Chapter 2
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It was raining hard outside the tall windows of the Gate Room, though the thick entirely soundproof glass meant that John couldn't hear the rapping impact of the water. As he passed, he watched the shifting pattern of light through the rivers of water rolling and sliding down the windows. It should be daylight outside, but with the heavy overcast weather, it was dull and oppressively dark on the other side of the glass. Far below the faint glow of the city's lights glinted up through the falling water, but otherwise there was nothing interesting to see. Inside the Gate Room though, there was plenty of activity.
He turned his back to the windows and headed down the steps to where the others were waiting. There were two duty shifts worth of marines stationed around the open area before the Gate, all alert but relaxed as they waited. The same could not be said for Carson stood at the foot of the stairs. As John reached his side, John gave the Doctor a smile. Despite a month having passed since John's recovery from the 'Bug Incident' it still seemed that every time the Doctor looked at John he seemed to be apologising. John's accidental infection with the primitive and incomplete retrovirus had been far from Carson's fault, but the Scotsman still seemed to want to hold the responsibility on his own shoulders. He blamed himself for having let Ellia overhear his description of the virus and its potential promise to turn a Wraith into a human. Since then Carson had lost some of his enthusiasm for the retrovirus, but if it could work properly then the results would be worth it, even worth the nightmare Bug Incident!
Sumner turned, noting John's presence. "Took your time getting here, Major," he stated, his tone holding its none too subtle rebuke. Any advance John had been making in the Colonel's opinion of him since arriving in Atlantis, had been royally ruined with the Bug Incident. Before that John had seemed to have been making some headway with the Colonel, especially following John's return from his brief 'stay' with the Elite.
When he had returned to Atlantis from Tallus, John had written up the largest, most detailed orientated report of his life on his experiences in Alliance territory. Sumner had seemed rather impressed with John's attention to detail and at having managed to survive a Wraith culling and then imprisonment as a slave by the Alliance. Despite his fears that his report would be ignored, John had instead found himself called into meeting after meeting with Sumner and 'expert analysts' arriving on the Daedalus. They had quizzed him on every detail he could even vaguely recall of the Alliance and the Elite. He had even drawn out sketches of the floor plans of the Alliance marketing station, the Elite ships and the Ballista, or at least as much of it as he had seen with his own eyes or on display screens.
At the analysts' request, he had made lists of even the smallest things he had seen, including descriptions of as many of the Elite as possible, linking clothing with tattoos and a name if he could. And as John had supplied it all willingly, Sumner had seemed to treat him a little differently, as if John had been a naughty kid who had suddenly shown a glimmer of potential. That opinion had now all been squashed, due to actions completely outside of John's control. Despite the fact that John's rampage through the city had been due purely to being infected with the virus, the Colonel still seemed to have taken it as evidence that John was not to be trusted as he had always suspected. John was back to square one with his commanding officer, but then it wasn't like they had ever been best buddies. The return of Sumner's disapproval and judgement was disappointing and frustrating, but nothing new.
"Sorry, Sir. The tests on the chair took longer than Rodney thought," he replied.
Sumner nodded. "And the chair?"
"Ready to go, Sir," John reported, though he knew the Colonel would be well aware of that fact already.
"We expecting trouble?" Carson asked quietly.
Sumner shifted his gaze to the doctor. "Best to be prepared. After all we can't trust these people," he said as his gaze slid back to John.
"I'm sure they'll behave themselves, Sir," John added, hoping he was right. Besides their visitors didn't know the location of Atlantis, but Sumner wanted to be ready just in case they were tracked here somehow.
"They'd better," Sumner muttered as he turned back to the waiting dark Gate through which their visitors would arrive on their official first visit to Atlantis.
John resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his superior officer's back, but did glance across at Ford who gave him a supportive smile. John had been the one to make first contact with their visitors and, for some reason, Sumner seemed to be holding John to account for their actions.
"I'm sure everything will be fine," a female voice added from the stairs behind John.
Colonel Carter descended the staircase to join them, and instantly John felt more relaxed. She seemed to hold none of Sumner's suspicion of him, and John had a lot of respect for the new leader of the expedition. Though, he realised, she wasn't all that new anymore. Elizabeth had been lost months ago, but the wound was still fresh for them all. Colonel Carter as her replacement had been a clear decision of the IOA to merge the military and scientific objectives of the Atlantis expedition together. By choosing her as Elizabeth's replacement, they had quelled the SGC and Earth Defence's concerns on having a leader with military experience, but they had also made it clear that a scientific and non-military aware leader was still needed to head Atlantis.
