A/N: Ahhhh once again I'm so sorry I didn't post for so long. I'm going to force myself to write more to make up for it. :) Small mention of the episode "Epiphany" in this chapter, so I take back what I said in the first chapter note, this takes place after that. And I hope the science-y stuff makes sense. I'm not a wormhole physics/anything expert ;)

Sheppard almost didn't believe his ears. "Twice as much?"

Rodney nodded excitedly. "And if this is the place, I'd be willing to bet he needed more than one to run all his experiments."

The Colonel's hopes rose for what seemed like the first time in years. After all the battles they'd had with the Wraith, a way to fight back was in their reach. The excitement among the group was palpable, and Sheppard cracked a smile. "Well let's find some ZPMs shall we?"

Rodney genuinely smiled back, the stress he'd been under melting a little. "Lead the way Conan," he jokingly said as he poked Ronon's firm bicep. After receiving a glare, he quickly backed up and resumed his fiddling with his tablet. John barely suppressed his laughter at the sight. Ronon turned back and winked, his outwardly harsh demeanor mostly an act, but McKay didn't know that. Sheppard's radio crackled to life. "Sir, we are almost to your location," Lorne informed him. "Copy that Major," the Colonel replied. "We'll slow down a bit so you ladies can catch up."

Teyla's arched brow immediately gave him pause. "Uh, I didn't mean it like that," he stammered. Her face split into a smile. "I'm sure you didn't."

They continued in amicable silence, McKay occasionally mumbling to himself and clicking buttons. The tunnel hadn't changed much since they entered, a few dips and curves here and there, and John had figured they had covered at least 3 miles, if not more. The walls arched around to a height of about 8 feet high, jagged and rough. Too rough to be man-made, he thought. These tunnels would make a great hiding place from the Wraith. His leg was hurting more then he wanted to admit, and he tried to block it out by focusing on their surroundings.

Without their high powered flashlights, it was pitch black. Thick dust coated each of them just from walking. He could feel a lot of it settling in his lungs and making it hard to avoid coughing. Rodney sneezed repeatedly and complained about his allergies. Beckett was looking rather uncomfortable, and held a handkerchief over his mouth and nose. "This dust will the death a' me," he muttered. He was about to ask that they stop and wait for Lorne's team, when one of Sheppard's crutches slipped and he nearly hit the ground in a heap, but Ronon grabbed ahold of his arm and took the weight off his injured leg. A pained grunt followed by a cough, and a sheepish look toward Carson. "I guess it's time to stop now eh?" The doctors' Scottish lilt was thicker than usual. "I swear if ya had any lick a' sense, ya'd be at home in bed."

The Colonel set his jaw determinedly. "Why should I let you guys have all the fun?"

Rodney sneezed again. "I don't think this is in the dictionary under the word 'fun,' Sheppard," he complained. "It seems the farther we go the air and dust get thicker and more cancerous." He reread his tablet's latest readings. "The power levels are getting higher, but oxygen levels are decreasing. We should put on our masks to be safe." The group paused and dug around in their packs for the portable oxygen masks that Sheppard insisted that every team member carry. Being prepared is better than being dead, he had said. Rodney was grateful for his freaky foresight on this one occasion. The Colonel wiped more sweat out of his eyes, then relayed what Rodney had said to Lorne and his team. Teyla gently placed John's mask over his face and immediately he felt better. A small sigh escaped and he felt himself being examined under Carson's watchful eye. "Okay, time for a rest son," Beckett said cheerfully. "Let's get you comfy and cooled off."

Sheppard had barely noticed how much he was sweating, and slightly shaking. Carson and Teyla gently lowered him to the ground, and he grunted when his leg bumped uncomfortably. Carson dug out his torture kit and grabbed a syringe, and checked it. "Hey doc I said no shots," the Colonel pleaded, his voice muffled by the mask. Carson held a up his hands in a placating manner. "Ach, I know you don't like these but you sufferin' through the pain is not necessary. I'll just give ya half a dose, enough to take the edge off."

Colonel Sheppard blew out a breath in frustration and leaned back. Carson gently rolled up John's BDU pant leg and wiped a clean spot above the wound. As gently as he could, he inserted the needle and emptied its contents. John hissed and swallowed loudly. "That's one big needle Doc."

Carson patted his good leg sympathetically. "All done lad. That should started helping immediately."

Sheppard's breathing evened out and the lines around his eyes faded. "I feel like I could sleep for days," he said quietly. Teyla placed her hand on his shoulder. "Rest now. We will be here when you wake."

His eyes slid shut and his grip on her hand loosened. Carson leaned back and wiped sweat and dust from his face. "Aye, he lasted longer then I thought he would."

