(I'm not particularly happy with this chapter, but it's getting late and I can't look at it anymore so...here you go)

THE ELEDGIAS

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: EXPLANATIONS

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"So, I'm confused," Lorne admitted, leaning forward on the conference room table, eying Zelenka with an arched eyebrow. "Are you saying that the McKay we brought back with us the first time wasn't McKay either? He's been an android the whole time? Why didn't Beckett's machines—"

"No, no," the Czech interrupted, tapping away at the laptop that McKay had brought back with him from the eledgias. "You are not listening. It was McKay. Our McKay. But the eledgias main AI had already created his duplicate. That's what I was saying."

Lorne shook his head. "Then why didn't the eledgias AI send McKay's android back to Atlantis? If it wanted to harm us, why didn't it send both androids?"

"It didn't want to harm us," Beckett supplied, though he too looked confused. "At least, not yet—so the android told me. Of course, it didn't rule it out either." He touched lightly at the bruise under his chin, where the gun had been pressed.

"The Ancestors do not harm people without reason," Halling stated firmly.

"Didn't seem that way to me," Ronon noted darkly, rubbing unconsciously at his throat.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Zelenka," Elizabeth said, steepling her hands together, "I don't think we're quite following this."

Zelenka sighed again, clicked a little more at McKay's laptop, then rubbed his hands together and stood up. Elizabeth, Sheppard, Lorne, Ronon, Halling and Beckett were all watching him expectantly.

"I have, perhaps, been a little unclear," the Czech said to the gathering, "I apologize. I get so used to talking with...er...with my peers, that I sometimes forget I need to bridge the gaps for the non-scientifically minded." He smiled patronizingly, either ignoring or oblivious to the dark looks he just got from the people who were well aware that, by "non-scientifically minded" he really meant, "inferior." Beckett even rolled his eyes—McKay was obviously rubbing off on the Czech a little too much.

"Just get on with it, Radek," Elizabeth said patiently.

"Yes, yes, so, I start from the beginning." Zelenka leaned against the edge of the conference table and held up a finger. "First, Teyla and McKay went down into the main entrance of the eledgias, and their presence triggered the powering up of the eledgias AI, yes?" He looked around, and, at their nods, continued. "Well, the AI scanned them both, and decided they were a threat from the fact that Teyla carried Wraith DNA and Rodney Ancient DNA despite both being human, yes?"

"Yes," Sheppard ground out through gritted teeth. Zelenka smiled some more.

"Good." He held up a second finger, "Now, the eledgias AI took the physical information it had from the scan and transmitted it to two of the android blanks, creating the duplicates. And that," Zelenka tapped the top of the laptop, "according to the information we've downloaded from Rodney's laptop, is when things started to go wrong."

"You mean the first earthquake," Ronon said.

"Exactly," Zelenka nodded. "Now, the eledgias has not been used for over ten thousand years," he shrugged, "probably much longer. I would guess that, even when it was in full use, it probably did not often have to create two androids at the same time..."

"Then why have multiple blanks?" Beckett asked, his eyes narrowing. "I saw at least half a dozen of them down there."

"I saw twice that," Sheppard added quietly, "another half dozen in another room."

"Ah, you misunderstand. I said they did not have to be created at the same time. I did not say they could not have more than one functioning at the same time. The androids have their own source of power. Once created, they are self-sustaining until such time as they are shut down and returned to their recesses and, as you say, to their blank state."

"And why is this important?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head.

"Because, when you have a cold machine that is started up after that long a period of time, especially one that is badly damaged, and attempt, right off the bat, to expend an excessive amount of power..."

"The eledgias couldn't handle the power," Sheppard said, nodding in understanding. "It started to break down."

"And the whole structure started to shake," Elizabeth understood. "Hence the earthquake."

Zelenka smiled, pleased. "Yes. Now, I do not believe the AI controlling the eledgias was aware of the earthquake it was causing until too late. It continued with its plan. It, for lack of a better term, scooped up Teyla and transported her to the sepulcher to connect her to her android's interface. It was then about to scoop up Rodney..."

"But the ceiling came down," Ronon noted, glancing at Sheppard, who was playing with his sling, trying to itch the skin under his cast. "The earthquake damaged the transporter device."

