Chapter Twelve
Rodney drank from his bottle of water as he rested on a box near Ashina and Sheppard. Ashina was asleep, as was Sheppard. Ronon was with Teyla at the main computer console while Rodney was taking a much needed break.
Rodney shook the objects he'd found in Damisk's pockets in his hand like they were an oversized set of dice. He was pretty sure the larger of the two was a handheld magnetic field generator and the other was an actuator or control device for... something.
He'd just been through the reconstructed section of the computer database on his tablet computer again for any sort of reference to the devices, but surprisingly there was nothing – then again, the database was far from being complete.
The objects in his hand intrigued Rodney far more than the database at the moment. Deep down, he knew the objects must have held some sort of significance for Damisk, just by the fact that they'd been in Damisk's pockets. Then again, Damisk could have picked them up in a fit of housecleaning, putting them there without purpose or importance, and then he died with them there.
"Rodney," Teyla called to him, motioning for him to come to her.
Her broad smile told him she was onto something. He shifted the objects to a tac vest pocket as he picked up his crutch and made his way over to her.
"What is it?" he asked, wishing for the umpteenth time that he could move faster.
She gestured toward the computer screen with one hand. "I completed the cleanup program you asked me to run on this file and have uncovered something of interest."
Rodney glanced at it, then moved closer, his mouth dropping open. "What's this? A reference to an escape route? Holy crap, Teyla, you may have quite possibly found a way out of this hell hole! Seriously, this could be the very thing we've been looking for."
Teyla's expression was weary and pale, but her eyes sparkled with excitement as she said, "I hope it is."
Her smile waned as she rubbed at her thigh with one hand. "I need something to drink and some pain medication or else I will be of no further help to you. May I get you something, too?"
Rodney shook his head, engrossed in what he was reading. "No, no, I'm fine," he murmured, then began to sort the information in a different way that might bring other related data to light. In reality, it was only a reference, but if it were true...
"Stay here, I'll get it for you, Teyla," Ronon offered and took off before she could say anything.
"Thank you, Ronon," Teyla called out after him and then she started following Ronon. "Ronon, could you also bring back some power bars and water?"
Ronon came to a stop beside the supplies and looked back at her with a smirk. "Yeah, sure. Hey, Teyla, you're getting pretty good at working those computers. McKay must be slipping if you found this before he did."
Rodney lifted a finger in Ronon's direction. "It was under my direction, so I can still claim victory."
Teyla chuckled, then said, "Only if it proves to be true. At the moment, there is but the possibility of an escape route."
Ronon nodded. "You think you can find it, McKay?" he asked as he stretched his sore shoulder carefully.
Teyla smiled at Rodney and before he could answer, she said, "If it is something that has any likelihood of being found, Rodney will find it."
"Well, thank you, Teyla, for that vote of confidence. Ronon could learn a thing or two from you," Rodney said as he waited for the sorting to be completed. At least now he knew what terminology to search for. The reference indicated it had something to do with the ventilation system – exactly what had yet to be discovered.
Ronon grabbed a couple of bottles of water and then reached into the med kit. Teyla said, "Ronon, could you please bring some power bars back with you?"
He nodded. Once his hands were loaded with supplies, he headed back to Teyla but before he reached her, Sheppard suddenly rose to his feet and shouted, "Damn it, kill me or set me free!"
Rodney spun around just as Ronon and Teyla stopped in their tracks. Sheppard's battles with the suit were becoming more and more involved. The suit's response was swift and severe, because John then dropped to his knees with both arms wrapped around his chest. He fell onto his side, rolling back and forth, not even trying to suppress his groans.
Ronon and Teyla started in Sheppard's direction with Ronon running ahead while Teyla limped along. Rodney grabbed his crutch and began to hobble toward them at an insane pace, his focus solely on Sheppard. Ronon reached Sheppard's side first, dropping the water and power bars to one side as he knelt and put a hand to Sheppard's forearm.
