The Ghosts of Atlantis

AN: Many of you mentioned more mayhem at the end. Whatever gave you that idea? (Blinks innocently) LOL. Many thanks for all the reviews! The bunnies were doing a happy dance and decided to serve you a dish of an early update.

11: Playing with Fire

Rodney looked at the time and cursed aloud. So far all attempts to shut down the alien device had met with failure. Weir had followed Rodney back to the lab to help with the some of the most difficult translations that he was having problems with. She had only recently returned to her office to catch up with some other work that demanded her attention. They were making progress but not fast enough for Rodney's liking. Although he also had Zelenka's help, the two scientists still couldn't find a way to shut down the device. Looking at his watch and knowing that he was running out of time, Rodney leaned back against his chair, crossed his arms and scowled darkly at the black cubed device.

Radek approached him and observed, "You know, Rodney, scowling at it is not going to help us any. Here, have this," he said, placing a plate in front of McKay.

"Yes, but it makes me feel better," Rodney snapped. Then he looked at what Zelenka had placed before him. On his plate were three pieces of turkey sandwiches, some french fries, a carrot cake and a nice bunch of grapes. Rodney lifted his eyes towards Zelenka in surprise.

"After our meeting, Sheppard asked me what you had for lunch, I remembered that I didn't see you eat anything. He told me to ask Cook to whip up some turkey sandwiches for you, it seems she owes him a favor. He said you'll like them. So I took the liberty to go down to the mess hall to get it for you," Zelenka said, pushing his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose before turning away to go back working on his laptop.

"Sheppard likes turkey sandwiches. I don't mind them but thanks," he stammered, feeling strangely touched to discover that there were people looking out for him and quite disturbed by the fact to realize that he had been so involved in analyzing the alien device that he had actually forgotten to eat, something that he had never done before! Even when Sheppard had the iratus bug stuck on his neck, he never forgot about food and his blood sugar level. It was a basic survival instinct, ingrained into him as much as breathing. He wondered whether it was the result of being so close to the vicinity of the alien device. Was it trying to affect his mind in some other way, perhaps? Did it know that he was trying to find a way to deactivate it? It was not a comforting thought, and one that he really didn't want to think about.

He positioned the plate in front of him and quickly began to dig in. Pretty soon, he was stuffing his face with large greedy bites of fries and turkey sandwich. He realized that his blood sugar level was low, evident by the slight tremors on his hands. He needed the food before he went into hypoglycemic shock. No wonder he couldn't think straight; sometimes his condition could be most annoying at the most inappropriate time.

An hour later, Rodney and Radek were having an indepth discussion of how to develop a backdoor infiltration program into the Ancient alien device when Jack arrived with Ronon in tow.

"Time's up, boys. I'm here to make sure that the device is destroyed."

"What?" Rodney asked as he looked at the two men and then at his watch, suddenly realizing that the two hours were indeed up. "But... I know that we can do this! If you'll just give us a bit more time, I'm sure we'll be able to figure it out."

"Nope, you've had your chance, McKay. We're not taking any more chances, it'll be evening soon, it's time for that damn thing be out of here," countered Jack, nodding for Ronon to do the deed.

"What? Are you just going to shoot it?" Rodney asked a little alarmed.

"You have a better idea on how to destroy it?" questioned O'Neill lifting his eyebrows.

"No, no, it's just seems so... barbaric, that's all." Rodney stated weakly as he and Zelenka began to back away from the bench table, coming to stand next to Jack and Ronon.

Jack nodded at Ronon, who took out his blaster, set it to 'Kill' and shot at the alien device.

As the energy blast hit the device, a green forcefield appeared around the black cube device causing the Satedan's weapon fire to bounce off and scatter across the lab. Everyone urgently scrambled for cover in order to avoid becoming dead meat from Ronon's ray gun.

Once the coast was clear again, Jack cautiously stood up, looked at the undamaged alien device and aimed an accusing glare at Rodney. "What the hell just happened?!" he yelled, clearly annoyed, marked by the deep scowl on his features.

"Looks like the device has some sort of protective shield that prevents it from being destroyed," Rodney said, very much surprised by this new development.

"Oh for crying out loud! Well, any ideas how we go about destroying it then?" Jack asked.

"How about we try good old fashioned way?" suggested Radek, bringing out a large hammer.

Rodney looked at it. "Hmm, it might actually work, maybe the shield only works on blasters, energy rays, that sort of thing. Here give me that!" Grabbing the hammer from Zelenka, he approached the alien device again.

