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John didn't like this one bit, but he set the Jumper down about fifty feet up the beach from the Mortii shuttle where Kai indicated. The design of the shuttle was similar to that of the Jumper, a little larger and slightly more elegant looking. He supposed if Beckett's theory's of the Mortii being direct descendants from Ancients was correct, they had had ten thousand years to improve on the design. He glanced towards Kai, but her face was unreadable. He wanted to reach out to her and ask her how she was feeling about this, he wanted her to know he was with her, but her tight expression and closed body language convinced him that wouldn't be welcome. Without meaning to, it sent a pulse down the slim line of their bond and Kai's whole body stiffened.

John cleared his throat and climbed to his feet. He put a lock on the controls of the Jumper, knowing the Mortii outside would have the gene and possibly the knowledge needed to fly it. He wasn't sure what to expect, but if things went south he wasn't willing to make them easier on them.

The three of them descended the ramp together. At Kai's urging, Elizabeth was on the lead and John and Kai flanked her. Kai felt it would present Elizabeth as a more powerful leader since she didn't outwardly appear to be a warrior. It was better to not leave anything to chance and have one of the Mortii decide to try her because she looked weaker than either The Colonel or Kai.

Kai had the Bond closed down about as tightly as she could manage, but John still knew she was nervous. Outwardly, she looked like a complete and utter badass. She had adjusted the scarf so it was wrapped around her head and covered much of her face, as she usually did when they went into a combat situation. She had her gun belt hanging low on one of her hips, and her Blade's handles were just visible where they crisscrossed at the small of her back.

The Mortii were male and female, dressed entirely in black, with their faces covered. They stood at the base of their own ramp, waiting with their hands clasped in front of them. Trying, John was guessing, to look non-threatening. He had seen a Mortii try to look threatening, but never the opposite. It wasn't entirely effective. Regardless of how they held themselves they were imposing nonetheless. Both of them were over six feet tall and had fighter's builds. Kai was tiny compared to them. He remembered Kai saying that she was considered small among her people, but he had assumed the tall Xerxe woman she had fought had just been tall. Now he saw that most of them must be the size of Ronon. He glanced towards Kai, wondering not for the first time, how she had managed to not only survive their vicious training, but excel.

Elizabeth stopped ten feet from them, her chin lifted as she met their gazes. "You wished to meet," she said, dispensing with any diplomatic formality she normally would have used. None of her careful training had prepared her for this type of meeting. Kai had briefed her that pleasantries would be viewed as either weakness or ineptitude.

The male Mortii looked over the three of them carefully. Their gaze ended on Kai however and they didn't look away. John shifted his weight, not liking the attention they was placing on her. It made him feel like she was a target. If things went south they would aim to take her out first.

"We have come to retrieve what is ours," The female Mortii said carefully. Despite speaking english clearly, there was an odd cadence to their voice.

"Nothing here belongs to you," Sheppard said, unable to help himself. There was a tightness in his chest. He wouldn't lose Kai to these people. Not like this. She was his and he would fight for her if necessary, politics be damned.

The male tipped their head to the side and met Sheppard's gaze. "Two of our Instruments seem to have come to this place and not returned. It would seem prudent to see what it is that lured them here."

"Two?" Elizabeth asked, feigning ignorance. Once again, following Kai's direction. It seemed if Kai would have faced the Mortii in combat and defeated her without Elizabeth's knowledge, Atlantis would be free of any responsibility, but if the death had been ordered from Elizabeth, it would be seen as an act of war.

The female took over the conversation without missing a beat. It made Sheppard think they worked together often. "The Zian standing at your side we did not originally know was here. The ship of the Xerxe was tracked through the Stargate on a primitive planet. There had been rumors of a Mortii hunting these last circulations. We followed the rumors and found the trail of the ship." She spoke slowly as though she were explaining to a child.

Kai could have kicked herself. She had not been very careful in concealing herself in her search for Ford. She had made her presence known in hopes of luring him out. With the empty Bond throbbing a hole in her chest, nothing had mattered, certainly nothing as simple as concealment. Her friends were now paying for her sloppy carelessness. It seemed she had drawn more than just their old friend out of hiding. It wouldn't have been hard to find her, and once they figured out where the fighter had gone, taking the gate addresses from the DHD on New Athos wouldn't have been very difficult. Most of those dialed would have been to Atlantis.

"What do you want?" Elizabeth asked, drawing her attention off of Kai and back to the matter at hand. Even Elizabeth didn't like the look they cast on Kai.

