Authors Note:
Welcome back to new posts for this story! First up my apologies for taking so long to get back to this. I hope the background stories made the wait worthwhile. For those having previously read this story when I first posted it months and months ago who might not have read the background stuff please note that I have added considerably to some of the early chapters – nothing that affects the basic plot, but more to line things up with Lorne's background. I don't expect anyone to even remember what was in the previous chapters anyway, so a reread might be in order, if you've got the time and haven't done so already. Otherwise I'm sure it will all come back as you read on. Thank you for your patience!
Chapter 9: Appropriated but not Condemned
Part of Lorne's job was the evaluation of personnel slotted for a spot on the Atlantis expedition. Now that communication and travel between the city and Earth was again possible the SGC was very keen to maintain regular rotations. Colonel Sheppard was heavily involved in managing the military and in particular the off world aspects of their role in Pegasus and didn't have time for anything else. Plus he'd freely admitted to Evan that paperwork wasn't his forte – anything Lorne could do to help him there would be very much appreciated.
Every trip the Daedalus made some crew would go home while others arrived, putting pressure on staff in many departments. There was a kind of twelve week routine to it ... starting at week one when the Daedalus arrived and they were all heavily involved in orientation of the new crew and beginning the three week training program. Civilians would also be integrated into their respective departments while the military recruits were assigned to teams and given roles for various scenarios that regularly took place within the city. Week three was also all about resupply – working out what was needed and getting all the paperwork done before the Daedalus left.
Weeks four through six the Daedalus was en-route back to Earth so things were pretty quiet on the Earth/Pegasus connection front. There weren't any specific requirements the three weeks the Daedalus was on Earth either, so long as Atlantis could communicate its personnel and resupply requirements before the ship left Earth again. Weeks ten to twelve they worked out who was going where – assigning quarters and work stations so the new guys had somewhere to work and sleep the day they arrived.
If the right people weren't chosen, if they had to be replaced ahead of schedule, then it just exacerbated the pressure on everyone. So Evan looked at the hopefuls first – military and civilian – came up with a short list based on what was needed for each department and the qualifications of the people available, and presented it to Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Weir.
It had to be someone military checking over both military and civilians because the military were responsible for running the basic training all residents of Atlantis had to pass. There were certain things they looked for – in the psych write-ups and the fitness appraisals - that indicated an individual would be suited to the kind of life they'd lead on Atlantis. Lorne didn't pretend to be an expert on anything the civilians did in the city – which meant he spent just as much time talking to the seconds of each department as he did reading files in order to come up with that short list. It was a lot of work but it did have benefits – Evan very quickly got into the position of knowing everyone in the city, and being known to practically everyone too. And he'd formed quick friendships with the deputies of the main departments, Radek Zelenka chief among them.
The nine weeks between Daedalus arrivals went quickly. Lorne had learned that after the first one when he'd had to pull a couple of all nighters to get through everything in time to give the SGC the approved list of new recruits before the cruiser left Earth. Of course it had been worth it - Daedalus arrivals always brought news from home and Evan had been as eager as anyone to take his mail - videos from Elaine and Piper and letters from his Mom and a few friends - to enjoy in the privacy of his own quarters. Being busy kept him from really thinking too much about just how far away from home he was and he'd surprised himself with how easily he'd settled into life in another galaxy. Not that he didn't miss his family - he did, but something about the city made that easier to bear than he'd expected.
Now more than three months into his role on Atlantis Evan had a Daedalus 'schedule' in place and had decided on a routine to make sure the key things were done at the end of each week. First in the list was getting through the stack of personnel files the Daedalus had brought with it. Evan spent a part of each day reviewing candidates ... usually in his office but every now and then he'd take a few files to the Mess Hall with him and sit on the balcony.
"Any standouts Major?"
Lorne looked up from his reading to see Doctor Weir standing beside his table. "Ma'am?"
"I see you're working through the latest batch of potential staff Major," Weir clarified.
"Yes Ma'am," Evan smiled. "Doesn't take long ... unless you leave it all 'till the last minute."
"Hard not to sometimes," Elizabeth said with a chuckle. "Other things have a way of getting attention over the routine details."