Without warning, Ronon seized up as if he was caught in an electrical current. Rodney blinked in confusion. What the hell?
The seizure seemed to last for an eternity, but in reality it was only a few seconds. Teyla reached Ronon by then and she didn't stop until she had pushed Ronon away from Sheppard, using her cane so that she wouldn't also be caught by the same electrical current. Ronon collapsed into a gasping heap.
Teyla reached down and pulled Ronon closer toward her – and further away from John and the suit. Rodney stopped where he was, rooted in place, as he watched Sheppard roll onto his side toward Ronon and Teyla. John's expression held heartbreak and guilt as he stared at Ronon for a moment before a murderous rage came over him.
"This is between you and me, damn it!" John shouted, rage energizing his movements as he got to his feet again. He swayed wildly as he added, "And leave my friends the hell alone!"
Every move John made seemed monumental. He took a deep breath, his hands in fists that he held at his sides. "You... will... not... hurt... them!" John said through clenched teeth as he forced his hands up and out.
There was something in Sheppard's expression that caused a shiver to run down Rodney's spine – something dark and hard. It was that same certain something that Sheppard could summon up when his back was against the wall and the situation called for drastic measures. And it was also the same something Rodney was sure he'd never have inside of him no matter how long or how hard he tried.
Rodney watched open-mouthed, unable to pull his gaze away. Sheppard swallowed hard, his jaw twitching from his efforts, his muscles straining as if he were struggling to push off a great weight, then he raised his head and caught Rodney's eye.
Many things passed between the two men in that instant – things that went beyond words, went beyond duty and obligation, and tasted of friendship, loyalty and camaraderie and so much more. The exchange left Rodney almost dizzy.
Rodney tightened his grip on his crutch, then he lifted his chin as his gaze narrowed, and said, "You can do this, John! Use that insufferable stubbornness of yours to drive it back!"
Sheppard nodded, then closed his eyes, and his body tightened, seeming to pull itself in before he pushed out with both hands and he said, "LET ME GO!"
Nothing happened for a long moment, then John groaned. It sounded as if his soul was being wrenched away from his body. In the brief pause before Sheppard drew his next breath, Rodney forced himself forward, not quite sure how to help, but he was afraid that if he didn't move right then, he wouldn't be able to move at all. From somewhere deep inside of him, he was sure Sheppard had either just won or was about to die.
John put out a hand in the general direction of his teammates, then collapsed, landing just short of Ronon and Teyla. Rodney was stunned by what he'd just witnessed and he waited for Sheppard to either move or breathe or show some sign he was still alive, but all he did was lie there motionless.
Teyla was already with Ronon, putting herself between Ronon and Sheppard, and Rodney felt so damned helpless. No, worse than helpless, because he couldn't even bring himself to kneel down and check on Sheppard. Hell, he couldn't even let himself get within two meters of him. Mostly, because Ronon's words kept playing over and over inside his head, haunting him. Don't touch him. You don't know what the suit will do.
No, all Rodney could do was hold his breath and wait for Teyla to pronounce both Ronon and Sheppard dead. Her fingers went to check Ronon's pulse and Rodney's heart leapt when she closed her eyes in evident relief. Glancing up at Rodney, she nodded quickly, then moved over to Sheppard.
As Teyla started to reach out toward John's hand, she hesitated, and looked up at Rodney with a quick troubled glance. Understanding her apprehension all too well, he shook his head. "No, you're right. Don't touch him yet. We don't know who's in control at the moment."
Then John stirred, startling both her and Rodney. John took in a long breath and he raised his head as he looked in Ronon's direction. Worry and concern deepened the weary lines in his expression as he asked, "Ronon, is he – is he... "
Teyla leaned closer to catch his eye. "He is alive."
She started to reach out toward him, but her hand stopped in mid-air again, her expression dark, as if she despised her fear right then, and Rodney swallowed, knowing exactly how she felt.
Sheppard nodded as he tried to even out his breathing. "It's okay, Teyla. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine – " he paused, his hand going to his ribs, and he exhaled a long sigh.
