AN:/ McKay screws up royally and is unable to save the day. This story is a great character piece for both Sheppard and McKay. Their relationship is challenged in a big way and it's a change that I think is wing-spreading for both Sheppard and McKay.
"I'm just saying as a team Veteran to the new guy, heavy lunch before mission departure, bad idea." McKay told Ronan. "Even with the inertial dampening, this would flying thing is better done on an empty stomach."
John looked over at Illyria and saw her smiling. Before they were called to the jumper bay, he overheard Illyria talking about how many more missions she would be able to go one before she had to stay in Atlantis until the baby came. Carson had said, once the baby started to move, which would be in two more weeks before she was grounded.
"Yeah, well, I've got a pretty strong stomach."
"Hey, I can eat frozen dinners without thawing them-"
"McKay," John called over his shoulder, "Are you reading anything?"
He swiveled in his chair and hit a button. "Nothing, life signs from the planet are negative."
"It is a shame. The Durandians were a wonderful race of people." Illyria said.
"Well, you're over ten thousand years old….you can bet things have changed around here." McKay said.
Ronan slowly got up from his seat, his jaw unhinged and slightly opened. "Sheppard."
John nodded and guided the ship to where Ronan was looking. It was a battle ground. Wreakage from various ships were scattered throughout the atmosphere. John had to navigate through it like he would a mine field.
"Okay, that's not something you see every day." John said.
"There was a great battle here….." Illyria uttered, wracking her brain trying to remember if her people had fought in this space, not seeing any of her ships. "That is a hive ship."
John flew the jumper above the biggest Wraith ship he's ever seen. The ship itself took up half the battle field.
"That was a hive ship." Ronan agreed.
"Something put a lot of holes in it, alright." John commented, going in closer. "We should check it out."
"Whoa, whoa, w-what if whatever put holes in it wants to put holes in us?" McKay asked.
"Like you said, a lots changed in ten thousand years."
John changed course and piloted the jumper straight down into the Durandian's Capitol City. They were about as high as a helicopter would be and took in what was left of the city. The atmosphere was thunderous, the city laid in ruins, the most intact thing below was probably the ground itself.
"That would explain the lack of life signs," McKay muttered.
"This is what usually happens when you fight back." Ronan growled, thinking about his home planet.
"These folks took out a fleet of Wraith ships, I think they did a pretty good job fighting back." John said.
Outside, a streak of lightning and a crack of thunder filled the Jumper. "Hold on," McKay said, holding up a finger as he checked his readings. "I'm picking up faint energy readings coming from….there." He stood up and pointed. Ronan stood and leaned against Illyria's chair. "That would be why they were able to take a fleet."
"How?" John whispered, starring at the object in amazement.
"Because," Illyria smiled. "They were Atlantians."
Outside, connected to a seemingly untouched building, was a weapons station. A weapon that shoot into space ten thousand years ago and killed a fleet of Wraith.
A weapon Illyria's people had created.
҉
A storm continued to brew outside as the team clambered down a ladder and into the station's control room. McKay moved around his light from console to console before he stopped at one and put his gear down beside it.
"Definitely ancient by design," He said. "Their latest stuff too. Latest, being, ten thousand years old." He leaned down and blew the dust off.
"Looks like the labs we found in Atlantis." John said, walking around.
Ronan clicked on his torch (flashlight) and held it up next to his eyes. "So this is one of their outposts."
"I have no knowledge of our presence being here." Illyria said. "Why, then, is my technology here?"
"Well, let's find out." John said, coming by and rubbing her back, hopefully she would feel the gesture through the vest. "Rodney, can you power it up?"
"Working on it!" he called from the other side of the room.
John was shining his light on a console when he saw a shadow behind a console. He walked around it and saw what had caused the shadows. "I've got two bodies here."
"I've got three more over here," Ronan said from down the hall. "Whatever happened here, no one came back to claim the dead."
"Can't tell if they were fed on by the Wraith." John told him once he got back into the room.
"Yeah, something killed them."
"Something killed everyone on this world." Illyria said, holding the light over John.
"Why if this outpost, if that's what it is, still intact?" John asked, standing and taking his light back. "It doesn't make sense, what do you think Rodney?"
When they turned to the scientist, the lights came on, giving everything in the room a bluish tint.
"Ha!" He exclaimed. "Sorry, I, uh, wasn't listen, but it just struck me that….this isn't an Ancient outpost. Why would the Wraith leave it intact?"
Ronan and Illyria looked back at John who said, "Good question."
҉
ATLANTIS
"It's a Military research facility?" Weir asked. They were walking from the Jumper bay and through the control room and towards the briefing room.
"From what we could tell it was a ground base version of the satellite we destroyed that hive ship with." John said.
"With one major exception." McKay said. "Fire power. I mean, if the signal outpost was responsible for destroying an entire Wraith fleet-"
"And you're sure it was this weapon that destroyed those Wraith ships?"
