CHAPTER 137
EPISODE….THE SHRINE
(A.N. I apologize for this chapter, it is not going to be very big or very interesting to read like the others and rather short too. VCR troubles again and can't/couldn't afford the DVD's. Also, for a couple of pages, there will be no talking and more describing things, followed by talking again.)
Rodney had a problem, he was loosing his mind, or memory in this case. It didn't happen quickly though, it was a gradual process where he slowly forgot everything and was getting worse day by day. How it all started though was because of a water logging experience that all of Sheppard team got to feel.
This problem began when a team of geologist where suppose to report in from some glacier they were checking out but didn't, so Woolsey had Sheppards team go check things out since no radio communications where being responded to. The group went through the gate and then a few minutes after the gate had been down, it suddenly became active again. Woolsey was surprised they called back so soon and was shocked with many others when Sheppard reported in that the valley was totally flooded with extremely cold water from some ice dam that burst nearby and that they were up on the Stargate freezing, in the middle of the night on that planet. If it wasn't for the light from the gate's event horizon, they'd be totally in the dark. Woolsey instantly had a team get ready to go and get them by Jumper but the gate didn't shut down because of the pressure of the water on the gate on the planet. Since they'd have to wait the 38 minutes for the gate to shut down so they could send a rescue team, Woolsey felt it worth using the cell phone.
For the two, it had been a good two months since the Replicator incident while for Atlantis, it was a few weeks. Instead of coming straight to Atlantis to get all the info, Woolsey told them everything they asked and need to know.
"We'll have them back very soon, along with that doctor and his team. General out." Ford said hanging up.
"I swear Colonel Sheppard's team looks for trouble." Carter said as they worked the T.A.R.D.I.S. controls.
"What, and SG-1 always had walks in the park? Remember the incident with Ba'al changing history? That was rather scary." Ford said with a fidget.
"True." Carter said. "Guess they have the same trouble because they are the SG-1 of Atlantis."
Sheppard and the team were happy to hear that help was coming much sooner and they almost fell back into the water as the X-wing suddenly decloaked right next to them with the left side lower hanger bay almost touching the gate. The lights from the ship spread out across them and over the vast water in the valley making the entire area look like a huge lake that was natural to the area.
"You guys are trouble magnets. As bad as SG-1 getting into trouble all the time. Get your asses in here before you catch hypothermia or something equally worse." Ford said shaking his head. "Though I would do it, it is a pain to bring people back from the dead as I do it."
"Thanks for the lift General." Sheppard said with chattering teeth as he jumped onto the deck with the others.
"Cold, cold, cold…" Rodney kept muttering as he jogged and sloshed his way into the hanger ahead of everyone else.
"That's some dam that burst. You could float a ocean liner in this." Ford stated.
"Though there is certain enough room for one to fit and even turn around possibly, I doubt it could because the water level isn't deep enough to even cover the gate." Sheppard said as he took a look before going in.
"Good point. You couldn't sink the X-wing in this either." Ford said as he closed the hanger door.
A table with warm drinks and blankets was there along with a few set up stalls apart from each other with towels and robes in each one.
"You want me to go in there and strip?" Rodney asked appalled as he still shivered. "There is no privacy!"
"There is a curtain and sheet over the top. The others are doing it and we're not peeping toms, plus setting up something permanent was a waste of time. Now get in there and into something dry before you freeze your balls off McKay." Ford said waving his hand after pushing the poor man. "We'll be at Atlantis in about ten minutes where you can get checked out by Keller and then go off to bed if you want."
"Were you able to get Doctor Nichols and his team?" Sheppard asked from in one of the stalls.
"Yeah, we got him and his equipment a hour before the dam burst. I would have just sent them home, but then you guys wouldn't have went to the planet and we would never have came to your rescue…" Ford said trailing off.
"Yeah, yeah, paradox problems." Rodney muttered. "Is it just me or does the floor seem rather warm?"
"We have the temperature cranked up to near a 100 in here. With the air circulating around so much, you only notice it if you do a lot of movement." Carter said.
"At least these are black robes." Ronan said stepping out while still wiping his head with a towel.
"We could have put pink ones in there but I think only Teyla would appreciate that." Carter said with a small laugh that Teyla also had.
"Black is for either gender really and being the darkest color, it absorbs heat better." Ford stated.
