Author's Note: I would like to thank my beta reader, Nika Dixon, for her guidance and her quick review of this chapter. Any mistakes here are purely my own. I know some of you are hanging out for more whump and it is coming but this idea came into my head when I first dreamt up the avatar and I just had to explore it. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you to all those taking the time to leave reviews. Now on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Stargate Atlantis or the characters. The only thing that is mine are any original thoughts or characters that you may find here.

Chapter 10

Rodney headed to his laboratory after leaving the debriefing in the infirmary. He found Zelenka already there working away at his laptop with wires connected to the tactile interface from the planet. Zelenka glanced up, pushing his glasses up his nose as he asked "How did the briefing go?"

"We have to wait for a team of engineers to make the site safe before we can retrieve the rest of the data crystals." replied Rodney as he poured himself a coffee.

"Is that not good?" asked Zelenka.

"Not if the data we need is on the crystals back on PX3-M37 and the Wraith attack before we can retrieve them. I mean it's not like the roof can fall down twice."

"How is the Colonel?"

"He'll be fine. Now let's get to work. We need to interface the control crystal I brought back with Atlantis so that I can access the programming. The technology should be compatible with the holographic interface in the map room."

"Could we not just access the data crystals using the control program already operating in Atlantis' database?"

Rodney looked at Zelenka and replied "Well we could if I hadn't already tried that last night while you off sleeping. Atlantis didn't recognize the data structures on the crystals."

"Might the same not be true of the control program?"

Rodney was loading his equipment onto a trolley as he responded. "It might but I can make any necessary adjustments to make it work. Come on give me a hand with this, it's heavy."

Zelenka helped Rodney lift the case of data crystals onto the trolley. Rodney straightened rubbing his back. "Aagh. I think I strained a ligament or something yesterday. I think you'd better push this thing to be on the safe side."

"What about the interface? I was about to run a test on it."

Rodney looked over to where it lay by the laptop several wires attached to it. He hadn't felt the response that Sheppard had but he had seen the look on his face. He didn't need the interface to make it work but his curiosity was piqued. How did you make a machine that touched like a human could? And with nothing more than something that looked like the silicon gel used for, well, other less than scientific purposes in the cosmetic industry. "Bring it. It might prove useful."

Rodney was sitting on the floor in front of the podium. He had an access panel open with wires leading to the laptop perched on his lap. He was scrolling through the schematics quickly. "Okay Radek. Remove the clear crystal in the second drawer and insert the control crystal."

Radek did as instructed saying "It does not fit. The control crystal is not the same shape."

"It has to fit. Give me a look, you must've removed the wrong one."

Rodney pushed his way in as Radek protested. "It is the one you said. Maybe you are wrong about which one to remove. It would not be the first time that you are wrong."

"Is no-one going to let that go? I make one little mistake and everyone has to remind me about it."

"You destroyed most of a solar system. That was not little."

"Compared to the universe it was."

"The point is, Rodney, you are not always right. Maybe you are not right this time."

"Look if we can make things backward compatible then I'm sure that a race as smart as the Ancients could as well."

"DVD players will not play video cassettes. Maybe the podium can not use this crystal."

"I'm not ready to give up yet."

Weir entered the mess hall to grab a quick sandwich with the intention of returning to her office to finish writing up the report ready for sending back to the SGC but she changed her mind when she saw Ronon and Teyla sat at a table by the window.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, Elizabeth." greeted Teyla with a smile.

"How are the refugees settling in with your people on the mainland?"

"They are still in shock over leaving their home-world they way that they did and losing so many of their own people. It will take time to adjust to a new world but they are making a good start. Halling has found them all accommodation and he is involving them in the hunting and farming alongside my people. I think they will be fine."

"I'm glad. I only wish we could do more."

"You are doing more for the people of this galaxy than the Ancients did." replied Teyla.

"Any word from McKay on how he's going with that thing he brought back?" asked Ronon.

"Not yet." replied Weir as she finished off her sandwich. "Well I have a report waiting for me to finish it."

She gave them both a smile as she stood to leave. Teyla stood as well "I have a training session in a few minutes. I will walk with you."

Weir reviewed the report she had written and adjusted a few words before clicking on save. Unless there were any last minute inclusions required it was now ready for sending to the SGC in the morning when they made their regular contact with Earth. She closed the lid on her laptop and decided it was time to go check on Rodney's progress before visiting John in the infirmary. No doubt he would want to know about any progress that had been made.

She made her way to his lab only to find it empty. She knew that he would not be finished for the day. She tapped her radio and spoke "Rodney, it's Elizabeth, I'm in your lab. Where are you?"

Moments later Rodney replied "I'm in the map room working with the database that we retrieved. Is something wrong?"

"No. I just wanted to see how it's going."

"Progress is…slow." responded Rodney carefully. He didn't want to admit that so far he'd been unsuccessful. He knew in his heart that it was only a matter of time and he have the two systems communicating.

"Will it work?" asked Weir not needing to see McKay's body language to know a stalling tactic when she heard one.

"Yes. I think so. "

"Just do your best, Rodney."

"I do not think it will work." stated Zelenka as he watched Rodney opening a second access panel below the console.

"Do you have a better idea, huh?" asked Rodney as he pulled the cover off and studied the circuitry before him.

"No."

"Then stand back and let me try my idea."

