Remember, Never to Forget---5
Radek Zelenka was frustrated, but he knew he could easily figure out the problem on his own, but Elizabeth had come to him and asked for a favor. He had no idea why she wanted McKay's attention drawn away from the gateroom, but he didn't argue and had decided to swallow his pride and ask McKay for help. He took a deep breath as he heard footsteps behind him and tried not to show his own irritation.
"All right, Radek, what cataclysmic disaster needs my undivided attention now?" McKay asked, placing his laptop on the desk next to Zelenka's.
"There seems to be a problem with the power supply in the labs…specifically the med labs," Zelenka answered.
"Has Carson been practicing voodoo again and burning out the regulators?" the Canadian asked.
"No, initially it began in the botany labs, specifically Katie's department," Zelenka stated and showed McKay his computer screen. "See the power drops are here and here and then continued across the grid until the med labs. Those are the only departments affected so far."
"Have you tried running a diagnostic?"
"Of course…nothing shows up except for several fluctuations in the main power grid," Zelenka told him.
Rodney hit several keys and brought up a schematic of the main conduits leading from the generator near Katie's lab and frowned. There seemed to be a surge of power at intervals of anywhere from several minutes to an hour.
"See, there are spikes here, here, and here," Zelenka stated and pointed to several points on the grid.
"I can see that, Radek," McKay said impatiently and frowned. "This should be easy to fix by using the initial stabilizers and…there, that's where the problem is coming from."
"Where?" Zelenka asked.
"There…it's a problem with the receptor coils," McKay said. "All we have to do is…"
"Rodney, what's wrong?"
"This is way too easy, Radek…you could have done this in your sleep so why the emergency call for me?" the scientist asked suspiciously.
"I don't know what you're talking about…"
"Don't give me that, Radek, this is so simple a child could see it, albeit a child with an above average IQ," McKay told him.
"I've been working on the repairs from the last wraith attack with very little sleep and I…"
"All right…all right," Mackay said when the other man lapsed into his native language. He didn't understand the words, but he did get the gist of what they meant. He studied the grid on the screen and pointed to the area that would need to be repaired. "We need to have the repair crew concentrate on the conduits between Katie's lab and this point here…should take no more than half an hour to get everything up and running again."
"Thank you," Zelenka said, and sent out an order for the repair team, his mind on just how easy a fix this would be and that Elizabeth might just find herself with an irate Canadian on her hands if he found out the real reason he'd been asked to help. Was it really possible that Colonel John Sheppard was alive and being held on some world? God, he hoped so because they all missed the colonel's dry wit and looked forward to how easily he could handle the man standing beside him.
"Well, if that's all you need I'm going to get something to eat," McKay said and stood up, closing his laptop.
"No, I think that's it, Rodney, thanks for your help…"
"You might want to get some sleep, Radek," the scientist suggested and left the room. His thoughts returned to the missing man and he realized part of his own sorrow stemmed from not being able to say good bye to a man who'd proven his worth in more ways then one. He sighed heavily and shook the sadness away, and turned onto the corridor leading to the gateroom. He didn't need to see where he was going, and moved as if on automatic. Something was drawing him toward the gateroom and he lifted his head at the sound of voices. "What did I miss?"
"Rodney, I thought you were helping Radek," Elizabeth said, silently cursing the fact the McKay hadn't been distracted another five minutes.
"I was, but I'm beginning to smell a rat," McKay said of the group who stood in full gear near the stargate. "What's going on and why wasn't I informed that there was a mission?"
"Rodney, it's just a routine…"
"Oh really, Elizabeth, then why are Teyla and Ronan joining Major Lorne's team?"
"They haven't, but Major Lorne requested their help with this mission," Weir explained, watching as the others looked away guiltily.
"You're going back to PG-2743…that's it isn't it? Why? Did you find out something? Was I right when I saw Sheppard?"
"Rodney, calm down," Weir warned of the man's reddening face and irate actions.
"Calm down! No, Elizabeth, I don't think so. What did you find out and why wasn't I told?" McKay snapped.
"Because I didn't want you getting…"
"Getting what…getting my hopes up. Jesus, Elizabeth, I've relived that moment over and over and can't get it out of my head. Maybe I am grasping at straws, but you know what? I'd rather grasp at straws then give up hope. I don't know how it's possible or why, but I believe that John Sheppard escaped death that day, and God help me I need to find him. I need to know for sure because it's tearing me up inside," McKay told her.
"Rodney, no one blames you…"
"I do, Elizabeth, I blame me because I should have seen some other way…John Sheppard would have."
"John wasn't super human, Rodney," Weir whispered.
"I know…but I saw him on that planet and if you're sending Major Lorne's team back to PG-2743 then I need to go with them…"
"Rodney…"
"Elizabeth, please, you need to let me…I need to do this for my own sanity," McKay said softly, sorrow and hope warring for dominance in his eyes.
"Elizabeth, perhaps it's best if Rodney comes with us," Teyla suggested.
"All right, Rodney, grab your gear," Weir said.
"I'll be back in two minutes," McKay assured them and hurried away.
