CHAPTER 143
EPISODE…BRAIN STORM
(A.N. Personally, I thought this episode was really cool, stupid only because I never have liked Bill Nye, an interesting change to see with Rodney, and the fact that it was romantic because Keller and Rodney were together, obviously in love, and McKay finally got some. No, I do not write anything in about that in case you are wondering, but they made it obvious of what happened in the episode. Anyway, at first, I was going to pass this episode and leave it as is, but seeing it more than once, I had some ideas and decided to go with it. Hope you like it too.)
Carter came driving into the driveway and up to the mansion in a large cargo capacity, non-canopy, 2005 Army issue Hummer, pearl essence blue. Carter thought it was strange when Ford bought the vehicle, but agreed it was important for the reason behind it. As for changing it from the camouflage to what it was, though loving the color itself, felt it was really out of place on that particular vehicle and had her Mustang changed to that with the white stripes still in place. Being the strange color it was, was why he picked it, and after asking if she had a better color other than what it was, in mind, she didn't and decided to let him keep it since the vehicle only had one real function. After driving it a few times herself, she liked the raw power feel it had instead of the speed factor hers had all the time.
"It continues to amaze me how much I'm hit on now. Before I got married, didn't really happen all that often even when I went out shopping, to a movie by myself or if I sat in the park, drinking coffee alone while reading a book or going over work I was doing at the base that I could take off base. Where are these guys coming from now that I am married? Do I have some sort of sign that only guys see that says hit on me please?" Carter said as she got out of the driver side. "It must be because of that change that makes me live longer. What wrinkles I started getting before the change are gone."
"I once heard, being single, you don't really get looked at as much. Especially if there is no rings. More so for guys than girls. Once married, the joke or signal as some research says, is more pheromones are released by a couple's, signaling to others that the male or female is more attractive than a single person. The Alpha instinct comes into play here and has the effect on that person making them go after someone already taken in hopes that they are a better suitor AKA mate, over the guy or girl the person is already with." Ford said getting out and going to the back of the vehicle with her.
"That has to be a load of crap." Carter said.
"Talk to Janet about it, she might agree with me. You did kiss Jack in the locker room back towards the beginning of the program because of some, virus of whatever it was because on an instinctual level, you saw him as a strong mate. That incident alone should at least prove what I said to be real on some level." Ford said with a smile, seeing as he did see that happen, just not personally.
"I remember that all too vividly. Thank god it didn't get any further. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here today. I'm going to ask her about it anyway." Carter said looking in the back and ignoring his smile. "There are days when we do this and I have to ask myself, how did it get to this where we pick our mail up once a week and there is so much we almost need a massive truck to haul it all in."
"Short of going to the different places to get things we can't replicate, having them mailed to us is the only other way." Ford said reaching into a box full of letters and other non packaged mail. "Hmm, this looks interesting."
"Is that the invitation to some scientific presentation I looked at earlier?" Carter asked.
"Yeah." Ford said sitting on the tailgate that was put down. "Has to do with some major discovery that prominent people in the scientific fields are invited to. Wouldn't surprise me if this was something you didn't show the world just yet, but wasn't exactly classified either. Must be something important if we were invited because of that program we created to look out for things like this."
"Should we go?" Carter asked, a bit curious of what the event was. "Do you want to go?"
"We could at least check it out. Find out who else it going first before hand to see if it is worth it." Ford said. "If it is not worth it, we can easily leave. Even if we aren't allowed to, we can anyway."
"Let's finish this and have K-9 look it over until this is put away. We do have to make another trip back to get the rest." Carter said.
"That post office is always happy to see us, or at least the payment for having them hold all our mail till we come get it." Ford said.
A couple hours later, the various packages and other assorted mail was in the T.A.R.D.I.S. to be looked over more thoroughly. Both of them had gotten various things they ordered over the net, ranging from books, tools, flower and garden stuff, knick knacks, personal things for each of them, models that were complex and otherwise, DVD'S and other stuff. A lot of it was still on boxes to be checked over and sorted out later as they were looking over the data K-9 found about the invitation.
