CHAPTER 115
EPISODE……………….TABULA RASA page 20
McKay sat in his office, looking around in complete confusion. He wasn't sure where he was, why he was even there and worse yet, he wasn't sure who he was either. Confusion at just about everything and anything conflicted his thoughts as he looked around as his unfamiliar and puzzling surroundings. The left arm of his coat was rolled up and there was writing on his arm, that he was unsure how it got there. There was also a tablet with writing on it in front of him on the table he noticed his left arm was tied to the leg of.
"Hey! Hello, is anyone there?!" Rodney shouted loudly. "Look, I need some help in here! Wherever here is?"
He tried to untied the plastic tie as he kept glancing around and then noticed the tablet in front of him having a yellow sticky pad with the words, press here, near a button. Unsure but somewhat thankful he could read what it said even though it made little sense, he slowly reached out and pressed it, seeing the screen of some spinning SGA thing changed to show him on the screen talking.
"Alright, look. I know you are probably panicking right now, but there is no time for that." Rodney said from the recording. "I'm sure you are wondering who tied you to the desk. Truth is, you did it yourself, I mean me, us. Point is, I did it to ensure that you got this message. It would take too long to give you a full explanation and you wouldn't remember anyway, so you'll just have to trust me. Now, you're going to find a knife taped to the underside of your chair. Find it and cut yourself loose."
He reached under and did find a knife which he quickly cut the tie off as the recording kept going.
"Now, I need you to listen. It is vitally important that you find this woman, or this man."
Two pictures came up, one of Teyla and the other of the General.
"I don't know where they are, but they can help. More the General than her, technically speaking, but he hasn't responded to any com calls, if I even did so, hard to remember, but nor has anyone else recently. Try checking the mess hall for her or the brig possibly. Maybe even in the command center where the General might be. Whatever you do, don't trust anyone else but them. Find either of them fast and do it quickly. If you don't, hundreds of people are going to die. Including you." the recording said as Rodney pointed at him from the screen.
The screen then changed to show the picture of the two side by side and their names just under their heads, which only showed the picture of them from the chest level up. Even more confused than before, and more scared for his life than before since he now was told he was dying, he could only glance around in uncertainty at his situation.
14 HOURS EARLIER……..
McKay walked through the corridors with a small smile as he headed for the botany section of the city. He nodded to a couple people that passed by as he entered the room and headed for a particular lady that was looking over a plant on a table.
"Katie?"
"Hey, Rodney!" Katie said walking up to him as he entered.
"I heard you were back and I hadn't seen you for awhile so…"
"Yeah, I know." Katie said with a bright smile that matched his. "We've had this whole new mainland to explore and I've been bringing back samples all week."
"So I see. Find anything interesting?" Rodney asked while glancing around.
"Oh, it's all pretty similar to what we found back on Lantia." Katie said. "But we found a few new species. Oh, that reminds me. I have a surprise for you."
He followed her to a table nearby as she grabbed a small potted plant that had what sort of liked like a very small spined cactus with a gray flowery thing on top.
"I found this guy hiding behind some shrubbery."
"What is that?" Rodney asked with some interest.
"Well, it doesn't have a name yet, but I am thinking of calling it….Rondeyana Villosa. After you."
"Really?" Rodney asked surprised as he took the plant. "You can do that?"
"Yeah." Katie said as he turned it around looking at it. "Oh, be very careful, the bristles can pierce the skin much more than a normal cactus can."
"I'll keep that in mind." Rodney said holding the plant more near the bottom. "Anyway, I came here wondering if I could pull you away from all of this so we could have some lunch?"
"Oh, I would love to Rodney! The General's cooking is the best!" Katie said happily, but it went away quickly as she sighed. "But I can't at the moment. I haven't been feeling well lately. I might be coming down with something. A headache that comes and goes, plus a few dizzy spells. I'm going to the infirmary to get checked out."
"Oh…um, I'll come with you." Rodney said a bit unsure.
"Oh, that's okay Rodney and greatly appreciated. But I know how you hate being around sick people."
"It's…fine. Really, I don't mind."
"Okay, thanks. That is so sweet." Katie said happily.
"After you then."
He set the plant back on the table as he followed her out of the room while rubbing his hands on his jacket. The two got there with no problems as Keller was finishing with someone and put her stethoscope back around her neck.
"Oh Doctor Brown, I see you brought my number one patient." Keller said.
"We're not here for me this time, I'm here for her." Rodney said while pointing.
"Well, this is different." Keller said. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Well, I have had this really bad headache that won't go away." Katie said as Keller was feeling her lymph nodes around her neck. "And I've been feeling really dizzy lately."
"When did you first notice it?"
"Since this morning. Why?" Katie asked as Jennifer lead her to a different area of the infirmary.
"Well, you're the fourth person to come in with those exact same symptoms." Keller said as they walked by another bed. "And the second person from the botany department."
"Gerald? Hey." Katie said with a wave as she noticed him in a bed nearby.
"Who's that?" Rodney asked.
"Gerald Baxter, he's on my team. You've met him before." Katie said then whispered. "He has the bug collection."
"Oh, right. How could I forget?" Rodney said thinking back quickly. "The General sort of freaked out when the man tried to show him that collection."
"Yeah. I remember that too." Katie said with a laugh. "And it wasn't sort of, at least not until he showed the spider collection."
"Oh yeah." Rodney said as he remember hearing about the scream when the said man put the under glass collection almost in Ford's face who quickly freaked out even though the spiders were dead.
"Okay, I'm going to need to take some blood from you Doctor Brown. Same for you Rodney."
"What?! Why?" Rodney asked with fear.
"Because you have been with her and seeing as she is the fifth person with these symptoms, I wouldn't be surprised if you came in later with the same feelings. Would you rather me check you now or later?" Keller asked.
"Now works." Rodney said quickly.
"Sorry." Katie said as she rubbed her head.
"Not your fault. Whatever this is didn't start with you." Rodney muttered as Jennifer lead them to a couple beds.
Carter was wearing her black shirt that had the sleeves rolled up and green pants instead of the normal leather SGA outfit that Ford liked seeing. It was a rather hot day outside so she wore something else instead, to his disappointment.
He, being a Time Lord, didn't notice the weather change much and usually never did. However, unless he had a mission or had to do something that involved danger, he didn't wear his heavy leather coat much anymore and just walked around in his suit. Today, he was in a white suit, which got him a few looks and comments about Boss Hogg only being able to pull off the effect. At the moment, he was outside on one of the piers with Sally, enjoying some target practice. At least he would be enjoying it if it wasn't for the fact that Sally was a better shot than he was.
Back inside, Sheppard was walking with Carter as they were coming back to the command center. He was in his normal SGA outfit with the shirt open and in a black T-shirt underneath. A lot of people in the base were in other states of wearing as little as possible per regulation seeing as the sun was shining down on the city and to save energy, they just opened a lot of windows throughout the city to let the ocean air breeze through. In a few spots of the city, there was a small wind tunnel effect. Not enough to blow people around, but enough to knock certain objects and papers everywhere if you weren't careful.
"Major Dorsey and his team just returned from M6R-214." Carter said as they entered the gate room area. "They examined the debris field around the planet and found one, possible two Replicator ships. Thankfully also destroyed enough there was no reassembling possible."
"I guess the Wraith got organized and started hitting back harder." Sheppard said.
"I suppose that is the case. We certainly aren't doing it and I doubt those people you met that took that Ancient ship are out there fighting." Carter said. "Considering what you said about their ships, they run more often than not to avoid fights because it's so hard to repair and even harder to replace lost ships."
"I'm still surprised that the I.O.A. didn't have the General's head for letting them have that ship. Which I seriously doubt is even in fighting condition." Sheppard said.
"He told them it was junk. I backed him up after seeing the results of the test, which were partially forged." Carter said as they entered the command center.
"Well, since the only weapons on that ship are the drones and what we have needs to stay in the city, I can see why he argued that point rather strongly of the main reason the ship was no good to us." Sheppard said.