Zelenka stood a few feet away as Rodney took a deep breath, lifted up the hammer, squeezed his eyes shut and slammed the hammer down on the black cube device with all his might. Just at the moment of impact, a green forcefield appeared and Rodney's hammer bounced off the alien device, flew out of his hand and landed on the top of Zelenka's shoe.

The Czech scientist gave out a loud shriek and started hopping about on one foot, screaming and cursing aloud in Czech. He finally sat himself down on a stool while massaging his injured foot and scowling angrily at McKay. "I think you've made pancake of my big toe!" he accused his boss.

Rodney looked stunned and flabbergasted. "I... I didn't know it was going to do that! The hammer sort of flew out of my hand at the moment of impact! Not my fault! Besides, you were the one who gave me the hammer! You shouldn't have done that!" He paused, approaching closer. "Are you... are you all right, Radek?"

"No!" replied Zelenka, his face screwing up in pain. "I think I need to go see Dr. Beckett. This is thanks I get for bringing you lunch!"

McKay had the grace to look ashamed.

Jack tapped on his comlink. "This is General O'Neill to Dr. Beckett, I think you need to come down to Zelenka's lab. There's been a little incident."

oOo

There was now a large bandage around Radek's big toe. The trauma to the Czech's toe had resulted in a painful contusion but otherwise he was deemed fit for duty. He was now wearing one shoe and one slipper.

"You should be okay, lad. Nothing to worry about. You're lucky that the hammer didn't land on someone's head, it could have killed somebody. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the infirmary." Carson said, taking his crutches. Before he left, he paused and shot a nervous glance at the alien device. "My advise is, don't hit that thing with any more projectiles." Then he left, hobbling out of the lab.

O'Neill put his hands into his pants' pockets and stool on the balls of his feet. "Well, that went well... Any more great ideas?"

"Hey, don't look at me, it was Mr. Toe-brains over there who passed me the hammer in the first place," Rodney replied defensively.

"Why you ungrateful little man..." Radek retorted back, his gaze shooting daggers at the scientist.

Rodney ignored Radek now that he knew that the Czech scientist was going to be all right. He turned to look at Jack as an idea formed, then snapped his fingers. "Actually, yes, I think I actually do have an idea, and it's a more intelligent option than what our friend Radek suggested earlier. If I recall correctly, there was an alien device in SGC that SG1 needed to destroy in a hurry. The same solution might actually work for us..."

He turned back to Radek. "Zelenka, you best stay here with that injured toe of yours." Then he addressed the Satedan, "Ronon, please pick up the device and follow me."

Ronon put his blaster back into his hostler, strode forward and did as McKay requested. "Where are we going?"

"To the gate room," McKay said, tapping on his comlink. "This is Dr. McKay, get ready to dial up the gate," he ordered the tech on the other side of the comlink.

"Where to, sir?" came the reply.

"It doesn't matter, anywhere, take your pick. We'll be there in a few minutes, just get ready to dial the gate when I give the word," Rodney instructed as he followed O'Neill and Ronon out from Zelenka's lab.

Before they arrived at the gate room, Rodney gave instructions for the tech to start dialing the gate. They arrived just in time for Rodney to instruct Ronon to throw the alien cube device into the explosive plasma of the newly activated wormhole. What better way than to let one of the greatest force of nature destroy it? Rodney thought smugly to himself. When the event horizon settled down calmly again against the Stargate, there was nothing left of the alien device.

All three men stood there, looking at each other, standing silently in the room.

"So, that's it?" Ronon asked, looking at the now activated Stargate.

Rodney looked up. "Yes. I think so." He turned back towards the Canadian tech and said, "You can shut the gate down now."

As the gate deactivated, O'Neill said, "Nice job, McKay."

A lop sided smirk appeared at one side of Rodney's cheek. "Yes, it was a rather good idea, wasn't it? Of course it was originally the idea of Colonel..." He didn't complete his sentence as the comlink in his ear activated and he heard Zelenka speaking to him. "Rodney, please return to lab immediately."

"Why? What is it?" he asked.

"I think it's best if you saw for yourself," came the reply. "I also think you should bring General O'Neill and Ronon with you."

oOo

When Dr. Carson Beckett hobbled back to the infirmary again, his leg was aching terribly. So far, except for their conference meetings, he hadn't had much time to rest his injured limb. Now, he had to inform Colonel Sheppard about what had happened in Zelenka's lab as the Colonel was awake when Carson had received O'Neill's call.

