"It's Ancient. That's definite. And, it is activated by the Ancient gene." McKay was excited. "The inside of the Chamber, which seems to be the control room, looks so much like…"

"The Aurora." Sheppard finished. "It was kind of weird to see it."

McKay agreed. "Yes. This thing has been there for ten thousand years. It's the tallest building anywhere. They said that was by instruction of the Ancestors."

"It's probably to give the weapon unobstructed range. We think it comes up out of the roof, but the Arunians couldn't confirm." The Colonel gestured with one hand.

"They tend to hide indoors during an attack."

"The weapon protects an area within a radius of no more than sixty miles. That's not much land." Sheppard leaned back in the chair.

"The size of the protected area has, of course, made it impossible to increase their population beyond a certain point, search for raw materials and advance their technology past the horse and buggy period." McKay paused momentarily. "Not that they have horses. Anyway, their scientists concentrate on agriculture, astronomy, medicine based on botanicals and little else."

"Apparently a couple of thousand years ago, one of the Keepers of this Guardian thought he could take a peek at it. Whatever he did to it ended up killing him and every Keeper that has used the weapon since." Sheppard nodded at her shocked expression.

"I think I can convince them to let me take a look at it." McKay was pleased with himself. "We know it isn't a shield. They said it destroys the Wraith ships in the sky."

"I don't think it uses drones. There's no chair, just a small console in the control room." Sheppard speculated. "It may be a much smaller and extremely limited version of the space weapons platform."

Elizabeth Weir looked at each of them and leaned forward in her chair. "Isn't it risky to even go near this Guardian?"

"I don't think so. It's been stable all this time, so the power source might be a ZedPM." McKay saw her expression. "Oh! You mean I might break it."

"You have broken weapons before, Rodney." Sheppard dryly reminded him.

"That was because the power source was unstable!" McKay huffed. "This can't possibly…I only want to look at it. I think I've spent enough time around Ancient technology to be able to look at it without causing any damage. And, if I can figure out what's wrong, they won't have to go sacrificing any more Keepers."

"That's a thought." Sheppard conceded. "They have no problem with volunteers. There were about twenty people waiting to be tested to replace two Keepers when we arrived."

"Was there an attack?" Elizabeth was alarmed.

"No, one died of natural causes and another is injured. The third is really just too old. The Arunians had already started looking for replacements." The Colonel waved off the idea. "But, it would be nice if they didn't need to go through this search every time they needed a new Keeper."

"You mean giving them the gene therapy?" She asked.

"Yeah. Anyway, they are anxious to talk with you. They're very excited to meet people from off-world and do some trading."

She sat back and thought for several seconds then nodded. "When would they like us there?"

"The day after tomorrow." Beaming, McKay jumped up. "I'd better start getting my gear together. Carson."

Beckett quickly stepped aside as McKay rushed out. He entered and sat down. "Hello, Colonel. How did the mission go?"

"Fine." Sheppard quickly gave the Doctor the highlights.

"Well, we know the Ancient gene is dominant. If you have it, it works. To what degree one can use it is a different story." Beckett thought for a moment. "You said they search throughout their population for Keepers?"

Sheppard explained. "Seems so. They apparently haven't been keeping track of the families that have the ability to be Keepers. They were left a system of government by the Ancients that they have taken to heart generation after generation. There doesn't appear to be a class system and everyone can pretty much choose their occupation."

"Sounds idyllic." Beckett was skeptical. "So, the Ancient gene may have been distributed throughout the population through marriage. And, like any given gene, it doesn't always get passed to the next generation."

Elizabeth smiled. "Feel like coming on a field trip?"

Beckett compressed his lips and shook his head. "I'd love to, but can't right now. I'm a wee bit understaffed at the moment. I have people over on the mainland and some off world."

"I'm sure we'll need to go back soon with the first of any trade goods." Elizabeth nodded. She looked at Sheppard with a thoughtful expression. "Why didn't the weapon come online when you appeared in the Jumper?"

"I was thinking about that. We were cloaked until pretty close to landing." He shrugged. "Maybe it recognizes the Jumpers somehow."

----------

Curnol showed Elizabeth, Teyla and Peter Saunders into a large room dominated by a heavy wooden table surrounded by twenty chairs. Wyndan stood at the far end with four others who moved forward to meet the visitors. Several attendants stood discreetly around the walls. The Second Assistant bowed deeply.