"That is our surmise, yes. The main AI must then have become aware that something was wrong, because it recognized that damage had occurred not only to itself, but to Rodney. The sensors in the entrance were functioning enough to sense that he was hurt, possibly dying. The eledgias AI is not malevolent—do not forget that its ultimate purpose is to protect, not harm. At that time, it was not absolutely sure that Teyla and Rodney were a threat, and thus did not want to be the cause of any permanent harm, so, it did the only thing it could—it sent the android Teyla out to find help for Rodney." Zelenka shrugged. "Then, apparently, the first earthquake's final act was to sever the main AI's communications with its androids, so it could not stay in contact with either Teyla's android, nor implant a consciousness into Rodney's..."

"Lucky for him," Lorne noted, arching an eyebrow. Zelenka nodded.

"Meanwhile, the Teyla android found us," Sheppard said, glancing at Ronon. "To rescue Rodney."

"Yes."

"When Teyla woke up a little while ago in the infirmary," Beckett said, taking his turn in the story, "she told me a little of what she experienced. Apparently, at first, she was in control of the android, though she did not know that it wasn't her body. She remembered walking into the entrance, with Rodney behind her, then nothing until she was standing outside a different entrance and covered in dirt. She was horribly disoriented, but something told her there had been an earthquake, she had gotten out, and that she needed to help Rodney. She remained in control, though she sensed something was wrong, up until she met up with Colonel Sheppard and Ronon for the first time. Then, suddenly, she was shoved to the back. She was 'awake', for lack of a better term, but the android's AI took over from then on. She likened it to a dream-like state, conscious but not. The android would pull information from her, including how to act and speak and fight, but she was never able to exert even a modicum of influence on its actions. Her last memory was being with Doctor Beckett entering the eledgias, then, suddenly, she was lying down and Rodney was trying to wake her up."

"Might she or Doctor McKay have been at all to blame for what happened?" Halling asked quietly, tentatively. Everyone in the room looked at him, some shocked he could even suggest such a thing, others, like Sheppard and Ronon, clearly angry. Halling looked down. "My apologies. I assumed they were guiltless, but I needed to make sure."

"Of course, Halling," Elizabeth said diplomatically. Sheppard gave her a look, which she ignored. She took in a deep breath, and looked over at Beckett. "Moving on, then. Carson, do you know how Rodney was able to tell that Teyla was an android?"

Beckett shook his head, "No. Best guess—the eledgias, when it touched his mind to create the duplicate, alerted him to the possibility of such an occurrence—so when he woke up, he was looking for an android. He saw one. I'm still not sure it was a real vision, or just one he was expecting to see..." He shrugged.

Elizabeth grimaced at the non-answer, but saw no reason to press it right now. "Okay. Well, what about Rodney's android? How did he become replaced by it?"

"Ah, well, I managed to speak with him as well just before I came here..." Beckett nodded.

"He's awake?" Sheppard asked, interrupting him.

"Aye. For a few moments only," Beckett smiled at the colonel. "Enough to see he'll be fine."

Sheppard grinned, the smile matched around the conference room table. McKay had been unconscious for nearly a full day, which had been worrying everyone, so this was very good news. Beckett cleared his throat to draw their attention back.

"Anyway, from what he told me, he obviously had no idea that a doppelganger of his was waiting for him down there. He just bumbled his way to Teyla's chamber thinking that, by keeping the main AI off, he wouldn't have to worry about anything else."

"But," Zelenka said, interrupting, "as I said, once created, the androids are self sustaining..."

"And his android probably saw McKay arrive. He might even have walked right past it, thinking it was a mirror." Sheppard gave a small smile, then shuddered a little. The whole thing still creeped him out no end.

"He told me he had just reached Teyla's room when he heard something behind him," Carson said, nodding at Sheppard. "He turned around and found himself face to face with his android. He, according to his version, was, of course, not even the slightest bit alarmed by this," he gave a tiny smile, showing just how much he believed that, then continued, "but, instead, immediately thought of the idea of switching places with the android so that, when the android Teyla showed up—which he knew she would soon—he wouldn't be in as much danger."

"But how could he be sure he'd be in control of the android?" Lorne asked, frowning.