Colonel Carter moved past John and Carson with a smile, to stand beside Sumner, both of them facing the Gate. The marines around the room had straightened perceptibly. Sumner kept a tight ship, but it was clear respect and admiration that made the soldiers respect Colonel Carter.
"After all, this meeting could herald exciting new times ahead," she said cheerfully.
Sumner nodded briefly in vague agreement, as ahead of them the Gate began to light up. All eyes turned to the circling lights around the large circle of alien technology. The last symbol alight the centre of the ring filled with the white blue energy of the activating wormhole and it exploded out towards them in a great rush, before snapping back into a calm vaguely rippling event horizon within the Gate. Even after all this time, it still impressed John. Carter had told him about the early days in the SGC when the Gate there had not been as stable and each time it had activated it had shaken the entire complex. She had described how travel through those first wormholes from Earth out into the Milky Way had been shocking, spitting people out coated ice and the need to be sick. Of course she had been part of the team, if not the actual one who had worked it out, who had realised the Gate had not been 'tuned' properly. The adjustments made and the Gate stabilised further in its new home in the SGC, and Gate travel became far less stressful for travellers and the SGC's concrete walls.
The radio hissed in John's ear and he watched Carter tap her earpiece. "Atlantis here."
"Colonel, our guests are here and request permission to visit Atlantis," Major Lorne's voice spoke back to them through the wormhole, from a planet far across the galaxy, where his team had been sent earlier to vet their guests.
"Request code, please Major," Carter said over the link.
"Code, Charlie Zero Delta," Lorne replied, giving the agreed response if everything was at ease with their visitors.
"Very well, Major. Please bring our guests through," Carter replied with a smile to her voice.
"Yes, Ma'am," Lorne replied, and all eyes turned to the Gate. John kept his eyes on the centre of the circle of blue light where she would no doubt walk through.
Lorne and another marine stepped through first, walking on either side, glancing back to watch as their guests stepped through behind them.
As John had expected 'she' was at the front. She strode forward, her shapely legs covered in smooth form fitting trousers, slim boots up to her knees, and her middle wrapped up in pale brown leather, her arms bare and the neckline low enough to create interesting shadows. John couldn't help the smile that played along his lips.
As he had been the first to meet this woman and her people, and that he had 'interacted' with her twice since, he had been requested to be included in today's meeting. It hadn't been the most comfortable of first contacts with her people, as he had been essentially kidnapped by her, but John had been able to get through to her, charm her enough to let him help fight off a Wraith attack and then convince her that being friends with Atlantis would be worth her while. And it would be seriously worthwhile for Atlantis and Earth to have her people as allies. They had advanced technology and a healthy hatred for the Wraith, though they were a rather…arrogant race of people, or maybe that was just her.
Her hair was loose around her shoulders, framing her beautiful face, and those tempting challenging eyes. Those eyes found his among the Atlantis group and she smiled that sultry smirk he remembered well. John smiled back at her, but kept it simply polite. After all Sumner and Carter were the ones running this show today.
"Larrin, welcome to Atlantis," Carter greeted as she stepped forward.
Larrin paused before Carter and inclined her head very slightly. "Colonel Carter, it's nice to finally meet the woman who I have heard so much about." Her eyes found John's again with an amused smile. John had talked up Colonel Carter a lot to Larrin, tempting her to consider an alliance with Atlantis, despite her clear dislike of Sumner.
"And I've heard a lot about you," Carter replied good-naturedly. "Welcome."
Larrin inclined her head more formally as she regarded Carter again.
"I believe you already know Colonel Sumner," Carter introduced the stern Colonel beside her, who nodded slightly to Larrin. "And of course Lieutenant Ford and Major Sheppard." There was an amused touch to Carter's voice as she listed the two men Larrin had captured on that first contact.
Larrin smiled widely to Ford and then it deepened as she regarded John. "It is good to see you again, Sheppard. Still alive?" She teased him, one elegant eyebrow lifted.
"Still fighting," John replied in return with a smile. The sparkle in Larrin's eyes made the room slightly warmer than before, but John kept his reaction in check, other than offering one of his low level charm smiles at her.
"And this is Doctor Beckett," Carter added, indicating Carson.
"Pleased to meet you, Larrin," Carson greeted her politely.
Larrin's interest was clear as she looked at the doctor. "Yes, of course, the mind behind your new virus."
