More chit-chat, in which we delve deeper into fantasy and the usual suspects are discussed.
Reasonable Cause to Suspect
By EllieV
Chapter 9
There was silence in the room. Dr Biro looked at everyone expectantly and seemed dashed when, other than Stretton, no one responded.
"Don't you see what this means?" she said waving her pad in the air-no mean feat, Beckett believed, those things were heavy.
"Um," said Weir seemingly underwhelmed. "That Rodney isn't one of the bodies but might be dead anyway?"
"He might not be dead!" Biro emphasized. "Isn't that good news?"
"You said there was evidence that he was," Beckett felt compelled to point out.
"So, you can see, Dr Biro, why we might be …" Teyla started diplomatically.
"Confused," put in Ronon.
"Pissed off," said Sheppard.
"Oh, here, look at this," Biro handed the pad to Breen, hitting Beckett on the head with it as she passed. "Oh, I'm sorry, Dr Beckett."
Beckett winced and rubbed his head. "Erm, no matter, Dr Biro, thank you," he said.
Breen, Barker, Tynan, Ronon and Teyla crowded around the pad. Breen started muttering. The rest of them muttered back. Stretton seemed content to let it go on but Sheppard was clearly impatient.
"Okay!" he announced. "What does it say?"
All of them looked at him and at each other.
"It says McKay isn't one of the bodies but there's evidence that he's dead," said Ronon. His face was straight and Beckett couldn't tell if he was joking-not that Beckett could ever tell if Ronon was joking. Somehow he didn't ever seem the type.
"Such as?" asked Weir putting a hand on Sheppard's arm.
"Well," said Breen, "essentially, there's a lot of blood. More blood than would be usual for a minor injury. I'd say that Dr McKay was injured, possibly badly, and he … well … um … bled over some of the other victims."
"He was right next to the stargate," said Beckett. "He'd have to have been because Radek said that Rodney pushed him through."
"I should have shot Kolya when I had the chance," said Sheppard suddenly.
"Who?" asked Tynan.
"Acostas Kolya," said Weir.
The police officers stared at her.
"Um, Greek fella?" hazarded Breen.
"He's from a people called the Genii," said Weir. "They're semi-technological. They have guns. They tried to take over Atlantis. We're …" she hunted for the right words "… not fond of them," she finished lamely.
"Very diplomatic, ma'am," said Tynan. "I think we might already have something on them?" He looked in query at Teyla who nodded.
"The reports are on your computer, Sergeant," said Teyla.
"It's got to be them," said Sheppard. "I'm going to kill that son-of-a-bitch."
"You're getting ahead of the evidence, Colonel," cautioned Chatham. "This Kolya person might be responsible but he might not be."
"Look," snapped Sheppard. "I know these people …"
"And we'll check your reports and compare it to the evidence," said Chatham, her voice indicating a hint of impatience. "Dr Beckett, I'd like to hear your report thus far on the autopsies?"
"I think that we should …" Sheppard tried again.
"Colonel, have the courtesy to be quiet or leave," said Chatham flatly.
In the shocked silence, they glared at each other. Depending on their loyalties, everyone else either looked towards Weir or Stretton, the latter of whom looked like he was trying not to laugh. Stretton turned to Beckett.
"Dr Beckett, perhaps you could start again, please?" he said.
With a wary eye on Sheppard who appeared, as his old dad used to say, a wee tad gobsmacked, Beckett said, "Erm, Dr Biro and I did autopsies on the 38 bodies. Causes of death were varied. The bodies had been mutilated-to prevent easy recognition, I assume."
"Dog tags had all been removed," put in Breen.
"Yes," agreed Beckett, "and from some of the bodies, not all were removed post-mortem. Some bodies had severe bruising and cuts on the neck area indicating semi-garroting."
"They're designed to be removed quickly, though," Sheppard said. "That's if you don't mind me contributing, Ms Chatham."
"Not at all, Colonel," she said blandly. "Do go on."
Sheppard reached up and pulled off his dog tags. "See?" he said. "Would they be strong enough to garrote someone?"
"Possibly," Breen said. "If pulled the other way. We'd need to test that out."
"Is it important?" asked Weir. "I mean, what was used to kill them … the garrote used."