"Considering the work suggested here, we should go and see what it is." Carter said as they looked at the screen on the T.A.R.D.I.S. wall in the Console Room.
"Look at this name here. Anyone we know?" Ford said rhetorically.
"That's Meredith Rodney McKay. Strange, somewhat. We should go just to keep him from causing trouble." Carter said.
"Or to watch the trouble he causes." Ford said with a laugh.
"There's that too. We'll get dragged into it afterward, but oh well. How are we going?" Carter asked.
"T.A.R.D.I.S. We can park her out of the way in case there is trouble and need her, or we decide to leave if it gets boring. I can disguise her to blend in with a wall or something to keep her hidden." Ford said.
"Works for me. Considering this location is in the desert, and though I like to drive and could do so fast with the area this place is in, I'm not really in the mood to do anything like that." Carter said.
"Me either, which is strange because I usually like going fast. Maybe we are mellowing out in our old age." Ford said.
"Speak for yourself. Even though I am well over sixty, I am glad I feel and look much younger than that and hope to stay that way for a very, very long time." Carter said.
"I hope so too." Ford said pulling her close. "Let's go have some fun with Sally and Avon before heading out."
"This is almost a week away though." Carter said. "We might change our minds about the drive by then."
"All the more reason to have a lot of family time. Never know when Atlantis or the SGC, or someone else might call for help." Ford said.
"True." Carter said getting a kiss first.
"Are you sure you don't want to go with McKay and the others back to Earth?" Ronan asked as they were getting lunch like many others in the commissary.
"Nah, I'm going to stay here and use my leave time on something special when it comes up. I could just call the General, but they said only in emergencies and though I am pretty sure they'd take me there and then bring me or all the others back, I'd rather not bother them. Plus, doing the math, since the SGC doesn't have a ZPM, that's two weeks of being on Earth, three weeks on the Daedalus, totaling five weeks of missing work. And since we only get one of those ever year and a half, I'd rather save it." Sheppard said.
"Save it? Right. You are looking forward to going camping on the mainland." Ronan said.
"Oh yeah. Our beach there hasn't been touched by anyone and from the scans, it looks like prime surfing weather. Hoping to hit several ten foot waves or some twenties if I am lucky. You really need to get excited about this like I am." Sheppard said waving a pop at him lightly.
"Yeah, right." Ronan said with little care.
"Well, well, there's Rodney and Jennifer having lunch together." Sheppard said.
"Yeah, so?" Ronan said while adding more food to his platter.
"You think he'll ever make a move or sit it out for a few years like Ford did with Sam?" Sheppard asked.
"Who cares." Ronan said walking away with his plate.
"That's not very positive thinking." Sheppard said following him away from the commissary with a frown.
Rodney and Keller, not even aware of the people around them or the two that were talking about them and had just left, were deep in conversation and enjoying each other's company as they both laughed about something one of them said.
"Say Jennifer, I know we only get 14 days a year, and you want to go off and see your dad and all…" Rodney said.
"But?" Keller asked.
"Well, there is this guy, he was doing his doctorate at the same time as me..." Rodney said nervously. "He's giving a big presentation on some secret project he's been working on, and everyone who's anyone in the physics community is going to be there."
"Okay." Keller said.
"You see, there is this perception that I am a…..um, well, a washout, a recluse." Rodney stated as she frowned.
"Why?" Keller asked.
"For starters, I haven't published anything in a decade and since I work here, it's no surprise that I can't tell others what I am doing for real, and what papers I have done can't be seen by others until the world is made known of what is really going on in the universe. Besides the fact that I am pretty hard to get a hold of with living in another galaxy and all." Rodney said.
"Yeah, I know what that is like." Keller said.
"So, I was thinking, well, um, if I were to show up with, say a woman…" Rodney said a bit more nervously.