"That they do." Lorne nodded to the file and mug the city's leader was holding. "Looks like you've got some of that routine work to do too ... please Doctor, join me." He just barely resisted the urge to stand respectfully, having already been told by Elizabeth on a previous occasion that the courtesy, although appreciated, wasn't required.
"Thank you Major," Elizabeth took the seat across from him gratefully, taking a moment while she sipped her coffee to look around the Mess Hall. "It's been quiet for a few weeks," she commented softly.
"I take it that's not usual?" Evan asked. After his first mission and the drama's of Cadman getting trapped inside McKay's mind things had settled down for Lorne. The past month had allowed him to get his own bearings in the city – find a balance between his duties as Sheppard's 2IC as well as being a team leader in his own right.
"Not especially," Weir returned. A faint smile played over her lips as she looked at Lorne. "You'll probably see that for yourself before too long."
"I read all the mission reports covering the first year on the way here," Evan admitted. "Plus there's always a lot of talk every time Colonel Sheppard's team heads out."
"Yes, the Colonel does have a way of attracting trouble, doesn't he?" Elizabeth agreed blandly.
"So it seems," Lorne returned, a faint smile hovering over his face this time.
"So ... any standouts in our latest batch of young hopefuls?" Elizabeth repeated her earlier question.
"Depends on your definition of stand out," Evan chuckled. "You'd know yourself that most of the civilians are scarily qualified ... makes you feel like a hopeless drop out if you make the mistake of comparing yourself to some of them."
"I've read your file Major," Elizabeth said pointedly. "You're underselling yourself ... General O'Neill personally recommended you for Atlantis."
"Yes Ma'am," Lorne agreed. "As soon as I discovered I had the gene it was a foregone conclusion I'd end up here eventually – if contact could be re-established."
"Even with the gene therapy we still need every natural gene holder we can get," Weir agreed, referring to the fact that all new starters to Atlantis were given the gene therapy unless they had a good reason to decline. "Radek tells me repeatedly that some things just don't work as well ... that even a weak natural gene is better than a 'fake' one." She smiled suddenly. "I think he's still irritated that the gene therapy didn't take with him."
"Understandable," Evan shrugged. "We don't have enough natural gene holders, weak or otherwise, and I know Colonel Sheppard isn't always available to be ancient device activator for the entire science department."
"You would have had some experience with that yourself, wouldn't you?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"Not really," Lorne grinned. "The personnel stuff on top of running a team keeps me pretty busy. Given a choice I think Colonel Sheppard prefers helping the scientists to doing the paperwork, not that he'd ever admit it to them."
"I'm sure that's true," Elizabeth said with an amused expression that told Evan she'd grappled with John's aversion to reports more than once in the past. "You should think about assisting sometimes anyway Major ... practice using your gene for more than just Puddle Jumper flights and opening doors."
"You think that makes a difference, practising?" Lorne asked curiously.
"I don't know," Elizabeth smiled. "But there's no harm in trying, is there?" Finishing her coffee, Weir stood. "Thank you for the company Major. I'll look forward to seeing your short list."
"Yes Ma'am," Evan acknowledged.
The fates must have been listening in to that conversation because it was only two days later that Lorne got his first taste of a proper, rescue team Sheppard mission. The city's lead team had gone on another 'visit unknown planet, see what they've got to offer' mission, the risky kind you wished weren't as necessary as they were. Even with an established connection back to Earth Atlantis still had to be self sufficient – for resources like perishable food as well as for the power they required to be able to fully defend the city. For that you needed to get out there, find allies, make trading agreements, and with any luck find an ancient facility brimming with fully charged ZPMs. So far they were doing okay on the first two, the ZPMs still feeling more like a pipe dream than something they'd actually stumble across one day.
It was that pipe dream that had driven Sheppard's team's current mission. Doctor McKay had found reference to an ancient outpost on M4F 199, a planet they'd yet to gate to. It wasn't one Teyla or the Colonel's newest team mate Ronon had been to either so they really were going in blind. As far as anyone on Atlantis knew, with a mission like that everything was going great ... until you heard otherwise.
Evan was in the mess hall with his team when the call came in.
"Major Lorne, this is Doctor Weir."
"Ma'am," Evan tapped his ear piece, holding up a hand to stop Nate Coughlin from continuing his story.
"Colonel Sheppard's team is late checking in," Elizabeth said briskly. "Have your team ready to gate out in ten minutes."