John glanced at Carson, seeing the confliction of pride and caution to the man's face. He was the mastermind behind the retrovirus, but at the same time he felt the weight of his work.
"If you'll follow us to the conference room," Carter invited Larrin as she indicated the staircase behind John. Larrin moved forward with Carter, her eyes travelling around the rest of the Gate Room finally. John didn't miss the fact that she was studying the guards and their weapons.
"And where is the unforgettable Doctor McKay?" Larrin asked as they all ascended the stairs.
"He should be joining us soon," Carter replied.
The group reached the landing and turned towards the large conference room, its doors swivelled open waiting. As everyone took their seats, with Carter sat at the 'head' of the table, with Larrin and the other two Travellers on one side, whilst John and the others from Atlantis on the other side. As the doors began to swivel shut McKay abruptly appeared, sliding through the closing gap of one doorway.
"Sorry, sorry," he muttered as he entered, only to see there were no more seats on the Atlantis side, so he reluctant sat down in one of the free seats at the end of the Travellers' side.
"It's good to see you again, Doctor McKay," Larrin greeted him with that smirk again.
"Oh, yes, hi," Rodney replied, unnerved by her as always. John glanced back at her to see her sparkle of amusement, as she knew Rodney felt nervous around her.
At the head of the table, Carter sat forward, her forearms set on the table surface, her hand interlinked. "Thank you for coming here today. We hope that it may be the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial alliance between our two peoples," she began.
Larrin looked down the length of the Atlantis side, her eyes lingering on John briefly, and then moved on to Carter. "The reason we are here today, is because we have a proposition for Atlantis," Larrin replied, seemingly taking over the meeting with that intriguing statement.
"Really?" Carter asked.
Larrin sat back in her chair, one hand resting on the table surface before her as she glanced over John's side of the table. "As you know my people have been suffering with reduced resources for a long time; to keep our ships in service and to maintain our chosen way of life."
"I understand that your people spend your entire life in space?" Carter asked, though she already knew that, from that first report from John and Ford.
"Yes, our generational ships have been running for too long with repairs delayed and when ships are lost to the Wraith we do not have the resources to build more. Especially now that the Alliance dominate so much trading." Her voice was bitter with that statement.
"I'm surprised that you don't trade with the Alliance," Carter asked, despite knowing from John that the Travellers seemed to have a near pathological hatred of anyone from the Alliance. He hadn't found out why, other than some off hand comments about broken promises. But, Carter hadn't shown any hint that she knew that background, her question seeming innocent enough.
Larrin pursed her lips briefly, which was one of the more dramatic displays of emotion John had seen her show. She was an intriguing, though rather difficult, woman. She was sultry and sexy in a way that really appealed to John, and most men he would imagine, but her immediate and absolute hatred of the Alliance had coloured his opinion of her. Though, she was a woman John knew he could rarely ever trust, she was exciting and provocative, and he hadn't missed the silent invitations in her eyes. He had flirted with her enough when their people worked together, but something about her made him seriously cautious of her. Her dislike of the Alliance only deepened that opinion. Ford joked with him that he was far too picky about those that captured him.
And maybe Ford had a point, because John couldn't help but compare Larrin to another alien woman who had 'captured' him. Emmagan - Teyla, he amended with pleasure. She hadn't captured him more than she had rescued him, and that was a big difference. There was much about the Alliance that he hadn't enjoyed discovering, such as how they treated slaves, but their military had been seriously impressive. Though most of his time had been spent with a small group of the Elite, he had seen the military might of the Alliance and had heard a lot about their government and their plans for the Wraith. He had formed a respect for them, especially the Elite, and that now coloured his opinion of Larrin. Because when he thought about it, where Larrin was obvious, Teyla was contained and silent. Where Larrin was overt and flirtatious, Teyla had been calm and had let only the gentle promise of her interest show in her eyes.
He didn't talk to anyone about Teyla, other than his descriptions of her in the official reports, because he liked the personal private nature of his crush. There was a chance that he had been reliving his times with Teyla a little too much, and possibly was at risk of having altered them to add more interest on her part than there had actually been. He was aware that he might never seen the petite Elite warrior again, and if he did it may only be in the heat of some battle, but he couldn't seem to stop himself thinking about her. And as he looked at Larrin, he couldn't help but see her in contrast to Teyla. Though the two women were both on the petite side with lovely curvaceous figures and were of the strong leadership variety, the similarities stopped there, and John couldn't miss the fact that out of the two of them he would prefer Teyla at his side, in a battle or anywhere else. That Larrin hated the Alliance seemed to deepen that divide for him.
