Weir sat in the conference room. She leaned back in the chair, catching a moments respite from the melee that had been her life during day. The rescue team had been back for two hours and Sheppard was only having occasional ravings. Rodney must have been behaving himself, no new reports there. The rest of Atlantis was waiting for the power to be turned back on. She was waiting to be briefed by Dr. Beckett, Dr. Zelenka and Lt. Cadman.
She looked up as they filed in.
"Another 30 minutes and power should be back on," reported Zelenka as he took his seat.
"Finally, some good news," replied Weir.
"Col. Sheppard really helped." He had a sheepish look on his face.
"Which brings me to my first question. How did he do that?" Weir plus most of the personnel present in the Gate and Control rooms were quite frankly perplexed. Sheppard always seemed to be able to control the technology easily but the display they witnessed today was down right freaky.
"Not sure of the how yet, but the what, I can answer." He turned his laptop around. "This is the nano-virus that we stumbled across." The screen showed the bugs crawling across the screen. "This is what was in the material Stackhouse brought back." The screen changed to little silver, metallic bugs crawling across the screen.
"They appear to aide in the body's natural healing processes. This is a sample of Col. Sheppard's blood, skin tissue, and saliva." In succession, the little silver, metallic bugs crawled across the screen.
"What are they? They aren't the same as the nano-virus?" Weir studied the screen.
"Nano-bots," supplied Radek. "They repair soft tissue and skeletal injuries." He shifted in his seat and looked at Carson.
"Col. Sheppard had third degree burns on about 45-50 percent of his body from what Stackhouse described as an energy creature. Apparently, Sheppard named it a cosmic jellyfish. He also had a laceration and bruising on his forehead and temple. The X-rays indicated he had a skull fracture from one hell of a blow. The little buggers are knitting it as we speak. They have made all the repairs. None of the other injuries are present." Carson stopped for a moment and closed the laptop.
"Unfortunately, he is having a reaction to their presence in his system. He has a fever and is in and out of consciousness. I'm not sure what he remembers about the lab, so I don't know if he can help Rodney. Stackhouse said he didn't even know he was on Parcini."
"The fact they healed him is good, right?" Weir asked.
"Yes…" Beckett looked a little reluctant.
"But…" Weir prompted.
"I'm not sure why they are still active all over his body. I can understand the one's repairing his skull, but the rest should be inactive."
"How do you know that?" Weir could understand Beckett's vagueness. He was lost and answers were not leaping off the page.
"Sgt. Stackhouse and Spc. Dex also used the material from a first aid box on burns. All those nano-bots are inactive. Their bodies will dispose of them in the usual ways. Sheppard's however are not leaving, but creating more." He turned his head in Zelenka's direction. "I will coordinate with the engineering and the robotics departments. We will keep running tests."
"Once the power comes back on, we will access the database," interjected Zelenka.
"All I can do is try and keep him hydrated and comfortable." Carson looked at his hands.
"Very good Carson, Radek." She looked at Lt. Cadman. "How's our other problem behaving, haven't heard anything in awhile."
"He's awake and charming. Seems everyone wants to take up residence in Dr. McKay's head." She let the joke die where it stood. "Security measures are in place for him. When the force field is activated, I will feel better. We will stun him anytime he is to be moved. No other problems to report."
"Thank you Lieutenant, let's keep working the problems people. We are a long way from the end. Dismissed."
She gathered her things and started walking out; Teyla met her at the door.
"I want to try again."
"No. He really hurt you last time. Now he's even stronger and could kill you." Weir motioned for Teyla to walk with her to her office.
"Col. Sheppard does not have the puzzle pieces we were hoping for. I believe I can help."
Weir sat down and Teyla did the same across from her.
"No." The earnestness in Teyla's face made the offer tempting. However, she would not allow her to be attacked again. "I appreciate your offer, but it is a last resort."
"I understand. My offer will remain until needed." She gave her as-leader-I-would-do-the-same smile. "Do you wish to accompany me to the infirmary? Dr. Beckett's staff said, since Col. Sheppard was not a contamination danger, he could have visitors."
"I would like that."
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Sheppard woke up with a soft murmur in the back of his mind. Atlantis. He could hear the everyday, run of the mill workings going on. It was the crisis or out of the ordinary workings that were killing him.
He felt all the little itchy, sticky pads adhered to his chest and head. He was in the infirmary. He had sort of, kind of, maybe noticed when Stackhouse had gotten him back. What a good boy.
It was just the onslaught of information that had attacked as they dialed the Gate. And then when they arrived on Atlantis, little electric needles piercing his brain. They were collecting and sending impulses. He had commanded Atlantis, instructed Atlantis, and cajoled Atlantis through repairs. He did not know how, but it was awesome and frightening.
For right now, the murmurings were controlled. And according to the murmurings, the ZPM would be back online any moment. Goody.
He peered around the room from his flat on his back vantage point. A privacy curtain was draped around his bed. He could see movement from outside the curtain. There were voices to go along with the movement.
"They are overrunning his body. They make more and more to do, whatever it is, they need to do."
Shit. They? Who are they? They always seem to be causing trouble, don't they?
"When do you expect him the regain consciousness?"
A female voice- Weir.
The conversations in his head started to get louder. He tried to raise his hands. That's when he noticed the restraints.
"OooKaay…Hello? What's going on?" He managed to croak out.
"Col. Sheppard? Good to see ya awake." Beckett pulled the curtain back. "You were trying to extract your eyes from your sockets. So, we're going to keep those on for right now."
"O…Kay…Why would I do that?"
"You don't remember…What is the last thing you remember?"
