Chapter 4 –

Plans and Promises.

Teyla dropped the gun to the floor, tears rolling down her cheeks. She turned and climbed the railing, looking down at the vast city below.

'No!' John shouted.

Teyla closed her eyes and leant forward. She heard the massive explosion of the Wraith stunner fired from her left before she felt it, and then she felt nothing. Teyla fell, hitting her head on the railing as she went down. Silence reigned.

John sprinted to her side, turning her over and checking the wound. He looked up to see Mckay walking over with the Wraith stunner in hand, glaring down at Teyla's limp form. 'What setting did you have that thing on?' He asked harshly.

Mckay looked at him impassively. 'Highest.'

'No? Really?' He pulled Teyla up in his arms, her legs dangling, and began walking in side where Lorne's team waited patiently. 'You could have sent her over the edge.'

'From what I could see, she was already there. I took a chance, and if I hadn't, she wouldn't be here.' Mckay snapped. 'Maybe that would have been better for us all.'

Rodney stormed off ahead and John scowled at his back. Maybe he was ill, but the whole 'let's kill people' thing was getting old. John nodded at Lorne and his men before heading down. Lorne walked by his side.

'What now, sir?' He asked.

John glanced at him. 'Infirmary.'

'And then?' He urged.

John gritted his teeth. 'And then what, Major?'

'She shot two of my men, sir, not to mention what happened to Kate and Ronan.' He paused when John stopped walking and glared at him. 'Now I know it's not Teyla, which is why we need to put her in a cell until she is Teyla.' He walked off and John let him.

He continued walking, feeling Teyla's head against his chest. He was worried for her, and he knew that Lorne was right. Teyla was a wonderful woman, but she was also a dangerous warrior, and when she wasn't in her right mind then it was time to get cautious.

He sighed, the pounding in his head making his eyes hurt. What he wouldn't give for an aspirin at this very moment in time.

John walked into the infirmary and chose the closest bed to lay Teyla down on. He made sure her head was comfortable on the pillow, drops of her blood staining it. He reached for a cloth on a near by table and applied pressure, watching her face for a moment before turning and observing the infirmary.

There was a soldier in the corner of the room, asleep, his arm in a sling. Another next to him looked like he had a hell of a concussion. A third had a thick bandage around his arm – a gun shot wound. Ronan slept on, covered in blankets. Carson stood over Kate Heightmeyer, just watching, his arms folded and a hand on his chin. Kate was struggling on the bed, arching slightly and falling, her breathing erratic. He rubbed his head and tired eyes. He hadn't noticed their arrival. He could sleep later.

'Doc.' John called softly. Carson turned and spotted Teyla on the bed, hurrying over.

'Well she's been a busy girl, Doctor Brimberry's in surgery with Major Baker. Gun shot wound to the stomach.' He said tiredly, retrieving bandages and some cleaning equipment. He inspected her head. 'I don't think it requires stitches, the bleeding's already stopped.' He mopped up the blood and bandaged the wound. John's eyes wandered until they stopped at her leg. He frowned.

'She has a cut on her leg.' He stated. Carson finished the bandage and inspected the next wound.

'More likely a bullet skimmed past her, it's a clean cut, this will definitely need stitches.' He looked up at the Colonel and frowned. 'Are you alright, Colonel?'

John looked up in a daze and realised that he must look like hell. 'Yeah, just full of the crazy.' He sat in a chair near by. Carson paused. John stared. 'You know that we've been infected with something, right?'

'Well I knew Teyla had.' He stated. 'Are you telling me that you're going to start shooting people too?' He asked incredulously. 'Because if so, then I'm going to need some more beds.'

'No!' John shook his head. 'Well, not right now.' He added. Carson raised an eyebrow. 'We all got a dose of whatever when we were off world, Teyla seems to have been the worst affected. So far, the only similar symptoms seem to be a massive migraine.' John pinched the bridge of his nose.

Carson looked to the floor with dull eyes and shadows underneath. John peered at him through his fingers.

'Don't tell me that you've-' He started.

'I've been in surgery for hours, that's all.' Carson assured him. 'I'll get both of us some painkillers and finish Teyla's stitches.' He continued on Teyla's leg. 'I take it Doctor Brimberry has taken blood samples?' He asked. John nodded. 'Good, I'll have a little look later on. What have you and Rodney been up to that's classified as, somewhat, abnormal?'

