Episode 'Underground' Season 1 Episode 8

"How are you adjusting to living in Atlantis?" I asked Dr. Weir. We had just started our weekly meeting and I decided to start it on something that wasn't work related.

She looked up from her notes and asked "Excuse me?"

I smiled and asked again "How are you adjusting to living here in Atlantis?"

She smiled and said "It's great, I guess. Why the sudden interest? Usually you want to finish these meeting after the first thirty seconds of it."

I shook my head and changed the topic "No reason. What's on the agenda today?"

She looked back down at her notes and after a moment said "Not much. We are getting close to coming to a food shortage. If we don't do something about it we will have to start rationing."

I thought about it for a moment then said "What we need are allies. We should call a meeting with the team. Teyla may know of some farmers we could trade with to get food from."

Weir nodded and said "Okay, I will call a meeting as soon as we done here." She turned the page on her notes and said "It has come to my concern that you are teaching McKay how to fight in hand to hand combat."

Surprised by her remark I said "Yes, I am. Why does this concern you?"

She looked up and said "Well, it isn't a concern really, more of a question." I looked at her expectantly waiting for her to elaborate. After a moment she did "Would you be willing to teach some of the younger marines and some of the other scientists how to fight as well?"

This caught me completely off guard and I asked "What?"

She smiled, probably out of amusement and said "I have read Major Sheppard's mission reports. He says you demonstrate extraordinary abilities in hand to hand combat with or without your other abilities. And he also says Rodney is slowing becoming more adept at hand to hand combat, and that he is, overall handling himself better in the field. So will you teach other members of the expedition how to fight or is it limited to only Rodney?"

I was speechless for a moment but quickly regained myself and said "I will think about your request and get back to you." She nodded and I asked "Are we done here?"

"Yes, we are done." I started getting up to leave, but stopped when she said "You might as well wait in the conference room. I am going to call the right now." I nodded and turned to leave.

~Stargate: Atlantis~

After a quick introduction on why the meeting was called Teyla began saying "They call themselves the Genii. They are a simple people, but good farmers and traders." The table we were sitting at was triangular in shape. Dr. Weir and Major Sheppard were on the side facing the doors, Teyla and Ford were at the end, and McKay and I were on the last side.

Weir said "We're still months away from producing successful crops on the mainland, and we're heading towards a food shortage."

McKay, who was eating a sandwich and drinking a cup of coffee, said with a full mouth "I know. It's getting desperate. We're almost out of coffee."

Sheppard who was saying exactly what I was thinking said "Well, maybe you should stop drinking eleven cups a day."

McKay responded "I'm just making sure I get my fair share before it's all gone."

I asked "How is eleven cups, fair?"

Sheppard answered "It isn't." Returning back to the conversation we were having before he continued "I'm all for trade, but don't you think we should find a way to help defend ourselves?"

Agreeing with the Major, Ford asked "How can a bunch of farmers do that?"

I answered "This may not be extremely important at the moment, but in a few months, when we run out of food, you will think differently about this."

Weir nodded in agreement and said "Not to mention that maybe they can introduce us to people who can help. In the meantime, let's take care of the basics."

Sheppard commented "I guess it's always good to get to know your neighbors."

Teyla said "The Genii Stargate is a short distance from their village. I suggest we walk. The puddle jumper may alarm them. As I said, they are very simple."

Weir started getting up and said "Sounds like a mission." Then left the room, ending the conversation. The others followed to go and prepare. McKay was still eating.

Seeing that I was still sitting next to him he asked with a full mouth "What?"

I shook my head and said "I do not understand what you find so appealing about coffee."

He swallowed what he was eating and asked "Have you even tried it?"

I smiled and said "You were there when I did."

Remembering that he said "Right, well, it is the best drink in the universe. I don't understand how you don't like it."

With a teasing smile I said "What? The great Dr. McKay doesn't understand something. This is unbelievable."

He mock laughed and said "Ha. Ha. Well, you better believe it because you're the cause of it." He grabbed his now empty plate and cup and left the room, to go and prepare for the mission.

~Stargate: Atlantis~

Once we were through the Stargate, Sheppard said "All right. Where to, Teyla?"

