. “Might I suggest a third option?”
"Which is?”
"Let me go, and the next time we meet, I'll owe you a favour."
“A favour, huh? Like what?”
Guide smiled, showing a hint of sharp teeth. "I trust you will think of something suitable."
After a long pause, Sheppard sighed. “Fine, until next time. But you better keep your word.”
“I always do. Mostly,” Guide purred, "until then, John Sheppard.”
Guide watched as Sheppard stepped through, and the gate shut off. He wasted no time entering another address, preferring not to risk any of the savages returning now that he was alone again.
As the chevrons locked into place, Guide considered. This day had started out a disaster; he'd lost one of his hives and nearly died. But he'd also learnt more about his brother, and it pleased him.
Once the gate activated, he stepped through, renewed in his goals and confident that, one day, Sheppard would help him bring them to fruition.