"Death and Destiny"

A/n: I forgot to put a disclamer in the first chapter, so here it is: I don't own the show. I never did own the show. sigh

A/n 2: Sorry about the spoiler in the summery. I copy/paste the inside summery twice and didn't realize it. Really REALLY sorry for that and I fix it as soon as you guys told me. Again, REALLY sorry and now "Death and Destiny" chapter 2.

Chapter 2: "The Hard Facts, the Cold Truth"

3 Hours Later, Rodney's Lab

I sigh and Radek gives me an look of sympathy. "We've ran every test, every simulation and every diagnostic possible, all to come up the same result. That there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Star drive and Hyper drive."

Radek removes his glasses. "Maybe we missed some thing."

I give him a dirty look. "We both know that is highly unlikely."

He returns the look and then responds. "Maybe. Or maybe there really is nothing wrong with the Hyper and Star drives. Perhaps it is something else entirely?"

That was when I looked up. We must have come to the same conclusion because we both rushed out the door at the same time.

Z.P.M Room

1 hour later

I look up as Sheppard walks in. "What have you got?"

Before I could answer, Radek begins his explanation.

"We found the problem. It had nothing to do with the Star and Hyper drives directly but with the Z.P.M it self."

"What are you saying? That you miss read the power requirements?"

I take that moment to interrupt. "What are you? Crazy? Of course we didn't miss read the power requirements! According to our calculations there is enough power in the Zed.P.M to power both the Star drive AND the Hyper drive…"

"Just not at the same time." Radek chimes in.

"Well, that's helpful. How do we fix it?"

Radek was about to answer him but I beat him to it. "We don't know."

Radek glared at me. "Rodney…"

I look at him. "We don't!"

"But there is way, you admit?"

"Yes a very, VERY risky way."

Sheppard found his way back in to the conversation and sighed. "Dr. Z?"

"We Reroute the power coming from the Z.P.M and direct it along one main route. Then at last moment split the energy conduit and send the necessary power to their respective destinations."

"The Star and hyper drives."

"Yes."

I enter my own input in to the conversation. "But this plan is rudimentary, temporary at best and can have devastating consequences if anything and I mean ANYTHING goes wrong."

Sheppard sighs and looks me. "What's the best case scenario?"

"Best case? We make to M31578 in one piece and are eating dinner in the commissary by 1900."

"And worst case?"

"Let's just say we won't have to worry about running out of power."

Sheppard looks at Radek. "Get started."

I was about to respond to that when Sheppard said some thing else. "Rodney come with me please."

I look at Radek but he just shrugs. I walk out the room to find Sheppard standing only a few feet away. "Sheppard you can't go though with this plan. I have a really bad feeling about this."

"You have a bad feeling about everything, Rodney."

"Yes, but how often have I been wrong? About those bad feelings, how often?"

He sighs and mumbles "Not often. Look if you can come up with a better plan, I'll take it. But right now this is all we got. I don't like it any more than you do, but what choice do we have?"

"I know. It's just…" I trail off.

"Yeah, me too."

"I'm going to head back and help Radek rewire the Zed.P.M." He nods. "Keep me in the loop."

"Sure." And I walk back to the room. As I walk in Radek looks up. "One of those day's, huh?"

"I wish it weren't."

"The hard facts, cold truth?"

"Unfortunately." I sigh. "Lets get started, shall we?"