STARGATE ATLANTIS

Tashjian

By J. B. Tilton

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Rating: K

Disclaimer: "Stargate Atlantis" and all related characters and events are the property of the SyFy Channel, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

During the Atlantis routine physicals, Dr. Beckett discovers some discrepancies that leads Dr. Weir and Shepherd to believe there might be a spy in Atlantis.

ONE

"I am fine," Ronon insisted. "There's no reason for me to submit to this invasion of my privacy."

"It's not an invasion of privacy," explained Dr. Beckett. "It's a routine physical examination and everyone is required to have them. We just want to make sure that everyone is in peak physical condition."

"I am," Ronon continued to insist. "There's nothing wrong with me."

"Which is what the doctor is going to determine," said Teyla, walking into the examination room. "As he explained it to me, it is possible to be suffering some ill effects without having any symptoms. Ronon, you of all people should understand the necessity of a warrior to be at his best. That is all the doctor is doing."

"But I feel fine," protested Ronon.

"Then this shouldn't be a problem," said Beckett. "Look. It won't take long and I promise it won't hurt. And once I'm finished you can go back to whatever it was you were doing."

"I'm not afraid of pain," said Ronon, annoyance in his voice. "I just see no point in being examined when it's not necessary."

"Well, Dr. Weir says that everyone has a physical if they want to continue going on missions," said Beckett. "Now, if you want to keep going through the Stargate I suggest you just shut up and let me do my job. Or I'll have to report that you haven't had your physical. In which case I'm pretty sure she'll personally order you to take one."

"Very well," Ronon finally said. "But I still say it's a waste of time."

"Dr. Beckett?" questioned one of the nurses, walking up to him holding a clipboard. "I need you to sign this so I can program it into the computer."

"What is it?" Beckett asked, taking the clipboard and looking at the papers on it.

"It's the physical results for Dr. Bower," replied the nurse. "I guess you forgot to sign it after you reviewed it."

"Bower?" questioned Beckett. "I don't remember doing a physical on him yet."

"Well, according to this, you did it two days ago," said the nurse.

"Okay," said Beckett, signing the bottom of the top page. "These periodic physicals all seem to run together after a while. There you go," handing the clipboard back to the nurse. "Any more of them I forgot to sign?"

"Not so far," said the nurse. "I'll go program this into the computer with the others."

"I'll have another one for you in a while," said Beckett. "Ronon is the last physical. Once I'm done with it we'll be finished with them for another six months."

The nurse just smiled and turned to head for the computer to input the results. Beckett picked up a small flashlight and turned back to Ronon.

"Now, if you'll have a seat on the examination table, we'll get this over as quickly as possible," he said.

"I will see you in the command center when you are finished," Teyla said to Ronon.

Ronon just grunted and then climbed up on the exam table.

Elizabeth and Shepherd were in her office discussing additional security measures for Atlantis when Dr. Beckett suddenly entered the office. Elizabeth had a standing open door policy for all the team members on Atlantis. Especially when they had a question or a problem. At the moment, Beckett had both.

"Carson, how are the physicals going?" Elizabeth asked.

"All completed," said Beckett. "A few minor problems but nothing serious." He laid a computer pad to Elizabeth. "Here's my official report."

"Thanks," said Elizabeth. "I'll look at it later. I'm sure everything is in order."

"About that," said Beckett. "Something has come to my attention. Something that presents something of a mystery."

"Was there a problem with the physicals?" questioned Shepherd.

"Not exactly," said Beckett. "It has more to do with the results of one particular physical."

"You said there weren't any serious problems," said Elizabeth.

"Aye, and there wasn't," said Beckett. "But that's not the problem. I was reviewing all the results to make sure I hadn't missed anything. What I found is something I can't explain."

"What is it?" Shepherd asked.

"It's about Dr. Bower," said Beckett. "I was comparing the results of this physical with his previous physicals. As you know, I've got a complete medical history of all the members assigned to Atlantis."

"Yes, we know," said Elizabeth. "What's the problem?"

"Not a problem, really," said Beckett. "More like a discrepancy. According to the computer records the results for this physical are exactly the same as all of his previous physicals."

"So what's the problem?" questioned Shepherd. "It just sounds to me like he's in perfect health. Just like a lot of us here."

"No, you don't understand," said Beckett. "They are exactly the same. Same blood pressure, same heart rate, same respiration, everything. They're identical to every physical he's ever had, at least according to the records I have."

"And that's a problem?" Elizabeth asked.

"It's just highly unlikely," said Beckett. "A person's metabolism changes slightly from moment to moment. In periods of high stress their heart rate can increase dramatically. Even when they're perfectly at rest it's normal for the readings to fluctuate slightly. I don't think it's possible for the results of so many physical to be exactly the same."

"You think there is problem with the files?" Shepherd asked.

"Well, for the most part, they seem to be perfectly normal files," said Beckett. "With one exception. The file numbers don't match the information in the files. Part of the coding system for the files includes the date the physicals were performed. I've found at least six separate files whose coding system doesn't match the date they were supposedly given. Including one that was made by Dr. Frasier at Stargate Command on Earth."

"What's so unusual about that?" asked Elizabeth. "Dr. Frasier was the chief medical officer at Stargate Command. It stands to reason she'd perform routine physicals on the personnel there. And wasn't Dr. Bower assigned to the SGC before coming to Atlantis?"

"That's true," replied Beckett. "But according to the file, Dr. Frasier supposedly gave Dr. Bower his physical six months after she died. There's a copy of the results in the file with her signature on it."

"How could she have signed a physical if she was dead?" questioned Shepherd.

"She couldn't have," said Elizabeth. "John, maybe we should have someone check the computer and make sure there isn't a problem with it. It's possible we have a glitch that's corrupting the files somehow."

"I'll have Rodney take a look at it," said Shepherd. "I would also suggest we have a chat with Dr. Bower. He might know something that could shed some light on this."

"Good idea," said Elizabeth. "Carson, I want you to recheck what you've found. Make sure you haven't missed anything. I'll have Dr. Bower here at 1400 and we can talk to him then. In the mean time I suggest we keep this to ourselves. No sense creating a panic if there's a logical explanation for this."

"Aye," said Beckett. "I'll check my records immediately. You might be right. It might just be some corrupted files."

"I'll get Rodney started on the computer check," said Shepherd heading for the office door.

As Shepherd and Beckett left her office Elizabeth sat thinking about the news. She really didn't believe there was a glitch in the computer. Even though they were still learning about the Atlantis computer system there had never been any serious problems with it. And the type of problem Carson had described didn't sound like a computer glitch. It sounded more like deliberate tampering. Which meant it was possible there could be a saboteur in Atlantis.