Part Six

"I know Rodney. He's trying to protect us, that's why he left. I'm going after him. The only question is, will you help me or try to stop me?" Sheppard's glare took in everyone at the table: Elizabeth, Ford, Teyla, Beckett, and Sergeant Bates.

The sergeant's jaw stuck out pugnaciously. "It's my job to point out that Doctor McKay may be a security risk, sir. We don't know how he's been affected by whatever is happening to him."

"Well, let's find out what's happening to him before we condemn him." John shot back.

"Gentlemen!" Elizabeth interrupted them. "Doctor Beckett believes he's found the cause of Rodney's affliction. I'd like to know more about it before I make any decisions concerning him."

Carson cleared his throat nervously. "As you all know, when the Wraith feed, they introduce a chemical substance into their victims that seems to be a necessary part of the feeding process. We haven't been able to identify precisely what that substance is, or how it works. The Hoffans discovered that certain rare individuals carry an extra protein in their genetic makeup that neutralizes the chemical, making it impossible for the Wraith to feed on them. At first I thought Rodney might have that protein, but he doesn't." Carson sighed deeply. "What he does have is an artificial ATA gene, which is slightly different from the naturally occurring gene. It was the only thing I could think of that made Rodney significantly different from the other victims of the Wraith I've been able to examine."

John knew he meant Gall and Abrams. People were still careful not to mention their names around Rodney and himself.

"When I introduced the chemical from the Wraith into a cell containing human DNA with the artificial ATA gene, it triggered a mutation. Every cell in Rodney's body is being changed at the genetic level. That's why he felt sick this morning. His body is reacting to the change taking place inside him. When he touched Doctor Zelenka, I think he actually fed on him almost like a Wraith. Not enough to age him, just weaken him. He did the same to me, and I felt drained of energy. Radek is suffering from exhaustion and anemia, just like Major Sheppard was after returning from Pataskala. It didn't seem to affect me as much, but he only touched me for a second."

John's eyes widened. "I was trying to feel Rodney's pulse. He put his hand over mine and suddenly I couldn't even stand up, I was so tired."

Carson nodded. "I think draining energy from others gives him a temporary boost that allows his body a chance to adjust."

"So what's going to happen to Doctor McKay? I mean, is he going to turn into a Wraith?" Ford voiced the question Sheppard couldn't bring himself to ask.

Beckett looked down at his tightly clasped hands where they lay on the table. "To tell the truth, son, I just don't know. I mean, the research into genetic mutations and manipulation is still in its infancy back on Earth. It's entirely possible that it could kill him."

"Which makes it that much more important that we find him and bring him back," Sheppard said forcefully.

"Is there anything you can do to cure him, Carson?" Elizabeth asked, looking like she was dreading the answer.

Sheppard finally realized how worried she actually was, despite her façade of calm. Looking around the table, he saw similar expressions of concern on everyone's faces, including Bates.

"I have a few ideas, but…"the doctor began. "We're stumbling around in the dark, here. And without Rodney himself, I have no way of knowing how his condition is progressing."

"Rodney would say 'let me know when you find the light switch'," John couldn't help but comment. Carson looked stricken, and he regretted the remark.

Elizabeth was silent for a long minute, but finally looked up and told Sheppard, "Go bring back our wayward scientist, Major."

"Proculis! That's the last place Doctor McKay would go!"

The look Grodin directed at Ford had 'long-suffering' written all over it. "Nevertheless, that is the last address dialed on the Stargate. Perhaps, when he reached the other side, he immediately dialed another destination, thinking to prevent us from following him."

Sheppard latched eagerly onto this idea. "Can we tell what address the Proculis Stargate last dialed?"

"Possibly," Grodin answered. "We think there's a feature on the Jumpers that will allow the pilot to redial the most recent address. If you concentrate, you should be able to activate it."

"Star 69 for Stargates," Ford muttered, meriting identical looks of half-amused disgust from both men.

"Okay," Sheppard said slowly. "Ford, Teyla, get your gear and meet me in the Jumper Bay. I'll get Beckett, and we'll need Markham to pilot the other Jumper when we catch up with Rodney. First stop, Proculis."

On his way out of the Command Center, he was stopped by Sergeant Bates.

"I wanted to wish you luck finding Doctor McKay, sir. I hope you're right, he left to protect us, and if that's the case, he has my respect and my loyalty. But you understand, as head of security I have to be suspicious of his behavior."

John was both surprised and touched, and shook Bates' hand firmly. "You're doing your job, Sergeant, and I do appreciate that."

Atlantis was destroyed. Everyone who had come through the Stargate from Earth was dead: his colleagues, his teammates, his friends.

Rodney had known this possibility existed, even before they met the Wraith, but he'd always expected to die with them. Not in his worst nightmares had he contemplated being the sole survivor, light years from home and completely alone. Even the Athosians on the mainland were gone. The Wraith had culled them, down to the last child.

And now Rodney sped toward the Wraith hiveship that had decimated Atlantis and killed his friends. The events were hazy in his mind; he wasn't entirely sure how he had gotten away, or when a dying Carson had injected him with a syringe full of a hazy liquid. But Carson's last words were vivid in his mind.

"The Wraith will not be able to feed on you now, but you will be able to drain the life from them. Go forth and avenge us."

It briefly occurred to him to wonder what had happened to Carson's accent, and why the doctor had kept this substance to himself, but the thought was gone as quickly as it had come. All that mattered was vengeance.

He intended to cloak the Puddle Jumper and try to sneak on board the hiveship. The Wraith would undoubtedly overwhelm him by sheer force of numbers before long, but he was resolved to take out as many of them as he could. If he moved fast enough, he might be able to sabotage the ship and destroy it before they stopped him.