"That, and the fact we'd have to use parts from or for the city to repair the ship anyway. Even though I am sure that we could have retrofitted it with our technology and even got the Asguard weapons on it, it would take a good year or more to get it battle ready. Plus, it did stand out and was unable to cloak, so the Wraith might have spotted it easily if we kept it." Carter said.
"Plus the fact there is very few people that have the gene therapy that could run the ship here anyway." Sheppard said with a shrug. "We usually need them here for the Jumpers in an emergency."
"I think that was the biggest thing that got the I.O.A. off his and our backs. And gaining those people as allies probably helped a lot too." Carter said.
"General Carter, come in please." Keller said over the com.
"I'm here." Carter said touching her headpiece. "You do remember I said you could just call me Sam or Carter since Ford prefers General?"
"Sorry Sam."
"What's up Jennifer?"
"I've got bad news. There is a situation brewing and I've imposed a quarantine on the infirmary level."
"What's going on?" Carter asked concerned.
"Eleven patients have shown up in the last hour complaining of headaches and dizziness." Keller said as she walked through the infirmary that had many other doctors and nurses moving or working on people as she talked. "Eight of them are from the survey teams that just got back from the mainland."
"Any idea what is wrong with everyone?"
"I ran some blood test and found some bacteria I have never seen before. I'm going to run it against the Ancient database." Keller stated while pointing at a medical tool one of the nurses was looking for.
"What do you want us to do?" Sheppard asked over the line.
"Well, you could have the General or K-9, maybe both look the database over for me. He can come down here and get the info I have so far and leave without fear of contamination. Plus, I want everyone that has been to the mainland report to Doctor Neves in the auxiliary med lab for testing." Keller said as another doctor walked up with a pad.
"I'll get him right away. Keep us posted."
"I will." Keller said signing off. "What is it?"
"More test results. You and I are both infected. And so is Doctor McKay." the man stated as he showed her the tablet. "The good news is, the most advanced cases are only showing mild flu like symptoms. Maybe it won't get any worse than that."
"Let's hope so." Keller said hitting her com link to report to Carter that McKay was in the infirmary as well.
Ford was outside with a pair of metallic blue energy pistols, just like Ronan carried. He was able to reverse engineer and create quite a few of the weapons easily, so there was a lot of them in the armory now, not only in Atlantis, but also in the T.A.R.D.I.S. Ronan was just happy that his wasn't taken apart for the job and that he now had more energy cells for extra ammo. Ford kept his normal personal cannons behind his back like always and had the two energy pistols under each arm in special holsters. On either side of the belt that had his extra clips for his cannons, he had made four small pockets that held extra energy cells for the pistols, two on each side. He also made a energy gun for Sally as well, that was the size of a small .22 pistol. And it was only capable of stunning so, on the off chance that she did shoot herself, there was no permanent damage.
"General, what are…" Sheppard began as he walked up on the large pier and saw him fire both guns at a few targets that were a several dozen feet away.
He was surprised when he saw Sally fire a shot and hit a target that blinked as she hit it dead on. Sheppard was shocked that Ford missed his targets though since the man rarely missed.
"Dammit!" Ford said in frustration.
"I hit mine daddy!"
"You're doing much better than I am." Ford said kissing her forehead. "You obviously take after your mother in that regard."
"She has a gun?" Sheppard asked with concern.
"It only stuns Sheppard. She wanted to learn and it's better to teach the fundamentals and safety than allowing them to do it themselves behind your back. No offense to Jack, but that may be the reason why his child shot himself." Ford said firing both guns again and missing. "God I suck! There is so little recoil that I can barely feel it fire!"
"I heard about your problems with energy weapons. Can I try?" Sheppard asked.
He handed it over and Sheppard took aim. He was surprised when the target was blown away instead of lighting up like Sally's did a moment later.
"Nice." Ford grumbled as he took the weapon back. "I have to re-learn how to fire a weapon."
"What are you doing wrong?" Sheppard asked.
Ford quickly pointed both weapons and fire, only to miss once again. He gave them a spin before holstered them and then reached behind him.
"Sally…" Ford said waving one gun before putting back in the holster.
"I'm ready daddy." Sally said putting on her eat muffler.
Sheppard put his fingers in his ears as Ford quickly pulled both his personal cannons and blew both targets away, dead center without aiming.
"I don't even have to aim with these. I know when to fire and barely have to aim." Ford said twirling his guns before putting them back and getting the spent shells. "The heaviness and recoil make a difference for me. These energy pistols, while looking really cool, don't do me a damn bit of good against an enemy at long range."
Missing once again, he sighed and shook his head.
"How can I help you John?" Ford asked with a sigh.
"You're sure that she only can stun someone?"
"Yes. If she accidentally shoots herself, no harm happens. Better she has something to defend herself with if something happens and we aren't there nor K-9 being there or anyone else. Plus the other reasons I stated." Ford said taking aim with both guns and then firing.
"You hit them daddy!" Sally said excitedly as she clapped her hands.
"Only if I aim, oh well. Gives me something to pass the massive time I have." Ford said putting the pistols away as he turned to Sheppard. "So?"
"Oh, Sam's looking for you. We have a medical problem that needs your and K-9's help. The infirmary has been put into quarantine with over a dozen people sick. Including McKay."
"What the hell happened to cause that?" Ford asked as he picked Sally up.
"We're not sure, but most of the people effected came from the mainland."
"I went over there with Sally and looked around. Sam hasn't been there yet." Ford said.
"You feeling okay princess?" Sheppard asked.
"I feel great!" Sally said with glee.
"Whatever this sickness is, I doubt she'll get it. She hasn't been sick at all yet." Ford said as they entered the city and transported back to the command center.
"What have you been doing outside? You weren't at any of the weapon placement areas being made." Carter said as she sat on the edge of her deck.
"Target practicing." Ford said setting Sally down.
"I'm a better shot than daddy is mommy!" Sally said hugging Sam's legs.
"That's great…wait, what?!" Carter said hugging her head and then sitting up quickly.
"This is the gun I made her." Ford said pulling the small gun out and handing it to her. "It only stuns and I talked to you about this a few days after the incident with John being kidnapped."
"I honestly forgot. Sorry princess." Carter said patting her head with reassurance. "You just remember to keep that gun pointed at targets or enemies, not yourself or anyone here."
"I know mommy. Follow the rules of gun safety or someone will get hurt." Sally said as Sam picker her up and set the small gun on her desk. "I don't want to hurt anyone but bad guys."
"Hopefully you won't have to deal with that sort of problem until you're much older." Carter said as Sally nodded with a smile. "Okay, Daddy needs to help Jennifer out with something and you have school to do."
"Can I do it here?" Sally asked.
"Sure. You can use mommies desk for now." Carter said sitting her in the seat. "Ford, go get her laptop and then go help Jennifer."
"Okay. I guess that means I need to put on one of those quarantine suits?"Ford grumbled.
"That or burn your clothes and get new ones after you help her out."
"I hate those things." Ford muttered as he started out. "Wait, I don't have medical expertise. Beyond CPR and First Aid…"
"She needs you to look up info in the Ancient database about some bacteria that is unknown. Take K-9 with you to help get the search done quicker. McKay is also sick and you know how he is if someone isn't fast at fixing something."
"Yeah, he'll probably hang over your shoulder the entire time General." Sheppard said with a smile.
"Oh joy." Ford muttered as he headed out. "I may call you if something needs your help that involves the gene Sheppard."
His smile went away quickly as he dropped his arms.
"But you have the gene better than I do General!" Sheppard said following him out quickly as Sam chuckled.
14 hours or so later, McKay left the room he was in, still confused and scared, carrying the tablet with him as he wandered around lost.
"Hello?" Rodney asked while walking through an empty area that had an opening that showed the floor beneath nearby.
Instead of going down the stairs he found close by, he went another direction and kept looking around, calling out every so often. Entering a room that had a few armless sofa like chairs, which had branching out corridor pathways, he noticed a man sitting nearby against the wall.
"Hey…" Rodney said walking over and touching the man's shoulder.
