Chapter 5: It is only a matter of time
"That's right Colonel," the unseen voice acknowledged. "Perhaps now you will reconsider your current stance on demonstrating your skills with Ancient technology?"
"So what - IOA or NID?" Sheppard queried, completely ignoring his captors question. "Please don't tell me you're someone new because we have enough problems already with interfering organisations who have no real understanding of anything." John pretended to think for a moment before continuing. "No ... you sound more like IOA to me ... I bet you've got the suit and tie firmly pressed into place right now, don't you?"
"Amusing," the voice replied without a hint of said emotion. "How is your head Colonel Sheppard?"
"Just fine thanks," John returned with a casual grin. "Maybe that device doesn't do what you think it does."
"Or maybe you have yet to reach the threshold Colonel," his captor replied complacently. "It is only a matter of time."
"Whatever," Sheppard deliberately closed his eyes with a yawn, crossing his arms over his chest and shifting to get comfortable against the gate. "Let me know when you get tired of this so I can go home," he said without opening his eyes.
"We shall see," the voice returned grimly.
Sheppard kept his eyes closed even though the noise inside his head was hammering pain over his skull, down his neck and across his back with vicious intensity. Keeping his expression bland took concentration but eventually John judged the silence long enough that he could open his eyes without getting an 'I told you so!' reaction from his host.
"What now?" he thought to himself, for the first time missing the answer he would have gotten from Atlantis if he'd been back home where he should be instead of at the mercy of a broken piece of Ancient technology.
The idea occured to him suddenly at that thought ... broken technology! What if it wasn't broken?
If Sheppard could connect to the device, drown out the noise long enough to figure out why it was broadcasting brain exploding pain, he might be able to fix it. With nothing obvious from the outside his captors wouldn't even work out what he'd done for hours ... when they did they'd have no way to prove that John had done anything. It was the perfect solution. Now all he had to do was make it happen.
oOo
Fifteen hours into their flight, Rodney and Lorne again switched places, Lorne ready to take the controls back after resting for a few hours in the back of the Jumper.
"Anything happen while I was asleep?" Evan asked.
"No," McKay returned shortly, never one to enjoy enforced time in a closed space. Shifting as though about to stand up Rodney gestured to the rear section and said "I'll just go ....,"
"Colonel Sheppard talks to the city, doesn't he?" Lorne asked before Rodney could move.
"Wha- what?" Rodney stuttered, slumping back into his chair in disbelief. "Why ... why would you ... how? No ... of course not!"
"Don't try to deny it McKay," Lorne replied, motioning for Rodney to get up so he could take back the pilots position. "If I wasn't already sure your reaction to that question would have confirmed it. You'd have laughed me out of this jumper if the answer was no."
"You're sure Sheppard talks to Atlantis?" Rodney repeated, moving to sit in the copilot's seat as he looked at Lorne uncertainly. "How?"
"Detailed information about what was going on in the city ten thousand years ago that didn't come from the database," Lorne began. "Finding new systems and devices but not through investigation or exploration. The Colonel sitting in the control chair for four days supposedly running a maintenance procedure. Him being desperate to fix the systems over structural damage that could have seen the central tower collapse." Looking at Rodney, Evan raised an eyebrow. "Should I continue?"
"How do you know we didn't find all that information in the database Major?" Rodney said defensively, ignoring the specifics about John's behaviour. "I'll have you know that I'm ... my team and I are very good at making something from statements you couldn't possibly understand."
"Right," Evan laughed rather than take offence to that. "Let's just assume that my research skills are up to par with 'your team' Doctor and move on. Do you want to know what convinced me?"
"Ah ... do I?" Rodney asked uncertainly, not sure how participating in this conversation was a breach of his agreement with John not to tell anyone about Atlantis but sure that somehow it was.
"Had a dream," Lorne replied simply, "probably similar to the one that's got you eager to spend 40 hours trapped in the back of a Puddle Jumper."
"Atlantis spoke to you in a dream?" Rodney wasn't sure why that fact had him feeling ... jealous? Shrugging that off, Rodney looked at the Major. "Tell me," he demanded impatiently.
"Nice lady, middle aged but kinda young somehow too," Lorne described what he'd seen. "Except the eyes ... wise ... ancient ... see right through you. Wearing the standard white dress those Ancient gals seemed to go for. Am I close?"
"Go on," Rodney neither confirmed nor denied that he recognised the image Lorne had described so accurately.
"Okay," Lorne shrugged, happy to play along for the moment. "When the dream started I was back at the mining colony on P3X-403 - it felt real but at the same time somehow I knew it wasn't. I saw a flash of something in the trees just like before ... I followed just like before ... but instead of finding Lieutenant Ritter there she was, standing on the path waiting for me."
