Murphy's Christmas Chapter 1: Automated defences, a stargate: atlantis fanfic

Murphy's Christmas

Author: ShaViva

Rating: T

Content Warning: Some violence/bloodshed – nothing too bad

Season: post season 5

Summary: When Teyla and Lorne find an Ancient facility off world Evan discovers that Murphy's Law applies in the Pegasus galaxy too. Can John and the rest of the team get to them before their luck runs out? John/Teyla established, Lorne/Cadman pre-ship. Follows on from The Ghost of An Idea (last year's Christmas story).

Classifications: Friendship/Romance

Pairings: John/Teyla established; Lorne/Cadman pre-ship

Spoilers for: Nothing really.

Acknowledgements: Wikipedia and the wonder that is Stargate.

Disclaimer: The Stargate characters, storylines, etc aren't mine. I am unfortunately not associated in any way with the creators, owners, or producers of Stargate or any of its media franchises – if I was Lorne would have been in A LOT more episodes and they actually would have shown that of course Sheppard and Lorne would have been FRIENDS! All publicly recognizable characters, settings, equipment, etc are the property of whoever owns them. The original characters and plot and anything else I made up are the property of me, the author. No copyright infringement is intended.

Authors Note:

This is a follow on story from The Ghost of an Idea, my story from last Christmas ... you could read that now but it's probably not completely essential for this one. This new story is AU in the sense that Atlantis wasn't left floating in San Francisco Bay at the end of season 5 when another Christmas story from me would have to take place. Instead they did what they needed to do for Enemy at the Gate and then returned to the Pegasus Galaxy to continue their work there. Everything else from Season 5 happened as was portrayed. Oh, and the story is all written and will be all posted before Christmas gets here.

Murphy's Extended Law:
If a series of events can go wrong, they will do so in the worst possible sequence. Wikipedia.

Chapter 1: Automated defences

"This is just great," Major Evan Lorne looked around the dimly lit room in disgust.

"It was not your fault Major," Teyla's voice was calm and reassuring as usual but Evan wasn't ready to be let off the hook just yet.

"I should have reported in and gotten Colonel Sheppard to bring McKay instead of deciding to check this out myself," he returned insistently. "Then you wouldn't be stuck down here with the wrong person. At least if McKay were here he'd be able to fix that thing and open the doors again." He pointed to the device that took centre stage in the room they found themselves trapped in. His team had escorted Teyla to M6R-581 so that she could begin talking trade agreements with the local village. As always something apparently simple had shed its innocent facade and become complex, annoying and, if they didn't find a way out quickly, progressively worrying.

"There was no reason to call Atlantis," Teyla countered simply. "Amalita wished only to confirm that their place of worship was in fact descended from the Ancestors. Why would we expect anything more than the ruins we most often find?"

"Because this is the Pegasus galaxy," Lorne quipped sarcastically before conceeding reluctantly, letting his self flagellation go in favour of working out what to do next. Shining the light on his P-90 around the room he took note of everything thoughtfully, considering their options.

Amalita had told them about the yearly pilgrimage the residents of M6R-581 made to their 'sacred' site - a series of stone columns surrounding what had turned out to be a doorway leading downwards. The hatch had opened when Lorne had tripped a switch entirely by accident. The stairs leading down were intact where the surface had been in ruins, the incongruency of that enough to get Lorne's interest. The only thing they'd found at the bottom was a single door with standard Ancient controls. Evan had swiped a hand over them, not really expecting the door to open ... it had though, revealing the large room they now found themselves trapped in.

The room was already dimly lit with the faint blue glow of the ancient lights that had come on as soon as Lorne had set foot in the room. It was empty save for the console that dominated the centre of the large space ... the decorative markings around the walls giving no clues to the rooms original purpose. "Probably some kind of research facility," Lorne commented as he walked slowly around the console, shining his light carefully up and down the walls and along the ceiling. "Would have made sense to include more than one way in," he added under his breath as he completed his circuit and returned to the still closed entrance.

