Imposter
Part Two
John was the first team member to reach the gateroom the next morning. He made his way to Elizabeth's office. As he plopped himself into her chair, he spun around before turning on her computer and began playing solitaire while waiting for the others to show up. His years in the military had made him an early riser – as well as a night owl. Just as he found himself thwarted by the computer card game, Teyla and Elizabeth entered the office.
"John, what are you doing?" Elizabeth asked with a suffering sigh.
"Just lost at solitaire. Can't you get a sudoku game on here?" John joked as he swung out of her chair, and gestured as if to pull the bolted-down seat out for her.
"My, aren't you a gentlemen," Elizabeth took her seat, smiling at John. "We just left Rodney and Ronon in the mess. They should be along in a few minutes."
"They still had a few items left on their plates," Teyla smiled tolerantly before taking a seat across from Elizabeth.
John laughed – but began to pace the room impatiently.
"While you are on Acronicus, I want you all to be careful. You're there to see what was left behind by the wraith and if there is any technology that will be useful to us. Our goal is information gathering. We need to find out where Michael and the others have been and what their plans were once Andrew completed his serum," Elizabeth said looking at the two members of SGA-1. As she finished speaking the two remaining team members entered the office.
"Seriously Ronon, if you were to have real Canadian maple syrup, you would never go back to that fake, cheap stuff the SGC provides us with," Rodney said, waving his hands to emphasize his argument.
"The 'fake stuff' tastes pretty good, McKay. Not sure it matters," Ronon's voice was low, but he smiled faintly as he egged the scientist on.
"I'll prove it to you. Next letter I send home to Jeannie, I'll ask her to send me a bottle in her care package – Oh, hi," Rodney looked slightly embarrassed as he took his seat and noticed the others staring at him.
John and Teyla shook their heads with smiles that matched Ronon's, while Elizabeth chuckled softly.
"We're ready, Elizabeth. We know what we're doing," John stood up and began making his way to the door.
"I know. Just be careful. As Ronon said last night, Michael keeps coming back for more," Elizabeth followed them out and down the stairs to the gateroom floor.
"Hey, I'm coming too!" Andrew's voice floated down from the upper balcony as he entered the gateroom. He jogged quickly down the stairs and joined the five in front of the gate. Andrew was dressed in off-world gear and had his medical bag in one hand and a pistol holstered to his leg. He didn't say another word as he faced the gate expectantly, purposely not making eye contact with the others.
"What are you doing?" Rodney stepped up next to Andrew and fixed him with a glare. "You're not cleared for off-world travel."
Andrew turned to face Rodney and pushed a long curl of hair out of his eyes. "No one here knows more about that ship or Michael's plans than I do. So I'm going with ye."
Rodney's mouth curled into a frown as he got ready to confront the medic when John put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"Sounds good, Andrew," John said, playing the peacemaker. "You look ready to go, all geared up. Dial the gate." John gave Elizabeth a quick nod and a reassuring smile as the gate whooshed into action.
Ronon and Teyla stepped quickly through the gate, taking the lead, while John and Rodney hung back to watch the doctor as he made his way towards the event horizon. Andrew paused just as he reached the edge. Why am I feeling suddenly panicked? It's not like I haven't been through the gate before. I know it's technologically sound. Stop being a sissy and go! Andrew swallowed hard and closed his eyes before stepping through the gate.
Rodney exchanged an amused smile with John. "Some things never change!" He said shaking his head at the doctor's ambivalence at using the gate.
∞SGA∞
"I told ye to watch where ye were going. It's not my fault if ye were too caught up in patting yerself on yer back to listen," Andrew smiled, shaking his head. Rodney was just standing up after having tripped on a tree root and falling face first into a mud puddle. "Ye really need to clean yer ears out."
Ronon and John were openly laughing at the scientist who was covered in a layer of mud while Teyla kept her distance and gave a tolerant smile.
"You waited until I was already falling before your alleged warning!" Rodney was whining more than yelling. "What are you two laughing at?" Rodney turned angrily to the laughing military men.
"Nothing, McKay, except I heard Andrew tell you twice to watch out for that branch," Ronon said simply, his eyes twinkling as he laughed.
"Andrew is right, you know. If you'd stop talking once in a while you wouldn't be in half the messes you find yourself in," John said, patting Rodney on the shoulder.
"Did you hurt yerself?" Andrew said concerned, standing next to Rodney. He began looking him over.
