Atlantis leave me alone I'm trying to work and you constantly bugging me isn't helping me work any faster. Lt. Col. John Sheppard shoved the nagging voice to the back of his head and tried to finish writing his mission report.

But the system needs repairing. Atlantis' A.I. protested, squeezing herself back to the surface.

Don't care. John said stubbornly.

Yes, yes you do. Atlantis countered.

You don't have the power of hypnotism you know. He said sarcastically and, as an annoyed afterthought, added. You fix it.

I need an operator, you know this. I have not had an operator for more than 10,000 years. There are many systems that need restoration.Atlantis argued reasonably.

Well, there are many reports that need to be read. If I went waltzing down to every room and restored every system you wanted me to I'd never get any work done around here. John snapped back.

I have not asked you to restore any systems in over a week. This system crashed 6,309 years ago. She explained. Please, John? Atlantis purred in a tone that seemed unique to her and generally got her whatever she wanted.

John sighed, whenever Atlantis said anything in that tone he couldn't help but comply. No matter how many times she used it John didn't seem to be building up a resistance.

Fine. Just let me finish this report and I'll go.

Thank you John. Atlantis said in the same tone, if she had a face she would be smiling smugly.

John shuffled through the empty halls of an unexplored section of the city with his hands in his pockets. He soon came to the end of the hallway which it split in a 'T.' Taking advantage of the empty halls, he spoke aloud to Atlantis, "Left 'r right?"

Neither. Atlantis replied immediately.

"What's that s'possed t'mean?" He asked before she could elaborate, slurring his words in exhaustion.

Earlier, once he'd finished the report, Rodney had dragged him down to his lab and wouldn't take, 'no' for an answer. After playing 'on button' for what seemed like hours, Major Lorne's team had missed their check-in. Since they weren't on the most friendly terms with the people they'd been negotiating with, John had gone with back-up to bail him out. Which was fortunate as Lorne and his team were about to be executed for trespassing on sacred ground. The locals wouldn't trade anything for their lives, so John scared them off with the 'Jumper and retrieved the team.

Now he was wandering around the city trying to find the system Atlantis had wanted him to fix six hours before.

It means go straight. Atlantis said gently, well aware of the fact that he was exhausted.

"Straight's a wall." He pointed out, frustrated.

It is an illusion, simply walk forward. What you see is only colored light. Atlantis continued to use a soft tone. Which was more like a feeling. Since Atlantis' words were thoughts in John's head any "tones" were more like little waves of feeling.

"'Kay." John stepped through the wall and nearly stripped and fell down the two steps at the entrance. He prevented himself from falling down face first but still landed with a splash in one and a half feet of water that hadn't found it's way out because of said steps. He scanned the room he now found himself in, it looked like any other ancient lab he'd seen.

"What's this room used for?" John asked, taking a seat at the nearest console and letting his hands hover just above it.

I do not know.

John hastily brought his hands back to in and raised his eyebrows, "You don't know? And you sent me down here?"

All data as to what the system was outside of the system was erased. Now since the system is damaged I cannot read it. Atlantis explained patiently.

"Don't you think there might be a good reason for that? Maybe we should get Rodney down here first."

How are you going to tell him how you found it and why you want him there while you turn it on?

"Alright alright," He conceded. "Just as long as your sure it won't hurt me or anything."

It won't. If it starts to go wrong I will shield your mind from it.

"Okie dokie." Taking a deep breath John placed his hands on the console in front of him and concentrated. The system's data appeared as equations and ancient letters that meant nothing to him but Atlantis obligingly translated. The entire system was in a jumble. Agonizing minutes passed while John unscrambled it so that it was readable. Finally he opened his eyes and, slumping on the stool, announced tiredly. "Done." Even though he could find out himself he felt too tired so asked Atlantis to do it. "What is it?"

Agitation hit John with a sensation resembling a wraith stunner blast.

John leave now!

"What?" The word had barely left his mouth before the wall to his left opened up to reveal a man dressed in ancient clothes. He opened his eyes and glanced around. His eyes were dark and his face was sharp and angled, his hair long and black. He stepped out and, seeing John, advanced quickly toward him.

"Uh, hi." John raised his hand in greeting, knowing that if it came down to who could get away faster, he wouldn't have a chance in his current state. He hoped that since he hadn't made any aggressive moves yet maybe he would still get a good night's sleep. His hopes were dashed as the man, upon reaching him, reached out and lifted John by his neck, his boots still brushing the water and his windpipe being crushed unmercifully.

"Tell me the time, human" He ordered.

John choked wondering how the man thought he was going to answer and wondering briefly why he'd called him 'human.' As quickly as his arms would respond, John pulled out the knife he carried on his belt and slammed it into the man's arm. He yelled in pain and dropped John into the water, soaking him all the way through in two seconds. John had barely sat up before the man had jerked him to his feet by the collar of his gray jacket. The man twisted John's arm behind his back with his free had and took the knife. In near blind fury the man buried the blade into John's calf. John restrained from making any noises of pain, thankful that it had not hit bone.

I thought you said you'd 'shield' me. He thought adding mental finger quotes for emphasis.

There was not much I could do, I am sorry John. John felt Atlantis' guilt and hurried to add, Not your fault. Just tell somebody, don't care how. John heard the man speaking but had ignored him during his short conversation. "Sorry, musta zoned out on ya there."

"Who are you?" The man growled, twisting the knife still embedded in his leg.

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead and John bit his lip to keep from groaning. When he didn't answer the knife slid painfully out of his leg and the bloodied metal of his knife pressed against his throat, the hot liquid drops sliding down his neck. He decided to cut his losses and that names wouldn't hurt in this situation, in fact given the position of his knife they would probably help. "Lt. Col... John Sheppard. You?"

There was a heavy pause before the pressure of the knife eased ever-so-slightly "You can call me Argrose. Now," Argrose adjusted his grip on the knifr, "Where am I?" Argrose was talking quietly and slowly, panting slightly from both the pain in his arm and the effort John had caused him.

John squirmed but Argrose was built like a brick wall. It wouldn't have surprised John if he could go head-to-head with Ronon. "Kinda... obvious." John told him evasively, biding his time to come up with an escape plan as well as an unhelpful reply.

"Answer!" Argrose's voice rose in volume and ptich.

John sealed his mouth shut, not knowing if it was best to tell him he was on Atlantis or an outpost of a different planet. Unable to decide, John simultaneously dug his left elbow into Argrose's gut, thrust his good leg's foot onto Argrose's foot as hard he could, and dropped his entire weight. It successfully freed him, though only for a moment. For his efforts he received a crushing blow to his head. Then sweet darkness.