CHAPTER 113
EPISODE…………………..DOPPLEGANGER
It was about two weeks since the lab incident and the Carter family was starting to settle in a bit more each day, though they had made a few trips back to Earth. The two talked it over for awhile, along with Jacob and Amy, and they all decided the best thing was to move out of their houses and put them up for sell. They weren't sure how long they'd be on Atlantis anyway and they spent more time at the mansion when on Earth to begin with, or in the T.A.R.D.I.S. It wasn't surprising when it was people from the SGC that bought their former houses, which really they just gave away to them. With no bothers about thinking of possible burglaries happening, they settled in even better at Atlantis, even though they considered the T.A.R.D.I.S. their true home, other than the mansion in the mountains back on Earth. The two had to go back to Earth at least once a week, sometimes twice, to get their mail and different things they, mostly Ford, ordered over the net and such, which gave them time to see friends before going back to Atlantis. Plus getting various things people in the city needed.
Sam had gotten used to being in command rather well, including how the paperwork came through at certain times and such, plus the times when she had to have meetings with department heads. Things went rather well when she had to talk to Rodney and Radek about their jobs and only a few times did it start to become a heated discussion. Ford went back and forth helping some people, even the lady in the botanical section a few times, especially after one team came back with, as completely shocking at it was, actual blue roses. In fact, there was a lot of flowers on the said planet with a variety of colors, but Ford was only interested in the blue roses, which even Sam was infatuated with after he brought them to her office, in a pot instead of a vase, so she'd be able to see them everyday, which she was extremely grateful for. Besides jewelry being a girls best friend, which Sam wasn't really a big lover of, she did like flowers more, and chocolate, even though her intake of it was far less than Fords.
Now, if Ford wasn't doing things that involved helping others, he was looking around the city, with Sally and or with Sam's parents or doing it alone. He even sparred with Ronan or Teyla sometimes. It took him a over a week to figure out their fighting styles and once he did, they began having a hard time getting through his defenses. Both sides broke the wooden sticks more than once as well. And some of them were wooden katana's. And so far, only once, did Ronan and Ford managed to break a couple non-sharpened metal katana's.
A week ago, Ford had finally managed to link the T.A.R.D.I.S. to the cities main computer system, which involved several cables hooking up to the underside of the console. Just as he was about to start the data transfer, he remember the message from the future, which was actually in the past technically because it had already happened. Checking over the different connections, he noticed he had one of them hooked into a wrong spot in the console, which would have caused some considerable trouble or damage to not only the ship and him, even though he'd survive, but to that room in Atlantis as well. After fixing that, he engaged the transfer while Radek stayed outside watching from the main console. Ford wasn't all that surprised when the T.A.R.D.I.S. left on its own as he and Radek had removed the cables and taken them out of the T.A.R.D.I.S.
Several second went by and she came back, looking the same as before. However, there was a difference yet again because of all the data in the Ancient database that was transferred into her databanks. The power consumption rate had dropped dramatically giving a better and stable rate of usage without using as much energy as before. The auto-repair system became better than before, even though the ship hadn't had any damage before really, so everything was just a daily maintenance work that the computer did without being told to. Ford made a joke saying the ships immune system just got a permanent booster shot to help keep viruses and such out of the system. The shield system, which really didn't need much improving because of the power it had already got better than before, and according to K-9's calculations and what Ford checked through when he did a few simulations through the console computer, the T.A.R.D.I.S. would survive a supernova hit, as long as they were about where Mars was in distance from a sun when it went nova. That was according to the simulations and he wasn't about to go looking for a supernova to test the theory however.
The console changed as well, having one panel that had various Atlantian controls near the top section and nine clear panels at the bottom which were linked to a holographic system in the console. All they had to do was select from which ever constellations they wished to dial and they'd appear in the panels below and then transmit the dialing sequence to the nearest Stargate. And there was a lot of symbols and many gate addresses since the T.A.R.D.I.S. database had a combination of all the ones Atlantis had in its system along with all the ones that the SGC had in theirs. However, if they ever wanted to dial a gate, they'd have to be very close for the signal to get to the Stargate in question.
He checked out the lab that had the machine that made Rodney very smart for awhile, just to see the programming and such. Even though the idea to try it on himself came to mind, he didn't do it and left the entire system and idea alone after shutting it down, then went to the other place he wanted to look at. Checking out the lab where the computers were set up to send info to other planets with similar computers, so that the people would read the information sent and follow the orders, as John and Rodney did at one time thinking it was a game. He looked through a variety of planets, with a somewhat reluctant Radek, in hopes of finding a society that was close to or over the technological status of Earth. Finding a few, which was still sending info back to Atlantis, he sent out a few instructions. For one society, on both sides, he had them start developing better means of energy usage that involved the varieties of types that were pollution free. Plus the idea for building vehicles that ran on hydro power or electricity, but with the body designs of classic and cool cars from Earth, along with a few others. Another planet of people was close to being able to start building technology that was on par with Atlantis, so he sent them several technical aspects, to both sides, and the energy ideas that helped lower or rid pollution, plus technology that they were suppose to use to keep any of the technology created from being used by the Wraith.
One society, which was really far on the outer edge of the Pegasus galaxy, which would involve using eight chevrons to get to from where Atlantis currently was, was apparently trying to develop a means of using a matter and anti-matter system for power. Being a very big long shot, which even Radek thought was a bit crazy of an idea that he was sure not going to happen, nor did Rodney, plus Sam barely backing him on the idea. Telling them all he was offended and that they had little faith, only getting Sam to say she was sorry and that even though she doubted anything would happen, she did allow and help sent off the info to the said planet.
They sent along detailed images to them of several Star Trek Federation ships, with a note that he wanted to see the Constitution class created first. The naming he left to them as they also sent technical data that they had on their ships which included everything they had except some of the stuff from the Asguard. The shields, weapons and better sensor system that the Asguard helped them with he did send along though. The only real unfortunate part about all of this, was that this society, while being rather advanced, simulations predicted it would be a good hundred years or more before they even possibly got around to getting into space and actually building anything since they hadn't left their planet yet at all, other than a few ships to go around their planet in orbit like Earth's space shuttles. Mostly from fear of the Wraith that had attacked them once, but that was hundreds of years ago. The planet was almost a years journey or more by hyperdrive from their planet alone so Ford figured they were safe from the Wraith attacking those people. After doing that, Ford went to his next project idea.
"Okay, this is what I have in mind. And I'd like any input you three have." Ford said in his silver suit as he laid out several blue prints on the conference table before Carter, Rodney and Radek.
"No offense General, but why come to us if you can just do this anyway and get help from K-9?" Radek asked.
"K-9 has helped me all he can and I figured you'd people would want to at least give me some input, even if you wanted to have a say in what color they should be. Even you have to admit Rodney, you go to Radek sometimes to get his opinion on some projects."
"Um…true." Rodney said while looking over a few of the paper blueprints.
"This is all rather interesting Ford. Even though we have the drone system, if that suddenly goes down or we run out of drones, we would have no other way to fight back. Other than the rail guns systems we have placed around various areas of the city, we have no other means of offense. And the rail guns only work in close combat near the city." Carter said.
"Where did you get the idea for this?" Rodney asked.
"Between the Asguard beam weapons, the laser system built by the Knight Foundation for K.I.T.T., the Spartan laser, and K-9's laser, I was able to come up with a powerful…phaser like system. It is not as powerful as the Asguard beam weapons, but between the majority of them firing, they should do well in protecting the city since they are capable of hitting targets in orbit." Ford said. "We can put one on each pier and build one on top of the command tower. The tower one will take quiet a bit of time since we'll have to build a walkway and everything for strong stability. We don't need high winds knocking it off or around, nor the people on it. While the others on the piers will have limited arcs of firing, the one on the tower will be able to fire pretty much a full 360 degrees around the city and above it, but at no targets if they go below the top of the tower line. Best we don't shoot the city even if the target was an easy picking."
"I agree. This is going to take some time to build." Carter said impressed.
"Material can all be replicated easily. The getting of the parts to the said locations, setting them up between building and programming will take a couple of weeks or more depending on the help." Ford said.
"What is the power source?" Rodney asked as he looked over different blueprints with the others in search for the said question. "I don't see any connections to the cities power systems."
"None of them will be." Ford said picking up one of the prints and holding it up. "It takes about three days for the T.A.R.D.I.S. to create one of these crystals, about the size of a bowling ball. I have to do it manually with that device Merlin used to create the weapon against the Ori."
Ford was holding up one of the small crystals that was once used in the staffs of the Ori troops lance weapons that Rodney took and looked over with interest. The entire weapon system looked very much like the rail gun systems that were in different places around the city which a person sat in and fired manually. Except there was no seat, the blast shield was still there however, the barrel was twice the length and width as well as octagonal unlike the hexagonal rail guns. Where the seat would be, was a large housing with the computer systems that someone would control that had a screen for scanning for the target and to help aim, plus a section that opened under the computer where one of the large crystals would be inserted for the power. In a lot of ways, it was like installing a large stationary howitzer cannon.
"How many shots before the crystal runs out of power?" Carter asked.
"20 according to simulations. I can try to make more crystals, but it takes three days of looking into that machine to create one crystal. Technically, it takes a good five days since I have to rest for awhile before going back to it. So, one a week and I only have one done at the moment."
"You can't use the Asguard Replicator system in the T.A.R.D.I.S. because it doesn't create items with power in them already huh?" Rodney said.
"It can and also can't. Small objects, she will, like a flashlight. Something like this, no, not really sure why. Anyway, I'll let you look them over and give me what ideas and such. Give me your suggestions and answers in three days if you can. After that, I'll need a team to start making them right away."
"Why call it a phaser like system?" Radek asked. "Does it have a sustained blast?"
"The frequencies can be modulated like a phaser is, but a sustained blast it can't do. It'll just fire a beam shot like the Asguard weapons do."
The three nodded and thought the idea was good. Sheppard and many other officers thought the idea was really worth doing to help protect the city better. Why waste drones if the phaser like system to be built was able to be used instead, even though it was limited in rounds to fire. After three days, with some adjustments here and there, a team was put together and got started on the west pier first.
One weapon was already created and another was being made on another pier. Rodney wanted to watch it with Sheppard, but they had a mission to go on that day. Sheppard asked if Ford wanted to tag along, but he declined because he had further arrangements with Sam and Sally.