"Because he was in control of the main AI," Zelenka explained. "Without alternate programming, the McKay android would, for all intents and purposes, be McKay. The only difference between it and Teyla's android is that Teyla's android had an independent piece of the AI planted in it. McKay's android was still, in essence, a blank, awaiting instructions. McKay provided them."

"Ah, but," Sheppard said, smirking, "unfortunately for McKay, something he didn't consider—he doesn't fight as well as Teyla. Got his ass whupped in android form as easily as if Teyla herself were doing it to him." Opposite his commanding officer, Lorne grinned at that, getting the joke.

"There is another difference," Beckett said, nodding, his tone much more serious. "In a way, Teyla was lucky. Because she was not in control of her android, she was putting no energy into its sustenance. Thus, it was only draining her slowly. Rodney, on the other hand, was completely in control of his android, and it took a lot of him physically. It explains why, though Teyla was under for longer, they were both equally sick when rescued. Plus, the real Rodney was still suffering the effects of his head wound, and, mentally, he..."

"Felt himself thrown into two walls," Sheppard said, curling his upper lip. "Probably not a nice sensation."

"No," Carson agreed. "He said he lost control of some of the android's motor functions the second time, because of the damage done, so he shut it down. He actually said it felt a little like," Beckett shuddered, "killing himself." Sheppard mimicked the expression, as did Lorne. Elizabeth sighed.

"You think he should speak with Kate?" she asked the doctor quietly.

"No," Beckett and Sheppard said at the same time. Carson and Elizabeth both looked at the Colonel, who was frowning at his expedition leader.

"Colonel," Elizabeth said, her voice softening, "I know why you are reluctant to—"

"Elizabeth," Sheppard interrupted, "this isn't something Kate can fix."

"He just needs rest, Elizabeth," Carson agreed, though he was eyeing Sheppard out of the corner of his eye.

Elizabeth frowned at them both, then sighed. Turning away, she glanced back at Zelenka.

The Czech just smiled innocently at her. He wasn't getting involved.

She had to work not to roll her eyes.

"Can I ask something?" Lorne said, drawing their attention. The major then looked to Zelenka, "How did Teyla's android damage Rodney's so easily. Aren't androids supposed to be sort of, you know...unbreakable?"

Zelenka snorted, "You've seen too many Terminator movies, Major. The androids in the eledgias were not designed to be thrown around or beaten up. They were just machines, as breakable as...any machine."

"Oh," Lorne said.

"Teyla's robot wasn't just a machine," Ronon muttered. "That thing was fast."

"It was a machine with Teyla's reflexes, moves and speed, Ronon. Plus, her fists were made of metal," Sheppard smirked at him. "Of course, if I were you, I'd be embarrassed."

Ronon growled at him, and Sheppard smirked some more.

"Okay," Elizabeth said, trying to bring the serious tone back, looking at Sheppard again, "So that explains what happened before you got there, colonel. Then what happened afterwards? After McKay's android was...shut down."

"Easy," Zelenka explained, "the real McKay woke up. He was just in the next room over. He just didn't wake up quickly—it had taken a pretty harsh toll on him."

"Still, it was a pretty clever idea of his," Sheppard said.

"Except," Zelenka held up a finger, "that the violence to both androids, plus the fact that, for some reason, McKay found and reinitialized the communication systems—still not sure why he did that," he added as an aside, "it triggered the main eledgias AI to turn back on. Like an emergency generator, the demise of the androids alerted a back up program inside the AI to 'wake up,' and the main AI was quickly up and running again. It sensed that something had gone very wrong, sensed the strangers inside of its corridors, and, from what we can tell, was trying to activate some sort of defense measures—perhaps even reawaken the rest of the androids. But all it did was cause more earthquakes."

"But Doctor McKay—the real one—soon shut it down again," Lorne nodded. "Ronon heard him and found him in the next room, trying to get down off one of those strange coffin tables without falling off, and, the moment he saw us, he was ordering us in his usual tone to help him try and shut the AI down."

"How did you know it was really him?" Elizabeth asked, clearly curious.

"Besides his rather unique way with words?" Lorne asked, arching both eyebrows.

"He was unwell," Ronon said. "I could hear it in his voice." He shrugged, "Why would an android be ill?"

"Plus, he had the bandage on his head still," Lorne said, indicating his own forehead. "None of us noticed before, but the android McKay didn't have a mark on its head."