The gate shut down and we started walking in the direction Teyla was taking us. Teyla said "We should allow them to come to us."

McKay started to say "Well, if you know where the village is-"

Teyla interrupted him by saying "They are simple people and they trust me, but that trust was hard earned."

Sheppard said "Okay."

McKay quickly asked "What is it you said they grow here, anyway?"

Teyla answered "Many things, but they are best known for a bean known as Tava."

McKay who clearly was not listening asked "What, Java?"

I shook my head while the Major said "Tava."

After some walking Ford asked "How will they even know we're here, anyway?"

I saw some people in the distance and said "They already do." Which caused the group to stop in their tracks.

Sheppard whispered to Teyla "They look friendly enough." There were two people walking towards us. A male a female, both dressed in clothes one word assume a farmer would wear.

Teyla said "The eldest one is called Tyrus. I've traded with him on many occasions."

The two people were now within a few yards of us and the one called Tyrus said "Teyla Emmagan."

She smiled and said "Tyrus. It has been many days."

He nodded and said "Too many."

The girl that had come with him said with a smile "Teyla."

Turning to us Teyla said "This is…Major Sheppard," He nodded "Dr. McKay," who also nodded "The Protector," I gave a half nod "and Lieutenant Ford." He nodded by grabbing his cap.

Tyrus looked over to the woman and said "My daughter, Sora."

Sheppard said "You must be very proud."

Sora smiled at him, while Tyrus said with a stern look "She is betrothed."

Sheppard now stumbling said "Well, I wasn't-"

I stepped forward, lowered my hood, and said "He meant no disrespect. We have come to trade for a share of your crops."

Sora said "Yet you bring weapons."

"I carry no weapon as a sign of good will. They carry them only for defensive purposes. We have encountered the wraith on many occasions and do it out of necessity."

Tyrus looked at Teyla and asked "Do you dress as they do of your own accord?"

She smiled and said "Of course. Why?"

Sheppard said "He wants to know if you work with us or for us."

Teyla looked back to Tyrus while saying "Ah. These are my friends, Tyrus. I would not have brought them if I did not think them worthy to become yours."

Tyrus started to turn away while saying "We'll take you to see Cowen." He looked at his daughter.

She said "Follow me." And she walked off.

We started walking off. McKay said "Maybe we should offer a sense of humor in trade."

Sheppard said "Sure. They can have yours."

McKay forced a laugh. "Oh, please, my side. You slay me."

Not really interested in the conversation because the peculiar feeling I was getting from these people. I realized shortly it was for good reason. While Sheppard said "I'm thinking about it."

With my heightened hearing I heard Tyrus say "I'm bringing them in. All operations to silent mode." No one else would have heard it. Not wanting to alert them to what I had just overheard I opened a connection to McKay. McKay.

He turned to look at me and asked What is it?

I smiled for a second and thought You are getting used to this, you didn't jump.

He sighed and thought Is that all.

I quickly thought to him No. Are you aware I have heightened senses? He nodded. I continued Well, I just heard something…not right.

He frowned at me and asked What is it?

I continued I heard Tyrus say 'I'm bringing them in. All operations to silent mode'. Which that in itself is strange, not to mention the odd feeling I get from these people. I could tell he was about to look back to Tyrus so I quickly thought to him Don't look back to him. It might put him off. I want to observe these people before I tell anyone else about this.

He replied back Okay. Let me know what you think.

I smiled and nudged his side. I thought I am. Right now.

He looked at me and smiled Right.

I shook my head with a smile and closed the connection. I was about to walk forward and join Teyla and Sora when Sheppard nudged me. I looked up to him with a questioning look and he leaned closer and whisper in my ear "You and McKay are adorable."

I could feel my cheeks redden slightly and asked "What?"

He smiled and continued to whisper "You just had an entire conversation with him, with your eyes."

Realizing what he was referring to I said "Oh, you mean that. That's just…" I looked up towards Sora and didn't want to reveal anything and said "I'll explain later, okay?"

He nodded and I went to join Teyla and Sora. Noticing me Sora stated "You dress differently from the others."

