CHAPTER 111

EPISODE……………..ADRIFT

A.N. Can't afford Atlantis Season 4 or any seasons of Atlantis on DVD, and my VCR is giving me trouble, so this won't be as wordy as it should be. I recorded the episodes like I have been all this time, on VHS, which is how I have been doing all these episodes all this time.

Atlantis was currently floating through space with no propulsion abilities anymore because they didn't have the power to engage the hyperdrive. As they were leaving the planet they were on, the Replicators had attacked with a special satellite that fired a super strong beam through a Stargate that was sent as the satellite they found above the planet. After trying to sink the city to save it, which failed, they decided to leave the planet. Which worked with the help of an asteroid that was pushed into the beams path by some F-302's and Puddle Jumpers, in order for the city to rise out of the water and jump to hyperdrive. However, it took dropping the shields to do so, and the beam punched through a small section of the asteroid and hit the command center of the city. Most of the people in the command tower had minimal to somewhat major injuries, but Weir had been too close to the windows when it struck. And the shields didn't come back online in time to keep from being hit before they jumped. They did get them back up before the jump and before the beam was able to do much more intensive damage.

Doctor Weir was currently on a stretcher being wheeled by several doctors and nurses through the hallways to the infirmary as quick as they could without making her worse. Her condition was very severe and Doctor Jennifer Keller was trying to keep her alive during the transit. She called ahead and told them the different things to get ready as she was trying to get Weirs heart working again, by chest compressions.

As that was happening, Rodney and several others, including Teyla and Sheppard were, as he wanted to put it, bothering him as he and those others were working to get command functions and other functions back online. Technically, the city was flying blind through space. Even subspace communications were down which was a problem because they couldn't inform the Apollo and tell them of their predicament, nor call anyone else.

Back in the infirmary, Weir was being brought in as the other doctors and nurses were working on other patients or waiting for Keller. Ronan had a large chunk of glass in his right upper lung, but was fighting with a doctor to just have it pulled out and forgo the scanner. He pushed the doctor away and moved to watch as Weir was being brought to the scanner table to be looked at. At the moment, she still had no heartbeat, which meant using the paddles and other things.

The command tower was in mass disarray, besides the smoke and smell of burning circuits and other electrical devices. They were trying to get things working as best they could, but power was being lost across the city rapidly. Which was quickly figured was because some of the main conduits had been blown out when the city was struck.

Weir still had no change after a couple paddle shocks so they went straight to injecting medicine to help get her heart and other functions started again, in hopes they did so in time before brain damage from oxygen deprivation set in.

Rodney started trying to shut down non-essential systems and whatever else he could for the moment, to hopefully stop the massive power drain before it drained them completely and killed everyone.

Weir was brought back by another shock charge and then they started other medical procedures on her as they found her brain was swelling and that she had other major injuries that they couldn't see, but the scanner did. More hopes and prayers that her brain wasn't damaged continued as they worked fast.

With the main power grid damaged and partially down, shutting things off wasn't as easy at it seemed as they figured out soon. So Rodney told Radek they needed to make some teams to go around and shut down the city system manually. Sheppard had some of his men also go with the teams to help in any way they could.

As for Weir, she wasn't responding to the medication and was slowly dying despite all their efforts.

The shield was still surrounding the city as it floated on momentum from exiting hyperspace early some moments ago. Rodney was still working in the command tower as the teams were off doing what they could to shut down different systems. After a lengthy speech from Rodney to John about the power problem, which involved him saying the ZPM was pushing out more power to keep the shield intact because of the damaged conduits, he then said they were doing pretty good because they had about 60% of the non-essential systems shut down. Everything was looking good until the alarms started going off moments after the small speech. Rodney, along with a few others looked at a big screen showing the city and the shield around it as the alarms showed that the city was trying to conserve power by slowly taking away atmosphere, gravity and the shields from around the outside of the city. Basically, they were in a large bubble that was shrinking to conserve energy. All teams were told to report back to the main tower as quickly as possible as they were told the city was loosing shield integrity to the outer sections. Unfortunately, they lost a few people that couldn't make it to the internal transporters in time as the shield quickly rushed past them. As the shield got smaller, it closed off each section and every door per pre-programmed specifications, which Rodney couldn't override no matter what he did.

At the halfway point between the Milky Way Galaxy and the Pegasus Galaxy, where the SGC had built a small facility around the two Stargate's that linked the two galaxies, two people were working on it, on the inside. There was actually three, plus a dog, but K-9 was helping marginally and Sally was just there with them. The T.A.R.D.I.S. was in the middle of the bay between the two gates, doing what it usually did, nothing until buttons were pushed, dials were turned or switches flipped. However, the ramps between the two gates were well than far enough apart to keep either event horizon from reaching each other or anything that could be in the way. There was a problem at the small station that needed their expertise, so they went as ordered. Lee was ordered to go, but because he had motion sickness trouble, he wasn't going to come until after the two had fixed the gravity problem. Ford was glad to take the job since it was nice to get somewhere that would be peace and quiet and Sam agreed she'd like the same for once, even though it was still considered working.

Shortly after Adria was defeated and the Ori not a threat anymore, Sam was promoted to a full bird Colonel. Ford was rather surprised that Mitchell wasn't, but heard it was in the works. Landing the T.A.R.D.I.S. was no problem, since Sam went ahead and then transmitted the signal to him through the phone. As soon as he landed, he stepped out only to start floating right away without control.

Sally was wearing a white shirt with Renamon on the front and blue jeans with white sneakers. Ford had left his heavy coat inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. along with his vest and suit coat since they might get in the way. Sam was in a blue loose fitting blouse and black jeans, with her boots on. Being no one else there but them, they really saw no reason to wear regulation clothing, not that it mattered because Ford didn't at all unless it was needing his uniform.

"I warned you." Carter said as she watched him bounce off the ceiling with his back. "Be more careful than your father Sally."

"Whee!" she said as she slowly floated and then acted like she was swimming.

"K-9, watch her please."

"Yes Mistress." he said coming out.

"Get down here and help me fix this gravity problem."

"Really, why should we? This is fun. I've always wanted to sleep in zero G." Ford said as he slowly kicked off the ceiling.

"Because it is our job. And there is that Zero Room in the T.A.R.D.I.S. that can do the same thing as this current problem is." Carter stated as she pushed off to help him down.
"I haven't figured out how that works. And all the concentrating in the world, or universe, doesn't seem to help." Ford said with distain.

"You know, with the addition of the Asguard core, you can shut off the gravity in that room now." Carter stated.

"You can?" Ford asked as his feet touched down with hers.

"You are such an idiot sometimes." Carter said grabbing his arm and dragging him along. "You need to look up all the different changes that have taken place since the addition of the Asguard core."

"I guess I haven't then."

"Bye daddy!" Sally said with a wave as she floated past the T.A.R.D.I.S.

"You stay away from those gates."

"Yes daddy." Sally said before going back to swimming again.

A couple hours of work had already went by and they still hadn't pinned down the problem yet. Sally was still enjoying floating around and K-9 was watching her while checking the systems. Carter floated into a room nearby where Ford was working on one the computers in the control room.

"You getting the same data rate inconstancies off these flash drives?"

"Noticed, filed, reported, being looked at and worked on by K-9. Will be sent off in the next data burst or transmitted if we end up back on Earth before the next dial in." Ford said while typing.

"A yes would have worked." Carter said as she slowly dropped down near him.

"Short of hooking the T.A.R.D.I.S. to this place and giving gravity back by extending her shield to the outside, we'll be stuck like this for awhile. Even K-9 is currently stumped but thinks it is more a hands on issue than technical and software problems. I thought this place was already finished. Why was I told different?"

"It was for the most part finished, but there was a few things left to be completed. You must have been daydreaming or something during the conversation."

"Probably thinking of the work needing to be done." Ford muttered as he tapped some buttons. "There's quite a bit here that the other people could have finished without needing us to."

"Probably, but orders are orders."

"Some orders. At least all those extra supplies and crates they sent along with you make sense. But really, I can't complain. It's peaceful, quiet and I have three, or four if you wish, loves one with me."

"You're counting the T.A.R.D.I.S.?" she asked already knowing K-9 was in the equation.

"She may not be like us, but she is a life form and has feelings."
"True, but you're the only one that unfortunately can speak and feel her. All I can do is read diagnostic reports and such." she said as Ford shrugged. "Okay, I've done those updates on the drives, but there…."

"Compatibility issues?" he asked with a small smile.

"Well…." she began as the gate started dialing.

"Sally!" they both yelled.

"The little mistress is heading for the T.A.R.D.I.S." K-9 reported as he waited for her to enter and then he backed in staying in the doorway.

"This is Colonel Ellis of the Apollo calling Midway station, please respond." came through the speakers.

"Hey Colonel, gave us a bit of a scare for a moment." Ford said.

"How's that?" Ellis asked confused. "Who is this?"

"It's really quiet here Colonel." Carter said as she touched her headset. "Just startled us, that's all. This is Colonel Samantha Carter and General Ford Carter here."

"What are you two doing there? You're suppose to be with SG-1."

"We got the short straw." Ford quipped.

"Sir?"

"It was a joke Colonel, and don't call me sir please. We're here to fix a few things and finish some of the programming that didn't get done. Volunteered to get away from the hectic life for awhile and to the peace out here. What's your report?" Ford said.

