Elizabeth stood on the balcony overlooking the gate, concern mounting within her. Two hours. She'd told John to check in no later than two hours after they'd 'gated to M55-481. She glanced at her watch, just as she had at least a dozen times in the last ten minutes. They were rapidly approaching three hours, and still no word from John's team. John was relaxed in his command in a lot of ways, but when it came to off-world missions, he was all business. It wasn't like him to miss a call in.

She sighed deeply, turned and stared directly at Zelenka. "Radek, dial M55-481." She turned back, watching the gate as the chevrons lit in sequence, before the wormhole flushed into existence.

Reaching up, she tapped her headset. "Major Sheppard, this is Weir. Do you read me?" She shook her head as static greeted her hail. She tried again. "Major Sheppard, this is Weir, do you copy?" She listened again to the uninterrupted static for a moment before looking back at Zelenka expectantly.

He shrugged. "The signal is getting through."

Elizabeth tried to fight off the cold dread in her gut. "Get Bates and Stackhouse up here." She turned back to the gate. "Major Sheppard, please respond." Her concern mounted as she stared unmoving at the gate, until a voice from behind broke her stance.

"Ma'am?" Bates' voice was questioning.

She looked over her shoulder as Bates and Stackhouse crossed the control room to her. She nodded once, curtly, at both of them. "Major Sheppard's team is overdue and not responding to our hails. Recommendations?"

"I can have a team ready in ten minutes to go after them," Stackhouse immediately responded.

"I disagree." Bates looked sternly at Stackhouse for a moment, before giving Elizabeth a penetrating stare. "We have no idea what the Major's team encountered on the other side of that gate."

"All the more reason to get a team on that planet to back him up!" Stackhouse interrupted. He fell silent as Elizabeth raised her hand.

"Just a second, Sergeant." She again met Bates's. "What are you thinking, Sergeant?"

"A MALP, ma'am," Bates answered. "Let's at least send a MALP first and see if we can determine what the situation is, before sending another team."

Elizabeth looked back and forth between them for a moment before nodding at Bates. "Agreed." She turned towards Zelenka. "Radek, ready a MALP for off-world reconnaissance." She looked at Stackhouse. "Sergeant, ready your team. If the immediate area around the gate is clear, you have a go for the mission."

"Yes, ma'am." Stackhouse turned and strode quickly across the command deck.

Elizabeth stared down at the gate room as Zelenka prepped a MALP. She glanced sideways, distinctly aware that Bates still stood next to her.

"We'll figure out what's going on, ma'am," he said quietly.

Elizabeth smiled grimly at him. "I know, Sergeant." She watched as Zelenka trotted away from the MALP and quickly jogged up the stairs back to the command deck.

"Ready." His voice was slightly breathless as he sat down and pulled a laptop towards him.

Elizabeth and Bates both walked over and stood behind him.

"Send it through," Elizabeth ordered, her gaze fixed on the laptop display.

Zelenka typed a few commands, and looked up as the MALP slowly moved through the gate. He gazed at the display. "Telemetry should be coming through soon…."

Elizabeth watched as the static display suddenly cleared. She squinted as she tried to process what she was seeing, but only had a moment before the display wavered and disappeared, to be replaced by static. "Radek?" She looked down at Zelenka's confused expression.

"I do not understand." His hands flew over the keyboard. "Telemetry lost. I cannot get it back."

She glanced at Bates, noting the equal level of concern in his face. "Play back what we have." She looked again at the computer.

"It is very brief." Zelenka's voice was distracted as he continued typing commands."I will slow it down."

"Run it frame by frame if you have to, Radek, but I want to know what's going on." She fought to keep the worry and frustration out of her voice, but a glance at Bates' expression made her realize she'd failed.

An image popped up on the screen and her gaze narrowed in confusion. Most of the picture was dark, with faint smudges of light near the top. "Can you enhance that any?"

"Yes." Zelenka typed some commands and stared at the picture expectantly. Abruptly, the contrast increased. "Zamítnout!" Zelenka muttered.

Admittedly, Elizabeth's Czech was rusty, but she suspected his word matched what she was feeling. "Oh my God," she whispered.

"It's under water," Bates muttered.

"How is this possible?" Elizabeth shook her head. "The first MALP we sent through confirmed viability!"

"Tides," Zelenka's voice was low. "Tidal flow."

"Then its possible Major Sheppard's team found high ground to wait out the tide?" Elizabeth heard the note of hopefulness in her voice that echoed her feelings.

"If they had time," Bates said. "If not…."

"I prefer to think they did." Elizabeth cut him off firmly. She held his gaze, meeting his hesitant look with a strong one of her own, until he nodded silently. "Tell Stackhouse what's going on, and that his mission is scrubbed until further notice." She watched Bates walk away for a moment before she looked down at Zelenka. "Radek? Options?"

Zelenka sighed loudly. "MALP will not work. They cannot be submerged. It appears that gate is not completely under water, but only top one third is above surface."

Elizabeth shook her head. "At the SGC we had U.A.V.'s for aerial reconnaissance. We could use one now." She stepped aside as Radek pushed his chair back and stood. She stared at his thoughtful expression. "Radek? Can you improvise something like a U.A.V.?"

His look turned distracted. "Is possible, yes." He flashed a quick apologetic smile at her. "Excuse me, Dr. Weir."

She waved him off. "Go. Keep me posted." She watched him hurry from the control deck, only turning away as he disappeared down the back stairs. Looking at another control room tech, she nodded slightly. "Shut down the gate." She watched the wormhole disengage and the gate fall dark, all the time fighting the concern within her.

She hated the quiet.

Sora looked around, sighing slightly as her gaze found nothing in the bland cell to capture her attention. Unbidden, her thoughts turned to Major Sheppard. He'd visited her every day, sometimes more than once, never deterred by her cold treatment of him. She sighed. No matter what she said to him, he would always look evenly back at her, his gaze relaxed, and a slight knowing hint to his eyes. It was almost as if he saw her behavior as a bluff, and was silently… subtly calling her on it.

Frustrated, she jumped to her feet and kicked her chair, sending it noisily clattering across the cell. She stared at the overturned chair for a moment, before she shook her head in disgust and crossed to pick it up. Cynically, she wondered why, exactly, she ever let Sheppard get to her….

Movement in the doorway caught her attention. She looked up, her expression turning defensive as Sergeant Miller stared at her.

"What's going on in here?"

Sora glared at his narrowed gaze, the suspicion in his voice not lost on her. "Nothing. I bumped my chair, that is all." She didn't think it was possible for his expression to become any more suspicious than it was, but he swiftly proved her wrong.

"Sounded like a pretty hard bump."

His unconvinced tone irritated her. "I am fine, by the way," she snapped.

Miller shook his head slightly. "I can tell. Just be more careful." He turned away.

"Sergeant?" Sora's hail surprised even her. Why am I doing this? But there was no turning back when Miller looked at her.

"What?"

"Where is Major Sheppard? I have not seen him today." Her eyes widened slightly in surprise as Miller stiffened, tension filling his posture.

Rock still, he stared hard at her for a moment. "He's off world, not that it's any of your concern." Apparently satisfied with his answer, he turned and left the brig.

She watched his retreating back for a moment. There was much more to what the sergeant had said than his mere words. Instinctively, she knew something was wrong. She turned away. She felt reflexive satisfaction that her enemy met trouble off world, but that reflex was met head on by an unbidden memory.

"Why do you care?" she hissed. She pulled in deep breaths, fighting to control her anger as he cocked his head and gave her a thoughtful look.

"Why wouldn't I?" He arched a brow. "We're not the bad guys you think we are, Sora."

Sora's step faltered as unexpected guilt flowed through her. She was Genii, and should feel proud that her enemy might have met danger, but a part of her, fueled by the voice of reason, refused to be silenced. Sheppard had treated her with nothing but courtesy and respect. Her mind touched on the list of addresses. She'd recognized a few of them, some decent planets, some very hostile. Where were Sheppard and his team now? Dead? In the hands of the Genii?

She bowed her head, before flopping down on her bunk. She rested her forearms on her bent knees. She was Genii. Why would she care? She shouldn't care. Slowly, she turned her head and looked at the book, untouched and sitting on the floor in the corner of her cell.

But she did.

"Oh that's just great," Rodney snapped, before exhaling loudly in frustration. "Scratch that MALP."

John frowned as he watched the MALP bob on the surface for a moment longer, before it flooded completely and sank. "At least they didn't send a team."

"But, they couldn't have got any telemetry either," Rodney protested. "For all they know, the area around the gate is hostile, and we're dead!"

"Stop jumping to conclusions, McKay," John rolled his eyes. "Just because they don't have telemetry and can't reach us doesn't mean they'll write us off as dead!"

"Major, we don't have GDOs or radios," Rodney rebutted. "Just how are we going to get back?"

A brief, cynical smile played at John's mouth. "I haven't quite figured that part out yet." He ignored Rodney's exasperated sigh and ran a hand down his coat sleeve, confirming it was nearly dry. He looked at Teyla, noting her pale face and closed eyes. He was momentarily surprised that in all this time Rodney, who couldn't really shift his weight or move much with her head on his lap, hadn't said a word about it. He smiled slightly. Not half as heartless as he'd like people to think… "Teyla?" he asked quietly, "how you holding up?"

Her eyes slowly opened. "I am well enough, Major."

"How do you feel?" he questioned, carefully watching her response.

"The pain in my head is… considerable, but I nothing that I cannot bear."

John reached up and pulled down the zipper on his coat before shrugging out of it and laying it over her.

"Major," Teyla protested, "I do not…."

"No arguments, Teyla," he interrupted her. "You need it more than I do." He sat back down next to her.

"Sir?" Ford's voice was questioning.