He fell over dead as Rodney jumped back quickly and then spun around as he heard someone behind him.
"Hey! Who are you and what are you doing here?" Radek asked with a metal pole in hand.
"I don't know." Rodney said walking forward and then stopping as the man raised the pole.
"You're not a solider?" Radek asked.
"If you say so." Rodney said unsure.
Radek, also confused like him, lowered the black pole and waved a hand as he started walking away.
"Come with me, it is safer."
"What's going on here?" Rodney asked as he followed.
"It's the soldiers. They are after us. If they catch us, they will take us away." Radek said urgently as they jogged.
"Wait, who are the soldiers and what is this place?!"
"Would you shut up?! The soldiers will hear us." Radek said harshly in a whisper.
"What the hell is going on here?! Why can't I remember anything?!"
"I don't know. No one can." Radek said quickly.
"No one can? Wait, you've seen others…" Rodney asked feeling hope rise in him.
"Yes. One or two. Apart from the soldiers." Radek stated as he was looking around.
"Wait…" Rodney said turning the tablet around. "Was either of them those people?"
"No." Radek said shaking his head.
"I have to find them." Rodney said looking around a bit franticly.
"Why?"
"I don't know. It's just important that I do."
"Look, the soldiers probably have them by now."
"Can we ask them?"
"Are you crazy? If the soldiers see you, they shoot you and take you away!"
"Again with the taking away…" Rodney said with a sigh of frustration.
"Look, come with me and hide. It is much safer…"
"I can't. I have to find them."
"Suit yourself then." Radek said as he walked away quickly muttering in Czech.
10 HOURS EARLIER…………….
Many people were working in the infirmary and the number of people sick went up considerably. Ford was among the different people in there in isolation suits, helping where he could. K-9 was looking through the database and had came across a few similar references to what they were looking for, but not the exact thing as of yet.
"It started suddenly and then just, stopped." Rodney said to Jennifer as she was working with some test tubes.
"Well, I appreciate you telling me." Keller said while patting his arm lightly.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" Rodney asked with frustration.
"To be honest, I don't see how it is relevant."
"It might be a new symptom." Rodney stated.
"I don't see how a tingling sensation in your knees would be important." Keller said as she typed away at a laptop nearby. "Seeing as you are the only one experiencing it."
"So far! I'm just say, we don't know anything about this new disease."
"Rodney, the best thing you can do is try to relax and let me do my work."
He sighed and walked away, not seeing her shake her head. Katie took a drink from a lady in a isolation suit and said thanks as Rodney walked up.
"What did Doctor Keller say?"
"Oh, she is going to ah, take it into consideration. She thanked me for my input and then…" Rodney said taking the drink from her as she tried to put it on a table nearby. "So, how are you doing?"
"I'm doing okay."
"Well, Doctor Keller has her team working pretty hard, so I'm sure they are doing a bunch of stuff." Rodney said smiling at her. "They'll come up with a way to beat this thing in no time. Even got the General down here helping. And his dog to."
She nodded and then frowned as she rubbed her head.
"Seriously, are you okay? Is it the headache?"
"Yeah. It's getting worse. I'd even call it a migraine by now as I've heard others say." Katie said with a grimace.
"Can I get you anything?" Rodney asked as she rubbed her temples.
"Yeah, can you get the nurse to get me some tea."
"Um, what's wrong with this one?" Rodney asked picking up the cup.
She looked at it confused and then took it.
"Oh, right." Kaite said taking a sip.
The two and several other people looked as they saw someone in a isolation suit fall down with a metal rolling set of trays that had a lot of items on it that now where scattered across the floor.
"Marie, are you alright?" Keller asked as she ran up and helped her to her feet with a couple other people.
"Yeah, I just got dizzy for a moment." Marie said shaking her head. "Phew. I'm fine now."
"Are you saying that the disease has breached hazmat protocol?" Carter asked as she paced inside her office while watching Sally concentrate on some problem on her laptop.
Sheppard was standing nearby as he watched her pace and think.
"I'm not entirely sure." Sheppard said.
"It's possible she could have been previously exposed. That would mean that this thing could be further into the general population as well. I have off duty medical personal out conducting random blood test around the city to get a sense of where we are at." Carter said. "I had myself checked recently as well and thankfully, I'm okay."
"That's good to hear. Are we sure it came from the mainland?" Sheppard asked.
"All the test on the plants and soil samples in the botany department came back negative, but it still seems likely to be the starting place." Carter said.
"What about the database? Have you learned anything yet?" Sheppard said.
"K-9 found some similar references, but none of the other symptoms have showed up yet for those references. There is a thousand or more diseases, viruses and other illnesses he said that are in the database that he is looking through while cross referencing to see if it may be a new strain of something that mutated." Keller said.
"Let's hope something is found that we can fix." Carter said hopefully.
"I certainly hope so. On that note, I recommend no more gate travel until we figure out what this is. I have no idea what it is doing, how far it will go, if it is even fatal and how it is even spreading." Sheppard suggested.
"Understood. I'll have gate operations shut down instantly. Anything else you need to report or want?" Carter said.
"Well, as much as the General is trying to help, I think he'd be better off in the kitchen. Several people are hungry down here and, quite frankly, feeling better in any sense, does help even the sickest of patients." Keller said.
"I can understand that more than you know. He makes really good homemade chicken soup that gets rid of the flu and cold quickly. Probably all the garlic he adds since he said it was something he was taught by a grandmother living back in the fifties. Have him leave at the earliest convenience." Carter said.
"Do you think he could make us some steak?" Sheppard asked as she signed off.
"Maybe. I could go for one myself." Carter said as her stomach rumbled. "Come on princess, time to go eat."
"I want cake!" Sally exclaimed while being picked up.
"God, if it wasn't for the fact Ford loves chocolate so much, I'd swear I slept with Jack."
"I thought General O'Neill's favorite type of cake was vanilla." Sheppard said.
"It is, but Ford makes a really great chocolate cake than even Jack can't pass up. We had it a few weeks back during that story of Ford peeing himself."
"Oh yeah. That was a good cake. Wish there was some." Sheppard said with a sigh that Carter couldn't help but echo.
About an hour or so later, he had made several big meals for everyone and some special people. Rodney was exceptional because of his citrus allergy and a few people had to stay away from anything that had nuts, while one person couldn't have anything that was dairy at all. Ford found it a wonder that the person was even in Atlantis much less, serving their country with that problem.
McKay was eating rather well from his tray as Katie was still asleep. There was a tray nearby for her next to her tea that was now cold, covered to keep warm.
"Hey…" Rodney said smiling as she looked at him. "How you feeling?"
"I…I don't know." Katie said really unsure.
"Oh. Well, the General cooked for pretty much everyone and even made some of your favorites from what I understand." Rodney said pointing behind her at the table. "Still warm if you want it. Oh, I also asked Doctor Keller about your friend….um…"
She looked around confused as he kept talking around the steak he was chewing on.
"Doctor Baxter, yeah, that was his name! She said he was currently asleep and that his fever was down."
"Who?" Katie asked very confused.
"Doctor Baxter, that guy on your team that collects bugs and freaks the General out." Rodney stated with a small grimace.
She looked at him confused and glanced around.
"Katie?" Rodney asked very worried.
"Where am I?"
"You're in the infirmary, I brought you here because you didn't feel well."
"Who are you?"
He was more afraid for her than himself and sad as he quickly got up and went after Keller.
PRESENT…..
Rodney walked down a hallway after looking around and seeing that it was clear.
"Hey, hold it right there!" Lorne yelled.
He quickly turned as several soldiers came at him.
"I don't want to cause any trouble…" Rodney began saying as Lorne shot him with a stunner.
"Put him with the others." Lorne said as they turned him over and then picked him up, leaving the tablet behind on the floor.
As the men were carrying him off, Lorne popped a couple pills with another guy and followed behind quickly.
8 HOURS EARLIER……
"Well, what's the word?" Sheppard asked as he entered her office and found her alone.