"I hear ya on the peace thing General. Well, the mission was successful. Atlantis was able to avoid the beam weapon and jump into hyperspace."

"That's good news." Ford said.

"Yes, but the bad news is they are not at the predetermined rendezvous point." Ellis stated.

"Seriously? They should have beaten you there Colonel." Carter stated.

"We know. However, there is no indication that anything with a hyperdrive has entered or left this system recently."

"Wait a minute, how are you dialing us? M12-578 doesn't have a gate." Carter asked.

"We traveled to the nearest one and called you to see if they had checked in with you."

"Unfortunately, we haven't heard anything." Ford said worried.

"We'll head back and check the area out again, then call you back in an hour. Earlier if we hear anything sooner. Apollo out."

"Good luck." they said before the line went dead and the gate shut down.

"Any ideas?" she asked.

"If we hear they got nothing in an hour, I think a time trip is the idea."

"We aren't done here though. Oh, right, we can just travel through time after we're done."

"True, but others can come finish things here. Such as Lee and his team."

"But he has motion sickness and the gravity…"

"Oh, that's easy to turn on now." Ford said while waving at a console nearby. "I figured if I'm going to be sitting here for a few hours, I'd rather my butt not fall asleep. Besides, Sally has been having fun."

"Can't complain on that mark. Sally is having fun and I hate it when my butt falls asleep too. There has been a few places I've worked on here when I would have been sitting on the floor. There was one I was working on recently that was in the ceiling so, I am glad I didn't have to use a ladder."

Atlantis was still floating through space and the shield was slowly getting smaller and smaller as it tried to conserve power. Ronan had been worked on and was currently walking around, despite orders. Weir was only getting worse and the doctors were thinking of cutting part of her skull out to save her. The news didn't help John and his team, morally anyway, or the other people who knew she was in bad shape. John was in charge with her being down and it weighed heavy on his shoulders that everyone's lives were in his hand. Because of the massive power problems, there was only one real option, which John approved of. Everyone was drawn to the command tower and the shield was dropped to encompass it only, which bought them more time, but didn't solve the fact they had no idea where they were headed, what could be out there, and no way to avoid any obstacles in their path. And if the Wraith showed up, they were dead baring a miracle.

Seeing as she wasn't getting any better at all with the medications, they had no choice but to cut a part of her skull out in hopes that she would survive and or get better. The procedure went well, or at least as well as expected. However, even though her internal injuries were barely anything, Keller informed John that there was a very good chance that Weir, if she survived and woke up, would most likely be so brain damaged, she would not be the Weir everyone was used to seeing.

Rodney found out where they were finally, but they couldn't use any of the propulsion systems or use the Stargate because they were currently moving. Propulsion was out because, as he put it simply, there was gas in the tank, but no way to get the gas to the engine. The conduits were too damaged to allow power for flight. The possibility of getting the conduits working was an idea, which they started on in other areas, but it had to be done outside the tower too, thousands of feet from the floor of the city and there was no space suits available to use currently, mostly because they were in areas outside the shield. Rodney then told them they had one hour to stop the power drainage or else there was no jumping to hyperspace at all. And if they failed that dead line, then in about thirty hours, they were all dead from total power loss, unless something came before hand and attacked or they rammed into something, or something into them.

Sometime later, Rodney and Radek were talking, while working. Radek explained it looked like they were going to get the job done sooner than expected and then the city could jump into hyperspace. Rodney was glowing with excitement, which went away as the command tower called him and Sheppard. Getting there, they found that the functioning sensors showed a massive asteroid belt ahead of them in their path. Which Rodney automatically said figures and then muttered a few other words pertaining to eminent death as his usual response was to impending danger, which no one was surprised to hear, but agreed with him currently. Their problem was that they would enter the field in ten minutes and it would take two to get through, but the city would most likely be destroyed before it got through first. Rodney was very much against the idea John had, but seeing as they had little time and he had even less to come up with a better idea, Rodney let him go.

"It's been almost an hour." Carter said.

"I think there is something seriously wrong." Ford said getting up and forgetting the gravity. "Ow."

"Forgot the gravity is still off again have we?" Carter said with a laugh at his expense.

"Not funny. We're going to go for a little trip."

"Let's turn the gravity back on first."

They got back in and then headed off to the planet Atlantis was on before. The satellite above the planet had quit firing some time ago as they were scanning the area.

"Okay, Atlantis left about that long ago…" Ford said as she saw the information the scans showed on the screen. "So, we go back this far and get a lock on their signal."

"After that, we follow them to the present time, right?"

"Yes. Call the SGC and have them send people to Midway. Have Lee told we're sorry we didn't fix everything sooner, but left notes behind and gravity restored. Also have them…."

"Tell the Apollo what we are doing, yeah, got that already." Carter said as she dialed the phone.

"We work so well together." he said as they smiled at each other.

They watched from high orbit as the asteroid was hit by the beam and then made its way through the large rock, hitting the city before she jumped.

"That looked very damaging." Carter said as she hit the play back button a few times. "The main tower took a direct hit before the shields came up again."

"They probably lost power during the hyperspace jump and dropped out at some point and can't get back in. The main power gird was damaged by this readout." he said as he moved to a different console. "Okay, I've got a lock! Here we go!"

Back in the present, John was telling the people who had the Ancient gene what they were going to have to do to save Atlantis. Which meant taking all the Jumpers and using them to blast away rocks to allow the city to pass through the field undamaged.

"Um, Doctor McKay…."

"What now?" Rodney asked with a whine and worry. "Please say it isn't the Wraith."

"Unless they have a ship that small." Chuck as he pointed at the scanner that picked up a small object now rather far behind the city. "It doesn't register as a Wraith."

"What does it register as?" Rodney asked.

"Unknown. Barely any power output…."

"Probably just a asteroid that has naquada in it…" Rodney said as he waved his hand to dismiss it.

"But is just appeared behind us about a minute ago. Out of nowhere. We would have hit it had it been there before."

"It's too small to be…." Rodney began saying when fear stuck him. "Oh crap! It's probably a small Replicator ship that followed us…."

"But is reads barely any power…." Chuck said as he pointed at the screen of info. "Wait, it's disappearing."

"Sheppard, we may have a serious…." Rodney said as he touched his ear piece.

"Serious what McKay?" Sheppard was asking as everyone in the command center was looking around for the strange winding and grinding noise.

"Oh my god. I don't believe it." Rodney said as he walked out of the command room.

The lights flashed a few more times and then stopped with a thump noise as she finished dematerializing. Just near the windows, which were still blow out, sat the T.A.R.D.I.S. The door opened slowly and Sam peeked her head out.

"Sam!"

"Hey McKay." Carter said then looked back in. "Command center has atmosphere still."

"Great." Ford said as they both stepped out. "Damn, this area got hit pretty hard. I'm guessing you can't avoid the asteroids."

"No, we can't. And we haven't the power to move the city or increase the shields." Rodney stated.

"Rodney, what's going….General, Colonel." Sheppard said in surprise.

He started to salute but stopped after what Ford said and then waved slightly to the girl Carter had on her hip that was waving at him.

"Forget the saluting thing." Ford said waving his hand. "Is everyone inside the shield?"

"We lost a few people when the shields started collapsing." Rodney said. "To conserve power, we had everyone come here and then dropped the shield to surround just the main tower."

"Get ready to drop them on my signal." Ford said going back in.

"What do you mean drop the shields?!"

"Relax McKay." Carter said patting his shoulder. "We have a better shield."

"Doctor, um sir, a large shield had encompassed the entire city. It's power output is incredible." a man reported.

"You can drop the shields to the city now." Ford yelled out. "I'd just wait until later before allowing people to go places though just yet until the atmosphere has been restored."

Rodney dropped the shield and saw the power levels rise, but not into a zone he felt really safe with.

"Impact with the asteroid field in one minute." a man reported.

"We'll be fine." Carter said. "Can we make a jump to hyperspace now?"

"No." Ford said as he came out.

"No, why? Wait, forget it." Rodney said with a shake of his hand. "Even if we could, it wouldn't be a good idea. There's too much damage to fix on the primary conduits at the moment. We're not losing power as badly as before, thanks to your miraculous timely intervention…."

"Save the bowing for later Rodney." Carter said.

"Impacting shields now."

They looked up and around, but saw, felt and heard nothing.

"Okay, we're obviously safe. Go on Rodney." Ford said.

"Right. The primary conduits were damaged, along with a few others when we were hit…"

"We saw that happen. Which is how we were able to trace you to here." Ford said. "And before you ask why we couldn't stop…"

"Paradox and causality…I know. Read the report and saw the DVD lecture." McKay said as he turned the computer tablet to show them. "You would have got in the way of the beam if you could have. Anyway, the damage has to be repaired first before we can make a jump to hyperspace. We're loosing to much energy and if we try to jump now, we could drain the ZPM completely or not jump at all."

"Besides, jumping inside an asteroid field would be a bad idea." Ford said.

"I hadn't thought about that." Carter said. "We would end up dragging some of them with us possibly."

"How long until we exit the field?" Ford asked.

"We're slowly loosing speed, but I estimate, two more minutes and we'll be in the clear." Chuck said.

"Alright, what can we do to help get things working better around here until we can make the jump?" Carter asked.