"We still have to wait for the tide, lieutenant," he pointed out. "Until it goes out, we stay put."

Elizabeth walked down the stairs into the gate room, her gaze fixed on a small machine loosely resembling an SGC U.A.V., which was positioned on a makeshift launch ramp in front of the gate. Zelenka was fiddling with it, quiet Czech phrases occasionally escaping him. He flashed her a distracted smile as she walked up next to him. "Radek? Are we ready?"

He sighed. "As much as possible, yes." His expression turned slightly dubious as he eyed the craft. "The range for telemetry transmission is considerably shorter than SGC U.A.V, but best I could do with what I have and only in one hour. It will video record everything it encounters however."

Elizabeth gave him a reassuring smile. "Well done, Radek."

"Thank you, Dr. Weir." He eyeballed the gate. "U.A.V must emerge in air not water, or will be useless. I believe angle is correct." He looked at Elizabeth, his expression slightly hesitant. "We are ready. I can launch remotely from control room."

Elizabeth followed behind him as he headed for the stairs. She quickly sent a hail over her radio for Bates and Stackhouse to join her. Stopping at the edge of the balcony, she stared down at the aircraft and gave the command. "Launch U.A.V." She watched as the machine fired up, before disappearing through the wormhole. Turning, she quickly made her way to Zelenka's station. From the corner of her eye, she saw both Bates and Stackhouse enter the control room. They came up behind her as she stared down at the computer display. "Anything?" she asked Zelenka.

"Signal should be acquired soon," Zelenka tapped a couple keys. The display flickered, before an impressive view of rolling ocean water greeted them.

"Receiving telemetry," Zelenka's voice was triumphant. "Is working."

Elizabeth stared at the open ocean. "Can you rotate the camera and find the shoreline?"

"Camera will not move," Zelenka replied, "but I can turn U.A.V." He quickly typed commands to the remote-controlled machine and watched as the camera view rotated.

"There!" Elizabeth pointed. "There's the shoreline."

"Directing U.A.V. towards shore." Zelenka continued typing navigational commands. "Hopefully Major Sheppard's team is not far from gate."

Elizabeth nodded as she stared intently at the computer screen. Impressive cliff sides greeted her gaze. "There's no way they would've got up that and off the beach, at least not from here."

"Yes, ma'am," Bates agreed, "it's pretty sheer."

Elizabeth bent over, leaning on one hand as she stared at the computer display. "Radek? Keep looking."

A faint humming interrupted John's thoughts. His gaze refocused as he turned his head towards the gate. The top chevron lit, and through the water he could see the faint glow coming from the other ones. "Someone's dialing in." He stood and watched expectantly. In predictable fashion, the wormhole flushed into existence, instantly vaporizing all the water in its path. For a moment, the gate was clear, before the relentless ocean crashed in, filling the void. "That's just as cool the second time around," he absently observed. His gaze fixed on the gate. "Please tell me they're not sending a team anyway…."

"That… would be bad," Rodney muttered.

"Yes, it would." John agreed. Suddenly, a small craft emerged from the top of the wormhole. He resisted flinching as it flew low over the ocean. "What the hell is that?" He watched it skim just above the waves.

"It's a U.A.V.," Rodney's voice was incredulous.

"A what?" John grimaced in confusion.

"Unmanned Airborne Vehicle," Ford quickly supplied. "The SGC uses them for off-world recon."

John's mind briefly touched on the Atlantis inventory. "We don't have any U.A.V.'s," he muttered.

"Radek!" Rodney exclaimed. "He's improvised!"

"Zelenka?" John turned towards Rodney. He arched a brow at the sour expression that settled on Rodney's face.

"How many 'Radeks' do you know?"

John rolled his eyes, but let Rodney's comment go.

"They must've got enough telemetry from the MALP before it folded to realize the gate was partially submerged," Rodney went on excitedly. "They couldn't send a MALP or a team, so they had to find another way to search for us."

John nodded. Rodney's explanation made good sense. "Right on, Zelenka," he murmured. He watched as the U.A.V. continued across the water. "But it won't do much good if they don't spot us."

As if on cue, the U.A.V. banked left and started back towards the shore.

"What is it with you and omnipotent commands?" Rodney grumbled.

John shrugged briefly. "Okay, it's headed this way. We need to flag them down." He glanced at Teyla as she pushed herself up on her elbows, freeing Rodney to stand.

She lifted John's coat towards him. "Use this."

John smiled slightly and took the jacket. "Stay put. The three of us will handle this."

Teyla nodded.

John brandished his coat over his head, taking a moment to glance at Rodney and Ford, who were doing the same.

"Over here!" Ford shouted.

"Ford!" Rodney snapped. "It's highly unlikely the U.A.V. is equipped with audio!"

"Then shut up and start moving, McKay!" John interrupted, as he vigorously waved his arms at the approaching U.A.V.

The U.A.V. zipped by, before immediately pulling a one-eighty and coming back towards them.

"That's it, they've seen us." John smiled. Then his smile faded. "But how do we talk to them without radios?"

"At least they know we're alive," Ford added.

"True," John agreed. His gaze narrowed as Rodney stepped up next to him, dangerously close to the edge of the rocks. He watched as Rodney lifted his arms and started making precise gestures. "McKay?"

"It's Semaphore." Rodney's tone was casual, as if his reply explained everything.

"Semi for what?" Ford questioned. His eyes widened as Rodney took a moment to give him an icy stare.

"Semaphore," Rodney enunciated sarcastically. "It's a maritime form of communication where each gesture represents a letter. Normally you use flags but…,"

"McKay," John interrupted. "Somehow I can't picture you in the Scouts. Where did you learn Semaphore?"

Rodney grunted as his arms moved into another gesture. "Various communications systems have always fascinated me. Besides, I have more than a passing interest cryptography. They're pretty closely related."

"Huh." John stepped back and watched as Rodney continued with various signals, stopping when the U.A.V. passed them, and resuming when it came back into range. "What are you telling them?"

"That we don't have radios or GDO's," Rodney replied.

John nodded. "Tell them Teyla's hurt."

"Right," Rodney's voice was distracted as he continued gesturing.

John stiffened as the U.A.V. passed them again, and this time the whine of its engine sputtered. "Uh oh," he muttered.

"Sir, it's in trouble," Ford commented. All their eyes were focused on the struggling U.A.V. as it headed directly towards the cliffs.

"Talent for stating the obvious," Rodney muttered.

John walked along the rocks, watching the U.A.V. intently. "Bank left… bank left… bank…." He grimaced as the U.A.V. slammed into the cliff side, and disintegrated. "Left." He watched smoking debris fall into the ocean. "Crap."

"Oh that's just great! Radek couldn't engineer his way out of a paper bag!" Rodney barked.

"Relax, McKay," John tried to head off Rodney's rant. "They know we're here and mostly okay…." He sighed. "I hope."

"Telemetry lost." Zelenka tapped away at the laptop.

"Considering the last thing we saw was a looming cliff side, I think it's safe to say the U.A.V. is destroyed." Elizabeth sighed. "At least we know they're alive." She held tight to the optimism that had stuck in her gut from the moment they'd caught sight of John and his team, safe on a high rocky outcrop. Since then, they'd been circling the team's position, trying to decipher what Rodney had been gesturing at them. "Any idea on what Rodney was trying to tell us?"

"Looked like some sort of code," Bates commented. "Don't recognize it though."

"Me either," Stackhouse agreed.

Elizabeth tried to quell her frustration. "Play it back, Radek." She watched as the recorded telemetry started over, and the image switched to show Rodney, Ford and John all waving their jackets in the air, while Teyla lay on the rocks, propped up on one elbow. "It looks like Teyla is injured," Elizabeth commented. "The other three look okay." She shook her head in frustration as Rodney began gesturing, his movements making no more sense to her this time than when she'd first seen them. "What are you telling us, Rodney?" she wondered out loud.

"It's Semaphore!"

Elizabeth looked back at Grodin's animated face. "What?" She quickly walked back to his position.

"Semaphore," Grodin repeated. "It's a standardized set of gestures used to communicate. I learned it in the Scouts when I was a boy." Grodin watched the computer screen. "I didn't recognize it at first, but I knew it looked familiar!"

Elizabeth's small smile showed her relief. She looked up at Zelenka. "Radek? Play it back from the beginning, frame by frame." She watched as the footage rewound and started again, only to freeze on Rodney's first gesture.

"N," Grodin observed. He looked up. "Next?" He stared at the screen. "O, end word."

"NO." Elizabeth muttered. "Radek, next frame."

"X," Peter responded, his voice confused. "X? Next letter, D, and O again. End word." Grodin shook his head. "XDO?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. Are you sure you're translating correctly?"

Grodin's voice was confident. "Yes, I'm sure…" his expression brightened. "Wait! X and G are very similar in Semaphore. Maybe he means G?"

"No GDO. That makes sense." Elizabeth smiled. "Rodney got the wrong signal." Her gaze narrowed. "So where are their GDOs?"

"Ma'am," Bates commented. "None of them have vests or P-90s. If they had to swim, they might have had to shed the weight."

Elizabeth nodded. "That makes sense. Next frame, Radek."

"New word." Grodin supplied. "N-O, new word, R-A-D-P-O, end word. Radpo?" Grodin shook his head.

"Another mistake?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Radio?" Stackhouse wondered aloud.

"Logical," Grodin agreed. "If they had to swim, the saltwater surely ruined their radios, and their backups would've been in their vests…."

"Which they had to shed because of the weight. And they were probably ruined anyway," Elizabeth finished.

"New word." Grodin continued. "T-E-Y-L-A, end word. Teyla. New word, H-U-R…" Grodin waited for the U.A.V. to turn and sight back on Rodney, but sighed as the image filled with looming cliff, before it flickered and turned to static. "That's it. That's where the U.A.V. was destroyed."