They others got done and had the hot coffee while walking around to keep warm as the ship continued to Atlantis and finally landed on the pier. The group was then beamed over to the infirmary and their clothes given to someone in the infirmary to check for any contaminants. Rodney was running a high fever and kept dozing off when he wasn't sneezing, which started back on the ship. About an hour later, all her test came back saying they were all just fine and Rodney was feeling pretty good after the hour long nap he had while Keller was checking him out. Rodney blamed it on missing breakfast and working very late the night before though Keller was worried because Rodney had a high temperature when he was admitted into the infirmary and now he was back to normal.
"He reads as perfectly normal, but I want to keep him here for a few more hours for observation, just in case." Keller said to Sheppard and his team. "The rest of you come back the moment you feel ill in any way."
They nodded and left allowing him to eat since Keller had lunch being brought to him. Ford and Sam left a few hours later seeing as everyone else seemed fine and said just call when they were needed again.
It wasn't long before Rodney started loosing his mental functions and his I.Q. dropped rapidly each day. Eventually it got so bad they called his sister to come in and see him because the outlook wasn't on the positive side. Though Ford and Carter were called, they didn't come since Keller told them what was happening and with the medical field not really their area of expertise, Jennifer didn't think they'd be able to do much either since her K-911 had all the medical information she knew along with everything the Carter's had on file. To help Rodney try and retain his memory and see how badly his progression of mental loss was, Jennifer set up a camera to have Rodney say several things over and over each day, such as his name, what he did in Atlantis and such. Mostly simple and easy things to remember really. At first, it was working out pretty well and he remembered things rather easily. By day six, he had forgotten he came up with the idea of the recordings and had trouble remembering what he did on Atlantis and what galaxy they were in. It was also the day he told Jennifer he was in love with her and had been for awhile now. Everyday after that, he lost more and more, going back to a child like state in some ways.
When Jeannie broke down crying outside the room Rodney was being monitored in by Jennifer personally, Ronan told her about a way to get Rodney back so everyone could say good bye to him before he passed on since Ronan had seen the same thing happen to a relative of his once. It didn't take much for her to quickly call for help when Ronan said the trip was dangerous and Woolsey didn't want to go along with the idea.
Keller showed Jeanie and both Carter's that some sort of organism was inside Rodney's brain, between the lobes and had tendrils spread out making it completely impossible to do any sort of surgery and no medicines were even touching it. From what Keller managed to understand, the problem Rodney was having was fairly common to older people in the Pegasus galaxy. Her best guess was that many people just fought off the parasite naturally and in Rodney's case, at the time he was sick when they were on the planet with the freezing water, Rodney was the last to get out and fell back in as Sheppard came back up after dialing Atlantis.
Keller was there when Ronan told Jeannie and the Carter's, along with Sheppard and Teyla about a planet where, as the disease was called, Second Childhood, Rodney would be back to his old self for a few hours or more before finally dying from the disease like many other people had. Teyla had heard of the planet before as well, making Jeannie want to try it even more. Keller was against the idea saying that moving Rodney could make matters worse and that she was still trying many different options still, even though she hated admitting she had no progress so far.
Jeannie, only because of her incredible smarts, already knew why going back to save Rodney before the current situation took place was impossible, but asked anyway in hopes they could come up with something. Unfortunately, there was no way to do anything without screwing up the time line. However, both Carters were able to confirm that Rodney was sick with his body fighting the parasite at the time before he and the rest of his team ended up under several feet of water. Had they not ended up in the water, Rodney may have been just fine, but the freezing water only made his immune system worse which was why he was currently near the point of death. Seeing as she was the next of and only kin, she demanded they try to get him to the planet. Keller didn't want to, but ethically, she couldn't defy the order.
Ronan showed them some leather strap that had the gate coordinates for the planet, Talus, where they needed to take Rodney. The only problem was the fact the Wraith set up a major facility there during the Replicator war and that the facility was still fully functional. Seeing as Ronan stated the planet was once an important Ancestral world, Ford really wanted to check it out, so the group talked it over in Woolsey's office.
"The planet could be covered in Wraith and we'd be safe. All we need to do is drop in on the planet, scan the area and have Ronan point out the place, land the T.A.R.D.I.S. in there, raise the shields and see how this magical place works." Ford said.
"There is two Hive ships there and near or over ten thousand Wraith. Not saying it can't be done, but that's a lot of troops and fire power." Sheppard said.
"We can blast them out of the sky easily. Hell, we could be a few hundred miles away, make the ships come to us and then blow them up, go to the facility and blast it and whatever troops we can, then go to this shrine thing." Ford said.
