Chapter 5: An altercation.
John awoke the next morning to someone pounding on his door; he stumbled out bed wondering why someone was so intent on beating his door down. Most people would just sound the door chime, so it must be urgent, was his first thought as he made his way to the door and when he opened it he found Shalite standing outside.
She was standing there staring at him with a smirk on her face and he couldn't quite work out what her problem was; until he looked down. Apparently he had forgotten to get dressed when he'd rolled out of bed, because he was standing in front of her with just his boxer shorts on.
"Umm…Shalite, how can I umm…help you?"
"How about you go and get dressed and I will see you in five minutes?" Shalite suggested entering the room. The whole situation was embarrassing for John and he could see that she was trying not to laugh.
He sighed, "Why don't you wait here while I go and put some clothes on and then maybe we could order breakfast and eat it together?"
"Are you sure you don't mind John? Tuart is working and I really need to talk to someone?"
He shuddered at the thought of her wanting to talk to him, he really hoped that she wasn't about to get all touchy feely on him, she was married to another man after all. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Tuart and have him wanting to knock him out or something, for having breakfast with his wife.
"Why don't we go to the mess hall for breakfast Shalite, the last thing I want to do is upset Tuart, by having breakfast with you?"
"I really want to talk in private about a nightmare I had, but if you want Dr McKay here, call him if you like? I really don't care what Tuart thinks as you and I are just friends and nothing is going to happen."
Although John was relieved that she wasn't here to take advantage of him, he still decided that it would be a good idea to call Rodney in, because as much as he took her at her word, he still didn't like her husband much. Tuart had been suspicious of him since the day he had arrived on the Phoenix, but then he didn't really trust Tuart either.
"Okay I think I'll call Rodney and get dressed. I'll order some breakfast after that."
He headed to his room and tapped his arm to activate his com device, "Sheppard to McKay, come in please?"
"Go ahead Sheppard."
"Can you come to my quarters? Shalite wants to talk about something and I don't want to be alone with her."
"Really, why not, the original McKay always thought you had a way with the ladies?"
"Well that isn't true and besides she's married and I know for a fact that her husband doesn't like me, so can you just come to my quarters please and can you come now!?" He was losing patience with him by the time he'd finished.
"Alright, calm down and I'll be there in a moment. I hope you've got some breakfast for me, because Joe says that I should try to eat and see what happens?"
Rodney could be the most frustrating person sometimes and right now the Rodney hologram was acting exactly the same way as the original would have. As much as he thought that he was endearing, right now he was getting on his nerves, "I will order you some pancakes in a moment, when I order ours! Now can you stop talking and get here as soon as possible?"
"Okay I'll see you in a few moments, McKay out."
John found his BDU's neatly folded on a chair beside his bed; obviously someone had washed them for him. So he decided that because he felt most comfortable in them that's what he was going to wear today.
Five minutes later he entered the lounge room and found that Rodney was sitting at the table with Shalite, "I've gone and ordered you some pancakes John, I hope you don't mind." Shalite told him with a smile.
"Thanks," he mumbled still feeling a little embarrassed by the incident at the door earlier.
Before they had a chance to discuss anything further the door chimed and Rodney went over to open the door. The ships steward, who John hadn't met yet, came in and put the food on the table and he was happy to see that there was something that looked like coffee today.
Once he was sure that the steward had gone he turned to Shalite and asked, "Okay, do you want to tell me about this nightmare that you had?"
"Well I was walking down a dark passage way which had strange tendrils growing on the walls, at first I had no idea where I was or why I was there, but the place seemed vaguely familiar. It reminded me of the holo-images I have seen from around the time of the Great War. It was just like a wraith ship.
Then I continued on in silence and I was unable to speak or make a sound, my whole body was shaking and I was afraid. I had no idea what I was going to find, but still I kept going.
There was someone up ahead, so I picked up the pace and continued to walk towards whoever it was.
I arrived at the place where the person was standing and tapped him on the shoulder, when he turned around I was horrified at the half human, half wraith staring back at me.
Then a strange voice permeated the silence and spoke to me 'ah, Shalite I'm so glad that we finally get a chance to meet.' And then I woke up.
That had to be the most disturbing dream that I have ever had. At first I put it down to the fact that we have been talking about the great-war a lot over the last few days, but the more I think about it the more I'm convinced that there's something more to it. It's almost as if whoever it was, was reaching out to touch my mind."
John looked at Rodney and shuddered, "Surely it isn't?"
"No, it couldn't possibly be." Rodney added.
"Surely they're all dead?" John supplied.
"Can someone please tell me what is going on!?" Shalite demanded.