"Go on." Keller said with a smile as she knew where he was going.
"A beautiful woman." Rodney said seeing her smile more. "That maybe they wouldn't think I was, well, a total loser. It would only have to be the first night there and then, after that, you could be off to Chippewa Falls and we'd meet back up when we were coming back here."
"Yeah, let's see. A room full of long winded physicist, speaking in a language I will barely understand. That really doesn't sound like much fun." Keller stated with a sorry look.
"Well, there will most likely be drinks, and probably those little sandwiches, plus, me. I'll be there." Rodney said hopefully.
"You don't need to fabricate all these reasons why you want me there. You could just ask me out on a date?" Keller said.
"Well, but, um…" Rodney said nervously.
"I'll probably say yes." Keller said.
"Oh, in that case, do you want to go with me?" Rodney asked hopefully.
"Sure. I'd love to." Keller said with a happy smile.
"Oh, love to. That's great, really great." Rodney said relieved.
"It's a date." Keller said with a bright smile.
"Yes, it's a date." Rodney said happily.
"So, what's the presentation?" Keller asked.
"Um, not sure really. He's keeping it a secret until everyone gets there. But, knowing this guy, it will be a first class presentation." Rodney said as they got up with their mostly empty trays. "But with second rate science. Probably some minor adjustment to someone else's work. But the food will be good."
"And the company." Rodney said smiling as he did.
"Never know, we might run into someone from the SGC or someone either of us knows, more you than me, that likes you Rodney." Keller said.
"Yeah, right." Rodney said skeptically. "My sister is the only one that comes to mind, and she's already quit the science field."
"Stranger things have happened Rodney." Keller said as he nodded lightly with a frown.
Out in a desert back on Earth, in America, somewhere near the western side of the country, there was a large square wall with lights at certain points, surrounding a building that was small for the most part, but relatively large underground. In the command center of the facility, the man Rodney was speaking of, a dirty blonde that was just slightly overweight, like Rodney, was sitting at the far left side of the long computer system board as he typed into a keyboard that, once done in use, would slid back into the console. The entire console was well over ten feet with many computer systems in it, along with a wall of servers and other tall computer systems behind the guy. In front of the computer console, there was a large wall with a dry eraser board filled with complex computations and other notes, as was the walls to his right that had tacked up papers and other posters of information. A single door at the far left of the room lead out and further into the building and had the name Kramer on the side by the door. A older gentleman, in a dark blue suit, came in holding a few papers rolled up in his hands and leaned on the top of the console.
"Your staff thinks that turning this thing on tomorrow is a bad idea." Terrance said.
"Some of my staff." Malcolm said.
"Malcolm…" Terrance began.
"They are just getting cold feet, that is all." Malcolm said getting up as the keyboard slid back in and he went to another keyboard nearby. "Do you remember all that stuff that came out when CERN turned on the LHC? You know, the miniature black holes, exotic particles, stranglets, the instantaneous destruction of the planet. They were all unfounded histrionics. We are going to be just fine."
"So, you are saying that none of these potential catastrophes are going to happen, right?" Terrance asked, still worried as Malcolm walked over.
"There is always a, slight possibility, that something, might, go wrong." Malcolm said.
"The cause has a lot ridding on this." Terrance said.
"Don't worry about it. Your precious, 'cause', will come out of this squeaky clean tomorrow." Malcolm said as he typed on a keyboard near the man.
"The scenario's are terrifying….." Terrance stated.
"Of course they are. They are worse case scenarios!" Malcolm stated. "They are the worst possible thing that could ever happen, ever. Look, tomorrow will go off without a hitch. We've done hundreds of test, there is zero chance of anything going wrong tomorrow. Trust me."
Terrance wasn't convinced but didn't do anything to stop him despite his uneasy feelings.