Like Carson himself, Sheppard had been worried, wondering who had been injured. Both of them had been relieved to hear Jack say that the mishap in the lab was minor, relating to a hammer hitting Dr. Zelenka's foot. However, if he knew Colonel Sheppard, the man would be anxiously waiting news from him and expecting him to report back to him all that had occured.

True to form, as soon as he reached the infirmary, John called out to him with a "Well? What happened, doc?"

Sighing to himself, he informed the Colonel about the two failed attempts to destroy the alien device.

"I see," Sheppard said, giving a small frown as his right hand rubbed against his chest. His ribs and chest must still be very sore, Carson suspected. The doctor wondered whether the Colonel was recalling his close encounter with death not so long ago. However, Carson knew John well enough to know that the man must be worried about his next encounter with Sumner, especially if Rodney and the others failed to destroy or deactivate the alien device. It was exactly the same way he felt about Perna. God, he so didn't want to experience that screaming phantom again. He couldn't bear the thought of it and it made him shudder.

Somehow, his own worries must had shown through for Sheppard looked up at him and said in a concerned tone. "Hey, you okay, doc?"

Carson nodded and smiled weakly, "Aye lad. And you? How are you holding up?"

John stared at him and gave him an unreadable smile. "I'm fine," he muttered softly.

Carson saw through the lie instantly even though Sheppard didn't reveal it in his expression. Beckett understood exactly how the Colonel felt. The man was scared. He didn't want to face another encounter with a murderous phantom from his mind; to have to experience the darkness of his own guilt bearing down on him, wanting to destroy him. The feeling was mutual. Carson himself feared his next encounter with the ghostly Perna. The emotional pain of each encounter seemed worse, more enhanced each time. He feared that he might not have the strength to fight against his own demons. He wished that nobody would have to experience that again.

However, despite knowing what they both felt, he played along with Sheppard's lie and his own. Smiling sadly at the man, he said, "That's good lad. Well, if you need anything, just holler."

Sheppard smiled back at him and said, "Sure doc."

Carson felt like a coward as he hobbled away from Sheppard to head back towards his office. If he couldn't talk to Sheppard about their demons, how the hell was he going to defeat the ghostly Perna if she came visiting him again? he wondered.

oOo

Zelenka was standing in the lab waiting for them, his arms crossed together as he leaned against the lab table.

"Well, what is it, Radek? Couldn't it wait?" Rodney enquired impatiently. They could have learned so much from that Ancient device and Rodney was frustrated with himself that they had to destroy it. However, at least everyone else on Atlantis would be safe tonight, no more ticking-clock on a deadly countdown. He could also look forward to having a good dinner in the mess hall tonight. "Elizabeth will be waiting to hear our report that we've destroyed the alien device."

"Probably not a good idea Rodney," said Zelenka grimly.

Something about Radek's voice and stance made Rodney pause. "Why? What's wrong?" His eyes narrowed as he suspected that something was up.

Dr. Zelenka limped away from the table. Sitting on the table behind him was the black cubed alien device.

"What the...?" Rodney and the other gasped in surprise. A curse came out from Jack's lips while Rodney looked at the alien device in shock. Ronon simply frowned at it.

"Looks like we still have problem in our hands," Zelenka said sheepishly. "It appeared a few minutes ago. Just materialized in a big green light, then puff it was there."

"I don't believe this!" Rodney exclaimed, looking at the alien device in shock and admiration. "Looks like the device has some sort of defensive teleportation built into it. It registered that it was about to be destroyed by the gate's wormhole, so it activated its shield and teleported itself back to the lab!"

"Yes, I figured as much," replied Zelenka.

O'Neill frowned. "We still need to get rid of it, McKay. Anymore suggestions how?"

"How about if we opened the Stargate to an uninhabited planet and just throw it in?" This suggestion came from Ronon.

"I'm not sure whether that would work, Ronon. Somehow I get the feeling that once it has been initiated, it doesn't matter how far away you are from the device. Remember Corporal Green and Dr. Walker who were away on the mainland during the second wave of attack? They were attacked by phantoms even though the second wave hadn't reached the mainland. I think that once you've been a victim of these attacks, how far you're are to the vicinity of the device doesn't really matter anymore." Rodney explained worriedly.

"Crap," O'Neill said.

"Yes, I believe that crap is right, General." Rodney agreed.

oOo

TBC