If she was honest with herself, she had been punishing Sheppard. She knew his dislike for the crazy off-world ceremonies that he had been forced to attend. However, she had also wanted to let him know that- yes you screwed up royally, but you are still my trusted right arm. Her face should be covered in black soot from the backfire. As they say, life goes on. And with the same certainty, Major John Sheppard was going to be OK and make her pay. She would swallow her pride and make sure he got the chance.
She looked around the briefing table. Everyone had assembled; it was time for business.
"Peter have you inspected the temple on the planet?"
"Yes Dr. Weir. But I have not been able to access it. I even brought Sgt. Markham to see if anything could be activated. It is fried. I can't even tell you if the mainframe is in that building."
Seeing as Peter Grodin knew as much about the Ancient computers on Atlantis as anyone- save Rodney- he was ordered to the planet to inspect the temple. There had been no energy readings when SGA-1 had walked in the door. Evidently that had changed when Major Sheppard had ascended the steps. So there he was with Sgt. Markham, who was about to place his foot on the first step. Nothing happened. They went so far as to walk up to the altar, being mindful of the floor plate. Whatever had fried the computer did it thoroughly.
His other dilemma was locating the actual memory of the giant mainframe. Nothing resembled any of the computers on Atlantis or Earth for that matter. Hopefully, all information wrenched from SGA-1 had also been lost.
"It was self-aware," interrupted Rodney. "It was angry. It thought we had somehow betrayed it."
"You think the temple was alive so to speak," Weir inquired.
"Yes. We were all linked to the person after us in the data stream. Major Sheppard was the relay for all our information. He tried a few exit commands but nothing worked. It was trying something; directing a power surge at us. That is when he fritz and fizzled out." Rodney emphasized the point by wiggling his fingers and pulling them away from each other.
Her radio activated in her ear.
"Dr. Weir," a voice came over the comm.
"Go ahead."
"Larin of the Parcinese is requesting a meeting if you are available. He says he has information on how to help SGA-1."
"Allow him through and bring him to the conference room," she glanced around the table. "Well maybe this is the information we need."
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A few short minutes later Larin was escorted into the room.
"Dr. Weir, once again our profuse apologies. Chief Elder Mirandau is most aggrieved. To our consternation, Matriarch Scilla is quite insane. The other Matriarchs have not had their temples talk to them as Scilla's has."
"Her temple was talking to her?" asked Dr. Weir.
"Well, talk might not be the correct term. Influence is a better term. She confessed the temple began acting strangely when your teams came through the Gate of the Ancestors. The other Matriarchs reported strange occurrences in their temples as well."
"What sort of occurrences?" queried Weir. It was not as if she could not guess.
Larin looked nervously around the room. "They reported symbols on walls or altars lighting up and going dim. They were going to call for a congregation to discuss the mystery. But since the news of Major Sheppard's interaction with the Temple of the Protector, we believe it is you or at least some of you. Am I correct?" The intimidation factor that this city and these people conveyed made him shift nervously in his seat.
The reaction of the group assembled at the table astonished him. They shifted nervously in their seats, like he had discovered a deep dark secret.
"Larin, some of us carry a code in our bodies that can interact with the technology left by the Ancestors. Major Sheppard happens to be the most adept. It is also why we can live in the city of Atlantis," Dr. Weir replied with an even tone. The young man looked skittish enough.
"Yes, yes, yes. This is all well and good- nice background. But do you have anything that will help us?" McKay barked. He had been patient enough. "As much fun as it is reliving every sexual encounter by Lt. Ford, I'd really like to have a conversation from beginning to end without blacking out."
"You must excuse Dr. McKay Larin, his concern for his friends has made him, cranky," interrupted Beckett. "Please, continue."
Unsure, Larin informed them of the three main temples within the city: the Temple of the Protector, the Temple of the Ancestors and the Temple of Life and Vitality. All were hidden in the mountain range that skirted the city.
"The Matriarchs of the other two temples have invited you to visit. We understand if you are reluctant but we can offer nothing else." Larin awkwardly stared at his hands.
McKay's head darted up. "That might be it Elizabeth. There might be more than one computer. It might be the holy grail of an Ancient computer network. We have to check it out!"
"I'll take it under advisement Dr. McKay." Weir shot McKay a sit-your-ass-down-in-your-seat-now look.
He did.
"Thank you Larin. Tell Chief Elder Mirandau that we will contact him in one hour. We also accept his apology and extend ours for any inconvenience this has caused your people."
She stood up and showed him to the door where a marine escorted him back to the Gate room.
"Seems we have a chance at rescuing our people and gaining a lot of information. Let's hear everyone's thoughts…
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Weir sat in a chair facing Sheppard. His eyes were open and unseeing as he watched the show playing in his head. They pierced right into her Catholic guilt; except, she wasn't Catholic. They pierced her none the less.
"I think I will take the Parcinese up on their offer to visit the temples."
"Damn Carson. You're a sidler aren't you?" She turned her head in his direction.
He smirked and then grew grave. "He has not slept since he has been back. That is going on 36 hours Elizabeth. His body won't be able to handle that. The other members of his team are at least sleeping."
They both looked over their shoulders to the three other occupied beds.
She rubbed her hand over her face. "We have reports coming back from the planet. Once the teams make their final assessments, we'll go from there."
She had dispatched teams comprised of those with no ATA gene. She did not want to accidentally set anything else off. They had still gleaned important information though. Writings on the walls had provided most of the information. The set up of the temples had given them their other clues. The teams and a very excited Rodney hypothesized that this was a learning center of some sort. They had nicknamed it, Ancient U.
"We will have another briefing in the morning depending on when I receive those reports." She yawned. "I'm sorry John, I have to leave now. I will be back."
She gave a squeeze of his hand, nodded at Carson and walked out the door.
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A/N: I am amazed that y'all like my little story. It makes me giggle like a 13 year old girl. Please feel free to review.