Chapter 3
"Alright Doc," Sheppard came back down the stairs. "Time's up. What's the verdict?"
Alex sighed and stepped back from the wall, rubbing her neck, which had started aching some time ago. "There's nothing here that will help in the fight against the Wraith." She told him. "This was a personal project for an Ancient trying to find a higher meaning for himself. I think this was the beginning of ascension research. Very early stages, it doesn't mention anything about a higher plane of existence, its almost Buddhist in its thinking. It's all about a personal journey to become a better person."
"And while that's all good for the soul that's not going to help us in this war."
Alex shook her head ruefully. "It doesn't look like it. While it's interesting information and I'd like to come back at a later date when we can spare the manpower it's not gonna help in the fight."
Sheppard nodded and gathered his things. "We'll get out of here then. Rodney!" He called over the radio. "We're all done down here. Time to pack up and head out."
"One moment Sheppard." Rodney responded. "I've found a console that has some different information and symbols than the rest. I'm going to turn it on."
John and Ronon looked at each other warily. "Rodney, wait until we're there." John hurried over to the stairwell.
"It'll be fine Colonel, I'm just turned on the power."
They heard the telltale hum of ancient technology powering up and shortly after that the grinding of a door closing. The four on the lower level looked up in trepidation as the door that led down to them closed.
"Rodney!" John yelled as he ran up the stairs and banged his fist against the door. "What did you do?"
Ronon ran up behind Sheppard. "Get this door open McKay. There's no door handle on this side." He growled.
Alex and Teyla glanced at each other from the bottom of the stairs as the men argued over the radio.
"Does McKay do this kind of thing as often as I think he does?" Alex asked.
Teyla just smiled ruefully.
"Calm down!" McKay said over the radio. "Let me get the door open again for you. Geez, it's just a door."
They waited a few minutes as Rodney worked on getting the door open. But after a short time with nothing happening they started to look at each other nervously.
"What's taking so long McKay?" Sheppard asked frustrated, pacing on the upper level at the threshold of the doorway.
"I can't seem to find the control to open the door. For that matter I don't know what triggered the door to close in the first place." McKay sounded nervous.
"What does that mean?" Sheppard asked, getting angry.
"McKay, can you read anything on the console you turned on? The one that locked us in here." Alex asked.
"Very funny doctor." Rodney snapped back. "I didn't think simply turning on a console would cause a door to close. But you are all lucky that I'm the one out here and you're in there."
"How so McKay?" John asked.
"Well if you could have anyone in all the galaxies to solve a problem who would you pick?" He asked arrogantly.
"Sam Carter," Alex mumbled.
"I heard that!" Rodney sounded offended, while the others laughed.
"Just get the door open McKay." Sheppard told him as he and Ronon make their way back down the stairs.
"I will, just, uh, make yourselves comfortable in the meantime." Rodney advised.
The all sighed as they did as Rodney asked. But Alex decided to get back to the translations to see if there was anything down here that would help.
"Rodney," she tapped her radio. "What's on that console that made it different from the rest?" She moved over to a section of the wall that she found earlier and wanted to explore further. It spoke in depth about finding your true self and intrigued her.
"It's more chaotic than the rest of them." He told her, distractedly. "Now if you'd stop interrupting me I'd be able to get some work done."
Alex turned and looked up at the ceiling. "Chaotic like the writings down here?" She asked dryly.
"Now that you mention it…" His voice trailed off.
"Damnit McKay!" Ronon growled, throwing a stone with force against the wall.
"This is why he can't be left alone." John said shaking his head. "Alex, is there anything down here that could help in getting the door open?"
"I don't know John." Alex admitted. "It's all about a path to being a better person. It does talk about taking time to reflect and almost like getting everything off your chest." She ran her hands over some of the writings in front of her, translating in her head as she read. "But I don't see how that will help us open the door."
"Ancient technology is very advanced, maybe it will sense we are trapped down here and open after a short time." Teyla reasoned.
Rodney snorted over the comm. line. "And it will just sense you're ready to be let out huh."
"No need for the sarcasm Rodney." John told him. "Just keep working on getting that door open."
John, Ronon and Teyla sat down while Alex kept going over the writings in the room. Nothing was making sense though and the more she read, the more she saw that it was starting to repeat the earlier script. "I think whatever this person was researching, drove them insane." Alex announced.
"What?" John exclaimed.
"From what I can tell, the writings start to the left of the staircase." Alex turned and pointed to the section. "The writing starts out more scientific, and I don't know, more eloquent I think. I believe that's the start of the research, the Ancient starting out his theory to become a better person or whatever direction he was heading. When you start to move further around the room in a anti-clockwise direction you can see just by looking that the writing gets a little more chaotic and starts to take over more of the wall."