"Yes Ma'am," Lorne returned. Standing up he gathered the remains of his late lunch together. "We're up," he told the other men. "Rescue mission."
"Who is it?" Coughlin asked, already up too.
"Colonel Sheppard's team." Evan didn't need to say more - Reed and Coughlin had been around longer than him, they both knew the score. The three men moved quickly to exit the Mess, Lorne tapping his ear piece as they walked. "Lorne to Cheung," he said briskly.
"Cheung here Sir," Airman James Cheung, sometimes fourth member of Lorne's team (when a scientist wasn't required) replied.
"Meet us in the Gateroom asap," Lorne instructed. "We've got a mission."
An hour later they were walking down a path on M4F 199 that cut through a densely forested area. It put Lorne in mind of his first Pegasus mission, minus the scorching heat and annoying complaints. As with that mission they'd been unable to take a Jumper - no point in flying in when you couldn't see what was on the ground for all the trees.
As soon as they'd dialled in Doctor Weir had requested Colonel Sheppard or any member of his team respond. The silent wait for a reply had been tense - Evan becoming aware for the first time as he'd watched the city's leader just how close the leadership bonds had become between Weir and the Colonel. Not that Doctor Weir had been unprofessional - just the opposite, and yet still Lorne knew that she was personally concerned at John's lack of response.
"We'll find them," he'd promised before leading his team through the wormhole.
Easier said than done! The planet was strangely quiet, beyond the rustling of the leaves overhead and the sounds of their boot steps on the ground. Of their team, apart from himself Airman Dan Reed was their most proficient gene user. Lorne always assigned him 'scanner' duty, preferring to take point rather than walk unfamiliar ground with his eyes on a hand held computer screen instead of on the terrain.
"Sir, I'm picking up an energy reading," Reed reported. "Dead ahead. We should get there inside the next few minutes."
"Strong?" Lorne dropped back, reaching out for the scanner which immediately glowed brighter once in Evan's hand. About to glance down at the screen he didn't miss the way Reed partially rolled his eyes. "Something wrong?" he queried.
"No Sir," Reed shrugged self deprecatingly. "It's just a little annoying for most of us how the ancient tech lights up for you natural gene holders."
"Right," Lorne smirked. "I can't take credit for that - it's just in the blood right? Maybe you should practice more. Doctor Weir thinks that might help."
"I don't think any amount of practice will get that scanner to light up for me the way it does for you Sir," Reed replied.
"Try anyway," Lorne returned. "I know Doctor Weir and Doctor Zelenka would be very interested in the results."
"Yes Sir," Reed said with a hint of petulance that had Evan biting back a smile. Dan was probably regretting pointing out the gene thing now that it had resulted in extra work for him.
Looking down at the scanner, Lorne narrowed his eyes. "This is a pretty strong signal," he commented. "McKay must have been champing at the bit to find the source."
"There's evidence that someone passed through here recently," Coughlin offered, pointing to where the leaves were newly broken in places along the edges of the path.
"That'd be McKay," Evan said, amused. "No way Ronon or Teyla would have left that obvious a trail."
"Lucky for us then Sir," Nate returned with a grin.
Pocketing the scanner Lorne pushed forward back to point again. "We should be seeing something soon," he cautioned, raising his P-90 to the ready position. "Tread lightly and keep your eyes open."
Muted 'Yes Sir's were returned, everyone's senses heightened for whatever had resulted in Colonel Sheppard's team not returning to Atlantis. No one wanted to suggest it but there was always the chance that they'd find an answer no one wanted to live with ... thoughts about luck finally running out not far from anyone's mind.
The path led them around a bend in the trees, opening abruptly into a small clearing - one it was immediately apparent was empty of threats. "Secure the perimeter," Lorne instructed, moving forward to the only manmade feature visible. It was a small building, no more than ten by ten, with a single door and no windows. It looked Ancient in design but Evan would have known it regardless of that, because of the clearly Ancient controls in plain view beside the door.
"This is interesting," he muttered, stopping just a few steps from the door. "Lorne to Sheppard," he tried the radio, not expecting a reply and not surprised when he didn't get one.
"Should we try opening it?" Coughlin asked, moving to stand beside his team leader, the other two members of their team having taking up secure positions to guard their way back to the gate as well as the structure itself.
