Chapter 2
The bright beautiful Lantean sun shone through the window.
John's pier-view room provided the excellent, beautiful and relaxing sound of the ocean gently crashing against the walls of the city limit.
John began to stir and began to wake up. John smiled at the wonderful dream he had the night before. The vision of the beautiful young woman and the mental stimulation of sensuality.
John got up out of his bed and got himself dressed. The memories of the night before began to replay in his mind. The beautiful young woman's plea for help repeated itself like a needle on a scratched vinyl.
John left his room and strode down the corridor toward the mess hall. Grabbing himself a cup of coffee, a small box of cereal with milk and juicy green apple he sat at a table far from everyone else.
After eating his breakfast, John sat drinking his coffee still replaying the words in his head.
"Please help me, John."
"Wait a minute," thought John. "Someone just ask me for help out aloud."
John turned to face the voice only to find Teyla Emmagan smiling at him.
"Would you please help me with this. I do not understand how to solve this puzzle." Teyla sat opposite John holding a small cube.
"What puzzle?" John asked.
Teyla held out her hand and give John the cube. "Dr. Novak has just returned from Earth with it. I asked her about pastimes on Earth. She told me it is a puzzle from a time called the eighties. I have tried to solve this puzzle but it has got me confused."
John held the cube and smiled. "It's called a Rubix Cube. You have to get all the different colors in their groups."
"I know this," Teyla nodded. "But it is impossible. It cannot be done."
"It can be. I used to have one. It takes time but this is one puzzle that can be done." John swallowed the last drop of his coffee. "But at the moment, I can't help as I've got something I need to do." John got up and smiled at Teyla.
John could see the slight sadness in her beautiful olive skin. Guilt began to wash over him. Guilt was an emotion which John hated with the passion. It was something that was always with him. He felt guilty for his comrades who died in Afghanistan, while he was still alive having adventures in the Pegasus Galaxy. The Colonel felt guilty about all the people who have died under his command. More recently he felt guilt for not saving Lieutenant Ford.
Elizabeth told him it wasn't his fault and he had nothing to feel guilty about. He wanted to believe her but could bring himself to do it.
"You don't know that Ford is dead." John told himself and agreed with that thought. "Yes, he's a tough kid. He would of made it off that Hive ship before it blew up."
But another side of John, a side which was as dark as space, joined the conversation. "No, that's what you want to believe because you don't want to feel guilty. You despise guilt and would do anything you can to stop it." John mentally shuddered. The voice continued to disturb Colonel Shepherd "You know that nobody could of made it off that Hive. So deal with it!"
John realized Teyla was watching him and smiled at her. "I've got something to deal with but as soon as I'm done, I'll show how to go about solving this puzzle."
"Very well." Teyla smiled. "I would be most grateful."
Teyla rose from her seat. "Well I hope you deal with your own puzzle first before you help me with mine."
John's eyes closed slightly as if what she said made no sense. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about but hey I'm sorry I couldn't help you at the moment. Sorry."
John give Teyla a "sorry but I'll see you later" smile.
Teyla smiled back at John as he walked away. "I understand." Teyla called after him.
Her smiled faded a few moments later. She could tell that there was something bothering John. But The Athoisan hesitated to press the issue for the moment and hoped he would sort it out or failing that, she hoped that The Colonel would ask for her help and the help of his team.
Teyla sighed, smiled and looked back at her puzzle.
"Radek, have you got a map of the areas that have been explored over the last month?"
Dr. Radek Zelenka looked up from his laptop.
"Colonel, is this not something you would normally ask from Rodney?"
"Yeah," John nodded. "But Rodney is avoiding me. He's too nervous to face me."
"Ah," Zelenka smiled. "Understandable, I heard from Ronon about what happened on your mission yesterday. I would be trying to avoid you also."
John sighed. "Yeah I was a bit short with Rodney yesterday. But I've had my full quota of sleep and today is a new day."
Zelenka smiled. "I am sure Rodney will be pleased to hear that."
Zelenka began to type on his laptop and it began to beep. "These are the areas that have been explored within the last month."
Sheppard studied the map. "What is this?" John pointed to a small room in the left quadrant of the map.
"We are not sure." Radek replied. "Our best guess it is some kind of laboratory. It was basically empty except for an crystal-type object."
"A crystal?" John enquired. "Where is this crystal?"
Radek punched a couple of keys. "The crystal was giving off an increidable amount of energy, so I was told. It is all in this report."
"How much energy are we talking about? Enough for a gate ride to Earth or enough to fly the city?"
Dr. Zelenka gulped. He began to speak in his native Czech tongue.
When he remembered Colonel Shepherd was still near him he began to speak in English again. "No, no no no....this cannot be right."
"What?"
Zelenka took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "If I am reading this correctly. The crystal is capable to maintain the city indefinitely."
