The Program - Part Five

"Doc, how's it coming?" Lorne asked, keeping an eye on Ronon as he paced in front of the machines McKay and Sheppard were in.

"I have managed to interface with the system," Zelenka told him. "I should be able to get visual display," he said, glancing up at the screens on either side of Sheppard and McKay. "There," he said as the images flickered to life.

"That's," Beckett said. "Well, that's."

"It's Mckay and Sheppard all right," Lorne said, taking a step closer to the screen. "What exactly are we looking at here?" he asked Zelenka.

"This is the virtual environment they are experiencing," Zelenka told him.

"I wonder what happened to Colonel Sheppard," Beckett said.

"Can we get sound?" Lorne asked.

"Give me a minute," Zelenka said, adjusting something on the console before speakers (located somewhere in the room that weren't overtly visible) crackled to life.

"matter of fact, I was thinking about it earlier. And it would be only common sense to create some kind of back door to a programme like this."

"They've figured out it's not real," Ronon stated.

"It would appear so," Teyla commented from her spot on the floor, leaning against a console.

"What's he talking about?" Lorne asked.

"Ah yes, the back door or hidden exit," Zelenka said. "I believe I have found it in the programming, and should be able to bring up it's visual representation," he said as he typed something on the lap top he had connected to the terminal he was at.

One of the screens flickered then transition into the image of a door with 'Emergency Exit' written on it.

"It is at the top of a stairwell in the hospital," Zelenka explained.

"Hospital?" Ronon asked.

"Yes apparently Colonel Sheppard is a Detective who was shot in stomach on duty, Rodney is Doctor monitoring his recovery," Zelenka told them.

"Rodney's gotta' love that," Beckett said in amusement and with the air of someone who had much mocking planned for the very near future.

"So how do we tell them where the exit is?" Lorne asked.

"We can't," Zelenka said promptly.

"There must be something we can-" Teyla began to protest.

"No, I'm sorry. There is nothing we can do from here." He clarified. "We must insert someone into the programme, with knowledge of the exit, so they can instruct Sheppard and Mckay on how to escape,"

"I dunno Doc," Lorne hesitated.

"Is only way, Major," Zelenka persisted.

"What about if we just pull them out?" Ronon asked.

"Yes, if you wish to cause permanent brain damage," Zelenka said in irritation.

"Ok," Lorne sighed. "So who's going in?"

"So, did you try all the doors and windows?" John asked as Rodney walked into his room later.

"Yes, that's exactly what I was doing," Rodney replied sardonically.

"What were you doing?" John asked.

"Spying on Cadman and Carson," Rodney admitted as he sat down in the chair by the bed.

"Let's ignore the fact that they aren't real for now, and go straight to why," John said with a raised eyebrow.

"They've got a date tonight," he said with disgust.

"In real life are they…?"

"You are such a girl," Rodney said with a grin. John shrugged and kicked Rodney to get an answer from him. "I don't know, they had a few dates, but funnily enough people don't tend to confide in me about that sort of thing," he said with a depreciating half smile.

"Hey, if I ever get any, you'll be the first to know," John replied.

"Great."

"I should be doing this," Ronon said as they strapped Lorne into one of the machine's.

"Yes, it would probably work. But this is ancient technology, and if for any reason gene makes individual more compatible in this case…" Zelenka trailed off. "Doctor Beckett needs to remain out here so he can care for them when they are released if need be."

Ronon didn't say anything, but he didn't look happy.

"Major Lorne will do a fine job," Teyla said with an encouraging smile.

"Thanks," Lorne muttered as he eyed the wires Zelenka and Beckett were attaching to him. "So what will I look like?" he asked, at their raised eyebrows he clarified, "Like me yeah, but will I be wearing my uniform or-"

"Well, I've removed the element of the programme that brainwashes the individual into believing and taking on their roles in the virtual environment, so probably your internal image of yourself," Zelenka told him. "I'd try and picture yourself in your uniform if I were you, it might be more reassuring," he added.

"Right," he nodded and took a deep breath. "Plug me in."

"Here we go," Zelenka said. Lorne closed his eyes.

"So what happened with you and Katie then?" Sheppard asked, presumably because they seemed to be in gossiping teenage girl mode. Rodney scowled at him. "C'mon," Sheppard coaxed.

"Nothing much," Rodney responded grudgingly.

"Why not?" Sheppard asked.

"I was busy with saving everyone's lives is why not," Rodney grumbled, Sheppard looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Fine, she was too nice to go out with me, I'm a jerk and for some reason she hadn't noticed. I got Cadman to set her up with someone," he finished with a shrug.

Sheppard stared at him for a moment.

"If this ruins your previous image of me as a person you can pretend I never told you," Rodney snapped. Sheppard grinned.

"Who?"

"What?"

"Who did Cadman set her up with?" Sheppard asked.

"I-" Rodney began just as the door opened.

"He's in," Zelenka confirmed before walking towards another terminal in the room.

"What are you doing?" Beckett asked.

"I thought it would be useful to see if it is possible to download the database of this outpost," Zelenka explained. "And doing now, instead of waiting for others to escape programme only saves time," he shrugged and turned back to the console.

Everyone else diverted their attention to the view screens, where Lorne had just entered Sheppard's hospital room, but their attention was soon diverted back to Zelenka when he exclaimed something in his native tongue.

"What?" Ronon asked.

"I have discovered long range sensors, Wraith cruiser is approaching."

"Lorne?" Rodney asked incredulously.

"In the flesh," he paused. "So to speak."

"I thought you weren't coming by 'til tomorrow," Sheppard said cautiously.

"Sir," Lorne said stepping forward. "Look at me," he indicated is Atlantis uniform. "I'm the real me," he said.

"Really?"

"This could be a trick," Rodney said quickly. "The programme could make it seem like we escape, but really we'd still be here."

"Look, we brought Zelenka out and he figured out how to plug me in. Not before finding the hidden exit to this place so I could lead you to it," Lorne explained.

"Okay then," Sheppard said and began to get to his feet.

"But-"

"If it is part of the programme, what difference does it make? We're still stuck in here. But if it's not?" Sheppard said. Rodney stared at him for a moment.

"Right. What are we standing around for then?" he asked. Lorne glanced at Sheppard who rolled his eyes, before opening the door and leading them down the hallway.

Thanks very much to angw, Hettie, Ditzyleo, Splitbeak, Cyllen, Jules47, drufan, Delka and Nyrocat for reviewing! As always it brightens up my sad little day! So keep me happy by reviewing and telling me what you thought of this chapter!

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