"It had to be." John told her. "Nothing on that planet suggestion the Duandians were capable of inflicting anything with that much damage."
"If we could learn more about the technology, we could prevent more worlds from being culled." Illyria said.
"It didn't save the Durandians." Ronan said once they were all inside and the doors closed.
"Yeah," McKay nodded and held out a finger. "But at the end of the day, the outpost was still standing and that means….well, I'm not sure what that means, but it means it's definitely worth finding out."
"Colonel?" Weir looked at him and asked.
"He's right. It's defiantly worth sending a research team back."
"Good, get me Ottoman, Collins, and Zelenka if he's over the stomach flu. We'll try and access the computer's log book , see if we can't accesses the-"
"Okay, okay," Weir smiled. "Easy sell, go."
"Oh, good…" Rodney said and ran out of the room.
҉
An hour later, Illyria stepped out of her apartment room dressed in a pink dress she had a hidden away before she was put to sleep in the stasis chamber. She only wore it when she traded off world. It was trimmed with tapestry bands and a matching, detachable, snap-closed hip belt, it's cord laced on either side, with concealed back zipper and hook-and-eye closure. Full, bell sleeves; princess seams, front and back. She was a bit shocked when the dress fit nicely over her growing baby bump, making it obvious she was with child, but not too much so. When John saw it before he left for the outpost he said she looked like someone out of a King Arthur story.
She was folding a course sack over her arms when Ronan came up to her, punching his palm with his hand. She nodded for him to walk with her. "Illyria, I heard you were heading off world on a personal mission."
"To Balkan, yes."
"Sounds interesting." He said.
Illyria kept walking, but looked up at him skeptically. "The Balkans possess a particular disease resistant strain called Flack seed, which would double the Athosian's yield of crops on the mainland. In exchange with the permission of Teyla, I intend to exchange Athosian man power to aid in their harvest." She looked up and smiled at his expression. "Still interested?"
"Uh, this places has everything I want, don't get me wrong, uh-"
"Sometimes you feel the need to go somewhere else." She nodded.
"Anywhere else."
"I know the feeling."
"So?" Ronan asked.
"Bring only weapons you can conceal." She said with a smiled and walked off.
"I'll keep it to a bare minimum." He smiled and ran off, back to his quarters.
҉
"The man power you are demanding is outrageous." Illyria said, getting angry. "You would turn the Athosians into no more than indentured slaves just to serve your farms."
The man across the table held his hand under his head, resting his chin upon them. His two sons were standing against the wall behind Ronan.
"It seems you have nothing more of value to trade, but your people." He said, putting his hands on the table.
"Mattis," Illyria called and a man behind the farmer came forward with a tray of cups. "You know my offer is fair."
"I'm sorry, Illyria. If you had something of more value to offer, technology….weapons." Mattis sat down at the table and shook his curly brown hair out of his face. Illyria sighed and looked back at the farmer.
"You've heard my terms."
"Then, our business is done here." The farmer said looking from Illyria to Ronan and back. Ronan shot forward from his chair and stabbed the table in front of the farmer, his face menacing ad he stood up.
"She said her offer was fair." Illyria placed a hand on his arm, but she wouldn't look away.
The farmer stood up and looked down at Ronan. "I say it isn't."
Ronan stood as well so they were now on eye level. "Well, I say it is."
The farmer looked down at Illyria.
•
The door to the outer walk way, standing above the street, opened and Illyria and Ronan stepped out. She was carrying a bag and he was carrying two. When they were halfway across and the door had shut, Illyria dropped her bag and spun to look at Ronan.
"What?" He said.
"I had the situation under control."
"It didn't look like it."
"So you came to my rescue?" Illyria coldly smiled. "You have no idea what is at stake during these negotiations. Teyla's people, my people, depend on me and these dealings!"
"They were taking advantage of you." Ronan defended himself.
"No they were not. That is what I wanted them to think. A negotiation is a delicate proses, the words spoken are often meaningless."
"Illyria!" Someone called from the street below. She turned her head to see Mattis jogging up the steps to them.
"Do you want me to-"
"No," Illyria told him. "Gather our things; I will meet you at the gate." Ronan nodded, picked up her fallen bag, and left. Mattis came through the door and jogged to her.
"It was a mistake to force Handan's hand; you'll only pay for it next time."
"I know," Illyria sighed.
"Your friend is not Athosian?"
"No, Ronan is the only survivor of a world known as Satida. He saved the life of a friend of mine and in return we offered him sanctuary."
"If Satida is his home world, then he is not the only survivor." Mattis said, his eyes widening. Illyria's only narrowed. "There is a man in this village who also claims to be from there."
҉
Illyria and Ronan walked into a bar.