With more trust and bravery than Rodney had inside of him, Teyla stretched forward to frame John's cheek with her hand. Sheppard's eyes closed with her touch, then they opened again. As he looked around, he noticed Rodney's presence once again and nodded to him in acknowledgment.
Rodney was practically shaking from the adrenaline rush that still pumped through his system and he did what he usually did when he was nervous or upset – he started talking. He looked from Ronon to Sheppard, gesturing wildly with his hands. "Damn, what was all that? I mean, you were... and the suit was... and I thought for sure Ronon was... of course, I'm relieved that he's not and it's good to see you up. I'd shake your hand in congratulations, but in light of recent events... "
His gaze went over to Ronon as his voice trailed off. Sheppard glanced at Ronon, too. That broken expression of his was back, the one bereft of everything except pain, guilt and regret. Rodney's breath caught in his chest and he bit his tongue, wishing he could pull his last words back – damn his infernal mouth anyway – but it was too late... he'd already reminded Sheppard of Ronon's situation and his part in it.
Not knowing what else to do, Rodney swallowed and adjusted his grip on his crutch, then in a much more reserved tone, he said, "He's alive, John. He's alive, so give yourself a break here." He tried to catch Sheppard's eye and softened his voice even more. "It's not like you did it on purpose."
John glanced away and his expression scrunched in torment. When he looked up at Rodney, he'd schooled most of his reaction, though his hazel eyes were still dark with emotion. "I didn't exactly stop it from happening, either, Rodney."
Rodney stepped closer to him, but not too close. "It wasn't your fault. Just like it wasn't your fault that Teyla and Ashina were hit by laser fire. Shit happens."
"Not this kind of shit, Rodney. This thing with Ronon was something I could have stopped if – if I'd been stronger."
Teyla checked again on Ronon, then turned toward John and took his hand in hers. "He will be fine, John. Really, he will be. I think he is more stunned than anything else."
She kept her other hand on Ronon's chest. "His breathing and his heart rate are returning to normal."
Rodney thought, Unlike Sheppard, who is puffing like a locomotive.
Sheppard shook his head. "It still doesn't excuse – "
"Shush," she said softly. "Let me see how you are doing. Are you all right – "
Teyla stiffened, and for a moment, Rodney was afraid the suit had zapped Teyla like it had done with Ronon, then she blinked a couple of times and drew closer to John. "John, the suit... has it lost its hold on you?"
Sheppard's eyes widened in realization. He held up his hands and looked at them in wonder. He made a fist, then sighed deeply and nodded. "It's not talking inside my head anymore and it's not causing me pain. I can move on my own. It's hard to believe, but it feels like it's... gone."
Rodney smirked. "You were so pissed at what it did to Ronon that you probably caused its program to delete itself."
Sheppard grunted, then looked puzzled. "I'm not sure quite what happened. It's been kicking my ass for so long, but then when I stood my ground and pushed back... it went dead on me."
Rodney stepped closer. "It's just a thought – and this is probably too much to hope for – but maybe you could try to use the mental component of your ATA gene to think the suit off of you?"
As Rodney's idea took root, Sheppard inhaled slowly, then closed his eyes and concentrated. He opened them a few moments later, shaking his head. "No, but it was worth a shot."
Ronon moaned softly, drawing everyone's attention back to him. Sheppard sat up and moved until he was kneeling beside Ronon, obviously needing to check on Ronon's condition himself, but when Ronon opened his eyes and saw Sheppard leaning over him, he lashed out and struck Sheppard squarely on the jaw.
John fell back, landing on his bad hip and he rolled onto his back, hissing in pain. Meanwhile, Ronon was on the move. He had escaped Teyla's outstretched hand to stop him and got to his feet in a daze, though by the way he was staggering, he looked like he'd be unable to stay upright for very long.