"Hurt." Elizabeth extrapolated. "Teyla's hurt." Her worried gaze found the gate for a moment before looking back first at Grodin, then Zelenka. "I want options on what we can do for them right now."

"If Teyla's hurt, they could use a medical kit," Grodin offered.

"Yes, yes," Zelenka stood and faced the group behind him. "We could put it in a waterproof casing, and attach some sort of inflatable to it to make sure it surfaces." He sagged slightly. "But there is no way to predict if tidal flow will take case close enough they can reach it."

Elizabeth sighed. "It's worth it to try. Radek, ready a medical kit. Add a few bottles of water and rations as well. And throw in a GDO and a radio."

"Ma'am," Bates interrupted. "Extra clips for their side arms would be prudent, just in case. Especially since they don't have their P90's."

Elizabeth nodded once. "Agreed, but keep it small, Sergeant. There are other things they need as well, and it all has to float."

"Yes, ma'am," Bates accompanied Radek from the control deck.

Elizabeth tapped her radio headpiece. "Carson, do you copy?"

"Aye, Dr. Weir," Carson answered almost immediately.

"Zelenka and Bates are headed your way, Carson." she continued, "Sheppard's team is stranded off world, and it looks like Teyla may be injured. We don't know the extent of her injuries, but should be able to send a basic medical kit through to them. I need you to put something together. And keep it light. The case has to float."

"Float?" Carson's voice was confused. "Teyla's injured? Ach. They're stranded?"

Elizabeth smiled sympathetically at his reaction to being caught completely off guard. "Get something together, Carson, then come up here and I'll fill you in."

"Aye, should be an interesting briefing. Beckett out."

Elizabeth allowed herself a small smile, before looking back at the gate. Her smile faded. Hang in there, guys.

"Sir, look!" Ford pointed at the active Stargate.

John's gaze followed the lieutenant's gesture, and he squinted as a distinct ripple in the event horizon indicated something had come through the wormhole. Almost immediately, a small, tan-colored balloon-like object burst through the surface of the water and bobbed aimlessly. "What's that?"

"It must be keeping something afloat," Rodney commented. "Looks like they're trying to send us some provisions."

"Well the tide is carrying it away." John shook his head, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a way to coax the supplies their direction. A loud splash derailed his thoughts. His eyes widened as Ford surfaced in the waves a few yards away and swam strongly towards the balloon. "Ford! What the hell are you doing?"

"It's an easy swim, sir," Ford called back as he reached the balloon and grabbed it. He dragged it behind him as he swam back.

"Unless you get attacked by some funky alien sea monster!" John shouted. "Get your butt back here pronto!" Before long, he was leaning over and snagging the large case Ford handed up to him. He shoved it at McKay, and then extended his arm to help Ford scramble up the rocks.

He glared at the soaking wet lieutenant. "You ever do something that reckless again, and I'll have you on graveyard guard duty for the rest of your life." He glowered at Ford for a moment, before softening his look some. "That said, nice work, Lieutenant."

Ford's face split into a wide grin. "Thank you, sir."

John looked at Rodney as the doctor opened the case and smiled. "Oh yeah. Water, Power Bars, extra nine-mil clips and medical supplies." He lifted a small device in the air. "Not to mention a GDO." Rodney rummaged further. "And a radio."

"Guess they understood your messages." John waved for the radio, and Rodney handed it to him. He looked back at the active wormhole, stood and flipped the radio on. "Atlantis, this is Sheppard."

"Major," Elizabeth immediately responded. "It's good to hear your voice."

John smiled slightly. "Yours too. Thanks for the supplies."

"You're welcome. Are you all okay, Major?"

John heard the concern in Elizabeth's voice. "Ford, McKay and I are fine. Teyla cracked her head pretty hard on the rocks when the tide came in, though."

"Major," Carson's voce broke into the conversation, "is Teyla conscious?"

John looked back at Teyla and smiled briefly. "Yeah. She's a little woozy, but conscious and pretty coherent."

"Let me talk to her," Carson insisted.

"Copy that." John knelt and held out the radio to Teyla.

Without lifting her head from where it was cushioned on John's jacket, she took the radio. "This is Teyla."

"Teyla, lass. How are ye feeling?" Carson's voice was gentle.

Teyla smiled faintly. "My head hurts, but I will be fine."

"Hang in there, lass. We'll get ye home soon enough." Carson reassured her. "Let me speak to the Major."

John took the radio back and stood. "This is Sheppard."

"Major," Carson answered, "Bandage her head, give her a little water, and make sure she takes it easy until you can get back here."

"Copy that. Thanks, Doc."

"Major?" Elizabeth returned to the radio. "Is there anything else we can do for you right now?"

John sighed and watched the rolling ocean for a moment before responding. "Not really. We're pretty much stuck until the tide goes out."

"Understood," Elizabeth replied. "We'll check in with you every few hours. Weir out."

"Copy that," John replied, "Sheppard out."

John set the radio in the medical case, and snagged a bottle of water and some bandages. He handed the water to Teyla. "Drink that while I wrap your head."

"Are there more…?" Teyla's voice trailed off as John waved at her.

"There's plenty. Drink it." He set to bandaging her head as she sipped the water. He quickly finished and grabbed more water and a Power Bar for himself. He took a long pull of water and nibbled the Power Bar. He lay back on the rocks, his mind drifting as they waited out the high tide.

"Sir?" Ford's voice cut the silence that had settled over them in the last hour. "I think the tide is going out."

John sat up and looked over the edge of the rocks before looking at the cliff side. He smiled as he spotted a rapidly drying water line, higher than the current water level. "Looks that way. Let's hope it goes out as fast as it comes in."

"It only has to go far enough to free the gate," Rodney added, "After that, we don't care."

"True." John's gaze fixed on the Stargate. "Yep, definitely going down."

Another half hour passed as they anxiously watched the tide recede. The gate was nearly exposed, and half the beach was dry land again, when John nodded at his team. "Okay, let's get going. Ford, McKay, pack up the supplies and take it easy climbing down. I'll help Teyla."

"Yes, sir," Ford nodded.

John knelt next to Teyla, his arm resting casually across his bent knee as he smiled at her. "Ready to get out of here?"

Teyla slowly pushed herself up on her elbows, allowing John to grab his coat from behind her head. "Yes. I believe I am ready for a soft bed now."

John's smile broadened as he shrugged into his coat, stood and extended his hand to her. "Nice and easy. We have lots of time, so take it as slow as you need to, okay?"

Teyla nodded and took his hand.

John supported her, only lifting when he felt she was ready, and slowly helped her to her feet. His arm snaked around her waist as Teyla wavered and groaned. "Easy. You okay?"

Teyla swallowed hard. "I feel… sick."

John nodded. He'd seen the wound on her head, and wasn't surprised. "Take a couple deep breaths." He held her for a minute until she felt stronger on her feet.

"I am better," she whispered.

John loosened his hold. "Okay. I'm going to have to carry you down, Teyla. It's not far, but I don't think you can make the climb safely."

"Major…."

"No arguments, Teyla," John admonished lightly. "You're in no condition to climb down. Now, I'm going to kneel, I want you to put your right arm under mine, and your left arm over my left shoulder, then clasp your hands together and hold on. I'll do the rest, okay?" He knelt, waiting while Teyla did his bidding. Then he slowly crawled over the edge of the rocks. "Here we go," he commented, his voice reassuring, as he carefully started his descent to the beach.

His muscles protested the extra weight, but he remained silent as he slowly made his way downward. The jagged edges of the rocks cut into his hands each time he found a handhold, but he tuned the pain out, glad he didn't have far to climb. He sighed in relief as his feet hit the sand and he knelt. "Ford, give her a hand."

"Yes, sir." Ford answered.

John felt Teyla's weight leave his back, and he slowly stood, wiping perspiration from his forehead. He smiled at Teyla's pale face. "That wasn't so bad."

Teyla smiled faintly back at him as John relieved Ford of her weight. He draped one of her arms over his shoulders and held onto her waist. Looking up, his gaze found Rodney.

"McKay, dial it up. Let's go home."

"I have to admit, I wasn't sure you'd read it."

Startled, Sora snapped her attention from the book and fixed it on Sheppard. She had been so engrossed in the novel, she hadn't heard him enter the brig. She felt a flash of irritation at his smug look.

"Glad to see I was wrong." As usual, Sheppard's voice was easy and conversational as he walked closer to the brig.

Sora buried her surprise under a cold mask. "I was bored," she retorted, before dropping the book on her bunk. She stared evenly at him as his expression turned cynical.

"I'm sure."

Her irritation intensified, but she refused to show it. She sat silently on her bunk, watching, as he slowly walked around her cell and stopped perpendicular to her.

He pointed in roughly the direction of the book. "Interesting, isn't it?"

Sora's disinterest was feigned. Truthfully, the book had enraptured her, fascinated her and given her a perspective she'd never considered. Deep inside her, her training… her ingrained Genii way of life protested loudly. "Not really." She sighed heavily as one side of Sheppard's mouth turned up slightly.

"Really? I thought it was pretty interesting."

His humor faded and Sora felt herself wilt under his intense look.

"Gave me a perspective I'd never really had before," he added.

Part of Sora panicked, but she kept it at bay. Was that not what she saw and felt? A different perspective? She dodged away from the similarities between them, finding her personal wall. Her gaze settled on his hands, which were a little swollen and covered with deep scratches. "Have trouble on a mission?" She met his gaze with a cocky sarcastic one of her own as she needled him, sharing the frustration she felt. Her black humor faded as his expression darkened.