"What did she say?" Rodney was captivated in spite of himself.
"That she was pleased to meet me," Lorne admitted with a faint hint of embarrassment. "She told me her preference had always been to speak only with Colonel Sheppard because he's the strongest gene carrier. And then she apologised for not introducing herself to me before now ... which kind of made it sound like she could have, if she'd wanted to. Then she said Colonel Sheppard needed her help - to do that she needed my help ... told me I had to take you back to the planet of her origins and help you retrieve something. When I asked her why she promised she'd explain once we had what she needed." Lorne glanced at Rodney, noting the thoughtful look on his face. "That was it."
"The amplifier is Ancient Tech," Rodney concluded. "It makes sense she'd want me here because in all likelihood it's damaged. Plus integrating it into the Gate systems will require someone of my skills ... Atlantis knows I'm capable from that whole control chair incident." Rodney smiled weakly as Lorne raised an eyebrow over the reminder of something he hadn't been privy too. "Sheppard will ah ... I'm sure you'll be debriefed on that once ... you know ...," he trailed off, not really sure what John would end up doing about Lorne's deduced knowledge. Regrouping, Rodney continued. "Obviously whatever Atlantis wants us to do with it will ultimately require someone with the natural gene ... someone a little stronger than the average Joe."
"Obviously," Lorne agreed lightly. "So ... how long has the Colonel been talking to the city?" Evan slanted a glance at Rodney before turning back to watch the view screen.
"Um ...," Rodney squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. "A while ... you really need to talk to Sheppard yourself Major. I don't think it's my place to tell you."
"Fair enough," Lorne shrugged casually. He'd known McKay wouldn't reveal anything he shouldn't but it was fun to tease him just a little. "Go get some rest ... we still have a long way to go."
oOo
"There it is," Lorne drew Rodney's attention to the forward screen where their old planet was now visible.
"It looks ... lonely," Rodney muttered, moving to sit in the co-pilot chair. After forty hours he was tired and cranky and sick to death of being in the Puddle Jumper which felt smaller with every hour that passed.
"It's a planet McKay," Evan reminded him pointedly. "How close do we need to be before you can pick up the remains of the mining station."
"Very," Rodney replied. "Last time we were almost on top of it before it registered."
"Great," Lorne replied. "I guess we start where the platform used to be and take it from there."
Not waiting for Rodney's input Lorne set the course. Space gradually morphed into the atmosphere and then into blue sky. Moments later he'd retracted the engine pods and was plunging beyond the surface of the water and into the depths.
"Standard search grid," Evan told Rodney, calling up the HUD and getting them started on grid 1.
oOo
After the hours of travel to get there Lorne had expected it to take hours more to find the mobile drilling station.
"I'm picking up something," Rodney announced after they'd only been at it for half an hour.
"Where?" Lorne called up the HUD to set their bearings.
"Right ... there," Rodney highlighted the area on the map. "What do you know? It's the station - almost exactly where we left it!"
"Thank God for that," Lorne said feelingly.
Flying the Jumper towards the Puddle Jumper docking ports Evan grinned. Finally time for some action. Avoiding the damaged docking station - the one Ronon had shot out when the Wraith Queen had control of Colonel Sheppard, Lorne guided the ship towards another dock - the one he'd used when he'd last come to the station to 'rescue' Team Sheppard.
"Rodney," Lorne drew the other mans attention with his grim tone.
"Oh what now?" Rodney complained, looking up and then groaning with dismay.
"Where's the docking station?" Lorne asked pointedly.
"Ah ... gone," Rodney stared at the gaping whole where the port should have been.
"I'm guessing there aren't any other ports, right?" Lorne queried.
"Um ... no," Rodney tapped away at his laptop, calling up schematics for the drilling station. "Sensors show the station is mostly airtight which frankly is a miracle. There are a couple of outer sections fully submerged, including the chamber housing the umbilical that used to be attached to Atlantis."
"Can we get in?" Lorne asked, taking the Puddle Jumper slowly around the station.
"Maybe," Rodney said distractedly, tapping some more. "Okay," he said after a few moments. "This is going to be risky but ...,"
"But what McKay?" Lorne demanded when the other man fell silent.
"It should work," Rodney concluded, turning to Lorne with a pained expression. "How do you feel about going for a swim?"
"I could do without it," Lorne returned. "Tell me."
"The moon pool is submerged but it looks like the systems shouldn't be damaged," Rodney explained. "We fly the Jumper up into the pool - it'll be tight but we should fit. We seal the forward section, raise the shield and then open the hatch. Using one of the diving suits we brought you step through the shield and then it's just a short walk to the controls. All you have to do is reinitialise the internal pressure and drain the room - I can guide you from the front section."