"The Alliance refuse to trade with us because we will not join their alliance of worlds. If they can't control us, they will not trade with us," Larrin replied. John frowned at that, the most elaborated explanation of the disagreement he had heard so far, but it could very well be true. From what John knew, the Alliance's High Council certainly weren't the best leaders out there, and maybe they did have some qualms with the Travellers, but at the same time surely the Travellers and their ships would be of great benefit in the fight against the Wraith. They sure were for Atlantis.
"I see," Carter replied, her tone perfectly filled with just the slightest touch of surprised disapproval of the Alliance.
"But, there are other worlds who have developed far enough to be able to fight back in some small ways against the Wraith. Together we have been assisting each other occasionally, but we do not have the power and weight of the Alliance. Until now we have not had anything to give us advantage enough, and all of us are unwilling to draw the attention of either the Alliance or the Wraith," Larrin continued. John had to wonder why the Alliance would think that way, but Rodney asked it for him.
"Why would the Alliance care about worlds fighting the Wraith outside their borders?" Rodney asked.
"Until recently the Alliance have remained hidden with in their borders, protecting what was theirs with a vicious might," Larrin explained. "They feared any worlds that might threaten that stalemate they had with the Wraith, unwilling to have any renewed focus on them or near their borders. But, now they have grown bored with what they have, and have decided to add more worlds to their empire by expanding their territory."
It was the first insight John had heard about the Alliance's borders since he had left the Elite at Tallus. Teyla had allowed him to witness the changing plans of the military, including their intention to take on the Wraith outside their borders. The image presented to him there had been that they only wanted to destroy more Wraith, but there were undoubtedly those in the Alliance who would see it as an empire building exercise. Maybe that was how the military had sold the idea to the High Council, if they hadn't been able to form their own Military Council as planned in that meeting John had witnessed. Certainly something had happened if they really were pushing out their borders finally.
"There are many worlds outside the Alliance's borders that don't wish to be owned by the Alliance, which until now has willingly left them exposed to the Wraith. If the Alliance engulf their worlds, they will not be able to supply the tithes the Alliance will demand of them. So, they will have to offer their crops and children as slaves as payment for the Alliance's 'protection'," Larrin continued, her distaste clear.
It was a very different image to what John had experienced among the Elite, but that didn't mean it wasn't true. After all, he had been sold as a slave, but he still found himself wanting to argue the Alliance's corner. Larrin saw their behaviour through the lens of her prejudice, but then maybe she was right too, because he didn't understand all the details and history. It was a confusing mix that John wished he could understand a little better. He wondered, with a hidden smile, if his curiosity would be excuse enough to use that DHD crystal to call up Emmagan…Teyla. It could only be used once and she had told him to only use it in an emergency, and he doubted him wishing to see her again would count as one.
"However, as I said, there are several worlds which are growing strong enough to hold their own, or able offer skills and resources needed to resist the Alliance and Wraith. Currently there are two opportunities that have arisen at once that could allow them, with my people, to officially begin working together as a coalition of our own. Not controlled by ownership or defence, but by our mutual respect and benefit," she added turning to Carter as she repeated close to what Carter had said earlier.
"That's probably how the Alliance started," John found himself saying abruptly.
Larrin glanced at him, but smiled. "Yes, it was," she replied surprising him, especially at her conviction. "Before they forgot those ideals," she added as she looked back to Carter. "And we would like to invite Atlantis to join us."
A moment of shocked surprise filled the room. John sat further forward at the same time as Sumner. John had thought this meeting today would be one of those faintly awkward 'yes, maybe we'll perhaps be friends' kind of talks, but this was a full on invitation into a full alliance. And it wasn't quite what he had expected of Larrin, and he instantly suspected that there was something really big she, and the others in this possible Coalition, wanted something from Atlantis.
"Who are in this Coalition?" Sumner demanded with his first words of the meeting and his interest was clear, but so was his suspicion.
Larrin looked to the stern Colonel and smiled at him, which probably annoyed him. "We are newly formed, and our representatives are about to meet to finalise the agreement between our peoples, which is why I requested this meeting with you."
"Why come to us now?" John asked, knowing Carter wouldn't mind him asking.
"As I said, two opportunities are presenting themselves," she replied cryptically.
John smiled at her. "And let me guess, one of those is something we have."
Larrin's smile deepened with amusement and approval. "There is something that you can do for me, for us," she amended as her eyes sparkled, repeating a threat she had made to him when they had first met.
