It took less than a second for the statement to reach Sheppard's ears, but at least three seconds for him to hear it.
"I've been asleep. For over three centuries." Sheppard repeated disbelievingly.
"Yes, Sir. In stasis, Sir." The woman replied meekly.
Sheppard quickly collected his thoughts, "Okay. First, stop saying 'sir'. Second, I'm going to need the whole story. And third, you know my name, but…"
"Uh, yes, Sir…Sheppard," the woman nodded, "of course. I am Judith Gardner." She stopped and blinked, "er, that is, I'm one of the Lead Scientists on Project Chrysalis." She smiled triumphantly.
Lead Scientist? She looks more like a terrified intern! "Right," Sheppard nodded, "and that is…?"
"It may take long to explain," Judith glanced down.
John tested his weight on his feet and found that he could stand without any problem. He gave Judith a wary smile, "It looks like I have time."
Judith's eyes betrayed pleasure as she looked him over. She gestured to the door, "The med scans have determined that you have recovered fully. If you are up to it, I would consider it a great honor if you would walk with me."
"Right," Sheppard followed the woman. She led him out of the infirmary, down eerily familiar hallways.
"I like what you've done with the place," Sheppard pointed vaguely, noting a slightly different color scheme.
"In many ways, the Ancient City is as you remember it," Judith blushed, "barely any changes have been made to the structure. All we really did was add greater power capacity. Well," she corrected herself, "even that was with the help of another Founder. You may have known him, in fact. Doctor Rodney McKay?"
"We've met," Sheppard replied.
"Brilliant man," Judith's smile glazed over, "I wish I could have met the man who figured out how to recharge the Zeepeeemm, but he died a century ago."
Sheppard gave the woman an incredulous look, "Really? Rodney figured it out?"
"Yes," Judith nodded, "he awoke much sooner than you did."
Giving her a questioning look, Sheppard started to ask for further information, but Judith had already started talking again. The two made their way through the city, the inhabitants staring as Sheppard passed by. Judith told of the other people who had been asleep for many years, woke up, lived, and died while he'd been asleep.
"I know from the legends," Judith smiled at him shyly, "that you are the sort of man to worry about his friends before himself. So I have told you, to assure you that they lived full and fulfilling lives."
"That's great, but you still haven't told me why we were asleep in the first place." Sheppard stopped and leaned against a wall, arms crossed.
"That's easy!" Judith squealed suddenly, like a first grader who got "cat" as their final word in a spelling bee, "everyone knows that among the Founders, there were those who possessed the Gene of the Ancients. But there came a time when a disease struck the city, and those with the gene began dying. Stasis chambers were prepared, and every sick Founder was placed into one to survive until a cure could be found. Every generation since then has worked to find the cure to the Ancients' Plague, with varying success. Some Founders, such as Doctor McKay, recovered quickly. Others, such as Doctor Carson Beckett, took longer, and never fully stabilized."
"And…I took the longest," Sheppard deduced, "but why don't I remember anything about this plague?"
"You," Judith gazed at him worshipfully, "have been asleep for a long time. Your memory will return. Now come, the other Lead Scientists wish to meet you."
"Great," Sheppard replied, lacking enthusiasm. He followed Judith, quietly contemplating the situation. Her story made sense, but still felt anything but right.
When they arrived in the gate room, Sheppard immediately saw the difference between his Atlantis and this place.
"Whoah," he blinked, taking in the sight of a busy hum of activity surrounding the gate. Small kiosks lined the room, and appeared to be offering trading goods. He did a double take when he noticed that not all of the people milling in the area were human.
A pleasant but urgent flute sound announced the gate's activation, and moments later, a small group of well-dressed rodents stepped through the swirling blue puddle.
Judith smiled at Sheppard's expression, "We've made a few friends in three hundred and twenty-eight years."
Sheppard turned to her, but his eyes widened and he looked past her. Without thinking about it, he ran to a window and stared out.
The rest of the city was out there, right where it should be, except that it was floating on nothing but stars. Ships of many designs flew to and from Atlantis' docking platforms. Smaller vessels buzzed among the spires and buildings.
Sheppard put two and two together, "You've turned Atlantis into a spaceport?"
"A mobile spaceport, yes," Judith explained, "it was necessary. If we are mobile, our position cannot be revealed to the Wraith as easily. And we have found many other cultures to trade with. Since we lost contact with Earth, that has become vital to our continued existence."
Sheppard shook his head, "But…Atlantis is a spaceport?" He looked attain at the creatures in the gate room, "Huh."
"Please come now," Judith gestured as she stepped up to the conference room, "The others are waiting."
