John walked into the infirmary, reminding himself once again that the link wasn't reacting with any spikes. Whatever had happened to McKay, it wasn't that serious, he told himself as he looked around the room.
Most of the beds were empty, so it didn't take John long to find Rodney lying in a bed against the nearby wall. The head of McKay's bed was raised, and Rodney appeared to be asleep. John pursed his lips when he saw the oxygen mask covering McKay's nose and mouth and the monitor beside the bed recording his vitals.
No bandages or casts, though, John thought to himself as he walked across the room.
Thompson stood from the chair next to another bed, and John gave him a distracted nod as he passed.
"Colonel Sheppard, sir," Thompson said, then paused to cough.
"Sergeant," John replied. He turned to Rodney's bed but stopped when Thompson kept coughing. "You all right?" he asked, turning to Thompson.
Thompson nodded and took a drink from the cup on the bedside table. "Yes, sir," he replied, and John thought Thompson's voice still sounded rough. Thompson took another sip from the cup and cleared his throat. "Sorry, sir. Doctor Cortes mentioned something about talking making the coughing worse. Guess she was right."
John glanced from Thompson to Rodney. "You were with McKay when the silo blew?"
"Sort of, sir," Thompson replied and focused on the door to the infirmary.
John's eyes narrowed as he stepped in front of Thompson. "Sort of? What does that mean?"
"Major Lorne had asked me to assist when Doctor McKay said he wanted to test something he called a cloaking shield using some of the Wraith stun rifles."
John glanced at Rodney in the other bed. "So what went wrong?"
"I'm not sure, sir. Everything seemed to work just fine at first. Doctor McKay wanted to do one last test where all three of us, Doctor McKay, Doctor Zelenka, and myself, fired at the cloaking shield thing simultaneously. That's when all hell broke loose."
"It blew up, you mean?"
"Not right away," Thompson said and took another drink. "The shield started glowing, and Doctor McKay said something about a feedback loop. I tried to get both of them to leave, but they were concerned about the naquadah generator destroying the city if it blew up too." Thompson paused and nodded at Rodney. "He ordered me to get Doctor Zelenka back to the control room while he stayed behind to deal with the generator."
John clenched his hands into fists behind his back. "Are you telling me you left a civilian behind in a life-threatening situation?" he asked, his tone deceptively calm.
"No, sir," Thompson replied, his posture and tone stiff. "I got Doctor Zelenka back to the transporter, waited until he was clear, then turned to head back for Doctor McKay. That's when …" Thompson paused.
"All hell broke loose," John finished for him.
Thompson nodded. "I found Doctor McKay about halfway between the transporter and the room he was using for his tests. He was kind of out of it when I got to him, though. Doctor Cortes said he had inhaled a lot of smoke." Thompson started coughing again and finished the water in the cup.
Now the full mask and the monitor made sense, John thought to himself. How bad is he? he wondered, rubbing the back of his head where the itch still tickled his skull. He glanced around the infirmary again but didn't see Carson or Doctor Cortes anywhere, only Sharon sitting at her desk against the wall, typing something into her computer.
"If there's nothing else, sir?" Thompson asked. "Major Lorne is expecting my report on what happened."
John stepped back. "Thanks for pulling him out of there," he said with a nod at Rodney.
"Don't mention it, sir," Thompson replied. "I'm just glad he's going to be okay."
John waited until Thompson left the infirmary, then walked over to Rodney's bed. "The whole reason I left you here was to keep you out of trouble," John said as he watched McKay sleep.
Teyla kidnapped. Rodney nearly blown up. Again. John pinched the bridge of his nose. Was it too soon to ask Elizabeth for another team vacation? he wondered and smiled at the memory of the four of them spending several days on a beach on the mainland.
The water had been too calm to try and teach Ronon and Teyla how to surf. But after taking the time to get McKay acclimated to the idea of being around water, he had managed to teach Rodney the rudiments of how to swim. By the end of their mini-vacation, Rodney had been able to tread water for several minutes and swim short distances alone.
"Colonel Sheppard?" a voice said.
John turned and saw Doctor Cortes walking toward him. She stopped on the side of the bed with the monitor and jotted something on the tablet computer in her hand.
"How's he doing?" John asked, dropping his hand.
"Better than he was when the fire team brought him and Sergeant Thompson here a few hours ago," Cortes said with a gentle smile. "His saturation levels are still low, but that's to be expected with how much smoke I suspect he inhaled."
"But he's going to be all right?" John asked.
Cortes nodded. "He should be. His initial chest x-ray showed inflammation of the lung tissues, but again, that's to be expected. Doctor Beckett will likely want to do another one in the morning to ensure we didn't miss anything." She glanced at the computer. "All of his blood work looks good. I'll keep him on the full mask until his saturation numbers increase. Assuming he continues to improve, we will probably release him sometime tomorrow."