"They weren't killed by the dog tags, Elizabeth," said Beckett. "Most of them were shot. Most execution-style, a bullet to the head or back. Some were shot from the front …"
Breen interrupted him. "Since there were less of those than the others, we tackled their DNA matching first. For the most part, the 11 people shot from the front were the military personnel. We ID'd all eight of them. The three scientists were Dr Samuel, from Canada, anthropologist; Dr Duarte, from Brazil, physicist; and Dr Chellappan, from India, also an anthropologist. Dr's Beckett and Biro removed the cartridges and we've handed them over for ballistic analysis and fingerprinting. Most shattered on impact-probably indicating poor quality manufacture-but there's enough to match to guns, if we ever find them. One of your lads, Colonel, is quite the ballistics expert. He's looking at the striae on the cartridges for us. Dr Wells, one of your chemists is doing some work on the gunpowder."
"You identified all of these through DNA?" queried Weir.
"Yes, ma'am?" The upwards inflection of Breen's response made it a question.
"I though you used dental records or something … I don't know much about forensics outside of what I've seen on television," Weir admitted.
"I have DNA profiles of all the Atlantis staff, Elizabeth," said Beckett. "It's easier."
"Beside which, most of their teeth were smashed," said Breen. At Weir turning green, he added, "Er, sorry, ma'am."
"Danny, what about the gunpowder?" asked Stretton.
"Well, not exactly gunpowder, boss," said Breen.
"What do you mean?" asked Sheppard. He was quite meek now, noted Beckett.
"Different combinations of chemicals, sir," said Breen, "No glyceryl trinitrate for a start-which is interesting-but the components that are there have essentially the same effect. Dr Wells is doing a breakdown of what was used."
"Which does what?" asked Weir.
"It will let us know where it was manufactured," said Chatham. "The components used will have different trace elements depending on where they're from."
"Won't that only be useful if you know the place already?" Weir inquired.
"Don't you have a list of usual suspects?" said Stretton. "Colonel?"
"A few," he said.
"Aside from this Greek chap-Kolya," said Chatham. "Pissed off lots more people, have you, Colonel?"
Sheppard looked faintly embarrassed. "A few," he repeated.
"Then, we try the usual suspects to tick them off the list," said Chatham.
"Why Dr McKay?" asked Stretton.
"Huh?" said Sheppard.
"Thirty-eight people dead; Dr McKay missing. Why? The speculative answer is that whoever did it was after McKay in the first place. This Kolya, what would he want with McKay?" asked Stretton.
"McKay's a physicist. They have a nuclear program," said Weir. "We used a few of their bombs when the Wraith attacked Atlantis."
"Thank you, Dr Weir, that explains much. Please keep going Dr Beckett," said Stretton, to the clear frustration of Sheppard and Weir.
As Beckett continued his report, he wondered how long Sheppard would wait before he disregarded his agreement to follow Stretton's lead.
As the meeting broke up, Stretton motioned for Weir and Sheppard to stay behind. He said something quietly to Chatham who hurried out after Tynan. Beckett debated whether to stay or not-invited or not. He slowly shuffled his things together and hovered until Stretton noticed him.
"Sorry, Dr Beckett, please sit down," he said. To Sheppard, he continued, "Colonel, I'd rather not have one of my staff take you to task in front of others, particularly your own team." Sheppard opened his mouth but Stretton held up a hand to forestall him. "Everything has to be considered, Colonel. If we head off in one direction only and it turns out to be incorrect, we just have to go back to the start. From what you've said, it may well be these Genii people but there is also evidence that it may not be them."
"Such as," Sheppard said. "The guns sound like a dead giveaway to me."
"What about the dart?" countered Stretton. "Would the Genii have a dart and know how to fly it?"
"Unlikely," Sheppard replied. He paused for a little too long. "I didn't want to say this but … Elizabeth, it could have been Ford."
"You said Ford was dead," said Beckett.
"Ford?" queried Stretton. "One of your people?"
"Ford was … is … one of my team. During the siege of Atlantis, he got an overdose of the Wraith enzyme and went … well … nuts. He was paranoid, convinced everyone was out to get him, and he decided to take on the Wraith to prove himself. He got himself his own little army of drones, all addicted to the enzyme, too, and set a trap for my team. He got all of us, bar me, addicted to the enzyme as well, and decided to take out a Wraith hive ship. We barely got out of there. Ford escaped. Or was killed. We don't know," Sheppard recited. "He had a dart when he captured us and I guess he could have got another one, even if he needed to find someone to fly it."
"I'll need those reports, Colonel," said Stretton. "Who else?"
"The Menarians?" Weir asked Sheppard.
Sheppard shook his head. "Under the direction of the Genii, maybe." He considered. "The Asurans?" He answered his own question. "They're advanced enough but doesn't really sound like them. I'll get those reports as well. Some bedtime reading for you."
"Is there anyone you haven't pissed off, Colonel?" Stretton looked amused.
"The Athosians like us," said Sheppard defensively.
