"What the hell?"

"You made ANOTHER ONE?!"

She looked quite innocent sitting on the table/creation machine/whatever the hell it was. She kicked her legs back and forth, looking around with wide (and innocent) green eyes, obviously interested in her surroundings, and yet hadn't expressed anything. Then again, her base program was different from Fran's. But not by much.

She was younger than he'd planned. Barely would pass as an adult, maybe the age of one of the new Leutenants.

And they'd been mad at him. The Replicators were gone, and he'd gone and made another one. Idiots, he'd thought after the briefing. They should know by now, especially Samantha Carter, that scientists liked to research. And he couldn't very well do that without a Replicator, could he?

They hadn't been very supportive of his brilliant idea, either. Not even when he'd told him she was as enert to replicating as Elizabeth was. Prehaps that had been the problem. Still the ever sensitive subject, and he'd even mentally kicked himself several times for even mentioning so. But it was a point.

She was looking at him now, a slight smile, blank yet knowing, breaking across her face, dusted with freckles. Her skin was pale-like, but she wasn't going to need much sun. And her out fit...where did they come up with these? A white cream colored sleeveless pullover, and a checkered longsleeve underneath, and bottoms to a pant suit? With barefeet. After the intial shock of another one, that had been the first question: "Where's her shoes?"

That was a question even he, Rodney McKay, didn't have an answer to.

She folded her hands in her lap lightly, taking the posture of waiting for him to say something. It was kind of familiar. The bare feet stopped wiggling. Those green eyes were boring into him, with such blatant innocence it was almost appaling. Why had he thought of this? Why couldn't it have been a blonde babe? No, it was this kid. And still, she was waiting.

He cleared his throat, moving around the room awkwardly. God, that stare was so familiar. Putting down the laptop, he turned again, facing her. She looked straight ahead, and tilted her head to the side, cocking an eyebrow. He couldn't help it. "What are you looking at?"

"You." the answer was instantaneous. She was prepared, and probably provoked the conversation. He frowned. "Well I knew that."

"Then why did you ask?" she shot back, tilting her head the other way. "Stop that." he waved at her, looking for something else. Anything else. Those eyes were drilling holes into him. And Rodney McKay did not like to be uncomfortable in his own lab. "Stop what?"

"Tilting your head. It's annoying."

"Okay, Rodney."

He stood up straight when she'd said his name. Of course, he'd told it to her, when she first 'came to be'. "What's wrong?" she asked, and he could image her frow furrowing in such concern. Damn, she read body language too...how the hell'd that happen? "Nothing."

"Are you still upset?"

"About what?" He turned, yet again, to face her. The replicator looked towards the entrance of his lab. "Those other ones. Your...friends, you called them?"

"What about them?"

"Are they still hostile towards your actions?"

What the hell? "Hostile towards my...oh, you mean mad at me?" she giggled slightly...it echoed from something he'd heard long ago. "Yes. They didn't seem pleased at all when they found you in here with me."

"No, they weren't."

"That's what I just said."

"Then why did you-" he cut off. She was grinning again. It snapped. "Oh...very funny." he shook a finger at her, and the area just above her nose wrinkled in slight confusion. Wow, she caught on quick. Fran hadn't even been this fast. "They weren't exactly, mad, as suprised."

"Oh, like the look on your face when I first saw you!" she looked pleased with herself. Did he add in the base code correctly? "Yes, I guess."

This was getting really akward, really fast. He needed to get down to business. "So, what can you tell me about the Replicators?"

"Me?"

"...Yes. You."

She moved her arms again, crossing them over her chest, raising one to tap her chin thoughtfully. If she wasn't such a risk, He might have thought it interesting. "Well?"

"I'm thinking." she snapped slightly, returning to her position. His own eyebrows shot up in suprise. Certainly a difference. "I'm a Replicator. I am built of microscopic nantites that reinact everything that you are, in me." she gestured to herself. "I was made recently, and as far as I know, am the single populace of my race."

He snorted. If you could call it that. They were just highly civilized computers that were satisfied.

Her brow wrinkled, and she frowned at him. "I've been built to aid you, Dr. Rodney McKay, in your research about my exctinct brothers." He looked up again. What a choice of words. And what was that? A hint of sadness? Nah, couldn't be.

"Anything else you'd like to know?" she took a breath, or at least simulated as so. What? That was it? He already knew this! "I know all that. And-and you know I know all that."

She shrugged, reciprocating something the guard with the ARG had done earlier. "I thought you were continuing on the joke."

"What? No. No, I don't do that."

"Oh..." she nodded. "I'll remember for next time."

"Next time?"

"You ask me."

Rodney groaned. Oh dear lord. She was being difficult. And She...she, she, she. She didn't have a name. Perhaps he should think about these things for next time.

What was he talking about? There will be no next time, he doesn't think. He had to fight for her to keep her alive, so to speak. A name...

She leaned forward, immitating his expression, or at least her impression of.

"So...what about your people? Are you going to tell me about them?"

"What, you don't know already?"

She looked hurt. "Despite what you created me for Rodney, I am not an Ancient. I am not all knowing."

He swore under his breath. Cheeky thing wasn't she? If Sheppard hadn't been so ticked, he might have thought it funny. But no. Every one he'd considered a friend had not been with the idea of keeping her. One look and Sheppard had said, 'Kill it.' Just woken up, and already exposed to such behavior.

Oh god, he was turning into a parent. Over a Replicator. What was his problem? Maybe...maybe he should get rid of her.

"Rodney...you look distressed."