Wanting to appear as if I did not suspect anything of them I smiled and jokingly said "You noticed." I became more serious and continued "I dress this way because I choose to. Just as Teyla chooses to dress like my friends do."

We fell into a comfortable silence. After a few more minutes of walking we reached the village. Tyrus and Sora showed us to one of the cabins. After some introductions we sat down at a table and got straight to business. The table was small and only could seat six. Sheppard and McKay sat on one side. Teyla and Tyrus sat on the other. The rest of us stood around the table. I opted to stay towards the back and lean against the wall so I could observe these people. After some short discussion Cowen, the leader of the Genii, asked us "And these medicines are potent?"

McKay answered "They are capable of stopping bacterial infections entirely."

Cowen sat at a seat on the end while Sora said "It would help us through a harsh winter."

Cowen made a 'hmm' sound and said "We will need more than you offer."

I thought to myself I could easily figure out their intentions by entering their minds and reading their thoughts but there are too many distractions right now. I need to find a quiet place.

My thoughts were interrupted when Sheppard asked "More?"

Ford interjected "I don't think you understand how cool this medicine is."

Cowen said "Well, leave if you wish."

Thinking to myself I thought He is playing them. Interesting.

Sheppard asked "Leave?" Turning to Teyla he said "I thought you said the Genii were fair traders."

Teyla who was looking at Cowen said "We have always been able to achieve a reasonable bargain."

Cowen responded "You ask for much of our harvest. New crops will have to be planted in sufficient quantities to replenish our stores, or it is the Genii who will starve. That amount of planting will require new land to be cleared. Clearing more land is slow, hard work and it will lose us a great amount of growing time between now and the next harvest season."

Sheppard said "Okay. What if clearing land was fast and easy?"

To this Tyrus and Cowen laughed. Cowen asked "You know a simple way of uprooting the stump of a three hundred year old tree?"

Sheppard said "As a matter of fact…I do."

Having a fairly good idea of what the Major was planning to do I said "Major, can I have a word with you…in private."

He nodded and we both walked outside. He asked me "What is it?"

I turned to him and asked "Are you planning to show them C4?"

He nodded and said "Yeah. What's the problem with that? We'll just blow up the stump and they should agree with our terms."

I stepped closer to him and said in a hushed tone "These people are not what they appear to be. We hardly know them. I don't trust them."

He crossed his arms and said "What do you mean 'these people are not what they appear to be'? Why don't you trust them?"

I looked away and said "When we first got here I heard Tyrus say 'I am bringing them in. All operations to silent mode.' I also just feel like these people are hiding something huge from us. I don't know what it is yet, but I do not like it."

He nodded and said "Okay, I hear you. What do you want me to do?"

I turned back to him and said "Nothing. I will uproot the stump. We don't have to show them the C4. At least not yet anyway. If I am wrong and they are simple farmers, then I will uproot any stumps they need removed. I just think it would be better to be safe than sorry."

At this moment Cowen and the others came out. Cowen asked "Is everything okay?"

Sheppard turned to him and said "Yes. Everything's fine. The Protector was just saying how she would like to demonstrate how easy it is to uproot a three hundred year old stump. To show you how easy it is to accomplish this."

Cowen said "Then please. By all means, demonstrate." He walked over to an old stump. "I believe this will be suitable for a demonstration."

I walked over to him and said "Yes. This will be fine. I suggest everyone stands away from the stump." Everyone moved about 15 yards away. I moved closer to the stump so I was about five feet away. Closing my eyes I focused myself on the earth around the stump. I moved my arms in a circular motion in front of me. With this, I caused the earth to move under the ground, severing the roots from the main stump. Then in one quick motion I lowered my hands then raised them up, pulling the stump out of the ground and into the air. Once the stump was in the air I turned around while generating a ball of fire. Once I was facing the stump that was still in the air, I shot the fire ball at it, incinerating the stump. There was nothing but ash left when the remains fell to the ground. When I finished I lowered my hands and turned around. The Genii who were watching were completely awestruck and speechless.

Cowen stepped towards me and asked "How is it you are able to move the earth and create fire like that?"

