Time Capsule
Chapter 6
Dr. Beckett eyed the staff seated at the circular conference table. An emergency meeting had been called after he had revealed his experience with Brenna. Now, although he was bone-tired, he sat at the table, his mind drifting. Elizabeth and John headed the table, with Rodney to Elizabeth's left. Teyla and Ronon had also joined the meeting, along with Dr. Kate Heightmeyer and Colonel Caldwell. Finally, looking slightly out of place was Dr. Radek Zelenka, McKay's second in command. Elizabeth's light gaze traveled around the room, and settled on Carson. She gave him a small smile, then turned and nudged Rodney.
"Hmmm? Oh, right, yes," Rodney said as he stood. The physicist cleared his throat, then clasped his hands.
"As you all know, we recently found a hidden room on the north side of Atlantis. This room contained, among other things, a small, Ancient device that I believed was a communications device. By wearing the device, I believed you can interface directly with Atlantis, without having to type or speak commands."
Rodney was interrupted by John Sheppard. "I thought we already did that, Rodney. I mean, we open doors, turn on lights, and stuff."
Rodney glared at Sheppard; he hated to be interrupted. "Yes, well, this would be unbelievably more productive. You could run anything…everything, just by thinking about it. However, it seems I was….wrong." This last statement was uttered quietly, and John tried to refrain from snorting. Rodney didn't often admit he made a mistake.
"When I had Carson activate the device, he initially had an … adverse reaction. However, apparently that problem has been resolved. Carson?" Rodney retook his seat, his eyes on the doctor.
Carson Beckett stood, his nervousness obvious. "Thank you, Dr. McKay." Carson took a slow, deep breath, organizing his thoughts. "When I activated the device a second time, a woman appeared to me. An Ancient, I believe. She calls herself Brenna. She identified herself as the historian, and told me I could ask her anything. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to ask," he said, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Wait a minute. You said a woman appeared. Did you see her, Dr. McKay?" Caldwell asked. McKay shook his head, and explained.
"I assume this woman is really some sort of memory, a computer program. Like on the Aurora, when we interacted with the crew there. Same sort of technology."
Caldwell nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Go on, Doctor Beckett."
Carson continued, "She said she needed to fix me in order to allow me to communicate with her. I'm not quite sure what that means, but so far, I haven't felt any differently." Carson sat back down, his portion of the meeting over.
Carson felt Kate Heightmeyer's warm eyes study him curiously. He was sure she thought he was out of his mind, especially with the story of a woman only he could see, but, thankfully, she remained quiet.
Elizabeth gave him a brief look, then turned to Rodney. "Well?"
Rodney stood once again. "I think we need Carson to re-enter this virtual reality and find out more information. Obviously , if she is an Ancient, she may have knowledge of Atlantis and the Wraith that we need. Not to mention technology, weapons, and the like. But, that's entirely up to Carson." Rodney looked at the doctor, who squirmed uncomfortably under the scrutiny of everyone's eyes.
"Colonel Sheppard cannot activate this woman?" Teyla asked, directing her question to Carson. Rodney answered with a negative shake of his head, explaining that everyone with the ATA gene had tried the circlet, to no avail.
"Apparently, she likes Carson," John quipped, causing a blush to appear on Beckett's face.
"Well, I guess it's up to you, Dr. Beckett," Elizabeth said. "However, I want to stress to everyone in this room" – at this she stared at Rodney – "that if Carson declines, he is not to be harassed for his decision. Understood?" There was steel in Elizabeth's voice, and John gave a soft smile. She could be the mother hen when she wanted, he thought. Nods of assent bobbed in the room.
Carson sat quietly for a moment, although his mind had already been made up.
He raised his eyes, looking at the faces in the room. He cleared his throat.
"I want to try again." Carson was nearly blinded by the grin plastered on Rodney's face. Elizabeth's brow frowned with worry, then she merely sighed and nodded.