"But all of the walls are covered from floor to ceiling." Teyla commented.
Alex moved over to the first wall. "But if you look here." She indicated a point on the wall just a little above her eye level, then pointed further up the wall. "The writing here has faded away more than that further up. Now there's no natural light down here so the sun hasn't worn anything away. I think the writer looped around back to here and kept going. The other clue is that about halfway around it starts to repeat, and not in the way that a new theory has been introduced. I think the writer lost their mind."
"Fantastic." Ronon grumbled, turning on the bench and laying down.
"Yeah," Alex agreed, moving over to where they were all sitting. "I really don't think there's anything here." She jumped up and sat on the table. "Sorry guys." She apologized.
"There is nothing to apologize for." Teyla insisted.
"Yeah," Ronon agreed, his eyes closed as he lay on the bench. "You're not the one that locked us in here."
"I will get you out of there." Rodney chimed in. "It may take a little time but I will get you out."
"We believe you Rodney." Teyla told him. "We would just appreciate you being quick about it." She turned to John. "Atlantis will be expecting us back shortly. Should we send McKay to the gate to tell them we have been delayed?"
John shook his head. "Let's give it another hour or so. We don't want to worry them unnecessarily. Because there will be nothing to worry about, will there McKay!" He called, glaring at the ceiling.
"Yes, yes. Now if you'll all stop interrupting me I will get that door open." Rodney stated.
Alex sighed and leaned back until she was lying on the table. She had been so nervous to go off world that she hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night before and it just felt good to stop and rest for a few moments. She listened to John and Teyla talking softly about how the Athosians were trying to grow a new crop on the mainland. Ronon was silent next to her, so silent that she thought he had fallen asleep when he startled her by speaking.
"Did you hurt yourself?" He asked.
"What?"
He sat up on the bench and turned his upper body so he was looking down at her as she lay there. "You're rubbing your neck. Did you hurt yourself?"
Alex shook her head. "It's just a little sore from trying to read some of the writings." She admitted. "It'll be alright, I'll take some aspirin when I get back to Atlantis."
"Come here." He scooted back on the bench and indicated the space between in front of him. "I can help."
"It's really ok," Alex sat up. "I'll just take the aspirin when we get back."
Ronon shook his head. "You shouldn't let it tighten up anymore. If it's hurting you now it'll just get worse and we don't know how long we'll be down here." He insisted. "Now sit."
Alex sighed but did as he asked. Her neck was really tight and beginning to bother her. She settled down on the bench in front of Ronon and closed her eyes as she felt his warm hands on her neck. He used a firm but almost gentle pressure as he rubbed and pressed into the muscles of her neck.
Alex dropped her head forward. "Wow, you're really good at this." She commented. "You should open a business."
Ronon chuckled behind her but kept massaging her neck. "I don't think that's my calling." He told her.
Alex thought back to some of the stories she had heard about Ronon, and what she had been able to deduce simply by being around him. He was that alpha male type, a physical one at that. She had passed by the gym last week and seen him training some of the men who had came across on the Daedalus with her. He had been kicking ass in the session. He had been sparing with 5 marines and not one of them had landed a punch or kick on him. In fact within minutes all 5 marines had been on the mats moaning in pain. It was impressive to say the least.
"Well if you ever decide to change careers I think you'd make a great masseuse." Alex complimented, laughing softly.
"Sheppard come in." Rodney piped up over the comms.
"What is it McKay?" Sheppard answered.
"I'm not making any progress here. I'm going to head back to Atlantis and get some more equipment. I should be back in a few hours."
"A few hours! McKay, what's going on up there?" John demanded.
"This is more complicated than I had anticipated." Rodney told them. "I think the scientist who wrote this code was insane."
Alex snorted, but not surprised Rodney had come to the same conclusion as she had.
John sighed. "Well hurry up McKay. We can't be stuck down here for too long, we only have enough rations for a day."
"Oh I'll have you out before that becomes a problem." Rodney told them confidently. "Okay I will be back in a few hours. Don't go anywhere."
"Really funny McKay." Ronon growled from behind her.
Alex had to laugh at Rodney's attempt at a joke. All of a sudden she felt Ronon's hands still on her neck, one of his hands slowly reached for the neckline of her shirt and pull it down slightly, exposing the scar from the Goa'uld.
"What happened here?" Ronon asked softly.
Alex stiffened and pulled away quickly, he hand reaching up to cover the scar. "It's nothing." She brushed it off and turned to her side. She smiled at him. "Thanks for the massage, it really helped." She stood up and moved away from him, not knowing that his eyes followed her the whole time.
Rodney didn't return for 4 hours, by this time it was 9pm Atlantis time, they had already eaten through half their emergency rations and they all were frustrated at this point.