"You could say that, yes. One of the planets on the list I showed you." His gaze turned calculating.

Sora saw the chink in his personal armor and pushed at it. "Too bad." She shrugged. She saw the hole widen and anger find its way into his expression. She smiled mockingly, remembering a time not long ago when he'd visited with dozens of bites on his arms and face. "At least it wasn't swarms of bugs this time." Her smile faded as his expression darkened further. He stepped closer to the cell.

"No, as a matter of fact, it wasn't." His voice was low and deep. "We were cut off from the gate by a fast tide that nearly drowned Teyla. I had to carry her down from a cliff because she whacked her head so hard she could barely walk." His gaze narrowed. "Guess it was one of those planets you didn't recognize," he added, with a note of sarcasm of his own.

Sora's newfound satisfaction drained away along with her smile. "Is Teyla all right?" The words slipped from her mouth before she even had a chance to think, and drew a measured look from the Major.

"Why do you care?" he asked bluntly.

Sora steeled herself and stared challengingly back at him. "I do not." She kept her expression strong as he stared hard at her.

"She's fine. She'll be back to herself in a week or so."

Sora kept her expression neutral but inwardly chastised herself at the unexpected relief she momentarily felt. Immediately, her mind rationalized it. If she had died, I would never have had my revenge…. She drew in a deep breath and broke gazes with him. Looking for an excuse to change the direction of the conversation, she gestured at the discarded book. "What is this 'Russia' he speaks of? Is that where you are from?" She hardened her gaze at his slight chuckle.

"Me? No. And it's a good thing my father didn't hear you say that." Sheppard scratched his head. "Well, not anymore, but when he was younger…"

Sora watched him pace, her confusion deepening. He must have seen it in her face, because he stopped in his tracks and smiled sheepishly.

"No. I'm not Russian," he admitted. "Our world is made up of many nations, Sora. Not just one. I'm from a nation called America. The Russians and the Americans…," he rubbed his chin, "well, we used to not get along so well."

"Then your father," Sora's curiosity was piqued, "does not like Russians?" She cocked her head as he laughed again.

"It's not so bad anymore. See, my dad is retired military. When he was serving, things were… tense between the Russians and us. Most of the people of my nation felt that way."

She stood, crossed the cell and stared directly into his eyes. "And you tell me I am wrong to not trust you, when the people of your world cannot even trust each other." She held her challenging look as his gaze narrowed and turned thoughtful.

"I'm not going to tell you that things are perfect where I come from. They're far from it. But there are Russians serving in this expedition, along with people from dozens of other nations. We're working together for a common good." He leaned forward slightly. "We've put our differences aside in the face of something bigger than us. That," he emphasized, "is what the Genii can't seem to do." He turned and walked a few feet away.

Her mind reeled. Conflict found her again. Some of what she'd read, what she'd heard from him, appealed to the rational side of her, but so strong was her upbringing and her training that she reflexively denied it.

"Did you know McKay is Canadian?"

Sheppard's voice snapped her from her thoughts. She looked at him in mild confusion.

"It's another one of the nations on my world," he supplied. "If my nation would've gone it alone, McKay wouldn't be here." An ironic smile played at his mouth. "And we'd all be dead a few times over by now, if he hadn't been there to pull some brilliant idea out of his butt." He looked around before giving her a half-cynical, half-amused look. "But don't tell him I said that. His ego's bad enough."

Whether it was his expression, or the fact that she'd seen enough of McKay to know exactly what he was talking about, she wasn't sure, but she suddenly found herself fighting to keep a smile from her face. Her struggle was apparently obvious to Sheppard.

"That couldn't be a smile, could it?" His voice was slightly mocking.

Sora quickly turned away and fought to regain her composure. When she looked back at him, her face was stoic. She scrutinized him. Around his eyes she could see a touch of warmth that had not been there before. He had caught a glimpse of her without her barrier, her strength to protect her. Irritated, she hardened her gaze, but his expression didn't change.

"The Genii are the only 'nation' of people on my world. We all work together for ourselves and don't need anyone else." Her voice was more haughty than usual, and inwardly she chastised herself for being that defensive. She watched him coolly as he nodded and walked back towards her cell.

"Dunno… you seemed pretty interested in our C4 and Jumpers… well, that and McKay's brain. Sounds like your all-knowing people could still use an ally like us."

Sora glared at him. Part of her conceded him the point but, again, the reflex that was her Genii training won out. "We will take from you what we need… and leave you behind for the Wraith to feed upon." Inwardly, she seethed, as his knowing expression remained unchanged.

"You'll never win the war that way…," he leaned forward slightly, "and I think you know it."

She watched as his expression turned distracted, his hand reaching up to his radio headset. She stepped back as he grimaced and tapped the call button.

"Can't this wait?" His grimace deepened. "Okay, all right, McKay. I'll be right there." He looked back to her and nodded once. "Think about what I said. Without another word, he turned and exited the cell.

Sora whirled away from the cell wall and ran a frustrated hand through her hair as she paced. Her anger stayed with her; for how long, she didn't know. As it ebbed, her attention was drawn to the book she'd discarded on her bunk. Slowly, she sat down next to it, crossed her legs under herself, and looked sideways at it for a long moment. Tentatively, she reached out and picked it up, opened it to the page she had left off on, and started reading.

"What was so important that you had to bring us up here right now? I was in the middle of a conversation with Sora."

Elizabeth smiled at the note of irritation in John's voice as they entered the control room.

"Oh of course!" Rodney glared at John. "Your hopeless attempt to convert a Genii warrior to 'see the light' is endlessly more important then a possible Ancient structure within our own solar system!"

"What?" Elizabeth beat John to the reply. She glanced at the short scientist standing next to Rodney. "Dr. Gaul?"

Gaul had a decidedly excited look on his face. He turned and pointed emphatically to a display behind him.

Rodney typed a few commands into the console and several lines appeared on the screen, all intersecting with the object that had originally been displayed. "Brendan discovered this object on a routine surveillance of Atlantis' solar system. The kicker? It's actually situated at a Lagrangian Point." He looked back and smiled.

Elizabeth blinked and tried to understand exactly what Rodney was saying. She shook her head slightly. "And that would be…?"

Rodney leaned back against the console. "Lagrangian points are the stationary solutions of the circular restricted three-body problem," he rattled off. "The gravitational fields of two massive bodies combined with the centrifugal force are in balance at Lagrangian points, allowing the third body to be stationary with respect to the first two bodies."

Elizabeth sighed and glanced at John, who rolled his eyes. "It's a point where gravitational influences from two larger bodies on a smaller one are cancelled out, allowing the smaller body to remain stationary with little or no power to stay that way. It'd be a hell of a coincidence if it was naturally occurring." He smiled sarcastically at Rodney, who grimaced. "Right?"

"Totally imprecise and muddied explanation, but essentially correct," Rodney snapped back.

"We think it's a satellite," Dr. Gaul chimed in.

"You're presuming," Rodney interrupted, glaring at Gaul.

"Oh come on, Rodney, you saw the readings, what else is it?" Gaul shot back.

"Yes, yes! It's likely a satellite, but we don't know that for sure…."

Elizabeth frowned. "Gentlemen. Please come to the point."

"Since the satellite is local to this solar system, it was probably constructed by the Ancients." Gaul said quickly, before Rodney could respond. "What its purpose was or is, we really don't know. It could be anything from a research outpost to a weapons platform."

"Weapons?" John interrupted, his attention piqued. Scientific babble was one thing but Ancient weapons…

"You and your big guns," Rodney muttered just loudly enough that John could hear him.

"I happen to like advanced weapons that could help us against the Wraith when they show up," John shot back.

Elizabeth nodded. "Agreed. It's worth having a look."

John pointed to a planet on the screen not far from the Lagrangian Point. "We'll gate to that planet in a Jumper and fly up to it."

"Ideal, but no." Rodney interrupted. "There isn't a gate on that planet, and considering it's within this solar system, I'm not surprised. Why would the Ancients put a gate so close? They could fly to the planet easily enough."

"So you're saying a Jumper can reach it from here?" Elizabeth drew the conclusion from Rodney's words.

"Long trip, but yes," Rodney replied.

"How long?" John eyed Rodney suspiciously.

Elizabeth glanced at him for a moment before looking back to Rodney.

"Fifteen hours, if we're lucky." Rodney grimaced.

"Ah." John's brows arched before he scrunched them and also pulled an unhappy face. "Great."

Elizabeth smiled first at Rodney then at Gaul. "Good work both of you. We'll debrief on this at 0900 tomorrow and plan a mission." Before either of them could say anything else, she turned and headed for the back stairs. She glanced over her shoulder as John caught up with her. "Major. You don't look happy."

"Thirty hours round trip in a Jumper with those two? Not my idea of fun."

Elizabeth smiled at his less than enthusiastic tone. "You could have someone else fly them," she offered, already knowing what his answer would be. Natural curiosity was something the Major had in spades, and two bickering scientists wouldn't quell that within him… in spite of his grumbling.

"No, that's okay, I'll do it. McKay might need me to touch something on the satellite, and those two are going to need a referee." He frowned and added in an undertone, "A babysitter is more like it." He inhaled deeply. "Besides, next to you I'm the only one that can rein Rodney in when he gets his hands on Ancient technology." He rolled his eyes. "Although after fifteen hours listening to him and Gaul, the thought of stranding either one of them on some remote satellite might be appealing…."

Elizabeth laughed as she turned at the first intersection and headed for her quarters. "We'll discuss it in the morning."

The book was half done. Sora let the heavy tome in her lap rest against her bent knees as she reached behind her and punched her flattened pillow. She looked up as Major Sheppard walked towards her, his movements stiff. She gave him a long, measured appraisal. While his expression was the relaxed and confident one she had grown used to seeing, there was a slight underlying tension shadowing it. Nevertheless, he smiled at her as he approached the cell.