Zelenka threw his arms up in exasperation and stepped back from the console. He was sure that Rodney was about to make a big mistake. He watched as Rodney reached in and re-routed the power within the console. The lights in the room flickered several times before leaving them both in darkness.

"Dammit."

A small light appeared lighting up the area that Rodney was working on. He turned, lifting his arm to block the glare of the blinding light to see Zelenka holding a torch before tapping his radio. "Yes Elizabeth. Oh…aagh. Yes I'll have the lights restored in a moment….oh and the transporters." Rodney turned back to the panel and spoke to Zelenka over his shoulder. "Seems we've taken out power to the transporters and to the lights in Atlantis."

"The transporters – was anyone…"

"Yes, several apparently including Elizabeth."

"Oh my. I told you this was not good idea."

Moments later the lights came back on. "There done now I should be able to connect the control crystal." As he spoke he inserted the control crystal into a different slot and closed the crystal draw before reaching for his laptop to study the readings. "Yes. I think this will work. Now all I have to do is…."

A light formed in front of the podium, starting out small and then extending to person height. It continued to shimmer as it gradually took on the form of a person and finally resolved into the image that he seen at the Ancient outpost.

"Oh my." remarked Zelenka as he recognized the features of their base commander.

Weir was not happy as she exited from the transporter into the corridor near the map room. Even the infirmary had been plunged unexpectedly into darkness. There had already been reports of some minor injuries. "Yes, Carson. I'll be sure to tell him."

Weir turned the corner and stopped at the doorway to the map room. She heard Radek's response as she saw her own image stood in the centre of the room wearing a dress that she'd worn to a dinner in her honour with one of their new trading partners a few weeks ago. "Rodney, what is going on here? Why does that look like me and why am I dressed like that?"

Rodney spun around at the sound of Weir's voice looking very much like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Oh um hi, Elizabeth." greeted Rodney swallowing uncomfortably before deciding to lay the blame somewhere else. Feeling comfortable with his decision his posture straightened and he gave her a smile as he said. "It's a rather good likeness, don't you think?"

"Rodney, explain."

"Ancient technology has a mental component. It drew the image from his mind. He said was thinking about a meeting the two of you had when the database started up."

"Do you think I'd dress like that for a meeting?"

Rodney looked at the hologram and then back to her. "Don't blame me. It was Sheppard who was thinking it."

Weir stepped closer to the hologram. The Colonel had been at that dinner where she wore the dress. She'd seen his reaction to her clothing at the time but didn't think he'd recall it weeks later in this amount of detail. The dress had been Teyla's idea. She'd thought that the normal Atlantis clothing was not really suited to such a formal occasion. She had then proceeded to find a dress for her on one of the worlds that they regularly visited. The red dress was beautiful and fitted well enhancing her slim figure, leaving her shoulders bare. The bodice was covered in delicate embroidery that appeared to shimmer in the lights. Even the shoes worn by the hologram were the ones she had worn on the night. Their red fabric peeped out from under the hem of the long skirt. She spoke to Rodney over her shoulder. "Does it sound like me?"

"Yes." replied Rodney as he watched her reaction. As he watched he thought he saw a small smile on her face but only able to see part of her face from his angle he wasn't sure.

Weir shook her head and turned back to Rodney and Zelenka. "So I suppose this was the reason for the power outage that resulted in a number of minor injuries?"

Rodney looked guilty as he answered. "We had to re-route the power and bypass a number of circuits to enable us to connect the control crystal into a different slot. It wouldn't fit into the normal spot."

"There was no we, Rodney." added Zelenka in his own defence.

"Carson is not happy with you Rodney, nor am I. Next time give us some warning." She paused and looked back at the avatar tilting her head towards it and asking "Does this mean that you can access the data now?"

"Uh. I don't know. That was my next step. I'm hoping that she can help me with the process."

Weir nodded her understanding "Okay keep me posted, Rodney." She started to leave but changed her mind and turned back towards them "And Rodney, no-one else is to see or know of this. Find another image or at least another outfit."

Rodney and Zelenka both nodded their agreement. "Our lips are sealed. Even though you do look kinda nice in that dress."

"Rodney!"

"Okay, I won't say anything."

She turned back towards the door but made it no further when both Ronon and Teyla walked into the room. They both stopped when they saw Elizabeth. Teyla saw the look of resignation on her face and then understood when she saw the image behind her. Ronon stood next to her grinning at the sight that met his eyes.

"You didn't say that the image was this realistic McKay." remarked Ronon.

"Just great." remarked Weir wondering if her embarrassment could get much worse.

"You should not be embarrassed, Elizabeth."

"I'm not so sure that you would say that if it was your image that these men were ogling." replied Weir before she turned and left.

Teyla turned to see Ronon still staring at the hologram. She slapped him gently on the arm to get his attention. "We came to see if you would like to join us for dinner, Rodney."

"Yeah, sure. I guess this can wait for a little while and I am hungry. Come on, Radek let's go eat something." stated Rodney as he walked towards the door.

"Wait, should we not shut down the hologram?" asked Radek

"And risk not getting it back online. No way. Besides no-one else will come in here while we grab some food."

Zelenka shrugged his shoulders and followed Rodney and the others mumbling to himself "It's your funeral."

TBC

Author's Note: What will Weir say to Sheppard next time she sees him? If you want to know then you'll need to keep reading. Want to know what information the new database holds? You guessed it – you'll have to keep reading. And finally want more whump in your diet? Then definitely keep reading as I promise that it is coming and it will be worth the wait.