Chapter Seven
Questions and options churned about in Rodney's mind as he tried to get a focus on the situation. With his head bent over the laptop, fingers flying on the keypad, he attempted to gain more information. Nothing to explain the state of affairs was available, though he did find that Sheppard's team, presumably with Kavanagh, had already returned from off-world.
Was Sheppard a part of the conspiracy? Perhaps he didn't realise anything strange was going on. When he took Kavanagh through the gate, he might have been doing it on orders from Weir. . . The way Elizabeth was acting, she had certainly been taken over by aliens, or mutated eggplants or something, he thought as he pulled at his hair.
Strangely everyone seemed to be deferring to Zelenka, almost as if he were in charge. Now that was a freaky idea. After considering that for a while Rodney shook his head and decided to concentrate on more important matters; like how to save himself… and then everyone else.
Kavanagh seemed to know something. Which might be why they were trying to get him off Atlantis? There might be more people who hadn't been taken over, he should try to find them, get help. Even geniuses needed help, sometimes.
"Hey Dixon" Rodney called, knowing that the airman was never far away.
"Yes sir?"
"I need coffee and a couple of sandwiches. I still haven't had lunch, and I'm hungry." Rodney complained.
"Okay sir, what sort of sandwiches?" Dixon sounded willing to please.
"Umm, lots of different ones, you know meat, salad, curried egg. That sort of thing." He requested, trying for something that would take a while to prepare.
"I'll get on it right away sir." Dixon obligingly left the lab for the 'supposedly' closed commissary.
Rodney crept to the door and, after ascertaining that there was no-one in sight, he quickly and furtively left the room. He'd make first for Sheppard's quarters and try to determine whether John could be trusted or not.
After finding Sheppard's room empty, Rodney headed for the gym. It wasn't a room he was acquainted with, but he knew where it was. Luckily his knowledge of Atlantis was very comprehensive.
Voices spilling out from the partially open door indicated that there were more than a few people in the gym when he reached the nearby corridor. Cautiously approaching he tried to put names to the voices.
"This is a little difficult" Teyla spoke, clearly needing assistance with something.
"It is becoming a nightmare" John replied, but obviously about something else. "The base has been turned upside down."
There was a muffled yelp and some scuffling that made Rodney curious enough to move closer and peer around the door.
"Can't you shut him up better than that Ronon?" Sheppard asked aggrieved.
Although he could only see a small proportion of the room Rodney was appalled to observe Kavanagh bound and gagged in one corner. Ronon came into sight as he strode over to the tied scientist.
"I could, but you won't let me hurt him" Ronon replied with some disappointment.
Kavanagh stopped moving and tried to shrink into a smaller space as Ronon towered over him.
"If you keep making noise Major Sheppard might just let me practice on you." Ronon said hopefully as he flashed two large knives in a complicated manoeuvre which finished with one knife poised at the tip of Kavanagh's nose and the other just nicking his ear. Kavanagh squeezed his eyes shut with a moan and appeared to faint.
"That should keep him quiet for a while, till he regains consciousness." Ronon stated with satisfaction. He kicked the scientist to make sure he wasn't faking it. "How long does Dr Zelenka want us to keep him out of circulation?"
"Until he tells us to let him go" Sheppard replied. "We don't want him to foul up the plan. We have put a lot of work into this, too much to let him mess it up."
Rodney's heart sank at this indication that John was part of the conspiracy. He didn't realise how much he'd relied on getting Sheppard's help. He crept away trying to think of someone else he could safely contact.