John took a deep breath and took her hand hoping to offer her some comfort, "Do you know what your ancestry is?"
"Well not really, I have gone back a few thousand years, but nothing further." Shalite answered.
This was going to be hard for John to explain to her, but he was going to try anyway, "it is possible that a wraith is trying to contact you, for what reason I have no idea. I had a friend who had some wraith DNA and the wraith were able to connect with her mind. She was able to connect with them as well if the need arose."
Before anyone in the room had a chance to say anything else, John's door opened and Tuart charged in and punched him in the face, he felt the sickening crunch of bones breaking and then he felt blood running from his nose. Gee he has a good right hook, he thought as he fell to the floor.
"Keep your hands off of her!" He yelled before grabbing her by the arm and walking out of the room.
John lay on his back with his hand over his nose, trying to stem the flow of blood. What the hell is this guy's problem?
He looked up to find that Rodney had come to sit next to him and if he wasn't a hologram, John was sure he would have passed out at the sight of the blood.
"I've called the infirmary and told them to expect you." Rodney informed him trying to help him stand to his feet.
"Thanks Rodney, can you help me to the infirmary. Wow that guy really has a strong punch; I think he's broken my nose."
"Well you did have your hand on his wife. Perhaps the original McKay was right about you, Kirk."
"Knock it off McKay and help me to the infirmary now!?"
He was relieved when Rodney helped him up and they started to walk towards the infirmary.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Shalite tried to look back as Tuart dragged her out of John's quarters, she had no idea what had gotten in to her husband, as he had never been violent before.
"What the hell was that about?! " She yelled at him and pulled away from him.
"I don't think this is the best place to have this conversation Shalite, so why don't you remain quiet until we get to our quarters," he said with a controlled voice, but she could tell that he wasn't happy.
"I will come to our quarters, but only long enough to pick up some clothes. I will stay in some guest quarters tonight." She told him in a quiet whisper, trying to control her anger.
"Really I would have thought that you would want to stay with John. I guess he's pretty exciting, since he has lived in the past!" He shot back.
She had just about had enough of him, she thought that she loved him, but if he could act like this over a simple act of friendship, then she wasn't sure. "You know what you're an idiot, John is my friend and nothing else and if you can't accept the fact that I have male friends around your age, then I guess it's over between us!"
She had nothing more to say to him, so she was relieved when she reached their quarters. Walking in she headed to her bedroom, found a bag and started to pack. Shoving as much stuff as she could in it, she tried to ignore him when he walked into the bedroom.
"Shalite, if you walk out that door, don't expect to come back." He seemed much calmer than he had in the corridor, but she still hadn't forgiven him.
Her anger had dissipated a little as well and it had turned into determination, "don't worry, until you apologise to John, there is no way I want to come back."
"I guess there's nothing left to say, then to tell you what I was coming to tell you when the steward told me you were in John's quarters."
Shalite turned to look at him, she suspected that it wasn't good news and it concerned John, "and what was that?"
"If John and Rodney are convinced that they can move Atlantis, it has been decided that we will leave them here with enough food for two weeks. I will send another ship to this planet in two weeks' time and if they haven't managed to move the city by then, they will be picked up and taken to prison on Louisa and charged with conspiracy to change the time line. If they manage to move Atlantis, the charges will be reassessed."
She looked at him with total shock and bewilderment; this wasn't the man she'd married. "You've got to be kidding me, all this, because I chose to be his friend?"
"No I have been in contact with the Louisan council and they admit that he is dangerous, anyone with a desire to change the past is."
"Well you know what Tuart, I think you're wrong about him and if you are going to leave John and Rodney on the planet, then I am going to stay with them."
There was a look on his face that Shalite could only describe as one of horror. "Why would you do that? Why would you put yourself and our baby in harm's way?"
"Because whatever you think of John and whatever his motives are I think he is an honourable man. I believe that his only wish is to help us and by preserving Atlantis, doesn't that show that he is considering the future of the people who are living is this galaxy now?"
She didn't say anything else; she just grabbed her bag and left their quarters. Tuart would probably come to see her at some point and beg her to come back to him, but she had made up her mind, if John and Rodney were going to be put off the ship, then she was going with them. She still had ten weeks until the baby was born, so by the time that happened, she would be able to access medical care.
Heading to the infirmary to see how John was, she thought about what had just happened between her and Tuart. He used to be the most loving wonderful man she had ever met, but now he'd been turned into a monster and right now there was nothing she could do about it. If she ever made it home, perhaps she would speak to someone on his behalf. But for now she was determined to see her plan through and help John and Rodney to try and move Atlantis.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
It didn't take John; with Rodney's help long to reach the infirmary. Rodney helped him over to a large exam bed and he was happy to lie down and rest his aching head and nose, he really didn't know what Tuart had against him, as all he'd done since he had come aboard the ship was try to be courteous and friendly.