"Which is probably all to the better. I understand Ms Emmagen is very good at self-defense."
"Ha ha," said Sheppard straight faced.
"What about Michael?" said Beckett tentatively.
"Michael," Weir winced.
"Oh. Michael," Sheppard echoed.
"Once more in unison," said Stretton. "Who's Michael?"
"He's a Wraith," Weir said. "We, uh … we've had some encounters with him."
"A Wraith called Michael," said Stretton.
"They don't give their names so we call them by human names. It annoys them," said Shepherd. "Look, what happened was that …"
"Why don't we put that report in as well, Mr Stretton?" said Weir cutting Sheppard off.
There was a small silence as Sheppard frowned.
"Thank you, Dr Weir. Opposite to your Genii-this Michael would have the dart and the stunner. Would he have the bullets? And aren't they more likely to takeaway their meals rather than mutilate the bodies and bury them?" Stretton asked.
"Maybe that's what we were supposed to think," said Sheppard still frowning abstractedly.
"Isn't that what you did think?" asked Stretton.
"Well, yeah," said Sheppard.
"Okay, we'll add your Michael to the list. Anyone else?"
"Heaps," said Beckett glumly.
"I'll start going over them," Stretton said. "I'll be down in the labs, unless there's anything else you want to bring up now?"
"No," said Weir. "Not at the moment. Thank you, Mr Stretton."
He nodded and left. The rest of them stared at each other.
"Elizabeth?" said Sheppard.
"I'm not sure if telling them about Michael is a good idea," said Weir.
"Why not?" Sheppard said.
"It looks bad," said Beckett.
"It's gonna look bad no matter what, Carson, but he has to know," insisted Sheppard.
"His wife's a human rights lawyer," Beckett said.
And Weir said, "I'd like to avoid any potential moral arguments."
"Won't avoiding it just make it worse if they do find out? Barker knows about it. He only works on the bug and he wasn't here for the whole Michael thing and the aftermath but he knows about it, " said Sheppard shaking his head.
"They could refuse to help," Beckett said. "He'll hit the roof."
"If necessary, we can continue it ourselves," said Weir. "John, please don't tell them. If they find out, they find out, and we'll deal with it then. At the moment it's just another complication."
"I want my objection to this on the record," said Sheppard unequivocally. "I don't like the restrictions Stretton's imposed-okay, so I don't like him telling me what to do-but having agreed to it, I don't think we should be lying to him."
"We're not lying," said Weir. "We're just not telling them everything."
Sheppard stood up, shook his head again, and walked to the door. "Is that what being a diplomat's all about?"
It was late and Beckett considered going to bed. He considered who might be up. He considered who might need to chat. Bed-chat-mess hall. He took a pad and made his way upstairs. The mess was empty. He made himself some tea and sat in his corner to review his report.
"Are we in the shit, Cameron?" came a female voice.
Beckett was startled out of his concentration. He glanced around-it was dimly lit but he could see Stretton and Chatham out on the balcony. Stretton was sitting, his feet up on a rail. Chatham sat on a table, her feet on a chair.
"Hmmm?" said Stretton.
"Are we in the shit?" she repeated.
He gave a short laugh. Beckett shrank into his chair and hoped not to be noticed.
"Katie, love, we are buried so far down, I don't think we're going to get out," Stretton replied.
"Best case scenario?" she queried.
"Best case: we get our arses kicked for not sticking with the brief. You keep your jobs; I lose mine. Worst case … Danny will be okay, lots of forensic labs headhunting him," he said.
"And Ben?"
He shook his head. "Security firm work at best."
She looked around, sighed, and said, "Shit … Dare I ask about us?
"Mmmm," said Stretton. "Lose our pensions, maybe sent down."
"Won't that be fun," Chatham muttered. "Whole bunch of friendly lags for company. We could always just sit around for however long it takes the Daedelus to get back."
"We could," he judged. "Do you want to?"
"I don't know. I have problems with the potential solution," she said.
"Pity you didn't think of that earlier," Stretton said. "Before you played the Alix card."
"Alix would have wanted you to do this," said Chatham. "Wouldn't she?"
"Alix isn't that fond of people, Katie, despite her job. She likes you and for some reason she puts up with me. She wouldn't have liked the conversation that happened after you left."
"Yes," she said. "Sorry."
"And that?" said Stretton indicating something.
"Poor lad turned Q.E. and handed it over," she said. Beckett couldn't see what it was.
