Chapter 2
"How was the team's last mission Ronon?" Teyla asked sitting in the commissary eating dinner with Ronon.
"It went well I guess Rodney found something that excited him so we came back here" he said dryly
"You did not seem to enjoy it"
"Nothing to do on these missions" he said sounding disappointed
"How is John?"
"He's not himself and I really don't think that he likes the idea of replacing you"
"He is the one who took me off duty"
"Well did you really think he would let you continue?"
"No" she admitted
"So have you decided what you're going to name him?"
"I have not"
"You don't want Ronon" he asked half joking
"I do not" she said smiling
"Well I hope we find your people before"
"As do I" she said cutting him off
"Do you think Colonel Sheppard will allow me to rejoin the team after the child is born?"
"I don't see why he wouldn't but I don't know they might do things differently" he said indicating the Earth natives
"Yes it would be disappointing if I were no longer allowed to join the fight against the wraith"
"Ask Sheppard" he told her
"We have not spoken much since I told him"
"Ronon, Teyla" Sheppard said joining the conversation although he didn't sit down or have any food.
"Colonel Sheppard" Teyla responded looking at him
"Sheppard what's up?" Ronon asked while continuing to eat
"Were going after a ship only one of its kind in the galaxy" he informed the pair
"What kind?" he asked despite not really caring.
"No idea that's why we're going" he said semi enthusiastically
"When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning just thought I'd let you know" he said before turning around and leaving the mess hall.
"Go ask him" he said more forcefully than before.
"There are several months before it will become an issue"
"But if you ask him now than he will have several months to think about it"
"And if he says no"
"He won't" he stated
"I do not share your optimism but I will ask him" she said getting up and leaving following Sheppard. After a few minutes she managed to catch up to him. "Colonel Sheppard"
He spun around "yeah"
"I wish to speak with you" she said catching up to where he stood
"I'm not letting you on this mission" he said and started walking again
"It is not about that John" she said walking beside him towards wherever he was going
"What is it about then?"
"Ronon and I were wondering if I would be allowed to rejoin the team after the child is born"
"I don't know Teyla I will have to think about it but are you sure you're going to even want to rejoin the team I mean you will have a baby to look after"
"I do not wish to stop fighting the wraith simply because I have a child"
"You might change your mind when you see and hold him for the first time"
"That is possible but if I do not"
"Then I will take it under consideration"
"That is all I ask thank you john" she said content with his answer.
"No problem" he responded instinctively before turning a corner leaving her alone to consider what he said. She returned to her quarters finding that she became tired much more easily now than she had before.
"All right Major Lorne you and your team will stay with the jumper if we can't find anywhere near the ship to land"
"Let's move out he said as he brought the jumper through the gate"
"Rodney you getting anything"
"Nope nothing could be cloaked though"
"But still picked up on that sensor"
"Apparently"
"Any ideas of where to start"
"Yeah how about over those mountains it's possible they might be blocking some signals"
"Mountains it is than" he said flying over towards them. After climbing over them they saw a large caldera with a small ship in the center"
"That's the ship?"
"Apparently"
"Looks pretty small to me McKay" Ronon critiqued
"Yes well look how small these jumpers are and how advanced are they"
"Yes but these go through the gate that ship is not fitting into a gate" he observed
"Fine than let's leave the advanced ship that is emitting absolutely nothing in the middle of a caldera so that the villagers armed with arrows can come and use it" Sarcasm evident in his voice
"I never said we wouldn't check it out it just doesn't look that good and what do you know no bays on the ship" Sheppard reassured him
"Well it's probably not a carrier might just be a scout or a personal ship who knows"
"You think the Ancients had personal spaceships"
"Maybe I don't know but that's not the point"
"Relax Rodney"
"Lorne you and your team stay with the jumper well escort Rodney to the ship"
They once again walk in silence leading Rodney to ponder why they no longer talk to each other like they once did. Hmm why are things nicer now I mean it used to be torture to have to walk through these jungles while listening to Sheppard go on and on about something which has absolutely no scientific merit whatsoever. Actually why isn't Sheppard talking at all usually it takes someone to sense someone about to shoot me before he shuts up. Actually he hasn't been all that talkative lately I mean he is always giving me these looks when I say something to him and he just sort of disappears when we get back to Atlantis hmm I wonder what he's doing therapy maybe? No Sheppard would never go to therapy could he be seeing someone? Who? No Sheppard wouldn't be seeing anyone on base we would have heard about the pools closing and who won the bets. Dam forgot to join the bet that Teyla asks for him in the delivery room. Can I ask him what he would say is that against the rules I mean we know Ronon tried to get those two scientists that annoy me more than the rest together but he got blacklisted for that didn't he? Ah here's the ship.
"All right now that were here you two can go off and play I've got important work to do" he said approaching what appeared to be an airlock he waved his hand in front of the sensor but nothing happened.
"What's the matter Rodney having a little problem with your important work of opening the door?" Sheppard quipped
"Yes yes very funny now get over here and see if you can open it" he said putting down his pack in order to get some of the cables.