"Well, it's going to take us at least another hour before we can even try to make the jump." Rodney said. "And we weren't even sure we'd have the power. We will now, but, the repairs have to be done first."

"Teams are already working on that General." Sheppard said. "How'd you know we needed help anyway?"

"Apollo called us while we were at Midway Station." Carter said. "We got tired of waiting for them to call us back after an hour and decided to come look for ourselves."

"The shield is definitely going to save our skins, but we've got no way to fly this city at the moment. What happens if we suddenly get pulled into the gravity of a sun or something?" Sheppard asked.

"Shield will hold even then." Ford said.

"We've exited the field sir. Not as much speed as we had before and slightly off course, but still drifting." Chuck said.

"He must be talking to you." Ford said as he looked at Sheppard.

"Tell the people in the hanger bay to go back to what they were doing. Flight idea is called off." Sheppard said.

"Yes sir."

"So, once we get the hyperdrive working and get to the planet, you'll help us land and then be going back home I take it?" Sheppard asked.

"Well, we'll stay to help fix what we can and such, then go back to Midway if they are still having trouble." Carter said.

"Actually, forget the hyperdrive. We have the coordinates for the planet we want to go to right?" Ford asked as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"Yeah, they are still in the system. Why?" Rodney asked.

"I have an idea. Which should work, and if it does, we'll save a lot of power." Ford said with a smile. "K-9, we need to talk."

Radek and the other teams had finished early and informed the others. He and everyone else who had not been informed were very happy to see the city saved by the couple and the T.A.R.D.I.S., which some found strange to see existing, but let it go because it was keeping them alive. Teyla was beyond shocked and barely understood the concept behind the size of the ship as they stood inside and heard the plan that Ford and K-9 had made. Carter didn't help because she had been out in the control room helping with repairs and such and coordinating efforts as she helped Sheppard with command issues since Sheppard didn't want to deal with it. Sally was sitting at a table nearby, under the large screen, coloring on paper as Ford was going over the details.

"What will happen is I will dematerialize the ship and jump back five seconds into the past, but directly in front of the city. Normally, this is a very bad idea, since you shouldn't cross your own time line, but I know what I am doing." Ford said as he pointed at the screen which showed a 3D image of the city floating through space. "According to K-9, what should happen, is as soon as the shield around the city drops as I leave, the T.A.R.D.I.S. will be appearing just outside the city here, and will engage her shields around the city as the current one goes away. Once the shield is re-engaged, I will activate the tractor beam and drag the city to the planet. It will take a few hours, since dragging her to fast could break her apart, but we'll get her there in one piece and with more power than we would have if we jumped into hyperspace."

"Are you absolutely sure that there won't be any paradox problems…."

"We've done something similar before McKay." Carter said.

"If you're sure…."

"We're sure." the two stated.

"Hello….whoa. I heard but…." Keller said as she came in shocked.

"Doctor Keller, is something wrong with Elizabeth?" John asked as he saw her holding a laptop and looking extremely worried.

"What's wrong with her?" Carter asked.

Quickly and briefly, Keller reported what happened to Weir when the beam struck the city.

"Damn, and I can't do anything to help anymore. Not that I was ever great at it." Ford muttered. "What's your plan?"

"Well, um….." Keller said fidgeting nervously.

"What's wrong? What are you not telling us?" Sheppard asked.

"I can't do anything else to save Doctor Weir. There is no medical treatments I can think of or do, even if we could snap our fingers and get her back to Earth and had any and every medical ability at our fingertips. Discounting the sarcophagus thing of course. And, from what I have read of Doctor Frasier's and Lam's reports, plus the healing device that Vala lady can use, I don't think they could do anything to help her."

"Then what are you proposing?" Sheppard asked.

"If there is any chance that she is going to survive and be the Doctor Weir we know, then I feel we should re-activate the nanites in her system." she stated quickly.

"That's brilliant!" Rodney exclaimed. "They would repair everything in her body and she'd be back to normal again. All I'd have to do is reprogram them to do what we want and nothing else."

"Yeah, and she'd probably also send out some signal, with or without her knowledge, that would bring the Replicators to us." Sheppard stated. "If you failed to reprogram them right."

"But I wouldn't fail." Rodney stated.

"Are you absolutely sure about that Rodney? As much as I hate to say it, are you willing to risk the lives of everyone in this city on that bet?" Sheppard asked.

"If they help, then yes." Rodney said pointing at the two.

"I'll allow it. Can she be moved Doctor Keller?" Ford asked.

"Possibly. What are you wanting to do?"

"Sam will help Rodney with the nanite problem, while we get her in here. Inside here, she can't send a signal, if that problem were to arise. And if she suddenly lost control or something, she won't be able to do anything inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. Everyone will be safe that way. K-9 can help after I start the trip to the planet."

"But this ship…." Sheppard began.

"Can protect herself. And, if it came down to it…." Ford said slowly. "I'd shoot Weir if I had to. I outrank you, so it is my decision. Unless you say otherwise Sam."

"No. The idea sounds like a good one." Carter said. "It's just re-programming some nano-machines. K-9 can easily help with that. I seriously doubt there will be any problems."

"What about moving Atlantis?" Sheppard asked. "I'm not saying we shouldn't help Weir, but if the Wraith arrive…"

"Until we fix Weir, I'm not dropping the shield. Once we deal with that issue, we'll get on moving the city. Only if a sun suddenly goes nova are we going to be in trouble."

"Alright General. SG-1 has proven their words many times before. Can't start doubting you both now. I'll keep an eye on things out there then. Keep me informed though." Sheppard said.

"Will do." Ford said with a two fingered salute.

"Let's get to work people." Carter said.

At this point, Lee and the few others had gotten some systems working and were working on other systems that weren't the major priorities anymore. Unfortunately, they hadn't heard anything from the Apollo, but had heard from the SGC that the T.A.R.D.I.S. did find Atlantis and was currently there helping them try to get the city to the planet. Beyond that, little else in details were given.

"We've got good news and bad news." Rodney said as they entered a closed off section of the medical part of the T.A.R.D.I.S., usually used for quarantine or the like.

"Bad news first." Ford said as he looked at the three and then back through the window to the room Weir was lying in. "No, just say them both together."

The room was almost padded looking, with her on a large medical bed that had computers all on the left side keeping a check on all her functions, all of them. The rest of the room had nothing else other than the lights above and the two doors leading in. The one outside which sealed and then sterilized them and their clothes before letting them in the room, then would do the same thing before letting them out.

"We got the nanites reprogrammed to fix her, just as Rodney said he could do." Carter said.

"However, she is so badly injured that the nanites would end up replacing her damaged cells and other serious injuries with nanites, making her part Replicator." Keller said.

"They would only heal her and continue to do so for any other injury she would incur in the future, but they can't send any signals to anyone so we are all safe. Given more time, we could possibly get them to fix her organic cells too without making more of themselves, but I need more time, and we don't have it." Rodney said.

"Why not?" Ford asked.

"K-9 says her readings indicate that she could go into serious cardiac arrest or something worse any moment." Keller said. "We've got no choice but to do this now or never."

"Do it then. We can deal with everything else later." Ford said.

They waited outside for about ten minutes after the program was introduced. Obviously it was working because her hair started re-growing back and her color came back too. Ford hit the overrides and both doors opened as they all walked in as she sat up.

"Rodney, Keller, Colonel Carter, General…." she said confused as she saw the last two.

"And, wait for it." Ford said with a finger held up.

"Wait for what?" Carter began asking as they heard footsteps.

"I'm here. Damn, these are some long hallways." Sheppard said as he was catching his breath. "Hey, you're awake."

"Yes, I am." Wier said slowly removing the bandages from her head that let her hair fall down. "What's going on? Where are we and how did you two get here?"

Keller ran some scans and test as the group told her everything that had happened, up from the point of the attack to when the T.A.R.D.I.S. arrived.

"I gave the order to have you saved. I felt having you alive, even if your are part…cyborg, was better than death." Ford said.

"You shouldn't have ordered this." Weir stated.

"Sorry. Having you dead would have killed the already pathetic moral of the city as it is. Besides, you still seem to be the same person, not trying to kill us and with that rebuke you just gave, it is obviously you. K-9 says your medical status seems very much the same from the last medical checkup, short of the nanites that is. Your mind seems to be working the same too. Any violent tendencies coming to mind?" Ford asked.

"No."

"Good, you can take back control of the city then. We'll take her to the planet as pre-planned and then once you're all settled in, Sam and I will go home."

"Are you sure that is a good idea General? The nanites…" Weir began.

"Were programmed by two of the smartest people I know, including K-9 helping. They only work for you." Ford said patting Weir's arm. "Once Keller goes over some checks, just for security purposes and medical reasons, you'll be back in the commander chair in no time. However, because you feel insecure, and because some others thought the idea was bad, John being one, K-9 is going to stay here and watch you while helping Jennifer out. The rest of us are going to go get the city ready for space travel."

Heading out from there and getting back to the command center, Rodney and Radek were giving him and John more reports on the city.

"We have a further power problem." Rodney said as he handed over a computer tablet. "Yes, thanks to your T.A.R.D.I.S., we aren't using our shields and saving power. However, because the shields extended around the entire city, Atlantis has reopened all the doors and is sending power out to all those areas we aren't using. We've shut off a lot of what we can, but we are still leaking a lot of energy."

