Unfurled
by Ann Rach
Summary: Rodney finds more Ancient technology for Carson to try, with unexpected results.
A/N: Nods to two inspirations: Mice's most excellent "Red Lion Rampant" and my favorite Star Trek episode.
Chapter 1
The morning's soft light filtered in through the arching windows, casting a sparkling illumination throughout the room. Being high in one of the spires of Atlantis, the room offered an incredible view of city and the vast ocean. But despite the wonders of the setting, the exploration team had eyes only for the panels and recesses and buttons and switches and lights promising machines they had never seen before. The military escort had been the first in, sweeping the room with firm steps and sharp eyes. When they had determined the room was at least reasonably safe, Major Sheppard signaled the ok. The science team, which had been waiting impatiently outside the door, quickly entered, talking excitedly as they took in the room's wonders, acting all the world like puppies in a new home, figuratively and in some cases literally sticking their noses into anything and everything they could find.
Another motion from Sheppard and the military escort took up positions near the scientists, watchful for any overzealous poking that could trigger who knew what. He himself took the most challenging position, staying near McKay.
The man's quiet muttering as he analyzed and cataloged a particularly complex display panel, lulled Sheppard somewhat. He had learned long ago to filter out McKay's soliloquies, unless there was something in the tone that demanded his attention. Steps behind him caused him to look up and jerk around. The scientist stood there, smugly grinning with arms folded across his chest. "Good to see you so alert."
"Hey, someone's got to keep guard while you brains do your stuff. What'cha finding?"
"Not sure yet," Motioning to Sheppard, McKay moved back over to the display. Sheppard followed. "But it looks like it might be medically oriented. Some of the text and displays looked familiar, similar to what we found it that room Beckett turned into Voodoo Central."
Sheppard grinned at the description of the infirmary. "So what say we get the Doc down here. Let his folks help take a look."
"Great. A whole team of witch doctors." Distracted by one of his team calling his name, McKay scowled as he went to find out what was wrong. "Sure, whatever, call them. They'll be fumbling around worse that this lot. Just tell Beckett to bring me an extra power bar, will you?"
"Dr. McKay?" One of the junior scientists, Talib was his name, stood before what looked to be a door. It was conspicuous in its plainness. Only one rectangular panel decorated the area, near waist height at the frame. The young man was running his hands around the area for a switch or something to open the portal. "I can't get this door to open."
"Gene therapy didn't take, did it." McKay rolled his eyes, put upon that he had to stop what he was doing to be the one to activate Ancient technology. Him getting Beckett to it was one thing. But this was interference with real work. "Move over," he grumbled, shouldering the man aside.
A brief thought and...their only reward was a slight illumination in panel near the door. Though still dim, it was enough that they could see an etched design of swirling lines and stars. But the door itself stayed stubbornly closed, a barrier in front of them.
McKay frowned, ignoring the fact that Talib was struggling to hide a grin. So the door didn't like him. Big deal. The Ancient technology didn't hide its secrets from Rodney McKay, at least not for long. No way. Not a chance. He would figure this out.
"Hey McKay. What's up." Sheppard had sauntered over just in time to see McKay's lack of success. "Can't get it to work?"
The man's frown darkened into a scowl, but the threatening expression wasn't enough to sway Sheppard from temptation. Straightening to his full height and tilting his head up just a little, he stepped before the door. "Here. Let a true gene carrier try."
The door didn't budge, though the panel's interior illumination grew considerably. "Huh... must be broken."
"Yeah, right. I could have told you that." McKay snarked. "So, oh most powerful of gene carriers, just what do you suggest next?"
"Carson's on his way down, isn't he? Let him give it a go. Besides, if its already broken, not much he can do to break it."
"Oh, yeah. Like he'll love doing that." McKay paused, considering. "But it will be fun getting him to try."
"Elizabeth said it was nae an emergency, but why did ye need a full team of...oh my."
Sheppard and McKay turned as one to see Carson Beckett standing speechless, mouth slightly open and blue eyes wide as he took in the room before him. His team stood in a small clump behind their boss, likewise awestruck. A quick glance showed both the soldiers and the scientists grinning at the reaction of their medically inclined brethren.
The moment was spoiled when a crash reverberated through the room. Guns were instantly up and ready as the soldiers swept the room for the threat. The focus settled on one of the nurses.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly, looking down at the med kit that had slipped from her fingers. "I dropped it."
The shock past, the movement of people and the chatter of voices resumed. "Carson, just the man I needed." McKay moved over, grabbing the arm of the still startled doctor and dragging him towards the door. "We think this room has some sort of medical purpose. We recognized some of the symbols from the other rooms found. But its got a few things we don't recognize...like this."
Carson was too been busy taking in the contents of the room as Rodney dragged him across it, mentally cataloging what the equipment might be. His team was spreading out behind him, talking excitedly with the scientists. So when McKay stopped, nearly ran into him. "Wha'?"
"This!" McKay gestured dramatically at the stubbornly closed portal.
Carson glanced briefly at where McKay was pointing, dismissed it as uninteresting and was again looking over his shoulder. "Carson!" the insistent tug on his jacket sleeve demanded his attention. He focused on the man in front of him; the highly educated, incredibly intelligent man standing in front of him and pouting like a petulant child. "Rodney." he responded in a patient yet long-suffering tone.