Ronon had been pacing like a caged tiger for the past 2 hours, Sheppard had long since given up trying to get him to stop. Teyla and Alex were sitting on the bench making small talk, Alex told her about growing up on Earth and the travelling she did with her parents and Teyla told her about village life. But they were both getting tired and just wanted to get out of there.
"Sheppard come in." Major Lorne's voice came over the radio.
"Lorne!" Sheppard stood up, a smile on your face. "It's good to hear your voice. Tell me Rodney's figured out a way to get us out of here."
"Not yet sir, but we've brought along enough C4 to bust this door open if he can't figure it out."
"As I told you back in Atlantis Major, that would be a bad idea." Rodney argued. "We don't know what kind of damage the blast would do to the rest of the equipment up here, not to mention the overall integrity of the building."
"Well let's use the C4 as a last resort." Sheppard placated. "But Rodney get it done."
"Yes, yes. I'm working on it." Rodney's voice sounded distracted.
"How are you all down there Colonel? Is everything okay?" Lorne asked.
"We're fine Major, just ready to get the hell out of here." Sheppard responded. "Do me a favor Lorne?"
"What is it Colonel?"
"Smack McKay on the back of the head for me would you?" Sheppard requested.
They could almost hear the smile in Lorne's voice. "Right away Sir."
"Hey!" Rodney cried out over the comms.
Alex and Sheppard laughed, Teyla let out a small smile and Ronon just grunted.
"The first thing I'm going to do when I get out of here and back to Atlantis is put the game on and have a big bowl of popcorn." Sheppard announced.
Alex let lose a loud laugh. "You're talking like you've been stuck in here for years. It's only been a few hours."
"Maybe, but knowing the Ancient who was down here went insane gives me the heebie jeebies."
"I don't think it was the room that drove him insane." Alex told him. "I think his research into whatever he was trying to find just overwhelmed his mind. It's happened before. There have been many brilliant people throughout history that have lost their minds a little when their research just became too much."
"Is that what's happened to Rodney?" John asked, his eyes wide with innocence.
They all laughed as Rodney's injured voice came over the comms. "I resent that. I am quite a rational person thank you."
"And how much longer does that rational mind need to get us out of here?" John asked.
"Well with the equipment that I've brought back with me, it should only be another few hours."
"Hours!" Ronon growled. "What's taking so long McKay?"
"I've found the problem and am running the calculations, it's just taking some time to weed through the programming in place here. This Ancient really went nuts, there was all sorts of firewalls in place to stop the door opening. But luckily for all of you I figured out a way round them." He announced arrogantly.
"It will just take several hours?" Teyla questioned.
"Yes it will. There are way too many firewalls to get through, and that will take some time. Just get comfortable and you'll be out before you know it."
Alex sighed and moved over to her pack, shuffling some things around to try and make it a little more even.
"What are you doing?" Sheppard questioned.
"If we're going to be here for a few more hours, I'm going to lay down. It's been a long day and this place has given me a headache." Alex tried to find as comfortable position as she could and closed her eyes.
Alex was dreaming, it wasn't just a dream though it was a memory. It was the day she was taken off P3X-983, a continuation of the memory she had been reliving before coming off world.
The man had introduced himself as Enyalius, a carpenter from the village. He had heard about their arrival but had been finishing up a carving for one of the village elders so hadn't been able to meet them earlier.
"A carpenter," Alex commented as they sat side by side on a bench. "Was that something you always wanted to do?"
Major Montgomery snorted at her attempt to make small talk, but Alex ignored him. They had already been talking for a few hours, and Alex was hooked, he was truly a fascinating man, she felt such a connection with him.
Enyalius smiled softly at her. "I have always been good with my hands." He told her. "But you tell me, how are you finding our planet and the temple to the great Ares?"
Alex's eyes grew wide. "This place is fantastic!" She said enthusiastically. "I've always loved the Ancient Greek culture and this is an amazing find, it's in such perfect condition. I'm just sorry that I may need to leave soon."
"What do you mean?" He asked frowning.
"Well another linguist is coming today. He has more experience in this area than I do. He's been studying the Goa'uld for years." Alex told him.
"The Goa'uld?" He questioned. "Do you know much about them?"
Alex looked over quickly at Montgomery after Enyalius' seemingly innocent question. They had been on this planet for days and not once had a villager mentioned knowing about the Goa'uld. They just spoke about the 'great God Ares', they never mentioned the word Goa'uld.
Montgomery went on alert as well, so Alex started to stand and began to move away. "Yes, we have known about the Goa'uld for some time." She told him. "I've always loved the Ancient Greek culture, it's so fascinating. Don't you think so?" Her eyes widened as she slowly began to make her way from Enyalius and closer to Montgomery. "I guess you're living it, so to you this is all normal." She babbled on.