"What the hell happened to him?" Dr Jarvis asked Rodney coming out of his office.
"He's right here and able to answer for himself." John replied with indignation.
Joe turned towards John, "Okay what the hell happened to you?"
"Well I don't think Captain Smith likes me hanging out with his wife, so he decided to give me a warning with his fist." John replied, before moaning in pain.
"Well if you take your hand away from your face, I can have a look and see what the damage is?" Joe asked, in a surprisingly gentle tone.
John followed his instructions and slowly moved his hands away from his face, the only problem with that was, he could feel the blood from his nose running into his mouth, so he rolled on his side and started coughing.
Rodney was beside him in a split second and helping him sit up, "would you like some water John," He asked before offering a glass of water with a bendy straw.
John took a sip and rinsed his mouth out, before spitting it out into the dish that Joe placed in front of him. "Thanks Rodney."
Joe looked at his face and tutted, which was something that Carson always did when he was concerned. "Well I definitely think it's broken. I have a device that can heal it, but unfortunately you're going to have two black eyes and an incredibly bruised face for a week or two.
"Great," John muttered, before continuing a little louder, "so Joe, do you have any idea what Tuart's problem is with me?"
He watched Joe's face, as he started to wave a strange device over his face and he got the distinct impression that he was hiding something, but before he had a chance to press him further the door opened and Shalite walked in.
"How is he?" She asked the doctor, as he finished healing his nose.
"His nose was broken and I've fixed it, but he'll probably have a couple of black eyes for a week or so."
"Okay, now that my nose is fixed can someone please tell me what Tuart's problem with me is!? He shouted, feeling totally frustrated with the situation.
Joe seemed to just look at his feet, but Shalite sat down next to him and gave him an explanation. "He is afraid that you are going to go back in time and change the time line, therefore he has contacted the Louisan council and they want to charge you with conspiracy to change history."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, if he went back and eliminated Michael, their ancestors wouldn't have had to spend hundreds of years dealing with him.
"You do realise that the chances of me getting back to my own time is slim, don't you?"
"Yes I know that, but Tuart is just being paranoid, he has worked all of his life to get to where he is and he doesn't want anything to change that." Shalite explained.
John was incredulous with what he had just heard, but he decided that it wasn't a good idea to keep this conversation going, since he had no idea whether Joe agreed with Tuart, "how about we continue this conversation somewhere else?"
"Can he leave or does he have to stay?" Rodney asked turning to Joe and joining the conversation for the first time since Shalite had arrived.
"I'll just clean his face up a bit and then he can leave and John I am on your side. I am off duty in half an hour, so I would like to be part of any conversation that you have."
"How about we meet in my quarters in half an hour," Rodney suggested, "at least Tuart can't break my nose."
He looked at him with a deadpan look on his face, just to let him know he wasn't amused. "Oh very funny McKay, maybe you should become a comedian."
"Okay, Sheppard how about you go and get changed and then come to my quarters and maybe you can have something to eat, you really didn't get a chance to eat much this morning, before Tuart stormed into you room and hit you." Rodney suggested.
Just as John was leaving the room Joe spoke to him, "if you need anything for the pain, you can take some paracetamol."
"Wow 50,000 years in the future and you're still using paracetamol, surly you should have come up with something different in that time?" John asked rolling his eyes.
Half an hour later, he was in Rodney quarters along with Joe and Shalite. His head was beginning to pound, so he had taken Joe's advice and taken two paracetamol to dull his headache.
"Okay now that everyone is here can someone please tell me what is going on?" John asked rubbing his temples.
He turned to look at Shalite, as she began to speak, "well apparently, the Louisan council want to charge you and Rodney with conspiracy to change the time line, but Tuart has suggested that if you can manage to move Atlantis within two weeks, they may consider revising the charges. If you can't you will be arrested and put in jail."
John suddenly came to the realisation that these people may have the ability to time travel, "as I said before, without a freak accident it will be practically impossible for me to get back to my own time, unless you people have time travel technology?"
"Our ancestors did time travel for a short while, but it became evident that anyone could change the timeline to their advantage. The research and time travel crafts were destroyed, as it was decided that we had no right to travel back in time and change history. Although there are rumours that others in the galaxy possess the knowledge." Joe told him.
John took a deep breath before asking, "so what happens next?"
"Tuart is going to leave you and Dr McKay on Atlantis with enough food for two weeks. A craft will come past in two weeks' time and if you have managed to move Atlantis, you will be found and your sentence revised. If you are still on the planet after two weeks, you will be put in Jail." Shalite answered.