"What are we doing?" Ronan asked in frustration as he swung at the plants in their way with the machete like sword in his hands.
The planet they were exploring at the moment was like a tropical jungle and very foggy. At least it wasn't raining, but the foliage was really thick.
"We're exploring the Pegasus galaxy, what do you think?" Rodney said with sarcasm. "This place is muggy, hard to see in and I find very little of importance to look at here, despite our orders to look around anyway."
"You know what I meant." Ronan as he kept slashing.
"I have to agree with Rodney. There seems to be little if anything here that would help us in our fight against the Wraith or the Replicators." Teyla said as the device in Rodney's hand beeped.
He looked at the device and then looked away seeing nothing of interest.
"Planets are huge, especially this one. All we have to do it look around for another hour or so and then go back." Rodney said.
"Usually you're asking to return back to Atlantis before this long on a mission. What gives?" Sheppard asked. "We did a fly by of this region and detected nothing."
"No life yes, but for a faint moment there was an energy spike and I want to check it out. And what do you know…" he said with a smile as his device beeped several times. "I've got the reading again."
"This better be important." Sheppard said.
"Can you give a direction McKay?" Ronan asked as he was still swiping a path.
"Unfortunately no. I can't pinpoint the exact source. The jungle is really thick as we can see, so whatever it is could be hiding under all this dense foliage."
"I really hope this entire trip is worth it." Sheppard said.
"Look, the Ancient database had no information about this gate address. And there was more that were the same." Rodney said.
"Yeah, 42 of them said nothing either." Sheppard said.
"That's not the point, nor the right number I think. What is the point, is there was no info which means we should check out why not." Rodney said.
"Maybe it is because there was nothing of interest here for the Ancients." Teyla suggested.
"I think there is and that the Ancients didn't put anything in the database to keep whatever it is here, hidden from their enemies in case they looked at the information in the database about the different planets and descriptions and such." Rodney said. "It could be that there was nothing here either. Things have changed a lot since then and maybe there is something of importance here that they didn't know about. And I'm still getting that energy reading, even though it is faint."
"You have a bet riding on this mission, don't you?" Teyla asked.
"What makes you think that?" Rodney asked as they walked over a downed tree.
John walked over it and stepped into a watery mud hole.
"All right, that is it." Sheppard said pulling his now muddy and wet right foot from the hole. "We are leaving. Everyone back to the Jumper."
"Ah, come on! We need to find out what this energy reading is!"
"Face it McKay, you lost this one." Ronan said as he started following Teyla and John.
"Wait, what is this hmm?" Rodney said excitedly.
The three turned to see some sort of glowing crystal like plant on the side of a tree that seemed almost like a palm tree by the look of the trunk.
"Interesting. It looks like some sort of natural crystalline growth." Rodney said as he was looking at it while scanning as John walked up beside him. "I think this has been what's caused the energy readings."
"Pretty." Teyla said as he walked up and looked at it.
"Looks like one of those toys you play with when you are a kid." Sheppard said.
"A Commodore 64?" Rodney asked confused.
"A triple barreled shotgun?" Ronan asked.
"No." Sheppard said. "A kaleidoscope. Speaking of the Commodore 64, did you know the General has one that he plays games on?"
"Yeah, I saw it. Says he likes a lot of the old games it plays. I have to admit, I liked the Zork one myself." Rodney said.
Ronan and Teyla looked at each other and both shook their heads as they had no idea what that meant.
"Do you know what this discovery means though?" Rodney asked.
"We discovered an alien fungus that glows." Sheppard said.
"No! This is a power source that literally grows on trees." Rodney said excited. "Admittedly, the power level is low, but if these crystals could be cultivated…"
John, still staring at the crystal in a mesmerizing state, started to reach out to touch it.
"Whoa, whoa wait! What are you doing?!" Rodney said as John touched it.
A large burst of energy sprang forth and blasted John back a few feet onto his back. Ronan and Teyla walked over quickly as he was groaning and trying to sit up.
"Are you alright?" Teyla asked with concern and she knelt down by him quickly.
"Yeah. Just a bit of a shock there. Wow." Sheppard said slowly sitting up.
"That was extremely dangerous! I told you it was giving off energy!" Rodney said as he pointed at the now non glowing crystal.
"Honestly I….don't know why I did that." John said confused.
"Well, you killed it!" Rodney said with distain as he scanned it.
"Oh, really?" John stated with little care.
"It's not giving off energy anymore!"
"Maybe he just scared it." Ronan said.
"We don't even know if it was alive." Sheppard said.
"Seriously, why did you even touch it?!" Rodney asked.
"I don't know why I did!" Sheppard said as the two helped him to his feet. "I said that, okay? I just did. Now will you just leave it at that?"
"Okay." Rodney muttered as he started scanning again. "Maybe there is more around here. There wouldn't be just one, that would be beyond weird."
"Look, we're going back to Atlantis, reporting what happened and I'll recommend a science team to come back and check things out." Sheppard said exasperated.
"I am a science team!" Rodney exclaimed.
"We're leaving." Sheppard said as he picked up his dropped gun.
Ronan grabbed the shoulder of Rodney's vest and pulled him along.
"Fine! We'll just leave behind a potentially incredible discovery just because you guys don't want me to win a bet with Zelenaka!" Rodney said as he was still being dragged.
"I knew there was a bet." Ronan muttered.
It was now night and John was still in the infirmary with Teyla by him as they waited for the test results to come back. Teyla had changed into a black leather like coat with some black shirt that looked like it had thick webbing on it, with black pants. John was still in his off world uniform, minus weapons, supplies and vest.
"Well, the test results came back and they say you are completely healthy." Jennifer said.
"See, I'm fine." Sheppard said as he looked at Teyla. "Thanks doc."
"No more touching strange things however."
"Good advice." Sheppard said as she nodded and walked off. He hopped off the bed and started out with Teyla. "I don't know about you, but I am exhausted."
"It has been a long day." Teyla said.
"Walking through a mile or so of thick jungle and then getting shocked tends to wear most people out. Thanks for hanging out with me though."
"I just wanted to be sure."
"I'm fine." Sheppard said patting her back before he kept walking. "Get some sleep."
She nodded and failed to notice the strange glow that came from his hand onto her back before he walked away. No one else saw it either as she smiled and wished him good night before going to her room as well. After changing into her night clothes and then lighting a several candles around the room, she got into her bed to sleep. Sometime while sleeping, she had a very disturbing nightmare.
In the dream, John was sitting at a table, inside one of the Athosian huts, eating. Ronan was there and made a comment that he knew the two were going to get together. She was appalled and said it was just dinner while Rodney walked around in his black SGA outfit and said he was picking up a strange energy reading. Suddenly, everyone but her and John was there and he was standing a few feet in front of her with his hands on his hips with a frown.
"John what are you doing?"
"You know, neither of the General Carter's trust you. No one does, but me."
"What are you talking about?" Teyla asked very confused.
"What is wrong with you?" Sheppard asked as he slowly circled her.
"What do you mean?" Teyla asked looking at herself and finding she was in her Athosian outfit that had a fur like coat.
"You've never been the same since you got into the mind of that Wraith Queen."
"What?" Teyla asked really confused.
Hearing her name shouted behind her, she turned quickly and headed for the closed flaps swearing it was her father that called out. Just before she opened it, John came in, wearing a dark robe and looking like he did when he was changing into a Wraith. He pushed her back until she ended up sitting in the other chair at the table. She looked at him in fright as he brought his right hand up, which had a mouth on it that he quickly brought down on her chest.
Teyla woke up crying out and grabbing her chest as she sat up in her bed. Barely keeping from crying from the experience, she took several deep breaths as she tried to rid the fear she still felt coursing through her body, not to mention the confusion of the dream to begin with that made no sense. Needless to say, she had trouble sleeping the rest of the night.
Morning came and everyone was doing their daily routine activities. She met up with the rest of the team for breakfast and started telling them the dream as Sheppard was coming back with his plate of food.
"I can't even begin to tell you how bizarre it was." Teyla said as John sat beside her.
"You want bizarre, let me tell you…" Rodney began while eating.
"Tell you what, how about not?" Ronan said.
"Morning." Sheppard said as he picked up his utensils. When no one said anything and Teyla looked away, he got suspicious. "What?"
"Teyla had a dream about you last night."
"Rodney.." Teyla said with a hint of malice.
"Really? What was it about?" Sheppard asked intrigued.
"Actually, it was more of a nightmare. I'd rather not talk about it." Teyla said looking at the other two.
"Wait, was I the dashing hero saving you from the big bad monster?" Sheppard asked in a joking manner.
"Actually, you were the big bad monster." Ronan said.
"Really?" Sheppard asked with some surprise.
"Like I said, I really don't want to talk about it." Teyla said getting up.
"Where you going?" Sheppard asked.
"I'm sorry, I have a headache. I didn't sleep very well last night." Teyla said walking away.
"Is she really mad at me?" Sheppard asked the other two, who didn't say anything. "Really, I can't control what is in her dreams."
"Oh really? You think you can't control a persons dreams?" Rodney asked. "My old man read me Moby Dick when I was seven years old. What the hell was he thinking?! How many nightmares do you think I've had about being eaten by a whale?"
"They haven't stopped have they?" Ronan asked.
"No." Rodney muttered.
Teyla went to see the cities counselor in hopes of learning why she had the dream or at least to get help of some sort.
"It's coming from outside. I go to the opening and I hear darts. I pull open the tent and he comes inside. I know it is not really Colonel Sheppard, but I can't help but feel different towards him. Do you think it is my subconscious trying to tell me something?" Teyla asked.
The pretty long haired brunette that sat across from her in a gray suit smiled lightly before speaking.
"If there is something real going on between you and Colonel Sheppard, that you feel the need to address, then you definitely should. Otherwise, don't let it bother you."
Teyla nodded and thought before she spoke again.
"I have had horrible nightmares before. Of my father being taken as I was a little girl, the cullings since. But none of them ever felt like this. When I woke up, I could barely catch my breath. I know it sounds silly, but I think I am actually afraid of falling asleep." Teyla said with a hint of fear in her voice.
"I think perhaps you should see Doctor Keller, just in case it is something more."
