I'm sorry I didn't get to update yesterday. I got home late and then got distracted because Epiphany was waiting on me. Sorry, but I ditched you guys to watch it and drool.
The Mind of Atlantis - Chapter 17
"Hey Elizabeth!" Elizabeth Weir looked up to see Rodney McKay entering her office. "Have you seen Sheppard?"
She frowned. "No...he's still in the infirmary, isn't he?"
McKay looked exasperated. "No, I already checked there. Carson released him hours ago. I've checked his quarters, the mess hall, the labs, the jumper bay...just about everywhere. No one's seen him since he got released."
"I'm guessing you've tried his radio."
"No point. It's sitting on his desk in his quarters."
"And you know this how?" Elizabeth asked, raising her eyebrows at him.
McKay didn't even notice the warning glance. "When he wouldn't open his door, I forced it open. You know how he acts like he's not there sometimes and I really needed to talk to him about the stuff I got off the chair the other day. I wonder where he could be."
Concern began to creep into Elizabeth's voice and features. "You don't think something's happened to him do you?"
"How do I know? It's Sheppard. Anything is possible with him."
"Hmmm. Maybe I should send out a search party...I suppose he could have tried to walk too far and gotten tired..."
"...or touched some Ancient do dad that zapped him," finished McKay.
Elizabeth was really starting to get concerned by now. "How long has he been missing?"
"About...three hours. You could get Ford to get together some men to search for him."
"Search for who?" came a voice behind them. McKay and Weir turned to see Sheppard leaned against the door frame. "Who's missing?"
"You...you are.." sputtered McKay.
"I'm not missing. I'm right here. Why do you think I'm missing?"
"Well," began Weir. "Rodney said you'd been released from the infirmary several hours ago and no one had seen you since and he was unable to find you. He...we were just worried something might have happened to you."
Sheppard rolled his eyes and moved into the room, sitting down in the nearest chair. "I went out to the southwest pier. I...I needed some alone time."
McKay sighed heavily. "You can do that in your quarters, Major. Then it doesn't scare the rest of us half to death."
Sheppard crossed his arms. "Alone in my quarters, huh? Where was the first place you looked for me?"
"Well,...your quarters. But I needed you. What do you need alone time for anyway?"
Sheppard rubbed his eyes. "McKay...I've been on public display for days in the infirmary. Beckett had someone watching my every move - eating, sleeping, reading, talking to visitors. I haven't had one moment alone. I just needed some time to think and sort through things without someone breathing down my neck."
"Oh," said McKay thoughtfully. "I guess I can understand that. I just wanted to talk to you about the stuff I got from the chair the other day."
Sheppard looked up at them and grinned. "Yeah? I have something to tell you too. I think I know where we can get a ZPM."
It was as if he had just dropped a bomb in the room. Two sets of mouths dropped open in disbelief. "A...a...a...a..." McKay stuttered.
"ZPM...that's right. I was on the balcony just kind of letting my mind wander and I started thinking about the stuff that went through the chair when you were checking it out with your computer, and I thought I saw something about a ZPM. I went and checked it out on the Ancient database before I came here. If it hasn't been moved, I know where we can find one."
"This is great!" said Elizabeth.
"Wait," said McKay. "Are you saying you had access to the information I was pulling off the chair with my computer."
"Yeah...sort of like it was running through my head. You know, kind of like a computer screen or a TV or something."
"That's amazing," said McKay.
"Anyway, I want to take my team to the planet and see if the ZPM is still there. We could go tomorrow."
Weir shook her head. "Wait a minute. Carson hasn't cleared you for duty yet. We can send another team."
Sheppard's face clouded. "No, we can talk to Beckett and get him to clear me for duty and I will go and take my team. I found it Elizabeth and I'm going. Do you know how long it's been since I've been off world? Months. I'm going stir crazy. I'm fine. There's no reason not to let me go."
"I understand, John. And I know you are frustrated. But you aren't going unless Carson clears you to go. That's final."
Sheppard sighed loudly to signify his annoyance. He had to convince Beckett to clear him because he was going after this ZPM, no matter what.
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"The temple ruins appear to be about a mile from the gate. The MALP shows the planet to be habitable, much like a tropical forest on earth. That presents a problem in finding a place to land a jumper, so the team will have to go on foot." Elizabeth looked around the conference table at the people assembled for the meeting. Sheppard was here with his team, Teyla, Ford, and McKay. Carson was also here, since Sheppard was still insisting that he be allowed to go on the mission.
"Do we know there's a charged ZPM at the temple?" asked Ford.