"We would take our Instruments and return to our planet," the male said. "The Xerxe is known for compliance and will have a reason for not returning," the male said a little dangerously, then their gaze slid to Kai. "The Zian was not known for their compliance and their behavior must be rectified."

'Rectified' sounded an awful lot like punishment to John. He took half a step forward, aggression in his posture. He wouldn't let them touch her, not even to protect Atlantis. He had already sacrificed Kai for the sake of his job and Atlantis. He wouldn't fail her this time.

Kai glanced out of the corner of her eye as she felt a spike in the Bond. The Bond was closed tight enough she couldn't be sure what was coming through, it was nothing as clear as feelings. She glanced at him sharply and resisted the urge to react. Sheppard spent so much time trying to contain all that he was, he put on a friendly face and told jokes, but in his heart he was a warrior. He wasn't bothering with the mask with the Mortii. She was glad of it, they would not mistake him for anything but the strong warrior he was. She felt a flare of something that may have been pride in her chest that her Bonded was strong enough that not even the Mortii would think to try him. She quickly squashed down the thought as she remembered

"Your Xerxe is not here," Kai said, finally deciding to was time for her to speak up. She didn't recognize either of the Mortii's standing before them, but that didn't mean much. She hadn't been well politically connected.

"Where are they?" the female asked carefully, no emotion in their voice.

"They faced me in combat," Kai said, and she reached back, touching both handles of her Blades.

"And they failed," the male observed with a scowl of disbelief.

Kai lifted her chin and met his eyes boldly. "Would you like to face me in combat?" she asked. It was a gentle question filled with quiet menace, it was meant to be rhetorical, although she wouldn't be upset if he chose to take it as a challenge. Her blood was pounding in her ears and her fingers tingled with the desire for action. Unable to maintain her control as tightly as she should, the Bond slid open and sent a nudge into John's chest.

John tried to contain his reaction, but something must have shown on his face. The female made a dismissive wave of her hand at the male, clearly telling them to leave it alone. Then they cocked their head to the side and studied both Kai and John carefully.

"Why would an Instrument, even one as broken as this Zian, stay in the Ancient city of the Ancestors?" the female drawled, a dangerous light in her eyes.

The male turned to her, a sharp look in their gaze. They turned back and looked back and forth between John and Kai. John got the impression the male couldn't sense whatever had made the female so upset but the male took their cues from the female and quickly filled in the puzzle.

"Broken?" challenged Kai before the Instruments could bring up the Bond. Her control wasn't as good as it should be and she may have inadvertently made John a target.

"How else would you describe one who disobeys and betrays and bonds with something as low as a human male?" the female hissed.

"Broken," the male agreed.

Kai lifted her chin in pride, rather than let their words effect her. "I was taught to disobey and betray. And I excelled. Name another Instrument with the record I possess."

"Never taught to disobey us," the male argued.

Kai scoffed. "Sycophants unable to think for yourselves," she threw at them, knowing the reaction her words would have, she rocked up onto the balls of her feet, prepared to take the attack before they could turn their focus on John or worse, Elizabeth.

The female looked ready to explode. Their eyes flashing in righteous anger. "You betray and betray and seek to blame us?" they challenged.

"I was left to die on a Wraith planet as payment for a debt I did not incur. I did not die. How is that betrayal?" Kai challenged lifting her chin defiantly.

The male hesitated thoughtfully. They turned to the female and rested a hand on their shoulder to still them from whatever was about to come out of their mouth. "You who were the most decorated of a generation were left as an offering to the Wraith?" he clarified slowly.

Kai jerked her head once. "That is betrayal."

The male took a slow breath and looked thoughtful as they regarded Kai. They looked first from Kai, to John, Elizabeth and settled back on Kai. "I believe Instrument," they said, speaking to the female. "We have not been given the full facts of this Instruments situation."

"What does that mean?" John snapped, unable to stand their constant circle talking much longer. He hated politics and was surprised to find despite how straight forward Kai was, the Mortii seemed to play them just as badly as everyone else.

"It means human, we have further information to gather," the female snarled the word human in disgust.

"It means," the male clarified, shooting the female a withering look of impatience. "The High Council will be interested in this information," the male said. "They have sought a way to curb the power of the Tribunal for some time."

"And which do you work for?" Kai demanded. If it was the Tribunal the Instruments would see them all dead before allowing the Tribunal's secrets to get out into the open. If it was the High Council, there was a chance they just might all make it out of here alive.

"I work for the Mortii," the male responded and his eyes hinted at a smirk that might be concealed by his scarf. "But such information should not be lost. Instrument, you should return and share your story."