"Sora. Still reading the book I see."

She inclined her head briefly at him. "Major." Her gaze narrowed as he flinched slightly. "You are injured," she stated plainly, before standing up and walking towards him.

He drew in a tentative breath, wincing as he did. "Just some bruised ribs. Nothing serious." He smiled mischievously. "Don't worry about me."

Sora stared blandly at him, again annoyed by his good humor: something she had yet to quell in spite of her best efforts. "I do not anyway." She followed him as he walked around her cell. "How did it happen?"

His expression darkened. "On a mission. Downed Wraith ship with the chance to gain some valuable insight into their technology. Problem was, there was one Wraith left hibernating. Damn thing was strong…."

Sora stopped in her tracks, feeling first surprise and then a grudging respect. Her actions were not lost on Sheppard, who paused a few feet ahead and looked back at her.

"What?" he inquired.

Sora hated the respect she felt for him, but the soldier part of her could not deny it. To meet a Wraith personally and survive was impressive. "There are not many of my people that have met the Wraith face to face and lived to tell of it," she grudgingly admitted. She watched as, instead of showing pride, his expression darkened.

"Not all of us did."

His low reply was almost lost in the hum of the force field. Sora turned thoughtful. There was pain and regret in his expression, but she expected that. Any military commander keenly disliked losing people under his command. But there was more. Intuitively, Sora realized the regret ran much deeper than she expected. She shook her head. The Lanteans were often soft, inexperienced in the ways of this galaxy and surviving the Wraith. "People die on missions," she stated matter-of-factly.

For the first time in their many conversations, all good humor fled from his face, to be replaced by anger. She fought the urge to recoil.

"Genii commanders may casually dismiss the lives of people under their command, but I don't." A dark, condemning tone colored his voice.

Sora felt her own anger rise. "We do not," she hissed at him. "Every lost Genii life is mourned! But, we do not dwell upon it. We accept it and go on."

His expression darkened further. "Losing one life under my command is unacceptable!"

"Then you are naïve!" she shot back. She stood her ground in the face of his scathing look. "You call the Genii reckless, fanatical and ruthless. Maybe we are! But you have never fought for the very lives of your people! For more than your 'nation' or your way of life. For your very existence!" She had a full head of steam. She knew her words angered him, but she was beyond caring. "The Wraith would wipe us from existence without a second thought! That is what my people have endured for countless generations! That is why we fight as we do, knowing full well that some of us will never live to reap the benefits!" She met his glare head on.

"I refuse to charge recklessly into a dangerous situation and put my people at undue risk!" He waved a hand dismissively at her. "Your people are rash!"

The insult fuelled Sora's anger. "Are we?" she spat. "Or are we just more willing to go to whatever extent we have to in order to survive?" She lifted her chin proudly. "You have spent much time telling me all the ways the Genii are wrong and your ways are right! All the things I could learn from you and your people! But there is much you could learn from mine! You are tentative, Major. You are too unwilling to risk yourselves and the lives of your people for the greater good. And yet you are fighting an adversary who will not be beaten otherwise!" She turned and paced across her cell before spinning and facing him again. "You speak of working together to rid the galaxy of the Wraith, yet you will not accept that your way may not always be the right way!"

"Now wait just a damn minute," he interrupted hotly. "I've risked the lives of myself and my team more than once, but it has to be a damn good reason!"

"And who decides that? You? You have not spent your entire life… the entire life of your people for countless generations fighting and dying against the Wraith. Yet you are quick to pass judgment on those who have!" She stalked back across the cell and stood as close to him as the force field would allow. "There is much you could learn from the bravery of the Genii, Major Sheppard, if you would but open your eyes to it!" Her anger flowed freely and she panted as she glared at him, meeting his infuriated look with one of her own.

Suddenly, fear called to her. She had pushed him hard, and part of her was now afraid he would no longer treat her humanely because of it. She knew many Genii, her own commander included, who would have resorted to violence over far less than this.

Yet after a minute, she had to hide her surprise as his gaze softened. He looked away, a humorless, cynical smile quirking his mouth. "That was a hard pill to swallow," he muttered.

Guarded, Sora watched him, her anger lessening. She held her stoic expression as he looked back at her, a hint of amusement touching his features.

"Teyla said something similar not too long ago, but I really didn't listen to her." He shook his head. "Now you're saying the same thing…," he looked up at her, his eyes slightly mocking, "although not as nicely." He sighed deeply. "I guess maybe I should start listening." He shook his head. "I still think the Genii are too rash…," he raised a placating hand at the surge of anger he saw in her face, "but we probably could learn something from your people's experience."

Sora was shocked to the level that she couldn't keep it from her expression. Instead of denial, she saw acceptance. Instead of anger and retribution, she saw understanding and self-awareness. As stark as night to day, for the first time Sora saw the fundamental differences between the principles of her Genii upbringing, and the foundations of belief that Sheppard had. Had he been a Genii, anger, hatred, torture and denial would have come on the heels of her words. But instead, and in spite of how hard her words had been for him to accept, he had stepped back and seen things from her perspective; an ability that allowed him to widen and better his own. Were her people so narrow minded that they were hurting themselves?

She started slightly as he again walked around the perimeter of her cell. He stopped near the entrance to the brig and looked back at her.

"I guess that's all the more reason why our people should be allies, instead of enemies," he stated quietly. He flashed her a small half-smile, before turning and leaving the brig.

Sora was rooted in place, her mind racing. The strong, loud voice of her Genii training, the anchor she had held onto most of her life, was silenced for the first time. Her rational mind had found so many things she couldn't discount that she no longer could turn away from the perspective that was quietly pushing at her.

It was a long time before she moved.

John turned away from the long-range sensors, anger setting a hard line to his jaw. Two weeks…. From the moment they'd lost the ZPM to the Brotherhood, he'd felt the frustration of its loss, but never as keenly as now. The Wraith were two weeks away, and without a ZPM….

He looked at Elizabeth, noting the grave tension she hid behind a mask of confidence. He absently scratched his cheek, wincing slightly at the tender bruise Kolya's fist had left him with. Kolya… how did that son of a bitch know about us? "I wonder if our guest knows anything…."

Elizabeth cocked her head slightly. "Sora? How?"

He felt his gaze darken. "One of the Dagan women tipped off Kolya. She must've been a spy, or an informant. Where there's one, there might be more…".

Elizabeth's gaze narrowed at him. "And you think, as a member of Kolya's team, Sora might have some information that could help us recover the ZPM?"

"Like she's going to tell us anything," Rodney interjected.

"There is that," John agreed. His frown deepened. Without another word, he left the control deck.

A crick in her neck pulled Sora's attention from War and Peace. Laying the nearly finished book on her bunk, she stood, rolled her neck and slowly walked around her cell. The story lingered in her thoughts. Why did the Major give it to her? What did he hope to accomplish?

The theories were interesting. At first she'd balked at what she'd read; so much of it went against her ingrained training. But as she read on, she began to see the writer's words for what they were. He sounded very pessimistic in his views, and so much of what he referred to – people, places events – was unknown to her, but what he was saying seemed to apply regardless. Still, her training turned her away from it.

Movement at the door to the brig caught her attention. She stopped and faced the open door as Major Sheppard walked through.

She kept her expression neutral, but inside her curiosity, tinged with some alarm, sprang to life. His expression was haggard and worried, and she knew something was wrong. She watched him walk towards her, his motions slightly stiff for the second time in a few weeks. This time, he was sporting a bruise to his cheek, as if someone had hit him. He stopped and stared closely at her. She looked evenly back.

"Sora."

His voice was neutral, but she sensed the tension behind it. "Major." She narrowed her gaze slightly. "What is wrong?"

He just stared back at her, his expression cold. "What do you know about Dagan?"

Sora's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She'd heard of it; knew the Genii had at least one operative among the scientists there. The New Brotherhood had access to Ancestor technology the Genii wanted. They'd been trying to get an agent into the Brotherhood for some time. She swallowed, but remained silent. Her fear rose as the Major's eyes narrowed in anger at her lack of response.

"Don't play the innocent with me, Sora. Your Commander nearly killed my team and me on Dagon! Tell me what you know. Now."

"Kolya," Sora whispered. She cocked her head slightly in confusion. "What did he want with you?" She looked away, muttering to herself. "Why would he be on Dagan…?" She looked back at the Major, and fell silent as his expression turned scathing.

"Damn it, Sora! The Wraith are coming! Three hive ships are going to be here in two weeks! We had to fight off your commander for a ZPM because someone told him we were there, only to lose it to the natives! Without that ZPM, we don't stand a chance in hell of defending ourselves from the Wraith!"

She was confused. He'd descended on her and demanded answers with an anger and tension she'd never seen. Part of her was scared. He'd told her over and over again he'd never hurt her or torture her for anything, but the boiling fury she saw in his eyes made part of her doubt his word. She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you telling me all of this?" She crinkled her brow, her confusion deepening at his cynical snort.

"What the hell do I have to lose?" He threw his hands in the air and paced in a small circle in front of her cell. "What does it matter if you know? Unless we find a ZPM to defend Atlantis in the next two weeks, we're all going to be killed anyway!" He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

Sora watched him, part of her shocked at what she saw in him. The tension, the worry the…

…fear.

She felt like someone had punched her in the gut as she scrutinized his body language further. Subtle and carefully masked though it was, nonetheless she could see fear in his expression. Backed in a corner, faced with the destruction of Atlantis and the death of his people, desperate acts were no longer beyond consideration. She felt her own fear rise. A cold sweat formed on her brow and she slowly backed away from him. She couldn't tear her eyes from his, even when his gaze narrowed in confusion at her demeanor.

