Always Comes Back to Haunt Us
Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
Chapter 14
"They know." Michael walked into Captain Lochley's office.
Sheridan looked up from the conversation he'd been having with the Captain. "How bad?"
"Bad enough they're sending their own reps and asking for any further meetings with Atlantis to be suspended until they arrive."
The red haired woman looked from Sheridan to Garibaldi. "Know what?"
"Sorry to keep you in the dark, Captain," Sheridan apologized. "We received a list of all the people in stasis. If you know your history, I'm sure you'll recognize the name of Dr. Benton Quest."
"THE Dr. Benton Quest. The scientist who invented or influenced most of what got us into space?" She looked doubtful. "Official records said he and his family disappeared, never to be found."
"Probably a cover story," Michael said.
"We still don't know the whole story as to why they went into stasis to begin with." Sheridan shook his head. "This may get ugly."
"More likely competitive." The business man grinned. "Want to take bets on who wins?"
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"That's more like it." Max grinned. IPX had just sent a message with a very generous financial offer to help relocate the survivors of Atlantis and assist them with resettling on any planet of their choice. The conditions were they would be allowed to study the technology of the city and patent anything useful for development. Not to mention the history department wanted in depth interviews with everyone.
What was disappointing is that President Sheridan had cancelled all further meetings until all interested parties arrived at Babylon Five. No matter. Eilerson was certain IPX would win .
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"Colonel Sheppard!" The call came from the hallway.
John paused in helping McKay with the panel had been working on. It handled defense for the city. He glanced at the gate imbedded on the floor and suspected it would be one of the first things Dr. Quest would ask about.
"How can I help you?" he asked, wishing Beckett and Keller had kept the man and his family longer in the infirmary. They'd been released earlier and been relocated to a tower suite.
The doctor entered the control room, his brown eyes taking in the various panels and lingering on the stargate. "This room runs the entire city?"
"It does." Rodney snapped. "The Ancients were very advanced."
Dr. Quest nodded not seeming to be insulted by McKay's tone. "So I've noticed."
"Need help with something, Dr. Quest?" John had been ordered by General O'Neill to get the city up and running, or at least as much as they could, just in case they needed to leave quickly. Where they would go he had no idea. He doubted the general did either.
"Personal request actually."
"If I can." John motioned the other man to the side of the room out of McKay's hearing.
"There was a woman who was part of this project. I met her at a conference. The same one where we first met." *
John vaguely remembered. The biggest hit had been Anthony Stark's alternate energy presentation. The room had been packed. "You're asking about Marari."
"I am. We became quite good friends."
More than friends if what John had heard was true. Marari Collins Pryor had spent a number of holidays not only with the Collins, but with the Quests as well. Rockport hadn't been far from Collinsport and where Atlantis had been hidden. "Want me to ask the general if I can wake her up?"
The scientist glanced uneasy at the office located at the top of the stairs. The general had taken it over. "I don't want to make any trouble."
John knew the two men didn't get along. He didn't know why and didn't dare ask. They needed to work it out. "Everybody likes Marari, even General O'Neill." He considered the request. "She's worked with politicians so maybe her expertise would be useful."
"Think he'll agree?" He didn't miss the hopeful tone.
"I'll let you know."
"Thank you." Dr. Quest left.
"We've got company," Rodney told John.
John frowned. "Company?"
"Shuttle on its way from the Excalibur. Should be docking in a few minutes."
"Wonder what they want." John headed out. "And Rodney, let the general know we have guests."
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Captain Gideon docked the shuttle and looked around at the vessels. Jumpers is what Colonel Sheppard called them. Designed, so he said, to go through the Stargate.
"Interesting ships," Dureen commented. "Want me to snoop around?"
"Not yet." He had a feeling the Altanteans wouldn't appreciate it.
"Coming Galen?"
"Oh, absolutely."
The trio left the shuttle and found Colonel Sheppard waiting for them. "To what do we owe the honor?" He looked relaxed, but his body stance told Matthew otherwise.
"I understand Dr. Chambers made a request which got denied. I'm curious why when it might save millions of lives."
"Key word is might."
"May we talk with General O'Neill?"
"How come you're dressed like that?"
Both Gideon and Sheppard turned to look at teenage boy with blond hair, dressed in jeans and a black top.
