Sheppard's expression was grim as he left the infirmary. Sgt. Ballard had suffered severe trauma to the head and had undergone immediate surgery to reduce the swelling. The injury would require weeks if not months of rest to fully recover; the soldier's time in Atlantis had come to an end. Weir, seriously injured from both the electrical shock and the exploding console, was also in surgery. It might take hours before the full extent of the damages could be known.

It was vital to find out what had been stored on those consoles. McKay had managed to extract part of what Zelenka had been working on, saying something about containment devices and fading power levels. The scientist had been working nonstop to retrieve any backup files left behind, but whoever had attacked Zelenka had wiped most of it clear. After the attack in science lab three he had shifted his attention to the partially destroyed console, which had been transported down to the prototype. He was confident in finding a way to salvage the data.

Sheppard had more important issues to settle. First was insuring the safety of the civilians. Second was locking down the city. Third, and most important, was finding the S.O.B. who attacked his friends and personally wring his neck. He arrived at the control room to find Major Lorne already working on the first two issues.

"Attention all personnel," Lorne announced over the citywide radio. "An intruder has been reported in science lab three. All non-military personnel are ordered to return to their rooms. No exceptions. All military personnel will report to the control room immediately." Seeing Sheppard enter he offered a salute. "Figured I'd get things started, sir."

"Any luck?" the Colonel asked, indicating the scanner.

"Everything is up and working," he answered. "All scanners have been restored. There's no way the intruder can escape this time."

"That's what I want to hear." He paused as Ronon arrived, an almost eager look on his face.

"When do we start?" he asked. Sheppard looked at the display. Most of the personnel had already started heading to their rooms, but a few life signs were still scattered about.

"Now. Major Lorne, stay here and monitor progress, keeping full lockdown. Once the civilians report all clear in their room, tell them not to open their doors for any reason." Looking around the room Sheppard was disappointed Teyla was not among the gathered soldiers; he could've used her tracking skills. "Okay, listen up. Teams of three, we do this level by level. Maintain radio contact at all times. Move out!"

ooOoo

"Attention all personnel. An intruder has been reported in science lab three. All non-military personnel are ordered to return to their rooms. No exceptions. All military personnel will report to the control room immediately."

"Teyla, where are you going?" The woman paused in strapping on her firearm to address the child.

"Miryana, listen to me. You must stay here. Lock the door when I leave and do not open it for anyone. Do you understand?"

"Do not leave me!" the child begged.

"You will stay here!" Teyla ordered forcefully. "This is not an option, Miryana. You were already attacked once, and I will not risk it again. Tomorrow I promise we will go to the mainland where you will be safe. But for now you must stay here."

The young girl had never seen Teyla so angry with her before, and she shrank back. Mother was like that too, before she went to sleep. Was Teyla going to make her sleep too? Is that why they would fly back to the land? She didn't want to sleep again.

Teyla secured the last item and started to the door. "Remember, keep the door locked. I will be back soon, I promise." Miryana, her face streaked with tears, could only nod. Teyla turned back and opened the door. She only managed to take a few steps before a sudden pain exploded at the back of her head.

ooOoo

In the prototype lab, McKay struggled to bring the broken console back to life with the aid of the new scanner. He tried to push aside the memory of seeing Weir being rushed to the infirmary. He couldn't think about that now. Sheppard was counting on him, and he wasn't going to let him down, not ever again. Forcing himself to stay calm, he checked the scanner once more before smoothly sliding a new crystal into the console. As power was restored his relief was quickly replaced with fear.

"This is so not good!" McKay's panicked voice echoed in the room. Corporals Everett and Barnett, the two soldiers sent for his protection, turned to look at him with concern. Even Ula seemed to sense things had gone from bad to worse.

"What's not good?" Everett asked, keeping one eye on the scientist and the other on the door. No way was anyone getting past him.

"I managed to extract part of the data stored on the console," he answered, hands still typing away. "Radek was right, it was a portable stasis field, but not in the way we thought."

"Sir?" Barnett asked, shifting his weapon slightly. "What are you saying?" McKay's intense blue eyes looked up to meet his.

"Look, I don't have time to explain everything, but we've been taken for fools. The intruder has been hiding in plain sight all along!" He paused for a moment, a pained expression on his face. He wished it wasn't true, but the facts couldn't be disputed.

"The intruder … is Miryana."