"Seeing as it is a former planet the Ancients had a interest in, at least according to what we found in the database, there could be some sort of Ancient system there that had a medical use." Carter stated.
"It's a long shot, but if it is, then possibly we could figure out some way to reproduce it in case this situation arises again." Sheppard said. "Which I hope doesn't because this all seems really far fetched."
"I know it is real. I was there with my grandfather, who one moment didn't know his name and then was the man who taught me how to hunt and kill." Ronan stated. "We ate, shared great memories with stories and then he died honorably."
"I believe you." Ford said.
"You believe almost anything. That doesn't say much." Sheppard said getting a glare.
"I've been places where people can only dream, done things beyond imagination, and have become a species that shouldn't even exist and own a functioning T.A.R.D.I.S. You tell me again the impossible isn't possible." Ford stated.
"Okay, okay, sorry I said anything." Sheppard said holding his hands up.
"If it wasn't for the T.A.R.D.I.S., a great many numbers of troubles might not have been avoided. The Ori would have probably won, Atlantis destroyed, the Replicators running free in both galaxies. I could go on for awhile." Carter said. "We've seen that the Ancients had very incredible technology, medical and otherwise. We just don't fully understand all of it yet. There is still aspects of this city and many of the research inside that we have barely scratched the surface of."
"I have to agree. As far fetched as Colonel Sheppard believes this is, which I can't say I'm not skeptical about either, checking this out would be beneficial. Seeing as it is just a facility and with the possibility of only having the two ships there, I suggest you do what you can to destroy them without damaging whatever this place Ronan is talking about. It could hold extremely valuable intel, medically or otherwise." Woolsey said.
"That won't be a problem unless they built the facility in or on this thing." Ford said.
"It's in a cave system behind a waterfall. I can't think of anything the Wraith would want to have or use there." Ronan said.
"Yeah, they don't eat or drink and the few faculties we've seen have all been in the sides of mountains or in deserts or large forests." Carter said.
"I'm going with them if we are doing this." Keller stated.
"I'd hope so. If it is medical in nature, you're a better expert than we are. We can use the T.A.R.D.I.S. to get Rodney onto the X-wing and then from there, head for the planet. Avoid all the turbulence and such." Ford said.
"I'll help you however I can Jennifer." Carter said as the woman nodded gratefully.
Less than a hour later, Sheppard and his team, along with Rodney in a wheel chair, Keller and Jeannie, were inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. and on the X-wing headed for the planet Talus. Rodney had no clue what was happening and kept mumbling numbers or other incoherent words. Seeing as he was still wearing a hospital garb, Jeannie and Keller helped dress him, which was a bit strange until Keller said a few things. One of which was that being the head doctor, she had already seen everything about them all so there was nothing new, plus the added fact that Rodney was in love with her and said so in one of the recordings that she only showed to Jeannie, who finally understood why Keller was so protective of her brother.
Exiting hyperspace, Carter flew the ship down to the planet and did a quick skim over the facility and two Hive ships. Everyone was dressed in black off world outfits, including Carter who was more or less in her Atlantis like black leather. Ford just had a black suit and Rodney was wearing a long sleeved black shirt with breast pockets and no equipment. Ronan was just in a dark vest and pants and his gun like normal. The Carter family was back on Earth in the mansion waiting for them to come home.
"Darts on the way." Sheppard said from the other console he was manning.
"Shoot them down with the rail guns. Got to at least look like we are trying." Carter said. "Ronan, can you man this side?"
"Who's going to fly then?" Ronan asked.
"We can do so from the T.A.R.D.I.S." Carter said going into it from behind the command chair.
"I've scanned the area and found a strange energy signature where this shrine is. No Wraith are nearby thankfully. Move the ship opposite of that direction, but pass over the Hive ships and fire a shot at them to get their attention." Ford said from a console at the back.
A few dozen Darts were blasting away at them as Carter did evasive maneuvers to look like they were trying to avoid damage while still fighting. After hitting the two Hive vessels with the beam weapons, it didn't take long before they lifted off heading for them.
"We have them on our tail." Carter stated.
"Hyperdrive signature detected Mistress." K-9 stated.
"Shoot the engines out before they can leave." Carter ordered.
"The ship is coming in from orbit Mistress. Three Hive vessels are bearing down on our position." K-9 reported.
"Fire a cluster of missiles at the Darts and Hive vessels." Ford said quickly as he moved to the T.A.R.D.I.S. "Sam, I see a large rock formation several hundred meters ahead of us. Slam the ship through them and then make it look like we are having some trouble with navigation. Once the Hive ships get closer, let loose. We should be far enough away by then."