John sighed. 'Increased feelings of hostility, the need to be violent, some OCD-like tendencies – nothing major.' John shrugged, and paused when thinking of the violent feelings he and Rodney had been having. Carson looked slightly uncomfortable at hearing this list. 'Have you seen Rodney?'

'Not since he left with you to get Teyla.' Carson shook his head.

John rose wearily. 'I'll find him; make sure that he's okay.' He began walking. 'Carson.' He turned, and the Doctor looked up. 'Have you got a bed with restraints?' He said firmly, a look of regret in his eyes. Carson nodded, mirroring the look.

John returned to the bed and lifted Teyla up, following Carson to a bed in the middle of the room. He laid her down and helped Carson strap her hands and feet. He looked up at the Scot. 'She's not going to be too happy when she wakes up.'

Carson nodded. 'I'll keep an eye out.'

John nodded and left. Carson called after him. 'Colonel! Once you find Rodney, bring him here and get some rest. I can monitor your condition.' John continued walking and waved back his acknowledgement. Carson turned to the unconscious form of Teyla. 'It's just you and me now, love.'

Rodney paced in his office, back and forth, back and forth, his mind thinking over every little thing. He ruffled his hair in frustration. Sheppard was stupid – so ridiculously stupid. Teyla was a threat to the survival of this base, she was dangerous, a trained killer, and all he wanted to do was give her medicine, to help her get better, to help her recover, so that she could start killing people all over again….ridiculous. And Sheppard didn't even give him a pat on the back for saving the psycho's life! He should have let her jump.

'Rodney.' He turned to face Weir, who had wandered into his office and paused, watching him carefully. 'How do you feel?'

Elizabeth saw his eyes darting across the room and then the way they had glued onto her. He was so pale, and sweating, he couldn't stop fidgeting – almost as though he was a drug addict in need of another fix. Rodney stared a moment before his face contorted with rage.

'I'm great, Elizabeth, just great. My friends are killing and dieing, meanwhile, Sheppard is babysitting while we all slowly go nuts and think of nasty little things we can do to people and hamsters.' He snapped, continuing his pacing.

Elizabeth stood her ground even though his behaviour made her nervous. 'Okay, well, why don't you go to the infirmary-?'

'I'm not sick.' He snapped, stopping and looking at her with wide eyes.

'You don't look well.' Elizabeth insisted.

'There's nothing Carson, or anyone else can do, the problem is not here, it's there. We have to go!' He shouted, pacing again. 'I mean, I have to go, I have to find out what is wrong and find a way to fix this.' He paused, a hand straying to his head as he thought. 'I have to do this.' He muttered.

Elizabeth stepped forward and put a hand on his arm. 'You have to get some rest, Rodney.'

His head snapped up to look at her, and he growled, forcefully pushing her away and clamping her arms to the wall. 'No! Resting will not solve this! I have to do something!' He yelled. Elizabeth stared in fear.

'Rodney, that's enough!' She said firmly, struggling against his grip.

'No! Don't you see?' He whispered, his face getting far too close for her liking. 'We have to do this, solve the problem, that's what we're good at right?' He paused looking away. 'And it's so simple – I mean, she's sleeping. I did that…'

Elizabeth watched with wide eyes as one of her friends was slipping. 'Rodney, listen to me, you're not thinking straight. Just calm down and –'

'I am thinking straight, finally. I should never have saved her. That was me not thinking straight.' He said quickly.

'Teyla?' Elizabeth asked. 'She is your friend, Rodney, you would never do anything to hurt her, or me, I'm hoping.' She raised her eyebrows expectantly. Rodney looked at her with hungry eyes.

'I have to go; we have a lot of work to do. Stay here.' He told her, but did not let go. 'I have to keep you safe.' His grip tightened. 'First Ronan, and then Kate…no, we have to make arrangements, if only I could get everyone in the same place…it is possible…'

'Mckay.' A voice barked from the doorway. Rodney turned to see Sheppard tense and at the ready, glaring at him. 'What are you doing?'

Elizabeth looked at him. John didn't look much better, just a little less crazy. She needed to quarantine these guys. Rodney looked at his own hands pinning her to the wall, and let go. Elizabeth moved away, rubbing at the red marks on her arms. Sheppard stepped forward, making sure that he was firmly in front of Elizabeth.