Rodney and Keller were on a private jet to the landing strip nearest the facility they were headed for. Both were alone and eating foods they normally didn't get, unless Ford was cooking usually, and drinking champagne. Rodney was in a tux with bow tie, coat open. Keller was in a black dress that was held up on the shoulders leaving her arms and neck line down to above her bosom bare. Sparkly little disc adorned the breast section and along the bottom of the dress. For Rodney and the other people who knew Keller, it was a different thing to see her looking so great and sexy at the same time when she was usually in SGA attire or scrubs. Rodney felt privileged to be the only one seeing her this way as well and was enjoying the moment greatly.
"This is very exciting." Keller said setting her glass down.
"Oh, it's just a plane." Rodney said chuckling.
"Yeah, but I've never even flown first class before. This is amazing. Have you even tried these strawberries?" Keller asked.
"I had a bowl of them once when I was ten, and threw up. Haven't been able to stomach them since. Plus I have the citrus problem so…" Rodney said trailing off.
"These are safe…." Keller said.
"And if they have came into contact with citrus, I'd rather not have a reaction, just in case. Besides, with what I said before…" Rodney said as she shrugged and ate one herself.
"How does this guy afford all of this anyway? I thought he was just a physicist." Keller said.
"He's always been able to dupe deep pocketed guys into funding his research. It's amazing what a nice smile and a power point presentation will get you. If it wasn't for what Ford already knows, I'm pretty sure this guy could fool him as well and get loads of funding quickly." Rodney said.
"That would be something to see. He was very hard to fool and extremely hard to prank sometimes. Unless Sam had a helping hand in it, which was why his guard was down at the few times it happened at the SGC." Keller said.
"Yeah, I heard about that. Got him once while he and Sam were commanding Atlantis. Ended up paying for that a lot more than I thought. Messing with his kitchen utensils is a very bad idea. On the bright side, since Sheppard did help with the idea, he got punished as well, so it wasn't all bad." Rodney said.
"I heard about that. Someone did the same thing to him once at the SGC from what Sam told me." Keller said and then glanced around again with a happy sigh. "Seeing as I have been in the T.A.R.D.I.S., I can see why they don't have a plane of their own, but seeing as this is my first time like this, I am really impressed with what your friend has."
"He's more like an acquaintance than a friend." Rodney muttered.
"Acquaintances don't send private planes to pick people up." Keller said.
"He didn't do this to be nice. He did this to rub it in my face." Rodney stated as she crossed her arms. "I was always one step ahead of this guy when we were in school, and now, he wants to show me, that as most of the real world is concerned, he is more successful than I am. And what is with that evening attire? We're going to a science talk for god's sake, who the hell do you think he is?"
"Rodney, is this how the whole day is going to be like? You're going to be in a bad mood?" Keller asked, lightly offended.
"No." Rodney said after a moment.
"We are together in a private jet, drinking expensive champagne, and your date is wearing a very fancy dress. Most people would be having a lot of fun right now, Rodney." Keller said seeing his face fall.
"You're right, you're right." Rodney said smiling again as he took a strawberry and bit it, only to grimace a moment later.
The plane landed later and they went to the facility, going inside the elaborate place finding a guard with hexagonal shelves behind him filled with neatly stored boxes and papers.
"Hello, I am Doctor Rodney McKay." Rodney said with an air of superiority. "And this is Doctor Jennifer Keller."
"Yes sir. Before you go in, I need you both to sign these confidential and non disclosure agreements." the man said handing them papers.
"You can't be serious?" Rodney said looking at what had to be a couple hundred page book like binder that was set before him.
"Is there a problem sir?" the man asked.
"What could he possibly have that needs to be kept secret with a confidentiality agreement two hundred pages long?" Rodney just about exclaimed.
"If you want to go inside sir, you need to fill out the form first. Otherwise, the door is that way." the man said rudely as he pointed behind them.
"Dinosaurs?" Rodney asked with some sarcasm.
"Excuse me sir?" the man asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What, does he have dinosaurs back there?" Rodney asked pointedly.