"Ordinarily I'd say yes but that could be exactly what Colonel Sheppard's team did and so far I'm seeing no evidence of what happened to them," Lorne replied, eyes narrowed as he considered the problem. McKay would have been rushing to open the door before Sheppard could stop him - Evan didn't' doubt that's what had happened; he just didn't have anything to suggest what might have happened next. Taking out the Ancient scanner he grimaced before putting it away again. "No help there," he explained. "Whatever's in there, it's shielded."
Moving closer Lorne put a hand to the wall beside the door controls, careful to not think 'Open' or any variation thereof. He wasn't sure what he was looking for and for the first time appreciated that he probably should have done a little more research on the ancient gene so he'd know what was actually possible. All he could tell was that yes, it was Ancient, and that there were definitely Ancient systems inside, none of them giving off 'bad' vibes.
"Reed, Cheung, stay on guard here," Lorne ordered, coming to a decision. "Coughlin, you're with me."
"You're going to open it," Nate observed, his expression controlled, ready for action.
"Yeah," Lorne agreed. "I'm thinking it's unlikely the Colonel would have let everyone crowd around the door when McKay opened it. Suggests they at least went in there without any obvious signs of danger." Moving forward he swiped a hand over the controls, thinking open with confident force. There was a moment's delay and then the door slide open.
"It's about time!" Rodney McKay must have been pacing impatiently on the other side because he moved quickly enough through the door that Lorne and Coughlin had to jump out of the way.
"Nice way to say thank you Rodney," Colonel Sheppard said, following his team mate outside.
"It is good to see you Major Lorne," Teyla said with her usual grace, moving clear of the door to let Ronon pass through with his own silent nod of thanks. As soon as all four people were clear the door slid silently closed again.
"Sir?" Lorne frowned, confused.
"Long story Major," Sheppard replied lightly.
"Actually it's not," Rodney turned to glare at the structure accusingly. "An Ancient building empty of anything of value lured us in and then locked us inside for no apparent reason. Lorne came along and ...," he trailed off, eyes narrowing. "Come to think of it that is interesting. How did you open the door Major?"
"The same way we usually do McKay," Lorne returned blandly. He nodded to the obvious door controls. "You know ... swipe and think open. Isn't that how you got in there?"
"Ah, no, no it's not," McKay returned, turning back to look at the structure with renewed interest. "The door was open when we got here ... we walked in and it closed behind us. Even super gene over there," he gestured to Sheppard, "couldn't open it."
"Probably because you were inside," Lorne offered with a careless shrug. "Assuming it's some kind of holding facility wouldn't it make sense that the inmates couldn't just think open to get out?"
"You think it's a jail?" Sheppard asked curiously.
"An empty building in the middle of nowhere, shielded from the scanners," Lorne offered as a reply, starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the attention he was getting, particularly from McKay who was currently looking at him like he was a bug under a very large microscope. "Doctor Weir will be anxious for an update Sir," Evan changed the subject, his expression carefully neutral.
"Right, let's head back to the gate," Sheppard said decisively. "You can puzzle this one out back on base Rodney."
Sheppard took point this time, the rest of his team close behind, with Lorne's team following in the rear. When McKay dropped back to walk beside him Lorne barely held back an impatient groan.
"Something I can do for you?" he asked somewhat dismissively.
"So you just walked up to the door and thought open?" Rodney ignored the Major's obvious reluctance as well as any attempt at social niceties.
"Pretty much," Lorne agreed.
"Was there any delay before it opened?" McKay continued. "Did you feel anything unusual after you gave the command?"
"A very slight delay - microseconds," Lorne replied, "and no, nothing unusual."
"Interesting," McKay muttered, not paying attention to where he was walking. When he almost tripped Lorne grabbed his arm and hauled him upright.
"Maybe you should watch where you're going McKay," he advised helpfully.
"Right," McKay said distractedly.
"So there was nothing useful in that building?" Lorne decided since he wasn't getting rid of McKay he'd take over the conversation instead.
"No," Rodney said bluntly. "You were right about the jail thing Major. As soon as the door closed the force shield was raised."
"Like in the holding cells back on Atlantis?" Lorne asked, genuinely interested.