John stiffened, looking back and forth from Kai to the other two Mortii. Return meant to Morti. They wanted to take her back with them. John's hands tightened into fists, but he didn't get a word out before Kai spoke up.

"I will not return to be killed,"
Kai said simply.

The male lifted their chin, their eyes twinkling with amusement. "And if I swore your safety?" they pressed.

"You do not have such power. One with that power, would not have been sent after me," Kai responded. "I am not so important."

The male leaned forward, their grey eyes suddenly very serious. "You would be wrong," they said sharply and Kai actually jerked in surprise.

John felt her shock at his words through the Bond he he fought not to let them see the reaction through him as well as her. If they did, they would know how disarmed Kai was by his words.

The male however didn't seem to care how his words effected them. "However, you are just as safe here as you are on Morti. None will think to look for you among the humans."

John got the impression being 'among the humans' was spoken of with the same energy as hiding among garbage. He frowned, but didn't say anything. This was Kai's show and he wouldn't make things worse for her if he could help it.

Kai tipped her head thoughtfully. "And the trail your followed?" Kai asked.

The male shrugged. "No one else will see the value. But know, I will return for your word."

The female was all but shaking in their rage. "But the blades!" they snapped, unable to contain themselves any longer.

"The Kai was freely given when the Zian was a youngling. The other, the Xerxe Blade Huit, belongs to the Instrument in truth by combat. Do you desire to challenge them for ownership?" the male asked, their tone almost bored.

"They wear the color of the outlanders. They betray themselves and the Mortii with every breath they take and you will do nothing?" the female challenged. "Are you so weak?" they hissed.

"The scarf was a gift of my mate and I wear it with pride," Kai snapped impatiently. She wouldn't let this female return to the capital and invalidate her word with accusations of unfaithfulness and allegiance to the Outland tribes.

"Mate?" the female hissed and their eyes locked on John, glittering with something akin to greed.

Kai felt a shift in their Bond as she claimed John in front of the Mortii. Weather it was because of her words, or his feelings about it, she couldn't be sure. She had to claim him however, they had sensed the Bond and to not claim him would leave him vulnerable to the claim of this other female.

The male, for his part, only chuckled, disregarding the females actions. "The Zian will serve a greater purpose than feeding the wraith. It was short sighted of the Tribunal to send one such as them and think they would not survive."

Kai didn't bother correcting the male Instrument. Kai had nearly died, and would have if she had not found the humans from Atlantis and made a deal for her safety.

The female made a noise of disgust in the back of her throat. "They are nothing," they snapped. "They are a runt and not even pure Zian."'

"No," the male agreed. "They are not pure Zian. No doubt that is accountable for their poor submission. A Zian is a blunt weapon often with singular focus, this one has proven themselves clever and useful enough to survive. I am satisfied, for now." The male turned back to the female, arching a brow. "Do you seek challenge for either the mate or the Blades?" they asked, not seeming very interested one way or the other.

The female turned back to Kai who's eyes glittered with malice. Her fingers contracted as she watched the larger female rake her eyes over Sheppard as though he were a piece of property she was trying to decide if she wanted or not. "The Blades-" she began again.

"Belong to the Zian," the male bit out exhaustedly. "If you wish them, you must challenge."

"The male-" the female began gesturing towards Sheppard.

John tightened his jaw, and crossed his arms over his chest. He hadn't let his pleasure over Kai's claim over him show on his face. He couldn't do that to them, it was a vulnerability to both of them, but his heart pounded in his chest.

"Do you wish the male?" the male Mortii asked simply, as though they were speaking to a child. "If you wish him, you must challenge."

The female spit on the ground. "A human mate?" they mocked. "I would challenge only for the reward of killing it before they can dilute our blood."

Kai's hands closed over her blades. "Then Challenge me," she snarled. "Or will I do it before you disparage my mate to me again."

The female stiffened, but fought to save face with a sniff and turned back to the male. "Do we not have more important things to do?" They asked.

The male threw back their head and laughed long and loud. "Useless, impure runt indeed," they mocked the female, but they turned back to Kai a more serious expression in their eyes. "We will take your truth to the High Council. We will return if it is decided your betrayal stands and kill you all to rectify the mistake," they said in an almost jovial tone. "Come Instrument," they said to the female.

Once the female was on the ship, the male paused halfway up the ramp and turned back. "Your ship," they said, looking at Sheppard.

John lifted his chin but didn't acknowledge the male any further as he waited.