"Rodney, shut up and sign the damned thing." someone said behind him as two of the agreements were set down on the counter in front of him, harshly. "We're done."
"Look at it this way, if the guy has done something wrong, this signed document is void considering our backgrounds and clearance levels." a female voice said.
Both turned around seeing two people they didn't expect. Ford was in his void black suit and wearing his signature round shades, still having long thick hair as well. Sam was in a very elegant red business like suit and her hair in a pony tail, though it was still down near her butt in length.
"General, Sam? What are you two doing here?" Keller asked as Rodney was still surprised to see them.
"What else? We got an invitation." Ford said. "We can talk more inside. Just sign where it says and don't bother reading it all, otherwise, you'll still be out here when whatever this presentation is, is over."
"Don't you two already know what this is?" Rodney asked as Jennifer was signing.
"No, it would spoil the surprise McKay." Carter said.
"If there is any problems, then at least the three greatest minds are here to fix it." Ford stated.
"Well, there's that." Rodney said as his ego felt better.
"And the greatest medical mind if that trouble arises." Carter said.
"I just hope it doesn't come to that." Keller said before she realized something. "Rodney, guess what?"
"What?" Rodney asked confused.
"We actually met some people we know, here, as I had said could happen." Keller said.
"Yes, we did. I'm just glad to see it you two." Rodney said.
"Why is that?" Carter asked skeptically.
"Well, friends is one thing, but people you know who can help in a crisis with actual competence, if whatever this guy is doing is bad, is better to have around." Rodney said.
"And we are both, so the bases are covered." Ford said as Rodney nodded with a smile.
A few minutes later, they were all in a large room that wasn't very scientific looking, more like a convention hall with high a ceiling. Very small, barely able to support two, tables were spread out with a couple people at them or more. Food was on a table nearby as people mingled about waiting for the man of the hour to come out and speak to them. Palm trees in potted plants were in various areas and the yellow and white walls made the room look bigger than it actually was. Sky lights above them gave more light to the room along with the lights overhead. Waiters walked around with plates of food or drinks for those not wanting to move to the table were it was a bit crowded.
"Why are you two really here?" Rodney asked. "There is no way you got an invitation."
"Why do you think that?" Carter asked with a frown, which would have shown insult if not for the fact she knew the man. "We both have a large understanding in the physicist field. Plus several others. More than most considering what we have and can do."
"Yes, but I doubt this idiot has any idea who you people are and not a lot of people really know about that machine you have." Rodney said quietly. "So, spill it?"
"We keep a look out for agencies, people or whatever is doing classified work or work that pertains to things that are of or should be classified. This came up and invitations were made so we could come check it out. We've been to a few others that turned up to be really bad rip off's and some, stolen tech, while others were actually interesting." Ford said.
"England made a submarine that is almost undetectable. We were impressed until we learned it was made from technology they shouldn't have had, sort of like the Knight Foundation has. The team behind the submarine tech had no idea they had stolen technology from us and as far as we know, the SGC and our government, along with theirs, is working something out." Carter said.
"Oh. Well, at least we can say you two are keeping watch on things even if you did retire." Keller said. "Nice outfit Sam. I'm rather surprised you didn't wear a dress though."
"I like yours too. I have one similar with a spaghetti strap and it's red. I thought about a dress, but can't hide as much in one. Such as my Sonic Screwdriver." Carter whispered.
"Why not in a small handbag or purse?" Keller asked showing the small one on her arm that matched the dress she had.
"I can't remember the last time I had or used one. Since we spend so much more time away from, here." Carter said making a small circle in the air that they understood. "Carrying one is rather pointless in those other places. I lost one a couple times during a couple trips and gave up on it. I just keep my wallet in my coat."
"Good point." Keller said. "You are so lucky."
"I'm going to go get something to eat, you want anything?" Rodney asked.
The two ladies made suggestions and both of the guys left leaving them to talk.