"Be a rough flight, but bragging about crashing into a mountain as we are is something most people can't talk about." Carter said with a chuckle.
Everyone hung on tightly as they plowed through the rock formation and tilted while skimming the ground with their shields. The Hive ships moved closer firing everything they had as the X-wing stabilized and then skimmed the ground hard again. Two of the vessels moved ahead of them while surrounding the ship with a mass of Darts.
"Now K-9!" Carter said.
Several beams lashed out hitting the vessels as the rail guns continued to fire heavily as another compliment of missiles burst out. The Hive vessel on the left front exploded with a heavy shockwave that sent mass ripples into the ground that caused a couple of quakes. The Hive vessel beside it was heavily damaged and slammed into their forward shields exploding as it impacted. All the Darts were eliminated in the blast and the last Hive vessel, to damaged to move and barely fighting back dropped right down on top of them causing the ship to drop onto the ground. The shields held easily but the abrupt impact caused a few systems to overload on the lower decks and made a couple systems on the bridge spark along with a few other places in the vessel. Plus knocking them all around a bit.
"How bad is the damage?" Sheppard asked quickly.
"Barely registers." Ford said checking from a console in the back. "All systems fully functional. Some stuff was knocked loose and a few circuits burned out here and there. What backups that needed to take over did."
"I'm reading a lot of activity happening in the facility." Teyla said from the console by the screen to the left of the command seat on the wall.
"Jam communications if you can." Sheppard ordered. "General, can you find some weak points for us to fire at so we can do enough damage to the facility but not have it blow up?"
"Why not blow it up and get rid of them? It would be a lot less Wraith to deal with and a big blow to their plans." Ronan said.
"Yeah, it is very tempting, but the resulting explosion could damage or take out this magical place we are trying to see." Sheppard said as Ronan grunted.
"Yeah, it is pretty close to where we need to go. Hang on a moment." Ford said checking the scanners.
"Now over the facility. No other Wraith vessels detected within the system." Carter said. "Jamming their communications."
"Got a firing solution I've sent to your console. Only need to fire three shots though. Any more than that could blow it up." Ford said.
Three quick shots later, the facilities defense systems, transmission abilities and power systems were heavily damaged. A lot of movement was detected inside as the troops outside went back in to help as they flew off and cloaked at the same time. Shutting down the shield, they landed on a plateau nearby and took the T.A.R.D.I.S. to get there. K-9 was staying behind to monitor everything in the ship and would alert them if trouble arrived.
"There is a very strange energy reading that is not familiar here." Carter said. "Staying here too long would be dangerous though. I mean staying out there."
"How long we talking before it becomes unsafe?" Keller asked.
"More than a day." Carter said.
"Well, let's see how this miraculous place works." Ford said opening the door.
The cave wasn't well lit, but light came in from the outside where the water fall was, giving it a very majestic view through the various large holes in the wall. There was moss and other small plants growing here and there in the dank place with enough room for about a dozen people to walk about freely. In the middle of the small cave was a pillar of rock, also covered in moss and such that was part of the cave, which was where the faint energy reading was. One path lead out of the cave to their right and along the small shore going off into the woods. Both Keller and Jeannie held Rodney on either side as the others branched out and looked around.
"Rodney…" Jeanie said with worry as he started crying pitifully.
"I want to go home." Rodney said in a very child like voice while trying to hide himself in her chest, much like a child did with a mother when scared.
"Whatever this parasite is, not even Vala could do anything with the healing device when we took him to Earth." Carter said sadly.
"Unfortunately that hand device isn't a cure all." Ford said.
"Ronan, how long until whatever happens here takes effect?" Sheppard asked as Rodney continued to cry and started slowly dropping to the floor.
"A few minutes I think. I wasn't counting when it happened to my grandfather." Ronan said.
"There is some sort of tablet here on this. Perhaps if Rodney were to touch it or get closer it make speed up the effect." Teyla said pointing at the object on the pillar.
"Is seems to be the place where the energy readings are coming from." Carter said as she scanned it.
"Doesn't feel hot or anything. Can't hurt to try." Ford said after placing his hand on it for a moment. "Though I am feeling a strange buzz in the air."
"I don't feel anything." Sheppard said.
"Being a Time Lord has made him sensitive to certain energy fields. I'd explain it, but it's sort of a long story." Carter said. "Watch the show and you'll learn more."