They fell silent. Beckett debated going out there and asking a few questions even though it meant admitting to eavesdropping-at least asking what the hell they were talking about. He suspected they'd found out about Michael already. It wouldn't have been that hard. All they had to do was query Barker-unless Sheppard was the "poor lad," of course. The mess door opened and Sheppard walked in. He still looked as drained as he had previously. Sheppard pointed and as Beckett nodded, he walked past and out onto the balcony.
"Hey," he said.
They glanced over at him and Stretton said, "Bring any beer with you?"
"It didn't give you a hangover?" said Sheppard. "It usually does."
"I already had a headache, Colonel," Stretton replied. "What can I do for you?"
Sheppard glanced behind him to where Beckett sat just out of sight. He swallowed and said, "I'm going against orders here but you need to know about Michael."
"The Wraith called Michael," said Stretton idly. "What do we need to know, Colonel?"
Beckett caught his breath. They already knew.
Their expressions didn't change as Sheppard related the details. He didn't leave anything out. After Sheppard's story wound down, there was a silence.
"Thank you for letting us know, Colonel," said Stretton.
"Um, that's it? Sheppard looked puzzled at their lack of reaction. "Carson thought you'd hit the roof."
"And why would I do that, Colonel?" Stretton said, his face and voice expressionless. "Why would I hit the roof because this expedition has engaged in an action that on Earth would likely land each and every one of you in The Hague on war crimes charges? Oh, but the US doesn't recognize the War Crimes Tribunal, does it … Lucky you. Why would I hit the roof because this expedition has made some extraordinary decisions that have affected the safety of said planet Earth? You said when we first arrived that we'd be Wraith fodder by now yet your entire Michael experiment appears to have designed to put Earth in harm's way." Sheppard opened his mouth but Stretton cut him off, his voice now heavily sarcastic. "Be quiet. Even if these actions weren't criminal, and of course, they're not because there's no laws here to follow-you just make it up as you go along, don't you-they are at the very minimum ethically dodgy and downright stupid. And Dr Weir knows it because otherwise she wouldn't have decided to give us a badly edited report. General hint, sunshine, if you're going to give someone an edited report, ensure that it makes sense."
Sheppard looked daunted and lifted his shoulders up then down. "I'm not going to make excuses or provide reasons. We did what we thought was best."
"Not good enough," said Chatham.
"It's done," said Sheppard.
"And we have to live with the consequences, Colonel," said Stretton, his voice expressionless again. "I don't know what I object to more: that it was done in the first place or that my team is now involved. Dr Weir asked if there would be scapegoating." He pointed at Chatham. "There's a scapegoat, for you, Colonel."
"How can your team be scapegoats for us?" queried Sheppard confused.
"You're out of harm's way-of sorts-we won't be. There are other people involved in this who don't like you, Dr Weir, or this entire expedition. If they can't have you or her, they'll take anyone they can get. What do you think is going to happen? We're already out on a limb by investigating these deaths instead of sticking to our brief no matter how much I justify it to my seniors. 'I was following orders' only goes so far. You think we're not going to be asked what things are like here? What we found out?"
"You could lie," Sheppard only semi-suggested.
"For Dr Weir? I don't think so," said Chatham.
"Who are these people?" said Sheppard. "Elizabeth has a lot of pull with the government."
Stretton started to respond with "I don't …" but Ronon came in to interrupt.
"We've got some results," he said. "You didn't answer your radio."
"I'm not wearing a radio, Mr Dex," said Stretton. "I find the ear pieces annoying."
Ronon waved this away. "Ben said to come down to the lab."
Ben, now, was it? thought Beckett.
They got up and headed towards the door but Stretton paused as they passed Beckett's table. It wasn't the first time Beckett had thought it but it was the first time someone actually said it to him. Stretton's tone was sardonic.
"First, do no harm," he said. "Good evening, Dr Mengele."
TBC …
Notes: Ouchy, poor Carson. I always figured that he would be morally conflicted about the whole Michael thing. As to Weir, someone queried me whether she would cover it up if needed and considering how far she's changed her tune from Rising, yeah, she would if she thought it was necessary to get the job done. I always also thought she seemed a bit naïve for a UN diplomat, a group of people who'd have to be thoroughly cynical about other people. I got the impression that Sheppard didn't like the whole Michael business but went along with it because he couldn't see another way out. Plus, I thought it was interesting that the voices of moral reason in Michael were Teyla and Ronan, the two people you'd think were the most likely to agree to it. They objected to it (for different reasons, of course) but they were the only ones that came out of that episode, IMO, without looking completely unethical.
Sent down: sent to prison.
Lags: criminals.
Q.E.: Queen's Evidence, become an informant, or a whistleblower
Next: A conscience beats up it's victim.
