Long Strange Trip

Chapter 7

Alternate SGA team on Regular Atlantis

Major John Sheppard entered his doppelganger's living quarters, then leaned against the door with a sigh. He had avoided many of Carson Beckett's questions, repeating that he was just tired. Beckett, unable to find anything physically wrong with the soldier, had ordered him to take it easy, and to call him if he felt dizzy again.

John shook his head. It was growing difficult to maintain his cover as Colonel Sheppard. As a Major on his own Atlantis, he had fallen into disgrace more times than he could count, arriving to work intoxicated, or, worse, not reporting for duty at all. Only McKay and Ford had remained loyal, covering for his absences, offering understanding when he collapsed on their doorsteps, drunk and morose over the loss of Elizabeth.

Here, however, as a Colonel, Sheppard was the military commander of Atlantis, responsible for the protection and safety of the city and it's personnel. He was well-regarded, highly respected and had the complete support of Dr. Weir. Rather than glances of pity, here Sheppard received salutes and smiles. On the one hand, it was gratifying to receive the respect he longed for in his own reality. On the other, he was unsure if he could bear the responsibilities that this Colonel seemed to shoulder with such ease.

John sat on his cot, his eyes taking in the personal items in the room. Everything seemed so familiar, and yet…..wasn't. He was this man, yet they were strangers. It was unsettling, to say the least. And seeing Elizabeth again….John closed his eyes, stifling a sigh. How he had missed her! A part of him longed to remain here, on this Atlantis, just so he could be with the beautiful expedition leader. Still….she wasn't his Elizabeth. And probably never would be. John shook his head - he had to return to his own reality, and soon.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he stood, crossing the small room in three steps.

"Rodney. Thank God," John said as he opened the door, revealing the distraught face of the scientist. McKay entered the room, glanced around curiously, then sagged into a chair.

"Okay, we've got problems," Rodney said. He leaned forward in the chair, clasping his hands together.

John settled on to his bed again, his gut tightening. McKay wasn't only his best friend, but he was the smartest man John had ever met. For him to make such a pronouncement was troubling.

"As we surmised, we've been transferred to another reality, one in which McKay – meaning me – is apparently some kind of….loser genius. The guy has apparently saved Atlantis and its people quite a few times, but he's rude, impatient and quite obnoxious."

John smiled as Rodney shook his head in disgust. His Rodney - the man sitting across from him now - was certainly a genius, but he was also one of the most understanding friends he ever had. He was as far from obnoxious as anyone could get.

"Anyway, they received a new ZPM a few months ago, and apparently, the thing has been powering up various parts of the city that these people haven't yet explored. Too busy dealing with other problems."

"So, what happened?" John asked.

Rodney paused, organizing his thoughts. "The room we woke up in houses a device that allowed the Ancients to travel to alternate universes. I haven't ascertained a purpose yet, but maybe they used it to search for a weapon to use against the Wraith, or maybe just as some kind of weird amusement. Anyway, the device was activated and we were switched with the others."

"Yeah, we already figured that much out, Rodney. What else?"

"It seems that during the process, the circuits were overloaded, and the entire system had to be shut down. Dr. Zelenka informed me that while we – meaning them, of course – were fiddling around down there, he lost control of the city and had to shut everything down and reboot the entire system."

Rodney had launched himself from his chair, and was now pacing the room, his hands fidgeting together. John watched him, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Finally, the scientist stopped. His face was bleak as he approached the Major. "I have a feeling that when they shut the system down, they may have lost the address to our reality. In effect, it may have wiped everything clean."

"Are you telling me that even if we get the device up and running, you're not sure if you can get us back to our reality?" John asked, aghast. Rodney nodded, his eyes distraught, and John knew his friend's thoughts were on his wife and daughter.

Major Sheppard rose from his bed, clapping a hand to Rodney's shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Rodney. I promise." The scientist merely nodded, his eyes doubtful.

"Well, what should we do first?" John asked.

Rodney stood a moment, then squared his shoulders. "I've already arranged to lead a team down to the room. Hopefully, I can get the device up and running, and we can figure out a way to get back home. In the meantime, we need to locate the other two….Teyla and the big guy, Ronon. I think for this to work, we need everyone in the room."

John nodded. Dr. Beckett had inquired as to where the two other members of SGA-1 had gone, stating he needed to check them over as well, and John had mumbled some excuse. Now, it seemed as though he would have to search the city, and find the two strangers.