"There was a ZPM there at one time," answered Sheppard. "There's no way to know if it's still there or if it's charged without going and checking it out. But...it's our best chance in a long time."
"When do we leave?" asked Teyla.
"Tomorrow at noon," said Sheppard. "The planet is on a little different time zone than Atlantis. We think noon is probably early morning there, so we can get started before it gets too hot."
Beckett decided it was time to interrupt. "Major Sheppard, I still do not like the idea of you going off world yet. You've only been out of the infirmary two days."
Sheppard sighed quietly, trying to remain calm. "Doc...I appreciate the fact that you worry about me, but I'm fine. I feel good, no headache, been eating well,...I'm ready to go. Check me out again if that will make you feel better."
"Aye...I will. But I'm not just concerned about your condition now. I'm concerned about what you'll encounter out there. Major...your body has been through a lot the last few weeks and I'm not sure how much more punishment it can take."
"Doc...we're going to temple ruins to check for a ZPM. How dangerous can it be...never mind. Forget I said that. I guess we do have a bad history with these simple nothing-can-go-wrong missions." Sheppard suddenly brightened. "I have an idea. What if Dr. Strauhan goes with us? He and I were talking the other night about him maybe going off world with us some time. This is the perfect opportunity. Should be a quick, easy in and out. If it turns out not to be so easy, then we have a doctor with us. And he's weapons trained, so we don't have to worry about that aspect. What do you say, Doc?"
Beckett seemed to consider it. "You say he was willing to go off world with you?"
"Yep! Turns out he was in Afghanistan for a year, so he's used to fieldwork. We get him field experienced on off world missions and that means you don't have to go through the stargate as often. What do you say?" Sheppard played the gate travel card carefully, hoping Beckett would take it.
Beckett had to admit, he liked the idea of having someone else who could assume gate travel duties on missions that required medical personnel. "All right, Major. You can go. But I want a last minute check in the morning before you embark and Nick goes with you."
Sheppard grinned from ear to ear. Off world at last. "Great! Everything will be fine, Doc. You'll see."
Beckett shook his head. "I'll believe that when I see it, Major. And you better bring my doctor back in one piece."
"That's a promise!" replied Sheppard.
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As Nick Strauhan stepped through the gate, the hot, humid air hit him like walking into a sauna. Five steps from the gate, he was wiping sweat from his face. He tried to shift the heavy pack on his back to a more comfortable position, but the vest pockets kept hanging up and pulling it to an unbalanced position. After struggling with it for a minute, the pack suddenly was lifted and shifted into the proper position.
"Let me help you with that, Doc. I know it's awkward at first, but you'll get used to it."
Nick turned to see Sheppard finishing the adjustment. "Thanks, Major."
"No problem, Doc. Glad to have you on board." Sheppard grinned at him, obviously elated at being on a mission instead of sitting around Atlantis. He was practically bouncing as he checked with members of his team to be sure that everyone was ready to move out.
"Okay, I'll take point and Ford, you take our six. Doc, you stay in the middle with McKay and Teyla. We've got a mile to go and there's some pretty dense vegetation ahead, so stay close together. Move out." Sheppard began leading the way, his P90 ready. The first few minutes they walked with relative ease as the trees were scattered and the area fairly open. It quickly closed in, however, to become densely overgrown forest, with tall trees and a thick understory.
Nick was glad they hadn't made him carry a P90. Sheppard had decided the handgun strapped to his thigh was enough, since he had a medical bag to carry along with the supplies in his backpack. The gun on his hip felt strange, it's weight unfamiliar to him. It wasn't long before he was panting and sweating profusely. He was alarmed to discover how out of shape he was. He had given up regular exercise since coming to Atlantis, his excuse being his odd schedule. If he was going to go on missions with the team, however, he would have to remedy that situation.
"Let's pick up the pace, ladies. I just got out of the infirmary and I can walk faster than this," Sheppard goaded from ahead. Nick was amazed to discover that the man was not winded in the least. He was sweating as much as any of them, but did not seem tired at all. Nick watched him for a minute, noticing how alert he was. He seemed to be watching the path ahead, the trees to their side, and the people behind him all at the same time. Suddenly he stopped and held up his hand in a motion Nick recognized as a halt signal. They stood quietly for a second, Sheppard creeping quietly forward toward some bushes, his P90 pointed straight ahead. An animal, similar to a cross between a large rat and a cat, dashed out of the bushes and ran down the path ahead. Everyone relaxed. Nick had neither seen nor heard the animal before its quick escape.
"Okay, we're good. Ratzilla made afast getaway," quipped Sheppard as he started forward again.