"Thanks," John said, pulling over the chair Thompson had used.
"You're welcome, Colonel. Don't stay too long," Doctor Cortes added as she stepped back from the bed. "Rest is the best thing for him right now."
Cortes walked over to Sharon, said something John couldn't hear, and walked back into the office. John pushed the chair back until it balanced against the wall on the two rear legs and passed the time, either watching Rodney sleep or staring at the opposite wall as his mind spiralled back to Michael and the three dead Marines now lying in the morgue.
"Three more condolence letters," he muttered under his breath.
Writing letters to bereaved families was one of the few things John refused to delegate to Elizabeth or Lorne. The men who died were under his command. He needed to be the one to personally explain to the families what had happened to their loved ones. Make the apology for not keeping them alive.
John sat lost in thought until he felt something brush his sleeve. He looked down and saw Rodney watching him. The whites of McKay's eyes were red, and John frowned when Rodney reached up and pulled down the oxygen mask.
"Hey, you need to leave that alone," John admonished.
"What's wrong?" Rodney asked in a hoarse whisper.
"You have to ask?" John replied. He set the chair back on all four legs and sat forward with his arms braced on his knees.
Rodney shook his head. "Something else -" he started to ask. A loud, barking cough cut him off, and an alarm sounded from the monitor beside the bed.
John stood and tried to help as Rodney curled forward, coughing so hard his entire body shook.
"Colonel?" Sharon asked as she stopped beside the side of the bed with the monitor. She shut off the alarm and added to John, "Try to keep him more upright. It will help his breathing."
John nodded and wrapped his arm around Rodney's back as McKay continued to cough. Once the fit passed, Rodney lay against John's arm with his eyes closed, wheezing as he tried to catch his breath.
"Small sips," Sharon said as she handed John a glass of water.
John took the cup of water and nudged Rodney. "Water," he said and held up the cup.
Rodney opened his eyes, reaching for the glass.
"Got it?" John asked as he let go of the cup.
Rodney nodded, took a few sips, and handed back the empty glass. "Thanks," he croaked and lay back in the bed with his eyes closed.
"You need to leave the mask in place," Sharon said as she placed the mask back over Rodney's nose and mouth and checked the monitor. She studied the screen for several seconds, made a few notes, and gave John a significant look as she walked back to her desk.
John nodded in reply. "Hey," he said and tapped Rodney's arm. He waited until Rodney opened his eyes and continued, "I need to go, but I'll be back in the morning. Doctor Cortes says she'll probably release you sometime tomorrow if you behave."
Rodney tried to glare, but the mask ruined the effect. John squeezed his arm and smiled, then left the infirmary.
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
John woke early the next morning and lay in bed with one arm over his eyes. After he had left Rodney the day before, he had spent the evening writing condolence letters and reviewing security procedures with Lorne. There was no denying their entire containment plan had gone sideways once Michael knew the truth about the retrovirus. Beckett, however, was determined to make the retrovirus work, which meant there was going to be another test subject sometime in the future.
"And won't that be fun," John said to himself.
He lay, staring up at the ceiling for a few more minutes, then blew out a breath and climbed out of bed. It was too early to meet Ronon and Teyla for breakfast, and he wasn't sure when Beckett or Cortes planned to release McKay.
"May as well go for a run," he muttered, digging a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt out of a drawer. "Clear your head."
He dressed and headed for the transporter. At that early hour, there was no one about. John stopped next to one of the windows and looked out at the morning sunlight painting the surrounding towers in soft pinks and yellows. The destroyed silo was out of sight on the other side of the city, and the water lapping against the pier far below had no idea the city was again under threat from the Wraith.
It seemed so calm, so peaceful, John thought to himself, watching the sunlight dance on the water.
Michael had had three days in the city once Beckett released him from the isolation room. What information had he been able to pick up in that time? John wondered as he watched the morning light shimmer on the water. How long before the Wraith tried to attack them again?
John heard voices in the hallway behind him and turned away from the window. A man and a woman dressed in tan uniform trousers and short-sleeved blue shirts nodded as they walked past him. John waited until the two scientists disappeared down a different hallway, then turned down the corridor and tapped the sensor for the transporter.
He was on his third lap around the lower decks of the city when Beckett paged him over the radio.
"This is Sheppard," John replied and leaned against the wall with his hands braced on his knees.
"You'll be happy to hear Rodney is doing much better this morning," Carson replied. "His saturation numbers have stabilised, and as long as he takes things slow for the next little while, I'm willing to release him."
"Thanks, Carson," John said. "I'll get cleaned up and bring him some clothes."
John walked into the infirmary thirty minutes later, carrying a bag with Rodney's uniform trousers and a black t-shirt in one hand.
"I thought you were letting me out of here," John heard Rodney grumble as the infirmary door slid closed behind him. The sentence ended on a strangled note as Rodney started coughing.