"Even if we could land Atlantis right now, which would help tremendously with the environmental systems because of the power they are draining…" Radek said.

"Okay, if I am reading this right." Ford said as he looked over the different readouts on the tablet. "Even though we are not going to jump into hyperspace, if we had, we'd be severally drained of power. Seeing as I will eventually be dragging the city to the planet, all I've done is save power that is slowly running out anyway."

"The ZPM has been taxed very heavily. Sam told me about the ZPM inside the T.A.R.D.I.S., which she also explained has fused permanently with the ship. The point is, our ZPM is going to give out sooner or later. I doubt it will even last a year. We'd basically be just like we were when we first started off on Atlantis. Conserving power as much as possible. There is too many people, too much work being done and not enough power to give out to every system for that long." Rodney stated. "We'd be lucky to last a couple of months."

"You're saying we need a new ZPM." Sheppard stated.

"Exactly. Now the idea of you making one for us General sounds good, but the time it takes would be more than you're probably willing to do." Rodney said.

"Hell of a lot more time than I want to spend doing. Even with the T.A.R.D.I.S. having integrated it into her system, it still takes a lot of time to built something from nothing. Add power requirements, that just ups the time it takes." Ford said.

"You can make ZPM in that thing?"

"Long story Sheppard, too long. As much as I would like to hook of the T.A.R.D.I.S. to the city, it would take awhile and then the problem is it wouldn't be permanent. However, it would be sufficient power to get the city to our destination and keep the shield online during the trip without any problems. I'm going to guess by that look, you had a different idea though Rodney."

"I do. Several months back I got caught in a beam that made me way much smarter…."

"Read the report. I actually want to check that system out sometime, only with that one you all thought was a game system. Go on though." Ford said rolling his hand.

"At the time, I was building a hyperdrive to fit inside a Jumper. It isn't completed, but I am sure we can do it, especially if you, Sam and K-9 help."

"No offense Rodney, but you're actually asking for Sam and my help?"

"The city is in danger and I don't want to die. Besides, you told me you trusted me with the cities safety and to do whatever I could to keep it that way." Rodney stated.

"True. Okay, so we get this experimental Jumper working for what reason?"

"Look here." Rodney said bring them over to a screen that showed several planets in range of their sensors. "We could use the Jumper to go here, get a few ZPM's, and come back hopefully with enough to fully recharge the city."

"That's the Replicator home world Rodney." Sheppard said. "If I remember the briefing correctly."

"Yes it is. They can't detect the Jumper if we go in cloaked, plus the added fact I am more than sure that the two of them, plus K-9, can do some modifications to the Jumper to help us. We can take a team, go get the ZPM's, and come home. It's simple." Rodney said confidently.

"You do have those weapons that make the Replicators fall apart. Name escapes me though." Ford said stroking his chin in thought. "We might be able to modify them as well, sort of like fighting the Borg. You'd only have a certain amount of times before they'd get used to it."

"But possibly just enough to get those ZPMs." Rodney said. "Like you said, you guys are going home after helping us settle in, and that ZPM isn't going to help us for much longer."

"Get the plans. I'll get Sam and K-9 and we'll start right away. Sheppard, you assemble all the people you think you'll need on this trip. I would like to go with, but…."

"I heard Sam saying earlier that only you can really pilot the T.A.R.D.I.S. If a Wraith or Replicator ship comes, you'd have to be here to keep the shields in place and such." Sheppard said.

"True, but I was going to say, even though I might be able to fight them off in my head, I'd rather not risk them learning the secrets of Time Lord technology. Oh, Sam is staying here as well, as is K-9. Worse comes to worse, she can do everything in the T.A.R.D.I.S. while I use the chair."

"Sounds like a plan General." Sheppard said with a small salute before walking off.

EPISODE……………..LIFELINE

With K-9's help, the work on the Jumpers systems had been modified rather well and the guns against the Replicators were modified with a modulating frequency ability to help ensure better chances in a fire fight. However, the hyperdrive unit was still being worked on.

It wasn't really noticeable, mostly because of their lack of speed, but the city was now spinning on a tilted axis as she floated through space. A few people that were a bit more susceptible to motion sickness, felt the effects. But usually if they looked outside and saw the stars moving, otherwise, there was no other ill effects or problems. And thankfully, no one knew they were just spinning away in space other than the command personnel. It was only bad news because they couldn't get hold of the Apollo or anyone else really, other than by calling the SGC directly from the T.A.R.D.I.S. or the two's cell phones. From what they understood, the Apollo was looking around for them still, even though they had been informed that the T.A.R.D.I.S. was at the city.

John came into the bay as he heard the large group inside the Jumper talking. Carter had switched over to SGA BDU's, mostly because she kept being asked why she was out of uniform by others. Ford was in his suit still, just minus the large coat. K-9 was outside the Jumper, which had the side panels open, and he was linked up by the small dish near his eyes. A couple other scientist were inside helping the three as much as they could with many of the panels for the internal workings visible inside the Jumper.

"Okay, when I say, go ahead and try the left one." Rodney said as he was pushing buttons on a handheld unit and the laptop on his knees.

"Ready."

"Try it now." Rodney said.

The guy by Ford did as told and other than a few blinking lights on the monitor on the window screen, nothing happened.

"Guess that is working right." Rodney muttered. "Good."

"Everything is still checking out over here." Carter said from the seat across from Rodney. "Hey Colonel."

"Hey. How's everything going?" Sheppard asked.

"Pretty good." Ford said as he made some adjustments. "Your cloak has been upgraded almost well enough for the T.A.R.D.I.S. not to see it. But that is only if you were running very silent, otherwise, it's better than what you had before."

"That's good. But useless if we can't jump to hyperspace. Rodney?"

"I'm pretty sure we've gotten it." Rodney said as he kept working.

"Pretty sure? That's not very confident sounding."

"I'm dealing with some very complex physics here. I might as well be trying to figure out how the T.A.R.D.I.S. universally transcendental system works."

"Sorry, what?" Sheppard asked completely lost.

"He means the system that makes the T.A.R.D.I.S. bigger inside than out." Carter said. "Even I barely grasp it, and I've been working inside her and on her for awhile now."

"Does that mean the mission is scrapped?" Sheppard asked.

"No. We just need some time." Ford said.

"Time isn't much of a problem." Sheppard said.

"What, are we under attack or something?" Rodney asked worried as Ford rolled his eyes.

"No Rodney, we are not." Sheppard stated, seeing what Ford did.

"Thank god for that miracle." Rodney said going back to his laptop.

"Our problem is the plan."

"What's wrong with it?" Carter asked.

"Okay, we get the Jumper working…"

"Is it working." Rodney stated.

"And yet, you're still working Rodney."

"Hey, millions of things could go wrong. I, just want to make sure we don't have them happen during the trip and on the way back." Rodney said.

"Okay, as I was saying, we get the Jumper going and get their safely. Now, how do we go about infiltrating the Replicator city, steal those needed ZPM's, and get out safely without being caught?" Sheppard asked.

"Good point. We haven't made a plan of action." Ford said as he made some more adjustments, only to change it back when the result was bad.

"I've been thinking about that." Rodney said.

"With everything else on your plate?" Carter asked.

"You seem to be keeping up with work while raising a child." Rodney countered.

"Touché'. But I have help."

"Okay, so we can both multitask very, very well. My point is, I thought about it and there is only one person that can help us. However, you'll have to talk to her yourself Sheppard."

"You mean Weir."

"Yeah." Rodney said slowly and then went back to work quickly.

"I really don't like this idea. What do you think General?"

"I fought against different Replicators Sheppard. You'll have to talk to her yourself. If she wants to go, it is up to her, and you. I'll allow it though, unless Sam says otherwise." Ford said as Carter said it was up to John.

Weir was still sitting on the table, without all the instruments plugged into her. She was reading a book since she felt it would be a bad idea to look at any reports, just in case. When the door opened, she closed the book slowly.

"John. Good news, bad news? Just want to talk? Perhaps feeling the burden of command over everyone's lives in the city? Or is it something else?"

"Little bit of this and that." Sheppard said shrugging. "There is a plan in the works, but we'll need your help."

"My help?" Weir asked confused.

"Yeah, it involves a little trip though."

"Let's hear it."

"First, you'll have to get dressed and come to the Jumper Bay."

"Why? I should stay here in case anything happens." Weir said worried.

"The General assures me nothing will and I am inclined to believe him. They're working on a Jumper and felt it better to talk while working, so they send me to get you."

He waited down the hall as she put her Atlantis uniform on and then came out. He told her about the plan as much as he could and a few other things going on around Atlantis as they made their way to the bay.

"Okay Rodney, why do you want me to go on this mission? Nice idea, but in many ways suicide." Weir asked as she entered the back with John.

"We've got little choice seeing as we need more than the ZPM we've got." Rodney stated.

"I can give you that. I really don't like this idea at all, but I don't have the authority to stop you either." Weir said looking up front at the back of Ford's head.

"It's not the greatest plan, but it isn't all that bad either." Carter said. "If Atlantis was on the ground and safe, Ford and I would just go get them ourselves. However, the T.A.R.D.I.S. is not capable of cloaking so anyone who saw it would instantly know something is wrong. Especially when they could assimilate it into their systems. If that was even possible."