"Ratzilla?" asked McKay. "And you won't let Ford and me name things?"
"Hey, at least I can tell time - you know, like when an hour is up."
McKay grunted. "I can tell time...I was just preoccupied. Besides, if you were so concerned about the time, you could have set your watch alarm." McKay smiled smugly as Sheppard looked at his watch.
"Humph! Wish you'd thought of that last week."
"Look, Major. I know I'm the resident genius here, but even I can't think of everything. You're going to have to pitch in and use your brain occasionally."
"We're here," Sheppard announced as they stepped out of the forest and into a small clearing. The temple looked like something out of the movie "Congo". It was made of large stones covered with thick vines clinging to the surface and draped across the entryway. "Doc, you stay put while we clear the area."
Nick watched as Sheppard, Teyla, and Ford spread out, quickly surveying the area directly around the ruins. McKay began to pile his equipment up by the entrance to the temple. After several minutes, McKay wiped the sweat off his neck and looked around for Sheppard. "Major...could we do this today please. No one's been here in years and I'm bordering on heatstroke."
"Fine, McKay, quit your whining," Sheppard said as he approached the entrance. Nick noted that his P90 never wavered, always alert and pointed ahead. Sheppard carefully poked his head in the temple with McKay hot on his heels.
Nick, anxious to see his first set of temple ruins, found himself crowding along behind them. They stepped into a large interior chamber. He couldn't help but notice the place light up as Sheppard moved inside.
"Ohhh, definitely Ancient," muttered McKay. The three stepped in farther and began to move around the room.
"You know, McKay, the point of me going in first is to check for danger before you come in. If you're only one step behind me, that doesn't give me much time to clear the place," Sheppard lamented.
"Oh, don't get your panties in a wad, Major. This place hasn't seen live people in years. We're perfectly safe here," replied McKay.
"Oh please don't make statements like that." Sheppard frowned at McKay. Ford and Teyla stepped into the temple.
"Major, where would you like us?" asked Ford.
"Why don't you two keep watch outside. Hopefully this won't take long." As they left, Sheppard turned to McKay. "Are you reading anything?"
McKay was looking at a device in his hand. "Oh, yes. Power readings are low, but that could be because it's not running anything but the lights." McKay walked over to a stone pedestal about four feet tall in the center of the room. The top was rectangular, two feet by three feet. On one side was a half dome protruding from the rock facing. McKay touched it, but nothing happened. "Major, could you step over here?"
Sheppard walked over to the pedestal, his P90 finally at rest. "What?" He groaned when he realized what McKay wanted. "Let me guess. You want me to touch it."
"If it's not too much trouble." McKay rolled his eyes at Sheppard's hesitation. Nick had joined them and the three of them stood around the pedestal.
Sheppard rubbed his hands together. "Well, here goes." He reached out and placed his hand on the dome. Immediately, a holographic figure of a woman appeared next to the dome.
"Welcome. This is the temple of Duri." The figure of the elegantly dressed woman began to speak about the settling of the planet and the building of the temple.
"That's Margarissai," commented Sheppard matter of factly. "She went out in the third evacuation set with section four." He looked around to discover the others staring at him in shock. "What? This stuff just kind of pops in my head." He looked back at the hologram, not so much to listen as to try to ignore the way the others were looking at him. Suddenly he felt very weird and odd and wished he'd kept his mouth shut.
The hologram ended with the revelation that the Ancients had left a shield to protect the current inhabitants of the planet. As it turned off, Sheppard turned to McKay. "I thought the life signs detector showed no people."
"It did...or rather didn't...or...no people, Major. And you've probably noticed that there was no shield."
Sheppard looked disappointed. "So does that mean the shield failed or the power source failed or what?"
McKay shrugged his shoulders. "Only one way to find out. Let me work on the text on the pedestal and maybe that will shed some light on where the ZPM is."
Sheppard watched a minute as McKay worked on the text. He leaned forward and dusted off what looked like a small depression in the edge of the pedestal top. "What about this?" He pushed the depression as he asked. A panel lifted out of the rock and automatically slid to the side, revealing a metal door underneath. "Cool," commented Sheppard.
Nick watched all of this in fascination, feeling more and more like he had stepped into a movie. He was beginning to understand why Sheppard had been so anxious to get out of the infirmary and back to duty. McKay and Sheppard looked at one another. There was a red crystal embedded on one side of the metal door. Sheppard reached out and touched it with palm of his hand. Blue light shot out of the crystal and up the Major's arm, propelling him forcefully backward several feet. They heard a distinct grunt as his back slammed into the temple floor.
TBC