DISCLAIMER – I do not own Stargate: Atlantis. It belongs to MGM/UA and associates. This is a work of fan fiction. I am making no money from it and no copyright infringement is intended.

Dr. Itzhak Perlman is my original character.

RATING – This story is rated K+

ARCHIVE – Feel free to archive this story if you'd like. I only ask that you let me know where it is archived. Thanks!

A/N – I'm amazed at how many people are reading this story! Wow! Huge thanks to all who are reading and especially to the reviewers. I love those reviews and comments, so if you're enjoying this story, please let me know about it. I have decided to keep the chapters very short in this story, unlike my other WIP. Shorter chapters are more manageable and make for more frequent updates, too. Enjoy!

I have no beta, so any mistakes you find are mine.

All Fun And Games

5. A Dangerous Game

"Did you hear that?" said John. "Please tell me you heard it, and that I'm not going crazy."

"You're not going crazy. I heard something, too," Itzhak said. "It sounded like…a Stargate? You know, that kawhoosh sound it makes when the event horizon appears? It sounded like that."

"Yeah," said John. "That's exactly what it sounded like to me, too."

"How could we hear something like that? We've got to be several levels below the 'Gate room."

John turned in a slow circle, getting a view of every part of the place they were in. As far as he could tell, nothing had changed in the last few minutes. The noise he and Itzhak heard had seemed to originate from the area near the door, but John couldn't see anything there that might've produced it.

"Doc, do you believe in ghosts?" John asked.

"Not really," said Itzhak. "Do you?"

"No," John said.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking there's more going on around here than meets the eye, and I'd really like to figure out what it is."

Itzhak bent and retrieved the Ancient cube from the floor. He rubbed his thumb over the symbols engraved on it. "You don't think this has anything to do with it, do you?"

"I don't know."

"I'm going to check on Dr. McKay again," Itzhak said. He placed the cube on the nearest table and started across the room to Rodney's machine. "How long do you suppose it will be before Radek and Carson get here?"

"It takes a good pilot twenty-five minutes to fly to Atlantis from the mainland."

"Isn't Carson a good pilot?"

"He's not Air Force material, but I've seen a lot worse than him," John said. He watched the doctor at work for several moments. "Hey, how long do you think Rodney can stay stuck in that thing and still be relatively safe?"

"If nothing changes, I think he'll be physically safe for a few hours."

"What happens after that?"

"Let's hope he'll be out of here before we have to find out," Itzhak said.

John was smart enough to realize that statement was doctor-speak for you really don't want to know. He decided not to press the doctor into telling him, because he got the feeling Itzhak himself wasn't entirely comfortable thinking about the possibility of what might happen to Rodney if they couldn't free him from the machine.

While Itzhak finished checking Rodney's vital signs, John made yet another circuit of the room, trying to identify anything that might be responsible for the kawhoosh. He even inspected the miniature Stargate on the pedestal next to the scaled-down Atlantis. He was just about to return the little 'Gate to its place on the table when an unmistakable whine filled his ears.

"Colonel!" Itzhak yelled. "Get down!"

Instinct made John dive for cover under the nearest table. A quick glance across the room revealed Itzhak in a similar position.

"What the hell was that?" John exclaimed. "It sounded like a—"

"A Wraith dart," Itzhak said.

John peered toward the ceiling. "I don't see anything. Do you?"

"No, but I definitely heard it."

"Me too," John said.

They were both silent for seconds that felt like hours. Finally, Itzhak inched his way out from his hiding place and stood up. "Colonel, we really need to get out of this room. Now."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"You didn't tell me there were going to be Wraith in here!" Rodney shouted at the little boy in the co-pilot's chair. The whine of the dart vibrated in Rodney's ears as the streamlined enemy ship flew toward the 'jumper. "What kind of a game is this, anyway? You didn't tell me I might get killed!"

"You won't get killed," mini-Radek said. "There is only one dart."

Rodney couldn't fathom how the boy could be so relaxed, how he could just sit there, sharing the girl's power bar and acting as if they were all out for the proverbial Sunday drive.

"One dart is enough to kill me!" Rodney yelled.

"It cannot kill you. It isn't real," said mini-Radek, and calmly put the last bite of power bar into his mouth. Around the mouthful, he said. "You could try shooting it down, Rodney."

"Yes, yes…good thinking. What happens if I can't—"

"I do not think you have time to ask me that question," mini-Radek said.

"Why not? I—"

Rodney's aborted question turned into a most undignified scream as the 'jumper shuddered violently. Rodney was sure he could hear the sound of an explosion. He saw a brilliant flare of light, but he felt nothing.

I should be dead, he thought.

He opened his eyes to total blackness.

His very next thought was I'm blind! His heart began to race, and he could feel himself beginning to hyperventilate. Off to his right, he heard mini-Radek's voice.

"Rodney."

"I can't see!" Rodney gasped.

A tiny hand brushed against his cheek; a tiny, sticky hand. Rodney jerked away from the touch, suddenly aware that the grimy little fingers belonged not to the boy but to the toddler.

"It's okay," mini-Radek said. "You will be able to see in a moment."

"What just happened?"

"You failed to pass the second level. You have two more chances to complete it before The Game ends."

"Yeah, about that," Rodney said. "Why wouldn't Elizabeth tell me what that means? When The Game ends, what happens?"

"Nothing," said mini-Radek. "The Game ends. Can you see now?"

Rodney blinked several times and rubbed at his eyes. His vision was fuzzy but it was returning, thank God. He said, "When The Game ends, will the device release my body?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't it? There is no need to be in the device if you aren't playing The Game."

"So, all I have to do is wash out of this level, and I'm a free man?"

"Yes. Would you like to begin the level again?"

"What do you think?"

mini-Radek smiled. With a wave of his small hand, the three of them were back in the cockpit of the 'jumper, hovering at the entrance to the three dimensional maze.

TBC

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