They maneuvered their way through the crowds of bustling bodies, beer stains, and cracked floors. Illyria went to the bar and got the barkeep's attention.
"We are looking for a man named Solin. Do you know him?"
The barkeep, a large bald man with a thick mustache, nodded his head. "Upstairs."
Behind her, Ronan took off. "Thank you," she said before going after him. At the top of the stairs, they heard a voice recount details of an epic battle.
"-was I scared, of course, but my people were counting on me. Now I was alone, low on ammo, but I was able to take out the three Wraith guards and gain access to that ship." The teller finished and the men around him chuckled and drank.
"Liar!" Ronan shouted from his perch on the top of the stairs.
The man who told the story, Solin, tensed and slowly turned. "What did you say!" He stood and the men around him stood as well. Ronan stepped out of the shadows and Solin's face erupted into a smile. "Ronan?"
"There were two Wraith guarding that Cruiser and he wasn't alone." Ronan finished before going to Solin and hugged him the way men do, tight with back slaps. Once they finished, Ronan stepped back, smile lighting up his features. Illyria couldn't help but smile as she held her baby bump. "Uh, Illyria, Solin Shenzhen, we served together in the same regime in Satida."
Illyria nodded. "I am honored."
"You two make a nice match…." Solin commented and nodded at Illyria's stomach. "Congratulations."
Ronan ducked his head and smiled at her. Illyria couldn't help but smile back as she playfully hit his arm. "We are friends, nothing more."
"For years I believed I was the only survivor." Ronan said, his face becoming serious.
"So you don't know about the others?" Solin asked.
"What others?" He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Before the city fell, a few of us managed to make it to the shelters, west of the capitol. Already, three hundred civilians found their way there. When we emerged, we realized there was nothing to salvage, so…we left. All of us."
"To where?" Illyria asked.
"Some came here, some went to Maneria…"
Ronan slowly smiled, coming out of his shock. "Three hundred…"
"Drink Ronan and rejoice!" Solin shouted and he and Ronan hugged once more. "You're not alone!"
҉
That night, Illyria sat on the rail overlooking the main hall of the tavern. She got off and went back to where Ronan and Solin were laughing and drinking heavily, spilling their ale every time their chalices clinked.
"Ah, man," Solin sighed. "To see Cal's face when he sees you…" Solin laughed as Ronan's jaw dropped. "Yeah, it's true."
"Cal's alive?"
Solin nodded. "And his family. They settled on Balsa, run this big trading operation over there."
Ronan tilted his head. "When were you going to tell me this?"
"Honestly I was going to wait until you drank a little more." Solin said and started laughing.
"You've seen him?"
"Yeah," Solin said, sobering up a bit. "He comes around to trade weapons with the Balkans. He's got his own private army now."
"Is this Cal a friend?" Illyria asked, sitting down to rest her tired feet.
"Oh, he's more like kin." Solin said. "He was Ronan's task master during his military training. There is no closer bond."
Ronan leaned back in his chair. "None."
"To reunions." Solin said and held out his cup.
Ronan hit his and spilled ale, making Solin chuckle. "To reunions."
҉
It was morning on this planet, almost midafternoon on Atlantis, when Illyria had to help the stumbling Ronan out of the Tavern and into an inn where they could rest.
"I'm not tired." Ronan said as soon as they were in the door. "Why did we leave?"
Illyria pushed him down on the bed and pulled his legs up next. "I believe you've had enough." Illyria said gently.
"I don't believe I've had." Ronan mumbled.
"Goodnight." Illyria said and walked to the door. She was about to shut it behind her when Ronan softly cried out her name, like a lost child might when he was scared. Illyria turned her head back and saw the fear in his eyes.
"There are three hundred of my people." He said and rubbed his eyes, getting rid of the moisture.
Illyria sighed and looked back in the hall way. Coming to a decision, she stepped back into the room, shut the door, and shed her coat.
҉
"How are you feeling?" Illyria asked down in the market at midday.
"Fine," Ronan mumbled.
"We should really be getting back; Doctor Weir would be expecting us." Illyria said, moving out of the way of an oncoming fruit cart.
"Cal's here." Ronan said out of the blue.
"What?" Illyria asked.
"He's meeting with Killen right now. Solin just told me when you were paying for the room. I have to see him."
"And you would like me to arrange a meeting?" Illyria asked.
"After yesterday, I don't think I'd get very far if I asked myself."
Illyria nodded.
҉
Ronan was watching the market's activity's through the window in the Tavern. Solin sat beside him. When the tavern door opened, Illyria got down from her stool at the bar and went to greet the men that walked in.
"I am Cal from Satida."
"Illyria of Atlantis." She nodded. "Thank you for granting us your time."
Ronan's movement in the shadow's spurred Cal's cautiousness. "If we are to trade, I wish to know all members of your party."
"Of course. In fact, that is why we are here." Illyria stepped aside and let Ronan come into view.