'We were talking, about plans, and stuff. It doesn't matter, just trust us, we'll get it right.' Mckay returned to pacing. John looked back at Elizabeth; she gave him a concerned look.

'Okay.' John walked in further. 'What would you say to pacing in the infirmary, buddy?'

'No. I have work to do.' He continued pacing. John raised his eyebrows.

'Walking back and forth is working?' He asked incredulously.

'I'm thinking.' Rodney snapped.

Elizabeth stepped forward. 'And if I were to make it an order?'

'Then that would be useless, I've disobeyed orders before.' He stated coldly.

'Rodney, you can think anywhere; you're the smartest guy I know.' John complimented, hoping that it would soften him up. Rodney did look at him. 'And I can help with the plan. I'll throw things at you and you shoot them down, you love doing that.'

Rodney nodded slightly. 'Mh, I do love doing that.' He smiled weakly, looking to the floor. He shook his head. 'Fine! But I am not resting.' He snapped, pushing past them.

John turned to Elizabeth. 'Are you okay?'

Elizabeth nodded. 'I'm more worried about you and your team. You're all in pretty bad shape.'

'Yeah, no kidding.' John smiled. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him.

'I'm posting a guard outside the infirmary, and when Teyla's fit; I'm having her transferred to one of the cells.' She stated, folding her arms, white finger marks still showing.

'That's a bit extreme don't you think, I mean she's strapped down-' John began.

'Extreme? You've seen what she's capable of John. I can't allow her to remain in an area with injured personnel, especially when she's the one that put them in that state in the first place.' Elizabeth indicated for him to go first. He gave her a firm look and nodded.

The infirmary was quiet, full of patients, resting, sleeping – a dreamless state. But Teyla's mind was active.

She ran, god she ran so fast. So afraid, trees scratching and stinging her, but she couldn't stop. She could never stop. They would find her; catch her – horrors awaited if she stopped even for a moment. She cried out as her foot caught on a fallen branch and she stumbled, her arms reaching blindly for a tree, pulling herself forwards.

She could hear them breathing, hard and fast. She looked back, but all she saw was the dark, the shadows of the night. The moon her only source of light, barely enough to stop her from bashing into trees – but she had no choice. She had to run, had to run or they would hurt her. Kill her. They were not believers in quick death. If only she had a weapon, anything, but she had nothing. Just her arms and aching legs. She scolded her self for being so afraid – but still she ran.

Carson watched her eyes move, her arms twitching and was glad that she was restrained. He had seen Teyla in action, and the evidence of her lethality was laying across from her taking up six beds. Whatever she was dreaming certainly wasn't anything related to Bunny Rabbits and Disney Land. He felt a presence at his side.

'Jesus Rodney! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that, especially in an infirmary with sleeping patients.' Carson scolded. Rodney stared down at Teyla.

'How's our patient?' He asked lightly, cocking his head.

'Fine, minimal injury. I'm more worried about what's going on inside of her head.' Carson folded his arms.

'Mh, so am I Carson. So am I.' He moved around to the other side of the bed. Carson followed him, not liking the look he was giving Teyla.

'Rodney?' He said slowly.

Rodney did not reply.

'Rodney, let me see you.' He ordered, pulling a small torch form his pocket.

Rodney hadn't heard him and turned with a frustrated expression on his face. Carson shined the light in his eyes. Rodney turned quickly, grasping his eyes and bashing into medical equipment behind him.

'What is that!' He yelled.

'It's just a little light Rodney, you've developed some photosensitivity.' He gaped. The man seemed like he was truly in pain.

'Well, don't do it again!' He snarled.

'Doc?' The soldier with his arm in a sling sat up gingerly. 'Is everything alright?' He said, eyeing Mckay with suspicion.

'Yes, thank you, Sergeant. Get some rest.' Carson smiled; the soldier gave Mckay a final look and sat back down.

Carson looked at Rodney, still covering his eyes and doing some heavy breathing when his eyes looked down at Teyla. She was awake – and staring up at them.

'Teyla?' Carson said softly. Rodney immediately looked at the Athosian with his blood shot eyes narrowing. Teyla stared up, her breathing quickening, flicking between one man and then the other. 'Can you hear me?'