She nodded and went right away. After a few test, Jennifer took the blood pressure cuff off and removed her stethoscope from her ears.
"Well, physically, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you." Jennifer said. "Other than the other physical symptoms you have described which can be contracted from an inability to sleep."
Teyla picked her coat back up as Keller grabbed some pills from a nearby cabinet that was lit up.
"These pills should help for the short term." Keller said after grabbed the small bottle and then locking it back up. "But if the problem persist, you definitely need to come back."
"You have no idea how the thought of a good solid nights sleep makes me feel at this point." Teyla said as she got off the bed and took the bottle.
"I think I do. I'm not sure that I have had one since I got here."
"Thank you again."
"Don't mention it." Keller said as Teyla touched her arm in a friendly gesture before leaving. "Good night."
"You too."
Night descended on Atlantis and both Carters were still up doing some paperwork together in her office. They were both tired however because Sally came in the middle of the night with a bad nightmare that involved seeing everyone she knew dead. She stayed shaking in their arms for awhile before falling into a fitful sleep. So they both didn't get a lot of sleep and worrying about her didn't help their mental faculties either. The strange thing about it was, Sally rarely had bad dreams, which made them wonder what was happening. Especially after Doctor Keller had reported that she gave some sleep aids to Teyla for having trouble sleeping because of a horrible nightmare, which Keller wasn't able to say anything about, nor did they ask. The last time Sally had a nightmare was over a year ago when they ended up in another universe where ghost did exist. They didn't get into the T.A.R.D.I.S., but Sally could hear their wails for some reason and none of the three got sleep that night because it took the T.A.R.D.I.S. five hours to find home. The ghost weren't able to physically move the ship, but some things kept banging on all the sides for all those hours.
Keller was in her bed sleeping when her com unit beside the bed woke her up.
"Doctor Keller, please report to the infirmary!"
She turned her beside light on and then looked at her watch. Seeing the lateness of the hour, she rolled her eyes and told them she was on her way.
"What's wrong?" Keller asked as a Chinese nurse walked up from beside the bed Teyla was lying on her side on and groaning, as John was standing next to the bed beside her.
"It's Teyla. She's in severe abdominal distress." the nurse said as they walked up to the bed. "She says you gave her some medicine."
"Just some Ambien to help her sleep." Keller said confused as Teyla kept groaning loudly in pain. "Teyla?"
"Went to the mess for a late night snack, she started complaining about her stomach and then doubled over." John said rather monotonously.
"I thought you were going to bed. Did you take one of those pills I gave you?" Keller asked leaning over her.
"No!!" Teyla cried out in pain.
"Okay, just try to relax and let me have a look." Keller said turning her over onto her back.
Teyla had a half vest shirt on that didn't cover her abdomen. When she started to convulse in pain, Keller asked John to hold her down for the moment. She kept crying out in pain as Keller touched just under her belly button and then backed off suddenly as her skin rose like something was trying to break free from her body.
"Oh my god!" Keller said backing off.
Teyla screamed loudly in pain as the two looked at her. John almost seemed to be smiling and had no concern on his face nor any shock at what was happening. The nurse looked worried as she turned to Keller.
"Doctor, do something!"
"Um…okay.." Keller said stuttering as she tried to think. "We need to sedate her and then um…"
Teyla screamed loudly again as blood burst out on all four of them as some creature ripped out of her abdomen. The scream slowly went away as she died on the table.
"Oh my…." Keller said in extreme fear and baffled unbelief.
"Can you believe this?" John asked with more fascination than anything else as he looked at her and then at what looked like some sort of large fly.
She woke up almost screaming herself and noticed she was in her room instead of the infirmary. It took a few deep breaths to try and calm her racing heart, but it didn't help much. Getting out of bed and getting a drink, she left and went to the infirmary. No one was in there when she entered and it was rather quiet, which she found a bit disturbing. Though she passed it off as after effects of the bad dream. Grabbing herself a small bottle of sleeping pills, she re-locked the case and then turned around only to be extremely startled.
"Sorry doc, didn't mean to scare you." Ronan said with a smile as John stepped out behind him.
"We were sparring and I got in a lucky shot." John said.
"It's the middle of the night." Keller said noticing the cut above Ronan's left eye.
"Maybe for you." Ronan said with a small smile.
"Alright, sit down and let me have a look." Keller said waving a the bed beside him. Once he sat down, she looked closely and then looked at John. "You're going to need stitches."
"I guess I taught him to much." Ronan said with a bit of pride as John smiled behind his hand.
"Better Colonel Sheppard you're sparring with than the General. Heard he almost killed Teal'c once and it was an accident." Keller said as she grabbed a suture kit.
"I know for a fact the General holds back when he fights with others." Sheppard said. "Though Ronan has come close to pissing him off so he does try something more serious."
"I'm still trying. You don't need to stick around though, I'm fine." Ronan said.
"You sure?" Sheppard asked.
"Yeah. But I want a re-match tomorrow."
"That what I was afraid of." Sheppard said crossing his arms. "Good night."
She watched him leave and then got to work on Ronan.
"Something wrong?" Ronan asked.
"No, nothing at all."
"I don't think he is seeing anyone…."
"Oh no! I wasn't looking at him like that!" Keller said quickly.
"Then how were you looking at him?"
"Never mind." Keller said quickly. "I can do this better if you lay down."
"Okay." Ronan said lying back with a smile. "You're sure…"
"He is not my type and I'm not really interested in getting into any relationships just yet." Keller said putting gloves on. "I'm still getting used to the fact I'm not anywhere near my normal home much less in my own galaxy anymore."
"Hmm." Ronan said with a chuckle.
After she was done, he walked out after thanking her and wishing her good night. He rolled his right arm around several times as he was walking away, feeling a bit of stiffness from the sparring earlier. As he walked further away, he stopped and then turned to look around as he felt he wasn't alone, but there was no one around and he heard even less. Feeling something was wrong, he continued down the different corridors until he came into the command center and found it totally empty.
"Hello!"
No one responded and he climbed the stairs into the command center.
"Is anyone here?!"
Getting no response yet again, he ran down the stairs out and started running faster and he called out for anyone. He passed through the infirmary and found no one there either and kept running as he kept calling out. Coming to a door, he waved his hand and it opened into a foggy but well lit forest. Turning around, he saw the city was gone and he was standing in the forest alone leaving him very confused. A couple stunner blast came by him and he started running yet again down a path. He managed to keep dodging the blast that came at him, which he figured were Wraith stunner shots. Coming around a turn in the path, he ran straight into a mossy pole that was put in his way. Needless to say it hurt as he slammed into the ground on his back, coughing from the impact to his chest and from having the wind knocked out of him.
"Hey buddy, what are you running from?" Sheppard asked as he walked out with his right hand behind his back.
"I don't know." Ronan said holding his chest in confusion.
"Come on." Sheppard said holding his other hand out to help him up.
As Ronan went to grab it, John's right hand came around and slammed into his head with a some metal bar. Everything was darkness and then he woke up slowly to hear someone digging. He looked up seeing he was in a deep hole and John shoveling dirt into the hole. He was gagged and his hands were behind his back and despite how much he struggled, he couldn't get free as John kept tossing dirt on him with a smile. Once it covered his face, he saw darkness again.
She was still working on his cut when he suddenly woke up and grabbed her hands in fright.
"I'm really sorry….did I.." Keller asked as he kept hold of her. "Did I hurt you?"
"No, no.." Ronan said and then looked around as he let go of her hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"You fell asleep."
"I was having the strangest dream." Ronan said with more confusion than fear, even though the dream freaked him out.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, go ahead and finish."
"You sure?"
"It's nothing. Really…"
"Okay, I'm almost done." Keller said grabbing the string again.
Keller was at the breakfast table with Ronan, Rodney and Teyla and she retold her dream to the two of them.
"It was extremely terrifying. There was this disgusting alien bug crawling out of your stomach and Colonel Sheppard was standing there like it was the coolest thing he had ever seen." Keller said with an eye roll and some revulsion.
"That sounds like that movie." Ronan said.
"Yeah, Alien, have you seen it?" Keller asked.
"Sheppard speaks of it often." Teyla said with a sigh.
"I still remember the first time I saw it." Rodney said. "I didn't think it was that cool."
"One time in med school, I confided with my best friend in biology class that it was my all time worst night mares. So he planted a live snake inside a cadaver I was working on." Keller said.
"I never saw it as I was a kid. I knew from the poster that it was going to be too scary." Rodney said. "I was sixteen when a neighborhood theater had a theatrical horror feast revival. So I thought, hey, great date movie…."
"Bad idea McKay. Despite how it used to be, some girls don't watch horror movies now days with their boyfriends because they know that the movie is meant to scare them into getting closer or hopefully into his lap." Ford said as he sat down at the end of the table with a chair he brought and rubbed his face tiredly. "Sorry to interrupt. Sally had a really bad dream last night."
"Join the club." Keller said.
"I was going to dismiss it as being she had a bad one the same night Teyla here did, which I still haven't heard the details about…" Ford said looking at Teyla. "You don't have to tell me either, I just know Colonel Sheppard was in it. I couldn't help but overhear the tale you told them Jennifer which is why I am here. Sally's first dream had to do with…a lot of dead people being around, including the family. Not the first time and that was because of a planet we landed on with actual ghost. Not important McKay, so don't ask. And we are completely safe because none came back. It's been over a year."
"Sally's dream last night had Sheppard in it too." Keller asked.
"Yeah, but he was dead too, but the walking dead and holding, some weapon she wasn't sure about. I don't know if this is important, but a few times we've woke up, or I should say, K-9 has woke us up because Sally was sleep walking. I've never done it, as far as I know, and Sam is sure she's never did so either, so we're clueless as to why Sally does it. Anyway, at the moment, she's been sedated to keep her from hurting herself from wanting to run and hide and bite her fingers." Ford said with very obvious worry and agitation.
"Oh god." Keller said with worry.
"Even Sam had a bad dream that changed as she said I came to her rescue, but Sheppard wasn't the bad guy in it. Probably just stress and worrying about Sally that caused it. Or lack of sleep." Ford said hiding a yawn.
"What about you General?" Keller asked.