"Are you kidding? There is like 600 episodes to that show." Sheppard said. "I t would take over a month to watch them all, and I am counting that as staying in one place and watching them constantly."
"Yeah, the older ones back in the 80's and such were an hour and a half normally." Ford said.
"Rodney, we want you to touch something for us, okay? It won't hurt you." Keller said.
"I want to go home." Rodney whined with the child like voice again.
"We will, soon. Just try touching this for us first." Jennifer said with a warm smile.
They helped him forward and he placed his hand on the tablet, but nothing seemed to happen. Startling everyone, he grabbed his head in pain and screamed while bending over. Pretty much all of them called out his name in concern and stepped back as he stood up and then looked at them confused, though Keller continued to hold his arm.
"Ford, Sam, what are you doing here? Why and I here and where is here?" Rodney said glancing around and then seeing his sister. "Jeannie?"
"Yes Mere, I'm here." Jeannie said grabbing his hand in concern.
"Yeah, obviously. Where the hell are we? And why?" Rodney asked in his normal sarcastic tone.
"That's the obnoxious McKay we know." Carter said with a smile.
"Rodney, look at me for a moment." Ford said while waving his Sonic Screwdriver.
"What for? What are you doing?" Rodney said moving his head back. "One wrong setting and my brain is worse than scrambled eggs!"
"Ha, ha. Look at this Jennifer. Didn't that scan show the parasite's tendrils spread out in his brain?" Ford said handing over the modified scanner that linked up with his Sonic Screwdriver.
"It has retracted. Incredible. Whatever the strange energy in here is effects the parasite and makes it dormant." Keller said amazed.
"Sam, go in the T.A.R.D.I.S. please and see how far this energy field extends." Ford asked.
"I told you this place was special." Ronan said with a smile.
"I'm sorry I doubted you Ronan." Keller said. "The only problem is, the effect only last if he stays here. And staying here too long eventually becomes fatal."
"I'm going to die? Why the hell did you bring me here to tell me I'm about to kick the bucket anyway?" Rodney exclaimed.
"Because it gives us a chance to spend time with you before that happens. We might even be able to save your sorry ass in the process." Sheppard said. "Ronan told us about the place to begin with."
"You have what is commonly referred to as, Second Childhood Rodney." Teyla said as calmly as possible since the man looked ready to explode at everyone. "It doesn't normally effect younger people. For those who know of this place, such as Ronan, the families would bring them here to spend quality time with the ones they loved before they finally passed on."
"It's called the Shrine of Talus. One of the planets of the Ancestors." Ronan said. "I was here long ago with my grandfather when he had the same problem."
"Before we got here, your I.Q. and mental abilities were practically zilch." Ford said. "That parasite was cutting off all of your neural pathways. You could barely remember your name. Actually, you couldn't remember that."
"How much time do we have until I die?" Rodney asked.
"The energy field is confined to this cave." Carter said as she exited the T.A.R.D.I.S. "I'm not sure, but I suggest he doesn't try to leave or go back in the T.A.R.D.I.S. otherwise the parasite may grow back instantly. At least that's what K-9 says to be the probable outcome."
"I could almost assuredly operate and remove the parasite right now, but without the proper environment and tools, there is no way to do it." Keller said.
"Great, we get me fixed and it's only temporary!" Rodney exclaimed. "I wanted that goodbye I said to you on the pier to be it, not this!"
"And I said I wasn't listening! Look, we have a day to figure this out. Don't quit on me now." Sheppard demanded with a pointed finger.
"What is the last you remember before it got worse?" Ford asked curious.
"I woke up finding myself alone and panicked. Don't dare criticize me…" Rodney said pointing a finger.
"I had a very bad dream that I didn't save Sam in time once back when we were still dating. I went over to her house in the dead of night and she let me sleep on her couch because I didn't want to go home. That help?" Ford asked.
"I have to admit, I found it romantic." Carter said. "Then the next morning, I forgot he was there for a moment and thought he might be stalking me till I remember why he came."
"Oh, I don't feel so bad about my story now." Rodney said with a shrug. "I woke John up and we went out and had a couple beers on the pier. I think we laughed about something and then here I am. Was the plan to just bring me here, have some laughs and then say goodbye? Why is this place so dangerous anyway?"
"There is a ionizing radiation that comes from this pillar. It had a negative effect on the parasite in your brain, giving you back everything it took away. We're safe for the moment, but within less than a day we'll all, minus you…" Carter said glaring at Ford.
"I didn't say anything!" Ford stated.