She looked at Carson blankly and then her eyes went to her hands, craning her neck to see her feet also restrained.

Carson smiled sheepishly. 'Ah, well, we had to do that, you see, you were becoming a little –'

'Paranoid, violent, untrustworthy.' Rodney listed.

'Yes, thank you Rodney.' Carson said firmly.

Rodney smiled down at Teyla, happily ignorant of his words. Carson glared.

Teyla's eyes were glued to Rodney. Carson had started her on a drip to get her fever down, but it didn't seem to be working. She was sweating, her cheeks flushed.

'I am not the only one who is untrustworthy.' She growled.

Rodney stopped smiling. 'And what is that supposed to mean?' A dark look plagued his face.

Teyla smiled. It made Carson frown. She wasn't right at all, it was a crazy look.

'You shot me.' She rasped.

'You were going to jump. I saved you. Although I've been debating with myself whether or not that was the best thing for us to do.' He said coldly.

'Wait, you tried to commit suicide?' Carson asked, shocked. His blue eyes searching the woman's face, a face he had always thought of as wise.

'It was my decision!' She shouted, shooting up in bed and pulling wildly against her restraints. The guards outside the doors ran in, weapons aimed.

'No! No shooting in here!' Carson stepped in front of them.

'I will not die this way! We are worth more!' Teyla yelled.

'You're worth nothing.' Rodney folded his arms, staring down at her with an evil glint in his eye. 'You could have killed everyone. Ronan. Kate.'

'They are dead and I am still here! They tried to end me and I showed them that it could not be done!' She strained toward him, wanting to scratch his eyes out, to tear him apart with her bare hands.

Carson shook his head. 'They're not dead Teyla!' He stepped aside. 'Ronan and Kate are very much alive.' Teyla stopped struggling; looking at the sleeping forms of what she thought had been her victims. She looked at Carson with wide eyes.

'They are not dead.' She whispered.

'Not dead.' Carson echoed, a slight smile on his face. She stared at him and then her face contorted with fury and she began struggling again, even more violently.

'Then they soon will be!' She spat.

Rodney walked in front of the bed blocking her view of Ronan and Kate. 'I won't let you hurt anyone else, you murderous bitch.' He snarled. Teyla looked at him with a sudden wonder and loathing.

'And you! How could you side with them! How could you not protect me after everything we have been through?' She accused him. 'I trusted you an you have betrayed me, you will join them in death!'

'Bring it on, psycho lady!' Rodney prodded her, enjoying her struggling. 'Because while you're strapped there, helpless, unable to stop me, I'm going to take the poison you gave to Kate and shove it up your-'

'Right! That's it!' Carson crossed over to the shelves and drew a syringe. Teyla stared at it, her breath catching. Carson filled it with a clear liquid and moved toward her. But what they saw as clear, she saw as blue – a poison. She tried to back up, managing to slip one of her feet from the restraint and kick Carson to the floor. She did the same with the other foot and used her legs to give her more lift in pushing against the restraints holding her hands.

'No!' She screamed. 'I will not allow you to kill me!' She said desperately.

John turned the corner into the infirmary and saw Teyla half out of the restraints with Carson just getting up from the floor. He rushed over. She spotted him and her body drew toward him.

'John! They want to poison me! You cannot let them!' She yelled.

'I'll give you some bloody poison if you don't shut up!' Carson snapped.

'Carson.' Elizabeth frowned.

'Hold her legs.' He ordered Sheppard.

'Easier said than done.' John replied, surging forward and dodging one kick to grab her ankle; she fell onto the bed and flung out her other leg, kicking his chest.

'No!' She cried.

'It's just a sedative.' Carson stated, waiting for the Colonel to grab her other leg. He managed to pull them both down and strap them in – tightly. She pushed against them, her wrists starting to bleed from the friction.

'Teyla, stop, it's to help you sleep. No one is going to poison you.' John explained to her, seeing the fear in her eyes as Carson moved in with the needle.

'No.' She whispered, her eyes filled with terror, looking from the needle, to Carson, to John. 'John.' She pleaded.

'Oh god.' Elizabeth said under her breath, hating seeing her like this.

John walked forward and grabbed her hand. She squeezed it tightly, watching as Carson sunk the needle into her skin and push the chemical into her body. Her eyes fluttered and her body went limp.