Weir nodded and waved at Rodney.

"I believe I can manipulate the nanites in your system to remotely hack into their system mainframe. You'd have to be there, in close proximity to do that, which is another reason we need you to come along." Rodney said.

"We can use the nanites to find the quickest and easiest way to get in and out, plus find out where the ZPM's are." Sheppard said.

"Plus, I'd be able to track their movements, so we'd know where they are and when to avoid them." Rodney said.

"And what happens if the Replicators are able to take control of the nanites inside me?" Weir asked and then over spoke him as he tried to say otherwise. "Rodney, if they did, despite everything you did to keep them from doing so, what then?"

"There is a self destruct program built into the nanites, in the event you lost control." Sheppard said. "They'll shut down the moment we activate the switch and…"

"I'll be dead the next." Weir nodded in understanding.

"But we are not going to let that happen. My team and I are going to go after the ZPM's while you and Rodney stay in the ship here and direct us. He's going to keep an eye on those things in your body to make sure nothing happens." Sheppard said.

"Alright. When do we leave?"

"Say ten minutes." Ford said as he kept working. "A few finishing touches and a couple quick diagnostics by K-9, you all can go. Take that long for you and the team to get kitted up and ready."

"Rodney, we know what to finish here, you go ahead and get ready." Carter said patting his arm.

He somewhat reluctantly handed over the laptop and hand held unit, then headed out with the others.

Sheppard's team, with Weir in her black outfit for off-world travel now, stood at the ramp of the finished Jumper.

"Alright General, we're off and should be back hopefully soon. If you don't hear anything in twelve hours…."

"We've got it under control Sheppard. Technically, she is my city so I will take very good care of her and the people in her."

"Just making sure General."

"Here, take this with you." Carter said.

"This is a cell phone Sam." Rodney stated as he gave it a skeptical look.

"I thought you were a Doctor Who fan McKay?"

"I am. I just haven't seen the newest episodes or the online ones." Rodney said with envy.

"You can call the T.A.R.D.I.S. with that, or our personal cell phones and we'll be able to pick you up, no matter what interference may be in the way. Or so we've noticed. Time travel doesn't seem to effect its range either." Carter said.

"But if we get captured…." Weir began.

"If someone tries to hack into the phone, it burns itself out. We programmed that feature in, just in case. Besides, it is a normal cell phone with extended range. Not a T.A.R.D.I.S. phone." Carter said.

"Okay. We'll call you when we know something." Sheppard said as he began entering. "Wait, you're not going to move the city yet are you?"

"Not until we have you back and the ZPM's." Ford said. "Good luck."

The back closed and the three left quickly with a few others. Once the door to the city closed, the hatch above opened and they headed out, hearing the control room people also tell them good luck.

Teyla sat in the chair beside John while Weir was behind her and Ronan was behind John. Rodney was in the back watching over hyperdrive installed into the left wall of the Jumper.

"Okay, we've cleared the shield and are ready to go."

"You know, this may not…." Rodney began.

Everyone looked at him.

"Right, the best and brightest people, besides me, worked on it with me. It should work better than originally intended." Rodney said turning back to it. "Okay, it's as ready as it will ever be."

"Then push it McKay."

"Right, right." Rodney said pushing buttons on his laptop as he sat down by the machine, and then got up sitting across from it instead. "Hyperspace in three, two, one."

The Jumper jumped forward as the window appeared in front of them.

The Apollo got another message from Midway that stated that Atlantis had called the SGC with info on a mission that was taking place, by Ford's orders, which pissed a few people off, Landry not one of them, and the coordinates of where Atlantis was. Colonel Ellis only shook his head at the reckless plan he read about as his ship jumped into hyperspace.

In the meantime, the Jumper exited hyperspace near the planet as intended and Sheppard quickly cloaked the ship.

"We made it."

"We did? Oh my god, we did." Rodney said as he came forward and looked out the window.

"You know, out of all the times you'd said it would work for all your different projects Rodney, it surprises me every time the project works and you are shocked it did." Sheppard said.

"Yes. His confidence in his work seems to vary all the time." Teyla said.

"What about that speech about the best and brightest helping hmm? I've heard a lot about those two and the things they have done with SG-1. It is a wonder you get anything done with that attitude of failure." Ronan said.

"I can't…."

"Rodney, go back and see if the hyperdrive still works. Also, send a text message back to Atlantis that we've arrived."

"Fine." Rodney said checking the laptop as he fished the cell phone from his pocket. "Damn. K-9's simulations were right."

"What's wrong?" Sheppard asked.

"Good news, the hyperdrive still works. Bad news, we don't have the power to get home."

"And yet, we are here to steal power cores." Ronan said.

"Right." Rodney muttered as he pushed a few more buttons and then suddenly looked up. "Wait, I can hook the ZPM to this and we can get home easily that way. Power problem solved."

"Glad to have helped." Ronan said crossing his arms.

"Rodney, work on that later once we get the ZPM's. Right now, get up here and start seeing if you can learn anything." Sheppard said as Teyla got up and moved to the back.

"Should I do anything?" Weir asked.

"No. It's completely wireless. Though thinking happy thoughts might help." Rodney said taking Teyla seat and starting his program on the laptop.

"Really?" Weir asked.

"No. But if anything sort of pops into your mind, that would be nice to hear."

"Like what?" Weir said waving her hand. "It is going to suddenly…"

"Elizabeth?" Sheppard asked cautiously as he turned seeing her look spaced out.

"I can see the programming and other things that don't make much sense." Weir said.

"Rodney?"

"I got the link established. Well, she did. It's working." Rodney said fansinated.

"Good." Sheppard said.

"But we don't have much time. The nanites in her are basically in lurking mode, but it won't take the other Replicators too long to see another player has joined the game."

"How are you feeling Elizabeth?" Sheppard asked.

"Very strange. I can see the entire city coming together before me. But it is in computer code. I can see every single room."

"And where we want to go?" Sheppard asked.

"That way." Weir said pointing as they flew cloaked through the city. "Fourth quadrant, top level, easy access. There is hardly anyone around."

"Works for me." Sheppard said flying to the top of a building. After setting down, Ronan and Teyla grabbed weapons as Sheppard stood. "Okay, you two stay here as planned, let us know what you notice through the radios and if you find any information that seems important, without drawing attention, get it."

"Right." Rodney said.

"Good luck John." Weir said as Teyla handed him one of the energy weapons.

"Thanks. Let's go."

"John, twenty meters to the left, behind the Jumper there is an access door. Down a flight of stairs, you'll enter auxiliary corridor seven. You can go that way, it is clear." Weir said looking at them.

He nodded and followed the two out the back quickly, leaving the door open. It didn't take them long to get there. Teyla was behind his back against the wall while Ronan was against the wall on the other side of the open doorway.

"Okay, we are at the corridor." Sheppard whispered.

"Go right. At 6.5 meters, there is another corridor." Weir said over the line as they moved. "Now to the left…wait, go back!"

They stopped and moved back quickly as a couple of guys walked by.

"It's okay. He didn't notice you." Weir said.

"Really? You can tell that?" Rodney asked.

"Yeah. Like I said, it is really strange."

"Is it safe now?" Sheppard asked.

"Yes go. Okay, turn left, now right." Weir said as they followed her instructions. "Okay, you've opened the right door. It should be directly in front of you."

"Hold up Chewie." Sheppard said as Ronan backed away. "Rodney, aren't they going to notice when we pull the plug on this thing?"

"Probably, but they have dozens of ZPM's going. Let's just hope that they don't notice this one, at least until we are long gone."

"That's wishful thinking. And the General wanted us to get more than one you know." Sheppard said.

"If we succeed here, we can go to another area nearby very close to being the same in design like this tower." Weir said. "And very few Replicators are in that one as well. John, there is a couple of Replicators headed your way, so you need to move quickly."

"How far?" Teyla asked.

"Two corridors over." Weir said.

"Alright, we got this one." Sheppard said as he handed it to Ronan, who put it in a foam case. "Let's get back and get another."

They all ran out of the room quickly, keeping their weapons ready just in case. It didn't take them long to get back and without being detected.

"Okay, hook this up so we can get out of here at a moments notice. Elizabeth, were is the other one?" Sheppard asked.

"That tower in the distance, sixth quadrant."

"We've got a problem." Rodney said.

"They found us Rodney?"

"No. Thankfully not. Look, while you three were busy getting that, I looked around in their network and found something interesting about their base code."

"And it is?" Teyla asked.

"The Holy Grail." Rodney said showing them the screen.

"The what?" Ronan asked.

"Special cup. Tell you about it later." Sheppard said. "I can't read that Rodney, so…."

"It's the command code that directs them to attack the Wraith." Rodney said excited.

"But they don't attack the Wraith. They attack us instead and sit on their asses when they aren't. It's been that way for ten thousands years." Sheppard stated.

"That's because this code has been deactivated." Rodney said.

"How did that happen?" Weir asked.

"I have no idea. Maybe the Ancients did it when they lost control of the Replicators."

"And you're just noticing this now huh? Right after we've gotten the ZPM." Sheppard said.

"This is just one in millions of commands in the base code. Look, I always had a hunch that something like this was in there, but I never had a chance to look around and find it. And it was almost impossible to find." Rodney stated.