"She is wearing a very nice outfit Rodney. And for you I think." Ford said.
"Really? What makes you think that?" Rodney asked a bit confused as Ford rolled his eyes.
"Look at her and use some imagination. I don't think she wore that to show off to other people here. And you two are dating so…" Ford said trailing off.
"Oh." Rodney said as Ford shook his head this time.
"God, you are clueless. How long has it been…no, wait, I don't want to know. Forget I even tried to ask." Ford said quickly.
"You think she might be looking…." Rodney asked.
"I can't say this for all women, mostly because I only have one and been with one, but…" Ford said stopping a moment. "If you say anything to anyone about this conversation, which I am only telling you about to give you some help, and Sam finds out and gets mad, I will make your life a pain for a very long time."
"Yes, totally understand." Rodney said holding up a hand in a scouts honor way.
"Good. Now, when Sam wears something similar to that, or even more revealing, it is a sure sign of what it going to happen later, assuming nothing ruins the mood before hand." Ford said.
"Wow." Rodney said with surprise. "If that is the case, color me shocked. Any other tips…"
"Be yourself, but less condescending, especially if anyone rags on you. I know you are competitive, but no matter what any of these people here do, you have done and are doing things they can't even understand or could handle. Because of what you and the rest of the, expedition has done, these people live in ignorant peace. Now, lets get the rest of the food we need and back before they think something is up." Ford said.
For the next half hour or so, the four stayed together talking on and off about different things while observing the stuff around them.
"Hey, can you tell us where we are? We came here without being able to know where here even is." Keller asked.
"Hidden area of Arizona. Secret facility." Ford muttered.
"Has a underground section bigger than the upper part above ground." Carter said.
"What's he got here?" Rodney asked. "Other than some secret facility that looks like something from the fifties?"
"Not sure. We didn't really do much of a scan. Makes the surprise more worth it that way. But the, you know, is monitoring things." Carter said. "And so is K-9."
"I'm going to go look around." Ford said as he began moving away with a irritable tone.
"What's wrong?" Carter asked knowing something was up.
"That ass Bill Nye is here and really, he's one of those people I look at and want to punch out. That asinine TV show he did, though informative, was an embarrassment to science." Ford said with a grimace "Just as bad as that wormhole X or whatever the hell is was called."
"Oh no, you're staying here." Carter said grabbing his arm and making him groan.
"Rodney McKay? Wow, we had it on good authority that you were dead." Bill said holding out his hand, getting it shook from the girls only since the guy's hands were full, which Ford was extremely thankful for.
"Ha, ha, no. Sorry to rain on your parade." Rodney said sarcastically.
"So, is this your sister?" the black man asked.
"No, this is Jennifer Keller, my date." Rodney said proudly. "Jennifer, this is Bill Nye and Neil Degrasse Tyson."
"You know, from television?" Tyson said.
"Sorry, the most any of us really see of TV is DVD's of shows or movies, not much else really." Ford said seeing Keller looking confused like he was. "News is here or there depending on if it affects us or not."
"And, who are you?" Bill asked like he just noticed the two others there.
"Retired Air Force General, General Carter. And this lady here, is retired General Samantha Carter, my wife." Ford said.
"Wait, the Samantha Carter. Working with the hologram technology?" Bill asked.
"The one and the same. Ford is still helping with it." Carter said.
"Wait, you two are married?" Nye asked with a frown as they nodded.
"That's, different." Tyson said confused. "I thought fraternization was frowned upon."
"It is, but because of what we do, the circumstances allowed us to be together." Carter said.
"When you work on top secret stuff, having a life with another person who can never know really ruins a relationship. So, we made a good argument and, here we are." Ford said.
"Yes, that and having the President of the United States on speed dial really helps things along." Rodney said with a smirk.
"You have the President on speed dial?" Bill asked with surprise and disbelief.