"The more you talk, the more you're going to cough," Carson replied.
Rodney scowled, but John noted he also pressed his lips together as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'm sure Colonel Sheppard will be here soon," Beckett finished.
"Colonel Sheppard is here now," John said. He walked across the room and dropped the carryall on the end of Rodney's bed.
"About time," Rodney retorted, his voice husky. He grabbed the bag, hopped off the bed, and disappeared into the tiny bathroom.
"You're sure he's all right?" John asked Carson. "He still sounds kinda rough."
"There's not much more I can do for him here," Carson replied. "As long as he doesn't over-exert himself, he shouldn't have much trouble." He glanced at the door where Rodney had disappeared, then back at John. "Unless …" He let the question hang between them.
John shook his head. "I'm not getting anything through the link," he replied.
Carson nodded and stepped back. "Even though there doesn't appear to be any permanent damage, there's still some inflammation in his lungs and throat. He's going to be a little croaky, and he will tire easily, whether he will admit it or not. Make sure he doesn't try to do too much."
"Will do," John said as Rodney walked over to the bed, sat in the chair, and pulled on his boots.
Carson gave John one last pointed glance, waited for John to nod in reply, then walked back to his office.
"Ready to go?" John asked, glancing down at Rodney, tying his shoes.
"More than ready," Rodney replied, then covered his mouth as he started to cough.
John waited until Rodney caught his breath, then said, "Ronon and Teyla are meeting us in the mess hall."
"I could eat," Rodney replied.
John smiled and led the way out of the infirmary and back to the transporter.
The morning breakfast rush was in full swing when John and Rodney walked into the mess hall a few minutes later and joined the end of the mess line. John filled his plate, waited for Rodney to pour himself a cup of coffee, and led the way across the room to a table near the windows where Ronon and Teyla sat waiting for them.
"Colonel, good morning," Teyla greeted. "Rodney, I am pleased to see Doctor Beckett released you from the infirmary."
"Umm, thanks," Rodney replied and nodded to the bandages around her wrists. "What happened?" he asked.
Teyla glanced at John. "You did not tell him?"
"Tell me what?" Rodney croaked.
"Don't talk so much," John admonished. "You'll just make your throat worse."
Rodney glared, but John noted he didn't try to argue and settled for eating his breakfast.
"Michael escaped," Ronon said before John or Teyla could say anything. "Tried to feed on Teyla first, though."
"What?" Rodney exclaimed and promptly started coughing.
"What did I tell you?" John said. He glanced across the table at Teyla and jerked his chin toward the pitchers of water on the table near the coffee carafes.
"I will be right back," Teyla said. She stood and walked back to the mess line.
Rodney got the fit under control and wiped his streaming eyes with his napkin.
"Rodney, are you certain you are all right?" Teyla asked, handing Rodney a glass of water.
"He's fine," John replied as Rodney sipped from the glass. "Mostly."
Rodney drank half of the water, then set the glass on the table. "I knew something was bothering you last night," he said to John in a hoarse whisper. "What happened?"
John pushed his half-full plate away and grasped his coffee cup, staring out the window behind Teyla and Ronon. "The retrovirus didn't work," John said, and with a quick glance at Teyla, explained everything that happened with Michael once they were at the alpha site.
John finished talking and frowned when he noticed Rodney toying with the last of his eggs. "What?"
Rodney glanced at him, then back down at his plate. "Was it …" He paused and glanced at John. "I met him here the other day. He saw the Wraith schematics on my computer."
He stopped speaking, and John saw Rodney's guilty expression.
"He knew what the schematics were for," Rodney continued. "I tried to come up with a reasonable explanation for why he would understand the Wraith language. Maybe that, umm, maybe that triggered something?" Rodney reached from the water glass and took a few swallows.
John gave him a crooked smile. "Pretty sure Michael figuring out the truth had nothing to do with your meeting or some drawings on a computer."
Rodney finished the water, and John could tell McKay wasn't convinced. Before he could say anything else, he was interrupted by the radio.
"Weir to Colonel Sheppard."
John tapped his earpiece. "Sheppard."
"Colonel, I understand Rodney was released from the infirmary?"
"Yep, he's with me now." John glanced at Rodney, who gave him a puzzled frown. "We're just finishing up breakfast."
"In that case, we need to discuss what to do now that Michael has escaped. Have your team in the conference room in fifteen minutes."
"Understood," John replied. He tapped off the radio and picked up his fork.
"Colonel?" Teyla asked.
"Elizabeth wants to meet in fifteen minutes," John replied. He pulled his plate closer and stabbed at the cooling eggs.
John walked into the conference room ten minutes later and found Beckett already seated at the table. "Carson," John greeted.
"Colonel," Carson replied. "Teyla, how are your wrists?" he asked as Teyla, Ronon, and Rodney followed John into the room.
