It took only about 10 minutes for Elizabeth to realize that she was being stalled.
They had been greeted warmly by the Minister of Security, Torvik, and briefly introduced to a man named Niklas who left before they'd even been offered a seat.
Torvik droned on in endless litany of useless trivia about his planet and its history, their relationship with Gellan and Gemman as independent offspring of the two larger colonies, of their trouble with the terrorists that were plaguing their parent civilizations…
"Yada, yada, yada…" groaned Rodney softly at her right shoulder, tapping his foot with impatience and twiddling with the scanner that he was still studying surreptitiously under the polished conference table they were seated at.
Elizabeth shared the sentiment. But Torvik kept on.
"…As you are certain to have noticed, this uncertainty has forced us to take strong measures at the Stargate and increase the military itself. We have also had to restrict travel through the 'gate which is a hardship for our citizens. Many have family and friends on Gellan and Gemman. But we can allow only sanctioned trading parties and authorized travelers through."
"Do you not find it tiresome to put so much effort into defending yourself from your own people, these terrorists who are, by your own admission members of your own ancestry? Are the Wraith not threat enough?" Teyla alone seemed interested in the Minister's history lesson, and sat leaning forward, fully engaged in the conversation.
"We do indeed find our situation…frustrating. I meet regularly with the security ministers on Gellan and Gemman. We are, however, at a loss to find a solution. The terrorists seek demands that we cannot answer, and seem to enjoy violence for its own sake." The white-haired and very dignified minister shook his head with solemn sadness. "The loss of Minister Lucus was a great blow to all the colonies."
"We regret that loss as deeply as you do, Minister," Elizabeth interjected quickly, finally seeing an opening to get things moving in the right direction. "Minister Lucus was instrumental in forming the agreement between my people and the Gellans which has led to such great improvement in the security on that world. Colonel Sheppard was instrumental in developing and executing the training program that was so effective in the attack on Minister Lucus, despite his loss. So you can see why we are very eager to see Sheppard and return him to his duties."
"Of course you are eager to recover the Colonel." Torvik nodded in understanding, his expression neutrally sympathetic and Elizabeth was beginning to realize just how skilled the minister was at diplomacy and negotiation. "We have only a few more items of business to discuss, and then he will be released into your custody.
"I hope you understand that, despite our respect for the Colonel's work on Gellan -- a respect we have only just come to understand you realize -- the Colonel did trespass upon our sovereign territory. When he arrived, he was merely an unwelcome intruder who refused to cooperate in any way with our security procedures, or even to reveal his name for some time. In fact, two of the Portal Guards were injured when they detained him at the 'gate, and another civilian guard was badly cut with a knife while escorting the Colonel to confinement."
Torvik paused, and Elizabeth understood the meaning. The ball was back in her court. She took a deep breath and molded her voice to sound as conciliatory as she could without relinquishing any authority. "We regret the injuries to your people. Clearly Colonel Sheppard's actions were an extreme response to the situation, and for that, on his behalf, I do apologize.
"The Colonel, however mistaken in this case, is still a skilled and accomplished soldier. In our last communications with Sheppard, he indicated he was, in fact, trailing some of these terrorists that you are so concerned about. I can only assure you that there is sure to be some reasonable explanation for his reaction, and that his intentions in coming here were honorable."
Torvik frowned and studied Elizabeth as if looking for some deceit in her face for some time. "Are…you not aware that Colonel Sheppard is suffering from the Madman Malaria?"
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth exchanged a hasty confused look with Teyla and Rodney.
"Our doctors have confirmed it. When Colonel Sheppard stepped on our world, he was already displaying symptoms of extreme paranoia and fantasy. One of the Portal Guard recognized the skin rash that accompanies the virus's attack on one's sanity. There are occasional outbreaks within our colonies, most often on Gemman which is native home to the insect which passes the disease from person to person…" Torvik trailed off as Elizabeth hung her head in weary understanding. "You did not know!"
"No," she sighed. "We have only just become acquainted with this virus at all. A few of our people contracted this – Madman Malaria you called it? – on a recent mission to Gemman. Colonel Sheppard was with the group that went, but not everyone in the group became ill so we had no reason to suspect. We believed Sheppard was operating under covert surveillance when he left Gellan."
Torvik nodded with sympathy, "I would not be surprised if the Colonel was experiencing the effects of the paranoia long before he reached Lygell."
"He believed that he was following a group of terrorists to their base of operations. When he failed to make regular contact, we traced him to Lygell assuming he'd encountered some danger." Elizabeth realized she was basically repeating herself, but the confusion, bordering on embarrassment, of the situation was nearly overwhelming.