"Can you reactivate it?" Weir asked.

"Yes, but there is a problem. I can reprogram the nanites in your brain, and upload the program through the link, but we'd have to wait until the next merge to effect all the Replicators at once. And we have no idea when that will be. But the instant that happens, they will know you're there and take immediate steps to assimilate you."

"Then we are not doing it." Sheppard stated.

"John, you know what this could mean. The Replicators would go to war with the Wraith, saving hundreds of innocent lives from being culled anymore." Weir said.

"Yes, I do understand that. But we're not doing it." Sheppard said.

"That's not your call." Weir stated.

"Yes it is. Sorry, but you're not in charge anymore and you took that power away from yourself." Sheppard said sitting down.

"Wait, there may be another way." Rodney said quickly.

"Rodney…" Sheppard began with an eye roll.

"There is a central data core. It is sort of like a back up hard drive for all the Replicators. If we introduced the attack command directly into that, we wouldn't need to use Elizabeth. We could be halfway back to Atlantis when the attack command takes effect on the next merge." Rodney said.

"That sounds like a better plan." Sheppard said.

"Yeah. But, there is one small problem."

"There always is Rodney." Sheppard said sarcastically.

"The core is at the center of the city, several levels down. It would be impossible to get there undetected." Weir said.

"We'll go get the other ZPM, head back to Atlantis, help land the city and then come back to do it then." Sheppard said.

"I don't think we'll have another chance." Rodney said.

"He's right. Whether we get the other ZPM, they will notice them or it missing. They'll be able to trace the source of the infiltration. I will never get this chance every again." Weir stated.

"If we are going to do this, it is now or never." Rodney stated.

Sheppard hated the plan, other than because they decided to forgo the other ZPM, but also because of the danger involved. However, they were going to do it anyway despite his better judgment. Rodney was currently making changes to the Jumpers cloaking field and the anti-Replicator field, in hopes of extending the range far enough to make it so Ronan, Teyla and Sheppard could go in, by radio like the last time, put the command in and get out. With the modulation frequency, they could only hope that they'd get much more time once the Replicators found out about them, if they were found out.

"That tower there?" Sheppard asked.

"Yes." Weir said as she pointed. "Nine levels down."

"Nine huh. Better than ten or twenty. Should be a piece of cake." Sheppard said.

Once they landed, the cloak was shut off and Rodney activated the anti-Replicator field around the ship.

"We can only hope they don't see us. Why can't the cloak be on at the same time?" Sheppard asked.

"Program and power issues. Now, let's hope I can get the field to extend down nine levels." Rodney said tapping away at his laptop.

"It's working." Weir said.

"Yeah, it is working. I was able to encompass the core room. You're good to go."

"Alright, Teyla, you stay here and keep guard, just in case. Ronan…"

"I've got your back."

"Good. Rodney…"

"You plug this into that port I mentioned, and it will do all the work." Rodney said.

"Good. We'll hopefully be right back. Just nine levels?"

"Straight down, nine levels, and a short corridor to the core room. That's it." Weir said.

"No ZPM in this tower on any of those levels?" Sheppard asked.

"Yes but much further down." Weir said.

"Damn." Sheppard said walking out.

The door closed behind them as Teyla took the seat Ronan was in while Weir sat up front where Rodney was while he took the pilot seat.

Inside the control room near the area of the city that they were infiltrating, several Replicators were working on various consoles, and unfortunately noticed a change.

"What is it?" a large bald man asked as he walked into the room.

"A large anomalous reading in the second quadrant of the communications tower." a woman stated.

"Source?" he asked.

"Undetermined as of yet. It is creating a disruptive field emanating downwards from the top level, encompassing nine levels directly below it." she said as he looked up suddenly.

"The core."

Weir was looking out the window while also seeing all that information pass before her eyes as she kept looking out for the two friends going deeper into the tower.

"Okay, we're here. Left or right?" Sheppard asked over the line.

"Left." Weir said as she watched them move.

They passed through another doorway and saw Replicators coming at them, who turned into dust as they hit the field.

"The shield is working Rodney." Sheppard said.

"Good, make sure to stay behind it."

"Nice advice." Sheppard muttered.

"Now turn right from where you are." Weir said.

They both went through a doorway and gazed around with the weapons ready. There was a blue glowing pedestal in the middle of a raised platform that had a console a few feet away from it.

"I'm assuming the big blue glowing thing is the core?"

"Indeed it is." Rodney said. "There should be a open slot on the control panel that you can plug the cable into."

"Alright, here goes." Sheppard said pulling the cable out and plugging it in as Ronan kept watch. "It's plugged in."

"It is? Why am I not reading anything? Did you plug it in the right slot?"

"There is only one slot Rodney." Sheppard stated.

"Hurry John, they are coming, and there is hundreds of them." Weir stated.

"Doesn't the field protect us?" Ronan asked.

"As long as you hurry. Eventually they will adapt and get through." Rodney stated. "Try plugging it in again."

"Alright, I just did."

"I still got nothing. What did you do?!" Rodney asked agitated.

"I didn't do anything but what you told me to do!" Sheppard exclaimed.

"They keep attacking the field. Keep sacrificing more and more people to try and get through it." Weir stated as she saw more bodies turn to metal dust.

"Why would they do that?" Ronan asked.

"The more they attack the field, the more quickly they can figure out how to override it." Weir stated.

"Then we need to get the hell out of here." Ronan said.

"Rodney, why the hell isn't this working?"

"It could be because the core is not recognizing the tablet."

"Why not?" Sheppard asked as he circled it.

"I don't know!"

"They are still trying." Weir stated with worry.

"Any closer to getting through?" Rodney asked.

"Not yet. They fall apart as they enter it. That could change at any moment though." Weir said.

Rodney started talking about what to do with the tablet when Sheppard stopped him.

"Rodney, you lost me in the first part of that sentence. I'm not a scientist, remember?" Sheppard said as he was getting very agitated.

"Unhook the cable and access the tablets rook directory."

"Fine."

"John, they are starting to make progress. I'm guessing less than a minute before they get through." Weir said.

"Working as fast as I can."

Rodney was talking him through what buttons needed to be pushed as Weir began frowning.

"Doctor Weir?" Teyla asked.

"Oberoth is on his way. He knows we are here. They are starting to adapt to the field." Weir stated.

"Rodney…." Sheppard said.

"Wait, Elizabeth…" Rodney said as she got up and headed for the door.

"Doctor Weir…"

"I am sorry Teyla." Weir said knocking the weapon from her hands and then pushing her back into Rodney just enough to keep her away. "Do not follow me."

The two got off the floor as she ran out the back door quickly.

"Rodney, what's happening?!"

"Elizabeth just ran off!"

"Dammit! Teyla, stay there with Rodney." Sheppard said over the line. "Sheppard to Elizabeth, what are you doing?"

"Good luck with everything John. Get out of here while you can. They are getting through the field without hesitation." Weir said.

"Elizabeth?"

"She said to hit that kill switch if she did anything suspicious." Ronan said as hid by a wall and looked at the door.

"I know, but…" Rodney said.

"Sheppard. Make the call." Ronan said.

"I….Rodney, do it."

"But…."

"Do it Rodney!"

He hit the buttons on his laptop and got a negative beep. Trying again, he got the same result.

"It's not working."

"What?" Sheppard asked.

"Why not?" Ronan asked.

"Give me a moment." Rodney said pushing more buttons. "I'm not getting confirmation. And don't ask why, because I don't know. Maybe…."

"Rodney, whatever the hell is going on with her, we can deal with in a few moments. And if we are about to die, let's finish this reprogramming thing before then. That way, the rest of the galaxy will not have as many Wraith to deal with." Sheppard said.

Oberoth had passed through the field and came around a corner, only to be stopped as Weir's hand went into his head. They both now stood in total darkness, except for a blue light above them.

"Doctor Weir?" he said surprised.

"Hello Oberoth. You're surprised."

"Indeed I am."

"Niam infected me with nanites."

"Yes, I can detect them now."

"We neutralized them, then reprogrammed them, to manipulate them to our needs."

"Industrious of you." Oberoth said a little impressed.

"Which is why, I am now establishing a physical link through you. I have direct access to the Replicator collective." she said seeing him fidget. "I am in direct control now."

"Okay, I plugged it back in. Anything?" Sheppard asked.

Rodney looked at his laptop as it gave him information he wanted to see.

"Yes! Yes, it is working!"

The two looked at the core glowed brightly behind them. But they both hid as the door opened and several Replicators came in pointing their weapons. Ronan was behind the door while Sheppard stayed down behind the console. Ronan and Sheppard both came out and aimed their weapons to fire, only to notice the Replicators weren't moving.

"What the hell just happened?" Ronan asked.

"The Replicators are all frozen." Rodney said.

"I can see that. Who did it?" Sheppard asked.

"It might have been Elizabeth." Rodney said.

"Can she do that?" Ronan asked as he took the weapons from the Replicators hands.

"I don't know. She'd have to directly link with the Replicator collective, which means the chances of her nanites being taken over have increased exponentially."

"Well, how long before they come back to life?" Sheppard asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I say less time instead of more."

"Can we go?" Ronan asked as he tossed the last weapon aside.

"Yeah, first things first. How's the upload going?"

