They entered into a reception area. One console with a schematic of the lab sat in the middle of the small room. A transporter was embedded on the opposite wall.
"Not so super secret if it let us in so easily," commented Sheppard.
McKay ignored him. "Wow, this place is bigger than I thought. It looks like there are six levels below us, plus this one," he reported as he viewed the console.
"I have to go underground? You realize to a pilot that is…well, unnerving," said Sheppard looking over McKay's shoulder. "As the song goes: Give me land, lots of land and the starry skies above."
"You did it on the Genii homeworld. What's changed?" Rodney twisted his neck to look at Sheppard.
"You."
"Oh. That. Still having flashes?"
"Now and again, but I'll get over it." He brought the conversation back to their mission. "We should do it systematically level by level. Quick in and out, just enough of a look to deem if anything is dangerous."
"That's fine. I will bow to your expertise in this area," said McKay congenially. "Then I'll over ride and make you do it my way."
"Not funny McKay," warned Sheppard. "We are taking a look-see, not the grand tour yet. Let's start on Level 1."
They stepped into the transporter and exited on Level 1. The floor held the offices of the scientists who had worked there. As they made their way down the corridor, all the offices were empty except for computer consoles. Not another single piece of equipment, chair or table remained.
It occurred to Sheppard that the Ancients had found a design and stuck to it. He guessed they followed the if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it school of interior decorating. They had need of a few aesthetics: faux windows, faux light shining through the faux windows and house plants (dead). The level was cleared of everything else.
"The computer database was wiped, just like at the Pavilion of Creation. They wiped all data on the ZedPM from that one." Disappointment was written all over his face. "I guess the next level then."
Sheppard clicked his radio. "Burns, Ryals, we are heading to the next level."
The next three levels were more of the same: empty laboratories, empty offices and dead plants.
"I don't think this was a mechanical weapons lab like for the drones or that big ass gun," guessed McKay. "It looks more like the viral lab on Atlantis."
Sheppard stopped. "You mean like a nano-virus or other biological agents were studied here?"
"Yes."
"Great. I'll take a Saturday Night Fever dance floor with the seizures and visions any day over my brain exploding." Sheppard started patting himself down.
"What are you doing?" McKay asked in an exasperated tone.
"Making sure nothing and I mean nothing gets left behind."
McKay rolled his eyes. "The ATA gene will protect you from that nano-virus. Plus, I know what I am looking for with that and I have not seen that here." He started back to the transporter. "Tell Thing 1 and Thing 2 we're heading down one more."
"Still not inspiring a lot of confidence or trust McKay."
Rodney stopped and slumped his shoulders at the caustic remark.
Even Sheppard winced at his own comment. However, on a base level, it had felt good. Still, not a way to repair a relationship. It was unfair and petty. Too bad, he was not ready to let the man off the hook just yet.
"Heading down one more level."
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Level 5 was far from empty.
"Jackpot," McKay said under his breath. "OK, let's not touch anything that could zap us into oblivion."
Sheppard led the way into the first lab. "Whoa!" Sheppard yelped back stepping and bumping into McKay.
"What?" Came the annoyed response.
"Pickled Wraith parts. I guess we are not the first to collect specimens," observed Sheppard.
Bits and pieces of Wraith were contained in mini stasis containers. They were on shelves that lined the wall to his left.
"Know thy enemy," quipped McKay as he entered a small adjoining room. "Yes! A computer that's actually working."
McKay made his way over to the console propping his P90 against it.
"Looks like a program that they left running. Also has one of those hand plate panels. OUCH!" McKay yelled quickly retracting his hand.
"What happened?"
"Damn thing burned me!" McKay snapped while holding his hand to his chest.
"Weren't you the one that said don't touch anything?" Sheppard jibed at the injured man.
"Shut up. I thought it might open the program or something."
"Or something? Let me see. Eew, that looks like it smarts," smiled Sheppard showing absolutely no sympathy for the very red hand.
McKay glared at him and pulled his hand back. "It does."
He then took the burned hand and placed it firmly on Sheppard's chest.
"What are you doing McKay? Geez, personal space." Sheppard moved the hand and turned toward the outer lab. "I'll go get the first aid kit out of my pack."
He walked into the main lab leaving McKay staring and flexing his hand. He picked up his P90 and followed.
"Colonel."
"Yeah?"
Fireworks went off in Sheppard's brain as something hit him square in the face. He fell onto his butt.
"Rod…" He did not get the entire name out before a second salvo of fireworks went off as something struck the side of his head.
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A/N: Please feel free to review. Oh, did I mention Shep whumping?