"So when are we going to be dumped then?" Rodney asked joining the conversation.
"Tuart wants to get going tomorrow morning, so probably after breakfast and I'm coming with you." Shalite told him with determination in her voice.
John looked a little terrified at her suggestion, the last thing he needed was a heavily pregnant woman on Atlantis with them. What would happen if she went into labour, he had never delivered a baby before and he didn't want to be responsible if anything went wrong?
"Umm… I'm not sure if that is a good idea, what if you went into labour, I have never delivered a baby before and I'm pretty sure that McKay hasn't either."
"Well that won't be an issue, because I will be coming along with you." Joe told him and he was just as determined as Shalite was.
He looked at these people who he had only just met and he couldn't understand why they were being so loyal to him, "why would you risk imprisonment, to help me and Rodney?"
It was Shalite who spoke first, "because I happen to believe that trying to find you a way back to your own time is the right thing to do, not to mention that I would love to see Atlantis fly."
John turned to look at Joe and he wondered if he shared her sentiment, "I am helping for the same reason Shalite is."
"Well in that case I guess all we can do now is wait until Tuart decides it's time for us to go."
John looked at his new friends and although he had no idea what the future held for him, at least he wouldn't have to face it alone. He really hoped at some point he would find a way back to his own time, but if he didn't at least he had made some good friends in this time period.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
He awoke slowly from his sleep and felt incredibly cold, having no idea how long he'd been sleeping or why he was asleep standing up. The one thing he did know was that he desperately wanted to lie down and before he knew it he was falling to the ground.
Laying there he tried to open his eyes, but they just didn't seem to want to open, he tried again and nothing happened. Finally after the third try he managed to open them and he was horrified by the grotesque face he saw looking down at him. It was a face that he didn't expect to see and had hoped he would never see again.
"Michael what the hell is going on," he asked, with fear and trepidation.
"Ah, Carson, it is good to see you again. I have brought you here to do some work for me and if you don't help me I will have to start killing off humans again and I will do it right in front of you."
"How the hell did you get me off of Atlantis?"
"My dear doctor, you have no idea what is going on do you?"
He was really beginning to get a sense that something was seriously wrong, "What the hell is going on, where are John, Rodney and Jennifer?"
"Well my dear Dr Beckett, we are now 50,000 years into your future and I have been cloning you every few millennia, so you're not even the original clone that I created any longer. I have no idea how may Carson Beckett's I have created over the centuries, but I'm sure the others are long dead by now and as for getting you off Atlantis, it was easy once the humans had abandoned the city and left without you."
He had no idea what to say about the fact that his friends had abandoned Atlantis and left him there, so he asked about the cloning instead. "How is that possible? There should be a massive degradation in the cells, if you keep cloning from a clone." He asked feeling totally bewildered.
"I fixed that particular problem thousands of years ago, so now you are as strong as the original clone I created. I have cloned myself throughout the centuries as well and I am now stronger than I have ever been."
Carson shuddered at the thought of Michael being stronger than he used to be, taking a deep breath he asked him another question, "What are you intending to do with your new found strength?"
"I will be great again and I will rule not just the Pegasus galaxy as I once did, I will rule over multiple galaxies and you are going to help me create new hybrids to achieve that aim."
"But didn't you need Teyla's child to achieve it the first time round?" He asked really trying to get his head around what was going on. He had no idea whether Michael had succeeded the first time around, since he had been in stasis for 50,000 years, or at least some version of him had been.
"Yes and I was great for a while, until the peoples of the Pegasus galaxy were so downtrodden and defeated that I left the galaxy and conquered another one. I have sensed another child, just like Teyla's, so I will need to get my hands on that child to complete my work. And there is one other thing I need to do and you will have to help me with that?"
Carson sighed, he knew that whatever it was, he wasn't going to like it and chances are it would mean pain and suffering for another individual, "and what is that Michael?"
"I have sensed John Sheppard in this time period and I need to eradicate him, before he has a chance to travel back to his own time and change history."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, how the hell was John Sheppard in this time period, but if he was, there was no way he was going to help Michael eliminate him. At that moment he decided that he would do everything he could to get John back to his own time, then perhaps Michael could be killed back then and he would be able to live a normal life back on Atlantis. "And if he is here, how are you going to find him?"
"I suspect that he is on Atlantis, so that is where I am heading and we should be there in a couple of weeks' time, since we are currently in another galaxy."
Great two weeks alone with Michael, was one of the thoughts rolling around in his head, as Michael left him alone in a large laboratory.
TBC…
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