Thanks to all those who are reviewing! Much appreciated. I'm not sure when I'll be able to update after this coz my exams are coming up but I'll do my best. The exams'll be done in a few weeks.

"Any changes?" Rodney asked the technician, looking up at the control screen.

"Negative. There's a limited level of power to some of the systems such as the doors and heating controls, but nothing for the lights."

"Hmm. Is it just that area of the city?" said Rodney, taking a sip of coffee.

"Yup." The technician replied.

"Okay. Check and see if any of the Naquahdah generators have experienced a failure."

"Already done, Doctor McKay." The technician smiled. It was rare to be one step ahead of the scientist, and he was going to savour it.

"Oh. And?" replied Rodney, with a hint of annoyance.

"Nothing, sir. All generators are in perfect order. And there have been no fluctuations in power output over the past several hours. It must be an isolated failure."

"Well of course it must be isolated," said Rodney, rolling his eyes. "How else would you explain it?"

"How else would you explain what?" asked Weir, emerging from her office at the sound of Rodney's agitated voice. It was not an uncommon thing to hear, and she had learned from experience to detect it early before he managed to get into a full-blown rant.

"There's been a drop in energy levels in an un-explored section of the city, just off the north-west pier." Rodney said, pointing at the map, which was still blinking in that area.

"Have you checked the Naquahdah generators?"

"They're all fine. No change in power output around the time of the failure." The technician replied.

"Hmm. What about the ZPM?" Weir asked, looking closer at the screen.

"It doesn't control the power to that area of the city, and anyway, it's not in use at the moment." Rodney said.

"If that area is restricted, then why was power on in that section in the first place?"

"There's a maintenance room in that section for the heating and plumbing, some of the systems require a small amount of energy to run. And the lights that were on in the section were running at low power levels anyway. Only now, that section has experienced an almost complete failure." Rodney replied. "No lights, and very little power to the control systems."

"If that section controls heating and plumbing, then why hasn't it been checked out?"

"Well, a preliminary check was made when we first swept the city, but when the systems became operational again after we arrived in Atlantis, that whole section came back online by itself. There was no need to check it, it's never presented any difficulty. We reduced the energy output to that area when we first scanned the mainframe for unnecessary systems, but we've never had a problem until now." Rodney said, taking another sip of coffee.

"Well, if you don't mind Rodney, I'd like you to take a closer look at this. Perhaps you can check the Jumpers later?" Weir said, knowing Rodney wouldn't be very happy.

He sighed. "Fine. Zelenka's already started on the Jumpers. He'll just have to manage without me for a little while longer." Rodney said, leaning closer to his laptop and finishing his coffee. He tapped his radio receiver. "Radek?"

His radio crackled. "Yes, Rodney?"

"Uh, I've got something I gotta take care of in the control room, you gonna be okay down there without me for a while?"

"I'm sure I can manage." came the response. Elizabeth smiled. Radek Zelenka rarely mocked Rodney, but when he did it was amusing to hear.

"Huh." said Rodney, put out slightly. "Good. Well, I'll be down later."

"Take your time, McKay. Everything's fine down here." Zelenka replied.

"Good, that's settled then. Rodney, find out what's going on, and keep me updated." said Weir, walking towards her office.

"Yes, yes, yes." Rodney replied impatiently, focusing on his computer screen. He reached for his coffee cup and suddenly remembered it was empty. Without looking up, he thrust it in the direction of the technician. "Get me another coffee, would you? Oh, and another one of those powerbars. I'm about to pass out from hunger."

The technician rolled his eyes, muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "faint", snatched the cup from the scientist and stalked away.