Part 4: First Day at Work - A-Bombs and Other Science Fair Projects
Summary: Following his capture by the Genii, Rodney wants to escape but first he has to prove his usefulness to the Genii - his life depends on it.
Rodney spent the next few weeks in the prison hospital either staring at the ceiling or sleeping fitfully. His captors barely spoke to him except to order him about. In spite of his surroundings and the poor medical treatment he was receiving he recovered quickly. He was visited once more by Kolya who looked him up and down and then turned to one of the medics and asked, "Is he ready yet?"
The medic answered, "Yes, you can come for him tomorrow."
Rodney didn't sleep much that night. Although he managed to get a few hours, it didn't seem like sleep, it was more unconsciousness as a result of exhaustion and the drugs he'd been given. Either way, it was interrupted by two guards.
"Report to Chief Cowen," Guard number one informed him. It wasn't a good sign that they weren't even referring to him by name, but they were probably grunts and couldn't even remember it.
"I'm going to need a minute to get dressed," Rodney replied, "and a little privacy." The guards took the not very subtle hint and left the room. He was about to leave the room when he noticed the hole in his shirt. The last few seconds in the gate room came flooding back: he remembered being shot. Rodney walked out of the room determined to escape.
Rodney shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He was sitting in Chief Cowen's office, Cowen was sitting at a desk, Kolya was standing next to Cowen and two guards were standing behind Rodney. Rodney decided that the guards were either there to make sure he wouldn't leave the meeting, or to intimidate him. He couldn't work out why Kolya was there; perhaps he was there just to glare at Rodney.
"You've been brought here because your skills may prove useful to the Genii," Cowen stated. "The C4 provided by Dr Weir has proven useful, but we need more C4 for a number of other projects."
Rodney frowned and said, "Let me guess, you want me to help you make more." He took a deep breath and continued, "Look Cowen, there is no way I can help you. You lack the equipment and the materials. Not to mention the fact that I don't know how to make C4." The familiar snark had returned to Rodney's voice. This wasn't a stalling tactic; Rodney really couldn't help the Genii manufacture a supply of C4.
Cowen scowled. "You don't know? I find that hard to believe."
"Well I'm an astrophysicist, not a chemist. Maybe you should have kidnapped a chemist instead."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes," Rodney replied. The expression on Cowen's face didn't fill Rodney with confidence.
"Then in that case, I'm sorry." Cowen nodded to the guards and then looked down to some papers on his desk. The guards walked up to Rodney, each grabbing one of Rodney's arms and pulled him to his feet".
"Take Dr McKay away and have him shot," Cowen said to the guards. He looked up at Rodney, "I'm sorry it had to turn out this way Dr McKay, but you are of no further use."
Rodney started to panic as the guards pulled him towards the door. "Wait, you don't have to do this!" he said, struggling against the guards frantically. He turned to Cowen. "I can help you!" he pleaded. He quickly tried to think about a technology he could help with, after all, he was a genius. "Antibiotics! We traded them in the past, I help you make more."
Cowen shook his head. "Insufficient," he replied.
As Rodney was pulled through the doorway, he yelled, "I can help you strike at the Wraith, without waiting for them to hibernate. I know how to send your weapons up to a hive ship!"
That attracted Cowen's attention. He raised a hand, "Wait." The guards stopped. Cowen got up from his desk and walked up to Rodney. Rodney's gaze met his own. "How?" Cowen asked. He wanted to know if this was just another stalling tactic, or if this he could provide a new tactical advantage.
Rodney sighed and lowered his head slightly. "It's called rocket technology. You can make devices called missiles. They can carry your atomic bombs through the air; they can even reach space if they're powerful enough." Rodney knew he'd regret this; he already gave them one devastating weapon. Now he was about to give them the delivery system. But after going through one near-death experience, he knew that he really didn't want to die.
Cowen smiled and spoke. "That could prove very useful. You're now officially useful again," he said.
Rodney breathed a sigh of relief. Cowen brought his face closer to McKay's. "You'd better be telling the truth, or a firing squad will be the least of your worries," he said threateningly. Then he stepped back and turned to his desk. "Commander Kolya, have a team assigned to Dr McKay. Make sure they have a suitable lab." Kolya nodded and walked away down one of the corridors. Cowen turned back to McKay and said, "It will take some time to set up the facilities. I suggest you get some rest."
Rodney certainly needed to rest, he had thought that he was going to be executed by a bunch of gun-happy Genii soldiers and that could take it out of a guy.
The guards now let go of Rodney's arms and then led him back to his quarters. Once in his quarters, Rodney felt a wave of nausea. He grabbed a bin and threw up, heaving again and again until there was nothing left except a sour taste. He didn't know if this was because he thought he was going to be killed, or if it was because he offered the Genii missile technology. It may have been both.
He noticed that some food had been left on his desk. There was soup, bread and a cup of something which looked like the Pegasus galaxy equivalent of coffee. Rodney hadn't eaten for a few hours. He wondered that was the usual feeding time for prisoners, or if they knew about his hypoglycaemic condition. At least I won't starve and fall into a coma, he thought to himself. Rodney started to eat the soup and bread. He tried the 'coffee' and it wasn't too bad. After eating, he lay down on his bed and tried to get some sleep. Hopefully, he would have a few hours to dream about being elsewhere.
Rodney dreamt he was standing in the gate room and Elizabeth was standing in front of him. They walked towards each other and he drew her in to an embrace. Even as he was dreaming he knew that this wasn't real, but he felt safe and happy.