"No!" Rodney snapped and tried to wipe his hands on the back of his pants. A strange look crossed his face and his tune changed as he turned to look at Andrew. "Are there parasites in that mud. I cut my hand yesterday – do you think I'll get sick from the bacteria? Maybe you better clean the cut!" Rodney stuck his dirty hand in Andrew's face.
"I am sure ye are fine, Rodney. The stream is right there. Wash off the mud, and I'll take a look at your paper cut." Andrew gave a suffering sigh as he pulled the scientist to the edge of the stream they had just crossed.
"There are probably tons of bacteria in that stream as well. This could cause me to loose a finger," Rodney said, but bent over to clean off his hands. "And it's not a paper cut!" Rodney said whipping around to glare at his friend. "We don't use paper."
"Whatever you say, Rodney," Andrew stifled a smile as he examined and cleaned the cut on the fuming man.
"The ship is only a few feet from here," John said looking around. "Rodney, you and Ronon can check out the engine area; see if there is anything useful. If the computers are working at all, it might be worthwhile to download what we can. Teyla, Andrew, and I will poke around and to see if we find anything of interest."
"We're done here. Rodney will live and keep all his fingers," Andrew said standing up and patting the scientist on the shoulder.
They made quick time the rest of the way to the wreckage, and then split into the respective groups.
As Rodney and Ronon made off towards the most damaged portion of the ship, John and his group began their search with the perimeter of the ship.
"We have spent so much time trying to help you remember us and Atlantis, Andrew, we never spent time engaging your memories of the time you spent with Michael. What do you remember?" Teyla asked as she stepped carefully over a splintered bulkhead.
"Most of the time we went from planet to planet. I never saw much of the planet or the people, just what was near the ship. Michael and the others would bring me what they called volunteers. I would take blood and tissue samples from them. I never truly felt comfortable with this, but Michael assured me they were let go. I doubt that was true now," Andrew said remorsefully, aware that, just like Carson, he now had his own ethical dilemma to face.
"You could not have known, Andrew," Teyla turned to gaze sympathetically at the doctor. "Michael seemed to treat you with respect, and he made your memories conform to his needs. It is nothing to be ashamed of."
John was bending down to examining the charred remains of a wraith hybrid. "You know, Andrew, if it wasn't for your strength of character, none of us would be here right now. You knew what was right despite Michael's attempt to warp you."
"McKay to Sheppard." Their radios crackled on.
"Go ahead, McKay," John said tapping his ear piece. "What did you find?"
"There is nothing left of the engines and not much technology of any use at all," Rodney answered. "We did find one computer access port which seems to be working – after I rerouted a power coupler and hooked it up to my scanner. I think you should bring Andrew here to take a look. It might be a chart of where Michael has been."
"We'll be right there." John clicked his radio off and turned to Andrew. "You're on deck, doc. Let's go!"
∞SGA∞
Andrew was able to confirm the accuracy of the computer data on all the planets they had been to. Rodney downloaded the information to his handheld data pad as the others got ready to leave.
When they reached the far side of the wreckage, Ronon stopped to examine the ground, pushing debris and vegetation around before standing back up. "We've got company. At least three wraith survived," he stated flatly, in the dead tone he used anytime he talked about the wraith. "We never were on this side of the ship and the villagers wear sandals not boots. Some of these tracks are days old while these right here are only hours old." Ronon stood up and pushed Andrew and Rodney back behind a fallen panel, swinging his energy gun around in search of a target. Both Teyla and John took cover looking around warily.
"They are probably long gone," Rodney whispered, craning his head around while not leaving the shelter of his hiding place. "I doubt any of the wraith would stay here, not when the gate is only a few hundred meters away."
"Teyla, you stay with Andrew and Rodney. Ronon and I are going to look around again," John whispered as he followed the Satedan in a low crouch.
Teyla watched the tree line for signs of approaching people while Rodney pulled out his life signs detector and began sweeping the area.
"Sheppard there are three life-forms about 30 meters to your left," Rodney clicked on his radio before turning to Teyla. "We need to move now. The life forms are very close to us…Teyla?"
The strange look on Teyla's face made Rodney stop talking, just before she smacked him sending him skidding across the ground.
"Teyla, what the…?" Andrew was taken back by the hateful look in the gentlewoman's eye. Her mouth was drawn back in an angry sneer. Andrew scrambled to help his friend as the Athosian woman jumped on the down man and pinned him to the ground. Andrew reached the two teammates and began pulling Teyla off Rodney. "Teyla, let him up, what's come over you?"
"I did!" The harsh voice came from behind Andrew and his heart froze with dread as he turned to face Michael. "I told you Carson, you would pay! Today is finally the day."
TBC
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