Teyla's face softened into a smile. "He is strong, but too stubborn for his own good."

Carson and Rodney both nodded their agreement enthusiastically.

Lorne's voice broke the silence. "Almost there guys," he said, slightly out of breath. "Remind me to go running more when we get back to Atlantis."

Ronon clicked his earpiece to respond. "You can run with me and Sheppard, when McKay gets his leg fixed."

Rodney looked a little peeved. "Just for the record, I'm not Superman. I have no idea if we will find what we're looking for, much less if it will even work."

Ronon shrugged. "You always find a way to fix things."

Rodney didn't know what to do with the compliment, so he just closed his mouth and kept working. Lorne and his team emerged from the darkness behind them, faces grimy from the dust. His eyes immediately went to his CO, who lay still against the wall. "What happened? Is he okay?"

Beckett stood and stretched his legs. "Aye, he's just resting lad. Needed a painkiller and a nap. He shouldn't even be with us."

The Major nodded and signaled his men to take a rest. "Are we any closer to this machine thing McKay?"

Rodney resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Once again, I don't know for sure that we are in the right place. The farther underground we go, the harder it is to get accurate readings."

Lorne nodded, ignoring the scientist's attitude. "Finding the guy's body seemed like a good sign."

McKay reluctantly agreed. "After Colonel Sleepyhead wakes up we'll keep going. Oxygen masks need to stay on from here out, but each one only holds 3 hours of air at normal breathing rates. Pretty sure we've all had elevated rates."

Lorne smirked and motioned one of the Marines over. "Sgt Ramirez, show the good doctor what we brought." The sergeant shook the heavy pack off his shoulders and dug out a metal cannister, which was about the length of his forearm. He held it up. "We brought refills sir," he supplied.

Rodney was tremendously relieved at the sight, after all, dying of oxygen deprivation was not on his To Do list. "How much does that hold?" he asked. Lorne adjusted his mask to check its levels. "Enough to refill each mask twice, hopefully."

McKay rubbed his hands together thoughtfully. "Good, good. That solves one problem. Now if I could just get a clear reading on these power levels…"

Lorne instructed his men to fill up everyone's masks, each one taking a turn with a spare while theirs was filled, and then made his way over to Sheppard and knelt down near him. "He doesn't look so good," he commented. Beckett shook his head. "Like I said earlier, he should be at home in a bed, not out here traipsin' about in a bloody tunnel system."

"He is right here Doc," Sheppard's sleepy voice startling them all. "I'm fine, really. That voodoo shot you gave me did help." He turned his head to face Lorne and blinked slowly. "Nice of you to show up Major. Think you could help me up?" Lorne stood quickly and held out his hand. Between him and Ronon the Colonel was eased to his feet, and Teyla helped him get his crutches adjusted. To Carson he looked a little pale, but pointing that out wouldn't do any good, so he dropped it. Sheppard nodded his thanks to his teammates, and they were off, Ronon appointing himself and Sgt Ramirez to take point along with Rodney. The scientist puttered along, hitting buttons feverishly. Ronon elbowed him and halted. Rodney glanced up annoyed, but saw what the Satedan was indicating. The tunnel just stopped. McKay couldn't believe his eyes. "Are you kidding me?" he bellowed. "We've been walking for hours and nothing?!"

He felt like throwing all his equipment. Ronon kicked a small rock in his own bout of frustration, and it disappeared from sight the instant it should've hit the tunnel wall. Rodney's jaw dropped. Carson gasped. "Did that really just happen?" he asked to no one in particular. McKay snapped out of his momentary shock and dug his video camera out of his bag. "Who wants to stick their hand through to see if it's a time dilation field?" he joked. Sheppard's snort was quick in coming. "As much fun as it was last time McKay, I think I'll pass."

Rodney smirked and snapped his fingers at one of the Marines for duct tape and something to attach his camera to. Ronon unsheathed his sword and held it out. "Only thing long enough," he said simply. Rodney gratefully accepted the freakishly sharp weapon, although very carefully. He made short work of taping the camera to the pointed end. He clicked the record button and looked at the Colonel somewhat nervously. Sheppard give him a lopsided grin. "Well get on with it Meredith," he joked. McKay rolled his eyes overdramatically and proceeded to push the sword-camera contraption through the newly discovered force-field, or whatever it was. Everyone held their collective breath as he counted to ten, and pulled it back out. He quickly queued the new video and connected the camera to his tablet, so everyone could see. The view of the other side was as old and decrepit as the rest of the tunnel they'd just spent hours in.