"Major, watch him and if he starts doing anything that puts the mission in danger send him back…trussed up if that's what it takes," Weir told him. She knew it had been a long shot to try and keep McKay in the dark, but it was worth a try. She nodded to the others who continued to go over mission parameters and hoped this time they wouldn't come back empty handed.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Drakar knew he would have to contact the high priestess's people and knew exactly who he needed to speak to. Now that he'd reached the retreat it was simply a matter of putting out the word that he had information she would find interesting. He already had a figure in mind, but was hopeful that she'd go even higher once he told her the dark haired slave was a military man of high ranking. He wasn't sure how high a Colonel was, but it sounded like he should know a lot of secrets.
Drakar moved to the tent of a man he'd known for many lunar cycles and pushed open the flaps. The elder looked as if a strong breeze would make him fall over, but Drakar knew better. Domitar was stronger than his frail body portrayed and he could handle himself in a fight against someone of similar build.
"Drakar, it has been many moons since you came to see me…what are you selling this time?"
"Why do you always think I have something to sell, Domitar?"
"There is no other reason fro you to visit and old man…I am busy so please don't waste my time with small talk," the elderly male advised.
"I need to get word to High Priestess Shazzia," Drakar told him.
"Shazzia is a busy woman…she does not like intrusions unless there is something in it for her."
"I have something she should know…and am willing to split the profit with you," Drakar offered.
"Tell me what you are selling and I will decide if it is worth risking her wrath."
"I am not stupid," Drakar spat. "If I tell you then what is stopping you from making a deal of your own? No, it is best if I keep the information secret until I can speak with her myself."
"I warn you, Drakar, don't overstep your bounds here. I have contacts and I can get word to Shazzia, but if she dislikes what you have to say she will not hesitate to cut off your ba…"
"I know what she does to people she dislikes, Domitar, but believe me this is something she will gladly pay for," Drakar explained.
"You're pretty sure of yourself, Drakar," Domitar said.
"This time I think I've found the pot of Shoclaws," Drakar told him.
"Where will you be if I hear from Shazzia?"
"I'll be around," Drakar told him, whistling as he walked out of the tent.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Hawk watched as his private physicians examined the new acquisitions. Tyrel of Goliaden was very well built for a young male and would work well in the mines, but he would also be used in the fights that happened during the solar storms. The storms happened once every six solar cycles and were recognizable by the formation of dark clouds that obliterated everything around them, making travel impossible. During those time periods the leader of each fortress would choose several able bodied slaves and meet at the underground chambers.
A storm was brewing in the north and would hit them in four days, giving them just enough time to check the new slaves and leave for the underground chambers. Hawk turned from Tyrel and looked at the real prize, John…a simple name for a complex man who according to High Priestess Shazzia remembered nothing of his life before she'd rescued him from an explosion that decimated one of her collection ships.
Hawk walked into the room as John was finally released from the paralyzing effects of his ministrations. As per his orders the new slave was restrained and would be unable to move until the straps were released. "Welcome back, John, relax and let Kudrone and his people check you over and make sure you are disease free. We must complete your examinations before we take shelter from the solar storm brewing in the north."
John had been aware for some time that the feeling was slowly returning to his extremities. Whatever Hawk had done to hem had left him paralyzed and unable to talk, but he'd been wide awake and had been horrified at the way the big man had carried him to this lab. He'd placed him on the bed and two females had quickly placed straps across his forehead, shoulders, chest, hips, and thighs before encircling both his ankles and wrists with soft cuffs that made it impossible for him to move.
John closed his eyes, hissing sharply when something slipped beneath his skin at the side of his neck. His eyes shot open and he stared at the man who proclaimed ownership.
"I know that hurt and it will sting for a while, but it is necessary. Kudrone just placed a small device in your neck that allows me to keep track of your movements. After all I did pay an exorbitant amount for you and Tyrel…you will both have to prove that it was not a foolish indulgence on my part."
"Hawk, you should see this," Kudrone called.
"What is it?" Hawk asked and moved to the monitoring equipment next to John's bed. "Is that what I think it is?"
"He's of Atlantian descent," Kudrone told him.
"Is that right, John? Are you Atlantian?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," John told him, frustrated at being unable to move.
"This means I was correct in my observation that you are Alpha, but it also means that it will be much harder to make you bow that stubborn head of yours…"
"I repeat…who are you that I should bow down?" John asked, cursing as Hawk ruffled his fingers as if speaking to a wayward child.
"Oh, I know I am going to enjoy showing you the difference between you as an Alpha on your world to my Alpha on my world. I will make it a point to show you the difference in our physical and mental abilities," Hawk explained.
"The gene is very strong in this one, Hawk…do you have any idea what this could mean?"
"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me…"
"It means he could conceivably activate all those ancient devices you have stored in the lower recesses of the Fortress. It could easily give you an advantage over the other Ministers," Kudrone offered.
"Is Kudrone correct, John…do you have the ability to activate the Ancient technology?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," John answered truthfully.
"Perhaps it will come back to you submit to me…"
"It won't happen…"
"Yes, it will, but it must wait until we're sheltered from the storms and there is no one around to witness your defeat. Rest, John, for you and I have a test ahead…one I aim to win," Hawk said and smiled at his newest acquisition. Yes, they would have a fight, but it would be in private where only he and John would witness the slaves defeat as it should be for one Alpha to another.
TBC