Rodney shook his head. 'You should have used poison.' He said simply. Elizabeth glared at him.

'Private.' She called without looking away. One of the guards stepped forward. 'Escort Doctor Mckay and Colonel Sheppard to the cells. Return to wheel Teyla down their too, she'll need her own cell.' Elizabeth ordered.

Mckay glared at her. 'What did I do? I didn't do anything, you can't lock me up.' He said harshly.

John turned to her. 'Wait a second Elizabeth. We're just gonna get worse if we sit and do nothing. Mckay has a theory that what ever is causing this is in the ruins on that planet.'

'Yes, yes.' Mckay urged. 'We need to check it out.'

'No, I'm sorry, but I can't allow it.' Elizabeth began to walk away.

'We can't not do anything, and you can't send someone else in case they get what we've got.' John said firmly. 'Mckay and I are still, mostly in our right minds. Plus, I need Mckay to work out any science stuff.'

Elizabeth folded her arms. 'And if you get worse on the planet? I can't send people in after you, John.'

'We need to know. Teyla's depending on us, and frankly, I don't think that a cell is going to hold her long.' John told her. 'We get there, find what we need, get home and fix this thing. Everybody's happy.' He paused. 'Except them.' He nodded over his shoulder to the injured.

Elizabeth looked to Rodney. 'What's your theory?'

Rodney stared at her blankly as though being asked something that related to the real world and to science was something he truly missed. 'Some sort of technology that broadcasts a specific energy pattern which disrupts the delicate balance of our brain chemistry, at least, that would explain why the whole village is so totally nuts too. Except, it has some sort of lasting effect, because we're still changing.'

'He means we're getting worse.' John stated.

Elizabeth nodded. 'And if you return to the planet and get closer to this…making people insane machine, won't it make you even more so?' She asked.

'Possibly.' Mckay chimed. 'It's not like it can get much worse.'

Elizabeth frowned, looking over Mckay's shoulder. 'Carson?'

They turned to see Carson leaning on the end of Teyla's bed, his head in his hands. He looked up, and when he saw them all looking at him, he straightened.

'It's just a headache, I've taken some painkillers but they don't seem to be working.' He smiled tiredly at them, walking to Kate's bed and looking at her vitals.

John looked at Rodney and frowned. 'Are we infectious?' He asked.

Rodney shook his head. 'A heck of a lot more people would be feeling the same symptoms as us by now. It has to be unrelated, I mean he's been in surgery for ages, and there are a lot of sick people in here.' Rodney said with disgust.

They turned back to Elizabeth. She looked at the two before looking to the floor. 'Don't make me regret sending you.'

John thanked her and left the room with Mckay in tow. He glanced back at Teyla with a dark expression. 'Keep an eye on her.' Rodney said quietly.

Elizabeth nodded. 'We'll keep her safe.' She said firmly. Rodney gave a half smile. That was not what he meant and Elizabeth knew it.

Doctor Brimberry accompanied an injured soldier into the infirmary looking exhausted. Carson smiled, she smiled weakly in return.

'How did it go?' He asked.

'Fine.' She paused, crossing to the shelves and popping a few pills. 'There is nothing like a good surgery to give you a bad headache, huh?' She smiled and walked from the room.

Carson frowned. Elizabeth looked to Teyla. 'Not good.' She whispered.

John and Rodney wasted no time when leaving the Gate to find the ruins. They avoided the village and used the route they had taken before to get back to the Gate when Ronan had been injured. The day was drawing to a close on this planet and the air was bitterly cold. Rodney glanced anxiously at the trees, his eyes darting to every hiding place that he could see.

John glanced at him, irritated by his movements. 'Would you stop that.' He snapped.

Rodney glared at him. 'I hate this place.' He whined. 'I always feel like there's someone watching.'

'It's called paranoia. I'm feeling exactly the same except I'm ignoring it, try it and you might find that you get more focus.' Sheppard suggested. 'Let's pick up the pace. I don't want to be here any more than we have to.'

They continued walking at a brisk pace, Rodney muttering under his breath every now and then. Sheppard could feel this planet working its evil magic over him, no matter how he tried to focus on something else – football matches, songs, the way Kerry Miller use to walk in front of him to get her desk with that little skirt in English…

'I mean, it figures that where there's a crazy bug, there would be a massive forest. Can you believe it?' Rodney laughed nervously. John rolled his eyes, not looking back.