"Clearly? Eggs for breakfast. The next thing would be the jellyfish." He closed his bright, glittery eyes. "After that, it's just snippets here and there. I sort of remember leaving Parcini and arriving here. Then, I felt like I was all over Atlantis." He was getting confused. "I was on Parcini right? That's what Stackhouse said."
Beckett smiled at him. "It's fine. You have a fever, and from what we could tell, you had a serious head injury. Understandable that you are a bit out of sorts."
The voices were stepping up now. Sheppard clenched his eyes shut and grimaced.
"What's wrong?"
"Z…P…M…coming…b-b-aaack!" His voice started out normal and then rose and octave.
An explosion of light went off in his head and the needles jabbed at his brain. Now he remembered why he would try and claw his eyes out. He howled as lights, computers, Gate operations and anything else the ZPM powered came online. Then he started his stilted one sided conversation.
"Reinitialize…key systems…checking…You've got to be kidding me…operating within normal parameters…Taking fire…all systems online." Capillaries burst and a fine trickle of blood escaped his nose. A manic laugh burst from his lips. This time he collapsed back on the bed without passing out- breath rapid and heart beating out of his chest. He sent the monitors screaming.
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Weir stepped back and let the medical personnel do their job. They blocked her view, but the laugh sent a chill down her spine.
After about 15 minutes, Carson stepped over to update her.
"What happened?"
"He's fine. I put him on oxygen along with the IV. Atlantis turned back on, so he…well…I have no idea what's happening." He pulled her a little farther from the bed. "Now that we are back up and running, we will be researching the database for any mention of the nano-bots. Also, some other tests can be run on the little buggers. We will find out what is going on and go from there."
She just nodded in comprehension.
"Unfortunately, we are no closer to helping Rodney. Sheppard does not remember what happened. Stackhouse told him he was on Parcini." His voice betrayed his powerlessness over the situation. Nothing was worse than when you just did not know how to help.
Weir rubbed her face. "Well, keep me informed…Oh, Teyla wants to try again."
"I think Rodney could really hurt her. I would not advise it unless absolutely necessary." Beckett redirected his gaze back over to the bed as a nurse was leaving it. "Why don't you go over and visit. He's still awake. And I think the company would do him good." He patted her on the arm and walked off.
Teyla walked up and joined her.
"How are Dex, Stackhouse and company?"
"They are fine, but worried. They are completely drained, reasonable under the conditions."
Once again Weir merely nodded.
"Sgt. Stackhouse says we need to return to Parcini to search for survivors."
"I have the Alpha Site working that problem. They also retrieved Pvt. Ryals and Pvt. Burns." Weir looked at the curtain. "Want to join me?"
"No. I will wait my turn." Teyla walked over and sat down in a chair.
Elizabeth stepped through the curtain.
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He could sense her. She was just sitting there in the infirmary. If he could weasel his way into her mind, he might have an ally- a reluctant one, but an ally none the less. He steadied his breathing and concentrated. He made the soothing ministrations of a friendly thought.
Nothing to worry about.
Nothing threatening.
Everything is OK.
Everything is normal.
Gotcha.
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"Dr. Weir…" Teyla whispered. "Dr. Weir…"
Elizabeth poked her head through the curtain. "Teyla?"
"Dr. McKay is attempting to…to…" Her eyes fluttered.
"Brig security stun Dr. McKay!" Elizabeth ordered immediately and ran over to Teyla.
Teyla gasped and collapsed.
"Carson!" Weir screamed.
Carson came running with a nurse in tow. "What happened?" He dropped to Teyla's side.
"McKay, I think." Weir kept watching him as he checked Teyla over.
He called for help to get her into a bed. She stirred almost immediately.
She opened her eyes and looked around confused.
"Dr. McKay," supplied Weir.
"Mmh. I do not remember- he wanted something. I can not remember what."
"It's time to end this." She was not sure what she was going to do, but he had to be stopped. Weir started to leave the infirmary.
"Elizabeth."
She spun on her heel. The voice was weak and was only just above a whisper.
"Let me go see him."
She could barely hear Sheppard through the curtain. She retraced her steps and pulled the curtain back.
"John, you can't. I appreciate the offer but you are in no shape to confront him. He's scary John." She stepped up to his bed and looked him in his freaky, silver eyes. Carson followed.
"Colonel Sheppard, you can barely raise your head; let alone match wits with Dr. McKay."
Sheppard smiled groggily and replied, "What wits? I just think he can jog my memory."
A burst of commotion came from the infirmary entrance.
"Dr. Weir! Dr. Weir!" Dr. Zelenka called out as he ran across the room. He then noticed his surroundings and lowered his voice. "Sorry, we know what is going on with Col. Sheppard."
Weir and Beckett gave him their undivided attention along with Teyla and Sheppard eavesdropping from their respective beds.
"As you know, there are active and inactive nano-bots."
"Nano-bots?" Sheppard croaked from his bed. That must be the "they".
Beckett placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "I'll explain in a little bit."
Zelenka just gave him a look of 'well yeah' and continued on, "The active nano-bots have incomplete programs. We could tell almost immediately after the computers came back up. They might have been a prototype or just waiting for programming. They are searching for frequencies or commands from Ancient technology. They have a basic program to repair. But what to repair has not been programmed, so they are repairing anything and everything with an Ancient signature. Since the Ancient technology relies on a mental component, Col. Sheppard has connected them to Atlantis." Zelenka looked proudly at those around him. "Most importantly, we think we can instruct the diagnostic bed to complete the programming."
"This is good news Doctor." Weir gave a mental sigh of relief, one problem possibly solved.
"We will start programming the bed…well…now."
On cue, a cadre of scientists entered the infirmary.
"We will have the colonel back to normal soon," stated Zelenka without hesitation.
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A/N: Love all the speculation! Now we have partial answers but what is the full story? Stay tuned. Oh, and please review.