Sheppard said "It is a long story but the point is The Protector can remove any stumps needed."

Cowen turned to Sheppard and said "Can others learn to do this?"

I stepped towards them and said "No. Only I can. Do we have a deal? I remove the stumps and you provide use with the crops we require."

He nodded and said "Of course."

Sheppard said "So, this instead of the medicine."

Cowen said "As well, as the medicine."

Sheppard asked "Really? That wasn't impressive enough?"

Cowen's response was "We cannot use this ourselves. And it is you who are in need."

Sheppard said "Well, we will have to discuss this with my people."

Cowen said "I'm sure we can come to terms. Teyla, thank you for bringing us these new trading partners. Please stay as our guests. There will be a harvest ceremony later." With that he walked off.

Teyla said "Wonderful."

Sheppard said "Ford."

Ford asked "Sir?"

Sheppard continued "We're talking harvest ceremony."

Ford hesitantly said "Sounds like fun, sir."

Sheppard said "The Protector and I will be back soon."

We both walked off towards the Gate. I heard McKay say "I should go back with them." He walked off and caught up with us.

When he caught up to us I said in a half teasing tone "So, McKay, not interested in a harvest ceremony?"

He quickly responded "No, no, I just think Weir should get a third view on what's happening here?"

Sheppard said "Oh…is that it?"

Sheppard and I shared a look when McKay said "Yup. That's it."

~Stargate: Atlantis~

Back on Atlantis Sheppard and I were telling Dr. Weir what had happened. I found it funny that McKay wasn't even here, to give Weir that 'third view'. Weir asked Sheppard "You were going to use explosives? This is a scientific expedition, Major."

He responded "I know that. Plus we didn't use explosives. The Protector uprooted the stump."

Weir sat down at her desk "Well, I am glad The Protector was there to stop you from making us arms dealers."

Sheppard asked "Have you ever tried to clear a stump by hand?"

Weir sarcastically said "Yes. It's a hobby."

I interjected "They are taking a chance by giving us so much of their crop."

Weir asked "Plus the medicines I already agreed to?" I nodded and the Major didn't say anything. Weir continued "I think in the future, Major, either I should do the negotiating, or leave it to The Protector."

Sheppard, who wanted to defend himself said "I did say I had to ask you first."

I added "To terms you already agreed to."

He shot me a look and said "Yes."

Weir asked him "Do you see why I have a problem with this?"

Interrupting her, Sheppard asked "Do we need food or not?" She nodded and he continued "We are on the verge of rationing. Since The Protector stepped in we don't have to give them any explosives, and as much as I'd like to devote every off-world mission to the pursuit of Tava beans-"

Weir put her hands up and said "I get your point. Tell them we agree."

We both nodded and got up, leaving the room.

~Stargate: Atlantis~

Sheppard, McKay, and I were back on the planet. Sheppard wanted to take a shortcut to the village, but instead had gotten us lost. McKay asked "You have no idea which way to go, do you?"

Not wanting to admit he was lost Sheppard said "Just trying to get my bearings."

McKay said "Translation, 'I'm lost'." I smiled at this. McKay didn't catch my smile and merely continued "They were very clear which route to take."

Sheppard answered "I prefer a straight line."

McKay said "Yes, of course, because everything's a shortcut in Sheppard's world." The device McKay was holding beeped and he said "Okay, there it is again." I looked over his shoulder to see what was causing the beeping.

Sheppard asked "What?"

I said "He is picking up a strange reading;" I looked up "coming from over there." It was an old looking house.

Sheppard asked "Define strange."

McKay asked "You don't know what strange means?"

Sheppard said "I know what strange means, Rodney-"

McKay said "Weird, freakish, odd-"

I decided to walk over to the house. I heard Sheppard say "I'm just trying to determine whether…Protector what are you doing?"

I didn't answer but kept walking towards the house. I heard them run to catch up with me. As we got closer McKay's device started beeping more frequently. We entered the house and turned a corner to what looked like a barn. I noticed a large mound of hay sitting in the middle of the room. McKay saw it then looked at his device. Looking back up he moved to remove the hay from the pile. I started helping him when I saw what was underneath. Once we got the hay off McKay said "Oh, now, that is definitely-"

I said "Strange." What we found buried under the hay was a metal hatch. That looked like it was recently oiled so it couldn't have been sitting here for decades unknown of by the Genii.