"You thought it. Minus him, will be in serious danger or dead. Thankfully, the T.A.R.D.I.S. can provide protection, even in the door way." Carter said.
"This is also a Wraith planet." Sheppard said. "We took out three Hive ships and a large amount of Darts, but there is still a functioning facility nearby. Might be a few hours or several days, but more ships will eventually come and we won't be able to hide here."
"Why not just extend the T.A.R.D.I.S shield then?" Rodney asked.
"Because the radiation would then enter the ship. Besides, that's difficult to do within a cave." Ford said.
"We had planned a large feast which the General and Sam made so we could all eat, swap stories and hopefully figure out a way to save you." Sheppard stated.
"A last supper idea?" Rodney asked sarcastically.
"Suits your holier than thou messiah complex." Sheppard said.
"Can't deny that." Rodney said making Ford laugh.
"Ronan, help me go get that table." Sheppard said. "We'll leave the thinking to them."
"I will help gather the food." Teyla said following them in with Sam saying she would help as she followed because she also wanted to do a couple other scans.
"Why do you look so down?" Rodney asked Jennifer.
"I really didn't think this place would work. And now that it has, I'm having mixed feelings." Keller said.
"Why?" Rodney asked in a nice tone.
"Do you remember any of the recordings we did?" Keller asked.
"Yeah. Oh…" Rodney said realizing what she meant.
"What, you didn't mean it?" Keller asked a bit hurt.
"No, of course I meant it. Um…" Rodney said nervously.
"Relax Rodney. I think you two make a great couple." Ford said seeing their uneasiness as he turned from scanning the pillar further.
"You do?" the two asked.
"The way I see it, smart people click better with smart people. Obviously Jennifer has seen something in you that Sam was able to get past, which worked in my favor." Ford said.
"For the record, I'm glad we didn't get together. There would have been too many conflicting issues on a variety of subjects. It wouldn't have worked out very long." Rodney said.
"You come up with anything yet on saving him or are we going to eat and talk it over then?" Ronan asked as he came out with the fold out table.
"Not yet." Keller said. "I could easily do the operation if we could take him into the T.A.R.D.I.S., but with what K-9 said, Rodney can't leave this chamber."
"What do you really need to operate?" Carter asked as she set down a large platter on the table. "We can replicate just about anything you'd need or go back to the ship for."
"Beyond a sterile environment, some bright lights.." Keller said ticking off her fingers as she thought. "A scanner to get the exact location of the parasite so I can operate and not cause undue injury. Anesthetic, gauze…"
Twenty minutes later, the T.A.R.D.I.S. had been moved to near the wall with the waterfall behind it and the opening near the entrance where the largest amount of room was now had a basic medical bed, held in place by several blast bolted in screws, a couple high powered flood lights, a few medical computer systems to monitor his life signs, a large tray of medical equipment and a makeshift scanning device hooked up to a 19 inch plasma monitor. Seeing as only two people really had the medical knowledge to do the work, Carter was also in scrubs with Jennifer.
"Good thing I brought K-911 with me. Inform me of any dangerous changes the moment anything happens." Jennifer said.
"Yes Doctor." the blue K-9 unit beside her said in a sweet female voice.
"Are you absolutely sure you can do this?" Rodney asked with extreme worry.
"Trust me Rodney, I can do this. I have more than enough to do this right and even have help. Be thankful I didn't have you get undressed into a gown." Keller said.
"Yeah, cold enough in here as it is." Rodney said feeling his shirt.
"Just lay on the table and let her work." Sheppard said.
He did so as Carter put a blanket over him and then Keller put a few medical towels on his chest. A couple of fluid bags were hooked up to his arm as she held a needle with the anesthetic. Carter turned on the scanner well above McKay's head and the monitor showed his brain and the parasite in it.
"How long do you think this will take?" Sheppard asked.
"Hopefully less than a hour. If I go too fast, I could cause damage." Keller said while pulling her mask up.
"We've only been here almost two hours." Ford said looking at his watch. "We'll be fine for at least another six I'd guess before any ill effects begin."
"Okay Rodney, time to sleep." Keller said putting the needle into the line in his arm.
He muttered something to her that no one else but Carter heard and then passed out moments later. The two then strapped his body down and make sure his head wouldn't move at any point. When she picked up the surgical drill, Ford dismissed himself quickly and went back into the T.A.R.D.I.S. The others stayed back a ways but watched and while waiting.
"Okay, beginning recording." Keller said.
"Yes Doctor." K-911 said.