Rodney had gotten much worse, and he could feel it. He was shaking and he felt so hot despite the freezing temperatures. He was sure that he was hearing voices, just around this tree, or the next. They were getting louder. He reached for his berretta and paused. There were no voices; it was all in his head. He would not become Teyla and he would not shoot Sheppard. He was a logical person and none of this made sense. He had to hold on in order to save the day.

'Sheppard, how much further?' He asked, shutting his eyes for a moment. 'Sheppard?' His eyes opened to see that Sheppard had stopped. 'What is it?' He looked down and his breath caught.

They had reached the spot where Tedan had shot himself, and he was lying on the ground, eyes open and a gaping hole in his head. His skin was pale and tinged with blue.

'I thought someone would come by.' Sheppard stated.

'I don't think this road gets much use.' Mckay's eyes were glued to the glassy eyes of the dead man.

'Let's move him out of the road. We figure out what's wrong and we'll come back, make sure he gets home.' Sheppard walked forward. Mckay hesitated.

'No.' He whispered. 'Don't touch him!'

Rodney couldn't understand this feeling but just knew that touching the corpse was not a good idea. Sheppard frowned. Rodney watched in horror as Tedan's eyes closed and opened, focusing on him. The man's hands moved, his legs moved. He stood with a limp, his dull eyes never leaving Mckay's face. Mckay gaped, feeling physically sick.

'Mckay?' Sheppard walked forward, at the exact moment that Tedan stepped forward. Mckay's hands went immediately to his holster and drew the weapon, pointing it with shaking hands to the corpse standing beside Sheppard. Sheppard took a step back, hands in the air.

'Whoa! Buddy! What are you doing?' Sheppard asked worriedly.

'Can't you see him!' Mckay breathed.

John looked to his side, the corpse on the ground.

'See who?' John asked, eyebrows raised.

'Tedan!' Mckay exclaimed.

'Rodney, Tedan's dead. He's right there!' Sheppard indicated behind him. 'This is the crazy thing talking trying to make you shoot me! What ever you see, it's not real and you've got to get over it.'

Mckay shook his head, a bead of sweat dripping from his nose. 'No. I see him. Standing right by you.'

John took a breath, rolling his eyes. 'Mckay, Tedan has a massive gaping hole in the side of his head. You're a scientist. Tell me what the possibility is of a man getting up after sustaining that wound?' John stared expectantly.

Mckay heard him. Knew he was right. There was no way that Tedan was alive and standing in front of him, almost blaming him with those empty eyes. Mckay grew angry all of a sudden, edging forward, closer and closer to this ghost of a man. Summoning a courage that he knew could quite possibly make him feint; he poked Tedan with his gun. It went right through and the man disappeared. Rodney looked to the ground and saw him lying there as he had done before. He let out a huge breath his hands slumping to his side. Sheppard breathed with relief.

'Nice going Mckay. Let's go.' John continued walking. Rodney stared at his back.

'Nice Going? That's it? I just faced a major fear here, and all you wanna do is go sight seeing.' He snapped, trudging after the Colonel.

'I gave you praise and now we are moving on. You did just point a gun at me.' John reminded him.

'I was pointing my gun at a dead guy.' Rodney argued.

'A dead guy that wasn't actually there.' John taunted, looking to the trees with a frown. It would be too dark to go on soon.

'That is not the point. I should get extra credit for not shooting you.' Rodney insisted.

'You do not get extra credit for not shooting me, Mckay.' Sheppard said firmly.

'Why not?' Rodney pouted.

'Because you're not supposed to shoot me in the first place.' He said incredulously.

They continued on this way for several minutes, John indulged Mckay with the heated argument, knowing that it was keeping both their minds off of the more sinister things.

They walked into an open field and saw the ruins. John frowned.

'That's it?'

'Mh. At least we won't have many places to look.' Mckay continued on.

They walked toward the small structure, most of which had been reduced to rubble. Mckay headed immediately for a wall with inscriptions.

'It's in Ancient.' He stated.

'What's it say?' Sheppard peered into what seemed to be an old temple, mostly crumbled pillars and a large shrine down the other end.

