Chapter Five: Phone Home

Sheppard frowned, remembering the window. Helping Beckett limp over, he led them further into the strange control room. McKay was speechless. He envisioned all the amazing things waiting to be recovered from the dusty Ancient computers. Sheppard was more concerned with the immediate problem: how to get back.

"We're not in Atlantis anymore, are we?" Beckett was staring at the vast expanse of water.

McKay looked up, noticing the window for the first time. His excitement turned from shock to fear to anger in a matter of seconds. "This is all your fault Major!" He pointed an accusing finger.

"Hey! You're the one who brought us to that lab in the first place!" Sheppard replied defensively.

McKay was about to reply, but Beckett interjected. "Can't we blame each other later? We still need to get back."

"Always listen to your doctor," Sheppard agreed. "McKay can you use any of these to contact the city?"

Rodney was not so quick to forgive. "If I can find the right one. If it's still working. And if it has enough power."

"You'll never know unless you try," Sheppard pointed out, ignoring McKay's angry tone.

The scientist glared at him, but refrained from further comment. Instead, he turned his frustration on the dark computer banks. A touch of his hand brought each one to life as he searched for familiar controls. Most of them were completely unknown, but he managed to locate one nearly identical to those in the gate room.

"I think this is it," he told the others.

"You think?" the Major commented in mock concern.

"Alright, I'm sure this is it," Rodney amended in annoyance.

Without waiting for an argument, he activated several controls. "Here goes," he took a deep breath and pressed the final button.

-----------------

Dr. Weir was pacing the balcony above the Stargate. She was extremely worried about her three missing friends. The team sent to investigate their disappearance had failed to find them and there had been no contact from the three for nearly an hour. She sighed. They can look after themselves, she told herself for the hundredth time. Even so, she couldn't help but feel that they should have found their way back by now.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by the happiest sound she had ever heard: Rodney's voice. "This is Dr. McKay, can anyone hear me?" His voice was coming from one of the Ancient computers. Relieved, Weir rushed to the computer, where one of the technicians was already working.

She replied quickly: "I can hear you, Rodney! What's your status?"

"I'm fine."

"What about Major Sheppard and Carson? Are they with you?"

"Yeah, we're here," Sheppard answered. "We had a run in with some of the local wildlife, but otherwise we're all in one piece."

"Speak for yourself," Beckett added grumpily.

Weir smiled with relief at hearing their voices. "You can tell me about it later," she told them. "Where are you now?"

After an uncomfortable silence, McKay responded: "We're pretty sure we're not in the city. Major Sheppard activated a transporter that sent us to some sort of underwater research station."

"Underwater?" Weir suddenly became concerned. The last thing she wanted was for them to drown.

"Don't worry," Sheppard told her. "This place seems stable enough."

Weir was not completely convinced, but decided it could wait for now. "Why wasn't Lt. Ford transported as well?"

"I'm not sure," McKay admitted. "It could be that the device was programed to only transport three people at a time."

"Or only people with the Ancient gene," Sheppard suggested.

"That actually makes sense, Major." McKay was mildly impressed.

"Alright," Weir interrupted before McKay could launch into one of his long-winded explanations, "how are you going to get back?"

"Well, we could have used the transporter," McKay offered. "If I had been allowed to finish working on it." This last comment was clearly directed at Major Sheppard.

"Wouldn't the Ancients have some other way out?" Beckett asked.

"Now there's an idea," Sheppard was glad for the excuse not to discuss McKay's transporter. "Does this thing have a map or something?"

"Hang on." McKay fiddled with the controls. A holographic map appeared. Ignoring McKay's smug expression, Sheppard examined it. The picture depicted half a dozen rooms of various sizes arranged in a semicircle with their present location at the center. Beyond the one they came in through, the room had two other doors. One led to a series of smaller rooms that didn't look useful. The other, however, led to a large, square room that looked more interesting.

"That looks promising," Sheppard said, pointing out the large room. "Let's check it out."

"Well, be careful," Weir told them.

"Aren't we always?" He cut off the transmission and addressed McKay and Beckett: "Let's go."

"Wait a minute, Major!" McKay objected. "We should spend more time looking at this," he gestured at the dormant computers, "There could be valuable information in here."

"Come on, Rodney," Beckett was more than a little alarmed. "You can not seriously be considering spending more time in this dismal place."

McKay glared at him, but Sheppard interrupted before the argument could escalate. "Rodney," he asked in mock calm. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, now that you mention it. Got anything to eat?"

"No," he replied patiently. "That is why we need to get out of here."

"Oh." Even McKay could not argue with that logic.