"Almost there, just a few more seconds."

"How many seconds?" Sheppard asked.

"Don't start with that again!"

"I'm impressed with your strength Doctor Weir, but I must remind you. It will only be a matter of time before I make the necessary corrections to overcome the hold you have on me." Oberoth said.

"I am prepared to fight for as long as I need."

"Good for you. You desire to protect your people is, admirable. But you will ultimately, fail."

"Keep thinking that. Keep allowing you arrogance to undermine you."

"You know it is true Doctor Weir. I can feel you weakening already. Despite your desire, this is a fight for which you are clearly, ill-equipped."

"Okay, you are done! Unplug and go!"

Sheppard grabbed the tablet and ran out with Ronan. Many Replicators were in the hallways as they ran past them all as quickly as possible.

She was straining to keep hold and had to gasp as he grabbed her right hand.

"Once again, you have underestimated me."

They kept running through the halls passed the people when they suddenly moved.

"Whoa! They are awake again!" Ronan yelled as he pushed a guy into the wall.

It wasn't long before the rest followed after them.

Rodney looked up as Teyla fired off a few shots quickly and then moved to the side as a blast hit the wall and a few men pointed weapons at them.

"This weapon is useless now." Teyla said setting it aside as she raised her hands with him.

"Yeah, I'd say so." Rodney said walking forward with her.

Several floors up, Ronan and Sheppard were stopped by a couple dozen armed Replicators. Doing the only thing they could, they lowered their weapons and surrendered. Several minutes later, they were all taken to the brig and left there with several guards. Oberoth and a couple of other guards came in moments later and looked it at them.

"Well, this is familiar." Sheppard stated with a small smile from where he was standing in the middle.

Ronan was leaning against the wall behind him and Rodney was standing behind Sheppard. Teyla was sitting on the floor opposite of Ronan, behind Sheppard.

"I'm trying to decide if this incursion of yours reflects incredible bravery, or complete stupidity." Oberoth said.

"Where's Doctor Weir?" Rodney asked.

"Her attempts to seize control of the collective proved to taxing for her, rendering her mind and body virtually moribund. She has been taken to be….repaired."

"You're going to take control of her." Sheppard stated as Rodney looked devastated.

"That has already occurred. Unfortunately, I was unable to, glean all the information I needed from her. So I will have to extract it from you."

"Information?" Rodney asked.

"About the precise location of Atlantis. You left the planet before we were able to destroy it." Oberoth said.

"Yeah, sorry to spoil your plans." Ronan said.

"Nothing is spoiled. Merely, prolonged. And now, with your help, we will complete the destruction."

"Seeing as none of us is going to volunteer the information…." Sheppard said.

"You know quite well, we have a simple method for extracting all that we will need." Oberoth said with a nod of his head.

The shield dropped and the door opened as he walked in. The others stayed where they were as guards came in and held weapons on them. He walked up to Sheppard and stuck his hand into his forehead after guards pushed him to the floor. Oberoth had a few emotions cross his face as he tried to look for info and also saw that Sheppard wasn't giving him a pained and fighting look like he should have.

"Problems?" Sheppard asked with a small smile.

Oberoth looked at the other teammates and saw them looking at him with similar smiles. He pulled his hand out slowly and looked with surprise as Sheppard's body shifted to now show Doctor Weir before him. Suddenly, the illusion went away and it was just the two of them under the blue light again.

"What?" Oberoth asked in shock as he looked at her.

"I figured you'd mess with our minds. So I messed with yours." Weir said with anger. "You didn't overpower me Oberoth. Your Replicator guards didn't capture my team. It was all a fictional scenario played out in your mind. In reality, your guards are still frozen and my team is escaping as we speak. You were wrong Oberoth, I have never underestimated you. But you have clearly underestimated me."

"You will not leave this city alive!" Oberoth shouted in rage.

"Maybe not. But my team will." Weir stated.

"Any word from Elizabeth?" Sheppard asked as the two ran through the corridors.

"No. I can't contact her, can't track her, can't do anything to get hold of her. It's like she just disappeared." Rodney stated over the com.

"If she's the one that froze the Replicators, then that means she must still be alive." Sheppard said.

"For the moment, maybe."

"She can't be very far." Sheppard said as he and Ronan looked around.

"We'll find her." Ronan said.

"You two better make it fast…" Rodney said as he looked at his screen. "Because they could become unfroze at any moment."

"Thanks for the reminder Rodney!" Sheppard said.

"I admire your tenacity. But I won't be fooled again."

She had to take a few breaths and gulps as she fought against him.

"You're struggling Doctor Weir."

She continued to fight even when he grabbed her right hand. The black background with blue light left as he pulled her hand out of his head and found himself on his knees. Ronan and Sheppard came around the corner and saw what was happening and quickly aimed as they watched.

"Elizabeth."

"Get to the Jumper John!" Weir yelled.

"You are coming with us!"

Ronan fired, hitting Oberoth. Parts of him started to degrade as the blue field enveloped him, but he didn't fall apart.

"I can't keep them frozen for much longer! Get to the Jumper!" Weir yelled again.

"We are not leaving you behind!"

"If you don't leave right now, none of us will go! Now get out of here, that is an order!" Weir exclaimed.

Oberoth looked away from them and at her as he pushed her hand aside and regained total control.

One of the Replicators fired, but hit the wall near Ronan. He fired back and the man fell apart as a few more came running up.

"We need to go!" Ronan said grabbing John's arm.

"Elizabeth!" Sheppard yelled while firing off a shot that slowed one guy, who recovered quickly.

"Go!" Weir yelled as she turned and watched men go after them.

Rodney was working on the hyperdrive when he was startled.

"They are coming."

"Oh thank god." Rodney said as Sheppard ran past him, tossed his stuff aside and started up the Jumper. "Where's Elizabeth?"

Ronan only shook his head sadly as the back door closed.

"Rodney, can we cloak?" Sheppard asked as they started taking off.

"No. No we can't, we burned up to much…."

"Okay, got it! No power! Hook up that ZPM before we get killed! In the meantime, we'll just have to make a run for it." Sheppard said as he pushed the engines.

Once in space they continued away from the planet as fast as possible.

"Can we just into hyperspace yet Rodney?"

"No. I…."

"Then work on it McKay! We've got to ships on our asses!" Sheppard said as he tried to evade their attacks and the ship shook from a couple impacts.

"There goes weapons! Now would be a good time Rodney!"

"If I don't recalculate the power just right, we could end up annihilating ourselves the moment we enter hyperspace!"

"Better that then being capture by them!" Ronan stated as the ship shook.

"I'm picking up something dead ahead."

"Is it the T.A.R.D.I.S.?" Rodney asked.

"No." Sheppard said as they saw what looked sort of like a very large version of a Jumper, but more supped up uncloak before them. "Oh crap! They are powering up weapons!"

Several large explosions hit the side of the ship in front of them on the shields and continued to do so.

"What the hell is that?" Sheppard asked as he and Ronan looked out the front window in that direction.

"Colonel Sheppard, this is the Apollo, do you read?"

"Colonel Ellis, is that you?"

"Affirmative. The 302 bay door is open and you have permission to come aboard. I suggest you do so quickly before there becomes more than three ships against us."

"Copy that Apollo, we are on our way."

"Can I just add that your timing is pretty damn perfect!" Rodney yelled.

"Thank the General and Colonel Carter. They sent us to come get you guys." Colonel Ellis said.

"They did? That's great!" Rodney exclaimed. "They aren't with you…"

"No. They are still helping Atlantis."

"Colonel, I hate having to report this, but we lost Doctor Weir to the Replicators. If you can locate her locator beacon, can you beam her up?" Sheppard said.

"Sorry Colonel. I'm being told we can't find her signal."

"Copy that." Sheppard said sadly.

Once they got inside the ship, Ellis had them take off quickly.

"Here's a good planet, and one that Doctor Weir had no idea was a possibility. M35-117." Rodney stated as he pointed at the star chart of space. "Between the two ZPM's, we can keep the city safe until we find or steal better."

"Okay, Sam you stay here and help them while I do the run with the T.A.R.D.I.S."

"We're just lucky you can fly that thing well enough to keep the city from falling or being ripped apart by the atmosphere that's been created inside the shield bubble." Sheppard said.

"I know." Ford said as he looked out the window and saw the visible silverish shield. "Takes precise timing. Thankfully, K-9 is able to help and the T.A.R.D.I.S. knows exactly what to do."

"You obviously have a lot of trust in her to leave Sam behind with us." Rodney said.

"Yes, I do. Don't try anything funny now while I'm gone." Ford said with a warning tone that Sam knew was fake.

"Wait, I didn't mean what I said to mean…." Rodney began saying as he saw the looks he got. "I'm over Sam and with someone else…."

Carter laughed lightly and was a little surprised at what Rodney said as the T.A.R.D.I.S. left. The shield dropped, but no one could see the less than a second of which it took place as the T.A.R.D.I.S. reappeared above the city as the other just started to leave the command tower. With the shield back up and the tractor beam engaged, he towed the city to the coordinates with no troubles at all. The only trouble, it took several hours.

"Wow, that's a nice looking planet." Sheppard said as they looked out the broken windows.

"I have to admit, I have seen better. But it is pretty nonetheless." Carter said.