"They would not have expected the door to malfunction," Teyla was also walking slowing across the room, checking for anything that would help them. "It has been many years since anyone set foot here."

"That's if it is broken," Evan shot a grin over at his companion. "Wouldn't put it past the Ancients to create something like this just to annoy us." Catching sight of a faint shadow off to one corner, Lorne moved forward, shining the light slowly out from the middle of the room.

"You have found something?" Teyla moved to stand at his shoulder, casting a curious glance at the wall.

"Maybe," Lorne said absently, narrowing his eyes as he lowered his P-90 and stepped up to run a hand over the wall.

Teyla obligingly shone her own light to assist as Lorne searched and then appeared to find what he was looking for.

"I think there's a hidden door here," Lorne explained, casting a glance back at her with a shrug. "We just have to see if we can open it."

"There is nothing at the console that would help?" Teyla asked.

"Wouldn't matter if there was," Evan replied. "Far as I can tell there's no power getting to the controls ... the lights being on means there is still power so there must be some kind of glitch before it can get to the console." Forcing his fingers into one of the grooves that ran from floor to ceiling, Lorne shifted to lean a shoulder on the wall as he began applying force to pull the door open. "Come on," he muttered grimly, the effort he was expending evident in the reddening of his face and the way the veins in his neck began to stand out.

Abruptly something seemed to give and the panels slid apart with a grating whoosh. Lorne stumbled and only just managed to keep himself from falling backwards. "Wait," he put a hand out to stop Teyla from walking forward. "Let me just ...," he trailed off, bringing his P-90 forward again and moving to stand in the opening. It was very dark inside what turned out to be a long corridor that seemed to lead away from their location. The air wasn't stale which gave Lorne reason to believe there was at the very least some kind of opening to the surface letting in fresh air.

There was nothing to indicate where the corridor led which did give him pause. The rest of his team were back at the gate ... once he and Teyla failed to come back at the scheduled time Captain Lewis and Private Collins would act. Someone would come looking for them eventually.

"You are thinking that it might be better to stay and wait for rescue," Teyla stated.

"Yeah," Lorne nodded. "Lewis will call Atlantis and report that we're missing so they'll send someone to search for us. Trouble is they might not work out we're down here even if they manage to hook up with Amalita and she leads them right to the ruins."

"Because the hatch closed behind us," Teyla acknowledged.

"Exactly," Lorne agreed. "We know radioing Lewis at the gate isn't working. That could just mean we're out of range because we're under ground ... or it could mean something down here is blocking our signal."

"If it is the later we will be unable to contact the search teams to report our location even if they are directly above us," Teyla concluded. She glanced at their apparent escape route before turning her gaze back to Lorne. "I am happy to proceed Major," she said confidently.

Lorne stood, thinking for a moment. Neither option was guaranteed and at the end of the day he'd rather be doing something than sitting around waiting for others to do it. "Okay," he said decisively, taking out his torch and switching it on. "Let's check it out ... we can always come back if we can't get through."

Teyla nodded, falling into step beside Lorne as they moved forward. The corridor certainly looked Ancient - Evan thought it was a shame there were no automatic lights to come on at their approach. The torches were fine, he just didn't like the uncertainty of not knowing what might be hidden in the darkness outside the torches range. They'd walked maybe sixty feet when the sound of the door whooshing closed behind them echoed loudly back to them.

"Damn!" Lorne muttered, spinning and running back the way they'd come. Unlike the other side, the door slotted into the walls meaning there was no way he could force it open. There were no controls either so even if he had McKay's talent or the man himself there to assist they couldn't even jimmy the door open.

"Looks like we're going this way regardless," Lorne announced as he returned to Teyla's side. She nodded simply, letting nothing of her feelings show, for which he was more than grateful. Silence reined, only the sounds of their footsteps on the stone floor accompanying them as they walked at an even pace. The corridor led straight and true, no turns or bends to alter their course, as though the Ancients had simply drawn a line between the first room and wherever the long corridor led and just ploughed through everything to connect them. If Lorne's compass was working true they were heading roughly towards the gate, a bonus he didn't want to acknowledge as good luck just yet.