"A little stiff, but otherwise, I am well," Teyla said.
"Good, good." He gave Teyla a tiny smile, then focused on the file folder on the table in front of him.
Elizabeth entered the conference room, and the doors twisted closed behind her. "You all know why we're here?" she said as she walked around the table.
"Your experiment didn't work," Ronon said, crossing his arms over his chest as he sat on the table's edge.
John saw Carson flinch at the bald statement, and Elizabeth frowned.
"Ronon," Elizabeth admonished. Before she could say anything else, Carson held up the folder.
"I've been reviewing the data I managed to gather while Michael was with us. I'm still convinced there's a way to make the retrovirus work."
"Is it wise to continue down this path?" Teyla asked. "I am not sure we should try again after seeing how Michael reacted."
"We have to do something to help them," Carson argued. "Michael is proof that the Wraith are still human. They have been adversely affected by foreign DNA."
Ronon shook his head, and Carson started to speak, but Elizabeth held up her hand.
"That's a problem for another day," Elizabeth said. She glanced around the room and, after another moment, turned to Beckett. "Were you able to administer any more of the retrovirus before Michael escaped?"
Carson shook his head. "I was still calibrating the new dosage when one of the Marines told me Michael had slipped his restraints and was holding Teyla hostage."
Teyla crossed her arms over her chest and refused to look at anyone.
"Teyla?" John asked. He studied her closed body language and had a sudden bad feeling. "Michael didn't just work himself free. Did he?"
Teyla glanced at him and sighed. "No. He did not." She rubbed the bandage covering one of her wrists. "Michael was able to enter my mind. He took control and …" She took a deep breath. "I released the restraints."
Elizabeth hissed in a breath. At the same time, John heard Ronon growl low in his throat.
"This is bad," Rodney said. "Very, very bad."
"McKay," John admonished.
"What?" Rodney retorted and started coughing.
John looked around but didn't see any water handy.
"Don't you get it?" Rodney wheezed once he stopped coughing. "If Michael was still able to communicate telepathically even when he looked human, what other Wraith traits were retained?"
"Oh. That is something I hadn't considered," Carson murmured.
"Carson?" Elizabeth asked.
"If Rodney is correct, it's possible the accelerated Wraith healing ability was able to break down the retrovirus much faster than I anticipated. It would explain why Michael reverted so quickly."
"When the Wraith captured Michael, he had completely transformed back into a Wraith?" Elizabeth asked, glancing at John.
"Not completely, but well on his way," John replied.
"And unfortunately, his memory of what we did to him remained intact," Teyla added. She glanced from John to Elizabeth. "They will send another wave of hive ships to attack the city."
"Probably already on their way," Ronon said.
John silently agreed.
"And this time, I'm guessing they're not going to fall for the whole invisibility trick," Rodney added, rubbing his head.
Elizabeth clasped her hands together. "Which is why we're here. We need to come up with a new defence plan."
"We're going to need more firepower," John said.
"Or a better shield," Rodney replied with a raspy sigh. "I'll start a search of the Ancient database. Maybe I can find something in there we can use."
"Our next dial-in to Earth is in a few days," Elizabeth said. "I'll inform General Landry what's happened and request the Daedalus be reassigned to the Pegasus galaxy for the time being." She glanced at John. "We're also going to need a new alpha site."
"I'll talk to Lorne," John replied. "We'll work up a schedule for teams to start scouting planets."
"My people can assist with any exploration," Teyla offered.
"Good," Elizabeth replied. "Anything else?"
"I need to inform Halling and the others what has happened," Teyla said. "If the Wraith are planning a new attack, my people need to be ready to evacuate."
"Agreed," Elizabeth said.
"If we're done here," John offered, with a glance at Elizabeth, "I can fly you out to the mainland."
"Thank you, Colonel," Teyla replied.
"All right," Elizabeth said. "We don't know how much time we have, so let's get started."
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
Rodney hung back as the meeting broke up, and the others left the conference room. He had seen the reproving looks Carson had been giving him during the meeting, but he didn't have the time or energy for a fight at the moment.
"How are you feeling?" Carson asked as he removed the oxygen mask.
Rodney tried to take a deep breath and ended up coughing instead. "How do you think I feel?" he croaked once he had the fit under control. Carson pursed his lips, and Rodney relented. "I have a headache, and it feels like a jumper is sitting on my chest." He paused to cough again. "And I can't say two words without coughing."
"That's all to be expected," Carson replied. "Looking at your x-rays this morning, there is still some minor inflammation of your lungs. It's nothing too serious, but your chest is going to feel tight until it clears up."
"Lovely," Rodney muttered.
Carson studied him for a moment, then added, "You were lucky Sergeant Thompson found you when he did."
Rodney grunted. He lay back in the bed and stared at the wall. "So, how long before the lung cancer starts?"