Looking to where the physicist was still stubbornly pointing, Beckett blinked. "Its a wall, Rodney. Ye brought me all this way for a wall?" Carson started to turn away, his attention again drifting to the promised wonders of the room. The firm grip on his sleeve prevented him from moving far and he sighed deeply. "Just what is it that ye want, man?"
"This look like anything to you?" Rodney was pointing at the panel.
"Naught but a dark window." Again he tried to move away. Again he was pulled back.
"Oh, come on Carson. Take a closer look. I can only get it to light up a little. Here you go," the panel brightened slightly. "Major Flyboy can light it up more. It sort of looks familiar, but I can't quite place it. I think it..." Rodney found himself firmly pushed aside, as Beckett moved forward to stare intently at the panel. He grinned at man's sudden shift in interest.
Beckett dropped to sit on his heels so he was eye level with the panel. Studying the symbols for a moment, he slowly raised his hand, lightly brushing the panel with his fingers.
"Oh."
The exclamation was so soft, McKay wasn't sure he heard it. But Beckett suddenly tensed. Under his hand, the panel's dim illumination flared then began blinking brightly. A moment later, the panel went dark and Beckett was falling backwards into an undignified heap. He sat there, stunned, staring at the offending part of the wall as the door next to him slid open.
"Damn, Carson. What did you do?" McKay was there. "You OK?"
"You ok?" Beckett mimicked, even as he took McKay's offered hand. "Rodney, I told you these Ancient thingys nae like me." He allowed himself to be pulled to feet, ignoring McKay's grin.
"Au contraire, mon docteur," replied McKay, peering into the chamber. "I think they like you very much."
"Cool." added Sheppard. He had wandered over and was peering around the both them to see what had been revealed.
A chair, a smaller version of the control chair, was the focal point of the a small chamber. Panels, more complex than even some of those in the control room, surrounded it.
"I'll leave you to it, then." Carson had taken one look at the chamber and began his retreat. Unfortunately, McKay blocked his path.
"Nope. You opened the door." McKay nudged Carson towards the chair. "You get to try the chair."
"Oh, no. Opening the door for you should be enough. You know I..."
"...break things like this." Beckett frowned as both Sheppard and McKay finished the sentence for him. In unison too.
"Yes, yes, we know that Carson." McKay added, patting him on the arm. "Try it anyway."
"No. You first."
"You, who will cut a person open with not a shred of hesitation, are afraid to sit in a chair?"
"Have you forgotten so quickly what happened the first time I sat in a chair? At your insistence it was."
"I haven't forgotten." Sheppard interjected.
"Of course I haven't." said McKay, muttering in a quick aside to Sheppard. "You are so not helping."
Seeing the stubbornness raging in Beckett's body language, McKay lightened up. "All right. All right. I'll go first. I do have the gene after all."
"Of course you do, Rodney. Why do you think I worked so hard on the gene therapy? I don't know why you keep asking me to work the thingys."
"Because it's fun? Because I'm the one who's got to analyze the results?"
Shaking his head in exasperation, McKay sat in the chair. But like the door, the only response was a faint glow. After a moment, McKay scowled and levered himself out of the chair. "Your turn Major Hotshot."
As with the panel, the chair responded more readily to Sheppard, but only with a brighter glow. Sheppard got up, not too surprised at the results. "McKay huffed and I puffed. That leaves you, Doc." He swept a bow from Beckett's direction to the chair. "Time to blow the chair down, Doc."
Grimacing, Carson reluctantly sat in the chair, the "I told you so" already on his lips even as his hands touched the arm rests. He froze as the chair, and the entire chamber flared to life around him. Glancing down in surprise, he looked up to meet McKay's equally surprised expression. "Rodn..."
One moment is wasn't there, the next it was: a shimmering opaque pillar of energy reaching from the floor to the ceiling. It surrounded the chair, hiding it and its occupant, cutting off whatever else Beckett was going to say. At the same time, the numerous panels covering the chamber's walls also came to life. The displays were changing rapidly in a frenetic reflection of some hidden activity.
"What the...? Carson!" Rodney stared in disbelief at what was before him. He had watched the doctor sit in the chair, as surprised as Carson was when everything came to life. Beckett had started to say something, then he was gone, hidden behind the wall of whatever that had suddenly appeared. The shock of the moment passing, he threw himself against the pillar, Sheppard beside him as they tried to break through. "Carson!" Sliding harmlessly off, he ran around the field, frantically searching for a way in. Panic growing as he found none, he stuck his head out the chamber. "Zelenka! Get in here!"
Alerted by the noise, others came running. "What now, McKay. You break something...Ach Boze! What is that?" Zelenka skidded to a halt, pushing his glasses higher on his nose as he looked at the shimmering pillar before him.
"I don't know, damn it." Rodney had moved over to a wall, his nose almost against the panels has he looked at them, seeking some clue to the chair's function. "Beckett's caught inside. Get your ass over here and help me get him out." All humor gone, Zelenka joined McKay in the frantic search.
After watching a moment, Sheppard stepped out of the chamber, knowing there was nothing he could do to directly help. Using one hand to gesture the gawkers back, he thumbed his radio on. "Elizabeth," For a moment, he watched the shimmering field imprisoning one of his friends. "We've got a problem."