"Why do you think he's been gone all these years?" Ford said defensively. "The things he's done and worked on would make him famous world wide, even outside the science circle. The problem is, it's all so classified, he along with the three of us can't say anything about it on pain of death, literally. Just as bad as treason."
"Actually, it would be considered treason." Carter stated.
"Thank you General. Glad someone finally stood up for me." Rodney said.
"You're joking." Bill said.
"No, he's not." Keller said a bit unsure of the situation.
"I may have retired, but I still work with him on occasions. As does Sam here." Ford said.
"And what do you do?" Tyson asked.
"I'm the medical doctor." Keller said.
"You need a medical doctor…" Bill began.
"Considering our location and a lot of what we do, better to have medical staff on hand then taking injured personnel to hospitals where questions can't be asked. There is a few hundred people on the project." Carter said. "Besides, some of the stuff done is medical in nature."
"I'm confused." Bill said. "Why are you two here? This was an invitation to science members only. I can see why you would be here Mrs. Carter, but are you both here to keep him from…"
"No." Rodney stated. "I haven't worked on this project so long to blurt out what I do to blow up my ego in front of everyone here. I do that enough while working."
"Yeah, he never lets up sometimes." Keller muttered. "Nor lets anyone forget it."
"For good reason." Ford said. "We are scientist as well. We wouldn't be working on this project with McKay otherwise. Not all military members are paper pushers who boss around the scientist to get the work done and never understand what the work really is."
"Wait, I've heard of you both now. You wrote a book I read and I even saw the video later with some sort of energy weapon that failed the first time and worked later." Tyson said looking at Carter before turning to point at Ford. "You were there as well."
"Yes, that was us." Carter said uneasy. "But our project was the holographic system we demonstrated."
"That's why the hologram thing that was just mentioned seemed familiar." Tyson said.
"How's that coming along?" Bill asked. "I was really fascinated when I read the article on it."
"Slowly. It's not really the funding that is the trouble, it's a mass of programming issues. Stuff we can't go into." Ford said as unease as Sam was because he was now on the spot since he took most of the credit for the hologram thing back then. And that only happened because the lady ended up saying Ford was the main backer and programmer.
"That explains why you haven't published a paper in over ten years. Maybe more." Tyson said as he looked at Rodney.
"Last time I read something he came out with, I was listening to the band, A Flock of Seagulls." Bill said with a laugh.
"One day, what I do will all come out, and I will be having the last laugh. Trust me." Rodney said with a smirk.
"Papers, articles, speeches and all that aren't important. At least not to me anyway. Other than these three people here, no one here has any idea who I really am and the scientific breakthroughs I've done. And I've never published anything." Ford stated. "And President Hayes talked to Rodney in person too."
"This is nice General, but you don't have to defend everything about me." Rodney said.
"Actually, he's being pretty lenient. Daniel had some former colleagues run into him and ridicule him badly. Daniel couldn't say anything obviously but Ford torn into them pretty badly from what Jack told us." Carter said.
"Really?" Keller asked as her eyebrows raised.
"I'd probably do something similar here, but being a more scientific background instead of archeology, I'd probably be more than asked to see proof. However, I think the slow but going progress on making a Holodeck system like they have on Star Trek speaks for itself." Ford said with a smirk of his own.
"Okay, we'll be seeing you all around later." Bill said with an uneasy smile.
The two walked away as Keller shook her head.
"I can't believe you guys had a pissing match in front of me." Keller said.
"That would have been the case if either of those guys were hitting on you doctor." Ford said as he set his plate aside on a table. "This was more of a reputation, um, match I guess is the right word."
"With scientists, it's always about seeing who is better and knows more and how there work represents them." Rodney said. "I told you'd they ridicule me on the plane."
"Yeah, but it was still stupid to play into their game…" Keller said.
"Jennifer, as stupid as it was, it was better than being put down in front of everyone. I've had it happen to me a few times before. I haven't wrote anything since that book I did when I had Anises armbands. I know how Rodney feels, to a point." Carter said.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Rodney asked.