"I'm talking to you." He pointed at Galen.
"I'm a techno mage."
"A what?"
"We use science like magic."
He frowned. "That even possible?"
"It is," Dureena assured the young man. "It's saved our lives many times."
"What are doing here, Jonny?" the colonel asked, taking a step toward the teen.
Jonny shrugged. "Just looking around."
"We just woke up his family yesterday," Sheppard explained.
"You the son of Dr. Benton Quest." Matthew had seen pictures and filed it away under possible useful future information.
"My dad."
He turned and looked at Sheppard. "You have any idea what kind of bidding war this going to start?"
"No," he answered honestly. "But I'll let you explain it to General O'Neill."
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Benton had returned to their quarters after speaking with Colonel Sheppard. He hadn't forgotten the officer had helped locate his boys the first time they'd vanished during the conference in New York. His first after the death of his wife.
Jonny and Hadji had gotten bored with their history books and gone to listen to Dr. Jackson talk about ancient Egypt. The archeologist had brought them back to the room and given them a personal lesson while he and Race had listened.*Race later told him they'd aced their pop quiz.
"We've got visitors, Dad."
He turned from looking out over the city. "Visitors?"
"Yeah. Came from that big ship out there I guess." Bandit ran up to Jonny, his short tail wagging. His son scooped up the dog who licked his face.
"What do they want?"
"I don't know," Jonny answered with a shrug. "They went to talk to General O'Neill."
He hoped the discussion didn't leave the general in a bad mood. From what he understood, the various Earth colony governments only wanted certain people and the city. Both the general and the colonel had made it very clear they had to accept everyone still in stasis. Consequently, no agreement had been reached. From what he'd heard, there probably wouldn't be one.
"Were you exploring?" He couldn't blame his son. The city would be a huge temptation and offered numerous opportunities to get into trouble, which Jonny excelled at.
"Yeah. Hadji is meditating and Jessie wanted to read, so I went to look around." He put his dog down.
"What do you think?" He wanted to know what his son thought of the city.
"This place is huge." Jonny spread his arms. "I can't believe Marari worked here sometimes." He kicked the floor. "Wish she'd told us."
"She couldn't."
He peered up at his father, reminding Benton of the child he'd once been. "Did you find out if she's here?"
"She is. I'm just not certain when she'll be revived."
"Hope it's soon." His son smiled. "Want to play chess?"
"Set up the board."
Jonny set up the game. Benton treasured these rare moments. His son spent more and more time with his friends and less with his father. While it was a natural part of growing up, he missed the young boy who had shared so many adventures with him.
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"We'll see," General O'Neill repeated. "I'm considering Dr. Chambers request and I'll let her know."
"You realize every moment you delay, might cost billions of lives," Captain Gideon pushed.
"I'm well aware of what is at stake." It wasn't like the SGC hadn't saved the planet countless times before. Jack understood all too well what could happen if the plague killed everyone.
"They why the hesitance?"
O'Neill glanced at the other two people who had come with the captain. The techno mage, who looked constantly amused and the woman Dureena. She made him uneasy and he vaguely wondered what her expertise was. Sheppard stood near the door, keeping watch and he had no doubt would spring into action if needed.
"What I will do," O'Neill conceded. "Is talk to Doctors Keller and Becket. Tell them what you told me and see what their opinion is."
"Fair enough." At least he agreed and the general relaxed.
He saw Ronan came up the stairs and stand next to Sheppard. "Ronan, will you escort out guests back to their ship."
"Certainly. If you'll follow me."
"Hope to hear from soon, General." Gideon graciously gave in and the trio left with the dark skinned warrior.
"Colonel,"
"Yes, sir."
"Wake up the Phoenix group, we need them."
"Consider it done."
Seeing Sheppard's smile, he guessed at the reason. "Dr. Quest asked about her didn't he?"
"He did, General."
"Much as I hate to give that man anything," he stopped aware that a junior officer was present. "Our quarrel is between us. Carry out your orders."
"Is it okay to let Dr. Quest know?"
"Yeah. We might need his expertise."
*Author's note. Please see Say Goodbye to Yesterday to read the complete story on what happened during the NYC conference. It is a Jonny Quest/MacGyver 2016 crossover, with guest appearances for SGA, SG1, DS, Kindred and Ironman.