"I didn't have any dreams, or none I remember. I only have dreams I remember if there is some sort of noise when I fall asleep. A ticking clock or something on that level isn't enough. A radio playing music all night does though." Ford said with a tired shrug.
"This is all very strange. All our nightmares deal with something bad and Colonel Sheppard is behind it." Teyla said. "Besides Sam."
"Hasn't happened to me." Rodney said.
"I don't even want to begin to know what sort of dream came with that smile. I don't even want to think about…." Ford began.
"I'm dating someone else. I quit thinking about Sam sometime ago." Rodney said quickly.
"Good, but I still don't want to know."
"Teyla had the dream first, then I did, followed by Ronan and…your daughter had her first the same night as Teyla? Even though Sheppard wasn't the bad guy?" Keller asked.
"Not really, at least she didn't dream him doing anything bad other than walking around dead with some weapon. And from what she said, it wasn't used or something like that. I'm not saying this as it may sound, but I think….Sally is sort of physic in a way." Ford said getting a couple looks. "Other than being incredibly smart, which we can account for, and abnormally strong for her age, my gene contribution, we're not sure why she has moments of fear like something is wrong. It doesn't happen often, but we've been able to tell when she….feels something is wrong. We went to the store one day, all three of us, and she didn't want us to get out of the car. When she started crying harder, we stayed in the car and minutes later, several police cars showed up. Took three hours to try and get the robbers to give up the hostages, which ended in a gun fight because S.W.A.T. was called in. Six dead robbers, three or four hostages and two injured cops. Had we went in…"
"You think that she feels something strange is in the city?" Keller asked.
"Three people with bad dreams about John, yeah, something is up. I want him checked out. Do whatever scan you think of and make up some if you have to." Ford said getting up. "Sam and I would like to try and get a good nights rest without having to leave the city to do so."
"I'll get right on it." Keller said as she stood.
"It's just some bad dreams though." Ronan said as he stood as well.
"Somehow, I doubt these two here think that." Ford said pointing at Teyla and Jennifer before he left. "Oh, and find out if John has had any bad dreams either."
"I talk to Jennifer and had her take Sheppard in to run as many test as possible to see why he's behind the dreams as being the bad guy in them." Ford said sitting across from Sam, who was behind her desk. He recounted what he told at the table and what he heard about their dreams, though he only really knew about Keller's.
"I hope she finds something. I know you feel it as well, but I could swear it is tearing me up more to see Sally like that." Carter said fighting back tears behind her hands as she rubbed her face. "Damn, I still have several more hours to put in."
"K-9 says she is sleeping peacefully at the moment. No signs of any bad dreams since then." Ford said handing her a tissue and then grabbing her hand. "Doctor Keller is as good as Janet was, well, is actually. She'll figure this out."
"What do you think started it? From the sounds of it, all it took was touching the person to make the problem pass on. Teyla has been sleeping peacefully every night since from what I understand and then Keller had no trouble sleeping after she finished with Ronan."
"I met Sheppard in the hallway while I was carrying Sally on my shoulder for those rides she likes. They did a high five…well, low for her.." Ford said and then seeing her look. "Anyway, they slapped hands. He told her he thought she was going to be a strong person like me after faking like she hit his hand really hard, which she laughed about and then told us good night. We went and looked at the stars for awhile, came and got you and went to bed. You know everything after that."
"The only thing that makes Sheppard different is that crystal he touched."
"I did run my Sonic Screwdriver over him when he wasn't looking, but I didn't find anything." Ford said. "I even did it on the crystal, but didn't learn anything other than the crystal was grown organically."
"It must have moved on." Carter muttered while thinking.
"General…" a guy said coming in.
"Yes." they both said turning to him.
"Um…"
"He meant me." Carter said.
"I knew that." Ford said with a knowing smile.
"What is it?" Carter asked.
"There is an emergency situation in the infirmary. Security has already been dispatched."
"Let's go." Ford said getting up with her.
Jennifer and her staff were backing up as John was still seated on the table with a the scanner next to him. Major Lorne was standing there in his issued pajama's, no shoes, and holding a nine mill on John.
"Okay Major, I don't know what is going on, but we can talk this out." Sheppard said while slowly waving his hand at the rapidly blinking man.
Security was several feet behind and on the other end of the infirmary with weapons pointed at Lorne.
"Someone get an ARG! Now! And shoot him with it!" Lorne said while waving the gun.
"Major, talk to me. Tell me what is going on." the counselor said near Jennifer and Teyla.
"Just do it! Okay, what's the harm?" Lorne said shaking his head. "If he is human, it won't hurt him, right?"
"John what is he talking about?" Teyla asked.
"Don't talk to him! He's a Replicator!" Lorne shouted.
"If he was Major, he would either be a pile of dust or shaking at the moment." Ford said as he entered slowly from Lorne's side and waved the Sonic Screwdriver that was glowing. "Nothing is happening, so he's obviously not the enemy."
"Then he's managed to change his programming or whatever it is to make that not work!" Lorne stated.
"He's getting medically checked out Major!" Ford said with a wave at the machines nearby. "They would have already alerted us if he wasn't human. How long have you been looking at him since I order it?"
"Ten minutes…." Keller said slowly. "I haven't found anything yet…"
"See…" Lorne stated loudly.
"But everything says he's human!" Keller said quickly.
"You're all Replicators…."
Ford barely managed to grab the gun and hold it in the air in time as he fired a round, which burst open a medical cabinet after grazing his hairline. It took him and a couple of guards to hold him still long enough to have Jennifer sedate him.
"Damn, was has gotten into everyone?" Sheppard muttered as they put Lorne on a table nearby.
"Something is definitely going on." Ford said shaking his head while running a hand over where the bullet past to see if there was any blood. "Lorne was really fighting back hard…."
"Hard enough you needed help General." Sheppard said.
"I was trying to be gentle so I didn't hurt him."
"Everyone back to their post." Carter said with a wave. "Doctor, keep working on him. I want Lorne put into a observation room and watched."
"What if he has whatever it was or is that is going around?" Ford asked. "He's better off here with everyone else that touched him. Obviously I'm immune because Sally didn't give it to me."
"We haven't been able to get much sleep." Carter muttered.
"True, but you wouldn't be immune and she didn't give it to you."
"I'll give you that. Have Lorne strapped to the bed and check out the people that touched him, besides the General here, to see if there is anything in anyone at all. I don't care if it is the flu bug or sinus trouble. Let me know when you got something." Carter said.
"I'll stay here in case another incident happens." Ford said.
She nodded and then walked off with the rest of the security detail. Teyla stayed in the room as did the counselor. After the test were mostly done, Lorne woke up in surprise to find himself strapped to a medical bed instead of in his room. Sam came back as she was informed he was awake and then they told him what he did, but still left he restraints on his hands and feet for the moment.
"Was anyone hurt?" Lorne asked worried.
"A medicine cabinet took a hit." Ford said.
"Huh?"
"He's trying to be funny." Carter said.
"Sorry, with the way things have been lately, I need a laugh. You tried to shoot everyone when you thought we were all Replicators, but ended up shooting that medical cabinet over there. I took the gun away and, I have to admit, it took me and a few guards to hold you long enough to get you sedated. I couldn't do it alone. According to Jennifer's test, your adrenalin levels were really high." Ford said.
"Sorry General's. I don't remember doing any of that though. Last time I had a sleep walking incident, I was…ten I think."
"It is quite common for someone suffering from somnambulism to perform complex activities in their sleep but have no memory of doing so upon waking." the counselor stated from the other side of the bed.
"So, you think this all has something to do with that crystal I got shocked from?" Sheppard said from a bed nearby.
"That's when it seemed to start." Keller said. "However, I can't find anything medically on anyone. Not even a sinus problem. I exclude Rodney because he hasn't had any bad dreams like us few others and wasn't around for any of these latest incidents."
"But you think I'm behind it?" Sheppard asked.
"Everyone that has had bad dreams has said you were the bad guy in them. Sally even had a bad dream, but you weren't the enemy, technically, which she thankfully over and sleeping peacefully again." Ford said.
"But you and Sam haven't had any bad dreams. So if it passes from person to person…." Keller said.
"It could be like a virus of some sort perhaps." Carter said. "Sally had a fever and couldn't stop shaking for some time and then she got better after being sedated. Other than mentally…messed up at the moment, she otherwise fine."
"Her age and incredibly immunity could have had an effect on whatever this is." Keller said.
"Well, if she doesn't have it anymore and Lorne seems to be back to normal…" Sheppard said as Ford removed the restraints.
"Take him back to his room, take whatever weapons he has in there as well, and let him go back to sleep. I want four guards outside and if they heard anything strange, unless it is a snore, call for backup." Carter said.
"Thanks General's. Sorry for the trouble." Lorne said as he walked out with the guards.
"Does this mean we are back to square one?" Sheppard asked with a yawn.
"It started with Sheppard and that crystal. Some strange energy came out of the crystals and entered him, which he passed on to other people, not knowing he was doing so." Ford said as he rubbed his chin.
"Sounds familiar." Carter said.
"It does?" Keller asked.
"We've seen alien beings do this sort of thing before. Jack…sorry, at the time, Colonel O'Neill was once knocked unconscious by some energy crystals we encountered in a desert. It made a copy of him for awhile that he just managed to get back to the planet in time before, well, it exploded." Carter said.
"I read that you were taken over by an alien entity." the counselor said.
"I was. It was a machine life form, which we have locked the gate address of back at the SGC. Wasn't one of those things you tell your children or anyone really." Carter said. "I'm lucky to be alive."
"Other than being a partner to a Tok'ra, my experience is limited." Ford said. "And I don't remember much of that incident with Lina Inverse so…"
"But what is the point being whatever this….thing is?" Sheppard asked. "To go around in peoples dreams and scare the hell out of them as they portray me as the bad guy. That just makes very little sense and would be a terrible plot idea for any story or movie."
Ford cracked up and Carter smacked his arm.
"Ow, what was that for?" Ford asked rubbing his arm.
"This is serious. You don't need to be laughing about it." Carter stated.
"Sorry. The world could be ending and a well placed joke could make me laugh. I can't help it. You already know I have that problem."
"Sorry, I guess it is lack of sleep that made me forget." Carter said rubbing her tired eyes.
"Back on subject, what are we going to do?" Sheppard asked.
"I think it is feeding on our fear." Keller said.