"Sora? What…?"

Her heart pounded, words constricted by a tightening in her throat. Even as his voice trailed off, she wondered if she could find hers. She tore her eyes from his and fixed her gaze on the floor, her breathing turning rapid. Fear spiked in her again, as she heard him take a step closer to the cell.

"Sora?"

His voice was calmer, a note of concern added. She latched on to that concern and found her voice. "You need… information." She couldn't keep the waver from her statement, and a small voice inside chastised her for it. Be strong! She knew she was pale, she knew that he must be able to see the trickle of sweat that ran down her cheek, but she pulled on all the strength she had, took a deep stuttering breath and forced herself to look him square in the eyes. What she saw shocked her. Realization had dawned on him; all the anger was gone from his face, his expression a cross between regret and compassion. His brow wrinkled as his voice turned reassuring.

"No, Sora. Don't think it. We… I'd never do that to you, I don't care what the stakes are."

She stared hard at him. Part of her wanted to believe him. In the time she'd been there, he had never mistreated her; none of them had. He had been reasonable to her, he had treated her with dignity, and never once did he demand anything from her. But he was a soldier; sworn to protect his people no matter what. And now he was desperate, and she knew all too well that desperate men sometimes did desperate things.

He must've seen the conflict on her face, because his expression turned imploring, almost like he cared, like he really wanted her to believe him.

"Sora, it won't happen. I promise. All I'm asking for is a little help here." His voice lowered. "For all of us. What happens to us, happens to you. I know the Wraith cull every inhabited world in this galaxy, but this is different. You've seen the control room. You know what kind of advanced technology Atlantis has. Do you really want all of this to fall into the hands of the Wraith?"

She swallowed and turned away, her breath coming in short pants as her mind raced. She was torn; her training screamed at her to resist, but the rational part of her urged her to help. She pulled in a deep breath, her fear fading. He had given her every reason to trust him. Her gaze settled on the large book still lying on her bunk. The history of her people was so ingrained. The Wraith culled them; they rebuilt their society; and they trusted no one. Were they really caught in a vicious circle of repeating history and none of them had noticed? Could the author of that book, a man from another world, have identified the Genii way of life so accurately?

"Sora, please."

His words were quiet and almost pleading, at least as much as she would ever expect to hear from a military commander. Faintly, she heard the slight hum of the shield, and she was reminded of the awesome power of this place. May the Ancestors help all of them if this city fell to the Wraith…. Perspective swept through her and she accepted it. For the first time in her life, she saw a bigger picture; realized there was so much more than just the Genii's interest at stake. She turned back to him, noting his look of slight surprise at the determination that must have shown on her face. "The Genii have been trying to infiltrate the Brotherhood for some time. Information through our network led us to believe that the Brotherhood had access to a very powerful Ancient weapon. We believe it is called a Potentia."

Sheppard sighed loudly. "That's it. That's the ZPM. Their lead scientist, along with McKay, managed to track it down. They believed we were the Ancients and were willing to give it to us. They double crossed us when they found out we weren't."

Sora nodded thoughtfully. These bits of information fit well into what intelligence she'd been privy too. "So, our informant sent word to Commander Kolya that your people were there looking for the Potentia, and he came to see if you had succeeded?" She arched her brows slightly at the flash of anger that crossed the Major's expression.

"Damn near killed us too," he muttered.

She stared evenly at him. "You were lucky to escape him." She watched as he stiffened slightly. She looked away, inwardly wincing at the harshness of her words. "But," she added quickly, "you also skilled, Major. Your people are very good. I'm sure that had something to do with it."

His grunt was non-committal, but he said nothing more in response.

"Did the Brotherhood give any indication where they were taking the Potentia?" Sora continued.

"Only that they were taking it to another world for safe keeping." He sighed loudly. "They believe the Ancestors will return someday and reward them for keeping the Potentia safe."

"Fanatics," Sora muttered. She looked up, rolling her eyes at the cynical eyebrow the Major arched at her. He said nothing, but his meaning was clear. She chewed on her lip for a moment as she considered his words. "There is a chance…." She started pacing, glancing sideways as the Major followed right beside her, his gaze focused.

"What? What chance?"

She sighed. "The Genii have a complex spy network, with a tiered hierarchy, but it allows us to be sure all information makes it back to the home world in as accurate form as possible. We have informants all over the galaxy, but the network is broken into sectors. Each sector has several Spy Masters. All information is relayed to the Spy Masters, who pass it on to the Genii leadership. Several mid-level informants relay the same intelligence to several Spy Masters, ensuring that everyone has the same information, and that all information makes it to the Genii leadership." She paused, watching him nod thoughtfully as he digested her words.

"How do you ensure that no one holds back? Keeps information from the leadership?"

"We have spies within our own network, Major. It is rare for a Spy Master to defy the leadership, but if they do, they are dealt with appropriately."

Sheppard arched his brows. "Appropriate meaning…?"

"They are executed." Sora answered firmly.

"Ah." Sheppard nodded. "How does this fit into finding the Potentia?"

Sora rubbed her neck, fighting the tension that lingered there. "I know one of the Spy Masters for Dagan's sector. He was a long time friend of my father. He would know me on sight. There is a chance he could know where the Brotherhood took the Potentia."

"Wait a minute," Sheppard raised his hand, "if the Spy Master knows where the Brotherhood took the Potentia, then wouldn't Kolya and the Genii leadership know too?"

Sora nodded. "Yes. If he knows then he has surely passed such an important piece of information on to the leadership right away. If I can get him to tell us, you will need to act swiftly to beat the Genii to the Potentia."

"Who said I'm taking you along?"

Sora smiled and shook her head. "Major, if you walk up to him and start asking questions, do you really think he is going to answer you? It is likely he will try to kill you, but at the very least you will gain nothing from him. And if you ever go back he will have disappeared." She crossed her arms and stared plainly at him. "If you want any information at all, you will need me to get it." She stood, unmoving, as he turned away. She could see the indecision within him permeate his body language. He sighed once, then again, before running a hand through his hair and turning back to her, his expression dubious.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

Sora stared back at him, the humor fading from her expression. How did he know? Was there anything she could say that he could believe? She doubted it, but felt compelled to try anyway. Uncrossing her arms, she walked close to the cell bars. "It may not mean much, but I give you my word. I will help you."

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?"

Sora looked away. She pursed her lips for a moment, keenly feeling the betrayal her training insisted she was committing. She felt his gaze on her, and looked at him, knowing that he saw what she was feeling. "If Atlantis falls to the Wraith and they gain all of this," she waved her hand around her, "it will be far worse for all of us." Sora exhaled heavily and swallowed against a lump in her throat. She dropped her head. Could she have been so wrong for so long? "You are not the enemy," she whispered. Blinking hard she slowly looked back up at him. The anger was gone from his expression. He gave her a measured look, but it was full of understanding.

He licked his lips and nodded once. "You're on the mission. I'll talk to Elizabeth and have you brought in for the mission briefing."

She watched him as he turned and walked towards the door. "Major?" Her words stopped him and he turned to face her.

"Yeah?"

Sora managed a small smile, the first sincere one she had ever given him. "Thank you." Whether she was thanking him for his trust, or his respect, or the kindness and understanding he had shown her, she didn't know, and judging by his expression, he wasn't sure either. But, he seemed to take her words in the all-encompassing spirit in which they were meant.

He smiled back. "You're welcome." He held her gaze for a moment, and then left the brig.

John navigated his path to the control tower by instinct, his mind preoccupied with matters other than how to get from point A to point B. What the hell am I doing? He shook his head. Sora was Genii. She'd taken part in a strike force that had seized his city from him, killed two of his men, and nearly got him killed. Then she'd maimed two more of his officers trying to escape. And now he trusted her? Was ready to take her on a mission? Place the safety of his team on the credibility of her intel and her intent?

His stride faltered slightly. And yet, it almost felt like she had extended an olive branch in his direction; like she'd come to some sort of realization, and needed him to believe it. A cynical half smile pulled at his mouth. In spite of every rational word telling him he was crazy to trust her, his instincts were unwavering. Something about her expression, her words… her bearing had caught his attention, and forced him to believe in her sincerity. He pursed his lips, giving a moment's attention to the cynic inside him. With the Wraith only two weeks away, was it really his instincts that made him believe her, or an innate desperation looking for some hope to save all of them? He shook his head, refusing to second-guess his gut reaction. Too many times in his life, his gut reaction had been right, and had even saved his life. But, a small voice whispered to him. You've been wrong too, John…. He turned away from it.

He trotted up the back stairs to the control room. Either she really was sincere, or she was a very good liar. His gaze narrowed as he spotted Elizabeth seated behind her desk in her office. It better not be the latter…

He stopped in the doorway and took a deep breath, before clearing his throat quietly. Elizabeth looked up at him, and John had to stop himself from shaking his head. She looked tired and, although she flashed him a small smile, he could see the tension and worry that lined her features.

"John," she smiled wearily. "Come in."

John walked into her office, determined to hang onto the relaxed bearing he usually radiated by habit. "Am I interrupting?"

She gently set her data-pad stylus on the desk and leaned back in her chair. "Yes, but believe me, you're forgiven." She half-heartedly waved at the chair opposite hers. "Have a seat."

John stopped behind the chair and leaned on its back. No matter what direction he approached this conversation from, he couldn't find an easy way to broach the topic. "I just talked to Sora." Intent on her reaction, he watched as Elizabeth glanced at the empty chair, before she once again met his gaze. Her expression turned thoughtful.

"Not a normal visit, I assume?"