She turned her gaze to Carson beside him. "We have heard of your new medical research into a virus which can turn Wraith into humans," she said.
"That research is still in its very early stages," Carson warned her.
"We are aware of that, and we feel that we can assist you in developing it further and faster," she replied, capturing all their interest with renewed focus.
"How?" Sumner asked.
"The other opportunity we have recently gained is access to a mind who, like your Doctor Beckett, has the skills and foresight to develop this viral weapon. The Alliance have more advanced genetic research technology and knowledge, and we now have the opportunity to access some of those resources."
"Still looking for ways of activating Ancient technology then?" John asked, recalling how the Travellers had taken particular interest in him for his Ancient gene. They had various acquired pieces of Ancient tech, but were unable to activate them.
"Even the Alliance have been unable to manipulate the Ancestor safeguards on discovered technology, but they had enough members in their vast territory to use to activate the technologies. They then developed a way to inject the Ancestor genetics needed to use the technology, as you have done. That medical technology is very tightly guarded in the Alliance though, and we have been unable to discover it,"
"You mean steal it," Rodney interrupted.
John glared at Rodney, as he suspected the rest of the table were, but he had made a point.
"The Alliance is focused on trade and greed, and there are always those who will trade research and technology," Larrin replied.
"But, the Ancestor gene therapy hasn't…slipped out of Alliance hands just yet," Carter concluded. Larrin nodded. "And you want the gene therapy from us."
"We would hope that in the Coalition we would all trade our technologies," Larrin replied, daggling the prospect of stunners and spaceship technology in front of them. Not that they hadn't been given a lot by the Asgaard, but the Travellers would probably share more of it, as in the actual weapons and DIY plans on how to make loads of your own. Their ships were larger than the Daedalus and they had powerful hyperdrives – the Travellers had a lot to offer. Though, their food they could keep.
"And you want the virus research as well," Sumner asked.
"As I said we have the opportunity for access to Alliance technology that will enable us to advance your research quickly, and we have subjects upon which to test it."
"You have captured Wraith?" Carson asked.
"Yes, as do the Alliance. They have fully studied Wraith biology and technology and we have now been offered access to that research, which of course we will share with you," Larrin replied.
John glanced at Carter and Sumner and saw their exchanged looks.
"We are meeting in two days time, and the seller of this information will be there. If you wish to be part of this then you will need to be there," Larrin told them. "And you need to make your decision now."
Carter turned to Larrin. "I will need time to discuss this offer with my superiors," she said.
"Once I leave here my ship will be heading to that meeting place, and will not be near a portal to receive your answer. You need to decide now, and it is only face to face that I will give you the name and address of the planet where the meeting is to be held."
"You're that frightened of the Alliance?" Sumer asked challengingly.
Larrin glowered at him. "You are foolish if you do not accept how powerful their reach is throughout the portal linked worlds. Though there are those who fear their potential rule, there are those who will welcome its protection, and will use anything they can to ingratiate themselves with the Alliance. Already the expanding territory has engulfed fourteen new planets, simply due to the fact that those worlds have been waiting to be included under the cover of the Alliance."
"If you require a decision while you're here, then we will need time to contact Earth and discuss the offer," Carter said calmly.
Larrin glanced to her. "I was hoping to be allowed to see the legendary City of the Ancestors," she replied.
"Then I suggest Major Lorne show you some of the city on the way to the mess hall where there will be a meal waiting for you," Carter replied as she stood, calling the meeting with the Travellers to a close for now.
Larrin stood as the conference room doors swivelled open, revealing Lorne waiting outside. Carter gave him instructions and the conference doors shut again behind the receding backs of the three Travellers.
"Wow," Ford muttered as Carter sat back down.
John couldn't help agreeing with that statement, but he was worried, as he saw Carter was as well.
"Comments?" Carter invited. "Other than 'wow'," she added with a smile.
"If they truly have access to Alliance genetic research it could seriously speed up my own research," Carson replied.
"That and full specs on Wraith tech and we could do with a load of those stunners the Travellers use," Ford added excitedly.
"They're certainly offering a lot," Carter said, her eyes sliding to Sumner. "Colonel?"
"I don't like committing to this 'Coalition' she's talking about, if it even exists," he replied. "We have no way to know what these other worlds really have to offer."
"Presumably that's what the meeting is for," Rodney added. "We could change our minds after the meeting."
"But, we could risk alienating this new Coalition if they turn out to be a new power in this galaxy," Carter considered.