Sheppard approached the door and swiped his hand over the sensor the door instantly responded opening up "See Rodney it isn't that hard"
"Yes yes fine now can we please go inside?"
Ronon followed them inside "So what is this place"
"I have no idea whoever built it didn't put up a sign" Rodney replied staring at his tablet before heading off somewhere
"Rodney don't you think it might be wise to wait until after we secure the ship to go off on your own" Sheppard called after him.
"There's nothing here I checked the life signs detector" he said coming back into the hallway.
"How big is it?"
"I'll let you know when I get to the bridge" he said going back around the corner.
They make their way separately through the ship Sheppard comes across what he thinks is the auxiliary control room he radios Rodney asking him if he has found the bridge yet.
"No but I found the main engine room"
"What powers the ship ZPMs?"
"No idea
"You have no idea"
"For the first time yes I have absolutely no idea what is powering this ship"
"So how do you know it's the engine room?"
"That's what the sign says"
"I thought you said they didn't put up signs"
"Apparently they do, anyway"
"Yeah well maybe the ship was stripped for parts"
"Possible"
"Sheppard did you" his statement got cut off and replaced with nothingness
"Rodney Rodney do you copy, Ronon you still there dammit this is why we wait until after we clear the ship to go wondering around" he said slamming his fists onto a nearby console which lit up immediately
"Navigational computer online please input destination"
He stared at the screen with a blank expression. "Would you like to return to Atlantis or Earth?" it said in a synthesized computer voice.
"Atlantis" he responded slightly confused and feeling uneasy.
"Confirmed, unauthorized personnel had been detected and they have now been removed primary systems are now active"
"Removed?"
"They were returned through the Stargate to Atlantis unharmed along with 4 other personnel located on the planet"
"And me"
"You are now recognized as temporary Commander of this ship, entering Hyperspace eta to Atlantis 5 minutes and as such will have limited control over the ships systems"
"Wait 5 minutes I think you have the wrong address Atlantis is across the galaxy"
"Correct Atlantis is on the other side of this galaxy of which this ship is capable of crossing in 8 minutes"
"This ship can cross the galaxy in 8 minutes?" he asked skeptically
"Correct"
"What are you?"
"An AI you would call me I control the ship in the event that my creator is not available"
"What is your creator called?"
"All files related to the creator are classified with level 1 clearance required please enter your authorization code now"
"I don't have clearance how do I get it?" he asked annoyed that the 10,000 year old computer was requesting Authorization codes from him.
"Only the creator and the current High Councilor have level 1 clearance"
"There is no High Councilor anymore"
"Correct the last High Councilor was Moros"
Sheppard sat back in the chair thinking about what to ask next
"What powers this ship?"
"I'm sorry that information is classified"
"Who built you and this ship?"
"I'm sorry that information is classified"
"Is this ship armed?"
"Yes"
"With what"
"I'm sorry that information is classified"
"Why was I not transported back to Atlantis?"
"You are not an unauthorized person"
"Can you allow them back on board this ship?"
"Confirmed doctor Rodney McKay is now allowed on this ship as are Ronon Dex and Major Lorne's team"
"How do you know their names?"
"I am in your mind"
"You are"
"Yes exiting hyperspace"
"Detecting a hyperspace window"
"What? The Daedalus isn't due back for another two weeks and the Apollo left last week" Colonel Carter asked
"It's an unidentified ship"
"Where's Sheppard when you need him, Major Lorne head to the chair room"
"Atlantis this is Sheppard" they heard over the Radio
"Colonel Sheppard is that you"
"Yes Colonel Carter tell Rodney he is going to love this ship"
"Really why Sheppard" Rodney inquired
"Well it can cross the galaxy in 8 minutes and its run by an AI"
"Permission granted Rodney"
"I didn't even ask you anything yet"
"I want to see that ship as much as you Rodney"
"Major Lorne report to the jumper bay immediately"
"Yes sir" he grumbled shuttling McKay to and from his newest toy wasn't what he had planned for when he had found himself back on Atlantis with hopefully the rest of the day off.
"Colonel Sheppard please leave the ship in orbit around the planet I don't want to risk having it land on Atlantis yet"
"Understood however I'm going to need a list of everyone that's coming up I need to clear them the ship doesn't like visitors"
"I'll have Rodney send you one as soon as he's ready.
"Understood Colonel Sheppard out" he said cutting the communications link.
"So what do I call you and the ship?"
"We carry the same name"
"And what name is that"
"We are called the Ancient"
"That's it the Ancient"
"Yes why"
"Do you have any kind of image or something?"
"Yes"
"Can I see it?"
"Activating imaging systems" he said as he appeared as a miniature version of an old man and switching his voice from the synthesized computer voice to a more natural one.
"I guess I can see why they call you the ancient"
"Actually I am named for my creator who they call the Ancient"
"Wait the Ancients called someone else the Ancient"
"Correct"
"Where is your creator?"
"I am sorry the information you have requested is classified please enter your authorization code."
"Okay please allow all these personnel access to the ship"
"They are now allowed onto the ship"
"Thank you"
Authors Note: that's chapter two once again I would appreciate any and all reviews.