Rodney moved to intercept him, then instantly regretted his action as he thought better of it. He was no competition for Ronon when Ronon was himself and aware of his surroundings – now with Ronon so confused, who knew what the Satedan would do to him?
Yet, Rodney licked his lips and stood his ground, still uncertain of what to do next when Ronon balled up a fist and rasped, "Back away."
Rodney put out his hands and said, "Look, no weapons. I can back away – I can definitely back away... if that's what you really want me to do."
Without warning, Ronon dropped to his knees and put a hand to his head as if he were trying to push away his weakness and grogginess. By then, Rodney was very near to him. Rodney could hear Teyla behind him, trying to stand. She wouldn't be able to get up in time. This was all up to him.
Rodney made a show of tossing his crutch aside, and then he put up both hands as he took an awkward limping step toward him. Rodney's knee almost gave out on him, but he had to keep going. He didn't have any choice. He had to calm Ronon down before he did something stupid like attack one of them. Normally, Sheppard did these kinds of things or Teyla even. Rodney wasn't very good at it, but there was no one else around, so Ronon would just have to listen to him.
"Easy, buddy," Rodney said, trying to sound like Sheppard. "We're all friends here."
Ronon squinted and looked up at Rodney, then his focus narrowed and he stared at Rodney, clearly confused. "McKay, what the hell is going on?"
Rodney stopped, glanced in John's direction as John struggled for consciousness and sighed. He shook his head for a moment, and then looked back at him and said honestly, "You know, I'd really like to know the answer to that one myself."
oOoOoOoOo
Ronon kept flexing his right hand, making a fist with it and then releasing it. It was the hand that had touched Sheppard's suit and had been the contact point for the electrical charge he'd received. His hand was still numb in certain areas and his palm was red and tender, despite the fact the incident happened a few hours before.
He caught Teyla watching him as they stood around the computer console while McKay did an expanded search for references to their mysterious escape route. Teyla looked like she was about to say something when Sheppard frowned and muttered, "Never thought I'd see the day where a computer system could kick your ass, McKay."
McKay erupted with much more than his usual drama, "Ah, come on, John, that's not fair! It's not like this is a normal search on a fully functional computer. I've had to snatch uncategorized bits of information and compile them into something useful!"
McKay stood as far to one side of the computer console as he could and still be able to use it. Sheppard was at the opposite end of the console, making sure to keep his distance from McKay. They'd all agreed that Sheppard shouldn't get close to McKay while Sheppard was in the suit, but Sheppard had gone one step further and kept his distance from all of them. Sheppard looked worn out. He needed to be resting.
"It's not your fault, Rodney. I'm not saying it's your fault at all. I just meant I've never seen you so perplexed by a computer system before," Sheppard said in a calming way, putting up both hands. He was about to say more when Zelenka's voice came over McKay's radio in his tac vest. "Rodney?"
McKay made a face as he patted to the radio to activate it. "Yes, Radek," McKay said with a voice that warned of severe penalties if the situation didn't warrant interrupting him.
Radek didn't bother to acknowledge McKay's bad mood. Instead, he continued. "We went over the data regarding this facility in Atlantis's database with a fine tooth comb and didn't find any reference to it, so I think Damisk must have done the whole thing on his own, which is really quite phenomenal when you stop and think about everything involved."
"Oh, for crying out loud, Radek, if you didn't find anything, why the hell are you calling to disturb me!" McKay snapped back.
"It was time for a check in, Doc," Lorne said, interrupting what would no doubt have turned into another extended and caustic McKay/Zelenka debate. "I've had some of our people with the locals searching for a manmade opening to the surface, something the old folklore tells about and we think we might have found it, but the area has a lot of debris and vegetation around it. We won't know more until we dig it out. With the storm system still hanging over our heads, it isn't going to be easy."
"Opening to the surface?" Sheppard asked, his interest in the conversation suddenly mushrooming.
"That's what it looks like," Zelenka answered. "I would imagine it's probably something to do with the ventilation system for the facility."
McKay turned toward Sheppard. "The escape route," they said with excitement.