Carson smiled and patted Rodney's leg. "I don't think that's anything you need to worry about. Assuming, of course, you don't make it a habit of getting caught in any more exploding buildings. Still …" He paused, and Rodney looked up at him. "Your body is recovering from a serious trauma. What you need most is rest," Carson told him. "I plan to inform Colonel Sheppard and Elizabeth that you are not cleared for any 'gate travel until the end of the week."
Rest, Rodney grumbled to himself as he stood against the railing outside the conference room and watched as Ronon left the control room without a word or a backward glance. Like that's an option. Wasn't Carson listening? The Wraith were coming for them. He needed to be finding a new way to ensure they all survived the attack, not coughing every three seconds or sleeping. He looked down at the stargate, paying little attention to the conversations swirling around him as the others left the conference room.
"Colonel, I need to stop in my quarters for a moment. I will meet you in the jumper bay." Teyla said.
"No problem," Sheppard replied. "I'll go get the jumper ready."
Teyla nodded and left the control room while Sheppard headed for the stairs behind the control consoles.
"We need to start a search through the database for a new alpha site," Elizabeth said, stopping in front of Chuck.
"Yes, ma'am," Chuck replied. He pressed a few tiles on the console and looked up at Weir. "I can start a team on the search and have a preliminary list ready by tomorrow."
"Good," Elizabeth said and walked across the bridge to her office.
"Elizabeth?" Carson said as he followed her. "A word, if I might?"
Elizabeth nodded, and Carson followed her into the glassed-in office and closed the door.
Chuck glanced at Rodney with a raised eyebrow, but Rodney ignored him as he stared down at the stargate, lost in thought.
So what's your grand plan, now? Rodney asked himself, rubbing his forehead. Carson's retrovirus didn't work. The cloaking shield idea didn't work. The Wraith are going to come back. Rodney glanced at the glassed-in office. They are all counting on you to come up with another last-minute save.
"Which you don't have," Rodney muttered under his breath.
"Sir?" Chuck asked from the console. "Did you say something?"
"No," Rodney replied shortly. He pushed off the railing and left the control room.
His initial plan was to head down to his lab. If Sheppard wanted some sort of weapon to fight the Wraith, Rodney knew he was the one who would have to build it. Once inside the transporter, however, he changed his mind and tapped the north pier on the map.
Rodney stepped out of the transporter a moment later and zipped his uniform jacket as a cool breeze blew in from the broken windows. He walked down the right-hand hallway, dodging pieces of twisted metal from the damaged ceiling and walls. He stopped short when he saw two Marines standing in front of the mangled remains of the double doors leading into the silo.
One of the Marines stepped forward with his hand raised. "Sir? Is there something we can help you with?"
Rodney shook his head. "I'll just be a minute," he replied and stepped around the Marine.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, sir." The Marine shook his head. "Major Lorne left orders -"
The Marine tried to step in front of Rodney again, but Rodney slipped around him. "What happened to the doors?" he asked. He ran his hand over the twisted and bent metal and tried to ignore the second Marine watching him. "Some of this damage wasn't caused by the explosion."
"Umm, no, sir," the second Marine said. "The fire crews had to force the doors open to get inside and put out the fire."
Rodney grunted and stepped into what remained of the silo. He had no idea how the Ancients had originally used the room. He had chosen it for its size and the fact that it was far from the more populated sections of the city.
The walls were blackened with soot and pockmarked where the metal was missing. The floor was a mass of debris, and Rodney saw the outline of the blast radius highlighted in the scorch marks in the middle of the room. The smell of damp ash and smoke caught in his throat, causing him to cough.
"You really shouldn't be here, sir," the first Marine said, following him into the room. "It's not safe."
Rodney ignored the warning and took a few more steps into the room. "I just need to see if there's anything worth salvaging," he croaked.
He froze when a damaged girder in the ceiling creaked. A moment later, a piece of the ceiling crashed to the floor a meter away from him, and Rodney instinctively ducked.
Maybe it's not a good idea to be here, Rodney said to himself, stifling another cough as the dust and ash settled. On the other hand, he needed to see the fallout from the emitter test for himself, he told himself as he straightened with a wary glance at the gaping hole in the ceiling.
"At least it wasn't as bad as Doranda," he muttered. He studied the hole and tried not to shudder at the memory of his failed attempt to finish the Arcturus weapon.
The Marine tugged on his arm, but Rodney shook off the hold. "I won't be long," he said, looking over at the Marine. He waited until the Marine sighed and stepped back, then turned and studied the rest of the room.
Sunlight shone down into the room from the hole in the ceiling, providing plenty of light. Rodney skirted around the blocks of stone littering the floor as he walked around the room. The metal crates stacked in the middle of the room had been reduced to slag. The remains of the mainframe computer he'd designed to run the cloaking shield generator and the emitters was a hollowed-out shell of melted metal and computer components.
