"Who are you working for?" John asked again, loosing patience. "Work with me Huntley and you'll be spared justice Atlantis style."
"We both know you can't do anything to me. You can't prove I've done anything."
"Dr Keller has identified you as the one who attacked her." John pointed out.
"Her word against mine."
"Why would she lie?"
"She's mistaken, or she is worried by my success or she has been taken over by some alien entity. No too clichéd. But while we're working down that list how about jealousy? She thought I was making a move on McKay, or you or, I know, Ronon." Huntley smiled.
"And your fingerprints on the air filter were part of her elaborate plan to frame you?" John asked, smiling when he noticed the surprise on Huntley's face. "That's right, we found the filter and the canister with the nanites. We also have you leaving the armoury an hour before Dr Keller's quarters were blown up with Semtex stolen from the stores. We have enough to convict you in both Galaxies. So who are you working for?" When John was again met by silence he changed his line of questioning. "Fine we'll leave that one. What are the nanites programmed to do?" When he was again met by a stony silence he said. "We will find out and there are three ways that will happen. One Rodney cracks the code, two you tell me or three we test it out on a live subject. Want to guess who that subject is?"
"You wouldn't." Huntley replied.
"You sure about that? I've done worse. So has Ronon." John countered before changing his line of questioning again. "How about this one, why not just kill Dr Keller? Why knock her out, drag her through the ventilation system and tie her up, then try to blow her up? Why not just kill her?"
"I'm thought I had killed her. I didn't think she'd survive the blow. But I hit her as I panicked, not because I wanted her dead. When I realised she wasn't dead I couldn't kill her, I'm not a killer." Huntley explained.
"So instead you dragged her down a shaft, where you knew the sensors wouldn't work and left her to die?" John asked angrily.
"What choice did I have? I couldn't risk getting caught."
"Where does blowing her up feature on your no killing mentality?" John questioned.
"I had my orders."
"From who?" John asked, concerned she had received orders whilst on board. As Huntley remained silent Caldwell entered the small temporary interrogation room.
"Sheppard this is too slow." The Colonel greeted. "We are nearly at Atlantis. You have permission to proceed with your backup plan."
"You sure?" John asked.
"Don't go soft on me now Colonel." Caldwell replied. "Dr McKay has set up a completely isolated room. When Huntley is relocated there you can release the canister with the nanites."
"I know you're bluffing." Huntley said calmly.
"Dr Huntley," Caldwell said. "Your file indicated you have never been to Atlantis."
"So?"
"So, there is a lot you don't understand, things operate a little differently over there. Didn't your Trust friends tell you what happened last time they tried something big? No? Let me fill you in. Permission was given to have Dr Kavanagh tortured by Ronon, which ended with the scientist unconscious on the interrogation room floor." Sensing he had her attention he went on. "I won't even tell you what happened to me. Needless to say over here, out of the reach of the IOA, different rules apply. Right now my sole concern is the protection of this ship and Atlantis and I will do anything to achieve my goals, including endorsing Colonel Sheppard's science experiment." He paused as he walked round behind her. "I'll admit I had my doubts, not about subjecting you to the nanites, but whether we'd learn anything. You see I was thinking that what ever you were doing on board the Daedalus would affect you too. So why would you worry if we gave you the nanites. Then Dr McKay suggested an intriguing hypothesis, that the nanites here had different programmes to those for Atlantis. And you're not due to stay on Atlantis are you? So while you may have been prepared to get infected with the nanites destined for the Daedalus, you probably aren't for the Atlantis bound ones." He walked round to Sheppard and added. "Then again maybe Dr McKay is wrong. I guess we'll find out soon enough." With that he nodded to two marines who stepped forward and grabbed Huntley by her elbows, pulling her to her feet.
"You're bluffing." She said, sounding less sure than before as she was led from the room, Caldwell and Sheppard following behind.
When the group reached a cargo hold the marines paused briefly to open the doors before pulling Huntley inside. Once inside she saw a small room and McKay, who was frantically typing away.
"Are you ready Dr McKay?" Caldwell asked.
"I think so."
"Think so or know so?" Caldwell asked. "I want you to be damn sure the nanites can not escape."
"I'm sure." McKay insisted. "That room is completely sealed and surrounded by a nanite proof forcefield. If the worse did happen, we press that button," he paused and pointed to button to the side of the room, "and everything inside gets incinerated, including the nanites."
"Shouldn't it be a big red button?" John asked.
"Working to a really tight timescale here. Next time I'll stop what I'm doing and run out to Radio Shack and get a big red button for you." McKay sniped.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Caldwell cut in impatiently.
"I'm sure."
"Good." The full Colonel said turning to Huntley. "This is your final chance. Are you ready to cooperate?"
"You're bluffing." Huntley said.
"I'll take that as a no. Seal her in." Caldwell ordered just as Jennifer stormed into the cargo bay.
"Tell me you're not doing this." Jennifer demanded.
"It's the only way." John shrugged.
"It is completely unethical."
"Huntley tried to kill you, twice." John pointed out.
"Does that mean we should stoop to her level?"
"Doctor." Caldwell said calmly. "We are not clear what her endgame is. It could well be the destruction of Atlantis. Far more lives are at stake than Huntley's."
"So that's it? Out with morals and ethics? Why not feed her to the Wraith while we're at it in exchange for a meal with Todd?"
"Doc-" John started only for Caldwell to interrupt.
"Doctor, I understand why you feel uncomfortable with this, which is why we have kept you out of the loop. However, I am in charge and I have ordered this course of action. We will infect Huntley regardless of your opinion."
"You can't do this." Jennifer protested.
"Ronon, please escort Dr Keller to her quarters." Caldwell ordered.
The former runner looked to John who nodded causing Ronon to tug the still complaining doctor to the door.
When the din had finally silenced Caldwell looked at the marines and a pale Huntley ordering. "Seal the door."
The door was an inch away from being shut when Huntley cried.
"Wait, I'll talk."