"We got the results back from the random test. Six different people working in six different areas of the city came back positive. Plus, my mom has whatever the hell this is. At the moment, dad and Sally are with her in the T.A.R.D.I.S. They'll be safer there and less worry for me."
"Being in command and a parent is hard isn't it?"
"Not really. Gotten used to it, in a way. We're just lucky that the numbers aren't higher. Then again, the entire city is probably exposed and it could just take time for each person to be effected."
"How'd your mom get sick?"
"Probably when she and dad came to the mess hall to eat with us earlier. We know it isn't the food and it isn't from the plants or soil. Whatever is causing this, we still have no clue." Carter said frustrated at the mystery.
"I feel just fine."
"So do I. I almost hate to say this, but I doubt I'll get sick. I haven't gotten sick since that heart transplant. Another test was done on me and I'm still negative for whatever this is."
"Lucky you."
"I have Keller, or someone on her team, looking at my blood work to see if there is anything that she can find that might help make a cure, if I am immune as I think. Dad had his blood taken as well along with Sally's since they seem to be okay. The only reason I think dad is okay is because he was had Selmak, but I don't know for sure."
"Did you contact Stargate Command yet?"
"Yeah, I called them a couple hours ago, shortly after Jennifer told me to."
"Sam, this Jennifer…"
"Speaking of her. What's new Doctor?" Carter said over her earpiece.
"I'm sending you scans of Katie Brown as well as three other patients that are showing signs of amnesia. All of them show effected cells in the medial temporal lobe." Keller said as the two turned to look at a large plasma screen that was in her office by a window that now showed the results. "It looks like the bacteria is causing these cells to produce a hormone that interferences with the brains ability to access episodic memory."
"How bad are we talking?" Sheppard asked.
"It seems to vary from patient to patient. But it seems the longer they go without treatment, the worse it gets. Pretty soon, they won't be able to even remember their own names." Keller said with worry since she knew she had it as well.
"You said the first signs were headaches and dizziness." Carter said.
"Right."
"So, how long before the first symptoms did it take for the memory loss to take effect?" Carter asked.
"Again, it seems to vary, but you're looking at an average of about six hours."
"What about you doc, showing any signs?" Sheppard asked.
"Unfortunately yes. The headache started about half an hour ago." Keller said.
"Did you tell K-9 about the new symptoms."
"No." they heard her say with a tone like she berated herself. "I forget he was even in here until you mentioned it. He's stationary in a corner and so quiet, a few people have almost tripped over him. I'll let him know now. I just hope he finds something soon, because I think I'm about to get swamped very quickly."
"The mess hall. We can clear it our and make it into a temporary ward." Sheppard said.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Consolidate everyone in one place for treatment." Keller said.
"You set it up Colonel." Carter said.
He nodded and left quickly as she rubbed her head.
"I hope to god this headache is from stress." Carter muttered and then touched her earpiece. "Ford, get up here."
PRESENT……
Rodney awoke to find himself on a makeshift cot in the mess hall. As he sat up, he saw there was a lot of people inside the large room with him. Some sitting around, others staring off into space and others laying around asleep. Everyone had a name tag stuck to their chest and he wondered where his went or if he even had one once.
"Where am I?" Rodney muttered looking around.
"You were brought in recently and we all hoped you could tell us." a lady with the name tag Jennifer Keller said.
"Who are you people?" Rodney asked.
"We don't know that either." a man with the name Fred, wearing a white lab coat and causal clothes underneath said.
"None of us can remember anything." Keller said.
"Were is my name tag?"
"Oh, that's what these are?" Keller asked as she looked at hers. "We thought they were something else entirely."
"You can't read it?" Rodney asked.
"No." many people said.
"What is your name?" Keller asked.
"I don't know." Rodney said in confusion.
"Did you see anything out there?" a different guy asked.
"No, nothing but empty hallways." Rodney said standing. "How did I get in here?"
"The soldiers brought you." Keller said.
"Why?"
"They bring everyone here. They say it is for our own protection." another scientist guy said as Rodney looked at the panel next to the door. "Don't waste your time, it won't open."
"Why are they doing this to us?" Rodney asked with fear. "And why can't anyone remember?!"
All he got was a lot of head shakes.
"Wait, I had something with me…." Rodney said as he started looking around the cot he was on. "It was….shaped like a square, I think a square is the right word and….had a man and woman on the picture. It was a computer! Yeah, a computer!"
"It wasn't with you when they brought you in." Keller said. "Why?"
"I have to find those people. A woman…" Rodney said thinking hard as she snapped his fingers. "Teyla! She had dark skin, but not black like that guy. And the other is a man. He um…."
Rodney glanced around a lot as he thought, in hopes of seeing either of the people he was looking for. To his misfortune, he saw no one that looked like them.
Some hours ago………..
Sheppard and Ronan were moving beds into the mess hall as others were moving things out or around to get the place ready to accommodate the many people that were sick.
"I thought this city had some sort of lockdown to prevent stuff like that." Ronan stated.
"It does." Sheppard said as they set the bed near another couple by the wall that were ready for patients.
"Well, what the hell happened?"
"You're asking me? I just shoot things and give orders to people. The scientific stuff is Rodney's department." Sheppard said then grabbed his forehead.
"You got a headache too?"
"Yeah. I guess it was just a matter of time." Sheppard said with a sigh.
"John?" Teyla asked with concern as she walked up.
"I'm fine, for the moment." Sheppard said patting her arm as he walked away.
"Hey, so how you doing?" Ronan asked as he sat down.
"I am feeling fine." Teyla said.
"Any symptoms?" Ronan asked.
"No, none yet."
"Me either." Ronan said glancing around.
"What is it?"
"How do they know we are all infected? Besides the General, that Carter lady and their daughter. My blood wasn't part of the sampling that was tested."
"Nor was mine." Teyla said as she realized it as well. "Even so, it is likely we were exposed."
"Maybe being exposed doesn't mean you've got it. Maybe it effects everyone differently. All I know is I feel great."
"So do I." Teyla said thinking. "Perhaps it is because we are not like them."
"How so?"
"They are not from this galaxy."
"Good point. But neither is that Carter lady either."
"True, but I think we should alert Doctor Keller to this."
"Good idea." Ronan said getting up.
"I will continue to help here."
He nodded and walked down to the infirmary quickly, even though there was quite a few people to walk through.
"Hey, Doctor Keller. I need to talk to you."
"I'm kinda busy right now." Keller said as she looked over a patient in the bed.
"I'm not sick. And neither is Teyla."
"Well, if you weren't exposed before, you just blew it by coming in here." Keller said as she put her stethoscope back around her neck.
"No, I know I have been exposed. Me and Teyla have been working all day with people that have been coming in sick. But I feel great."
"You think you might have some immunity, like the General and Sam does?" Keller said as she felt his glands.
"Maybe something more than what they have."
"Okay, I'll need a sample of your blood to confirm."
"Take as much as you need." Ronan said following her.
PRESENT………..
Seeing as he couldn't get the door open or figure it out, he sat back down on his cot, especially after finding no one in the room was the people he was looking for. Using a black marker, he was writing things on either arm as Keller walked up. It had crossed his mind as interesting earlier when he started telling people their names and then when more than one person came back asking him what the tag was and what it said because others knew what it was on them, but forgot what it said or couldn't read it still.
"What are you doing?"
"Jen." Rodney said seeing her name tag. "Um…I have to remember important things so I'm writing them down. I sometimes remember why they are important and then it goes away. I just have to hope I can remember what this says before it gets worse and I end up like everyone else and can't read."
"Oh." Keller said as he got up. "What are you doing?"
"We need to get out of here. Hey everyone, listen up! I need help finding the quickest way out of here!"
"What for?" some guy asked.
"Whatever is wrong with us, it is obvious that we aren't getting help. And this…." Rodney said thinking. "That woman…."
"Is her name on your arm?" Keller asked.
"Yes. Teyla! I need to find her and….um, some guy named the General, I think that's his name." Rodney said looking at his arms. "I think they have…..the um…"
"Cure, I think that's the word." one of the nurses said.
"Yes, the cure! They know the cure! We need to get out and find them fast!" Rodney exclaimed.