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow, impressed. Pursing her lips, she looked down at the screen in front of her, then looked up again, her eyes open. "Well, I think that answers as much as we can at the moment." She looked at Sheppard again, "so you think Rodney succeeded? Is the eledgias safe enough to explore now? Properly?"

"Rodney said it's shut down. It won't turn back on without our help. So, with the right precautions," Sheppard nodded, "Yes. It's safe."

Her eyes narrowed a little bit, "You're sure?"

"Rodney told me it is, Elizabeth," Sheppard replied, meeting her gaze evenly. "And I trust him."

She frowned faintly. "You remember the last time you said that," she asked solemnly.

"I do. This is different. It's well within his skills, Elizabeth. If he says he's done it, then he's done it."

She stared at him a moment longer, then pursed her lips again. Finally, she nodded, and turned to Halling.

"Well, Halling? Do we have your consent to study the ruins properly?"

Halling's jaw shifted slightly, glanced at Sheppard and the others, then turned back to Elizabeth.

"No, Doctor Weir," he stated firmly, "you do not."

Weir's eyebrows lifted in surprise, then furrowed. "Halling..."

"Your own people were nearly killed, Doctor," the tall man said, "And the damage done to the ruins is...terrible. How could I possibly—"

"I understand your reluctance," Elizabeth replied, cutting him off. "Believe me, I do. I rarely like to send my people back to places where...they could be in danger." Her eyes glanced to Sheppard, then back again. "But this place could tell us a great deal about who the Ancestors were as people—something we have never really had the opportunity to do before. And, if certain precautions are taken, I believe that, with great care and patience, we could unearth a font of knowledge beyond our imaginings." Her eyes were lit up at the possibilities, and she smiled at the tall man. In return, Halling's gaze only seemed to grow even more wary.

"Great care? Like the great care you have taken thus far?"

Elizabeth sighed, "Obviously, Halling, mistakes were made—and more may be made before this is done—but the potential benefits are tremendous, far greater than the risks involved now. At this point, we know for sure what we are dealing with and—"

"No," Halling shook his head. "I'm sorry. No."

"Halling, please, I assure you, no further harm—"

"The only way to assure that, Doctor Weir, is for you never to go near the eledgias again."

Elizabeth grimaced, not denying that argument. She shook her head, "That's not an option, Halling. Not if we wish to progress as a people. Not if we wish to keep learning."

"Learning...what?" Halling spat. "What could you possibly learn from this place?"

"Are you kidding?" Sheppard asked, dumbfounded. "There could be information down there that could help us protect this City better," he shook his head, "maybe even how to defeat the Wraith!"

"Not to mention," Zelenka added, "the potential scientific and intellectual—"

"I said, no," Halling repeated, standing up abruptly. "And if any of your people come near the eledgias again, you will have lost any friendship or trust the Athosian people have in you."

"Halling..." Elizabeth said, standing up slowly, "Please..."

"I cannot make myself more clear on this matter, Doctor Weir. You either respect my people's wishes or not."

"Your people's?" Weir challenged softly, her eyes narrowing, "Or yours?"

Halling's jaw flexed, but he did not dignify that with an answer. "Is that your answer? You make fun of me?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes, sighed, then shook her head. "I am sorry, Halling, you're right—that was uncalled for. All right. We will not go back to the eledgias without—"

"Elizabeth—" Sheppard said, at the same time that Zelenka chirped a complaining, "No!"

Elizabeth glared at both of them to silence their protests, then looked again to Halling. "We will not go back down into the eledgias without your permission."

Halling met her gaze, measured it, then, slowly nodded. "Thank you."

She just nodded back, and Halling bowed to her, signaling a farewell. Turning, he walked out of the conference room, leaving the Atlantians alone.

"Elizabeth," Sheppard said softly, looking at her curiously "Why did you do that?"

"Because the Athosians are our friends, Colonel, and I'm not about to make Teyla's life any harder than it already is." She arched an eyebrow at him, "Are you?"

Sheppard grimaced, then sighed, "no."

"Besides," Elizabeth smiled, "I don't expect this to last forever. Do not forget we have Teyla on our side, Colonel. I have a feeling that, in time, our differences will be resolved. We just need to give her that time."

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TBC...