Enyalius stood up, and smirked slightly. "It was the Goa'uld comment wasn't it? And I was doing so well." He moved quickly and grabbed Alex by the arm pulling her to his side.
Montgomery raised his weapon, pointing it at them. "Let her go or I will fire!" He warned.
Enyalius laughed. "You will not risk harming her." He said confidently.
Alex struggled, trying to get him let her go, but he was strong, very strong. "What are you doing? Let me go!" She demanded.
He looked down at her, his eyes glowed the amber of the Goa'uld and his voice changed. "No." He turned back to Montgomery, placing his hand on what seemed to be a pin, which caused a ring transport to come down from the ceiling and took the two of them away.
"No!" Alex cried as she watched Montgomery disappear as she was taken away.
The transporter took them to the deck of a Goa'uld Mothership. Alex could see the planet she had just been on through the window in front of her. She was able to jerk her arm from Enyalius' grip, but there was really nowhere for her to go.
"My people will come for me." She told him, her voice shaking.
"Come where? We are leaving this planet now." He answered as he approached her.
"Why have you done this?" Alex demanded. "I don't even know who you are, and you certainly don't know me."
"I know much more about you than you know." He responded. "You triggered the signal in the temple yesterday and I came immediately. It told me you are who I've been searching for over 1,000 years."
"What are you talking about?" Alex's eyes widened as she remembered. "The light that scanned me. That's what you're talking about? What was it? And why me?"
He slowly approached her as she backed away, hoping to be able to circle back round to the ring transporter.
"That device has been on that planet for hundreds of years, I've got them placed all over the galaxy, looking for the right host. It scanned you, looking for certain genes. Genes which you possess. You're going to be the host for my love."
Alex was afraid. She knew what he was talking about when he was saying host. All of a sudden something came back to her. "Ares, you're Ares."
He grinned at her and threw his arms wide, gesturing around him. "Welcome to my ship. This will become one of your many new homes."
"No!" Alex yelled and made a break for the Ring console, but Ares was faster and he reached it before she did. She was unable to stop her forward momentum so she crashed into him, which took her breath away.
Ares gripped her upper arms and his voice turned hard. "We will be heading to my home and there we will have the implantation ceremony where I will get my love back. You will be her vessel."
Alex shook in fear and struggled to get away even if it was futile. "No!" She yelled again. "Let go of me!"
"Alex! Wake up!" A voice pulled her out of her dream. "It's just a dream!"
Alex let out a short scream as she came to. Sitting up quickly, her breath coming in rapid bursts. Her eyes focused to see Ronon kneeling in front of her, his expression concerned.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly, rubbing her shoulders.
Alex took a few shuttering deep breaths. Over Ronon's shoulder she saw John and Teyla standing close by, John with a knowing looking in his eye and Teyla just looking worried for her new friend. Her gaze went back to Ronon whose eyes were gentle she nodded answering his question. "Yeah I'm fine just a bad dream."
By the looks on all their faces she wasn't very convincing, but she didn't want to talk about it anymore. She pulled away from Ronon and stood up, albeit a bit shakily. "How is Rodney coming with the door?" She asked, trying to get the focus off her.
"He said he's almost got it." John told her walking over. "Are you sure you're okay? That looked like a pretty scary dream."
"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm already starting to forget it." She tried to brush it off. "What time is it anyway?"
"Approaching midnight Atlantis time." Teyla advised. She started to say something else but was stopped by the sound of the door opening.
"I told you I would get you out." Rodney announced, they could hear his voice both through the radio and from upstairs.
The four of them looked at each other then rushed to collect their bags and ran up the stairs. No one wanted to get stuck again.
Major Lorne laughed at them as they reached the top of the stairs and rushed through the door. "Welcome back Sir."
"Thank you Major." John responded, looking around with a smile.
"Thank you Major," Rodney exclaimed. "I'm the one that got you out of there!"
"You're also the one that got us locked in there McKay." Ronon growled, brushing past him and heading to the door that leads to the outside.
"I-well, you." Rodney stuttered.
"Let it rest McKay," John advised. "Let's just head back to Atlantis. I think we all could use a good nights sleep."
They all nodded, looking relieved and began the short walk back to the gate.
During the walk back, John approached Alex, asking her softly. "Are you sure you're okay? You were making a bit of noise and thrashing around a bit."
Alex took a deep breath of the fresh night air before responding knowing that lying wouldn't be a good idea. "I'll be okay," she reassured him. "I think the off world trip and then being trapped down in that room brought up the memory of when I was first taken."
"Maybe you should talk to Heightmeyer when we get back." John suggested. "Work through some of this."
"Maybe I should." She answered. "But for the moment all I want to do is get back to Atlantis and take a shower."