"Ronan." Cal gasped.
"Hello, Cal." Ronan growled and pulled out his gun. Faster than anyone could react, Ronan shot his former task master. Cal's men raised their weapons and Illyria put her back against Ronan's, raising her own knife.
"Ronan, what have you done?" She whispered.
"We all know who this man was," Ronan spoke low to the men pointing their weapons at them. "What he was. If anyone her believes he should be avenged….here I am." Ronan looked around, catching the eye of every man in the tavern.
They all lowered their guns and let Ronan walk out. Illyria looked down at the body and ran after him. They were under the archway leading out of the city and into the path that lead to the gate when Illyria pushed Ronan into the wall and held her knife to his throat.
"You just used me to murder an innocent man."
Ronan grabbed her hand and held it away from him. "He deserved worse." He dropped her hand.
"Last night when I comforted you, you said he was like a father to you."
"Cal commanded several infantry divisions in Satida. And when the Wraith came, he ordered thousands of men to their deaths just to save himself. He was-He was a traitor….and a coward. My only regret was that his death was quick." He softened his face as he looked into her eyes, regretting that he used her like she had said. Illyria was searching the ground with her eyes, as if looking for an answer.
"I understand," She sighed. "In your place, I might have done the same. But believe me when I tell you the others would not. We must not speak of this when we return to Atlantis." Ronan nodded and ducked his head, knowing that she was keeping a secret from John to protect him. She stepped in close and whispered, "And if you ever use my friendship in such a way again, I will not be so understanding."
҉
Illyria and Ronan walked through the gate, heaved with their packs, and were met with guns pointed at them. Once the guards realized who it was and saw no threat they lowered their weapons.
"Take this grain to the storage container." Illyria instructed and handed off the bags to the guard and two Athosians. Ronan and Illyria were walking away when and argument Weir was having with McKay reached their ears from her office.
"-you destroyed ¾ of a solar system!"
҉
"How was the trading mission?" John asked that night while they were getting ready for bed.
"Not as well as I had hoped." Illyria said, putting on her light blue and stripped p.j's .
"That why you had to stay overnight?"
Illyria hesitated for a second. "Ronan caused some….problems that had to be resolved."
John nodded and helped pull down the covers. "I heard he went with. What problems?"
"Nothing more than usual." Illyria smiled and climbed into bed. John sensed her smile was off but let it go as he climbed in next to her. "How was the weapon's platform mission?"
John sighed and rubbed his face. "In short, McKay puts the team at risk when he tries to perfect unfinished Ancient technology that wiped out a civilization."
"I thought that was the goal, perfecting the technology?" Illyria asked, snuggling down onto John's chest.
"While you were gone, McKay convinced Elizabeth to allow him to return with a team to the base. He and Zelenka explain Project Arcturus, the failed experiment, to Weir and Colonel Caldwell. Arcturus would have brought together a power source the equivalent of 25 zpm's when fully powered. Instead of obtaining zero-point energy from a small universe, Arcturus would draw energy from our universe. But for some reason it failed, and the Ancient scientists sacrificed their lives in order to deactivate it. McKay believed because they were rushed to complete the weapon and end the hundred-year Wraith war they hurried themselves to their deaths.
Rodney and Zelenka were confident they could complete the Ancients' work on the Dorandan homeworld. But during the next test, the radiation began to spin out of control. Collins was ordered into the command access tube to manually boost more power to the field, but once he was inside the radiation spiked and killed him."
"Oh no…." Illyria sighed. "Was his family notified.
"Yeah, did it myself." John sighed and got back to the story. "Despite the fact that one of McKay's officers were in the morgue, he was intent on succeeding. Rodney believed the problem was in the automatic containment protocols. If the field strength was manually adjusted, he believed it would solve the problem….He asked me to trust him, and I took the information to Weir, and with Caldwell's help she gave in. But Zelenka believed he knew why the Ancients abandoned the technology.
Attempting to extract energy from our own space-time was impossible. Eventually the matrix within the field of the weapon became inherently unpredictable, and an overload was the end result at no matter what power level. McKay refused to listen and the energy field spikes."
"What'd you do?"
"I convinced McKay to abandon the station before we were killed in the overload. The weapon continued to discharge fire in order to bleed off the overload, but eventually it would be overcome. As I was flying the Jumper toward the Stargate, the Daedalus arrived to provide cover so we weren't shot down. Then the Daedalus entered hyperspace, just as most of the solar system was destroyed in the detonation."
"McKay….blew up a solar system?" Illyria gasped.
"Yeah, when we got back and told Weir, McKay occupied his time with apologies to everyone involved for his…arrogance, but saved me for last."
"Why?"
John shrugged. "For fear that I would never trust in him again."
"Will you?"
"I promised him he would eventually earn it back."
Illyria knew exactly how he felt.