"We have one in a museum,
I did not expect to see one still capable of flight."

"Kai keeps ours up and running,"John said, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Kai," the male said turning their head to look at Kai as though they hadn't considered the name. "Do they indeed?" The male chuffed another laugh, shaking their head in disbelief. "They have underestimated you," the male told Kai.

"They always have," Kai snapped back.

The male nodded and their look was considering. They bowed their head respectfully to Kai. "I will not make the mistake of my predecessors," they promised and they disappeared up the ramp, closing it behind them.

They waited until the Mortii ship had lifted off and was out of sight before any of them felt like they could take a deep breath.

"They were..." Elizabeth dragged off and shook her head. "Not what I expected," she said, feeling a little shaky. The threat of violence had hung in the air so powerfully it had been difficult to breathe. How a people could ride the line of such calm manners and a willingness for supreme violence was lost on Elizabeth. She had expected something much more akin to the Satedans. It was a sharp reminder of how close to the Ancients they were.

"We should get back," Kai said tightly and she led the way back into the Jumper. She took her spot in the co-pilot's seat and ran pre-flight while she waited.

"I have a lot of questions," Elizabeth said carefully as she took her seat. They had all been so careful not to push Kai about information about her past, but now it seemed, her past was coming to find them.

"They others will have questions too," Sheppard agreed, taking his seat as the ramp closed behind him.

"Then let's get back and I will answer all I can," Kai finally agreed.

John reached up and activated the comms. "Atlantis this is Sheppard."

"This is Atlantis," came Rodney's voice.

"Our guests seem to have left, please confirm before standing down."

"Confirmed," McKay responded after a minute. "They jumped into hyperspace almost as soon as they cleared the atmosphere."

"Have Beckett come up to the control room, we have a lot to talk about," John said and he ended the transmission.

The tension in the air was palpable as they flew back to the city. Elizabeth kept her mouth shut and watched as John and Kai flew in perfect unison without a word said between them. It was amazing to watch, considering how angry Kai seemed to be with the Colonel. Despite the obvious distance between them, the Bond didn't seem to be effected at all.

John set down in the jumper bay and they all ascended to the control room. Beckett, McKay, and Ronon were all waiting.

"Is everything all right?" Beckett asked, his brow wrinkled with concern.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, everything is fine. Our guests left," she glanced towards Kai who stood stiffly beside Ronon. "Empty handed."

"What did they want?" Ronon's voice rumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Me," Kai told them. "My Blade, the Xerxe I killed last year and their Blade."

"I get the impression the Mortii don't share very well," John said glibly to hide the anger he felt over their belief they were entitled to Kai in some way.

"They aren't willing to give up what they perceive to be their's," Kai said in agreement.

"They go as far as to perceive it to be a betrayal," Elizabeth said.

Kai nodded.

"We know what happened to you," Elizabeth said carefully. "We know your government abandoned you on a wraith planet as some kind of payment for peace, but I don't understand why that stopped those Mortii from trying to take you."

Kai pressed her lips together. "The Tribunal is responsible for the Zian. They are the most powerful caste, they control the Academy where batch warriors are trained. The High Council rules all the Mortii, but in recent centuries have not had the power to temper that of the Tribunal. This information could sway the support of many of the Zian, especially since they sacrificed one of their own as payment."

"It wouldn't be seen as them being altruistic?" McKay asked with a frown.

Kai shook her head. "I had the highest kill record of any active Zian. To use me as sacrifice would be regarded as weakness. It would make it look like they feared my abilities and potential power. That they used subterfuge to get rid of me. Weak," she said with a shake of her head.

"Was it?" Ronon asked after a moment.

Kai frowned as his question caught her by surprise. "What?" She asked.

Ronon lifted his brows as though it were obvious. "You said it would be looked at that they used the possibility of a sacrifice to get rid of you because they felt threatened. Is that what happened?"

Kai paused as she fully considered his words. She opened her mouth and closed it. "I've never thought about it that way," she said finally.

"No?" Elizabeth asked.

"Not no," Kai dragged off.

"Do you have enemies on the Tribunal?" John asked.

"I'm not politically connected enough for enemies..." Kai said the words as she believed them, but she dragged off at the end.

"What?" Ronon asked.

"It would have been an effective way to eliminate me," Kai agreed. "I had beaten every challenge for almost three years before I was sacrificed."

"So if someone wanted you gone, it would have been one of the only ways to ensure you were taken out," Ronon said.

Kai nodded. "Yes," she said. "If they weren't sure of their ability to take me one on one it would have been the only way..."