"A lot of ocean to land in. Clean atmosphere. Plenty of plant life and animal life to check out. Though there is some very big snake on the mainland that should be avoided." Rodney said.

"You're telling us about the snake now?" Sheppard asked.

"It didn't seem like a big deal. It's just a large snake. You can't miss it at that size. If it was small, I probably would have picked another planet." Rodney said.

"You were thinking, big snake means bigger target." Ronan said.

"Yeah. Pretty much."

A few others shook their heads as they watched the planet get closer.

"Will he be able to land the city without causing a lot of shaking?" Rodney asked suddenly. "This isn't a shuttle or car or whatever he's trying to park. It's a huge city…."

"Rodney…" Carter began.

"Is this his first time doing this Sam?" Rodney asked seriously.

"Um….actually, yes."

"A million things could go wrong?!"

"Pipe down Rodney. I'm sure he has it all figured out. He left her with us." Sheppard said.

"And from what I hear about him, that's saying a lot." Ronan said as he clapped a hand on Rodney's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll be fine."

"Still like to hear it from him."

"Hey Ford…"

"Yes Sam?" came over the com inside the tower.

"Everyone can hear you."

"I know that. What's wrong?"

"Um, I have to agree with Rodney on the worries of landing the city. You really know what you are doing?" Carter asked seeing Rodney smile at the fact he wasn't the only one worried.

"First time for everything. K-9 says the T.A.R.D.I.S. is doing most of the work for me. I just have to stand by and make a few adjustments here and there. Might want to tell everyone to hang onto something just in case. I suspect it will be a bit bumpy. Nothing like airplane turbulence though, or so I hope."

The city did shake a little, but nothing they couldn't handle. They all could see the shield flaring brightly as the city was coming straight down unto the planet.

"He's bringing us straight in. Not flying in at an angle or anything." Rodney stated as he looked at the screen.

"I wonder if I would be doing better if I was flying the city?" Sheppard muttered as the city shook a bit more violently than before.

"Sorry! Had to flip a switch just out of reach!" Ford said over the line. "Shouldn't happen again!"

"Hmm, that's surprising." Rodney said as he continued to monitor the readings of the city. "And yet, good news as well."

"What is it?" Carter asked as she looked.

"Even with all this stress, and shaking." Rodney said grabbing the edge of the console like many others as another shake took place. "No evidence of any buckling or stress fractures detected. The only thing bad to report is the intense heat build up taking place inside the shields."

"Inside?" Sheppard asked.

"We're going straight into the atmosphere without any angle. His shields are holding, but the heat from the friction is beginning to build up. We should splash down in two minutes, but if it was going to take near ten or more, all that heat would build up in the air so great that we'd all suffocate from the temperature increase. At the moment, the heat is staying around the inside of the shield. The outer lying areas near the shield are starting to get hot, but nothing serious." Rodney said.

"How hot are we talking it is going to be when we finally land in the ocean?" Sheppard asked.

"I'd say a misty fog will hang around for a few moments. Steamy fog I mean. Nothing we have to worry about." Rodney said.

The land was uneventful, other than the city bobbing back and forth for a bit as she had to stabilize herself with her own systems after the shield was dropped and she landed in the water from an inch in the air. A few things here and there broke across the city, but nothing major or unfixable. Steam did rise from the water, but nothing reported damaged from it. Ford landed back inside the tower and got many hand shakes and pats on the back for a job well done. Sam got the same while Sally got many waves from everyone. After everyone else started getting back to work on what they needed to do around the city and getting people relocated away from the tower area, the higher ranked people got together inside the conference room. Sheppard and his team told them what happened and why there wasn't another ZPM like planned.

"Sorry McKay. I can't do that." Ford said after Rodney him to go back and get her. "You should already know why."

"You'd cross your own timeline and this one wouldn't exist." Rodney said with a sigh. "Yeah, I realized that after I asked."

"That and who knows what could have happened if the Replicators had gotten hold of him and the T.A.R.D.I.S." Carter said.

"I'm sorry that Doctor Weir is gone. She was a great person and great leader. We will do everything we can to make sure the people back home push to help her get rescued the moment you hear word that she is still out there. Even if she has been turned into a Replicator, there is still a chance that everything that makes her, her, is still there and can be brought back." Ford said. "Until then, even you know it would be too dangerous to go back to that planet and try any rescue without information."

"Would you go if it was Sam that was taken?" Sheppard asked seriously.

"The old me would have ran off half cocked, or fully cocked as it really would have been and did anything to save her. But in the end, I probably would have done more harm than good. The me now knows I would have to get more info first before trying anything. We aren't giving up on her and she knows we wouldn't." Ford said.

"I understand." Sheppard said. "Since you two are leaving, that means I have to take charge until they send a replacement."

"Yes." Carter said. "Best thing to do is get repairs started and finished, maybe check out the mainland while avoiding the snake problem, and just wait for awhile before doing any off world traveling. However, that's just my advice."

"I know that Colonel Ellis would do it for us, or we could just send her stuff through the gate to Midway, which would be sent to Earth afterward…" Sheppard said before taking a deep breath. "But can you two take her stuff for us?"

"Sure." Ford said with a nod. "I'll make sure everything she owns is placed somewhere safe until we know something definite. If we learn the worse, we'll check out her will and go from there."

"Thanks General." Sheppard said as he shook his then Carter's hand. "You two have been a great help."

Ronan and Teyla went off to pack Weirs things as the rest of the group stayed in the command tower to finish something important.

"Okay, that should be the right address." Rodney said.

"Then punch it in." Sheppard said.

He hit the symbols needed and then paused before hitting the last one. The gate slowly light up on each symbol and then activated.

"Stargate Command, this is Colonel Carter calling from Atlantis. Are you receiving us?" Carter said pushing the com on her ear.

There was a moment of silence that kept going a bit too long.

"Readings from the T.A.R.D.I.S. indicate we have established a wormhole with Earth Mistress." K-9 reported.

"We going home after this daddy?" Sally asked on his hip.

"That's the idea."

"Reading you loud and clear Atlantis. Sorry for the delay in responding. Had to make sure the signal was verify as being yours." Walter said from the other side. "Glad to hear you are back in the gate network."

"Nice to hear you to Walter. Let the rest of SG-1 know we'll be home soon." Carter said.

"You've got it Colonel." Walter said.

"We've got a problem over here." Radek said from a screen nearby.

"What is it?" Sheppard asked as several people walked up.

"According to this, there is a large fleet of ships leaving the Replicator home world." Rodney stated.

"Where are they headed?" Sheppard asked as he noticed the General tense up as did several others.

"Not us thankfully." Radek said as he pushed a few buttons. "We're a different direction."

The screen changed to show the planet designation as the target destination for the fleet.

"That's a Wraith planet!" Rodney stated. "The program must have worked and their attack protocol must have taken over! That part of our plan worked!"

There was more cheering as they watched and saw the fleet jump into the system and decimate the planet within a few moments. The information was transmitted back to the SGC, which heard everything anyway since the gate didn't get shut down during the time it all happened.

Later that night, with the clouds just covering the sky slightly and the two moons for the planet they were on and both almost being full, four people were looking at the night sky from the balcony outside the command tower. Sam was standing by Ford, who was holding their sleeping princess in his arms, while Sheppard was leaning on the rail with both hands and looking out at the horizon. Behind them, through the still broken windows, sat the T.A.R.D.I.S., which had a few people going in and out with supplies that K-9 was able to create thanks to the replicator system. Weirs things had already been put against the far wall inside the Console Room, ready to be taken back when they left.

"Seeing two moons is really different." Sheppard said.

"There's actually five total. We just can't see all the others because they aren't visible to the naked eye." Carter said. "I can say I've seen more though."

"That wasn't very pretty though. Not like this. Ten moons all visible at the same time made it difficult to see anything but them." Ford said.

"True."

"Oh, I totally forgot to congratulate you on your promotion Colonel."

"Don't worry about. But thanks anyway." Carter said waving her hand.

"You're not thinking about retirement are you?"

"Not yet. We've thought about it though." Carter said.

"We've made a promise to each other about that. When we want another child, and when we learn she is pregnant, we both are going to retire. Watching the little princess here is difficult enough." Ford said as he gently rubbed her head.

"No set date then?"

"Not really ready to have another yet." Carter said. "Keeping this job and up with her is tough enough right now."

"So, any idea who is coming to replace me?"

"Landry wants to hear from us directly everything that happened." Carter said. "We won't know anything until then."

"I assume you did hear we got into contact with Midway again…"

"We were there Sheppard." Ford said.

"Oh. Guess I was busy paying attention to everything else."

"Being in charge will do that." Ford stated.

"What about Colonel Ellis? He does outrank me and I hear the Apollo is going to stay in orbit from awhile."

"You're in charge of the city Sheppard. We trust you and unless the city comes under attack suddenly and Ellis thinks he needs to leave his ship to come down and take charge, I don't think you have to worry." Ford said.

"Good point. We should be just fine."

"Well Colonel, we'll see you again sometime in the future. Maybe sooner, maybe later." Carter said as she held out his hand. "It's time for us to go."

"Thanks again for all your help." Sheppard said as he shook their hands and then saluted.

They saluted back and then after helping get a few other items out of the console that K-9 created, waved bye to everyone and took off for home.