"John said you were not returning to Earth for Christmas this year," Teyla's soft voice sounded louder in the enclosed space.

"No," Evan glanced at her with a shrug. "First year I get leave to be there on the day and my sister decides to win a family holiday." He grinned. "Given a choice between an Uncle visiting and Disneyland for Christmas I think I'd go with Mickey myself."

"I am sorry," Teyla's tone was sympathetic.

"It's okay," Lorne replied. "I saw them last year ... missed presents and the like but I did manage to get there on Christmas Day. And there's always next year." He was genuinely okay with the situation ... after Colonel Sheppard's abrupt change of heart last year he'd ended up with a week of the leave he'd had previously rejected. It had been enough for Evan to renew his connection to his family, to the fond memories he had of Christmases as a kid. "What about you?" he turned attention away from his own situation. "This will be your first with the Colonel together. I bet Torren's excited."

"He is very excited," Teyla said with a smile. "As is John ... they are like two children plotting. I am not sure exactly what to expect," she added, raising an eyebrow at Lorne expectantly.

"Hey, even if I knew something I know better than to tell you," Evan said with a laugh. "Colonel Sheppard can assign me to duties I haven't had to do for a long time ... the ones you hope never to have to do again."

"He tells me anticipation is part of the experience," Teyla commented. She'd shared in the celebration of Christmas for a number of years - since she'd joined the Atlantis expedition on a permanent basis - but this was her first when so intimately connected to someone who'd grown up with the tradition.

"It is," Evan agreed. He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Sucks, doesn't it?"

"Yes it does," Teyla replied simply, the two sharing a glance before they both started laughing.

"The good stuff begins from Christmas Eve," Evan commented. "So you've only got the rest of today to get through ... only a few more hours before the party kicks off."

"Yes," Teyla paused, "and to be honest I have enjoyed seeing John reconnecting with his childhood love of Christmas."

"Makes a change from the Scrooge he used to be," Lorne agreed casually.

Teyla was surprised at his reference to the classic tale - Evan didn't know of John's experiences from the previous year even though he'd been partially affected by them. She would have said more about it but Lorne's abrupt change from conversational to alert had her freezing even before he'd raised his fist in the silent signal to stop. She strained to hear what he might have but it was completely silent. Turning to watch Evan she was intrigued to see a similar expression on his face as John always got when he was doing things that required the Ancient gene.

"Major?" she asked in a low tone, watching him closely.

"Something's not right," Evan whispered back. He waited a few more moments but nothing happened. "Wait here," he gave the order firmly, getting Teyla's nod before raising his weapon to the ready position and moving cautiously forward, one step at a time.

The beam came out of nowhere, heading straight for Lorne's head. He reacted instantly, firing at the source as he leapt out of the way.

Teyla rushed forward, already firing at the box like object protruding from the ceiling. A second beam struck out before she managed to destroy the weapon in a shower of sparks. Turning she was greeted with the sight of Major Lorne crumpled against the wall, not moving.

"Major!" she ran and dropped to his side, putting a hand to his chest and feeling the relief wash over her in time with the steady beat of his heart. "Major," she said again, looking for signs of injury as she carefully rolled him away from the wall to lie flat on his back. The spreading circle of blood at his shoulder told its own story ... the beam's force had been deadly enough to cut through the protective inserts in his tac vest. Ripping open pockets in her own vest Teyla got what she needed and moved to remove Lorne's vest.

"Ouch," Evan moaned in a pained voice, opening his eyes to see Teyla leaning over him, her expression both worried and purposeful. He moved to sit up and didn't need Teyla's firm hand to have him dropping back down with a groan.

"Lie still Major," Teyla advised firmly, pressing a bandage to his wound with enough force to have him growling in pain.

"Evan," he met her eyes, struggling to ignore his physical condition. "Don't you think it's time you called me by my first name ... especially now?"

"Very well ... Evan," Teyla said with a faint smile. "Please lie still while I assess your condition."