"What about the soldiers?" someone asked.
"We'll just have to, get past them." Rodney stated. "Nothing is happening with us staying in here."
"Maybe they don't know anything and have us in here because they are also lost." someone said.
EARLIER…………..
Rodney was walking up to the command center when John appeared behind him.
"They let you out?"
"Oh ha, ha. Very funny. You're out and infected." Rodney stated.
"True unfortunately. Why are you out anyway if you were there in the beginning when this started?" Sheppard asked.
"Jennifer felt it was pointless for me to be in there since the second test of blood results came back positive and I probably might be better help than sitting in the infirmary doing nothing." Rodney said.
"You were bugging her weren't you?"
"Absolutely not. I was sitting with Katie and she told me to just leave and try to go help."
"Yeah, right."
"Seriously! You can ask her!"
"I will." Sheppard said as he rubbed his head.
"Still got the headache?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Same." Rondey said snapping his fingers. "Five bucks says that you loose your memory first."
"You're on." Sheppard said as they entered the Command Center.
"That is rather absurd guys." Ford muttered as Sam wrote off on some tablet. "Betting on the sickness?"
"Maybe we'll be able to concentrate harder on keeping our memories, did you think about that?" Rodney stated.
"Keep a watch on us both and let us know who wins." Sheppard said as the General shook his head.
"Ah, children." Carter said smiling at the three.
"I am not part of this." Ford stated with his hands up.
"This coming from the man who says he isn't growing up?" Carter asked.
"What's the report?" Ford asked while avoiding her question with a small smile.
"I thought as much." Carter said with a knowing smile. "Okay, we obviously have enough food and water for everyone, plus blankets, but not enough beds to go around unless we confine people to their quarters. But we can't do that because of the paranoia after total memory loss. We'll have to make do with what we can and put the worst case people in the beds and have everyone else on the cots and floors."
"We should have all non essential personal report to the mess hall so we don't have people wandering the hallways with no memories and such." Rodney said.
"Good idea. I got something to go with that. We can get those sticky pads and put our names on them so at least we know who's who better and check people off the list as we get name tags on them." Ford said.
"I'll have someone get on that right away. The name tag thing could help." Carter said as they entered her office.
"I'll call Lorne and have his team start doing that. Where would we find the name tag thingies anyway?" Sheppard asked.
"Try one of the storage units, no…Doctor Keller has a bunch of them for putting on urine sample cups." Ford said. "Since the worst cases are there and people need to move out of that area, they can start there and help move those people to the mess hall."
"Good plan." Sheppard said.
"Doctor Neves gave me these because I also have a headache. No other symptoms have shown up yet and I think it is just stress that is causing my problem." Carter said as she handed over a bottle. "The aspirin I took seems to be helping so you guys take these. He thinks it slows the effects of the memory loss. It's just a stopgap, but it may buy us those few hours we need."
John and McKay took the pills as needed quickly, especially after Ford told Rodney to not worry about any allergy reactions.
"Here's a couple more bottles. Hand them out to Lorne and his men as well when you give him that message." Carter said.
"Sure thing." Sheppard said.
"One other thing, besides the fact that I had Zelenka remove the control crystal for the gate, don't go overboard on the pills for that stupid bet." Carter said.
"Good call. Spreading this disease or whatever it is would be a bad idea." Sheppard said. "Um, where is the crystal, just in case."
"My pocket." Ford said as he showed it and put it back. "I'm immune therefore…"
"Yeah, we get the picture." Rodney said. "What do we do if everyone looses their memories?"
"Sam and I are immune, so we would take over doing everything to find a cure."
"Why aren't you down there helping Jennifer?" Sheppard asked.
"Medicine is not my field. I can pronounce the words, but remembering what many of the medicines do, forget it." Ford said.
"Hopefully Keller will find a cure before everyone has lost their memories. Just raising Sally is hard enough, talking to a bunch of people who might as well be confused babies would be more than I could take." Carter said as she rubbed her head.
The two only smiled lightly in understanding as they left.
"I'm going to make a city wide announcement." Ford said.
"Something uplifting?" Carter asked.
"Hopefully…" Ford said rubbing her shoulder before going to the control room.
Going to the wrong console, he gave it a look and then moved to the other one that someone was at that had the gate controls.
"Can I help you General?"
"Nope, found it." Ford said hitting the button. "Attention everyone, the is General Ford Carter speaking. I am broadcasting this message to everyone in the city. We need everyone that isn't helping the doctors find the cure for whatever this problem is to go straight to the mess hall. If you have forgotten what that is or where that is, find someone else and go with them or find a solider who will lead you there. It will be much easier on those of us that is working on this problem if we aren't trying to find missing people wandering the hall in confusion. Hopefully we'll get this figured out very soon and we can all go back to our daily routine."
He repeated the message once more and then gave directions of the transporter for anyone that might be confused and what to push on the screen.
"Hey, I thought we were moving everyone to the mess hall." Ronan said as a patient was wheeled out.
"He is our most advanced case." Keller said looking at a unconscious patient that some doctor was checking over. "And his vitals are too unstable for him to move. What can I do for you?"
"I'm not showing any signs of the disease, remember?" Ronan said while also noticing she was sweating rather heavily like many of the other sick people.
"Oh, it is possible you could have some immunity." Keller said checking his glands again.
"Doc…"
"Stay here, I'm going to take a sample of your blood…" Keller said as she started to walk away.
"Doc, you've done that already."
"Damn, it is happening to me isn't it." Keller said with worry.
The sound of a heart monitor crashing caught their attention quickly.
"Doctor, he is convulsing!" the lady near the man yelled.
She rushed over quickly and stuttered for a moment before remembering the medicine needed and how much. The nurse turned to get it as the beeping monitor got worse sounding.
"He's in V-Fib! I need a crash cart!" Keller yelled.
Ronan quickly moved as some man came forward with the needed device. She tried it at 200 and then at three hundred. When the monitor flat lined and then the injection along with another shock failed, she had little choice but to call it.
PRESENT…………
Everyone jumped as they heard the door knocked on and then it opened to show a bunch of soldiers, also with name tags and a man in a suit standing there with a bigger name tag. It said General Ford Carter, your boss, the man in charge, commanding officer, the big kuhuna, whatever you need to call me to realize I am the leader of this city.
"Um, there he is sir." one of the men said while pointing.
"It's General, not….oh, why do I even bother." Ford muttered as he rubbed his tired eyes. "Can you go get him Rebecca?"
"Sure General." Rebecca Chambers said as she entered.
"What is going on? Who are you?" someone asked.
"Why are we in here?!"
"Why do you want him?"
He waved his hands and whistled as they all started asking questions quickly.
"Okay, okay! Look, you are all sick! We are working on the problem right now! I have told you all this a few times, but you keep forgetting because that is what the sickness does. We are in a large city and we don't want to go out looking for a lot of people wandering around lost. Unfortunately, there is still some people out there lost and we are trying to find them and bring them here as well." Ford said.
"Are we dying?" a young lady asked fearfully.
"I won't lie. Yes and no." Ford said seeing many people become very fearful. "We've unfortunately lost a few people already, but this sickness takes quite awhile to kill someone. Staying awake seems to help keep the sickness from getting worse. The people asleep are okay for the moment, we are keeping watch with computer systems. I know no one knows who anyone else is or what is going on, and some of you probably have forgotten what I've already said, but we are working on a cure."
"Then why are you here?" Keller asked.
"We need him." Rebecca said at Rodney's side.
"Me?" Rodney asked and then pointed at Ford. "Wait, I was suppose to look for you!"
"No kidding." Ford said with a tired sigh. "Where is Teyla?"
"I was looking for her and you, and then……" Rodney said trailing off.
"One of these guys shot you. Figures. That's it, I need to take pictures and set up an announcement that repeats for you people." Ford said pulling Rodney out of the room with Rebecca.
She had been on vacation just after the arrival of both Carter's and had just came back a week ago. Seeing as the team she was on had also been on vacations, they were still waiting on one guy to come back from the SGC, who would have been here already if not for the fact he broke his foot in a skiing accident with his friends.
