Time Capsule
Chapter 9
Rodney fussed with the control panel in the circular room, his eyes on his computer screen. He was doggedly searching for any spare power that he could reroute to the obelisks, but, as before, he was having little luck.
His mind continued to pore over the information that Brenna had related. What the Ancients had done was create a kind of time capsule. The reality was that anything that the four guides could relate to Rodney and the others was more than ten thousand years old. How effective any of that technology could be today remained questionable.
Still, any information they received from Brenna could help them in their fight to survive the Wraith, not to mention learning about any other potential enemies. Rodney felt an unwelcome helplessness rise within him as he glared at the computer screen. More than anything, he wanted to find the answer to this riddle, and he was failing miserably.
He heard the doors to the room glide open, and the sound of Elizabeth's voice echoed across the room. She and John strolled over to Rodney, their eyes hopeful. He wiped a hand across his brow, huffed a heavy breath, and shook his head.
"This is useless! The power to keep these things running is phenomenal. We need the services of at least two ZPM's – which we don't have." Rodney leaned against the control panel, his face weary and worn.
Elizabeth reached out a consoling hand, rubbing his arm gently. "Rodney, we know you're doing everything you can." McKay remained silent at her words, defeat and frustration in his eyes.
The lights in the room wavered and dimmed, reminding them of the short amount of time they had.
Rodney turned back to the screen. "I suspect that the three ZPM's Janus had the'other Elizabeth' rotate while she was hibernating were responsible for generating the power these obelisks needed. Although we have a new ZPM, we need all the power it generates to maintain life support, system functions and the shielding. That's why Brenna and the others are failing; her systems know that they can't keep pulling power from our one ZPM. Other than having us abandoning Atlantis completely, I'm sorry – I can't see any way to preserve the obelisks."
John spoke up. "I don't mean to be harsh, but what about just saving one or two of the obelisks?" He kept his face carefully neutral, ignoring Elizabeth as she opened her mouth to protest.
Her words were cut off by Dr. Beckett's thick Scottish accent. The doctor had entered the room silently. "And just which ones would you save, Colonel Sheppard? Seeing as we only have the circlet for Brenna's obelisk, and God knows where the other three devices are. Not to mention that we can actually speak to someone who actually called Atlantis home. She's the closest we've come to actually conversing with an Ancient. You would sentence her to death because she doesn't have your precious weapons technology?" Carson's voice had grown louder and sharper, and he was yelling when he finally paused for a breath.
"I'm not saying that, Doctor. But I don't see any need to lose all four when we can possibly save one or two," John replied. "And, yes, I would chose the technology guy – Stafford, I think. Right now, we need his knowledge more than that of a historian."
Rodney stepped down between the two as Carson moved threateningly towards the Colonel. "Wait! Stop! This argument is pointless, because we can't save just one, anyway. They are all interconnected, sharing the power supply. To remove one is to condemn them all to death." Rodney remained positioned between the two, his hands placed on their chests. Carson's angry blue eyes bored into Sheppard's for a long moment, then he stepped back, his stance noticeably relaxing.
"Rodney, there's nothing you can do?" Elizabeth asked gently.
The scientist shook his head. "The next time we contact Brenna, I'm going to ask her to try and download some of her information into our computers. We won't get much, but we'll get some. I've also contacted Earth; we can send some of the data directly to the SGC by keeping the wormhole open, but even if they get all the storage devices I've requested, according to my calculations, we would need to maintain the wormhole for about seven weeks, twenty-four hours a day, to get it all. And that's just Brenna's information."
John gave a low whistle, and Rodney nodded. Carson and Elizabeth looked stunned at Rodney's statement. The four stood in silence for a moment, then Elizabeth turned to Rodney.
"How long do you think she…they..have?" Rodney fidgeted noticeably, then shrugged his shoulders.
"This is just a guess, but no more than another day, maybe two. And that's only if we keep our holographic discussions to a minimum. It takes a lot of power to generate her image." Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully at his statement, then turned to Carson.
"Dr. Beckett. I imagine this had been very difficult for you, but unfortunately, I need to put the needs of the expedition above the needs of Brenna and the others. Are you willing to continue to act as our liaison?" Elizabeth gazed steadily at the doctor, her warm eyes compassionate.
Carson stood still for a long moment, his heart breaking. Yes, this woman was merely a computer generated image, but he had grown to care for her. She had chosen him, after all, rather than the hero soldier, or any of the other humans with the ATA gene. Carson didn't know of that was fate or dumb luck, and he really didn't care. All he knew was that another person that he had befriended was going to die, and, once again, there was nothing he or anyone else could do.
Dr. Weir watched as Carson reluctantly agreed, and a soft sigh escaped her. Had he refused, Elizabeth would not have pressed him. She could see how attached he had become to Brenna, and she also knew how soft-hearted the doctor was. This loss was going to hit him hard.
"Thank you, Carson. I know this is difficult for you," she said quietly. "I suggest we contact Brenna again, and let her know of the current situation. Rodney, if you can coordinate with Earth, and let me know when you'll be ready? Once you're set up, we'll establish another link." Elizabeth's gaze fell on each of their faces, and, satisfied, she strode from the room.
Rodney spun around and followed Dr. Weir, barking orders to Dr. Zelenka via his headset. Colonel Sheppard stood with Carson, then gently reached out a hand and placed it on Beckett's shoulder.
"Doctor, you do understand? I'm responsible for the safety of you and the rest of the expedition. If I could, I would save all four of them. But, I can't."
"Aye, lad. I understand. But that doesn't make it right." Carson's blue eyes bored into John, then the doctor marched wearily from the room. After a long moment, John followed.
TBC