Chapter 41: Now we just have to work out what to do with that

John made it up to the Daedalus once during the two days I stayed up there. Strangely enough we then did a position swap, with John on the Daedalus for a mission to test the retrovirus gas on a real Hive and me back in the labs on Atlantis. I was on edge the whole time John was gone, expecting some kind of subterfuge from the Hive Queen. Colonel Caldwell reported in on the way back to Atlantis that the Wraith delegation had been searched and killed when the retrovirus canisters had been found. Our Hive had sustained damage in the failed attempt and their transport ship had been destroyed.

"This alliance is becoming more like blackmail every day," John complained to me later. "Now it's not enough that we've handed them a weapon to defeat their enemy Hives, they want us to work out how to deliver it effectively too."

"The Hive Queen is deceiving us about something," I told him. "I've been thinking about what I sensed the day I bumped into her and I'm convinced she's hiding something – I just don't know what."

"The good news is that Rodney was given the mother lode on Wraith Hive ships – everything you ever wanted to know about schematics, power distribution, life support configurations, the whole lot," John grinned when I jumped up excitedly. "Maybe you can find some use for the information too."

"Who's got the data?" I hastily gathered up my laptop and the TED and turned to see John grinning at me. "Why is it you're always amused by something I'm doing?" I asked irritably.

"If I knew that it probably wouldn't be so amusing," John teased me. "Radek's working on the data – he's expecting you."

"Cool," I jumped up and ran out the door, stopped and then poked my head back into the room when I realised I hadn't even said goodbye. "Thanks John – I'll see you later."

Doctor Zelenka had designated one of his workstations for my use and I quickly connected the TED, crossing my fingers that some kind of transfer would take place even though the TED wasn't connected to an actual Wraith Hive ship. Lights flashed on the TED and images started scrolling rapidly on the workstation screen.

"It's doing something," I commented to Zelenka. "Hopefully something good. This is gonna take a while – is there anything you want me to work on while I'm waiting?"

"You can assist team A with locating a place to put the gas canister," he suggested.

"Sounds good," I moved to another workstation and started looking at the Hive ship schematics. The organic nature of the Hive ships was a definite weakness, just as the Ancients had supposed. If we had actual samples and scans of the organic components then maybe some time in the future Doctor Beckett could design a biotic virus like I'd suggested months ago.

A couple of hours later the team I was assisting hadn't had any luck finding a spot that would ensure delivery over the entire ship in one go. The TED had finally stopped flashing and I returned to see what I'd got. I put my hand on TED to check out the status of the telepathic pool – if my transfer had been successful I should be able to detect a second mechanical thread.

"Is that safe?" Doctor Zelenka looked across at me, clearly concerned I was activating the device without seeming to even prepare myself.

"Its fine," I reassured him. "I'm not trying to make any connections – I'm just gonna look at the threads TED has available. I should be able to tell if it's picking up the Hive ship now." I put my hand confidently on the device, had a quick look, and then deactivated it.

"And is it?" I turned quickly when John spoke from the doorway.

"It is!" I smiled triumphantly. "Now we just have to work out what to do with that."

"How're the Wraith data files coming?" John turned back to get an update from Doctor Zelenka.

"Ah. Oh, it's-it's phenomenal," Radek stammered excitedly. "It's-it's like being handed a Wraith encyclopaedia. It's hard to know where to start."

"When I was a kid and I got my first encyclopaedia, I started with the letter "S"," John confided with a faint smirk.

"I bet you did," I chided him.

"Yes, well, while I'm sure that Wraith sexuality is interesting," Radek said good naturedly, "we've decided to split into two teams. "Team A over here is trying to find the best place or places to plant the gas canister," Radek gestured to his left, "Team B over there is trying to come up with some fixes for the damage that the Wraith Hive sustained during its last battle."

"And you?" John asked curiously.

"Um, mostly I'm just skimming the index," Radek admitted.

"Anything exciting?" John quizzed.

"Oh, yes," Radek replied with a pleased grin.

"Such as?" John looked hopeful.

"Well, the ships are massive," Radek shoved his chair across the floor to another computer, "but because of their mainly organic design, they have a number of external weaknesses."

"I've got a weakness for external weaknesses," John's tone was light hearted but I could tell he'd registered the implications.

"Any word from Rodney yet?," Radek looked at John with a hopeful expression.

"I'm sure he's fine," John replied, trying to reassure himself as much as Radek and me. "I'll leave you to get back to your searching ... let me know if you find out anything else useful."

"Of course Colonel Sheppard," Radek sat himself back at his computer and squinted at the screen.

"Are you done?" John turned back to me.

"I could stay and help one of Zelenka's teams," I suggested. "As far as my work on TED goes, there's nothing else I can do unless I'm actually gonna use the device for real."

"I'm heading up to Doctor Weir's now so I'll fill her in on your status," John offered. "Rodney and I are gonna talk strategy once he gets back. I'll fill you in on the plan ... once we have a plan."