Rodney tried to hide his disappointment. "Well, doesn't look like anything we haven't seen before," he commented dryly. Sheppard cleared his throat. "Why hide the entrance to this room if there's nothing in it?" he asked thoughtfully. McKay's face dawned with understanding. Sometimes he forgot Sheppard was surprisingly intelligent. He snapped his fingers. "Okay, who wants to go first?"

Every soldier present seemingly volunteered at once, a chorus of "I will sir"s echoed through the tunnel. Lorne stepped forward. "I will. If that's okay with you Colonel," he added respectfully. Sheppard nodded. "Be careful Major. I don't want to have to retrain a 2nd in Command."

Lorne stepped toward the fake wall and pinched his eyes closed. "Wait!" Rodney blurted. "I need to do one more test to make sure it's safe."

Lorne blew out the breath he didn't want to admit he'd been holding and stepped back. "What is it McKay?"

Rodney was digging around in his pack and pulled out his newest toy: a tiny prototype MALP, about the size of Sheppard's favorite remote controlled car. "I need to make sure matter can pass both ways through this portal," he explained. "Make sure we won't be fried if we come back through."

Teyla looked questioning. "You just pulled the stick device back through," she reminded him.

"Yes yes I know, but since the sword stayed in the barrier, it never completely passed through. Sort of like gate travel, if you just stick your hand through, it doesn't transmit your matter stream until all of you is in it. Portals and wormholes are similar in that respect," he explained quickly. Teyla nodded but didn't looked like she understood completely. John winked at her, whispering, "Don't worry, none of us understood that."

She smiled graciously at his attempt to make her feel better.

They turned back to watch Rodney drive the little device into the portal. He connected its video stream to his tablet, and they all watched with bated breath. After a few seconds of fuzzy screen, the room on the other side opened up to a wide expanse. "Well we know the remote's radio signals work through the barrier," McKay commented. "That means we can still communicate with you Major."

The scientist hit a button on his control and the mini MALP's light kicked on, illuminating the dark room. He panned the camera to left and right, using the device's scanners to check atmospheric conditions. "Wait, go back left," Colonel Sheppard spoke up. Rodney did as requested and the light landed on another dusty skeleton, a knife protruding from the decayed ribcage. "Oh that's horrifying," McKay squeaked.

The rest of the group looked on in silence while he fiddled around with the data being streamed to his device. "Oxygen levels are the same as this side, not great," he informed them. "I can't find any reason for it except the fact that we are so deep underground by now, and I haven't noticed a ventilation system."

Lorne cleared his throat. "So is it safe to for me to go now?"

Rodney looked up and waved his hand. "Oh right, yes. Let me bring Mini MALP back through and make sure everything's okay."

Sheppard's grunt of laughter was infectious. "Did you seriously name it Mini MALP Rodney?"

McKay rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, that's what it is! Coming from the guy who named an incredibly technologically advanced spaceship a 'puddle jumper.'"

Sheppard shrugged but his grin remained. McKay brought the MALP back through the portal, and it looked to be in good shape. He motioned to Lorne, "Okay you can go. I'll send it back through with you so we can see everything you do."

The Major checked his mask, rolled his shoulders and lifted his P90 to a ready stance. "Here goes nothin,' he said, and stepped through. The Mini MALP followed him, and Rodney panned the camera upwards so they could see what Lorne was looking at. The Major checked himself over and reported no ill effects from crossing the portal's threshold, and then headed directly to the decaying corpse, and pulled out the blade. He held it up to the camera. "I don't know anything about Ancient, but this writing looks like what little I've seen."

Rodney peered closer at the screen. "It looks like you're right Major," he agreed. "We'll join you shortly and I'll get a closer look. In the meantime, is there anything remarkable in there? A hidden crystal array? Any levers or buttons?"

Major Lorne shined his light methodically around the expansive room. "Nothing pops out right away. I'm sure you could find stuff like that faster than I can," he quipped good-naturedly. McKay's chest puffed out a little. "Well, ahem. Yes, I probably could. We'll join you shortly."

Lorne smirked into the camera. Building up Rodney's ego was beneficial to everyone. Back on the other side, the Marines formed a protective barrier around Sheppard and Beckett, Ronon and Teyla flanking the Colonel. They all stepped through one after another, and Sheppard felt a slight stinging sensation go up and down his body, and concentrating on his leg. "Uh, did anyone else feel that," he asked hesitantly. Rodney glanced back at him. "Feel what Colonel?"

Sheppard shrugged. "Felt kinda like it scanned me or something."

McKay quickly looked back over his readings. "I didn't feel anything like that," he said absently. A chorus of "me either's" followed, and Rodney looked perplexed. "Do you still feel it?" he inquired.