He spotted one of the emitters poking out from under a metal girder and knelt, pushing aside the chunk of metal. The tripod was little more than pieces of thin twisted metal, and the outer shell of the emitter was mostly gone. However, a few of the interior components were still intact. Rodney pulled out the charred remains of the mini transformer he had designed and bounced it in his hand.
"What happened to the naquadah generator?" he asked the Marine standing behind him, then stood and walked over to the blackened shell of the mainframe.
"Sergeant Thompson found it," the Marine replied. "I think he gave it to Doctor Zelenka."
Rodney nodded and turned in a slow circle. The building was pretty much a total loss. They didn't have the resources or manpower to try and repair it, especially if the Wraith were heading their way. He kicked one of the metal lumps in the middle of the room as he walked across the room to the door. He nodded to the Marines as he left the silo and walked back to the transporter, turning the mini transformer over in his hand.
A few minutes later, he walked into his lab, set the transformer on the end of the work table and sat on the stool, at a bit of a loss as to what to do next.
"What did Radek do with the computers from the emitter tests?" he wondered, glancing around the lab. The laptops weren't on the work table or his desk. "Probably kept them so he could analyse the data himself and tell me what went wrong," he uncharitably grumbled.
They still needed something if they were going to survive the next onslaught, he told himself and reached for his computer.
He booted up the computer and logged into the translation program for the Ancient database.
Sheppard said they needed more firepower, Rodney thought to himself. So what were their options? They had drones now, thanks to Sheppard's trade with the people from the tower.
"It won't be enough," Rodney muttered to himself. "There are always more Wraith. And now that we know the retrovirus won't work either …" He sat back on the stool and crossed his arms over his chest.
There was one other option, he realised. Something the Ancients had designed specifically to defend the city from the Wraith. "The problem will be convincing Sheppard and Elizabeth it's worth the risk," he muttered.
Rodney pulled up the information on the mental link he and Radek had recently found, searching for anything he could find about the Entry Rooms he and Sheppard had discovered the previous year. He found a few entries that talked about the various components inside the environ and what they were for and scooted forward on the stool.
"Now we're getting somewhere," he said as he read the first entry he found, then pulled up several more. He was busy skimming the documents when the door to the lab opened, and Sheppard walked in carrying two cups of coffee.
"I thought you were taking Teyla to the mainland," Rodney said, taking the cup Sheppard held out to him. "Thanks."
John shook his head and leant against the work table, sipping from his cup. "That was almost three hours ago."
Rodney glanced at his watch. "Oh. Lost track of time, I guess," he muttered and stifled the tickle in his throat.
"Lorne radioed me a little while ago," John said with a sideways glance at Rodney. "He wanted me to know about a report from the Marines over at your silo."
"Mmm," Rodney replied. He took a sip from the cup and focused on the computer.
"Want to explain what was so important you ignored the Marines telling you the area wasn't safe?"
Rodney sighed and looked up from the computer. "I wanted to see what was left of the emitters." He cleared his throat and pointed to the transformer on the end of the work table. "Needless to say, there wasn't much." Rodney glanced at John, then shrugged and focused on his hands resting next to the computer.
"What?" John asked.
"I just … I wish you could have seen it," Rodney replied with a wistful smile. "It worked! The crates were cloaked, but the shield held when Thompson shot at it with the stun rifle. My idea worked."
"Until it blew up," John said with a frown.
"That's not the point," Rodney started to say.
"Kind of seems like the point to me," John countered.
"You don't understand," Rodney replied, rubbing his forehead. "I proved it could be possible. Just, you know," he dropped his hand and glanced at Sheppard, "maybe not right now."
John shook his head and took a drink from his cup. "So what's all of this?" he asked, glancing at the computer.
Now or never, Rodney said to himself. He took a deep breath and tried not to cough as he sat back on the stool. "You said in the meeting we needed more firepower."
"Yeah," John drawled, shifting against the table's edge.
Rodney gave him a sideways glance. "You know there are the systems the Ancients designed to deal with problems like this. I've been doing some research -"
"No," John said, his expression stony. "We've been over this. The Entry Rooms are too dangerous."
"But -"
"I said no," John growled, holding up his hand. "We'll figure something else out."
"We don't have a lot of options here." Rodney flung out his hands and scowled, but the effect was ruined by a raspy wheeze. "If you've got a better idea, I'm listening."
"We'll think of something," John countered. "Something that doesn't involve using technology way beyond either of us."
Rodney held his indigent pose for a moment longer, then picked up his cup. It had been a longshot at best, he told himself as he swallowed some of the coffee.
"You said you've been doing research," John said after a short silence. "Does that mean your little dive into the Ancient database with Zelenka worked?"