"Governor Wyndan, may I present Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Peter Saunders? And, Teyla Emmagen you have already met." He bowed to the visitors. "Dr. Weir, may I introduce Governor Wyndan, First Assistant Trineer, Councilwoman Cilloa and Pirrian, Master Weaver."

The Governor and his people smiled broadly, placed their right hands over their hearts and bowed. Wyndan indicated the table. The attendants came forward to draw back the chairs. "Please be our guests. We have much to discuss. Our people are quite excited to show the fruits of their labor."

The visitors also smiled and bowed. Elizabeth responded. "It is very good to meet you, Governor Wyndan. We are honored to be here."

As they sat down, more attendants came in with trays of fruit, carafes and glasses. They deftly laid the trays on the table and melted away silently, along with all but one of the attendants.

"We are so very happy that you have come to Arunia, Dr. Weir. We are all excited at the prospect of meeting people from other worlds and trading with them." Wyndan inclined his head again. "We only hope that our meager offerings are suitable for your needs."

"I am sure they will be, Governor Wyndan." Elizabeth replied. "Teyla has told me your textiles are remarkable."

The Arunians proudly showed off finely woven fabrics made from wool and flax. They also brought in grains and fresh produce. The visitor could see their lack of heavy industry was made up for with thousands of years of dedicated and careful husbandry of the land.

----------

Sheppard stood in the small anteroom of the Chamber with Ronon, occasionally glancing in. They talked in hushed tones. McKay had been in there for upwards of an hour, poking around with his sensors and data pad. They hadn't touched the ATA sensor yet. McKay wanted to determine if it was safe to even try to power up just the controls.

Cernan, the elderly Keeper, waited patiently off to one side of the Chamber. His knowledge of the actual workings of the weapon was non-existent. He knew only what was handed down from Keeper to Keeper. When the Wraith arrived, he would go into the Chamber, which was sealed. Then, he would place his hand on the ATA sensor and ask the Guardian to destroy the ships high above. The fear of causing more damage to the weapon prevented any kind of nosing around.

The astrophysicist turned around, frustration in his voice. "Nothing so far."

Sheppard walked up to the console. "We really don't have all day."

McKay stood, open mouthed in the middle of the room. "What are you doing?"

Cernan stepped forward, wringing his hands. "Colonel, please be careful."

"Trust me."

Sheppard passed his hand a few inches above the sensor. The console lit up and a panel on the wall in front of the console slid open to expose a complex array of crystals. McKay nervously looked around, glared at the Colonel then approached the open panel. Sheppard went back to the door, but remained in the room.

Ronon chuckled quietly. "You know, it annoys him when you do that."

"Really?" Sheppard cocked his head to one side a fraction, a grin tugging at his mouth.

After looking at the number and configuration of the crystals, he muttered under his breath. "This is still going to take a while."

Another hour or so later, McKay stepped back. He glanced at Sheppard. "I think we're safe to power up just the controls."

"Think?" Ronon leaned inside. "You're not sure?"

"Well, as sure as I can be." McKay was offended. "Look, from everything we've been told, this thing is probably dangerous only when the weapon itself is powered up. It's unlikely just testing the system would be dangerous."

The Colonel pushed off the wall and walked back to the console. He laid his hand on the sensor. "Want me to try running a diagnostic?"

McKay perked up. "You think you can?"

Sheppard tilted his head to one side a fraction and nodded. The console came to life and a type of heads up display appeared at eye level between the console and the open panel. They studied it closely for a minute. With a worried Cernan watching, McKay began touching the probe to the crystals, checking the HUD and his data pad each time.

----------

As the last group of farmers left the room, Wyndan smiled warmly at his guests. "Our lives are simple, Dr. Weir. We know that we are restricted in growth, both in population and technology. But we are most fortunate to have protection from the Wraith so that we may pursue many other things. As you have seen, our farmers and weavers are masters at their crafts. We have artists, philosophers, doctors, and all of our people are educated. All of our people are also free to choose the work they will undertake."

"You are most fortunate, but you do not wish for more?" Saunders asked. He was a young man with a quiet, amicable demeanor. Elizabeth brought him because of his expertise with agriculture products.

"We dream that one day the Wraith will forever disappear from our skies. We would then be able to explore our planet and strive to explore other planets, as you do. But we understand that our existence is dependant on the Guardian and that we must compromise in order to survive." Trineer explained.

"Some of our people have explored outside of the protected zone." Councilwoman Cilloa continued the story. "Over the years, they have brought back ores containing the metals we use, plants and an amazing variety of animals and insects. Sadly, though, no sign of other people has ever been found in their journeys.