"It has been our sad experience that when suffering from Madman Malaria, those, especially, who are trained to recognize and respond to danger often find it in every circumstance. The Colonel undoubtedly came across our trading party by accident and, prompted by the virus, assumed the worst."
"You have my apologies again, Minister."
"For that, there is no need. I indeed would have been…disappointed…if you had not expressed your regret for the injuries your man has inflicted, but he cannot be held responsible for his actions while under the influence of the Virus. I myself contracted the disease several years ago. It was a very unpleasant experience."
Elizabeth nodded, then grew suddenly stern, "Then you must understand our eagerness to collect the Colonel and return him to our home. We did not yet understand how dangerous the symptoms of anxiety and paranoia we observed could become when left untreated. If he is indeed suffering from the same disease contracted by the others in our expedition, then our Doctor has developed a vaccination that will destroy the virus."
Torvik's enthusiasm at her innocent statement was obvious, "Your people have a vaccination for the Madman Malaria? Our own medical experts would be greatly interested in speaking with your Doctors about this! Perhaps we could negotiate a trade agreement, knowledge for knowledge…"
Frowning, Elizabeth interrupted mildly, "Perhaps, Minister. But on this occasion we have only one agenda. Would you please take us, now, to Colonel Sheppard?" That feeling of being stalled was returning with more force, and she suddenly decided that enough pleasantries had been endured. She pushed her chair back and stood up as if the minister had already agreed. Rodney and Teyla followed suit, having watched the conversation intently even while remaining quiet.
Torvik remained seated, frowning himself. "I'm afraid that, unfortunately, now is not a good time. Our doctors who have been treating the Colonel to the best of our abilities tell me that he is resting soundly. Because of his agitated state, they were forced to sedate him to keep him calm enough for care. He is still unconscious."
"That can't be!" Rodney suddenly piped up. "He's been on the move for the last 10 minutes."
Elizabeth shot a look at McKay then squared herself before Torvik. Under her steely gaze, the man fidgeted in the first signs of discomposure she'd yet seen. "And how do you make this assertion?" he finally asked, coldly turning his eyes on McKay.
"Tracking device," Rodney answered, waving the palm scanner in the air. "The Colonel is outfitted with a subdermal transponder that allows us to pinpoint his location. Comes in handy at times. The man is remarkably adept at getting lost."
"I see." Torvik paused, as if he needed to gather his thoughts. "Then it is perhaps necessary that you learn the truth."
"The truth sounds like a good idea," Elizabeth agreed. Torvik took a deep breath.
"The Colonel's condition is severe. When he was apprehended, he was immediately taken to our hospital facilities for treatment. To our shame, instead of relieving the symptoms, it appears he has suffered an intense rebound-relapse instead. It is rare, but happens sometimes when the virus is treated late in the course of its progression. Our doctors have not yet discovered this vaccine you are lucky to have developed." The Minister suddenly sighed and met Elizabeth's eyes with almost amused annoyance. "You said Colonel Sheppard was a skilled soldier. This I truly believe." Torvik stopped again, and seemed quite reluctant to continue.
Elizabeth placed her hands on the smooth, cool table and leaned close to the minister. "Minister Torvik. Where is Colonel Sheppard?"
Torvik chuckled humorlessly. "We have no idea. He assaulted his escort, tied his doctor to a chair in the isolation wing and disappeared just about the time you arrived. We had hoped to recover him before finding the need to mention this embarrassment at all. Your tracking device, however, would be exceedingly…useful."
Elizabeth closed her eyes. She was going to skip solitary confinement, and maroon John on the mainland for a month, she decided. Once they got him back. The fact that he was quite sick, however, softened her irritation and she suddenly felt a stab of worry. How terrifying must it be to be in a strange place, with strange people all around, and believe them all to be hostile?
With a decisive jerk, she stood straight again and addressed Torvik with calm determination. "Minister, thank you for your honesty. We are going now to find Colonel Sheppard, and when we do, we will be leaving Lygell immediately. Do you have any objections?" Her manner was clear that none would be accepted.
"Of course not," the minister said, sagging into his chair. "I will assign a military escort to help you find your way through our city and lend assistance if needed."
"Thank you, Minister. The help will be appreciated. But I must insist upon full command of the search, plus an additional request or two that I will describe underway." Elizabeth's tone was steel sugar. She was in her element and had the diplomatic advantage. Torvik just sighed again.
"Of course," he said.