He looked up. That worried look again. Damnit, why was it so familiar? "I'm thinking."

"You think oddly..." she paused, returning to clasping her hands in her lap. "What are you thinking about?"

"None of your business." he snapped quickly, again, regretting it. He had to remember: She may look, sound, even feel and think like a human, but she wasn't human. That was the condition he was to work with.

"And my business would be..." she prompted.

"To help me with research." he finished, slightly irritated. This was going in circles, he felt.

"Oh. I thought that was my purpose."

"Yes it is."

"But you said it was my business-"

"Yes, I know. They are the same thing!"

"No they aren't. They have completely different definitions. Their synonyms are not even similar..."

"Oh, just stop it!" He'd snapped. "You stop with all the innocent stares, and the corny jokes! We aren't getting anywhere! You are a Replicator! So unless I made the very slim chance of not programming you correctly, you are here to do one thing and one thing only. To help me with my research!"

She didn't say anything for the longest time. She stared at him, a mild look of...shock? Betrayal? Upsetment?

"You're wrong...Rodney. I don't do one thing. Research, is what I am...learning. I only know so much, Rodney. And it doesn't all come to me quickly, as you've seen." she sighed, running an arm across her eyes. (To wipe away tears that didn't exist?) "But, Rodney, I do know things. And if helps to learn things. I apply what I know, which help you, as I've observed. I'm not here as one business, Rodney. I'm here, because you made me live."

He was completely taken aback. Glancing over at the guard, even his mouth was open. And he probably didn't understand half of it. Rodney crossed his arms. "Getting defensive now?" she itoned, raising that familar eyebrow again. Grunting, he but his hands back at his sides.

"So...what now?"

"You're the scientist. I'm the project, apparently, " she said the last bit with a colder tone, "aren't you supposed to know? My knowledge is somewhat...limited, apparently."

Oh, great, he'd made her upset. This was new. And who knew how long they could hold grudges...prehaps to the end of her very short life. "Uh...uhm...not really. I wasn't really thinking everything through to the very end. I was just expecting you to start spouting off information."

She shook her head. "It doesn't work that way, Rodney. You off all the very few persons I have met, should know better. I see you have a great intelligence. Like that pretty blonde carter."

"Who, Sam?"

"Yes, Sam the colonel carter. Isn't that what the pretty warrior woman called her?"

NOW they were getting somewhere. "Yes. Colonel Sam Carter and Teyla."

She nodded, traces of displeasement vanishing. "Okay. I will make sure to remember that."

"Are you going to say that every time you learn something knew?"

"Yes, so you'll know I have it."

"Well, we know enough about you to know that it isn't nessicary, so uh...stop it, please. It's annoying."

"Like the man who speaks in the alien tongue and wears those vision enhancers." she made the glasses motion with her hands, making her fingers circles and putting them over her eyes. "Zelenka."

"Okay I'll-...Zelenka." she repeated, putting her hands down.

Like an adult child. That's what she was. The adult, with the mind of a child. And android child. She looked around again. "Are we going to go anywhere else?"

"What?"

"I said, are we going move from this room? It is rather limited."

Oh...no one would really like that. She should probably stay in this room. "Oh. Uh...not right now, no..."

Disappointment covered her face. "Oh...okay then."

The joys of programming. Say that to an every day Asuran, and they'd force you to comply, most likely. She looked sad again...really human-like. She closed her eyes, bending down to rest her chin on the elbow perched on the top of her knee. "Then may I ask another question?"

" I guess."

"How many sub-species do you have? You have that Docktore one, then many offshoots of that. Like the Zelenkas, or the Rodney McKays...are there many more of your kind?"

And here's where the name came in. "Oh they aren't sub-species. It's what we call each other. Our names."

"Oh...if I was human, would I have one too?"

He hid a smirk. "Yes, of course."

"Ah." she nodded. "...would your friends be even more mad at you, if I got one too?"

"You want a name?"

"Yes." she nodded, sitting up and smiling. "Please." she added. Manners...

"I don't have one really..."

"I'm not picky. I've never had a name..."

He'd have to think...

"Uh..."

"What?"

"I'm a bit stuck."

"Are they really that difficult?" she shrugged. "I can't explain it, but I see you, and you fit your title. I don't know why..." she started. "Maybe, you could try that?"

What a suggestion!

He stopped, looking at her. A name...well, it wouldn't be Fran...

It'd have to fit her...Curly chestnut ringlets, green eyes, a few freckles dusting pale skin. Oh god. Now he knew why she was familiar. "'Lizabeth..." he murmured.

"Lee-sa-beth" she repeated, stopping herself from tilting her head.

Oh god. Now he was destined to get shot, or maimed, or something unpleasant. Sheppard, or anyone for that matter, wouldn't talk to him for...a very long time. "No, well, yes. It's Elizabeth."

She shook her head. "I like Lisabeth."

Well, well, picky weren't we? And it wasn't exact... maybe they'd talk to him again after all...

The tinny voice in his ear interrupted his thoughts.

"McKay. It's Carter."

tapping the earpiece, he tuned in. "What?"

"How's the...research coming along?" obviously, she was straining to call it even that.

"It's...fine...great."

"What have you figured out?"

He paused a moment. Despite the actual lack of information given out...there was a helluva lot there. "Several things."

Lisabeth was looking at him oddly, raising a palm to her own 'ear', pressing it.

"Liiiiike?"

"Uh...well, more than I could rattle off over the comms."

That was a dead beat lie.

"Okay. Well, next break you get, come up to my office, okay? Carter out."

Going at that moment wouldn't be the best idea, he mused.