Some hours ago, Sheppard, Ronan and a couple of soldiers were helping some people to the mess hall. Ford's announcement was still going, but not blaringly loud thankfully as they walked into the converted mess hall. Many people were moving about or laying down or sitting in chairs or against the wall as Ford walked up.
"Five more down and like a hundred to go…" Ford muttered.
"Where's Samantha?" Ronan asked as the men helped the people they brought in.
"With Sally and Jacob. They are trying to do their best to keep Amy from freaking out. She's pretty gone out of it, but hasn't passed out yet. Good sign that whatever this is hasn't progressed, bad because she is stressing Sam out pretty bad. Even Sally is worried because she doesn't totally understand what is going on."
"Thank god I'm not in charge." Sheppard muttered.
"How bad is it for you John?" Ford asked worried.
"He missed a couple of turns to get here thinking the mess hall was a different direction." Ronan said.
"Has….that dog…" Sheppard asked.
"Still looking." Ford said. "What about the other teams? They having any trouble?"
"Some." Sheppard said as another group was brought in. "There is a lot of scared people out there but a lot seem to be happy to see the soldiers. That announcement is helping, even if it is a constant repeat that gets annoying."
"Can't be helped. So many people in here have lost their memory and some their own names and keep asking where the mess hall is sometimes." Ford stated as he glanced around.
"We may end up having to stun people if they start running away in fear." Ronan said.
"Not a bad idea, except for the fact they may not wake up because going to sleep early could cause this disease or whatever the hell it is to get worse. There was a mission SG-1 was on about a year or so ago where we had to all stay awake to stay alive." Ford said.
"I, think I read that report." Sheppard said. "Did you shoot your teammates?"
"Yes, including Sam. I was the only one safe from alien microbe. I only wish this was the same thing." Ford said.
"I've got a plan that might help us in case things to the point only the immune people are still standing. If you approve, I plan on letting Lorne and the other team leaders know quickly." Sheppard said after snapping his fingers.
"Let's hear it."
Rodney was following the General and a cute lady named Rebecca, who didn't even look out of her teens, while being extremely jittery as he was sure something bad was going to happen soon and he wasn't really sure what it was. The soldiers, which were lead by some guy named Lord, or it was Load, or Lone, he couldn't remember specifically. They were headed, from what the General said, to the brig where the, L guy said they took her earlier.
"If it helps any, you lost the bet." Ford said.
"Bet? What bet?" Rodney asked confused. "I lost too?"
"God, they are as bad as Rhodes is." Rebecca muttered. "Must be why Colonel Sheppard and Rodney are so competitive."
"Hey, what bet?" Rodney asked. "What was the prize too?"
"Colonel Sheppard asked me to watch and see which of you two would loose your memories first. He still knew his name when he and Ronan left to go to the mainland. You, lost it quicker because you were with your girlfriend at the time when she was sick at the beginning." Ford said. "And it was only five bucks."
"I have a girlfriend?" Rodney asked with surprise.
"Never mind. Look, your job is to set up a protocol in the system to make the air system distribute some plant that Ronan is getting off the mainland which will cure this disease." Ford said twirling a finger.
"Oh. I was?"
"Take these pills. They should help." Ford said giving a bottle over. "Just two though."
"Seriously?"
"Trust me."
"Okay." Rodney said chewing two and then handing the bottle back. "Where are we going again?"
"The brig. Teyla is there and she can help you stay on track while I am trying to save the people in the city that are still lost and confused, not to mention, keeping watch to make sure it stays running and safe in case we get attacked."
"Why would we be attacked? And by what?" Rodney asked fearfully.
"We are perfectly safe. Trust me. But it takes a lot of work to run a huge city and I'm about the only one doing it." Ford said.
"I'm helping the best I can." Rebecca said.
"You're doing a good job, I didn't say otherwise." Ford said.
They came around a corner and saw someone duck around another corner.
"Did…" Rodney said as he pointed.
"I saw it. I know you are there. I know you are scared. If you can understand the words that keep being repeated over and over from what is called speakers in the ceiling above you, that is me." Ford said.
Radek came out pointing a wraith stunner at him while holding a tablet in his other arm.
"You don't look like a soldier." Radek said seeing Ford in a blue suit.
"I am and I'm not as well. I'm the person in charge of this city." Ford said with his hands out away from his body. "I'm trying to help save everyone's lives. If you come with me, I can help you get your memory back. You're name is Radek."
"Radek…" Radek said thinking.
"Yes. This guys name is Rodney and you two are good friends even though you don't remember it." Ford said.
"That looks like the….um, thing I dropped." Rodney said.
"Computer, it's called a computer tablet. Can we have that?" Ford asked.
"Why?" Radek asked shaking the gun with fear.
"It is very important and will help save yours and everyone's lives." Ford said.
He did so shaking as Rodney took it and pushed a button. The two pictures came up and Rodney became excited.
"There you are! And we are going to get her!" Rodney stated.
"Right. That's Teyla. And she was put into the brig." Ford said as Radek came over and saw the pictures.
"How did you know how to use that?" Radek asked.
"I don't know. I just did." Rodney said.
"It's your computer Rodney. Now, Radek, if it makes you feel safer, you can keep that gun. Just please don't shoot anyone with it."
"Okay." Radek said holding near his body.
"The gun can't kill, but staying awake helps keep this disease or sickness from getting worse. Stunning someone makes them sleep, so we'd like to avoid that if possible. Okay?" Ford said.
"I don't want to be captured." Radek said.
"I command and control the soldiers. That's why I have this picture and badge. They will leave us alone, or ask questions. We should be okay." Ford said.
"Should?" the two asked.
"I'm not the one sick so as long as you both stay awake, I can keep you alive longer. If you can try hard to remember, we get this girl, Teyla, get back to your lab Rodney, you finish the program so I can activate it after Sheppard and Ronan get back."
"Right. Who is Sheppard and Ronan again?" Rodney asked as Ford shook his head tiredly and Rebecca tried not to laugh.
EARLIER…………
Jennifer was in Carter's office and had a screen up with K-9 nearby as they told them what the disease was since K-9 finally found it. Everyone in the room had name tags on them and each person that was brought into the mess hall was also stuck with a name tag as soon as they were identified.
"I don't know if I would have ever found this, but K-9 thankfully did the job for me. This is what we've been looking for." Keller said as she looked at the screen and then at the group.
"This is the disease everyone has?" Teyla asked.
"Affirmative. The cure is simple, unfortunately, we do not have the necessary supplies to make the cure." K-9 stated.
"What are we missing?" Carter asked tiredly.
"There is a plant on the mainland that has the necessary needed chemicals to combat this disease. The cure is in the sap it produces." K-9 said while pulling a picture up on the screen. "Doctor Brown discovered it with many other plants they brought back from the mainland."
"That looks familiar." Ronan said.
"Yes, it does." Teyla said.
"I checked out both of your blood works and found evidence of this disease effecting you both at some point in your life." Keller said. "The Ancients didn't have it in their database however. K-9 found it in Doctor Becketts files on a ten year old boy, an Athosian boy. It was called…."
She started looking around and then looked at K-9.
"I forgot where I wrote it down. Help K-9." Keller said.
"Doctor Becketts files indicated it was called Kirsan Fever Doctor Keller." K-9 stated.
"Yes. I did have that once. I was eight." Teyla said.
"So did I. That plant was the cure and grew on Sateda like a weed." Ronan said as he pointed at the picture. "I was ten at the time."
"If effects young children quite often and has been easy to treat for generations. This is the first that I've heard it effecting adults." Teyla stated. "But this sickness never has brought on memory loss."
"Our people from Earth, are totally new to this galaxy. It's no wonder everyone is getting sick. The same would be the case if either of you came to Earth and lived there for a year, maybe less. For us, the common cold and flu is nothing, but two you two, it could possibly kill ya or mutant into something else and spread to everyone else. Or do exactly what it does to us. That's the problem with going new places, even if it is on your own planet. Certain climates breed certain sicknesses. In our case, we're now being effected by this fever." Ford said.
