Woa, I just realized that Ford is supposed to be gone due to being all messed up on Wraith drugs. Let's just pretend for a moment that er…it hasn't happened yet. I'll write it into the story…somehow…damn I'm so forgetful.

CHAPTER THREE: SAILING INTO DARK WATERS

Aiden Ford, now toiling away in the Arms Locker, wasn't the only one singled out that morning. Apparently Caldwell had so far tapped into various radio conversations of crew members simply to warn them that, "conspiracy-related acts would not be tolerated." No unknown radio calls were to be passed around unless the control room knew about them. He had also yelled at various groups of officers for huddling too close together while in conversation, muttering madly that only those guilty of mutiny would need to do such a thing. When he tried such an outburst in McKay's physics lab, the scientists in question tried to explain they were doing group-work; they needed to gather around the piece of technology in question, to study its energy pathways. They weren't in the least bit afraid of Caldwell because they were civilians and he had no real authority over them.

But Caldwell wasn't that stupid (although, I still think he is), and he reminded himself to visit the Arms Locker after he dealt with the pesky McKay scientists. Quite frankly, people that tended not to be swayed by military rank would definitely be swayed by a pointed P-90…unless of course they were pointing it at themselves. But let's not get ridiculous; Caldwell would never do us that favour.

Caldwell was still having a difficult time in McKay's lab. In response to all of their reasoning, he barked at them: "For such lies, you're all lucky I don't place you in the brig."

This really only warranted the scientists to exchange glances, charged with incredulous raised eyebrows.

That's when McKay breezed through the doors, mumbling under his breath with his eyes trained beyond everyone in the room. Without thinking, he clapped his hands, shouting his commands for the morning, "All right you clowns, I want to see some progress on stabilizing those mock electron shield simulators by lunch or you can forget about setting foot back in this lab again. Mostly because I assure you that I could finish it myself within an hour; so if the five of you can't get it together, then-" McKay had stopped.

He was standing in front of his assigned researched, yes. That was normal. The look of panicky fear upon their faces was present - also perfectly normal, and in fact expected – EXCEPT for one. This one had a cruel and heartless expression; an arm folded, and was the sixth out of five.

"Colonel, what do you want?" McKay leaned against the table.

"You're number one on the watch list, Doctor," Caldwell smirked.

"What are you talking about?" Rodney pinched between his eyes wearily.

"I know what you think of the military, doctor, but I'm here to tell you that you're not going to get away with it under my command."

"Get away with what?"

"From now on, you do as I command – no questioning and no sneaky behind the scenes plans. Civilians are now excluded from all tactical meetings…which includes you, Doctor."

This wildly illogical and random change in things seemed to act as a fuse box for poor Rodney. And it had just blown up. He charged down on Caldwell as much as a person can do when they happen to be shorter than the other, and fiercely snapped, "Need I remind you that it was me that fixed that Ancient chair, me that finished that nuclear bomb, me that thought up and configured to cloak the city and oh, incidentally, saved our collective asses!"

Zalenka, off to the side, was now coughing in a meaningful pattern.

"So you wanna exclude us? Fine! But we won't help you when you need it. So you'll just have to come up with your own Save-the-World plans."

Caldwell had barely moved from his iron composure. Only a brief sneer flickered on his lips, and his eyes gleamed with intent. "Oh, I think you will cooperate, Doctor."

Rodney flinched, only praying that Caldwell wasn't about to release a giant killer spider on him.

"Sergeant Hobbes here will now be in charge of all science labs. I've given him full authority to do what is needed to see that this expedition runs according to proper code." He gestured towards the door with an abrupt jerk where a dark shadow loomed out from the doorway.

He was a largely built officer with beady black eyes and a twisted smile; and he was leaning very casually against the frame of the door. Sadly, any evilly smirking person who leans against doors with a casual air is a person you want to watch out for. The combination has never proved to be good. Think about it. What would even possess you to lean against a doorway with a sinister smirk? In fact, we could make it an experiment. Go to your bosses' office and casually lean in his doorway: say nothing and leer at him demonically. You're up to something – would probably be along the lines of what he's thinking. And so, we can safely conclude that Sergeant Hobbes has no goodly purpose, but…an evil purpose.

Naturally, Rodney was worried. Oh, and forget about the whole giant attacking spider thing…

"Something you wanted to say, doctor?" Caldwell was practically baring his teeth.

Rodney clenched his teeth and thought better of it, just for now. "Colonel Sheppard is looking for you." He turned back to the device on the table and his nervous scientists.

But Caldwell had barely heard McKay say this, because he was already on his way out the door, past Seargent Hobbes, towards the Arms Locker. Incidentally, that's where Sheppard happened to be…

"Well, well." Caldwell had said as he strode into the Arms Locker, beholding Ford in the accompaniment of Sheppard. They were taking hand grenades out of a stack of crates in the middle of the floor, their conversation muffled by being surrounded by racks and boxes. But Caldwell had an inkling as to what they were discussing.

"Colonel Sheppard, I admit I am not surprised to see you down here with the likes of Mister Ford, Hm?"

"Now you listen here," Sheppard rounded on him, stepping over a broken crate lying across the ground.

"I hear you were trying to find me and yet I find you here…not only shirking your duties but encouraging Mister Ford with further acts of conspiracy."

"Sir, I was only bringing those P-90's back to the Arms Locker. I fix them."

"Indeed. You fix them for murders. Mister Ford, do not make a fool out of me -" Sheppard was thinking that nobody really needed to do that… "You were standing right in front of my quarters with two fully loaded P-90's."

Ford gestured wildly. "I was passing by! I have to pass through that corridor to get there, sir."

"Amazing, just amazing," he mused. "The sort of lies one can concoct." He turned to Sheppard, who was clenching his teeth and fists and looking nearly about to shatter because of it. "And you, gathering up more weapons with Mister Ford. No doubt to continue your plots of mutiny," he snarled.

Sheppard looked to Ford. "I'm helping the poor kid re-organize this locker. I came down after I couldn't find you in any of the places you were supposed to be, sir. Lieutenant Ford is needed on an urgent mission later on in the day, so I thought I'd help him finish up this ridic- this task, you assigned…sir." Sheppard could barely hold his tongue, but he knew the consequences if he didn't.

"Helping him? Insubordination. You went over my head. You weren't asked to help Mister Ford. You're helping a mutinous rebel, which only leads me to believe one thing…now I see clearly what is going on. Indeed. Colonel Sheppard, you are going to sorely learn to keep your nose out of things. From this point forward, you are on watch duty for the next 36 hours straight and god help you if you're found asleep at your post; you'll find yourself with a one-way ticket back to Earth and court martial for mutiny."

Holy crackers! What just happened! Sheppard looks as though a bus just hit him and he were contemplating throwing the bus in question over a cliff! Seriously! I was just over there having tea. There was too much talking going on so I figure I'd wait until the punches rolled out, but none happened eh? Let me just scroll back here…holy crackers! Now that's a predicament if I ever did see one! Guess we'll have to wait until Chapter Four to see what happens!