John pushed away from the chair and walked a few steps across her office, the façade of his relaxed bearing gone. What the hell do I say? Trust me Elizabeth, our Genii prisoner wants to help us? Damn it. John rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably and sighed. He glanced in her direction as Elizabeth leaned forward and folded her hands on her desk.

"John?"

Fine. The direct approach. He turned and faced her. "I asked Sora what she knew about Dagan."

Elizabeth arched her brows. "Really? What did she have to say?"

John maintained a strong, direct gaze. "She told me everything she knew. And, when I say everything, I mean…," he cocked his head, "everything." He relaxed slightly as Elizabeth looked away and shook her head, breaking the intensity of the moment. She met his gaze again.

"How do you know you can trust anything she said?" she asked plainly.

A cynical grunt escaped John as he shook his head. "I don't. She gave me her word she'd help us, but I have no idea what that's worth. Every rational bone in my body tells me I'm crazy. I don't have a single, logical reason to trust her, but…," his voice trailed off as John found himself at a loss for words.

"You trust her anyway?" Elizabeth quietly supplied.

Slightly embarrassed, John's expression turned sheepish. "Yeah. I do. I think she's sincere." He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Damn it." He pulled his hand from his hair and froze as a small smile played at Elizabeth's mouth. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing." She again pointed the chair. "Sit down and tell me what she told you."

John's brows furrowed as her request, hell her demeanor, caught him off guard. "Really?"

"Yes, really." The humor faded from Elizabeth's gaze and was replaced with acceptance. "You have good instincts, John. Now, talk to me."

Respect welled inside John, rushing past the underlying tension he'd carried ever since they'd detected the Wraith hive ships. It was an odd mix, that tension and this respect, and it left John with a renewed conviction to do anything and everything in his power to save Atlantis and the expedition team.

He smiled slightly and settled in the chair. "According to Sora, the Genii had been trying to infiltrate the Brotherhood for some time. Turns out they knew about the ZPM, but only that it was a powerful Ancient device called a Potentia." John found himself relaxing into the conversation as he outlined the structure of the Genii spy network to Elizabeth. "The point is," he emphasized, "it's possible the Genii may have found out where the Brotherhood took the Potentia when they left Dagan." He watched Elizabeth carefully as she leaned back in her chair and rocked slightly while she mulled over what he'd told her.

"So, even if you get a lead on the Potentia, there's a good chance you'll run into Genii operatives trying to retrieve it?"

John sighed. "Yeah. Want to know the kicker to all of this?"

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. "There's more?"

Grimacing, John rubbed his forehead. "According to Sora, the spy master will only talk to someone he recognizes. She claims he's an old friend of her father's and would know her on sight. But, if we go there on our own and start questioning him, we won't learn a thing."

"You're not suggesting…?"

"She has to go with us on the mission, Elizabeth," John interrupted, "it's the only way this will work."

"John," Elizabeth half spoke, half sighed, "you can't be serious."

"Yep." John shook his head, refusing to make eye contact with her. "Dead serious." He leaned forward and met her gaze at last. "Elizabeth, this is a spy. If a bunch of strangers walk in and start asking him questions, he's gonna run like a scalded cat. Hell, Sora thinks he could try to kill us in the process. If we're forced to kill him, or lose him, we gain nothing."

He abruptly stood and paced behind the chair he vacated. "Before you ask me if any of this is desperation, I'll answer you. You're damn right it is, at least partially. I wouldn't even consider doing this if the Wraith weren't knocking on our door and that ZPM could be the one thing that stands between the destruction of Atlantis and our survival." He paused in his pacing and stared at her.

Elizabeth rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed deeply. She looked up at John, her gaze neutral. "What makes you think you can trust her?"

He shook his head in mild frustration. It was a question he'd been wrangling with himself ever since he'd talked to her. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "She gave me her word, told me we weren't the enemy…." He paced again. "Of course, I have no idea if she's sincere or not."

"But?"

Elizabeth's quiet prod stopped John in his tracks. He rested one hand on his side arm as he gave her a resigned look. "But," he shook his head, "I trust her anyway. I don't know why, but I think she's sincere." He watched as Elizabeth looked away, her gaze fixing on a framed picture that sat on the edge of her desk. Simon, he recalled.

She ran a hand over the frame and shook her head before meeting his gaze. "If it was anything but a ZPM…."

"I know," he agreed quietly.

She nodded once, worry again creasing her brow. "Set the mission briefing for 13:00 and have Sora brought up for it."

"Will do." John turned away only to be stopped by Elizabeth's voice.

"Major?"

He turned back. "Yeah?"

A faint cynical smile touched her features. "It's up to you to inform Bates."

John grimaced. "Item one in the briefing." He sighed. "Bates isn't going to like this." His frown faded. He stared for a moment at her. "Thanks."

She stared hard at him. "I'll be convinced this is the right thing to do when you come back safely with a ZPM in your hands, Major."

He pursed his lips. "Right." He turned and quickly walked out of her office.

Sergeant Bates stalked down the hallway towards the brig. When the call had come from Major Sheppard to bring Sora up to the conference room, part of Bates thought it was some sort of joke.

"Sir?" he asked incredulously.

"You heard me, Sergeant."

He gritted his teeth against the hard edge to Sheppard's voice. "Yes, sir."

More and more, Bates had seen a connection between Atlantis' military commander and their Genii prisoner. Where she treated Bates and the other officers with cool regard, Sora seemed almost agreeable to the Major. Bates was the first person to admit he wasn't exactly friendly back with her: why should he be? She was a dangerous prisoner! But he wasn't sure if it was his own coldness that accounted for the difference in the way she treated them, or the fact that the Major was the military commander, and Sora's training had ingrained her with respect for her commanders. Bates's thoughts touched briefly on Sumner. Something the Major could learn…. He sighed, annoyed. And myself apparently.

He stopped in front of the open door to the brig and nodded at the SOs. "Both of you come with me. The Major wants her in the conference room, and I want you two on my six when I go in to get her."

He walked through the door as both men followed him. He stopped just inside and stared at her for a moment. She appeared to be near the end of War and Peace; an assumption that proved true as she closed the back cover and laid the book on her bunk.

Bates gaze deepened at her contemplative expression. Until this day, every time he'd entered the brig room, she'd immediately noticed his presence. But today she was obviously distracted. He wondered what occupied her mind. The cynic in him hoped it wasn't her latest escape plan. He cleared his throat pointedly.

She looked up with a start and nodded slightly in recognition. "Sergeant."

He stared coldly back at her. "The Major has asked for you to be brought up to the conference room." He couldn't keep the touch of distrust from his voice, but that really didn't bother him in the least. He pulled out a binding strap and walked up to the cell entrance.

Her gaze flicked to the binding strap in his hands. She shook her head. "That will not be necessary, Sergeant, I will not make trouble for you."

Cynicism replaced Bates's distrust. "Sure you won't." He glanced back at one of the other soldiers, who walked up next to him and aimed a stunner rifle at the doorway, while the other one reached for the brig controls. Warily, Bates fixed his gaze back on Sora as the officer lowered the shield and opened the brig. Bates held out the binding strap and gave her a no-nonsense look. He never took his eyes from her as she sighed, held out her hands and walked slowly up to him.

His gaze briefly left hers as he wrapped the strap around her wrists and secured it tightly. In the back of his mind, Bates knew the strap was tighter than it needed to be, if not painful. He looked up at her and knew that fact wasn't lost on her. Wordlessly, he held onto her upper arm and escorted her from the brig.

Elizabeth watched silently as Sergeant Bates escorted Sora into the conference room. Her gaze touched briefly on the sergeant's neutral expression, before she gave Sora a long, measured look. The Genii woman seemed slightly and understandably nervous but, surprisingly, Elizabeth's gut instinct told her it wasn't the nervousness of captivity, but rather of someone seeking approval. Deep inside, she wondered if John had finally gotten through to Sora and she no longer felt threatened. Wariness returned. They had no rational reason to believe this wasn't a trick by Sora to escape; and that was a ploy Elizabeth knew Sora was capable of.

The two women's eyes met and Elizabeth's narrowed slightly as she saw the same measured look in Sora's eyes that were in hers. After a moment, Sora slowly inclined her head ever so slightly in recognition, and Elizabeth had to pull on her diplomatic skills to keep the surprise from her face at the first respectful gesture she'd ever received from their Genii prisoner. Still wary, she nodded back.

Bates pulled out a chair and pointed, his gesture echoed by John's voice.

"Sit down, Sora."

Elizabeth glanced at John. His tone was quiet and relaxed, as if this was a normal run-of-the-mill briefing. She watched Sora sit, Bates standing close behind, his hand pointedly resting on his side arm. Elizabeth looked around the room. The usual easy and relaxed mask dominated John's expression but didn't quite hide the slight signs of worry he apparently had. Rodney's cynical expression was more intense than usual; Ford had all the signs of someone who was completely unsure of the situation; and Teyla's expression was a cross between distrust and sympathy. Elizabeth looked back to Sora, who seemed more unsure than any of them. All around Elizabeth, the room seemed permeated with distrust. She sighed. Not a good way to start a mission.

"Sora," Elizabeth toned her voice reassuringly. "Major Sheppard tells me you've told him some interesting things about Dagan and the Potentia."

Sora nodded slightly. "Yes." Her voice was quiet, "I may be able to find out where it is, if we act quickly. But you must allow me to accompany your team if you wish this to work."

"You've got to be joking," Bates muttered.

Elizabeth pursed her lips, and watched as Sora turned her head slightly, looking at the Sergeant out of her peripheral vision.

"I am not," she replied, her voice still quiet. "You will not be able to obtain the necessary information without me. The spy master will not talk to you."

"You're asking us to trust you and take you off world? Give me one good reason we should." Bates's tone turned hostile.

"Sergeant…," Elizabeth started, but Sora interrupted her.