"What was that thing?" he ground out, craning his head to see how bad the damage was, although the fiery pain in his shoulder said it probably wasn't good.

"I do not know," Teyla replied. She'd opened Lorne's vest and shirt and was cutting away his t-shirt to get at the wound, relaxing just slightly when she saw it wasn't as bad as she'd feared. There was a small puncture wound though, blood seeping in a steady flow down the side of Evan's chest.

"How bad is it?" Lorne couldn't see enough to do his own diagnosis.

Applying a pressure bandage Teyla met Lorne's eyes. "Can you raise yourself up just slightly so I can see ..," she began.

"If it went all the way through," Lorne concluded, shifting his elbows to the ground so he could give her room to check his back.

"There is a wound here too – not serious. You will be fine," Teyla said confidently, hoping the beam hadn't hit anything crucial on the way through to make that a lie.

"Just patch me up and we'll keep moving then," Lorne requested. The wound might be minor but it still hurt and he couldn't help but groan a little at the pain as he moved to take off his own vest and shirt, trying to help. Down to his t-shirt he sat still, letting Teyla destroy the back of his t-shirt too before she quickly cleaned, packed and dressed both wounds, strapping a bandage across his shoulder and around his chest to hold them firmly. "Thanks Teyla," he pulled on a new t-shirt carefully, wincing a couple of times but deciding in the whole scheme of things that it wasn't too bad. He didn't have a spare uniform shirt so just made do with putting his tac vest back on over the t-shirt, bundling the destroyed clothing back into his pack.

"There is pain relief," Teyla offered neutrally.

"I'm okay for now," Lorne returned just as she'd expected. "Let's push forward."

"Very well," Teyla agreed, moving to his side, still watching him to make sure he really was good enough to keep going. "You sensed something?" she asked curiously, putting a hand to his arm to stop him before he could head off again.

"I thought ...," he paused, regrouped, "something Ancient," he admitted. "Kind of like the feeling I get when the Puddle Jumper systems activate without me consciously requesting them." He thought for a moment, frowning. "I'm thinking that was some kind of automated defence system, which means we need to be extra careful. You destroyed that one but if it were me I'd have installed more than one."

"As would I," Teyla agreed.

"I should be able to pick up the activation easier if there is another one," Lorne offered. "Now I know what to watch out for."

Nodding, Teyla kept close to the Major's side as they began walking again. A few metres later Evan got that same inkling ... this time they located the weapon before it could activate and destroyed it before moving forward again. A third automated weapon was easily destroyed and then Lorne relaxed.

"That's it ... I think," he announced.

Teyla nodded, her eyes still concerned. "How are you feeling Evan?" she asked.

"I'm fine Teyla," he said quickly. "I mean, I'm not going to be hitting a home run anytime soon but I'm okay." He lifted his arms in a carefree kind of gesture to prove the point and then lowered them quickly with a wince. "I wouldn't say no to getting out of here soon though," he admitted with a rueful smile.

"Neither would I," Teyla agreed. She considered offering him the pain medication again - his face was too pale and he was holding himself stiffly, not in the relaxed manner she was used to seeing. But Teyla knew Lorne enough to know he'd refuse the medication as he had before. He'd taken responsibility for their predicament and nothing she said would sway him from that view. It hadn't helped that John had jokingly told Lorne to look after his girl when they'd left for the mission that afternoon. It was something that Evan would always take seriously but even more so since he'd been in charge of the team the day Michael's agents had fooled them in Kroya and she'd been captured. Even months later when she'd been safe and the mother of a healthy baby boy Evan hadn't forgiven himself, despite her urgings for him to put it from his mind.

"What's this?" Lorne's voice drew her attention from her thoughts back to the present. Evan had been walking about a step in front of Teyla - now he moved and shone his light for her to see what had grabbed his attention. "This is not good," he muttered, turning a worried look to Teyla.

"No, it is not," she agreed, taking in the blocked corridor with a sinking heart. The roof had clearly collapsed at some time in the past, filling the passage with rubble. There was no way through and with their entrance sealed as well there was only one conclusion to be made.

They were trapped.