"We do not wish to be your enemy." The replicator said. "We believe that an alliance between us and humans will benefit both parties. However, we have deemed that you are not capable of such an alliance. Your mistrust of my kind would lead to you trying to terminate us."
"Isn't that what we would do without an alliance?" Sheppard asked.
"Yes." The replicator confirmed. "And that is the dilemma. You are not ready for an alliance, but without one you would try to destroy us."
"Well that's just perfect. I finally get a translated section of the good part of the archive and I am going to be killed before I can exploit it." McKay grumbled.
"We are not going to kill you Dr McKay."
"You're not? But you just said we will try to kill you if we are not your friends or if we are your friends."
"That is correct."
"But you are not going to kill us?" McKay questioned, feeling he was missing something.
"Your previous experiences with my kind have left you unable to trust my kind. Only time will allow you to trust us."
"You are going to keep us locked up here for good. Aren't you?"
"You are partially right Dr McKay." The replicator said.
"I knew it." McKay muttered.
"How will locking us away for good bring about trust?" Sheppard asked.
"I said Dr McKay was partially right." The replicator pointed out. "We will not lock you away permanently. However, we know that we will not be safe releasing you whilst you know where we are."
"You are going to wipe our minds!" McKay exclaimed. "I'll go back dumber than Zelenka."
On seeing the confused look on the replicator's face Sheppard said.
"Rodney stop giving him ideas."
"We do not possess the technology to wipe your minds without causing you harm." The replicator tried to explain.
"So what are you going to do?" Sheppard asked.
"We are doing the final repairs on the city. Once they are complete you will be released and we will move the city to another location."
"You're going to let us go?" Sheppard asked.
"Yes."
"Why?" McKay blurted out.
"We desire to live in harmony with humans. To achieve this trust is required. Holding you will serve no purpose."
"What will you do after you have relocated?" Sheppard asked full of doubt.
"We will protect the city and wait."
"Wait for what?"
"For you to become ready to trust us."
"That could take a long time." Sheppard said.
"We are good at waiting Colonel Sheppard." The replicator said. "Now please excuse me, we have much that needs done."
"We can't just go." Ronon said when the doors shut.
"Why?" Jennifer and Rodney asked almost in unison.
"They know where we are based, they could try to hunt us down. If we leave them be we will always be in danger." Ronon explained. His face strained from pain.
"While Ronon is correct I do not see many alternatives." Teyla said.
"Rodney can you read and follow the base code?" Sheppard asked after a few minutes of silent deliberation.
"Yes."
"Without modifying it in any way, no matter how small?" The Colonel pressed.
"Yes, but-"
"No buts. I just want you to read it. Can you do that?"
"Yes." McKay said, almost sulking that his talents were not being utilised.
"Good. Then read the code and ensure the whole serve the public trust, protect the innocent and uphold the law directives are in place."
"Would not checking for code that prevented the harming of humans be more beneficial?" Teyla asked.
"He just asked that." Rodney said nodding at Sheppard.
"Another box reference?" Ronon asked.
"How have you not seen Robocop?" Sheppard asked as Jennifer said.
"Don't forget the classified fourth prime directive."
"Like I would." McKay muttered before asking, "How do you know about it?"
"Is the doc not allowed to watch Robocop?" Sheppard asked.
"It's not exactly Cinderella." McKay pointed out as he scanned the code.
"Cinderella?" Teyla asked.
"Story about a girl who is made a slave by her step-family, but offered the chance of glamour by her fairy god mother. As a result a prince falls in love with her, but she has to go before midnight when her chariot returns to being a pumpkin. Anyway the prince finds her via her glass slipper and they live happily ever after." Sheppard explained, whilst subconsciously willing McKay to hurry.
"Fairy god mother? Glass slipper?" Teyla questioned more confused than she had been before.
"I tell you what next movie night we'll watch it." Sheppard answered.
"No we won't. The plot doesn't even work. The slipper should have turned back to the, whatever it was before. It is a stupid story. I mean had he seen her in rags originally he wouldn't even give her a second look." McKay said almost resentfully.
"Wow McKay, you seem to have real issues. Something I should ask Jeannie about?"
"Need I remind you she is married, Kirk?"
"What's that meant to mean?" Sheppard asked.
"You know fu-" McKay replied only to be interrupted.
"Guys!" Jennifer snapped. As all eyes turned to her she slightly reddened. "Sorry, but could you concentrate on establishing if we can go rather than bickering like school boys?" Not use to this side of Jennifer, McKay immediately looked back down at his screen. With a very sudden movement Jennifer stood and walked over to the bathroom muttering something about water.
Sheppard looked at Jennifer go then to Ronon.
"Don't know." The Satedan grimaced. Scrunching his eyebrows Sheppard looked to Teyla and nodded.
Taking the hint Teyla wondered over to the bathroom.
"Can I get you some more pain killers?" She offered.
"No thank you."
"Jennifer." Teyla said calmly. "There is no point suffering. If we need to take more drastic measures we will need you in peak condition."
"It's not that I want to suffer and besides my head is much better than it was." Jennifer said.
"Then why are you displaying a temperament more akin to Ronon?"
"Since we arrived we have been going through the supplies I brought fairly rapidly. The supplies are low and the others have greater need for them than I do." Jennifer explained. When Teyla quirked an eyebrow she continued. "I need to keep the swelling in the Colonel's leg down. Seeing how he refuses to rest it all I can do is give him anti-inflammatories. More serious is Ronon, he is starting to burn up. His wound is infected. Added to the blood loss it's...we need to get him back to Atlantis."