'Some sort of a memorial…of the ones who came before…' He paused. 'There were two people's who existed in harmony, until there was a traitor – no, a betrayal, something about a Princess of one city and the slave of another, basically they ran away together and the King had no heir. He had an uneasy truce with the leader of the other city, and blamed him for the incident, saying that he would…bring fire and never ending torment.'

'Cheery.' Sheppard commented.

'Apparently the King was a brilliant scientist, a jewel of minds, shining throughout…yada, yada, yada…and in this angry state of mind, he constructed a powerful machine…the Zarkona, whatever that is…and hid it in this, his sacred temple, taking his people to the mountains to live free of…' Rodney paused.

'What?' Sheppard prodded.

'Insanity.' Mckay glanced at him. 'The Zarkona caused the people to feel a great sickness. Depression, something about voices…and riots, raping, murders – the people turned on each other believing that they were…demons. They have lived in this way for generations. The Zarkona was kept in the shrine of the King where it was said only his hand could open it.' Mckay paused. 'Open a shrine? I thought they were open things anyway where people placed offerings for everyone to see?'

Sheppard shrugged. 'So did I, but there's a shrine at the bottom.' He nodded to the end.

Mckay peeked by the side of the wall. 'There is? Ooh.' He walked in its direction before slowing, gripping his head.

'Mckay?' Sheppard said loudly.

'Yeah, it's just, I think we should hurry up and get the damn thing.' He said urgently, turning to Sheppard with dark eyes.

Sheppard nodded. They jogged to the end.

'Well, it's a shrine.' Rodney stated, looking at the curved stone. Sheppard cocked his head.

'I can see that Rodney.' He glared.

The scientist stepped forward and glanced at the flat surface. A hand print sat carved into the stone. Mckay looked at John who shrugged. Rodney placed his hand over the print and nothing happened.

'You try.' Rodney told him.

'Why?' John asked.

'It may need the Ancient gene, which I have, but you have it naturally. It might be able to pick up on that.' Rodney insisted. John tried, but with no luck.

'Okay, maybe there's a finger combination, or if he was a scientist, he could have used a specific chemical to spark a reaction with one on the other side-' Rodney began.

John raised his MP5 and fired three shots. Rodney jumped back and John lowered the weapon. Sheppard could feel Mckay scowling at his back. He shrugged.

'We don't have time to speculate Mckay.' He said simply.

'Yeah, well, now you've destroyed it and there's a very good chance that I'll never be able to-' He paused. The back of the shrine slid open. 'Never mind.' John grinned at him and turned to look at the…Zarkona. John stared with a blank expression.

'Rodney, this shrine looks suspiciously empty.' He stated, looking over the small hidden space.

'Yes it does.' Rodney replied, shocked. His hands went to his head. 'Why couldn't this be easy?' He marched back to the wall, Sheppard jogging behind.

'Mckay?'

Rodney swung himself to face the wall and read from where he had stopped, throwing his hands in the air. 'Oh! They removed it!' He pointed to the scratching in the wall. 'For the good of the population, we have taken the device and destroyed it in the hopes that their conditions would improve. We soon realised that this was not possible. A member of our team sustained injury when interacting with the villagers and we left for home, leaving this wall in commemoration of those useless, stupid, idiotic, selfish-!' Mckay yelled.

'Rodney!' John shouted. 'Calm down! You're making my headache even worse.'

'Well, you should expect it to get much worse because the device no longer exists! Which baffles me because ten thousand years later, these villagers are still stark raving mad!' Rodney growled, feeling the fire roar in his mind.

'Okay, so that plans shot.' John stated. 'What now?'

'Now nothing. I have no idea why this is happening and I can't save us.' He spat.

'Alright!' John yelled. 'We'll go back to Atlantis, get checked out, and hope the blood samples turn up something. That's the new plan. Can you focus on that?' John asked. 'There may even be something in the Ancient database.' He put a hand on his friends shoulder, seeing that he was slipping fast. 'There's still a lot we can do Mckay, it's not over yet.' He raised an eyebrow in encouragement. 'Let's get back before dark.'

Mckay watched him go before following. He stared at the ground, not expecting the voice in the back of his mind to speak so clearly.

'Yes. There is much we can do.' It promised.