Rodney grimaced as he sat forward on the stool. "Sort of. There's more here than what we found before, but not a lot."
John turned around and bent forward with his forearms braced on the work table. "Such as?"
Rodney hesitated, and John stood straight. "Spit it out. What did you find?"
Rodney blew out a breath and typed a command string into the computer. He hit the enter key and turned the laptop so John could see the screen. "I, umm, I wanted to know if what Zelenka found in that diary about bonded individuals communicating telepathically was true for everyone or just the two people in the book."
John gave him a startled glance. "And?" he asked.
"I found this." Rodney pointed at the screen. He watched as John read the entry in the medical log. "I was going to tell you about it, but then everything with Michael happened."
John studied the screen for several seconds, then stood straight. "So it is true," he said.
"So it would seem." Rodney crossed one arm over his chest and used his free hand to rub his forehead.
"Who else knows about this?"
"No one," Rodney replied. He dropped his hand and looked at John. "Who knows? Maybe it will never happen with us. It's not like we're following the Ancient's usual rule book here. Besides, Cadman was bad enough, and no offence, but I'm not sure I'm ready to have someone else in my head all the time."
"I guess I can understand that," John replied. He turned and leant his back against the table.
Rodney snorted. "Somehow, I doubt that."
"Hey," John said with a frown. "It wasn't that long ago I had someone take over my mind and body. I think I understand a little better now what you went through with Cadman."
Rodney heard the unease underlying John's casual tone and nodded. "I guess that's true." He looked up at John and added, "Umm, sorry."
John waved off the apology and grinned. "I guess I should be grateful you're still a pitiful shot, though."
Rodney swallowed hard at the memory of nearly shooting John once Thalan took over Sheppard's body. "About that -"
"Don't worry about it," John replied. "Your instincts were good even if your aim wasn't."
"Oh ha-ha," Rodney retorted. He paused and stared down at his hands. "Still, that whole thing was creepy, not to mention weird."
"You're telling me!"
"No," Rodney replied and shook his head. "I mean, yes, it was weird that it was you but not you pointing a stun weapon at me. No, I meant with the link."
"Oh? You never mentioned anything about the link after …"
"Of course not," Rodney said and covered another cough. "There was never a good time. Once you and Elizabeth woke up in the infirmary, Caldwell was right there. Then there was everything with capturing Michael for Beckett, not to mention the Genii stirring up trouble. It all stopped once Thalan … left, I guess is the best way to put it, so I just, umm, never brought it up."
John cocked his head to one side and nodded. "Okay. So, tell me now."
Rodney reached out for the computer. "The link was still there," he said, never looking at John, "but it felt … weird."
"Weird, how?"
Rodney pursed his lips as he tried to find the words to explain how the link changed once Thalan took over Sheppard's body. "Usually, if the link is reacting to something, it feels like a-a sort of tickle at the base of my skull."
John nodded. "Right. So what happened when Thalen took over."
"It, umm, it felt more like a low-level electrical shock buzzing in my head the whole time." Rodney glanced at John. "Let's just say it was not a pleasant feeling."
"Sorry about that."
Rodney shrugged. "Not your fault." He picked up a spare crystal sitting on the work table and twisted it through his fingers. "You didn't, umm, you didn't get a similar feeling when Cadman was inside my head?"
"Not really, no," John replied. "There was a spike when you had the seizure. The rest of the time, it was just the itch. There was never anything like what you're describing."
"Lucky you," Rodney grumbled.
"Maybe it was because Cadman wasn't really malevolent."
Rodney snorted.
"You know what I mean," John said. "Cadman might have wanted some control, but she would never have hurt you or anyone else."
Rodney thought back to the moment in the infirmary when Carson admitted he couldn't help them and one of them would have to let go. Cadman had been willing to sacrifice herself, Rodney reminded himself.
"Maybe," Rodney grudgingly admitted.
"Come on," John cajoled and stepped back from the work table. "You look like you need a break. You aren't going to find a solution searching through the database for some sort of lost Ancient fail-safe."
Rodney started to stand, then froze as Sheppard's words sank in. He stared at John for several seconds, then snapped his fingers several times.
"That's it!" Rodney exclaimed. He sat and pulled the computer toward him.
"Rodney?" John asked, walking back to the work table.
"You are such an idiot," Rodney muttered as he furiously typed a series of commands into the computer.
"What are you doing?"
"Fail-safes," Rodney said with a distracted glance at John. "We forgot about one of the Ancient's fail-safes."
John stopped at the end of the table. "Fail sa -"
"Power," Rodney interrupted. "That's always been our biggest problem. The need for more power. More power means a stronger shield. With more power, the drones would be more effective too."
"That's all well and good, but we only have the one ZPM."
"We only have one right now," Rodney replied. He finished typing and hit the enter key. "But what if we had more than one?"