He looked at me and nodded. Then he said "Yeah, and not that Amish really."

Sheppard said "No, not so much. Protector, I think you were right. These people are hiding something."

McKay said "Maybe they don't know its here."

I shook my head and said "No. They have been hiding something." I opened the hatch and continued "We are going to find out what it is." Looking at the two men with me I asked "Shall we?"

Sheppard stepped onto the wall of the hatch and said "All right."

While at the same time McKay turned on the flashlight on his gun and said "Great." Sheppard went down the ladder first then I followed him, and last McKay came down. Sheppard turned on his flashlight when I reached the ground. When McKay was stepping down the ladder he said "The construction's architecturally advanced. I don't think the Genii could've made this."

I shook my head and stepped away from the ladder. Then I said "This is definitely what they were hiding from us."

Sheppard said "We need to tell Ford where we are." He clicked his radio but only got static.

McKay said "This place is built like a bunker. It must be shielded for RF." Looking at the device in his hand he said "The reading's stronger this way."

Sheppard asked "What kind of readings?"

McKay said sarcastically "Palm readings."

I shook my head and said "It is neutron radiation." I looked around and slowly said "There is definitely some sort of powerful energy source in the vicinity."

Sheppard said "Okay. Let's check it out."

Sheppard started walking towards a door and McKay said "I really think we should get out of here." I looked at him and smiled then walked over to Sheppard. I took a quick look at the door and saw it could slide open. I pushed against the door and it started opening. Once open all the way we saw what looked like a giant underground city.

Sheppard said to me "Now, this is strange."

I heard guards coming this way but by the time I had turned around they were upon us with guns pointed at us. McKay and Sheppard both turned around a second after I did. We were taken to a room with a table at it. They had removed all of McKay and Sheppard gear. After sitting and waiting for a while McKay said "Maybe they exist as two separate cultures."

I shook my head and said "I don't think so."

Sheppard simply said "Who cares?" I could understand why he said that because we had weapons pointed at us from all sides. Sheppard looked at one of the guards in front of us and asked "How long are you boys planning on keeping us here?"

They just stared at us. McKay raised his hands and said "You know, if people could just learn to keep their secret underground hatches locked-"

I elbowed him in the side. At the same time the two doors behind us opened.

The three of us looked back and Sheppard said "So much for two separate cultures." The person who had walked in was Cowen.

I thought to myself I knew there was more to the Genii then what appeared to be.

Cowen stepped forwards and asked "What am I going to do with you?" He walked around to the other side of the table were our gear was located and started looking through it.

To answer his question, even though I knew he wasn't looking for an answer to it, I said "You could let us go."

He laughed to this and merely continued looking through the gear. He picked up McKay's device and McKay said "Oh, could you be careful with that? It's just, it's rather fragile, and if it, uh…" Cowen just threw it on the table not caring whether it was fragile or not.

Cowen leaned against the table and said "We have a problem."

Sheppard said "Then we have something in common."

I sarcastically said "Really? I don't see a problem. Only a…" I looked at Cowen "annoyance."

Cowen ignored my comment and said "Normally, you would already have been shot for discovering our secret."

Sheppard responded "In which case, more of our people would show up, not to mention, The Protector, would never allow you to shoot any of us."

Not believing I could stop them Cowen said "We would simply tell your people the wraith took you. With no evidence to the contrary, they would believe us."

Sheppard asked "You were saying?"

Cowen said "You have technology, knowledge new to us. The way The Protector removed the stump was very impressive. Also I believe you mentioned something called C4-"

I said "When did we say anything about C4?"

He responded "We overheard your conversation with the Major."

I sighed and Sheppard said "You don't want to use it for removing stumps."

Cowen said "We have a more sophisticated application for it. I assume it would do the same as what the protector could do."

Sheppard nodded and said "Look, what you people do in your spare time is none of our business. We just need food. As far as your little secret down here goes, well, uh…" He looked at McKay.