"And us being new to this galaxy, it could be effecting us this way." Carter said.
"Or a mutant strain of the original." Rodney said.
"The reason you two didn't get sick is because you have the original antibodies to fight it, even though it has mutated. If it is mutated. Could be because we are not from this galaxy like the General stated." Keller said.
"So how do we get rid of it?" Rodney asked.
"I know this plant very well. Sheppard and I can go get some from the mainland." Ronan said.
"We need a delivery system that will administer it quickly to everyone." Carter said while thinking. "It would take to long to make it into a injectable solution though. Any ideas K-9?"
"The ventilation system Mistress."
"Yes!" Rodney said snapping his fingers. "I got some ideas of what he means or is thinking of doing."
"Then get on it. K-9, go help him." Ford said as he waved at the door "You two get to the mainland and find it quickly before it is too late."
"What should I do?" Teyla asked.
"Stay with Rodney and help him keep his mind on the job." Carter said.
"Where shall you be?" Rodney asked.
"My mom is tripping out and Sally is scared, so I'm going to go help them while Ford takes over. He can run the city better than I can if it gets to the point there is no one left but those immune."
"Once you get to Rodney's office, have K-9 come back to me. I'll have him start working in the command center with me. It's starting to look worse than a skeleton crew out there." Ford said as Teyla nodded and then left.
"I don't know whether to be happy that I'm unaffected or not." Carter said.
"Be happy. Otherwise Sally would be more upset than she is now. Having grandma forgetting her is very different than having her mother doing it."
"True. I'd hate to scare her like that. You call if it gets too much to handle. As much as I would hate to do it, I could sedate mom if it came down to needing to help save the city and everyone else." she said with tears in her eyes she barely kept back.
"I won't let her die Sam. I promise to do everything to save everyone, even if it means attempting to go back in time to do it."
"That's rather unsafe within the time limit you set."
"I know." he said hugging her close. "I'd come up with something though. Tell the three I said hi and that we are working hard."
"I will." she said walking out.
"Great, the burden of command is on my shoulders again." he said walking out and into the control room. "Give me a status report. And get me a camera that shoots Polaroid's."
Ronan and Sheppard got into the Jumper without any trouble. Sheppard sat down at the controls as Ronan tossed a couple bags onto the back seats and then sat in the chair beside him. Sheppard had his off world vest and BDU's on while Ronan was in his normal leather outfit with his long tan coat on.
"You can fly this, trust me." he said as Sheppard was looking at the controls. "It's in your blood man, literally."
"Yes it is. I remember that. I was just…."
"Trying to remember how to fly?"
"Yeah. Um, there is something else…" he said looking around. "Ah, this is Jumper…"
"You're the only one leaving the city, get out and get that plant as quick as you can. I'll leave the top open so you can get back in quickly. General out." Ford said over the radio.
"Okay." Sheppard said as he grabbed the controls. Once they exited the tower, he began looking around.
"Mainland is that way." Ronan said as he pointed over his shoulder.
"Right." he said while turning the ship.
Teyla entered the lab as Rodney was working on two laptops, both on different tables opposite each other, as K-9 was helping him between a link up and talking to Rodney.
"Okay, so I input this algorithm…" he said typing away.
"K-9, the General wants you to come help him in the command center. I shall stay by Rodney's side and help him stay on track."
"Affirmative Teyla." he said turning away and rolling out.
Rodney didn't even notice K-9 had left and was going back and forth while muttering to himself for several minutes, not even noticing she was in the room either anymore after telling her what he was doing after K-9 left. Turning to the computer behind him, he stopped and muttered something before glancing around.
"What was I doing? It was something important…" he said thinking hard while snapping his fingers.
"You are attempting to create a system to make the cure airborne through the ventilation system. You said something about changing the air pressure, humidity and cooling temperature."
"Yes, that was it." he said turning to the computer before him. "Um, let's see…I was…um…root directory I am pretty sure is what I am looking for."
He kept typing away and then the monitored beeped at him.
"Hmm? What? No! Come on!"
"What's wrong?"
"I should be able to do this in my sleep!" he stated and then looked worried. "Oh god, it's happening to me now isn't it?"
"You have to remain calm."
"No, you don't understand! My memory is lousy to begin with…!"
"Rodney, calm down. Time is short and lives are in danger. You are a scientist first and foremost. It will be the longest memories you will keep hold of."
"Oh. That makes sense. Do I have family?"
"You have a sister."
"I do? Oh god, it's worst than I thought!"
"Rodney, you and everyone else will remember everything once you have this program finished and have it ready for Ronan and Sheppard to come back with that plant. Understand?"
"Yeah. Finish the program and I live with everyone else." he said typing away again.
PRESENT……..
The trio continued down several hallways and corridors, meeting no one, but hearing different groups that the General said was soldiers as they kept walking. He had to repeat what they were doing yet again for the fifth time as well but at least they both had name tags on them again, even though they had trouble remembering their names.
On the mainland, once they landed, Ronan got out and grabbed the bags.
"Where are we?"
"The mainland." Ronan said.
"Why?" Sheppard asked in confusion.
"We're here for a plant that will cure the memory loss and fever everyone else at the city has."
"Okay." Sheppard said confused as he glanced around. "A plant does that?"
"Yes. The General sent us here. Had us put on these name tags as well." he said pointing as his.
"Who? Something isn't…"
Ronan changed the setting on his gun and stunned him with a shake of his head.
"Never gets old."
After tying his hands and feet together and setting him on the seat, he shook his head again.
"Sorry buddy, but you'll only slow me down. I'll be back." he said as he walked out and closed the door.
EARLIER………
"How is it coming Rodney? The General is asking for a status report." Teyla asked.
"General?" he asked while making some adjustments to the computer in front of him.
"Yes. That man in a suit that runs the city right now."
He blinked as he thought about it.
"Never mind, just tell me where you are at." Teyla said while trying to hide her frustration.
"I'm almost finished, I think."
"He says he's almost finished General."
"Good to hear. No one is up here in the command center anymore except me and K-9. I haven't heard back from Sheppard or Ronan yet, but their life signs are still strong."
"That is good news."
"Let me know when he is done or if there is any problems."
"I will." she said before touching the earpiece again.
"Where you talking to me?"
"No Rodney."
"Oh." he said going back to the computer.
Both of them jumped as they heard a clattering noise somewhere down the hall.
"What was that?"
"Probably someone who is lost and confused. Stay here and keep working. I will check it out."
Though scared and confused, he watched her leave and then turned back to the computer. Teyla walked down the upper balcony as she looked around and listened for anyone moving about. Seeing no one below, she turned to look down a corridor as she heard footsteps, not noticing her name tag had fallen off when she was looking over the edge. She felt relief when she noticed Major Lorne and a few of his men coming at her, but it turned to fear when they raised their weapons.
"Major Lorne, what are you doing?"
"You aren't suppose to be here. The announcement says for everyone to go to the mess hall." he said as he and the men kept their weapons trained on her. "You can hear it can't you?"
"Yes. But I am not effected by the sickness."
"Everyone is sick. You need to come with us."
"I am not sick Major Lorne. I am helping…"
"If you do not come with, I will have to shoot you. You clearly don't have a name tag like everyone else, which means you are moving around without having been checked out."
She looked down at her coat noticing her name tag was missing and that Lorne and his men still had theirs. She quickly turned and looked at the floor behind her that went back to Rodney's lab and saw nothing on the floor. When she went to look over the edge, Lorne thought she was going to run and shot her.
Rodney heard a noise and small thud, which made fear run through him as he had no idea what was going on.
"Teyla?" he asked quietly as he moved towards the doorway. "Oh god, I'm alone."
Glancing around in thought, he saw his video camera nearby and picked it up as he had a sudden inspiration. After recording a message to himself, he uploaded it to a tablet nearby then taped a knife to the underside of his chair before finally tying himself to his desk. Using one hand, he quickly went back to work on the computer in front of him and did so for several minutes before he looked up and suddenly had no idea who he was, where he was, what was going on, or why he was even tied to the desk.