"Makes sense. All the dreams have been centered around nightmares incidents, or fear as you stated. Reminds me of that Star Trek episode where Riker got bit or something attacked his leg. They had to make him relive all his most horrible memories in order to kill the parasite." Ford said.
"Are you thinking that good memories will fight this creature or thing off?" Keller asked.
"I have no idea." Ford said hiding a yawn. "Sorry."
"You have all said many things, most have been helpful, but it has not lead us to how to stop this from further happening and why." Teyla said.
"Everything has been done by touch. It entered Colonel Sheppard, then he touched Teyla, who touched me, and then went to Ronan who somehow got it into Major Lorne." Keller said. "And I checked everyone that came into contact with him and found nothing at all anomalous in any readings."
"What about him?" Sheppard asked.
"I haven't checked him for anything since it is pointless. Other than that incident that meant removing his clothes…" Keller said, trailing off as she blushed.
"God, even Janet still turns red." Ford muttered. "Go ahead and scan away then. Oh, take my guns and coat, just in case."
John took them as he tossed them over and then laid down.
"I think this needs to come out as well." Carter said as she pulled the Sonic Screwdriver out. "You know what, take the coat and vest off to."
He did so as she set them aside.
"What do we do if it is in him?" Keller asked.
"I didn't think that far. But I doubt he is infected anyway." Carter said.
"Unless I am seriously needed, I'm taking a nap." Ford said trailing off with something that had the words, love, sorry, night and Sam's name twice along with Sally.
"Did you catch any of that?" Keller asked.
"Yeah. It's not important. At least not to what you need to look for anyway." Carter said as she watched John lay back down and rub his eyes.
"Why haven't I had any nightmares? I touched the damn thing to begin with." Sheppard said.
"That may be the reason why you are appearing in everyone's dreams." the counselor said. "Whatever it doing this, imprinted your image onto itself."
"You did touch Teyla before you went to bed that night John." Keller said as she looked at the finished scanner. "So weird seeing two hearts. And you also touched Sally so, it's no wonder you slept without any problems."
"I had my team with me on the way back and we bumped into each other more than once, even on the way to here when we got back." Sheppard said as Keller shrugged unsure of why it didn't move around then.
"But Sally's dream did not involve Sheppard being the enemy." Teyla stated.
"Could have been an after effect or residual left over that went into her. I don't really know." Keller said. "But everyone that has had bad dreams has had contact with the Colonel."
"I'll try to keep my hands to myself from now on." Sheppard said sarcastically. "Oh hey Rodney. Why are you here?"
Everyone but Ford looked up to see a guard behind Rodney.
"Why are you with him Lieutenant?" Carter asked.
"He and Major Lorne literally bumped into each other in the hallway."
"I was reading a report and didn't watch where I was going." Rodney said as he waved the tablet. "Apparently, I might be infected with whatever has been causing the bad dreams."
"Sit on that bed over there." Keller said. "I'll be with you in a minute."
"Why are you working on him? He can't catch anything much less die!" Rodney said.
"Check out McKay instead. Ford is more than likely clear." Carter said. "And he isn't going anywhere for the moment. Especially since he's already fallen asleep."
Ford, though somewhat drowsy, Sheppard's team, the counselor and Carter were all now in the conference room. It had been an hour since she did her test and then Carter wanted them where they were now. When smelling salts didn't wake Ford, Carter whispered a few words into his ear that woke him up right away. Rodney was standing in the middle of the room while everyone else was seated. She elbowed Ford lightly as the man hid a yawn and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm awake, somewhat."
"Rodney, sit down." Sheppard said.
"I'm fine right where I am."
"I've already contacted our off world teams and told them to not return for the time being." Carter said after seeing Ford was staying awake. "For the moment, gate travel is restricted to a need to basis. And until further notice, all non essential expedition members will be restricted to quarters."
"Is that all really necessary? It's just been a few bad dreams, right?" Ronan asked.
"The fact is, we have no idea what we are dealing with. It may be an alien entity that is capable of moving from person to person at will. Everyone who came into contact with Major Lorne has been checked, including everyone who has had bad dreams, and yet, we are still not closer to finding out why this is happening." Carter said.
"Other than the crystal I touched behind all our troubles." Sheppard said.
"So far, the only behavior we have to evaluate, suggest a certain malice. Based on what has been described to me, the personification of Colonel Sheppard in everyone's dreams, is behaving much like a sociopath." the counselor said. "Minus to people who only had bad dreams."
"Did I have a goatee?" Sheppard asked Teyla who shook her head tiredly.
"You looked much like you did when you were changing into a Wraith."
"Wow, that is a scary dream." Sheppard said with a small shudder.
"Right now, all that is happening is nightmares, but we don't know if that is the limit of its capabilities." the counselor said.
"You are saying this may only be the beginning?" Teyla asked.
"I've never profiled anything like this before. It will more than likely progress, try to drive up the stakes, seek bigger thrills. Even if it is limited to manipulating the host subconscious. It may be able to put someone in serious jeopardy." the counselor said.
"So, what are we talking about, Freddy Krueger here?" Sheppard asked.
"Oh come on…." Rodney began.
"Who's Freddy…um….whatever you said." Ford asked confused while blinking away sleep.
Though everyone looked at him, Teyla and Ronan didn't have the strange look that he was getting from everyone else.
"He's a villain in a horror film series." Sheppard said.
"Oh. I tend to avoid many of those. SCI-FI horror is okay, but basic evil, demons and such sort of movies I avoid. And why are you looking at me like that?" Ford asked.
"Just that you surprised me. Which doesn't happen very often." Carter said. "I've seen them, even though they aren't that great."
"No offense, but I'd rather not watch them anyway." Ford said shaking his hands lightly at her.
"Anyway, the reason you were all called here is because you are going back to the planet to check out that crystal and for anymore." Carter said.
"Why?" Rodney asked.
"We have no evidence of what is doing this other than knowing it all started with Sheppard touching the crystal. So we need hard evidence and hopefully something that will tell us where this thing is currently in this city. I'd have him go with, but, other than the fact he looks ready to fall asleep standing, he'd more than likely end up getting shocked from being to close than touching it." Carter said.
Ford hid another yawn and ignored the looks.
"Get to it." Carter said standing.
"But….."
"Rodney, don't make me force the issue." Carter said tiredly. "You are the best person for the job and you have to do it."
"Well, I am the best." Rodney said smiling as the others left and then both Carter's walked out leaving him alone. "Wait a minute. You were appealing to my ego…"
"I can't believe I fell for that." Rodney said as he looked at his scanner.
"You found them first Rodney and you wanted to check this planet out to begin with in the beginning, so it is your responsibility." Sheppard said as they walked through the forest again.
"You lost the bet by the way Rodney." Radek said inside his isolation suit like everyone else had.
"Yeah, whatever." Rodney said tiredly. "I'll get you back on the next bet though."
"Asking the General for help is cheating."
"How did you…" Rodney began before shutting up.
"It's over here." Sheppard said as he pointed his weapon at the tree.
"Well, there is it Radek. Might as well get started as I look around for anymore." Rodney said a bit more happily as Radek muttered something in his native language.
Teyla turned to her right as something glowed out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't surprised it was another crystal on a tree.
"Rodney…"
"Hmm.." Rodney said seeing her pointing. "Don't look in it! And for heavens sake, don't touch it either!"
"I would not dare." Teyla said backing off.
"Radek, we have a live one here."
"I think it would be useful if we compared the two."Radek said while still working on the un-glowing crystal.
"Just what I was thinking." Rodney said as he kept scanning the crystal.
"But be careful, it could be dangerous to harvest one with an active entity in it."
"Once again you've read my mind. Once you are finished there, I say you try and give it a shot."
"Yeah, give it a shot." Radek muttered as he placed a chisel behind it and got ready with the hammer.
Keller was looking at the glowing crystal inside a hexagonal glass container which had a few wires attached to the crystal to observe and record it. In another glass container nearby, the non glowing crystal sat the same way. Special black tops with electronics on them covered each one.
"Do you really think it is safe to bring a live one back?" Keller asked.
"Oh, all those containers are non conductive." Radek said from a nearby science computer. "We believe it needs conductive material in order to travel."
"And, having an active crystal allows us to calibrate these hand held sensors to detect the energy signatures associated with it." Rodney said as he went to the computer Radek was on and Radek went to the other computer on the other side of the room Rodney was on.
"Hopefully, we will be able to detect if somebody is carrying around one of these creatures inside them." Radek said.
"As long as it doesn't know what we are up to, otherwise you think it would transfer out of that person before we can scan them." Rodney said as Keller started looking closer.
"Yes, assuming that they are not only capable, but conscious and aware at all times." Radek said.
"It demonstrated some pretty sophisticated intelligence so far. You think it would have basic avoidance skills."
"We are going to have to recalibrate our scanners to operate on a large scale to…" Radek said as an idea came to him. "We could calibrate the cities life signs detector…"
"Oh yes, Mr. Wizard." Rodney said sarcastically. "We're just going to snap our fingers and…"
She started to reach out to touch the glass when Radek slapped her hand away a bit harshly.
"Ow!"
"What are you doing?" Radek asked.
"Um…"
Keller said rubbing her hand as she looked at the crystal again. "I
don't know. I found it mesmerizing. You said it was safe!"
"No,
we said we think, but still…"
"I can't believe it. I was suddenly overcome by the compulsion to want to touch it." Keller said.
"That's how it um…ropes in its victims." Rodney said as he waved his scanner a moment.
Both men then went back to work as she looked at the crystal with a sort of disgust and then left before she was tranced back to trying to touch it again. A short time later they managed to calibrate a few scanners and went back to Lorne to check him out along with several others. Unfortunately, they didn't find it in anyone.
"Damn. We got nothing." Carter said in her office as Rodney and Radek reported their findings.
"It travels through using conductive means…" Radek muttered.
"Oh no! We've got power conduits that run throughout the entire city!" Rodney stated in horror.
"It could be in anyone now." Carter said as she stood in worry.
"Where's Ford?" Rodney asked.
"Sleeping." Carter said.
"We didn't check him." Radek said.
"K-9 is watching him and so far, he hasn't moved and his brain waves don't indicate that he is having a nightmare, but the opposite actually." Carter said.
