AN: I've been rolling right along, but because I've been doing most of my writing at work (BAD Sarah!), I dunno if I'm gonna have another chapter up this weekend or not. I guess it depends on how motivated I get!

EDIT! I've revised this chapter a little bit, cuz of a canon mistake I made that REFUSED to stop bugging me. Nothing big, just a pet peeve of mine...

Chapter 6

"Colonel Sheppard, are you all right?" Teyla asked once Rodney had been dragged out of sight. The colonel groaned and shivered slightly.

"I've been better" he replied, trying to sit himself up. "Damn this floor is cold!" he said. Zelenka snorted and muttered something in czech.

"What... happened?" Teyla asked. She knew how odd the question sounded, but she believed that the colonel would understand why she inquired.

"I'd call that just about the strangest interrogation I've ever had the displeasure of participating in," Sheppard grumbled. Zelenka and Karina listened quietly as the colonel continued. "The smaller guy, Soren, thinks that WE are Ancients!" he announced, indicating himself, Zelenka, and pointing down the hall where Rodney had disappeared. Teyla raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"I assume you informed him otherwise?" she asked.

"Yea. Well, I tried, anyway. It didn't do any good," Sheppard said with a sigh. "Apparently when they beamed us in, it sensed the ATA gene. Unfortunately, it can't seem to distinguish between 'full blown Ancient' and 'remnant gene' or 'gene therapy.' Which, I must say, is really inconvenient."

"Indeed," Teyla murmured. She was relieved to see that the colonel did not seem to be much worse for the wear; psychologically, anyway. She was thankful for his military training.

"The only good news," Sheppard continued, "Is that since neither of you ladies has the gene, you're considered useless." Teyla narrowed her eyes at him, and even Karina looked a bit insulted. "Hey, his words, not mine!" Sheppard cried. "In fact, I'd say you should be lucky that nothing showed up as... out of the ordinary on your scan, Teyla." The Athosian simply nodded silently. Zelenka, however, could not remain silent.

"But I do not even have the gene artificially!" the scientist cried. Sheppard shrugged.

"I don't know, Radek," the colonel sighed, "I don't get it either. Nothing about this situation makes any sense." Karina's brow had wrinkled, and she looked at Sheppard.

"Wait a moment," she said, "Did you say The Guardians believed you to be 'Ancients'? As in a race of people?"

"Yea. They're a really old race with a lot of really cool technology," Sheppard explained. Zelenka winced.

"It's not quite THAT simple, Colonel," the scientist muttered. Sheppard silenced his complaints with a glance.

"I know that," he said, "But it's the short, easy to understand version."

"So," Karina said slowly, "When you spoke of 'Ancient technology,' you were not simply speaking of OLD technology."

"No," Teyla said. "Why?" Karina suddenly became very interested in the floor.

"I didn't remember until you just said that the Ancients were a people," Karina said, still not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Remember what?" Sheppard asked.

"A story that is told to children, about how our people came to this world," Karina said. "It says that many, many generations ago, there was a great war between the Wraith and a people called the Ancients. The Guardians were asked to take the side of the Ancients, but refused to. They wanted no part in the conflict. So they came to this world and brought our ancestors here, to protect us."

"Ok, but if they wanted to avoid the Ancients, why did they come to a world with a Stargate?" Sheppard asked.

"It wasn't here when they arrived," Karina said. "The story tells that the Ancients put the gateway here and tried to ask the Guardians again and again for aid in their war against the Wraith. The Guardians became angry, and said that no Wraith or Ancient should ever come to this world again, or they would be destroyed." As the young woman finished, she flushed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner, but I didn't think of it! It's a children's story..." she trailed off.

"It's ok," Sheppard said. "You couldn't have known this would happen. Hell, even if you'd told us, it wouldn't have stopped us from checking this out." Karina still wouldn't look up. She liked these people, and now she felt as though this whole situation was her fault. If she hadn't brought them to the cliff...

"Karina," Teyla said softly. Slowly, the younger woman looked at the Athosian. "This is not your fault. No one is mad at you."

"Not at all," Sheppard said. "In fact, now this all makes a lot more sense. The more we understand, the better our chances of getting out of here faster. Speaking of which," he turned and looked at Zelenka. "Radek, do you think you can get that door open?" Zelenka looked up sharply at Sheppard, then at the door, then down at himself. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.

"Eh, well," the Czech stammered.

"Dr. McKay examined the door earlier and saw no weaknesses," Teyla said. Zelenka nodded fervently.

"And when I tried to get the restraints off of him, it was useless," he added. "I have no way of telling if anything I do is making any difference with this technology."

"And you're not even going to try?" Sheppard asked. Zelenka flushed bright red. "I'm sure the ladies will turn their backs, Radek!"

"I do not see you examining the cell for weaknesses, Colonel," Teyla said smoothly, half a smile on her face. Sheppard paused only a moment.

"I'm not the scientist," he said.

"But don't you have experience with this... kind of thing?" Karina asked, nodding towards the door of their own cell. Sheppard huffed, but remained sitting. He was used to nudity. Hell, he was in the military, he had been forced to strip down for more exams than he'd known existed. Between that and a number of the guys in one of his outfits having regular Naked Time celebrations, it hardly phased him anymore. But this situation made it different. He was in hostile territory, exposed, vulnerable. If the opportunity presented itself, he knew that he'd be up and fighting in a heartbeat, no matter what he was or was not wearing. However, at the moment, there was nobody to fight.

The group sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Teyla and Karina both investigated the door of their own cell, but found nothing useful. Time dragged past, and they began to grow concerned.

"Is it just me," Sheppard asked, "Or does this seem to be longer-"

"Than you and Dr. Zelenka were gone for?" Teyla finished. "Yes." Karina nodded.

"Why do you think they're keeping Dr. McKay longer?" the young woman asked.

"I have no idea," Sheppard muttered. "I just hope he didn't piss them off and get himself killed..."

"Colonel!" Zelenka cried, but they had all heard it. They looked down the hall, waiting to see Rodney coming back, hopefully in one piece. As one, though, their stomachs dropped as the men came into view and there was no sign of Rodney with them. Soren glanced around at them briefly.

"Take them," he commanded.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End notes: Ok, the deal with Zelenka's lack of ATA gene pissed me off to the point where I HAD to fix that bit, at least sorta. Thanks to all those who let me know of my boo-boo.

But, erm, my brain is stalling, so I'm not sure if I'll be updating tomorrow or not. I'm doin me damnedest.