Chapter 4-Carson's POV
The city flooded with life and it seemed a wave pressed him onward.
Carson headed towards a control panel and thought the system on, mentally diverting power. Stepping into the transporter he ordered the system to bring up the secondary levels. A new map appeared in place of the typical transporter map.
He pressed the central area and felt himself whisked away to the nerve center of the Atlantian city. A place where knowledge alone could take you; if its existence was unknown to you then it would remain dormant.
Carson possessed the memory of that forgotten place.
The transporter opened and Carson glanced about him apprehensively. Bloody hell, why did memory have to be correct? The doctor still felt squeamish about technology though he was confident in his ability.
Carson felt himself battling internally. The voice of his Ancient blood sang, declared itself omnipotent and demanded to be yielded to. His memory of Earth fought to remain--life dwindling within it.
A circular shaped room greeted him as the door slid open. Two control panels and a chair. No ordinary chair--this controlled the true power of Atlantis. The power not harnessed by them.
He released power from the control room to allow life to come to the room.
"Gods help me," Carson whispered. He tapped the panels into life and inputted the code to activate the chair.
Taking a breath, Carson walked towards the chair, the light flaring before making contact with the metallic chair. He settled into its grip and felt power flood him. Euphoria flashed through his eyes; power belonged to him.
All the hopes of our kind rest on your shoulders.
He understood now--the sacrifice was high though. Carson felt tears stain his cheeks as he surrendered to the Ancient blood.
Dr. Weir's POV
"Elizabeth," McKay called. "There's been some kind of power diversion to…some part of the city. Two bad points: not sure how to fix it and not sure where the power's going."
Weir ascended the stairs swiftly and gazed over Rodney's shoulder.
"Do you think you can manually override it," Weir remarked. This was odd enough.
Rodney nodded, "I think its possible to cancel out the power but, these command logarithms are extremely sensitive and--"
"Rodney," Weir cried. "What's going on?"
The gate room shook and the surface shifted away. A platform rose bearing a figure surrounded by an island of fluctuating white light.
"Carson!" Weir screamed. "Rodney, what the hell is going on?"
Rodney watched as light extended into the city and systems flared on. There was nothing they could do but watch.
"Its alright," Carson's voice said with a monotonous tone. "There's a wraith intruder tampering with basic systems that are operated from your control tower; he rendered you helpless to the imminent attack that I sensed. Do not be alarmed, I have accessed the special defenses of the city--you will survive."
"Wait," Rodney yelled. "What do you mean; what about you?"
A flash of light surged through the city and systems screamed their protest.
Carson's Point of View (first person)
I felt concern radiate from Rodney and Elizabeth, however, I did not have time for reassurances.
Heat surged through my body as I mentally commanded the slumbering defenses to awaken. Simultaneously I monitored the intruder's progress, the approaching warship, and powered up the weapon system.
I trapped the wraith in the room he was in flooding it. His screams echoed in my mind as I felt the wraith's new ship close to merely a few miles away. The ship betrayed itself only to my mind as it remained cloaked as it crept towards us--no shield would protect Atlantis in close quarters.
The energy weapon screamed for release, joyous. I felt it gather at my direction and pulsate.
I allowed myself a few precious moments to indulge in fond memory:
Dr. Weir always being so cautious and yet so supportive. Colonel Shepherd always brought a smile to my lips. Every wisecrack the man made could bring joy to the dullest room. Teyla with that friendly, wise demeanor that suggested kindness. Ronon with those bloody, crazy escapades that drove him mad; but a smile that melted his angriest lectures. And of course Rodney…a man could never drive him so utterly crazy, but no man could make him smile like that.
Do you know that I love you? I hope you realize it.
I powered the weapon and let it flood my body and arc towards the invisible wraith warship. Gods, such pain was not possible. Fire and ice: Burning him alive. He felt the energy ripping, tearing at his very being. He felt the minds of the wraith cry out in a single burst; his own mind screaming out as well.
I felt the unspent energy channeling through the city and for a brief moment the city was completely revived--alive.
I could feel the fear, the pain of the Atlantians as I disappeared into the whirwind of the weapon. The energy caressed and tore at me until my pain severed my connection to the device.
The energy fled my body and my mind was left raw and bleeding. Then the light fled my eyes.
Author's note: I know it was strange to switch to first person, but I felt it would convey what was going on better.