Kate, the city counselor, was standing out on the edge of the balcony that overlooked the city near the command center. Teyla came out seeing her standing on the edge and about to fall off.
"Kate, what are you doing?" Teyla asked.
"I don't want to die." Kate said with extreme fear.
"Good, come down from there." Teyla said softly with a smile.
"I can't." Kate said with a panicked fear in her voice.
"Why not?"
"Help me please!" Kate cried out while crying.
Teyla started forward when John appeared and held her back.
"John, stop it! Stop it! I have to help her!" Teyla said struggling to get out of his grasp.
"Teyla!" Kate yelled.
"John, get out of the way!"
"Teyla! Teyla!" Kate yelled as she fell backwards.
"Kate!" Teyla yelled as she rushed forward and missed grabbing her.
Kate fell, tumbling over and over until she hit the ground and died on impact.
Teyla went to check on Kate since they were trying to find out if anyone was missing from their shifts or acting strangely. She walked in finding Kate still in bed and barely moving. After calling the infirmary, she waited for Keller to come.
"I went to check on her when she did not report for duty and I could not wake her up." Teyla said sadly.
Keller ran the scanner over her body and then looked at Teyla with sad eyes.
"I'm sorry, she's dead."
After hearing the news, she went back to the command center and had Radek open a channel to everyone in the city. Only three people didn't hear what she had to say, four if you counted Ford, who was still completely deep asleep in the T.A.R.D.I.S., in the Zero room with the gravity off, with her parents and Sally nearby. When Radek nodded to her, she cleared her throat a moment before speaking.
"This is General Carter to all personal. I regret to inform you that we lost a very valuable member of the expedition today. Doctor Kate Heightmeyer meant a great deal to all of us. I unfortunately did not get to know her as well as many of you did, and it saddens me greatly that I missed the opportunity. Her death is nothing short of tragic. I am also sorry to report that the threat we are facing is still in our midst. So, until further notice, the full lockdown protocol will remain in effect. Please try to remain calm and we try to resolve this situation and deal with everyone's safety." Carter said taking a few deep breaths before going on. "Thank you for your patience in this matter."
Radek turned it off as she nodded at him.
"What about your husband? We can't seem to wake him either." Keller said. "You even had me inject him with several medicines in order to try and wake him."
"His physiology is very different and I'm seriously hoping that is it because of fatigue." Carter said wiping her eyes a moment. "He could be battling this thing in his mind too, but I only doubt that seeing as K-9 says his brain waves indicate he's having a good dream."
"He does have a smile on his face too." Keller said.
"But the scanner said he was clean." Radek said.
"Yes, but it could have changed dramatically because of his physiology. I'm chalking it up to the fact he has a very different sleep schedule than the rest of us and because it was screwed up from Sally waking us, plus the stress we both are feeling from worrying about her, taxed him to greatly and he just passed out. Maybe if we were under attack physically and he knew that, he'd probably wake up. Since we technically are safe at the moment, not being a physical enemy he can do anything to, his body just shut down. At least that's what I am hoping." Carter said.
"This has happened before then?" Keller asked.
"Something similar. Point is, once we knew everything was safe and clear, especially me, he sat down and fell asleep in the hallway."
"So, assuming he is just fine and does not have this thing in him, what do we do?" Radek asked.
"I heard something about you trying a city wide sensor sweep. Let's try it." Carer said.
John got up from boredom and not wanting to sleep. Being part of the senior staff did help in being able to leave ones quarters and when he opened the door to leave, he was surprised to see Teyla standing there.
"I was just coming to see you. But I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me."
He was and wasn't too surprised when she reached out and hugged him tightly.
About an hour later, Radek came back and informed her he had done the adjustments.
"I am not sure if it is even working properly. We had some trouble with the…"
"This is better than nothing Radek." Carter said as they walked up to the large screen that showed the city in 3D.
"We can't be totally sure, but we did get a positive fix on someone. Which is obviously not the General since the scan came up negative."
"Do we know who it is then?" Carter asked as the screen shifted to look at a cone sort of shaped building.
"What did you guys need me for?" Rodney asked as he entered a room where Radek was standing alone with a tablet and an armless chair with footrest. "And what is with the rubber walls?"
"Sorry Rodney, I need to go."
"Go? What for?" Rodney asked confused as the man left and the door was closed by a guard that locked it. "Oh no! You have to be kidding! This isn't happening to me!"
He turned back around to look up at the observation point seeing Carter and Jennifer staring down at him.
"Very nice Sam. You tricked me pretty good." Rodney said shaking a finger at the people above.
"I doubted you would have came if we asked. And if this thing can possibly control you even when you are awake, we didn't want you to know the plan, sorry Rodney. Radek told me the conversation you two had earlier and with everyone that has happened, we couldn't take the chance of you running off and hiding or the…entity leaving you." Carter said.
He groaned but understood, however refused to comment.
"Are you sure it is in Rodney?" Sheppard asked as he walked up and looked down at his pacing friend.
"Readings from the scanners say so. We've lined the room with insulated material to keep it from spreading out of him into someone else." Carter said.
"If it is in him, then we have it trapped." Keller said.
"That doesn't help McKay much does it." Sheppard said. "If this thing kills people in their sleep."
"No, we have to find a way to get it out of him." Carter said.
"Can I get some coffee in here? I'm already beginning to feel a little tired." Rodney whined.
"I can give him something to help him stay awake a little longer, but it will only work so long before we start risking pulmonary failure." Keller said.
"Believe it or not, I have been there before to." Carter said.
"You have?" Sheppard asked.
"One of those memories you don't share even with close friends. Bad enough Daniel was there." Carter said with a don't ask tone.
"Okay. Not going to hear that story then. Is there anything about what happened that can help us here?" Sheppard asked.
"Not that I can think of. But we have to come up with something soon." Carter said as she left with him. "Hang in there McKay."
"Oh yes, hang in there she says. Thanks! Why don't you just drop a rope for me to hang myself too!" Rodney said while making the hanging gesture and then started pacing around. "Oh god, I'm going to die in my sleep being eaten by a whale."
"Do you think it knows it is trapped?" Sheppard asked as they walked into her office.
"I don't know, why? You have some idea?" Carter said sitting on the edge.
"Maybe there is a way to….I don't know…" Sheppard said rolling his hand in thought. "Reason with it somehow. From what I hear, there is some sort of telepathic equipment of sorts in the T.A.R.D.I.S."
"There is and we are still trying to figure out their real functions. However, they only work for Ford and he is still currently out. K-9 says his vitals are stable and no signs of brain activity that would indicate any nightmares nor anything else going on at the moment either. Did being in Doctor Weirs old office make you think of that? You don't strike me as the type to come up with such suggestion." Carter said.
"Well, normally I am just shooting the bad guys. Being one less in the team I have to compensate. I'm no Rodney, but there are moments I might try." Sheppard said.
She couldn't help but laugh lightly as Ronan and Teyla entered.
"Hey, we just heard." Ronan said.
"Is the laughter good news…" Teyla asked.
"Sorry, old memories about something John said. Is there something you needed?" Carter asked.
"We came to see if there was anything we could do." Teyla said.
"We're talking about it right now. John thought of trying to reason with it, but at the moment, I can't think of how." Carter said.
"Reason with it? It killed that Kate lady." Ronan said.
"I know that. Maybe it isn't being evil on purpose. It may not know any better." Carter said.
"I find that unlikely." Teyla said.
"If we found some way to talk to this thing, what would you say?" Carter asked.
"I don't have any idea. I didn't think that far ahead." Sheppard stated.
Carter could only smile at a few similar type memories, but kept from laughing this time.
"Ford is so going to miss having not heard you say that." Carter said.
"I don't get it. What did I say?" Sheppard asked confused.
She couldn't hold back as that made her crack up. Teyla was unsure of what Carter meant or was laughing at as John gave her the same confused look she just gave him.
"The city is in danger and McKay's life is on the line and you're sitting there laughing?" Sheppard stated.
"I'm sorry." Carter said wiping away tears. "It's Ford's fault. Made me see how funny…things can be even in dire situations. Okay, you said communicating with it."
"Yeah. And you mentioned something the T.A.R.D.I.S. could help with if the General wasn't out cold." Sheppard said.
"Out cold…." Carter said trailing off.
"He's going to live. Think about McKay…" Sheppard began as he snapped his fingers in her face.
"No, I am thinking about him. McKay I mean. Look at what this thing has done so far. Really bad nightmares, fear. It feeds on fear and is willing to kill its host in the process to get that fear. McKay is practically a hypochondriac, so the this thing will kill him almost instantly." Carter said.
"Or drag it out for a very long time since he fears so much, it would practically have a banquet." Sheppard said. "I don't see how this info is helping us. It will probably kill right away and try to find someone else like it has been doing."
"What if it can't survive outside its victim? It has to be in something or someone that is capable of keeping…..its conduciveness intact. If we kill Rodney, then it may die with him or leave his body and die because it has no where to go. Once either happens, we bring Rodney back." Carter said.
"What if it fails and this creature is still in him or comes back?" Teyla asked.
"We'll cross that bridge if it happens." Sheppard said.
"No, we need a back up plan right now. If killing then bring him back fails, we can't risk it again and we can only keep him awake for so long. And if this thing can subconsciously make someone do something without thinking first, it could make Rodney knock himself unconscious and then it would just kill him anyway." Carter said.
"Maybe we can have McKay talk to it and tell it to go back into the crystal so we can take it back home." Sheppard said.
"Is that even possible?" Teyla asked.
"If we told him to talk to it after he went to sleep, since we know it would show up looking like me instantly, then yeah. He'd be talking to it directly." Sheppard said.
"But it creates a environment of fear." Ronan said. "You actually think McKay would remember to even try to talk to this thing without cowering away or dieing out right instantly from fear?"
"Good point." Sheppard said as he waved a finger. "Knowing McKay, he'd probably have a bad dream about me being a whale eating him."
"A whale?" Carter asked confused.
"His father read him Moby Dick once when he was little and he's been afraid of it ever since. Says he still has dreams about being eaten by it too." Sheppard said.
"Well, better that then a spider dream." Carter said with a shudder.
"If only there was a way to enter his dreams and offer him moral support or at least be able to help him talk to it. Are you going to laugh again? What is it I am saying that is so funny?"