John shifted forward. "We could also be putting ourselves up as an enemy to the Alliance."
"That is a fair point," Carter considered.
"The Alliance aren't offering us anything though," Ford argued. "In fact they've done nothing but avoid us."
"That Alliance ship helped out the Daedalus last month," John pointed out.
"They didn't exactly hang around afterwards to talk," Sumner said. "Just destroyed the Wraith ship in passing and left."
John shrugged in reluctant agreement to that, but in his mind that the Alliance ship hadn't then turned their weapons on the Daedalus was evidence enough that they didn't view Atlantis as an enemy…yet. "We might be risking changing that by going through with this."
"It is likely that this coalition will be a small number of worlds and unlikely to be a serious threat to the Alliance, so I imagine that problem is far off," Sumner responded.
"If we steal trade secrets from them, they might take that personally," John pointed out.
Sumner frowned darkly at John, clearly disapproving that John was seeing so much from the Alliance's point of view.
"Or this potential coalition may provide the means to be recognised by the Alliance," Carter suggested. "If we are able to develop Doctor Beckett's retrovirus and reduce the Wraith numbers then I can't see what problems the Alliance would have with that outcome."
"Unless the Alliance are as Larrin describes them," Carson said. "They may see us as a threat to their empire. If there aren't any more Wraith to fight then there's nothing they can use to control other worlds."
"I honestly don't think the Alliance is like that," John said.
"You met a handful of their military and the rest either sold you into slavery or tried to 'buy' you," Sumner stated. "Why is it that you have such a positive image of the Alliance, Sheppard?"
John met his aggressive gaze. "I was there when the heads of the military were talking about expanding their borders, about the fact that all they wanted to do was kill Wraith. There wasn't any talk about greed or empire building," John replied as calmly as he could. "But, saying that, clearly the High Council had been corrupted, but they were going to deal with that. I don't think we should just go with Larrin's version of the Alliance."
"I agree," Carter said. "But, at the same time she probably has far more experience with the Alliance than we do. The politics of Earth get confusing and conflicting enough, imagine what it's like for the Alliance including such a vast number of planets, cultures and viewpoints. It's unlikely that any one image of them is the whole truth, but John makes a good point. We don't want to risk alienating the Alliance. At present they are the strongest possible ally we could find against the Wraith, but they haven't exactly offered the hand of friendship towards us either."
"Are we really going to lose the opportunity of this research and technology, because the Alliance might get upset about it?" Rodney interrupted with exasperation. "Just because they sent Sheppard back with all his limbs attached, doesn't mean that they aren't going to suddenly give us technology like the Asgaard did. The Alliance border is a long way from getting anywhere near us, I say let's take what we can now."
"I'd love one of those stunners," Ford muttered making them all smile, except Sumner of course.
"I think we all agree that there is a lot of potential here and there is more to be gained than lost," Carter concluded and John reluctantly nodded as her gaze met his before shifting on to Sumner. The Colonels clearly agreed that this was a great chance for Atlantis. "I'll dial up the SGC, and hopefully the IOA will be able to make a quick decision on this," Carter said doubtfully as she stood up.
John stood along with the others as she and Sumner left, leaving John with Carson, Rodney and Ford. Ford turned and boxed John's arm playfully. "Dibs on the first stunner they give us," he announced excitedly.
John glanced round at him with amusement. "What is it with you and the stunners?"
"Man, you know Larrin blasted her way out through that wall in the Ancient ship with one! That's some serious fire power. Plus they look real cool."
"Their hyperdrives are held together with duct tape," Rodney muttered, but John knew Rodney had been impressed when he had seen the makeshift supercharged Traveller engine when they had been on Larrin's ship a few weeks ago.
"So, you'll improve them," Ford replied, dangerously bolstering Rodney's ego.
"We could gain a lot," Rodney admitted having been suitably bolstered.
"And if we get Carson's anti-Wraith virus going – maybe one day we'll be able to get rid of all the Wraith," Ford added hopefully.
On the other side of John, Carson turned, his expression conflicted and John met his gaze. The two of them seemed to be the only ones with concerns over this development. John looked past the doctor towards the open doors through to the Gate Room below and couldn't ignore the bad feeling he had about all this. Sure Larrin's last plan had worked well, but John was acutely aware that anything she was involved in held more gain for her than anyone else. But, she had told them plainly that she wanted the gene therapy and to help in the retrovirus research. Maybe he was simply being overly cautious about it all.
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TBC