PRESENT
Teyla was pacing back and forth in her cell and had been for a good hour since being stunned. She tried the earpiece several times, but only got static, figuring the shield on the brig was causing interference. Several times, after waking up, she had tried yelling for anyone that might be listening. However, no one came and she heard even less, other than the echo of her voice. Still pacing as she rubbed her forehead in thought, she looked towards the doorway as she heard footsteps.
"General, I am so glad to see you. Rodney, Radek.."
"Teyla, sorry this happened. Lorne didn't tell me until just recently he locked you up." he said while disengaging the forcefield. "Where is your name tag?"
"I lost it over the edge of the balcony near Rodney's lab I believe. Major Lorne shot me as I went to look." she said stepping out. "Has Sheppard and Ronan returned?"
"Not yet. I've tried contacting the Jumper, but no one has responded. K-9 says he is still picking up life signs though." he said as they all left.
"That is good news. Did you finish your work Rodney?" she asked.
"What work?"
"He's already forgotten his name." Ford said. "Like most people have. Lorne doesn't even remember his name, but he still remembers his duty."
"Did you order him and the men to shoot people?" she asked.
"Radek hit one of his men with a stick of some sort, so they've been very defensive. There is only a few people still running around the city and K-9 is telling the teams where they are. Some have fought back while others still understand what my repeating message says." he said as they got into a transporter.
"Why does Radek have a stunner?" she asked after they left.
"Makes him feel safer." Ford said as Radek held it closer. "I'm not taking it."
"She looks ready to." Radek said.
"I will not take it Radek." she said calmly. "How many people have we lost?"
"Three so far. That includes the guy Keller was working on before she lost her memory." he said as they headed for Rodney's lab. "K-9, status report."
"No change has taken place since the last report Master. All city systems are functioning at minimal levels as requested."
"Find any more people?"
"Two more people have been taken to the mess hall and two teams have had to stay behind as their condition has worsened."
"What of Sheppard and Ronan?"
"The Jumper left the mainland two minutes ago. Estimated time of arrival is four minutes."
"Thanks K-9. Direct Ronan and Sheppard to where they need to go when they get in. I'm going to help Rodney finish the program." he said as they entered the lab.
"Yes Master."
"Okay, let's see how far you got on this." Ford said as he looked over the two computers. "Hmm, congratulations Rodney. You actually finished the program we needed, minus one final thing."
"I did?" he said confused and surprised.
"What did he forget?" Teyla asked.
"The enter button." he said pushing it. "Now it is officially finished."
"And now we just wait for Sheppard and Ronan." Teyla said.
"Let's hope that Sheppard just remembers how to fly back before he forgets everything."
"Who?" Rodney asked.
Ronan came back and found the back open, and John missing as he noticed the rope in a pile on the floor. Tossing the bags inside while noticing most of the supplies on board had been went through pretty thoroughly, he pulled his gun as he walked back and with a grunt of agitation. He just walked off the ramp and was glancing around at the ground to look for tracks when something metal was shoved into the back of his head.
"Drop it."
Grunting in more frustration, he tossed the gun aside quickly and then raised his hands.
"Now back away."
He walked several steps forward and then turned around as John picked his gun up.
"Now, tell me, who the hell are you?" Sheppard asked with his nine mill pointed.
"Look, I know you have no idea what is going on, probably don't even know who you are or where you are either…"
"Yeah.."
"Probably even scared and confused as well. I'm your friend. My name is Ronan Dex, you are Colonel John Sheppard. It says so on that name tag on your vest, just like the tag on my coat." he said pointing.
John looked down and did see and could read the name on the tag on his vest.
"We are good friends. There have been some things that we have been through together and I don't care what anyone says, those things you just don't forget. We were sent here to grab those plants, in those bags, from this mainland to take back to the city to save the people who are sick like you. Deep down, you have to know I'm telling the truth."
John looked like he was thinking as the gun wavered.
"Just put away the gun. We both get back in the Jumper and go home."
"Oh no. I woke up tied up. Seeing as I haven't seen anyone else, that must mean that you did it."
"Fine, yes I did. You were lost and confused when we got here and I didn't feel like looking for you while digging up plants. So, go ahead and shoot me. You can stay out here in the dark totally confused, lost and with no idea how to get home or survive, which probably won't be long until you pass out and die from the disease because we didn't get back to get you and everyone else treated. Seriously, how could I make things any worse than they already are?"
"Good point." he said thinking. "So the plant is the cure?"
"Yes."
"How do we get home? Where is home?" he said lowering the weapon.
"I'll point while you fly."
"I can fly this? What is this anyway?" he asked as they went back in.
K-9 directed them inside, which despite the fact he was pretty out of it, he did land in the right place. Major Lorne and his team, along with Ford, Radek, Teyla and Rodney were waiting as they exited. Leaving everyone inside the command for Ronan and Teyla to watch, with K-9 as well, Ford took the plants to the area needed. A day later, everyone was getting better and K-9 stated that everyone should be just fine the following morning and recommended that any new personal to the Pegasus galaxy should be treated right away and to have the cure sent to the SGC to ensure that the disease did not spread to the Earth population. It was noted in Keller's note later and sent to the SGC later through the Midway Station call.
Sheppard awoke slowly and saw Ronan and Teyla standing nearby. For a moment, he thought he was in his room, but the sounds of medical equipment and a doctor walking away from his bedside made him realize where he was, plus adding to the fact he remembered some of the details of the problem that was effecting the Atlantis personnel.
"What happened?" he asked with barely opened eyes.
"We returned with the plant and the General got it into the ventilation system just in time." Ronan said. "Most if not all of the city was knocked out as the cure took effect."
"How long have I been asleep?" Sheppard asked tiredly.
"About a day." Ronan said.
"A day!"
"You were not the only one to have been sleeping this long John." Teyla said while gently touching his shoulder. "Many others are still sleeping while some are back to normal."
"I see." he said laying back.
"How are your memories?" she asked.
"Some things are rather fuzzy. I don't remember going in any Jumper rides. If I forget you birthday next year though…"
"I will forgive you." she said with a small smile.
"It's a good thing we got back when we did." Ronan said. "We cut it pretty close man."
"What do you mean?"
"Had you and Ronan came back an hour later, most of the people here would have died. We are fortunate that only five people died instead of many more." Teyla said sadly.
"Wait, where's Rodney?" he asked as he looked around worried.
"He's with his girlfriend. Um…I know her first name is Katie.." Ford said as he walked up. "Nice to see you looking better Colonel."
"General. Did Sam's…"
"Amy is just fine and sleeping. The unfortunate people we lost were two in the hallways, the one in the infirmary and two in the mess hall. One of which was a soldier. You can write a letter for him because you knew him better and I'll deal with the other four." Ford said as John nodded. "On a slightly brighter side, since I know you'll ask later, you won the bet. Get some more rest Colonel."
Rodney was resting his head on the side of the mattress near Katie and had been for sometime after she was brought back into the infirmary. Fatigue got the better of him and he nodded off for awhile while waiting for her to wake.
"Rodney, you should go to your room and get some rest." Keller said as she walked up and put her hand on his back.
"What? No, no. I'm fine." he said sitting up. "I'm going to wait."
"I can have someone get you when she wakes up."
"I'd rather wait."
"Okay." she said patting his arm gently. "She's not going to give up. She's a fighter."
"I know." he said as Keller walked off.
Keller had just walked around the corner when Katie began moving her fingers that he was holding. Hearing Rodney call for her, she came back quickly as he said he saw her fingers move.
"Katie?" she asked leaning over her slightly. "Katie, wake up."
"Huh?" she asked as she woke up and glanced around. "Where am I?"
"You're in the infirmary." Keller said. "You're safe. Do you remember anything?"
"Um…" she said thinking. Keller saw her look over her shoulder and moved out of the way. "Rodney?"
They both smiled at each other as Keller stepped back.
"It's good to see you." she said.
"It's good to see you to." he said holding her hands happily.