"Escape route?" Zelenka asked.
"Yes, we've found references to an escape route out of the facility, something to do with the ventilation system." McKay frowned, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "And, of course, that would be easy if there was only one central ventilation shaft, but this place is so huge, there has to be at least a dozen different ones funneling throughout the system. The problem will be deciding which one is the right one. I'm trying to run an advanced search program I wrote to see if I can uncover more specifics. Though, given the way there are multiple security protocols for every damned thing possible in this place, it's probably a fool's errand."
Zelenka took a deep breath. "Well, I was thinking – "
"That always gets you into trouble," McKay muttered.
"Just be quiet for a moment, Rodney, and listen to me, if that's even possible. If I'm not mistaken, the security protocols, when activated, would be designed to keep something in, and not out, right? So, there are probably far less security measures that would prevent us from entering through the ventilation system compared to the ones in place to keep you from getting out. If we could locate an opening, we might be able to break through via that route."
McKay's mouth dropped open and he nodded. "Yes, of course, of course. Well, Radek, you do justify the need for your presence occasionally! Get to work on it!"
There was a pause, then came the sarcasm in Zelenka's tone, but it was also tinged with pride as he said, "You're welcome, Rodney."
Lorne's voice held a smile, too, as he said, "Yes, sir, will do. We'll check back in an hour," then they signed off.
Sheppard bent down to rest his elbows against a work bench and sighed with relief. Ronon sighed, too, but he straightened when he caught sight of something at the back of Sheppard's neck. Suddenly apprehensive, Ronon walked closer. Sheppard put up a hand to stop him when Ronon got too close. "Hold up, Ronon. What's the matter?"
Ronon frowned and gestured with one hand as he said, "Turn around. I need to look at the back of your neck."
Sheppard's expression turned troubled. "Why? What did you see?"
"Just turn around and let me get a closer look before I say anything."
Sheppard didn't move right away, but finally he sighed and turned around. Ronon took another step closer. By then, McKay and Teyla had stepped up behind him. Ronon chewed on his lip for a moment, then pointed. "There, where the suit ends at the back of his neck, right up against his hairline, do you see it?" he asked quietly.
McKay swallowed and took another small step closer, but he lingered behind Ronon's sphere of protection. Finally, he must have been able to see what Ronon was referring to, because he said, "Oh, that can't be good."
"What? What do you see?" Sheppard asked, his hand going to touch the back of his neck. After his fingers brushed over the area, he stopped and looked back at Ronon. "It feels like something is poking into my skin."
Teyla moved closer, apparently without fear because it never showed in her face. She stopped just short of touching him and looked for herself. "It appears the suit has embedded itself into the skin of your neck, perhaps even into your nervous system."
"Crap," Sheppard said simply. "Why didn't you notice this before?"
McKay rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right, like we weren't already doing a hundred different things... you mean we were supposed to roll you over and check the back of your neck? Sorry, I didn't get that memo!"
Teyla shook her head. "It is not something that I noticed earlier. Perhaps, this is a recent development?"
Everyone looked at McKay to answer that question, but he just threw his hands into the air and said, "I may know a lot of things, but I'm just as in the dark about this as the rest of you!"
Sheppard licked his lips and asked in a low tone, "What now?"
McKay scratched the back of his neck, as if checking to make sure he didn't have any similar attachments, then sighed with relief when he apparently found none. McKay shook his head, getting back into the conversation and said, "Maybe that would explain why you were battling to control your movements."
Then McKay waved a pointed finger at Sheppard. "This suit isn't going to just come off of you, it's gotta disconnect itself from you first, disconnect from your nervous system."
"Well, can't you remove it? Cut it out or something?" Sheppard asked nervously.
McKay shook his head. "That might kill you, depending on how integrated it is into your spinal cord."
Sheppard scratched at his forehead. He took a few steps away, putting some distance between them again. "Well, we'll just deal with that when we have to. Right now, we've got to find that escape route while we can."