Colonel Sheppard shook his head. "Nope. It only lasted a second. Made my leg feel weird."

Both McKay and Beckett's eyebrows went up at that and Rodney continued to sift through his data. The doctor cleared his throat. "Aye, while Rodney figures out this latest development, you need to sit and rest."

Again the Colonel brooked no argument, which Carson appreciated but suspected at the same time. Teyla and Ronon capably eased him down to lean against the far left side of the wall. He breathed a small sigh of relief, and was just content to sit quietly for a moment. Suddenly a bright light appeared in the middle of the room. It faded and a man, wearing a gray tunic and blue beaded necklace stood there facing him. "Welcome, wounded traveler. I hope you have come with pure intentions and a just heart," he said in a pleasant voice. The Marines looked ready to open fire when Rodney waved his hand. The man didn't adjust his gaze or blink. "It's just a hologram," he said, relief evident in his voice. "What is your name?" he asked. The hologram didn't reply, his gaze still facing Sheppard. John's look of surprise hadn't faded, as he met the hologram's eyes. "What is your name?" he asked. The computer generated image shifted slightly, and a small smile appeared. "I am Agusto, a healer. My scanners indicated an injury, but also the presence of Ancient blood?" his head tilting slightly. "My peers never approved of my work, so I find it hard to believe one of them has come to me for help."

Sheppard cleared his throat. "Well yeah, your buddies weren't too nice that's for sure. But no, I'm not an Ancient. You guys were my ancestors way back somewhere though."

The hologram's eyes shifted around, seeming to take in the rest of the group for the first time. "You have brought many friends," he observed.

"What reason do you have for covering your faces?"

Sheppard glanced at Rodney. "There's not enough oxygen down here in your cave system," he replied. Hologram Agusto blinked and turned around, looking like he was searching for something. A second later, a breeze wisped by Sheppard's cheek. "My apologies," Agusto said quietly. "The ventilation system has not been in use for many years. It is on now however, you may remove your masks."

Rodney doubled checked his MALP readings and confirmed the now safe atmosphere. Everyone hesitantly removed their masks after Sheppard, but the Marines remained at a ready stance. The hologram raised his head, meeting Colonel Sheppard's gaze. It was starting to freak him out a little. "You were wounded in battle?" Agusto asked.

John cleared his throat and nodded. "More or less. We were attacked after trying to stop a gang of raiders from plundering a culled world."

Agusto bowed his head in respect. "A noble cause indeed. I believe I may be able to help you. But a warning: it will not be painless."

He said the last words with a touch of sadness, Sheppard marvelling at the fact a hologram was capable of emotions. Rodney looked about ready to explode from the hundreds of questions threatening to spill out. The hologram turned to face him. "You have questions," he said simply.

McKay nodded vigorously. "Um, yes. For one, what happened to you?"

Agusto shook his head sadly. "The others found us out. We were ordered to stop our research, or they would destroy us. Before they could I hid everything and created this computer image of myself, so I could assist anyone who happened to find this place, even after death."

Rodney nodded his head. "Well you didn't make it very easy."

Agusto bowed his head. "I apologize, but it had to be done. I am curious however, where have you come from? Your dress and equipment is unlike any my scanners have seen before."

Sheppard spoke up. "We come from the Milky Way galaxy," he explained. "But we came looking for The Lost City, and we found her."

Agusto's eyes grew wide. "The Great City did not fall to the Wraith?" he asked incredulously.

Sheppard grinned easily. "Nope, we haven't let that happen. But if you have any extra ZPMs laying around we could sure use em."

Agusto looked confused for a moment. "Ah you mean zero point modules," he realized. "I am not sure if some remain. The Others may have taken them when they discovered us."

Rodney held up his tablet. "My scanners detected a large power source here, that's why we came."

Agusto nodded. "My healing equipment requires a lot of power. Thankfully I was able to conceal it from my peers, and it was never discovered, until now."

Rodney held up his hand. "Wait, so they found you and your brother here but they didn't find your stuff?"

Agusto nodded. "I practiced some slight of hand and misdirection techniques," he said thoughtfully.

He turned and 'mentally' pushed a few buttons, and the room was bathed in bright light. The whole right wall disappeared, revealing another room filled computer equipment and what looked like a row of hospital beds. Sheppard heard Beckett gasp with excitement. Agusto's face broke into a genuine smile. "I see you are a healer like I was."

Carson's big eyes wandered from the hologram to the room. "Aye, I dabble a wee bit."

Agusto chuckled quietly and seemed to float into the adjoining room, motioning to Sheppard. "Shall we begin?"