The Prophecy

Chapter 11

"Rodney, your half hour is up. Time to go. You can come back tomorrow." Dr. Beckett approached McKay from behind, careful not to startle him.

"Okay. But there is something I need from you doctor. Can you run a test on Major Sheppard's ATA gene?" McKay got up and turned around.

"Sure, I can. But why?" Dr. Beckett was confused.

"Didn't you hear? All the Ancient technology went haywire this afternoon shortly after the rescue mission came back. There is nothing that would explain your gene or mine to cause any of that. So could you do me a favour and run a check and see whether there is everything as it should be."

"Of course. If something related to the ATA gene has changed, that is of medical interest as well. So far we know of nothing, except the gene therapy that has any influence on the gene's presence and activity." Another worry had been added to the list.

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"I can only say again that I and all of my people are very sorry that you got dragged into this unfortunate incident. We are willing to repay you for your trouble and agree to the conditions that we discussed." Minister Garryn apologized.

"There is another matter that I wish to discuss with you. Two of my people were hold by the rebels on your planet. They were questioned by telepaths. We have never encountered telepaths before and as a result of this encounter, those two people are very ill now. Can you provide as with any information that we could use to help them?"

"If you are worried that your information will be spread, I can only reassure you, that we will do everything to capture the rebels that are still at large." Garryn pause. "The Insightful, as the telepaths are called on Arona are a problem we normally do not discuss with outsiders. As you can imagine, they are a threat to social stability. There are very few Insightfuls among my people, some live peacefully, but others use their talents in criminal ways."

"I can imagine that you have been using 'Insightfuls' quite frequently in military operations."

"I'll leave that question about to your imagination, Dr. Weir. But to answer your earlier question: Insightfuls are harmless to the Aronans. Some of our enemies have been hurt by the presence of an Insightful; they have caused the enemy incredible pain. I believe that answer your second question as well. Since we have agreed to an exchange of medical knowledge as well, I will, as a sign of restitution send over one of our medical practitioners who has dealt with Insightfuls before."

"Thank you, Minister Garryn. Your gesture is very much appreciated by the people of Atlantis."

"As is yours, Dr. Weir. The people of Arona are honoured to have you as a trading partner."

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John was standing in a desert. As far as he could see there was nothing was but dust and rocks. No mountains in the distance, nothing. The flat plain seemed to stretch on forever Where was his team and how had he gotten there? There was no puddle jumper and no Stargate.

"This is not real. It's all in your mind." A voice said.

He turned around and suddenly Teyla stood next to him, smiling. He was sure he had been alone before.

"How did you get here?" he asked, getting a bit suspicious. Something was not right about the entire experience.

"I'm speaking to you in your thoughts. Do not fight it. Try to accept it. It will be much easier. You are too weak it fight." Teyla held his arms, looking directly into his eyes.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you." He replied. In spite of what had happened in the past few days, how he felt about her had not changed.

Suddenly, his head filled with pain. Terrible pain, more intense than anything he had felt before. "Do not fight it! Hang on, John…" were the last words he heard from Teyla as the desert was already dissolving around him and rapid beeping and bright lights replaced the soft winds and gently evening sun of the desert planet.

The bright light aggravated the pain, he tried to escape it, tried to turn away his head, but he could hardly move. He was lying on his back. Before he could try to sit up, he could feel a hand on his shoulder and saw Dr. Beckett's face appear in his field of office.

"Calm down. You're back in Atlantis, you're safe. You're in the infirmary."

"Teyla, she was there. On the planet. In my head somehow." John fought to get out the words in spite the pain that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Teyla is going to be fine. Don't worry, you are safe here, nobody is going to get into your head here." Dr. Beckett misunderstood, thinking that John was panicking because of his experience with the telepaths on Arona.

"This should help you with the headache. Try to rest."

John felt the prick of a needle. He recalled Teyla's words telling him not to fight. He did his best to try and relax. As the pain in his head lessened, the memory of the planet returned. They had been in his head. God, they knew everything. He had to tell Dr. Weir. He tried to get up, but Dr. Beckett was at his side in a second.

"Take it easy. You're going nowhere right now. You have been unconscious for over twenty-hours. You had everyone very worried."

John sensed that there was something that Beckett was not telling him, but he didn't have time for it now.

"I need to talk to Dr. Weir." He ground out, already feeling his strength fade. "Tell her it's important. Please."

"All right. But no trying to get up. With the fever you are running, it's a wonder you are coherent at all."

"Dr. Weir, it's Dr. Beckett. Could you please come to the infirmary? You are needed here." Beckett contacted her over the communications system.

"Is it urgent. We're having a bit of trouble here, all the Ancient systems just went haywire again."

"John is awake and he says he needs to talk to you. I think I also might be able to explain to you what is happening to the Ancient technology."

"I'll be there in a second." Dr. Weir replied. Indeed, soon after, she entered the infirmary, obviously having run there. She immediately moved to John's bedside.

John had already started to drift off again when he noticed Dr. Weir's presence at his side.

He gathered his strength to tell her what she had to know.

"They know. The rebels know. They could read our minds. They know everything about Atlantis that I know. I'm sorry I let you down."

"I know. Teyla told us. Don't worry; it's going to be all right. Atlantis will be safe."

John drifted off again.

TBC