Teyla put a hand on Sheppard's arm. "John, you do not think the suit might somehow regain control, do you?"
Sheppard's expression tightened, then relaxed, but his eyes still held the remnants of apprehension. As if sensing she had seen more than he wanted, Sheppard looked away and shook his head. "Not at the moment. I don't feel anything from it. It's like it died or short-circuited or something."
The silence grew more awkward until McKay sighed and said, "That interface at the back of your neck explains how you were able to hear it talking to you." He paused and looked up at Sheppard, as if searching for something positive to say amidst all the grim things they'd just discovered. "There are some really cool things that suit can do, though. If we can get it to work for us instead of against us, we might be able to get out of here a hell of a lot faster than waiting another eighteen hours for the Daedalus to arrive."
Teyla shook her head. "Rodney, now is not the time – "
McKay turned to Sheppard, despite the withering look she gave him. "Seriously, John, this suit does a lot of the same kind of things that I was able to do after... well, you know, after I was caught by the ascension machine and was transformed."
Sheppard gave him a sharp glance. "If you think I'm going to try to ascend to get out of this damned suit, you're crazier than I am."
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Just wait until you hear about the abilities I've found out about the suit so far. It's like a Superman suit – well, it looks more like a Batman suit, but with Superman's powers."
When Sheppard stared at him in bewilderment, McKay plunged forward. "Okay, listen, just forget about the comic book references – this suit is beyond incredible!"
Teyla put a hand on John's back. "Are you sure you should not be resting? It was only a short time ago that you were struggling for your life."
Ronon knew what Teyla was doing, trying to divert his attention away from McKay and his bubbling excitement. Sheppard shook his head emphatically. "No, I was held prisoner by that thing for over a day. I want to keep moving to remind myself I'm free of it."
Teyla stared at him with her best discerning gaze and Ronon felt for Sheppard. After a moment, Sheppard wilted a little under the pressure. "Well, I'm not free of the suit itself, just its control."
He took a deep breath and let out slowly. "And, yeah, okay, I may be sore in more than a couple of places, and bone tired, of course, but overall I'm good. We're gonna find a way out of here, Teyla, and if I can help in some way, I'm going to do it."
"Super strength," McKay whispered and Sheppard turned toward him.
When he held Sheppard's gaze, he continued, "Personal force field."
Teyla sighed as McKay said under his breath, "The suit can morph into all kinds of really cool designs."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Underwater scuba gear, full scale search-and-rescue setup, and that's just the beginning."
"No way."
McKay grinned. "Way."
Ronon bopped McKay on the back of the head and growled, "McKay, cut it out."
Rodney frowned at him and rubbed the spot with one hand. "You really have no concept of what the words head injury mean, do you? Geez..."
Teyla shook her head adamantly. "John, nothing good can come of using this suit."
Sheppard put up a hand to stop her. "If it can get Ashina to Keller and the infirmary on Atlantis any earlier, then I'm all for it."
Teyla reached out to touch Sheppard's arm and he automatically stepped away from her, as if still trying to protect her from possible harm. That reflected more of his true suspicions about the suit than any of his denials had done. She kept her hand extended. "John, you must not use any of the suit's capabilities for fear of bringing that program back online."
Sheppard nodded. "I understand your point, but I'm not getting any indication the artificial intelligence in this suit is still active. I tell you something happened to it, because it's not there now, not in any shape or form."
Teyla eyed him intently, then glanced over at Ronon. Ronon simply shrugged. It seemed way too convenient for the suit's program to suddenly stop working like it did, even with Sheppard's strong stubborn streak, but then they'd seen more bizarre things than this happen before.
Nonetheless, Ronon casually glanced down at his weapon to check its setting. He had no qualms about using it to protect Ashina and his friends. He chewed on his lip when he realized he wasn't quite sure how to classify Sheppard's current status. He was a friend, of course, but with that damned suit on, well, Ronon wanted to be ready in case he suddenly became a foe.
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Chapter 12