"Isn't that what I just said?" Rodney said impatiently. "I don't know how you knew that just from opening a door."
"Common sense Doc," Lorne smirked. "The kind of thing they do teach at Major School."
"You military types never take anything seriously do you?" McKay complained.
"Not if we can help it," Evan said easily. He could see that Rodney wanted to say more but wasn't interested in cooperating, especially not if it was more questions about how he'd known that building was a jail, or how he'd opened the door. Because honestly he didn't know the answer to either of those questions! He'd blurted out the holding facility comment without thinking about where that explanation came from. Maybe it was common sense as he'd told McKay, or maybe he'd picked up a little more than he'd realised from trying to tune in to the building before he'd opened the door. Regardless he didn't want to have a conversation with Rodney where he had to admit that he'd even thought for a second that doing something like that was a possibility.
"Maybe you could -," Rodney began.
"Maybe," Evan cut him off, "but not right now." Nodding to the scientist he quickened his pace until he'd made it to the front of their procession. Engaging his commanding officer in a discussion covering some of the questions he'd needed to ask before finalising the list of new recruits took up the remainder of their trip back to the gate.
"Welcome back," Doctor Weir smiled, the relief evident on her face as she watched Sheppard and the others returning through the wormhole.
"Good to be back," Sheppard quipped lightly.
"Debrief in an hour," Weir ordered, regaining her more 'leader' like expression. "Well done Major," she nodded to Lorne and his team before turning and walking back up the steps to the control room.
"Infirmary," the Colonel reminded everyone of the standard routine, his faint smirk announcing to all that yes, once again all was right with Atlantis.
Two hours later, medical checks and a debrief done and dusted, Lorne headed for his quarters, feeling tired enough to skip dinner. The mission had begun late in the afternoon and they'd covered considerable ground during their hour long trek each way – thankfully the debrief had been short. There wasn't much to talk about when all you had to report was that you'd been mistakenly locked in a holding cell and had to wait until someone came along to release you. Rodney made some noises about going back to learn more about how they'd locked out the door so it could only be opened from the outside. Doctor Weir had vetoed that, saying it didn't further their primary objective of finding resources off world. Lorne had breathed a sigh of relief, his fears that Rodney would start adding him to the list of 'gene testers' alleviated for the time being. He barely had time to do the job he was currently responsible for, let alone adding time in the science labs to it.
He was tired but as Evan rounded the corner that led to his room he abruptly stopped, deciding to detour. A few minutes later he was stepping into the hologram room.
"Evan, welcome," Morgan shimmered into existence, her appearance and all purpose nature now pleasingly familiar. "How may I help you this evening?"
"Ah ... listen, did the Ancients ever do any research on the ATA gene?" Lorne asked, not sure where he was really going with his enquiry.
"I do not understand the nature of your question," Morgan returned.
"The Ancient Technology Activation gene," Evan clarified. "It's the reason we can operate the systems here even though none of us are actually Ancients."
"You refer to those aspects of the Atlantian's genetic makeup that your people, as their progeny, have inherited."
"I guess," Lorne agreed.
"For what purpose do you ask this question Evan?" Morgan asked.
"I don't know," Evan shook his head. Getting into the habit of consulting a machine when he had doubts probably wasn't his best idea. "It's okay – it's a dumb question," he dismissed, intent on leaving.
"On the contrary, it is an insightful question and you are the first occupant of this city since the Ancients abandoned it to have asked," Morgan corrected, her tone more forceful than Lorne had heard before.
"Insightful? How so?" he couldn't help but ask, his intention to leave forgotten.
"The Atlantians were well versed in genetics," Morgan explained. "What you call the ATA gene was just one of many aspects of their genetic code, the one they took advantage of to ensure only they would be able to use this city."
"Right, because obviously they had more than one gene." Lorne shook his head – it was obvious but strangely he'd never heard Carson or anyone else talk about any other genes they might have inherited from the Ancients.
"Yes," Morgan agreed. "The Atlantians chose this one because it was most prevalent within their population. It was extremely rare for it to be missing from any individual's gene code."
"Okay, that makes sense," Lorne agreed. "What I don't get then is why having been born with the ATA gene switched on as opposed to getting the gene therapy makes a difference to how well someone can control using the gene."
"It does not," Morgan stated simply.
