Disclaimer:yada yada
With Indiana Jones in vogue at the moment I thought that it would be fun to do an Atlantis based adventure "a la Indie".
Of course Rodney is after a zed p m not a crystal skull.
Here is my effort. Enjoy.
(of course we all know that this isn't going to go well...)
Indiana McKay
"They have a fully charged zed p m."
"As far as we can tell."
"And they're not using it."
Elizabeth didn't look convinced. "Gentlemen," she said looking at John and Rodney. "Didn't you say that it was an intregal part of their object of worship ?"
"Well it's part of their statue, yes," Rodney admitted.
"Kinda in the middle," John added.
"The statue's holding it," Ronon elaborated.
"But it's not using it for anything," Rodney said.
"As far as you can ascertain ?" Elizabeth asked.
"They have spears for God's sake," Rodney said. "What do they want a zed p m for ?"
"It might have a use we do not know of," Teyla mentioned.
Rodney shot her a "you're not helping" look. "We'll put another one in it's place just one with less power...a lot less power," he added quietly.
Elizabeth stared at him with her arms crossed.
"Look it will last them for a hundred years."
"And then what ?" Elizabeth asked.
Rodney looked confused. "Then...er...I'll make a note to self to go check on them ?...Maybe sooner ?...OK. Fine. We'll make absolutely sure that it's not running anything important," he conceded.
"And how exactly are you planning to acquire the zpm ?" Elizabeth asked.
"They're a primitive people."
"Spears still do damage, Rodney," Carson said.
"They will probably object to you taking it," Elizabeth said.
"It's not guarded," Ronon said.
"They only go in there for ceremonies," Rodney said. "And we'll put another in it's place. They'll never know."
"Like taking candy from a baby," John said.
"A big ugly, stone baby," Rodney added.
Elizabeth still didn't look convinced.
"I feel that we are betraying these people's trust," Teyla said.
"But they're not using it," Rodney whined.
"And we do really need a fully charged zpm," John said. "For the shield and chair."
"Just because we need it doesn't mean that it's right to take it," Elizabeth said.
"Exchange it," John said.
"We'll leave one in return."
Elizabeth sighed. It was like having a room full of hungry children and one cookie jar.
"All right," Elizabeth said. "But for the record I still don't think that this is a good idea. Remember Indiana Jones."
"That was fiction," John said as they left.
oOo
Back at the settlement on the planet as they sat at a long table laden with different fruits, Rodney was trying to "play nice" with the local chieftain.
"So," he said being careful to watch for citrus. "When is your next...er...ceremony ?"
"Three moons from today," he answered pleasantly. "We will ask for Katura's blessing upon the harvest. His light will shine if he finds favor with our sacrifice."
"I would be very interested in witnessing the ceremony," Teyla said.
"The rite is sacred. And very private," the chief said. "No outsiders are permitted."
Teyla bowed her head. "I understand," she replied.
"His light," Rodney said leaning forward. "Is that the...er...lamp that he's holding ? It actually glows ?"
The chief regarded him serenely. "The ancestral light will shine brightly if he is pleased."
Rodney nodded. "Right," he said.
"It is late," the chief said standing.
John and Teyla stood up. John slapped Rodney on his arm and he stood up too. Ronon was already standing by the door.
The chief bowed his head slightly and they reciprocated. After he left they were escorted to their huts for the night. Teyla left with the women while the three men were left in a small hut by themselves.
"OK," Rodney said sitting down. "It lights up somehow so that zed p m must be interfaced with something inside the statue. I'll need to get a closer look at it before we make the exchange."
"Maybe we should wait until after the ceremony," John said. "Just in case..."
"In case what ?"
"In case you screw up, McKay," Ronon said.
"I won't screw up. It's a statue. How difficult can it be ?"
John and Ronon exchanged looks.
"What ? It probably just plugs in. Besides," Rodney added, "This isn't exactly the London Hilton here. I'd rather stay somewhere where I can bathe."
"There's a river," Ronon pointed out.
"Funny. There's probably God knows what in it too."
"We'll give everyone a while to go to sleep then," John said. "And then we'll check it out."
oOo
They made their way silently to the temple in the center of the settlement, keeping to the shadows. But they were a trusting and peaceful people and there were no guards. Not that that stopped Ronon from being edgy.
They slipped inside and closed the main door behind them. Only then did John use his flashlight.
Nothing had been disturbed since they had been shown the room several days earlier. The roof was open and the moonlight shone down on the statue giving everything an eerie appearance. Rodney started to move forward.
"McKay !" John hissed.
Rodney stopped and turned to look at him. "What ?" he said quietly.