Sheppard looked away for a moment as Keller talked about what she was doing as she cut the skin back and then moved it out of the way to begin her drilling. Jeannie turned away and went to look out at the waterfall as the drilling noise filled the cavern.
"I must have went too far. He's not suppose to be moving." Keller said slightly panicked as Rodney's body began twitching.
"Negative Doctor. The drill head never encountered the brain." K-911 stated.
"Then why is his body twitching?" Carter said holding him down.
"The parasite is moving. I think it is trying to get out through the opening I just made." Keller said while pulling down her mask as she looked at the monitor.
"Scans suggest that is the logical assumption Doctor." K-911 said.
"Ronan, we are going to need that gun of yours very soon. Say ten seconds." Keller said as she grabbed a surgical clamp.
"Just say when." Ronan said pulling it and turning it on.
"It's doing what?" Ford asked as he came out with Jeannie talking to him.
Keller grabbed the ugly bug as it emerged and then quickly tossed it aside near the wall. A couple quick blast filled the air and then a smoking patch was all that was left along with melted clamps.
"Wish we knew ahead of time it was that easy." Carter said pulling her mask down.
"He's in the clear. I just have to seal this and then get him some antibiotics." Keller said grabbing another tool with relief.
Several congratulations later, Keller was smiling with relief along with Jeannie as Rodney was carried into the T.A.R.D.I.S. on the thin mattress. As Keller was looking over him in the ship's infirmary, the guys got everything back in the ship while Carter did some very intensive scans on the pillar in hopes of finding some way to duplicate the process back on Atlantis if the problem ever arose again. Almost one hour after the surgery was done, they were back in the X-wing and back at Atlantis. Rodney was still out an hour later and probably wouldn't be awake anytime soon, so the two got ready to leave. Woolsey was happy with getting the reports and hearing that Rodney was saved.
Seeing as Rodney was currently still out of it and several people wanted to know how it was going with the two, plus family, lately, they all were in the commissary eating and talking. Some hours later, but not yet evening, only SGA-1, minus Rodney, and the two Carter's were there, still talking.
"Hey, there was something I've been wanting to ask, after talking to Colonel Mitchell once. About the T.A.R.D.I.S." Sheppard said as the two nodded. "You can go back to the other universes you've been to right?"
"Yeah." Carter said. "Why?"
"Why haven't you went back to some of them then? There was one universe that I, sadly can't recall, but was a great help." Sheppard said.
"Like the Halo one?" Ford asked as Sheppard nodded. "Getting there isn't a problem. Getting back, is troubling."
"Why is really does this, we haven't totally figured out, but going back to another universe we've been too puts a serious drain on the systems and power. The least we have seen, from the four trips to four former universes we have been in, have taken a week or more before we could return. And it is not a matter of not knowing what coordinates to input for the return." Carter said.
"It's the fact she has to readjust or something to get ready to go back. Best way to describe it from what I can gather, a particular energy deep inside her systems, builds up to where it can be used. In this universe, it doesn't take a lot of time for her to make it. Having the Asguard systems in her along with the Ancient, must have increased her abilities but also made her use certain fuels more to take us to those places." Ford said.
"She can easily create, within certain boundaries, anything she needs to replace whatever she needs within herself. But going to another universe, drains a particular energy that takes a week at the least, to recharge back to the point we can return back to this universe." Carter said. "The downside further is, anything we do inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. at the time she is recharging, makes the time stretch further."
"Took just over half a month to finally build up the charge to return back in one universe where we ended up on some dispute between aliens we weren't able to identify. A lot of nuclear and biological weapons were used to the point the planet was turned into a hazard even for itself. We had to keep the shields to full, which made the time drag out as long as it did. Since the whole family was there, the time was spent well enjoying each other, playing games, watching movies, etc, etc." Ford said.
"I don't understand all the technical stuff anyone talks about, but you're saying that even if you end up in a peaceful area, just having the shield in place will add to the time?" Ronan asked.
"Yes." Carter said. "Aside from the basics, food, water, utilities for living and life support, everything else is set for standby as she concentrates on the recharge. We can't even use the transporters, much less scanners. I think the only reason the communications aren't effected is because we added com systems that got integrated in."
"I find it strange that when we got the T.A.R.D.I.S., and even after all the times of watching Doctor Who, there seems to be no way to talk to anyone within her. He's never done it in the show before so…" Ford said trailing off. "For a ship that was literally grown and has so much space, you kinda figure there'd be some phone system."