"The Wraith appear every one to four hundred years, usually somewhere around three hundred years. Expeditions are mounted in the years immediately following a Wraith attack. We have been able to locate good sources of materials during those forays and return to mine as we are able."

Elizabeth was impressed by their pragmatism. "Your people have a wonderful attitude, Governor. This sounds like a perfect society."

"Please do not misunderstand us, Dr. Weir." Wyndan was a little taken aback by her statement. "We have troubles and discontent. We are fortunate it is minimal. Everyone here has access to what ever they need, so there is little need for crime."

They had been talking for a couple of hours and it was nearing sunset. Trineer opened the door and ushered four attendants with trays laden with food and more carafes. They barely had time to set them down when a strident klaxon started sounding. Immediately the Arunians began shuffling silently out of the meeting room. Trineer waited at the door for the Governor and their guests.

Elizabeth looked around. "What is it?"

"It is the Guardian warning us that the Wraith are near." Wyndan stood next to Trineer. "Please, you must leave. We do not want to risk your being harmed in any way."

"But, what about the weapon?" Saunders asked.

"We do not know with certainty that Cernan will be able to defeat the Wraith. Please, there is not much time." The Governor held out his hand.

Elizabeth nodded at Teyla and Saunders, and they hurried to the door. She heard Sheppard's voice on her transceiver as they walked through the hall to the front door.

"Lieutenant, the Wraith are on their way. Bring the Jumper to the square in front of the Temple."

"We have not more than a few minutes." Curnol met them at the door. He did not bob once.

"John, has Rodney made any progress?" Elizabeth tapped her transceiver as they crossed to the Temple with Wyndan, Trineer and Curnol.

"What? Where is the…" McKay's voice was suddenly cut off.

"Harlin! What's your ETA?" Sheppard barked.

"We're almost on top of you now, Sir." The Lieutenant responded immediately.

"What's wrong? What happened?" She picked up the pace.

"Rodney touched something he shouldn't've. Clear the square in front. We're on our way out."

Elizabeth turned to their hosts. "Dr. McKay has been injured. Can we please clear the area here for our ship to land and pick him up?"

Without hesitating, Trineer turned to the Wardens at the door and ordered them to clear a space. The Arunians scurrying around ran out of the way when they saw the visitors' craft rapidly descending to land. Harlin deftly turned the Jumper so that the back faced the doorway of the Temple. It touched down and the ramp began to lower as Ronon and Sheppard carried an unconscious McKay out into the waning sunlight. One of the Wardens was close behind, carrying their weapons.

"Is he alright? What happened?" Elizabeth asked as they hustled McKay into the Jumper and laid him on the seat. She knelt next to him and felt for his pulse. "Rodney, can you hear me?"

"He's alive, but he got a nasty shock. We were running a diagnostic when the alarm sounded. There was a power surge or something. I don't know for sure what." Sheppard said as he went into the cockpit and leaned over next to Harlin. "Get away from the town fast and stay cloaked. There isn't enough time to get to the Gate so land somewhere. I don't know how well I'll be able to control this thing, so it may not be exactly safe to be airborne."

Sheppard didn't wait for an acknowledgement. He was out of the Jumper again.

"What do you mean, control it?" Elizabeth stood up and started to follow him. "Did Rodney fix it?"

"It's fine. I just don't know how the damn thing works!" Sheppard stopped and whirled around. "Everyone on board. Lieutenant, get her out of here. That's as order!"

"Yes, Sir!" Harlin yelled at his Marines around the Jumper. "Let's go."

Two of the Marines flanked Elizabeth as she stared after Sheppard. Teyla held McKay steady on the seat, her voice was filled with urgency. "We must leave!"

Sheppard was running again, grabbing the Warden with his P-90 as he passed and pulling him along. Harlin was at the controls, working as fast as he could.

"I'll stay with him. Go!" Ronon jumped out as the ramp lifted. He followed the Colonel back into the Temple without glancing back.

Sheppard ran past the people gathered at the doorway and through the great hall, the anteroom and then the Chamber. Ronon needed to slide to a stop as the door to the Chamber closed before he could enter. Cernan was standing there with a horrified look on his face.

Ronon glared at him. "Why aren't you in there?"

"Sir, he opened the door! He opened the door from outside and pushed me out. There is no way to open it again." The old man wrung his hands and hurried over to the outer door.

"Sheppard!" Ronon pounded on the door. After several fruitless seconds, he backed up and pointed his gun at it then thought better. Ronon turned and growled at Cernan and the Wardens hovering fearfully nearby.