Disclaimer: My attempt has appeared futile as the characters of Stargate Atlantis are not mine. But do not worry they will be soon…mwahahaha!
Chapter three: The truth
The room grew deadly silent as the tension in the room was almost tangible. Sheppard's voice was the first to break the silence.
" Four bombs on Atlantis? How is that possible?" He asked.
" There is an operative on Atlantis who is working for an organization called Synx. It's a branch off of the Trust but has been in formation since before the trust became as big of a threat as they are now. As far as we know they have not been infiltrated by the Goa'uld, deemed too unimportant. However they are a significant threat to Atlantis." She said.
Rodney felt his eyes bulge as he absorbed the information. He seemed to go two shades paler, if what she was saying was true they could be in huge trouble. Not only Atlantis but him personally. This is bad….this is really, really bad!
" Why would they want to destroy Atlantis?" Weir voice rang out through his internal triad.
" They don't. The bombs will not destroy Atlantis but they will cause significant damage and many lives if they were to go off. " She replied simply and then turned her gaze to McKay. " It is however merely a distraction."
" A distraction for what?" Ronon's voice came in.
" For them to sneak into the city and obtain what they were thwarted from having years ago." She said cryptically her eyes still fixed on McKay as though trying to communicate something through just that stare.
" Which is?" asked Sheppard impatiently.
" Me." Rodney supplied. All their gazes turned to him but he did look at either one of them. He needed to work this out. He needed….hell he didn't know what he needed.
" Yes." agreed Alison. " The bombs were to keep you busy while they snatched McKay from right under your noses."
" Why do they want McKay?" asked Ronon.
Instead of answering Ali stared at McKay until he closed his eyes and sighed. He turned to the others and motioned for them to come in further. He waited until the door behind them closed and nodded to the marines to take their leave. The marines glanced at Colonel Caldwell until he gave them a nod of affirmation and they headed out the door.
" When I was 12 I entered myself in the school science fair." McKay began.
" Doctor, what does this have to do with anything?" asked Caldwell.
" If you want to know why then I suggest you shut up and listen I only have a limited time since the bombs are set to detonate in twenty-four hours." Rodney replied coldly. He turned his gaze back to the others.
" As I was saying I was 12 when I entered into the science fair and I decided to try and prove myself with a over the top experiment." He stated.
" Over the top. Nice way to put it." Alison muttered.
McKay ignored the interruption and continued, " I decided to build an atomic bomb."
" What?" Weir gasped.
" Don't worry it was a working model. It did however draw attention." Rodney replied.
" No doubt." Sheppard said.
" Well the attention came mostly from the CIA. As I mentioned to Sheppard, this led to my first job. What I didn't tell him was that I took the job when I was sixteen." Rodney stated.
" What's the CIA?" questioned Ronon.
" Central Intelligence Agency. A part of the government that is responsible for gathering intelligence that might be of any threat to the nation." supplied Dr. Weir.
Ronon and Teyla both nodded in understanding and McKay took that as permission to continue. " Anyway, the CIA contacted me when I was sixteen. They needed my help with cracking a code that had been devised by the Synx to hide a weapon they were developing."
" They needed a sixteen year olds help? I find that hard to believe." Caldwell stated skeptically.
" Well, the code was similar to the one I designed in conjunction with the atomic bomb as a delivering mechanism. It was to be used to disguise a specific energy signature like that of a tell-tale nuke. " explained Rodney. " I had devised it so that it appeared to mask the radiation coming from the devise but really it was fooling all the computers and any other technological equipment that came in contact with it. The radiation would still be there but from any other standpoint then directly looking at the bomb it would appear to be invisible."
The stunned silence he got in return caused him to glance back at everyone to make sure they kept with the program. " What?" he asked finally
"You built a program to mask the signature of an atomic weapon when you were 12?!" came Sheppard's stunned reply.
" Well, when I built the weapon I felt it needed something added to it for creativity points." McKay shrugged.
" Creativity…right." Alison said rolling her eyes.
" Anyway, when I was brought in they had also found that the chemical in the weapon was of a specific design. Ali and I were able to hack into their systems and shut down the weapon before it could be launched." McKay explained.
" Bet they weren't too happy about that." Sheppard said.
" To say the least." Rodney replied. " After that happened though they seemed to disappear. Probably went underground to avoid detection."
He looked at Alison as she threw a questioning gaze at him. She could tell he was lying after all she had been there. It looked as though she would keep it to herself if the nod he got after a final glance was any indication.
" So they're here after twenty years for revenge on your sabotaging their deployment of the weapon?" Caldwell asked doubtfully.
" No, at least that's not the whole reason." Dr. Drella replied. " We think they have recently required a significant portion of the Atlantian database but are so far unable to use any of its knowledge because they don't recognize what half of it is. With Doctor McKay they would be able to use it to their advantage."
" Their advantage for what? What's their ultimate goal? World domination? … because I have to say that's a little too Dr. Doom if you ask me." Sheppard said.
" We don't know the full extent of their plans but we assume it's to create an off world base of their own. Trying to reap the benefits like the rouge NID operatives tried to do a number of years ago: stealing technology from who Atlantis considers allies." Said Alison.
" Stealing what though? We mainly have allies to trade for food and other supplies. We haven't come across many advanced societies due to the Wraith." Dr. Weir put in.
" There are still some though. They would probably begin with stealing the ZPM from M7G-677, the kid planet with the EM field. Then move to attack the planet where the new brotherhood of the fifteen reside." Ali said casually.
" This would lead to many lives being taken." Teyla responded.
" No doubt about that." Sheppard said.
" Ok, so what's the plan?" Weir asked looking around.
" I have orders to take Dr. McKay back to earth to be put in the protective custody of the CIA." Dr. Drella responded.
" Like hell you will." McKay snarled.
" Rodney…" she said in a patronizing tone, " You're not safe here. If they come here and not find you they'll probably just leave."
" Bull shit!" Rodney shouted. " You know as well as I do that if I'm not there for them to find they'll most likely destroy Atlantis!"
" Maybe." She said " but you're too great a risk to let fall into their hands."
McKay's face began to grow red from anger. " I ..don't…care." he said through clenched teeth. " I need to be here so that I can help them find the bombs or have you forgotten that there is FOUR of them!" he said vehemently.
She stared at him for a moment before continuing. " There's no point in arguing. I have my orders and I intend to follow them!"
" Your orders don't concern me. Plus, what are you gonna do being strapped to a chair." He said snidely.
She looked down at her wrist having momentarily forgotten her predicament. She turned to him her cheeks slightly flushed from anger and embarrassment. " McKay! What are you going to do when they come? Are you going to go with them and put Earth at risk or are you going to stay and put Atlantis at risk?" she asked.
He stared at her before turning his gaze towards his team and Dr. Weir. A moment of hesitation shaped his face for a moment before turning into a steal look of determination. He turned back to Dr. Drella and said, " Our best chance of beating these guys once in for all is in Atlantis."
She glared at him full on before turning to the others finally she sighed and nodded. " Fine, if you want to make a stand here then I can help you."
" Good." he said simply. He turned back to the rest, " So, everyone ready?"
Sheppard smirked " Wondering when you were going to include us."
" Feeling left out are we?" McKay snarked back.
" Alright gentlemen." Weir interrupted. " Let's get to work."
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Sorry it took so long to update!! I regret to tell you that it'll take longer for the next chapter because my family and I are goin to Europe for two weeks and my laptop is staying behind. Sorry! I tried to make it not too much of a cliffhanger so you all won't want to kill me…right? Right?
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