"Where would …" John stopped and snapped his fingers. "The list of 'gate addresses the other Elizabeth gave us."
"Exactly," Rodney replied, pointing at the screen. "One of the Ancients' last fail-safes to protect the city. Grodin was still researching the other planets on the list when he …"
Rodney paused as the memory of the Wraith blowing up the weapons platform rose in his mind. He shook his head and continued, "After Colonel Everett brought us the Zed-PM the SGC found on Earth, we never bothered to check those last two planets on the list."
"So there could still be a couple of ZPMs out there?" John said.
"Yes," Rodney replied. "We need to talk to Elizabeth." He picked up the computer and turned toward the door.
"You want to do this now?" John asked.
"Did you have something better to do?" Rodney asked with an impatient glare. "In case you've forgotten, the Wraith must know we're here by now. They aren't going to wait very long before -" He started coughing and set the computer on the desk.
"And in case you've forgotten," John replied. "You were nearly blown up yesterday. You're supposed to be taking things easy. Beckett hasn't even cleared you for 'gate travel yet."
Rodney waved off John's statement and picked up the computer. "There's no time," he croaked. "You wanted ideas. This is the best one I've got."
John studied Rodney for a moment and shook his head. "Fine," he said and motioned toward the door. "We'll go see Elizabeth."
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
Elizabeth glanced up from her computer and saw Sheppard and Rodney striding across the bridge from the control room to her office.
"Colonel?" Elizabeth said as Sheppard stopped and tapped on the doorframe.
Rodney entered the office and set the computer in his hand on the edge of the desk. "We might have a plan," he said and sat in one of the chairs in front of Elizabeth's desk.
Elizabeth heard the rasp in Rodney's voice and frowned. "Plan?" She waved Sheppard into the office and turned to Rodney. "What sort of plan?" she asked as John sat in the chair next to McKay.
"If we want to actually defend the city," Rodney explained, "We need more power. The shield. The control chair. The drones. Never mind the sensors and diagnostic equipment. All of that takes energy."
"We have a ZPM -"
"We have one Zed-PM," Rodney interrupted and covered his mouth as he coughed.
Elizabeth saw Sheppard frown as Rodney caught his breath and sat forward in his chair.
"Atlantis was designed to use multiple Zed-PMs," Rodney said. "If we had more than one, we'd have a much better chance of defending ourselves when the Wraith arrive."
"All right. Where do you propose we get these other ZPMs?"
"You already gave us that answer," Rodney replied, turning the computer around so Elizabeth could see the screen. "Well, the other you gave us the answer. We've never searched the last two planets on that list of 'gate addresses the alternate reality version of you gave us last year."
"I take it you want to do that now," Elizabeth said.
"Yes," Rodney replied. "Grodin didn't get very far with his research of the last two planets, but we do know both are, or at least were, inhabited."
Elizabeth pursed her lips. "The search for a new alpha site is the priority -"
"I thought finding a way to save Atlantis was the priority," Rodney retorted.
Elizabeth frowned as she studied the computer screen. "Colonel? What do you think?" she asked, glancing up at Sheppard.
Sheppard shifted in his chair, and Elizabeth caught the worried glance Sheppard gave Rodney as McKay took a wheezy breath. "I think it's worth considering."
"Thanks for that resounding show of support," Rodney grumbled and coughed again.
"Ronon, Teyla, and I could -" Sheppard started to say but was interrupted.
"No," Rodney said with a scowl.
"Rodney," Sheppard drawled, leaning forward in his seat. "We've been over this. Carson hasn't cleared you -"
"You aren't going to find anything without my help," Rodney countered.
Sheppard started to argue, but Elizabeth raised a hand. Sheppard closed his mouth and sat back in his chair.
"All right," Elizabeth said, resting her arms on the desk. She glanced from Rodney to Sheppard. "Rodney, finish Peter's research and come back to me when you've chosen one of the planets. I'll have Chuck send one of the MALPs to record data for a day -"
"A day?" Rodney exclaimed.
Elizabeth heard the rasp in Rodney's voice and understood Sheppard's concern.
"We need to do this now," Rodney continued. "Who knows how long it will take us to find the Zed-PM once we get there."
"A day," Elizabeth replied. "You said yourself, these planets are inhabited. We don't need any more surprises like what happened on Mendar."
"Fine," Rodney replied and stood. "I'll review the data and give Chuck the coordinates for the best candidate."
Rodney picked up the computer and left the office without a backward glance.
"Nice move with the MALP," Sheppard said as he stood.
Elizabeth sat back in her chair with a smile. "Thank you. I only bought you a couple of days. Once we have the data back, we both know he will want to leave immediately."
"I'll take it," Sheppard replied and glanced at the hallway where Rodney had disappeared. "I just hope it's worth it." He nodded to Elizabeth and left the office.
"So do I," Elizabeth said once she was alone.