"Because I want to help you." Her voice took on a defensive tone.

"Like hell you do!" Bates shot back. He glanced at John. "Major this is crazy. We can't seriously be considering this."

Elizabeth noticed John's expression harden.

"We are. It's a ZPM, Sergeant. That's worth a hell of a lot of risk," John replied firmly.

Bates's anger seemed to intensify. "With all due respect, sir, this is reckless. Colonel Sumner would never…."

"He's not here," John interrupted, his tone cold.

"Sir…," Bates started, only to be interrupted by John once more.

"That's enough, Sergeant." His mid-toned voice held a strong ring of command to it.

Elizabeth watched Bates suck in a deep, frustrated breath and nod once, curtly, before falling silent.

Her gaze returned to Sora and, again, it was her diplomatic training that kept her expression neutral. From all outward appearances, Sora seemed genuinely concerned. Nowhere in the Genii woman's expression was a hint of smugness, conniving, or pleasure. She seemed distressed, and every instinct in Elizabeth made her think Sora's distress was because no one believed her. Elizabeth felt strife between her instincts and her rational mind. Either Sora was sincere, or she covered her true intent very well. And the life or death of my team could balance on that distinction… .

Sora looked down at her bound hands her fingers drumming together nervously. "I know none of you has any reason to trust me." She looked up, her eyes passing over the faces of everyone in the room. "All I can do is tell you that I want to help you."

"Why?" Ford asked quietly.

Elizabeth glanced at the Lieutenant. His expression held a note of innocence, and it seemed he really wanted to trust her. Probably following John's lead….

Sora looked at Ford, her expression softening slightly. "Because you are not the enemy, and both our peoples want the same thing." She glanced pointedly at John. "Someone taught me that."

Elizabeth inhaled deeply as she also looked at John. A faint smile creased his mouth briefly and he quirked his brows, but he said nothing. Elizabeth looked back at Sora, her own thoughts conflicted. She found herself wanting to trust her, and keenly felt the conflict that John had shared earlier. She glanced at Ford, who nodded and remained silent. Apparently, Sora's answer was good enough for him.

"How do we know that you will not betray us?" Teyla asked quietly. "Surely you remember that you have tried to kill or capture almost all of us, at one time or another, including myself. I do not know if I believe you to be sincere, nor do I believe I can take my eyes from you for one moment unless you are confined."

Elizabeth remained silent, waiting for Sora's answer. Teyla's voice was calm and reasonable, but it held a note of distrust. Inwardly, Elizabeth felt approval. The addition of Teyla to John's team had been his call. He'd read her right, and trusted her, and Teyla had proven invaluable. In the present case, Elizabeth was determined to make up he own mind, but so much of this situation hinged on John's instincts about Sora. And his instincts had been right about Teyla. Elizabeth's mind continued to wrangle with the knot events had created, even as Sora found a response.

"I was very… close to my father." Sora's voice was quiet and her expression was pained. "When you came back, and he did not…." She shook her head. "I do not hold you responsible any more, Teyla. My father was a victim of war. As a Genii soldier, I know such realities exist, but as a daughter, I did not see it." Her gaze hardened. "Cowen did not help at all, but there is a lot that he has not handled well."

Elizabeth watched Teyla. The Athosian leader never was one to openly show what she was feeling, at least through her expressions, so Elizabeth deepened her look. What had started as a distrustful manner had turned contemplative. Elizabeth's assessment went unnoticed by Teyla, who had her gaze fixed on Sora.

Sora's gaze narrowed as she stared back at Teyla. "To understand all is to forgive all."

Teyla cocked her head slightly. "I do not…."

"It's from War and Peace," John quietly interrupted. "The book I gave her to read."

Teyla nodded once and stared at Sora for a moment longer, before looking down at her crossed hands. She sighed deeply, her thoughtful expression becoming evident to everyone.

"Well, I'm going to be the pessimist in the sea of optimism, even though it's so not me," Rodney piped up. "And far be it for me to agree with Sergeant Cynicism here," Rodney returned Bates's pointed, annoyed look with a glare of his own, "but that does nothing to prove to me that we can trust you." Rodney gazed dispassionately at Sora.

Elizabeth sighed. "Rodney has a point, Sora." She watched Sora's gaze turn distant as she stared at the far wall. She was quiet for a long moment before she met Elizabeth's eyes.

"There is nothing I can say, Dr. Weir, to make you believe me." Sora's gaze bore into hers and she swallowed hard. "The only thing I can tell you is that I give you my word, as a Genii warrior, that I want to help you. Either you take the risk and believe me, and we have a chance to find the Potentia… or you do not, and you gain nothing."

Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, her mind racing over the decision. She glanced first at Rodney, whose cynical expression had turned slightly thoughtful, and then at John, who met her gaze head on. His brows arched slightly as he voiced his opinion without saying a word. Her thoughts turned to the Major's instincts.

Every rational bone in my body tells me I'm crazy. I don't have a single, logical reason to trust her, but…." His voice trailed off as John found himself at a loss for words.

"You trust her anyway?" Elizabeth quietly supplied.

Slightly embarrassed, John's expression turned sheepish. "Yeah. I do. I think she's sincere."

Since coming to Atlantis, Elizabeth had found herself in situations where she had to trust John's instincts and "read" on people. He'd been right enough of the time to make her want to trust him now. She knew with resounding confidence that John would never knowingly risk his team unless he felt it was worth the risk or felt he was right… but he had been wrong before. And although John's opinion carried weight with her, she felt compelled to follow her own instincts too. For a moment, Elizabeth felt torn. She broke gazes with John and shook her head slightly. Mentally stepping back, she forced herself to look at the whole picture, and found a sense of perspective, as the goal of this mission became clear. They weren't talking about a piece of obscure Ancient technology or semi-important intelligence. This was the chance at a ZPM: the one thing that could tip the balance against a Wraith attack less than two weeks away. In that context, the bar was raised. The stakes were higher, but so was the potential reward… and so were the consequences if they did nothing. Elizabeth looked back at John and nodded her head slightly.

John stood and walked up to Sora. Pulling his knife, he waved at her hands.

Sora's gaze narrowed for a moment before she slowly lifted her hands towards him.

Carefully sliding the knife under the stout plastic binding strap, John cut her bonds. "If we're going to do this, you're going to have to trust us…." His voice trailed off as he gave her an intense look. "And we're going to have to trust you." He sheathed his knife and looked at Sergeant Bates. "Have a seat, Bates."

Elizabeth nodded as Bates glanced at her, before looking back at John.

"Yes, sir." He seemed less than pleased, but agreed nonetheless.

Elizabeth smiled at Sora. "Tell us everything you know… we're listening." Her gaze followed Sora as she looked around the room for a minute.

Sora's expression turned determined, and she rubbed her wrists gently. "I do not know much. That is where Zenel comes into this."

"Zenel?" John questioned.

"He is the spymaster. His guise is an innkeeper in a village not far from the Ring," Sora supplied. She looked over at him. "Major, if we are to be successful, we must act quickly. The Genii spy network already has a day's lead on you."

Elizabeth swallowed against the apprehension in her gut. She hated rushing, especially into something like this, but if Sora was right, time was critical. She looked up from her folded hands and met John's stare. Looking away, Elizabeth glanced at each member of the Major's team. Ford seemed neutral; Teyla stared back at Elizabeth for a long moment before nodding hesitantly; and Rodney just shrugged. Sora's words derailed Elizabeth's thoughts.

"You'll need suitable clothes, Major." She sighed at John's narrowed eyes. "Ever since my fath… since the recon mission, the Genii have been well instructed on the clothing, mannerisms and armaments of your people, Major. You would be recognized on sight, especially by a spymaster."

John sighed and shook his head. "The clothes I can handle, but no P-90s?" He gritted his teeth and shook his head again, before fixing Sora with a look that was almost warning in nature. "I'm liking this less and less, Sora."

She shrugged. "You would be recognized, Major, I guarantee it." She leaned back in her chair and chewed in her lower lip in thought. "There is a weapons and supply cache not far from the village where Zenel operates. Providing they have not changed the password, I believe I can still get us in. We can obtain suitable weapons there."

Elizabeth arched her brows questioningly as John glanced at her before he looked back to Sora. "All right. But we're carrying 9 mils with extra clips. They'll be concealed, but I'm not going to set foot through that gate without being armed. Neither is my team."

Sora sighed. "Major, if those weapons were discovered…."

"It's not open for discussion, Sora," he interrupted firmly.

Sora nodded back, her expression turning understanding. "Very well."

"Teyla?" Elizabeth turned her attention to the Athosian. "Can we get suitable clothing from your people?"

Teyla nodded. "Yes, I believe so."

"Great," Rodney muttered. "As long as it's not some kind of wool…. Did I mention I'm allergic to wool?"

"I am sure we can find something for you, Dr. McKay." Teyla's tone was mildly patronizing.

"Beyond that," Sora continued, "it is just a matter of meeting up with Zenel, receiving the proper information from him, and following up on it."

"We'll at least find out where the ZPM is and if the Genii have discovered it yet," John added. "If it's too heavily guarded, or we're too outmatched, we'll come back here and get reinforcements. At least we'll know where to go."

Elizabeth rocked in her chair for a moment before nodding. "Sounds good. You depart as soon as you have your change of clothes. That's all." She remained in her seat as everyone, including Sora, with Bates close behind, exited the room. Elizabeth drummed her fingers on the conference room table. So many times since coming to Pegasus, she'd questioned decisions she'd been forced to make. Decisions that were so far beyond the scope of her experience she felt like a diplomatic intern. This decision, based on her gut and the gut of the people she trusted, but with no real basis in rational fact, was no different. It was several minutes before she got up and left.