Chapter 2 / The threat within.
In the control room people started panicking.
"What was that?" asked Elizabeth.
"I got something coming from the lab, some kind of explosion happened down there and is producing radiations, and it is increasing and spreading. We have to send a tem to get those people out of there." said Rodney while looking on the computer screen.
"Right. Medical team to the lab, I repeat medical team to the lab, this is an emergency!" announced Weir.
"Something is not normal, the computers are getting affected by some kind of virus, the data is unclear, this device must be connected to the network, according to my calculations it will control the entire city when the Wraith arrive on orbit."
"What? Control the city? What do you mean?" asked Elizabeth alarmed.
"It just started locking the access to certain areas, I cannot go through it, the protection shield is being attacked, and I think this thing was design to do whatever it is doing right now."
"And that would be?" inquired Elizabeth
"Making us unable to control the city."
"You mean that someone actually planned to disable the entire city."
"My guess is as good as yours but I think the first suspects are the Wraith; I don't think it is a coincidence that they arrive at the same time the machine was activated."
As the city was locking itself from the radiations coming from the lab, the medical team was trying to reach the survivors.
"Doctor Weir! This is Carson, we cannot enter the corridors to the labs, the city is locking every door in front of us. Can Rodney do something about that?"
"I'm on it." replied Rodney. "I can still run the more basic operations but the main system computers are being targeted right now. I have some readings showing unknown radiations; they seem to come from within the lab. We should take some measure to prevent that they affect the rest of the city."
"The door in front of you should open right now." declared Rodney to Carson.
"It just did! I see doctor Zelenka on the floor, he is unconscious! We cannot stay here, there are radiations coming from the walls" he paused for a few seconds, examining Zelenka.
"It was far more than radiations, it looks like some kind of virus, I have never seen that in my entire life, we need to get those people out of here."
"Are there any risks of you being affected?"
"Yes." he answered. "We should set a quarantine, doctor Zelenka is still breathing but is barely alive, my guess is that those inside are already dead by the level of radiations, the people in this area of the city might all be contaminated. No one is to approach the area."
"Understood doctor Beckett, keep in touch if you have any updates."
Elizabeth turned off her microphone, and looked at Rodney.
"Rodney can you read those radiations on your computer? Are you getting any life signs from the labs?"
"Nothing, it is like it is empty…Elizabeth, it is my fault I should have looked at the device."
"It's not your fault Rodney. Even Zelenka thought it was harmless."
"This is not a reason! I let my personal problems get into my work, those scientists died because of me and if Radek dies it will be because of me."
Rodney was very agitated, and had stood up from his chair, making it roll to Elizabeth.
"Rodney, calm down. I understand your feelings but right now we must stop that machine, so concentrate." She replied quietly.
"I need to get closer to the lab." He mumbled
"No! YOU cannot be infected by it! You are our most valuable scientist." argued Elizabeth.
"Alright! According to the readings minutes before the explosion, the field created in the labs was expanding proportionally, which means that the radiations are going to get bigger till the machine finishes its work."
"Can you assess the damage done already?"
"This might take a while because of the virus."
"Ok, try your best. I'm going to call Earth to let them know about the situation."
To the control guy "Dial Earth"
The stargate began to rotate but stopped to a halt.
"What's happening?"
"The virus is already too far in the system, it is preventing any access to the stargate."
Two hours later, Ronon and Teyla arrived from the mainland.
"Wraith you said?" asked Teyla
"And more, we are in quarantine. The device we brought back earlier today seems to be a trap from the Wraiths. We are defenceless. Rodney is trying to override its effects." declared Elizabeth.
"So holidays are finished?" said Ronon trying to loosen the tension in the room.
"Sorry." said Elisabeth unapologetic.
Everyone had been working to get the city under control without luck. Carson was still treating Zelenka and Elizabeth was trying to think about evacuations and defence of Atlantis.
"What can we do?" asked Teyla.
"We must prepare to evacuate the city by ship, there's no other way to get out of here," started Elisabeth when she received a communication.
"Doctor Weir, this is Carson, I have news about doctor Zelenka."
"I'm listening."
"Well, you can come to the infirmary; it is not contagious however I don't know how to treat it. I need more information about the device"
"Alright, we are coming."
Down in the infirmary, Ronon, Teyla, Elisabeth, Rodney and Carson were surrounding doctor Zelenka's bed.
"How is he?" asked Teyla.
"Well the good news is that he is stable and breaths by himself. The bad news is that he was only exposed for a few seconds to the radiations which means that the people locked inside are probably dead."
Rodney's eyes fell to the floor, feeling guilty; he couldn't believe that his fellow scientists died, in his lab, doing something he should have done.
Elizabeth saw this and put a hand on his arm. Carson started speaking again:
"The walls and doors must be containing the rays because we didn't get infected. The radiations caused a major shutdown of the main organs, fortunately for him, he got a small dose. He will make a full recovery I hope but only time will tell. Those radiation act on their own, like a virus…"
Doctor Zelenka started waking up, grunting.
"Radek?" asked Rodney.
"How are you feeling?" said Carson. "Any specific pain?"
He spoke in Czech, sighed and then…
"Hit by a truck!" he spoke weakly.
"What happened?" asked Elisabeth.
"I don't know, I was leaving the lab when the explosion happened. Someone must have started the device. I remember flying in the air and then nothing."
"Do you have any data from the machine? I need to see everything to understand what happened." said Rodney.
"In the lab."
"We cannot go in there." said Carson.
"Maybe I can access it from the control room. I will need to rewrite the computer protocol and hack my way in the network." said Rodney hastily.
"Go!" said Elizabeth.
" Ronon, Teyla, I want you to contact our closest allies and ask for temporary asylum."
She headed back to the control room and asked for a distress signal to be emitted towards the Daedalus "Send a message to the Daedalus, they need to hurry we are under attack and defenceless."
Whatever happened now was just the beginning of a long journey...
TADA! see new next chapter
anything to say? please review!