"All we can figure is that because the ship is so unique, in the fact she is only suppose to be used by Time Lords, is that they use the telepathic circuits on the console to talk to each other. Ford can't do that, but the system is still there." Carter said.
"I've been hanging around Rodney too long." Ronan muttered. "I actually understood some of that."
"Rodney does tend to talk about the show after he has watched it." Teyla said. "And writes down questions for you two."
"We get the emails frequently." Carter said.
"He's pointed out some interesting things we didn't even think about either, while sadly, also asked some dumb questions too." Ford said.
"This jumping or whatever you want to call it, of going to another universe. It's all basically in your head, right?" Sheppard asked as Carter cracked up. "Yeah, I know that sounded wrong…."
"It is more of a concentration issue, but it doesn't always work out that way, why?" Ford asked.
"Well, we know you were born in this city, but you ended up in another universe before coming back here." Sheppard said, as everyone noticed he tensed up. "Have you ever thought…."
"No. Daniel asked me the same thing once." Ford said as he looked away and out of the ocean. "Going back to that universe is the farthest thing from my mind. I'd try to forget I was ever there, but being there is the reason I am back here."
"You're afraid of something in that universe." Ronan stated.
"Yes, I am." Ford said as he sighed and looked at the table. "My fighting style was not created by me. I'm not as great as I once was when I arrived here those many years ago, but even then, I was second to the commander who taught me and the others. I was the only one truly capable of going toe to toe against him, but I never, ever won. You already know I am a difficult opponent Ronana, and you Teyla, know I am dangerous with weapons like those wooden sticks. Teal'c even admits I am a formidable foe. That guy though, he could take you and Teal'c with ease and still take me down after he finished with you two. That man has been using martial arts and other fighting styles since he was four. His family has been in the military all the way back to the civil war."
"That guy sounds like someone I never want to meet." Sheppard said.
"I never want to again either. I'm more afraid of him and that team or group getting hold of me and the T.A.R.D.I.S., and using her for their own ends. And bringing any of the big players…" Ford said as he used his fingers to make quote marks around players. "As to the major members of the SGC and SGA, to that universe would be extremely dangerous."
"I still find that a disturbing thought, but I can understand it." Sheppard said as the two Carter's nodded.
"I never want to end up there. Unless we ended up in space or on the moon, perhaps deep in the mountains away from everyone else, then maybe, otherwise no. The problem is, the biggest memory I have is being there last in front of my TV that night. I am quite sure, that is where we would suddenly appear, and within an hour at the most, that place would be crawling with military officials. It is not worth the effort." Ford said.
Later that night, Rodney was still asleep and was still in the infirmary at least until sometime tomorrow, if everything still looked well. Jeannie was sitting by the bed drinking coffee when Keller came in.
"You can go and sleep on the bed nearby. I'm going to be here all night." Keller said.
"That's okay. I'm going to stay here until he wakes up." Jeannie said.
"It might not be until tomorrow when that happens. Sleeping is one of the things our Rodney loves to do, especially if he can do it in the morning for awhile." Keller said.
"Yeah, when he was a teenager, that's all he loved to do, unless he had a sudden scientific idea or breakthrough." Jeannie said.
"How do you except me to sleep with all your talking?" Rodney muttered.
"Hey Mere." Jeannie said sitting up.
"Please don't call me that." Rodney muttered as he turned to look at her with tired eyes.
"Sorry, can't do that. Sisters prerogative." Jeannie said with a smile as he grunted. "So, you all up there still?"
"Yes. Thank you Jennifer." Rodney said seeing her.
"You're more than welcome." Keller said. "Are you hungry?"
"Did any of that ham Ford made for me survive?" Rodney asked hopefully.
"Yes, it did. Though I shouldn't tell you this, Sam actually cooked the ham while Ford did the other things." Keller said, waiting to see what Rodney might say or do, but was a bit surprised at what he said instead.
"Who cares who cooked what right now, I just want to eat it." Rodney said.
"I'll go get the sandwich now." Keller said with a small laugh.
Just before going to bed that night, Jennifer pulled up the file of Day 6 of where Rodney was doing his recordings. All it showed was his head and part of his upper body as he was sitting with a camera pointed at him.
"Before I forget, there is something I want to say to you Jennifer, something that I have wanted to say for a long time." Rodney said with a bit of nervousness.
"Go ahead." Jennifer said off screen.
"I…..I love you Jennifer. I have for some time now, and I wanted you to know that before I forget." Rodney said with a warm smile. Before she could respond, he quickly moved on. "Okay, what's next? Oh yes, Pi is…."