He shuddered as he remembered the hatred in Teyla Emmagen's eyes. She had vowed to kill him, and he was certain that she would make good on her promise. As well she should, he thought. He had abandoned her, leaving the Athosians to their own defenses when the Wraith had come. His first thought had been of Atlantis, not of his new allies. Now, more than a year later, he found that he regretted his decision more than ever.

John followed Rodney out of the room, agreeing to bring the two off-worlders down to the room once he located them. He sighed, knowing how vast the city was, and how easy it would be for someone to hide. Still, he didn't think either of them were of the "hiding" type. Rather, they would try to escape from Atlantis, and kill anybody who got in their way. Dismayed at his thoughts, John hurried down the corridor, an idea forming in his mind.

oOo

Teyla Emmagen crept silently down the hallway. Although this section of Atlantis was well-populated, the corridors were currently empty. She had followed the two humans from the room, finally losing them as they entered a strange closet and disappeared. Frustrated, she had entered the same closet, pausing as she gazed at a control panel. Finally, shrugging her shoulders, she had selected one of the glowing buttons. The closet had whisked her to another part of the city, and she had exited cautiously. Seeing no one about, she slowly made her way through the city, her mind reeling as she took in the city of the Ancients.

Sheppard had invited her back to the city when they had first met, many months ago, but the Wraith attack had prevented her visit. Not to mention Sheppard's abandonment of the Athosians. Now, though, she reluctantly understood his need to protect this great city. It was wonderful. But still only a city.

Voices echoed down the corridor and she paused, no where to hide. Around the corner came two men and Teyla froze, unsure of her next move.

"Hi Teyla!" The one man was short, with wispy hair and glasses. He spoke with an odd accent, but his smile was genuine. She returned his smile uncertainly, then let out a sigh as they passed her by.

As she had followed the Sheppard and McKay, she had overheard the physicist speaking of alternate realities. It had made no sense to her at the time, but now, as more personnel passed without confronting her, even greeting her, she wondered if there was some truth to the man's theory. Before she woke up on the floor, she had been at Halling's side, tracking a stag. Then suddenly, she was here, in the city of the ancestors, her presence welcome and accepted.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice: it was Sheppard. She backed into a recess, her hand on her knife as the man rounded the corner. There was another soldier next to him, looking at some device he held in his hand. The man poked at Sheppard, then grinned.

"She's about ten meters ahead, sir, on the right." Major Lorne clicked off the scanner as John motioned him to stop. Drawing his weapon, Sheppard crept cautiously up the hallway, his eyes circling the corridor.

"Teyla? It's Sheppard. We need to talk." Teyla started as he used her name, then frowned. Even if she was in an alternate reality, this man was still the same one who had left her people to die. She had vowed to kill him….now she would do so.

With a yell, she sprang from her hiding place, her knife in her hand. John whirled around, then fired a strange weapon. Teyla felt as though she had been struck by lightening, then fell to the ground, unconscious. Major Lorne rushed over, kneeling down besides the fallen woman.

"She's alive," he reported, and John sighed in relief. He had acquired the ZAT gun from Major Lorne, stating that Teyla had been adversely affected by the room, and he needed a way to subdue her without hurting her. Now, he knelt down next to her, gently lifting her up.

"We'll take her to the infirmary for now, then go and find Ronon." Major Lorne nodded as John led the way down the hallway, Teyla in his arms.

One down and one to go.

oOo

Ronon Dex grimaced as he eyed the Athosian woman being carried down the hallway. He had almost revealed his position, leaping out to help her as the man named Sheppard blasted her with an unusual weapon. Still, he remained hidden, his mind churning as he tried to absorb everything.

Apparently, he was in Atlantis, the fabled city of the ancestors. Ronon Dex felt a chill creep up his spine as he realized he was far from anything that seemed familiar. He had only heard stories about Atlantis, never dreaming he would actually visit one day. Even if the visit was against his will.

He emerged from the far corner, his footsteps light as he followed Sheppard and the other soldier. He would confront this man, and learn what game was being played. Perhaps he would even rescue this Teyla woman. Until he knew what was happening, though, he would remain invisible, trying to gather as much intelligence as possible. His mind made up, he crept forward, blending into the hallways of Atlantis like a ghost.

TBC