"Then what does?" Lorne frowned, confused. As far as he knew there was a 'strength' element to the gene, even though as Doctor Jackson had pointed out, you couldn't necessarily measure it with a blood test. That strength determined how good you'd be at turning things off and on.
"The Atlantians were also very proficient at mental discipline and control," Morgan revealed. "This was just as important in utilising the various aspects of their genetic makeup."
"Right, like someone born with natural sporting ability still needing to learn and practice their skill," Evan nodded. "So you're saying Doctor Weir was right? If anyone with the gene, natural or not, practices then they'll get more control?"
"To some extent that is indeed true," Morgan confirmed. "However, natural ability does play a part and practice can only take an individual so far."
"That's okay – even a small amount of improvement will help the science departments out no end," Lorne grinned when the hologram actually managed to look confused. "McKay and his department are always hounding the natural gene holders to switch things on," he explained. "If they can build skills with the people they have it will take pressure off of everyone."
"Then I am glad I could be of assistance," Morgan said complacently.
"Is there any way you can draw Doctor McKay's attention to references about this without involving me?" Evan asked.
"This is possible," Morgan agreed. "Although it is not my function to question an operator of this system, for future reference in tailoring my service to you I would ask why you cannot simply tell Doctor McKay yourself."
Evan's brows rose in surprise at having his 'weakness' called out – he hadn't been expecting that! Because yeah, of course he didn't want to tell McKay himself because he knew the next words out of the scientist's mouth would be how Lorne knew, followed closely by a request to see for himself how Evan had been utilising the hologram. The Major wasn't sure what would happen after that, but a ban on using the hologram followed by a schedule of when he himself could act as gene user for the science department seemed to be predictable outcomes. It made perfect sense to Evan – he just wasn't sure how to justify it to what was essentially a computer program.
"I could do that," Lorne finally answered. "That would probably prompt McKay to start looking into how your programming works. I'm not sure on the power consumption but if it's too much he'd probably stop use of this room too. Since I'm not here that much I'd rather retain using your facilities as an option instead of losing them because McKay can't keep his tools to himself."
"Very well. I will do as you request," Morgan said after a short pause that felt to Lorne like she was actually assessing him in some way. The city had internal sensors – was it possible for the hologram system to tap into them somehow? 'Okay, you seriously need to get real,' he told himself. 'It's a piece of software, not a person with real motives!'
"Thank you," Lorne smiled. "See, you'd miss me if I stopped coming by with my questions," he joked.
"My system is not designed to assign expected levels of regularity to user visits," Morgan replied seriously. "Collecting user data is a primary task which requires that visitors return to utilise this facility. In order to provide the best, tailored service the system requires regular input from users."
"Well, whatever the reason I appreciate the help," Lorne concluded. "Thanks Morgan."
"You are very welcome Evan," the hologram replied.
Lorne was again about to leave but the hologram continued to shimmer in its usual position. "Do I need to shut you off or something?" he asked hesitantly, never having needed to do so in the past.
"May we ask if you intend to practice using your ATA gene?" Morgan stated.
"Me?" Lorne asked, surprised.
"Natural gene holders would benefit more than those who underwent the gene therapy," Morgan explained. "It is possible that much more can be done beyond being able to turn technology on and off."
"I'll think about it," Evan decided. Although he'd speculated about what could be done with the gene earlier that day, on reflection he was no longer sure it was a good idea. They'd been given the Ancient city of Atlantis without having to earn any of the technology it held, and while it had helped in their fight against the Wraith, not understanding what they were doing had also caused a boat load of trouble for everyone in the galaxy. Did they really want to increase the magnitude of what they could get wrong?
"Very well," Morgan said formally. "Is there anything else I can help you with this evening?"
"No, that's it," Evan replied. "Good night Morgan."
"Good night Evan," Morgan hovered for a moment more before winking out of existence.
Lorne stood in the darkened room, aware of a level of discomfort for the first time since he'd arrived in the city. He felt unsettled but he couldn't have said why. The usually background hum of Atlantis static rose inside his mind as soon as the thought occurred to him, as though the city itself were trying to reassure him that all was as it should be.
Abruptly amused at his turn of thought Evan spun on a heel and quickly strode from the hologram room. It really was time for bed because clearly he was a lot tireder than he'd realised!