"You remind me a lot of General O'Neill. He always came up with an idea when Ford or I couldn't think of something. Trust me, it's more than a compliment. Even geniuses need…forgive me Colonel, a less intelligent perspective to see the whole picture." Carter said.
"I'd say ouch, but I do understand what you are saying. I've pointed out a few things even Rodney looked over or didn't see more than once. Does that mean you have an idea then?" Sheppard asked.
"Oh, more than an idea. Someone entering his dreams to help, that I think I can do." Carter said waving them to follow.
"Oh no. I'm pretty damn sure I am about to see a side of McKay I never wanted to see." Sheppard said with a shudder.
"Colonel, if this works, and there is anything of me in there, I do not want to know." Carter stated.
"Yes ma'am."
"You do not have to be the one to do this John." Teyla said.
"I started this problem by touching the damned crystal, I should be the one to finish it. Besides, who else to fight me better than myself, hmm?" Sheppard said.
"Many years ago, well before Ford showed up, unfortunately…" Carter said as a couple scientist were in the room setting up monitors and special equipment, and two beds.
"Unfortunately…"
"I regret not marrying him the day we met. Knowing what I know now I mean. I'm getting off track. Point is, me and the rest of SG-1, still under Colonel O'Neill, went to a planet where the inhabitants were hooked into virtual reality machines and were able to see each others dreams and experiences, plus share in those experiences. Daniel ended up watching his parents die over and over, part of his memories. I was there watching and immune, probably because of Jolinar. Teal'c, being Jaffa, was also immune, but he was there with O'Neill in a memory of some Black OP that went bad. We managed to get out and they shared this technology with us…." Carter said.
"Wait. Is this the same technology that Ford managed to hook up game systems to so you could play them in person?" Sheppard asked.
"Yes." Carter said with a sigh. "Got his ass stuck in the Halo game series until he could beat them all because of a glitch he didn't work out. But yes, same principle and technology."
"Cool, and not cool considering what I am about to do." Sheppard said with mixed emotions. "I heard it took like three days to get out of that."
"Two actually and that was because he got help from several personal that volunteered to enter and join him." Carter said seeing a look on his face. "K-9 assures me the bugs have since been fixed and it is totally safe. You can play it on a day off. Get your head on what you need to do now."
"I am. Is this really going to work though?" Sheppard asked.
"K-9 says the calibrations we did to it should allow you to enter his dreams or at least see and interact with whatever he is seeing at the moment. We couldn't even do a simulation or test, so you may just go to sleep and have more control of your own dreams instead of being in McKay's."
"Alright then. Wish me luck."
"You'll do fine." Ronan said as he patted him on the back as he left.
"Be careful John." Teyla said.
"I will be extra careful. This is Rodney's mind we are talking about here." Sheppard said.
"I think you need more than luck. More like a wing and a prayer." Carter said as Sheppard nodded.
"Are you really sure about doing this?" Rodney asked as the scientist were putting the final touches on the hook ups.
"Not really." Sheppard said.
"I'm pretty screwed up." Rodney said with some fear.
"That's obvious."
"We are ready when you two are." Keller said in a isolation suit by Rodney.
"Thanks John." Rodney said.
"I haven't done anything yet." Sheppard said.
"I know, but just in case…" Rodney began.
"Can you try to be optimistic for once?" Sheppard said sternly.
"I'm administering the sedative to now." Keller said to the three onlookers above.
"Nothing is happening." Sheppard said after a minute.
"He's not reached dream state yet." Keller said.
McKay was dreaming and having a nightmare, not surprisingly. He was in the pouring rain, soaked to the bone, wearing a green sweater and undershirt, plus black pants. All while rowing a boat in a vast ocean he knew was holding a very large whale that wanted to eat him like previous dreams. This one was only different in the fact he did have this one before and more times since, but only after arriving on Atlantis. He was rowing back to the city which was in range of seeing, that had dark stormy and lightening clouds overhead, but at least another couple of hours of rowing to finally get to, if lucky. Which he rarely ever succeeded in doing. A rumbling noise nearby made him look to see a large fin go under the water.
"Aw, come on!" Rodney said trying to row faster. "Be a nice whale and stay away. I'm not worth eating!"
"Give up, you're not going to make it."
He looked up to see John, in his normal walk around SGA black outfit, also soaked, sitting at the end of the boat.
"You're too weak." John said as he crossed his arms.
"Oh thanks! Great job on the encouragement!" Rodney said still rowing. "Way to help out!
"Why would I want to help you?" John asked with a malicious smile.
"Because I thought you want to…"
"That's not me Rodney. I'm the real John." Sheppard said from behind him in just a long back shirt and pants with combat boots.
"You're pathetic. Might as well jump in and let the whale have you. He'll be here any moment anyway. Why prolong the inevitable?" John asked with the same smile.
"Don't listen to him Rodney! Don't be afraid! He lives on fear!" Sheppard said.
"Oh god, I have to get back. I have to get back, it is my only chance!" Rodney said rowing harder with panic in his voice.
"You're going to die out here."
"You shut up! Don't listen to him Rodney!" Sheppard said.
"That's easy for you to say! Why don't you help me row!"
Now the two were alone in the boat, next to each other, with one oar between them in the water.
"You know…" Sheppard said as he rowed and tried to ignore the now much harder pouring rain as McKay was looking around. "This isn't as strange or screwed up as you lead me to believe."
"Oh yeah! What about that?!"
Sheppard looked behind him to see a clown sitting at the front of the boat, not wet and having a frown for makeup on.
"I hate clowns!" Sheppard stated.
"I know!"
"You can paddle all you want. You ain't going anywhere." John said as he appeared at the end of the boat.
"He's right! I'm going to die out here!" Rodney said as they kept paddling anyway.
"He wants you to be afraid you idiot! It's what he wants! He feeds off it! He can't really hurt you!" Sheppard yelled.
"That is where you are wrong." John stated with a evil smile.
There was a rumbling they heard beneath them and then they were lifted into the air as a very large whale came from underneath and swallowed them as it lifted itself out of the water.
John woke up in a sweat as he heard the sounds of a machine making a flat line tone.
"What happened?" Sheppard asked sitting up.
"Clear!" Keller yelled as she shocked McKay's chest.
"He's in cardiac arrest." Radek said as he was manually squeezing a object that breathed air into McKay.
After trying one more time, she backed off.
"I'm sorry. I've done all I can. He's dead." Keller said.
John couldn't believe it as he looked up and saw the three staring back down at him with remorseful looks. After being unhooked and quickly checked, he walked out and headed away in a stupor. It just didn't feel right and it was beyond real to believe McKay had really died. One moment he was with him and then next, he was gone. Walking into a corridor that had adjacent ways to go, he leaned against the wall and heard someone approaching. He didn't want to talk to anyone and was rather surprised when Teyla walked up with a look on her face that seemed like condemnation.
"This is all your fault John." Teyla stated.
"Excuse me?" Sheppard muttered.
"He wouldn't have died if you hadn't touched that rock." Ronan said from his side as he pointed a finger.
"I thought you were going to help him?" Carter said in front of him suddenly with crossed arms.
"I tried…" Sheppard said with even more mixed feelings than before.
"Some friend you turned out to be." Keller said from his left.
"From what I was told, he trusted you to save him. And you fucked it up." Ford said on his right with a angry look. "I have reason to believe that you have been compromised. You're going to be permanently relived of duty and sent back to Earth for a court-martial."
"But…" Sheppard said looking past the angry scowl on Fords face to see himself standing by a door nearby. "You son of a bitch!"
He slammed into his evil counterpart before he could move and they both went through the wall.
"Clear!" Keller stated as she shocked Rodney again.
She pulled back and was about ready to have them charged again when Rodney's eyes slowly opened. His shirt was bunched up around his neck and he was sweating a great deal as he took a couple of deep breaths.
"It's okay. It's okay. Try to relax." Keller said with her gloved hands on him as he tried to sit up.
"Wait, what's going on?" Rodney asked tired and confused.
"You were in cardiac arrest." Keller said.
"It's in Colonel Sheppard." Radek stated.
Sheppard was currently, just slammed into the gate room floor with his counterpart on top of him. The gate was open in the background as the evil John sneered in his face while holding his lapels. He punched him in the sides and then rolled away as the other got up.
"You can quit now. I'm not afraid of you." Sheppard said as the two circled each other.
"Oh yes you are. I am the one thing you are afraid of. You failed your friends! You brought this on them and there is nothing you can do to stop it!" John said tauntingly.
Fist were swinging with equal blocking and equally hitting, until a sharp kick to the gut pushed Sheppard back a few steps and knocked the air out of him. He looked up at the evil smile and then barely avoid the kick at his head. Both blocked a few kicks at each other and then a kick caught Sheppard in the forehead, taking him to his knees.
"Give it up, you can't beat me." John said.
Sheppard stood only to get a right cross that sent him back to his knees again. Crawling away, he got back up and tried for another punch, only to miss and take a hit to the face that left him dazed long enough to be picked up and tossed into the wall behind him. Sheppard bounced off hard, leaving a dent in the metal and miraculously without broken bones. Still very dazed and trying to keep conscious, he was picked up by his lapels and tossed up the stairs where he rolled into the window panel at almost the exact spot where the T.A.R.D.I.S. usually landed.
"See, no matter what you do, you can't beat me." John said.
He stood, barely, and then hit the ground as a right cross across the face dropped him.
"His heart rate is dangerously high." Keller said as she looked at Sheppard's vitals.
"Can you wake him up?" Carter asked.
"I could try, but in his physical state, that just might make things worse." Keller said.
"Yes, and the entity would still be in him." Radek said.
"Hook me back up to him again." Rodney said quickly.
Sheppard was getting his ass kicked and badly. When he didn't get hit, evil John's impacted did damage to whatever he did hit. Putting holes in the walls, bending metal bars, breaking bullet proof glass in a single punch. Sheppard at least tried to fight back and got a few punches in, but ultimately failed as he took more hits and was knocked back to the top of the stairs. After three kicks that were meant to keep him down, the fourth one kicked him out through the metal rails and onto the floor a few feet from the Stargate, still without broken bones or internal injuries.
"Get up John. Come on. I'm still having fun. Fight me!" John yelled as he slowly walked up to the curdled up Colonel.