"Is that all?" Lorne said sarcastically. "What shield McKay?"
"The one I rigged up on the way over here," Rodney said like it would be obvious. "Didn't I mention that?"
"No you didn't," Lorne returned irritably.
"Oh," Rodney humpfed. "I was sure I ...," he trailed off with a shrug. "I converted the cloak so we can shield the Jumper - designed it so that things can get out but not in."
"There's no other way?" Lorne asked seriously.
"None," Rodney replied simply.
"Okay, lets get it done then," Lorne returned decisively.
Flying the Jumper towards the base of the drilling station Lorne quickly found the entrance to the moon pool ... slowly he raised the ship upwards, cringing as the sides scraped against the edges of the opening. Rodney was right - it was tight but a few seconds later the Jumper broke free. Taking direction from Rodney Evan guided the little ship towards the section of the room containing the controls and set her gently down on the floor.
"Phase one complete," he said lightly, getting up and moving towards the back section.
Stripping down to his boxers and t-shirt and then struggling into the tight fighting wet suit, it took Evan a few minutes to get kitted out ready for his underwater walk.
"Don't worry Major," Rodney stood in front of him , watching as Lorne tested all the equipment to make sure it was working properly. "The pressure inside the chamber is nowhere near as high as it would be if you were doing this out on the ocean floor. As long as you don't take too long you should be fine."
"Very reassuring McKay," Lorne's voice was muffled by the mask he'd just placed over his eyes and nose. "Okay - I'm ready."
"Good luck Major," Rodney said. Seating himself in the pilot seat he closed the bulk head doors.
Lorne stood in the middle of the back section facing the rear hatch. He saw the visible wave of energy travelling up the outside of the Jumper as Rodney engaged the shield. A moment later the hatch slowly lowered and Lorne was treated to the bizarre sight of a wall of water held back invisibly by the shield technology.
"Can you hear me Major?" Rodney's voice echoed directly in Lorne's ear.
"Yes," Lorne replied. "I won't be able to reply once I'd got my regulator in McKay."
"I know ... I should be able to see you once you clear the back of the Jumper," Rodney explained. "When you get to the controls I'll tell you what to do."
"Understood," Lorne approached the watery doorway, stopping just before his feet touched the shield. Putting his regulator in place Evan steeled himself and then took a resolute stride forward, his foot passing effortlessly through the shield.
The sensation of icy cold water, different pressures, and the tingling where the shield enclosed his leg wasn't exactly pleasant ... Lorne was pretty sure this was one of those times when ripping the proverbial band aid off would be preferable. Moving quickly, Evan cleared the rear of the Jumper and was suddenly fully submerged in water. Walking around the front of the Puddle Jumper he held one thumb up as he passed the front view screen and saw Rodney watching him.
Rodney pointed towards the console insistently. Nodding, Lorne walked towards it, his steps feeling heavy and uncoordinated under the weight of the water. Arriving at the controls he looked across for McKay's instructions.
"Okay, is there power?" Rodney asked, his voice echoing loudly in the watery silence.
Putting a hand to the controls Lorne pressed the buttons, looking up he held a thumb down.
"Not unexpected," Rodney replied easily. "You'll have to restore power manually. Below the console there's a door panel - open it and take the third crystal from the top out. Swap it for the first crystal."
Lorne knelt down in front of the console and got to work following Rodney's instructions. The diving gloves he was wearing made even the simple task of removing the door more difficult than it should have been but somehow Evan managed to get it done. Standing again he activated the console once more, this time rewarded with an active display. Holding his thumb up to Rodney he announced their first success.
"Excellent," Rodney congratulated him. "Now call up the pressure control status screen - once you have it, find the reset to default command and activate it."
Lorne had to scroll through a few screens before he found what he was looking for, Rodney giving him further instruction on the specific symbols to look for. Once the pressure reset had been activated Lorne could feel the difference in pressure, the water seeming to press him down into the floor even more than before.
"We have to move quickly now," Rodney announced. "Under the console is a lever with a press button control. You need to hold down the button while raising the lever. The manual controls will drain the water from the room ... with the pressure reset the moon pool should maintain at floor level."
Feeling the need to hurry, Lorne dropped back down, found the button and pressed it firmly. Raising the lever at the same time it still took a few moments before Evan knew anything was happening.
"It's working Major," Rodney confirmed. "I know you must be feeling the pressure by now but just hang in there just a little longer."
"What else am I going to do?" Lorne thought in amusement. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go!
The water level in the chamber gradually lowered ... and then abruptly Lorne's head broke the surface, followed slowly by the rest of him. Pulling the regulator from his mouth Lorne breathed in the restored air of the Drilling Station.
"Okay, McKay," he announced through the radio. "Your turn ... find us that amplifier."