John caught her sudden realization. Not the actual thought, but the tremble through the Bond. "What?" He asked.

Kai looked up at John with a frown. "My kill record was higher than any other Zian," she said. The others nodded, they had all heard that. "What if that was because I was being sent out more often?"

"Death by assignment," Ronon commented.

John pinched his lips together hard. When Kai first came and they realized the kind of "training" she had been exposed to, he had vowed he would never let them take her back. Now that feeling was doubly so. He wouldn't let them bring her back to try and kill her.

"I'll think on it," Kai told them all, but her reassuring smile didn't reach her eyes. Honestly, she couldn't think who would want her dead or why. She had been successful despite her background and wasn't known for being as submissive as she should be, but that shouldn't have led to a death sentence.

Elizabeth nodded. "A mystery for another day. Once we all get some sleep. It's been a while since any of us have gotten much sleep. I can take the rest of the Control Room shift if the rest of you would care to get some rest."

"Do we have to worry about them coming back?" Beckett asked.

Kai shrugged. "They will if the High Council doesn't believe the Instrument's story. Although with two there to swear on their honor it is unlikely. The male instrument is more than happy for me to be far away from the Tribunal who might decide silencing me before I could speak my truth is useful."

"So you're safe for now?" Ronon asked with a frown.

"For now," Kai agreed.

"Unless this leads to the person who wanted you dead to learn you're still alive," John pointed out.

"We'll be ready," Elizabeth told the group.

Ronon nodded. "If there's nothing to fight tonight, I'm going to get some shut eye."

Elizabeth watched as the Satedan headed for the door, thinking it was probably a good thing he hadn't been there. Ronon might have challenged the Mortii just for the fun of it. The others disbursed and she went into her office, picking up one of the few tablets they had on Atlantis. She opened her file on Kai and started writing down everything she could remember from their encounter today.

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Once the other's disbursed John turned to follow Kai. She was already halfway down the corridor. He called her name and jogged to catch up. She hesitated, although she didn't look happy about it.

"You know there was something you left out in there," he said as he approached. He hadn't allowed himself to hope. Hadn't allowed himself to consider what it might mean that Kai had willingly claimed him despite how much he had screwed up.

"What's that?" Kai asked blankly. She had pulled her scarf down so her face was exposed, but her hair was still covered.

"You called me your mate," he said.

Kai stiffened. She should have known she would have to face this, but she had hoped it would be after she got some sleep. "If I hadn't, the female would have seen the existence of our Bond without a claim as weakness. She would have been within her rights to challenge you individually. Once I claimed you as my mate, any challenge would have had to go through me because you are not Mortii."

John swallowed. "So you did it to protect me. So we..."

Kai turned back to face John, as something in her chest contracted as his use of the word 'we'. The pain from her eyes cut off his words. "It doesn't mean what you hope it does. There is no 'we' by your decision," Kai said and her voice broke as she said the words she had been holding so close to her heart. "You left."

John stared into her beautiful face and felt like she had buried a knife in his chest. He had done this. He had made her look at him with such pain in her eyes.

"I understand you had orders," Kai said. "And I'm not angry about that. You are a soldier and always will be. But I can't allow myself to be as vulnerable as I did. I have to be able to protect myself."

John hated it, hated every part of Kai's words that meant she thought she had to protect herself, and had to protect herself from him in particular.

"Kai please, when we were apart...it was like I was drowning but I couldn't goddamn die," he said resting a hand on his chest.

"Exactly," Kai snapped. "I can't go through that again. I don't know if we can reverse what the Bond became, but I won't allow it to become anything more. I can't. You will go home John. Maybe not this month or even this year, but at some point you will go home. You will leave and then age and I will still be here. I can't open myself up to that again. I can't trust you John."

"You mean me, you won't open yourself up to me again," John said bitterly. He wasn't mad at Kai, not really. It was all his fault. He had done this. He had made her feel like she couldn't trust him. Maybe she couldn't. She was right afterall. He had left. He had hurt her.

"If you can't accept that, I will leave," Kai said simply. "I need space and if you can't respect that then I will make my own way. I like Atlantis, I have never had a home before, but I can't have this fight with you every day."

"You don't have to worry about me bothering you," John snapped, his anger rising through his disparity at last. He couldn't do this. Couldn't listen to her explain, so logically, how she could just walk away from what they had. How she could walk away from him when he felt like he couldn't breathe without her. "I won't bother you, but I won't walk away from this."

"It was you who walked away," she said and she turned on her heel and left him alone.

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