Teyla whipped her right Bantos rod over her head like a cheer squad baton and brought it down brutally while simultaneously bringing her left rod up. The impacts collided sandwiching the practice dummy viciously. The students gathered around all winced.

"Now, clearly it is difficult to execute but it can be an efficient method of ending an encounter." She said slightly breathless. Max watched as she split up the students by skill level then paired them off to practice the maneuver.

"Sergeant Holloway, you have not attended a session in quite some time." Teyla said toweling her throat and approaching while the students got to work. "You are missed." Teyla said gently.

"Thank you, I miss it as well. Hopefully when Rodney and Carson figure out the next steps in this energy weapon project I'll have more time."

"What brings you here today?" Teyla asked then stepped away to whisper a correction and adjust a student's stance.

"I…well, I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position. But I'm a little worried about Methos."

Teyla frowned, she caught another senior instructor's eye and stepped away, they spoke briefly, and Teyla retrieved her gear then rejoined Max.

"We should speak further, can you accompany me to my quarters?"

"Certainly, can I carry anything?"

Teyla handed her a bag of pads and rebalanced her rods. They set off together.

"What are you concerns?"

"Well, you know that he was my teacher, he taught me sword combat among other things. As you know my people primarily specialize in edged weapons, usually swords."

"He has shown great skill with Bantos." Teyla said thoughtfully.

"So I've seen, however, to the best of my knowledge, he still has not picked up a sword."

Teyla's steps faltered and she frowned at Max. "That is indeed concerning."

"In fairness, he has rated proficient in the small arms and other basic combat training that city residents are required to qualify in. Between that and Bantos he can certainly defend himself and the city. There's no reason to think there are any other immortals in Pegasus…"

"Have you spoken with him about it?"

"Well, I was hoping he had used one with you?"

Teyla frowned and was quiet for a few more steps then shook her head. "He has discussed it, compared forms and tactics of swordplay to Bantos but…no. I do not recall him ever using a blade of any kind."

"Thank you, I will speak with him." Max said with a sigh. She had hoped they were training on more than just Bantos.

"There is…another concern." Teyla said, they reached her quarters. Max waited while they entered. Teyla accepted her bag from Max and took a few moments to put away the rods as well. The women sat and Teyla let out a breath.

"I have a…concern. There are times when we are practicing and he –"

"Does not respond to his name?" Max asked.

"Yes, it is…disconcerting. It is not his hearing that is at issue, I do not believe, it is as though, for a moment he is not himself."

Max was nodding along, chewing at her lower lip and frowning. "Yes, I have noticed it as well."

"You said that he underwent a change?"

"It's, well, yes, but it's complicated. Something happened, Methos decided to sacrifice himself to save a friend. But, well I don't know what happened, if it was an accident, or intentional or…well. The man you know as Methos? He was Jarod, our friend."

"How?"

"Our Quickenings, are mostly viewed as energy but they're more than that. Sometimes after taking one there are personality changes, or preferences in food and drink change. In at least one case I know of a good man turned to darkness and cruelty after taking the quickening of a particular evil man. Methos says that while Jarod was comatose something happened between them, and Jarod's Quickening willingly became part of Methos in Jarod."

Teyla shivered and slowly sat down. "I can understand why you have not shared this information more widely."

"Colonel Sheppard and Colonel Carter are both aware, I imagine Major Lorne is as well."

"Could the same happen to you?"

Max sucked her teeth then shook her head, "I don't think so. For one Methos is the oldest of us, at least as far as any of us know. Which likely means his Quickening is the strongest, or maybe most distinct? I'm not sure how to explain it. The man who had a dark experience, he was over four hundred years old and had made a practice of only challenging immortals who did evil acts. In his case I think his internal equilibrium went wrong. I've never heard of anything like this before, at least not outside drunk theoretical discussions."

"Then it seems very unlikely." Teyla said relaxing slightly.

"My concern is that, well, that his reluctance to pick up a sword and not responding to his name indicates that he's no longer Methos, or not the version I know."

"Do you believe he is a threat?"

"No," Max said emphatically, "This is the best possible life he could have. For a lot of reasons, I don't think I can kill him, even if it meant my death, so I'm not a threat. He has seen what happens to the wraith when they try to feed on us. He's probably the safest he's ever been."

"But you are concerned?" Teyla said gently.

"He, well, we, can be dangerous. He has a history of violence, mostly hundreds or thousands of years ago but the capacity is still there. I guess I'm worried if we're losing him, if I'm losing him, I don't know who that man is or, or how to mourn my friend if he is really gone."

"You must speak with him." Teyla said simply and brushed a stray lock of hair from Max's face. She had let her hair grow out longer than she had in years. Max sighed and smiled at her friend.