"Us first," Ronon said moving past him. "Just in case."
"You'll get your turn," John said following. "Let us check for traps."
That got Rodney's attention. He didn't argue after that. He got out his data padd. "No life signs," he said. "Except us, of course." He scanned the walls. "No energy readings either. The zed p m is powered down."
John and Ronon were by the statue. John waved Rodney forward. Rodney walked around a large flat stone in the middle of the room. It was about eight feet long and three feet thick. Like a large table. His attention, though, was focussed on the statue and what it held.
"Give me some light here," Rodney said as he stood on the steps in front of the statue. John obliged as Ronon watched the door that they came through.
"I brought the replacement if you can remove that one," John said as Rodney lightly touched the base of the zpm.
"I know, I know," Rodney said. "There are some buttons. They could be to remove it or to make it light up."
"Can't you tell ?"
"Oh yes it says right here. "To steal the zed p m please press this button" "
"Rodney."
"I can't tell without trying them. The ancients weren't so hot on labelling things. On. Off. Remove zed p m would have been useful."
"There are four buttons," John said bending over next to Rodney.
"Yes thank you. I see that."
"Red is usually bad."
"Not necessarily. It depends what you're trying to do."
"What about the white one ?"
"What about it ? Color codes are only relevant if you have a guide."
"I don't like black," John said.
"Me neither."
"Pick something," Ronon hissed from the door.
"White then ?"
Rodney shrugged. Crossed his fingers and pushed the white button.
For several seconds nothing happened. Then with a loud hum the zpm descended through a hole in the statue's hands until it was level with the palms.
"Uh oh," Rodney said standing up.
It started to pulse and glow orange.
"Do something," Ronon said walking over to them.
"What ?" Rodney said.
"Something," John said as he punched the yellow button.
A bright white light shone up from the zpm through the hole in the roof.
"Oh crap !" John said.
Figuring that they had nothing to lose Rodney hit the red button. The zpm turned off and quietly returned to it's former position.
"I told you red wasn't necessarily bad," Rodney said just as the door burst open.
Eight guards came through the door, four on each side. They stopped, spears held ready to throw as the chieftain walked in and stopped facing John, Rodney and Ronon. He did not look at all pleased.
Rodney held his hands up, shoulder height, palms out. "This isn't what it seems," he said.
"It seems as though you are attempting to steal the ancestral light," the chief said.
"Well that's...er...remarkably accurate actually," Rodney said. "But we weren't going to steal it per se. We were...er..."
"I'm sorry," John interrupted. "We were just looking is all."
"Looking would not have displeased him," the chief said. He waved his hand and two of the guards approached. They gestured towards the door with their spears. Ronon looked at John who nodded and walked out of the temple with the others following.
oOo
They were escorted back to their hut only this time two guards stayed outside the door.
"I could take 'em," Ronon said.
"Maybe later," John said.
"What's the betting that the black button releases the zed p m ?"
"Now we find out."
"Wouldn't have been so bad if you hadn't set off the bat signal."
"That wasn't my fault, Rodney."
"What do you suppose they'll do with us ?"
"Kill us probably."
"Gee thanks Ronon," Rodney said. "Maybe Teyla can help."
"If they haven't arrested her too."
"Quit it you too," John said. "They haven't done anything to harm us yet."
"Don't suppose we'll get another chance at the zed p m...what ?"
"Never mind that. Elizabeth will have our hides."
"She'll have to take a number."
oOo
The next morning they were taken back before the chieftain. Teyla stood with the women watching from the side. This time they were taken into what passed for a throneroom. The cief sat on a large chair with several steps up to it. He was wearing a cape that was covered with different colored feathers. He wore a matching headdress of black feathers. Once in front of the chief the guards forced them to kneel.
"Hey watch the back ! Do you mind ?" Rodney complained as one of the guards poked him with a spear.
"Hush Rodney," John said quietly.
"You have committed the crime of desecration," the chief said solemnly. "You must pass three tests to decide your fate."
"I don't suppose any of them are math related ?"
"Rodney !"
"Just asking..."
"Bring the sacred scroll."
A female stepped forward and handed the chief a large roll of papyrus with writing on both sides.
"This is a map. It has three locations marked. There is a different challenge at each location. You must complete all three and return by tomorrow at sun's fall before the ceremony. If you do not return," he nodded and several of the men raised blowguns. One dart hit Teyla and she crumpled in a heap on the ground. "Your female's life will be forfeit."
As they turned and stood up each of them was felled by a carefully placed dart.
oOo
to be continued
This was getting a bit long for one chapter.
Next up: The Challenges.
Review please
debbie
(I promise I won't keep you waiting long)