He said "We say, 'What giant, underground bunker?'"

Cowen sat down and said "I want more than that."

Sheppard was about to speak but I said "What is it that you want?"

Cowen looked at me "You are more advanced than us. Do you have weapons that could do more than remove a tree stump?"

Sheppard said "Maybe. Why?"

Cowen didn't answer but asked "What if I wanted more than weapons?"

McKay said "Uh, did I mention that The Protector and I know almost everything about almost everything?"

Sheppard and I shot McKay a look while Cowen said "For Teyla Emmagan to have joined with you, you must have something much more-"

Sheppard said "Look, I'm going to go out on a limb here and just say that we're looking for allies against the wraith." He looked around and continued "How about you guys?"

~Stargate: Atlantis~

Teyla and Ford were brought into the room we were in by Tyrus and Sora. As the two of them sat down Ford said "You missed a hell of a harvest ceremony, sir."

Sheppard said "I can imagine." He looked at Teyla and said "Oh. Teyla."

She said "I am as surprised as you are by all of this, Major."

Sheppard said "I don't know. I'm pretty surprised."

Cowen said "Teyla and her people know us only as the simple farmers we show outsiders. The secrecy of who and what we are is the only defense we have against the wraith. One day, all that will change."

McKay said "You think you can do that with an atomic bomb?"

Cowen said "Now it's you who surprise me."

McKay said "Well, radioactive readings, your fascination with The Protectors destructive capabilities and C4…"

Sheppard asked "You're just mentioning this now?"

He responded "It just came to me when he said, 'One day, all that will change.' I assume you're hoping our C4 will solve your super criticality problem."

Cowen asked "Will it?"

McKay answered "It might. It depends on your design. There's a host of other considerations."

Sheppard asked "You know how to make an A-bomb?"

McKay looked at him and said "Major, most of my high school chess team could design an A-bomb. The actual hard part is having sufficient fissionable materials of appropriate grade."

Cowen said "And we do."

Sheppard looked up at him and asked "You do?"

Still very confused I opened to a connection to McKay What's an A-bomb?

He looked at me and thought It's a massive bomb. That can cause a lot of damage. I'll explain more later. With that I closed the connection.

While at the same time Cowen said "The Genii were once a great confederation of planets. Millennia ago,-"

I looked over at him and said "I remember."

This caused everyone to stop. Sheppard said "Really?"

While Cowen asked "How is it possible you remember such a thing?'

I nodded to Sheppard and said "I am the last surviving Ancient. I was put in stasis for over ten thousand years. I was there when the Genii were overcome by the wraith."

Cowen said "Fascinating…" He thought for a moment then continued what he was saying "our forefathers sought the protection of bunkers such as these, originally created for wars long forgotten, and it was here a small number of our people managed to survive undetected. Over the course of many, many years, generation after generation, we have made technological developments here in secret."

Sheppard said "So, the whole farmer thing is just a front."

I added "That way the wraith will not suspect you."

Cowen said "More than that. We do have many mouths to feed below. I want to show you something. Come with me."

McKay quickly said while pointing to the device "Oh, that thing you so carelessly threw on the table…can I, uh, take that along?"

Cowen picked it up and tossed it to McKay then walked out of the room while saying "Come."

The rest of us got up and followed. McKay nudged me. I looked at him and opened a connection What is it?

He thought Is that one of the reasons you suspected they were more than they appeared to be? Because you knew them as the federation of planets they used to be.

I nodded Yes. That is one of the reasons. But I had to remind myself that a lot can happen in ten thousand years. It was mostly the strange feeling of mistrust I got from these people.

He thought back I keep forgetting you are over ten thousand years old.

I looked at him and smiled I keep forgetting you're not ten thousand years old. This caused him to smile back.

End Chapter 10

Author's Note:

Before anyone says anything, yes, I skipped the episode poisoning the well, but I have a very good reason for it. When I tried writing it, I found I was having a very hard time writing The Protector into that episode. I tried about three different times and I didn't like any of them so I just skipped it. So, please don't hate me for that but that's the way it had to be. But anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review. The next part of this episode will be up soon.