"No." Sheppard said with a groan. "That's what you want."
"It's your fault that Dr. Heightmeyer is dead. It is your fault that McKay is dead!" John yelled in his face.
"Who says I am dead?"
Both looked to see McKay walking down the stairs. It was unusual to see that much defiance on McKay's face, even when John got up and slammed him into the wall beside the stairs.
"You can't win." John said while holding him up on the wall.
"Yes, we can! You're vulnerable to electric shock! That is why I am still alive! You didn't finish the job!" Rodney shouted.
Heavy electrical currents came from various areas and arched across John's body as he backpedaled in pain. Sheppard slowly turned over to sit up and saw the light show.
"What the hell was that?" Sheppard asked.
Evil John was on his knees in pain as more currents hit his body. In reality, Jennifer was shocking Colonel Sheppard with the paddles to keep him alive as his heart beat was very erratic.
Sheppard slowly got off the floor and grabbed his evil twin from the ground roughly before he could fight back or do anything to retaliate. Holding tight and spinning quickly, he tossed him into the event horizon on the third or fourth turn. Seeing him gone, he stumbled back while holding a few aching areas.
"Which John are you?" Rodney asked with fear. "The good you or the bad you?"
"It's me." Sheppard said turning around.
"Me who?"
"Me, me." Sheppard said waving his hands at himself. "Is that the, you, you?"
"I think so." Rodney said a bit unsure as he glanced around. "Okay, this is really weird."
"You're telling me." Sheppard said as he also looked around.
"You know, I thought there'd be more….hot girls." Rodney said disappointed.
"Yeah." Sheppard said agreeing before glancing around again.
"Hmm." Rodney said as he looked around again. "Has it been that long for us that we've forgotten….."
Radek pulled the plug on the attachment to the now glowing crystal in the glass case. Jennifer was pulling the leads and other items off Rodney's body as he woke up. Sheppard woke up more slowly as the nurses were removing the other leads. The two looked at each other and then laid back down tiredly as the three above sighed in relief to see they were safe and alive.
Seeing as it was much safer for Ford to touch the crystals and not be effected, even though they were left in the glasses cases anyway, Carter had him, the next day when he finally woke up, and just fine, take the two glass containers, plus Radek and Ronan, back to the place where they found them to begin with and left them on the ground. Ford wasn't surprised when several more crystals nearby started glowing, either on the trees nearby or on the ground in different formations. Being better safe than sorry, they left quickly and went back to Atlantis, leaving a note in the system that the address for the planet was not safe. This was especially noted in the file after they left in the Jumper and saw the entire forest alive with hundreds of thousands of the crystals glowing as they flew away. Ford was very happy to get out of the isolation suit plus BDU's and back into his normal clothes when they got back.
"I couldn't sleep." Teyla said as she walked up to a table set out on a balcony area that allowed people to see the city and a lot of the ocean.
Sheppard was looking at a book while eating some snack.
"Yeah, me too. Pull up a chair." Sheppard said waving a hand.
"Thanks." Teyla said sitting at the end.
They basically enjoyed the quiet until Rodney came along with a plate.
"I decided to have a late night snack. Ford really knows how to cook…." Rodney said sitting next to Sheppard who nodded.
"Yeah. True for the food, but we couldn't sleep either." Sheppard said.
A couple minutes later, Ronan came up as the group was chatting and sat at the end, joining them. Keller and Carter came and also sat down, followed by Ford holding a tray of triple chocolate cake and a jug of milk with several glasses. Sitting down by Sam, he handed it out to pretty much everyone as they got what they wanted of milk.
"I saw you out there on the pier a few days ago driving around." Sheppard said as he took a drink.
"Drive just right, I can get up over a hundred miles an hour for a few seconds or so before I have to slow down. It's a lot of fun." Ford said with a smile. "No laws or police around to stop me much less any object or people to look out for."
"I was wondering what those black marks were on the different piers." Rodney said.
"You can go from any of the piers to anywhere else in the city by driving. I made a road map in case the need ever arises to have to drive to some point on the city." Ford said.
"You just like the thrill of driving." Carter said.
"You did it a couple of times too." Ford said with a knowing look. "And on your motorcycle."
"True." she said smiling. "I can't deny it is a lot of fun. Helps relieve stress."
"Why do you have those cars? Not that they are bad cars. They are great cars actually considering how old and the value they are worth, but having a daughter, wouldn't you want to drive something more safer, like a minivan or whatever…" Rodney said trailing off. "My sister got one for that reason."
"Safety, we got down. Both our cars are capable of surviving being hit by a train. The occupants, not going to test that. They are not as big as minivans, so more speed and easier to park. I've never been interested in minivans, suburbans or vehicles with a lot of seating. Before I met Ford, I drove a old classic two seater Volvo that my brother gave back a couple years ago and we put into storage in the T.A.R.D.I.S. If anything big was needing to be moved around or taken someplace, we rented U-hauls or whatever." Carter said.
"Besides, our cars look better than any van or truck or other vehicle out there. I was never into trucks and Sam wasn't into bigger vehicles so we stay with what we got." Ford said.
"What about Sally though? She still is in that baby seat, right?" Sheppard asked.
"Both of our cars have enough room for her to sit in the back in one without any problems. If either car is hit with anything other than a high explosive, other than being tossed around, be that rolled, ran over or flipped, the seats and seat belts are designed to maximize passenger safety. I've tested them myself. Worse case, whip lash or hitting your head on the window if the airbags don't deploy first." Ford said.
"Besides, if Sally is in either vehicle, we do everything to avoid speeding and to keep from having an accident." Carter said.
"How many other people have had their cars worked on as well?" Rodney asked.
"Daniel's, Rally because she insisted, but only with the MBS system to keep it protected. Jacks to a point and some things on Teal'cs Durango. Mitchell didn't want me to mess with his Mustang so…" Ford said taking a couple bites of cake.
"I know we're still getting used to each other since you two are the new commanders here, but is there any embarrassing stories you could tell us?" Sheppard asked. "Something you'd be willing to tell us."
"I got one. And I only remember this because we were watching Star Trek the other day." Carter said as Ford, first rolled his eyes seeing it was him she was talking about, then groaned as he realized what memory and promptly laughed for a moment the next.
"You're laughing at a embarrassing moment about yourself?" Keller asked confused.
"It was only embarrassing because I pissed my pants, but I laughed so hard I almost passed out as well. Which to this day, I still enjoyed it even though I had to go back to the SGC to change clothes." Ford said with a chuckle.
"General O'Neill was still a Colonel back then and I was still a Major." Carter said. "And during a mission to check out some people Daniel wanted to talk to, the said people realized quickly that Jack…"
"Jack?" Teyla asked a bit confused.
"Jack is General O'Neill's first name." Ford said.
"Oh, yes. I remember now." Teyla said.
"For the sake of the story, I'll just keep it Jack since I've started calling him that more often than not." Carter said. "So anyway, they realized Jack was the leader over our group and spoke to him more than the rest of us. So, when we first entered the town, the few of them that came to greet us, introduced themselves, and then Jack did the same for us. When Daniel began talking to them, telling them what we were there for, that was when they knew Jack was our leader and they bowed to him as they did this."
She put her ring fingers to her thumbs and turned her left hand over putting her hands together with the two circles that both hands made next to each other with the left hand first.
"While they did this, they said, May peace and long life be blessed upon you and your families." Carter said as Ford cracked up.
"That's not funny enough to make me loose bladder control." Rodney said with a frown.
"It's how Jack responded." Carter said as she did what Jack did, confusing Ronan and Teyla slightly even though they had seen the gesture before as Carter lifted her hand, split her fingers between her ring and middle only, best known as the Vulcan sign in Star Trek. "Ford was barely keeping from laughing at this point, and even I was biting my lip. Teal'c didn't get it at all until we explained it later, and Daniel, well, he was….I'm not sure what he was doing actually."
"What did he say?" Teyla asked as Rodney and Sheppard were snickering as like Ford was.
"Oh, sorry." Carter said lifting her hand again. "Live long and prosper."
Teyla and Ronan was confused, though happy to see their friends laughing. Ford fell out of his chair as did Rodney, but at least no one wet their pants.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand." Teyla said.
"It's from that Star, whatever show Rodney likes, right?" Ronan said as Sheppard nodded before turning to Carter.
"He didn't really did he?" Sheppard asked between breaths as he was laughing as well.
"Oh yeah." Carter said as she wiped her eyes. "I broke my lip open from biting to hard to keep from laughing when they returned the gesture. Ford had totally lost it by then and the people where happy thinking that their welcome made those us laughing a good thing. I took him back to the SGC, both of us laughing so hard it took near twenty minutes to get back when it should have only been ten. We kept falling down on the way there and could barely get each other off the ground."
"I'm just lucky I had my coat, that heavy one, on at the time to have something to cover myself. We were all wearing green BDU's that day, so there was no way to hide that." Ford said as he was wiping his eyes with a hanky.
"My sides were aching for hours." Carter said. "Ford stayed back at the base while I went back. Things worked out well with the people and, other teams went to deal with trade and such."
"How much trouble did you get in?" Sheppard asked.
"I don't recall." Ford said. "I know we got back. I got to the infirmary and I passed out from lack of oxygen. I did have Hercules with me then and he thought it was funny as hell too, so it just made things worse for the two of us."
"Hammond wasn't thrilled and they did try to get Ford to gain some control, but it never really did work." Carter said. "Jack tended to do it a lot after that to see if he could get Ford to not laugh, but usually ended up making him do the opposite."
"I think Jack looked at me like a brother he wished he had. Daniel is nice and a great guy, but doesn't understand certain aspects of Jack like I do." Ford said. "Such as the art of fishing."
"You were a heavy coffee drinker back then. That must have been really embarrassing." Sheppard said.
"I make trips to the bathroom before I go off world, and always have. Quite a few other people do that there, such as Jack." Ford said.
"I was late once to, but I wasn't suppose to be going off world that day, so a couple of us guys watched some games and had a few beers." Sheppard said.
Three hours later of chit chatting, and the cake totally gone, plus milk, everyone was officially tired enough to go to bed with hopefully peaceful dreams. All but Ford however, who finished up some work for Sam for the day that she didn't get to, before he was finally able to get a good five hours in beside her before the sun would be waking them up.
