Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

--

Chapter Twenty-Six

As Phena led them into the room, Ford was surprised to discover that it was nothing like he had expected. He didn't actually know what it was he was expecting to see but it certainly wasn't this. Elderen's room was wonderfully decorated and the most beautiful tapestries hung from two of the walls while charts with what appeared to be chemical symbols adorned another.

"His storage cupboard is over here," Phena said extending a hand towards the far corner of the room. Bates glanced to Ford then walked over to it, reaching out to grab the handle and pull it open.

Even though Sergeant Bates had made a move, Aiden seemed most fascinated by the decorations in the room, which made Phena smile as she approached him. "Do you like them?" she asked in reference to the tapestries.

"A lot of work has gone into them," Ford replied with admiration.

"Thank you," the woman replied. "I tried to capture the essence of the scenery and judging from your reaction." Phena looked back to him. "I can see I have achieved that."

Ford finally tore his gaze away from them. "You made this?"

Offering a humble nod, Phena replied: "Many years ago now."

Bates gripped the handle tightly and attempted to pull open the door but it was extremely stiff, obviously this door hadn't been opened for quite some time. He grunted while adjusting his stance and pulled again. He relaxed a moment before attempting it once more.

"I…" Ford began then looking over to the table. "When you mentioned that this was Eld…"

"Elderen," Phena supplied politely.

"When you mention that this was Elderen's lab, I wasn't expecting it to be so…to be so…" Ford said as he searched for the correct word to describe it.

"Warm?" Phena supplied yet again.

"Exactly," he replied. "Actually, that's the word I'd use to describe it." Ford carried on looking around as Phena smiled, recalling Elderen fondly. "My husband had a very warm personality and I like to think that this room reflects that." The smile faded while she looked around, gazing at the different artifacts and objects. "I haven't been in the room since his passing." She swallowed. "I couldn't."

Fighting the urge to take off his cap and bow his head, Ford quietly left the woman to her thoughts and strolled over to Bates who had finally got the door open. When he poked his head inside to see what there was, he gave a low whistle.

"My thoughts exactly," Bates answered, his eyes never leaving the bottles. "Where do we even start?" Ford shook his head wordlessly, neither he nor Bates were scientists and he didn't know how long it would take for a team of scientists to analyse the contents of each bottle.

"We could always ask Phena," Aiden replied after a short silence. "This is her husband's work so she might know something helpful." Bates glanced to Ford and for a moment it looked like he was going to argue, to say anything negative about that suggestion but instead he surprised him.

"Okay," he said with a small nod to tell him that he was backing the decision.

Seeing this as a sign to continue, Ford spun on his heel and headed back over to Phena who hadn't moved from the spot he had left her in. "Phena." She didn't move or turn around, for that matter she didn't even blink. "Phena," he repeated adding a little more volume to his voice.

"Yes," she said turning to him. "Aiden. What is it?"

"Elderen. Did he keep notes on any of his work? Any of his experiments?"

She nodded slowly before speaking: "Always, I shall go look through them. Please. Wait here." She left the room but there was a distant look in the woman's eyes as she did.

"So what do you think?" Bates asked closing the door to the cupboard once more; he had obviously been waiting for Phena to leave before speaking up. "Think these notes will help us find the right one?"

"We don't really have much option, investigate every possibility right?" Ford asked then added. "Besides, Phena seems genuine enough."

"Just because she's old, doesn't mean she isn't incapable of double crossing us."

Gritting his teeth together, Ford could feel his haw tighten. Did paranoia come with the job or was Bates just naturally a suspicious person. Instead of having a go at him or trying to defend his decision, he simply muttered "Whatever" while looking to the doorway.

--

Kolya was an unpredictable son of a bitch at the best of times and Sheppard had no idea how he was supposed to "fix" this problem. What was he supposed to do? Click his heels together three times and wish for all the Wraiths in the galaxy to just go back into hibernation?

Sheppard glanced between him and Matriya. "What? Did I miss something here?" he asked.

"It is my understanding that there are three hives ships on their way to Atlantis."

"That's none of your damn business."

"What I am about to propose could help you eliminate those ships before they even reach…" Kolya paused as if reluctant to say the words but continued. "Your city."

He had to admit to being intrigued by this suggestion but every inch of John's body was screaming at him, telling him not to listen to him. "Go on," Sheppard said quietly as he folded his arms. "You have my attention."

"There is a hive ship currently on its way to a planet, this is the information I have been striving for." Kolya looked pointedly to Mike then back to Sheppard. "And all I need to do is gain access to one of the ships to carry out my plan."

"And the plan would be?" Sheppard prompted.

"In order to carry out the plan I need to get onto one of the hive ships."

"And the plan is?" Sheppard asked, this time raising his voice.

"I need to gain access to the ship Sheppard," Kolya snapped.

"And you plan on doing that…how?" Sheppard asked sceptically.

"Simple. I plan on using one of your ships from Atlantis," Kolya answered casually.

"You know you'll never get your hands on one," John retorted almost immediately. He had known the Genii had wanted the Puddle Jumpers, after all they hadn't exactly been quiet about that fact. Sheppard also knew that Atlantis would never give them up so easily.

"Oh but I have already thought ahead," Kolya answered with that same smug expression that gave Sheppard the urge to just smack him.

"So this is why you took me?" he asked in disgust. "To bargain for my life? Give Weir an ultimatum. Hand over a Jumper of Sheppard gets it?" Sheppard waited for Kolya to respond. "Is that it!"

Kolya just stared at him and didn't answer for a long time.

--

It didn't take Phena very long to find what she was looking for and she took a grey file back into the room with her. "I believe I have found what you are looking for," she replied looking to Bates and Aiden in turn before walking over to the cupboard. Phena pulled the door opened and searched through the bottles, looking at each label carefully before pulling out the correct one. She held up the bottle of yellowish liquid and presented it to Aiden. "This will cure Teyla."

"You're sure?" Bates asked as Ford took the bottle from her. He handled it carefully as he didn't doubt Phena at all and the last thing he wanted to do was drop it and lose their only hope of making Teyla better.

"I am sure, it is the only one listed as being an antidote for the Draka Rota." Phena closed the door and sealed it up. "That is known as a carnivorous plant, if you doubt me it grows out in the forest. You can see for yourself."

"No, we'll take you on your word." Bates glanced to Ford, he couldn't believe had had just said that but that didn't mean he had to believe it himself.

"It will cure Teyla," Phena said sensing the apprehension in Bates. "I assure you of that, Aiden." Ford looked from the bottle then back up to her and smiled warmly.

"Thank you."

--