"Okay. Work it out with Drs. McKay and Zelenka. And Carson…be careful," she added softly.
oOo
Carson lay on the bed, once again attached to medical monitors, once again surrounded by Dr. Amrubi and Dr. McKay. Radek Zelenka was nearby, his eyes on the Atlantis computer screen. His job was to determine exactly where this program, for lack of a better word, originated.
"Ready?" Rodney asked, and Carson nodded. He closed his eyes, the circlet sitting comfortably on his brow. He opened his eyes at Rodney's next words.
"Remember – any problems, Carson, and you leave! Got it?" Rodney waited for Carson to shake his head, then stepped away from the bed.
Carson closed his eyes, thought of Brenna, and suddenly, she was there.
oOo
"Dr. Beckett! Oh, I was so afraid that I messed things up! But here you are, back again. I am so glad," she said, a huge smile of welcome on her face. Once again, Carson felt drawn to the woman, although he knew she was just some kind of artificial intelligence.
"Aye, Brenna. You said before we didn't have much time – has that changed?" Carson asked, accepting her hand as she reached for his, then following as she started to stroll. Around him, the white nothing transformed into the hallways of Atlantis.
"I thought that having these surroundings" – she waved a hand – "would make you more comfortable. Although, they can become whatever you want," she added.
"No, no this is fine," Carson said, realizing that he did feel better in the familiar corridors.
"As for time – well, that depends on a couple of things. You, for instance." Brenna said. "You were very resistant to me the last time, but now I sense you are learning to trust me. The more you allow our link to grow, the more time we will be able to spend together."
Carson thought that statement over. Yes, it was true, he resented having the ATA gene and being regarded as something of an oddity by many of the others. He feared the power the gene gave him, so he had done his best to suppress it.
They entered a strange room, and Carson looked around in bewilderment. They were in an unfamiliar part of Atlantis. The room was large, circular in shape. There was a small dais in the center of the room. Other than the lights that dimmed and flickered overhead, the room was empty.
Brenna paused at the foot of the dais, and turned to Carson. Her ageless face was composed and serene, but the youthful tone she had originally greeted him with was replaced by professionalism as she spoke.
"From our last conversation, I have determined that you are unaware of my purpose. Therefore, I have decided to start at the beginning. Perhaps then you will have more understanding and can I be of more help. Is that okay?"
Carson nodded, then a thought occurred to him. "Brenna, before you get started, is there anyway that Rodney and the others can see you? Or is it just by using the circlet?"
Brenna paused, bringing her hands together under her chin as she considered his question. Finally, she gave a small nod of her head.
"Yes, I believe that I can, but it would have to be here, in this room. And it would require an enormous amount of concentration on your behalf. The session would be short, I am afraid. As you can see, the power supply is intermittent at best," she gestured to the lights fading and brightening above them.
Carson frowned as he glanced at the lights above. At the disturbed look on his face, Brenna reached over and lightly touched his arm. "Carson, I required a descendent like yourself to 'activate' me, as you put it. The circlet merely enables us to communicate more directly. But, remember, I am nothing more than a stored memory. Like any other device, I require power to exist. And I'm afraid that the power here" – she waved a hand vaguely around the room – "is fading rapidly."
"Wait a minute, here, lass. Are you telling me that you're…dying?" Carson stared at Brenna's pretty face as she sadly nodded. He found himself cupping her cheek, lifting her face, his need to offer comfort reflected in his blue eyes.
"I am sorry, Carson. I've been aware that my systems were failing for a while now, and I've been afraid all my knowledge would be lost. I was so happy when you finally came," Brenna said, giving him a wide smile.
Carson fought to return her smile, but inside he was in turmoil. "Rodney! I need to get back to Rodney." At her bewildered look, he explained, "You need to tell me exactly where this room is, Brenna. Dr. McKay is…well, he seems to be able to fix anything. I need to go back and tell him what's happening. I'm sure he can reroute power or something to help you."
Hope suddenly bloomed in Brenna's eyes, and Carson felt warmth flood through him. He stepped away from the woman, taking her hands in his.
"I will be back, Brenna. This time with help," he promised, then closed his eyes and thought of the infirmary.
TBC