"I know what I have done and still do, and am happy with that even though I can't tell a lot of people, even when it is rubbed in my face that others have done this or that and I can't brag about what I've done. You, on the other hand, like to brag and hate it when you can't, like at this moment." Carter said.
"Good thing you two were here to defend me. I might have said something otherwise." Rodney said.
"I would have kept him in line General." Keller said.
"I know. You're actually bringing out a side of Rodney few people ever see." Ford said finishing his pop and setting it aside.
"Like what?" Rodney asked.
"Kindness for one thing." Carter said crossing her arms.
"And compassion. Saying what you did on that tape when your mind was going had to be extremely hard, but you meant it." Ford whispered.
"Wait, you saw that?" Rodney asked seeing Jennifer blush slightly. "How many…"
"Me, Sam and Keller were the only ones. And we only wanted to look at them to see how the progression of this parasite went in hopes of finding a way to help save you. This was all before going to that place with the thing that helped cure you." Ford said.
"Oh. Okay, I see what you mean." Rodney said trialing off.
"We won't say anything Rodney. We know you have a reputation to maintain." Carter said patting his arm. "Let's go find some seats. Looks like this Malcolm guy is going to speak soon."
"Wait, she meant that reputation thing as an insult…" Rodney said moments after they left.
"No Rodney, she was teasing you because it can be easy sometimes. Truth be told though, you are rather brusque with most people, including your friends. I on the other hand..." Keller said linking his arm with hers. "You are kind to."
"Huh, I…." Rodney said.
"Don't think on it too much. Let's go see what this guy has to say, get this ordeal over with and go home." Keller said patting his arm.
They entered a auditorium that had a couple of aisles between slanted rows of seats like in a theater. A large stage and podium was in front as expected along with a very large plasma screen with speakers on the side. Many people were already in the place and others were still sitting down. Ford and Carter were in the second row near the front as Rodney and Keller took the ones in front of them.
"Rodney..." Ford said quietly.
"Yeah?" Rodney asked looking over his shoulder.
"No matter what this guy says, even if he picks you out of the crowd to ridicule or show you up in front of everyone, remember what you really do and how much you'll be able to shove it in his face when everything comes out. Your name will be in the history books much more than his or anyone else here will be." Ford said.
"Except for you two." Rodney muttered.
"Dude, you're the head guy for Atlantis in your fields. You helped find it, keep it running and fixed it when damaged. In many ways, you've done things we haven't. While the I.O.A. and others kept trying to get Weir, Sheppard and several others brought home, you were never touched because you were needed there and still are. Is any of this getting through that thick head?" Ford whispered.
"I get it, I get it." Rodney said waving his hand at him.
"Good then straighten up and remember it if anyone says anything bad about you." Ford said, then sat back straitening out his coat. "I almost wonder why I bother."
"He is a hand full, which is one reason I couldn't get along with him. We don't compete, which is why we work together so well." Carter said grabbing his hand in hers.
The room darkened and Malcolm's voice was heard as the TV showed pictures of Earth and things on it. He spoke of how great Earth was and the life and that unless something happened soon, more than just global warming was going to be the cause of severe damage to the planet.
"I am Malcolm Tunney." Malcolm said as he came out onto the stage.
Most of everyone clapped, though Ford, Rodney and Carter didn't.
"Thank you for the warm welcome." Malcolm said as he moved to be in front of the TV.
He went on making a few jokes and talking about how things needed to change and how one person, such as him, could make a difference.
"I have been working on a number of projects over the last decade and I've realized, if it were to combine them, I could achieve something unexpected. With major help and funding of Kramer innovations, I have created a way to cool the Earth, safely and in a controlled way." Malcolm stated.
It wasn't much of a surprise when most of everyone leaned forward to listen more closely. Jennifer noticed the two behind her lean forward and knew it had to be something important if, not only did the Carter's do it, but Rodney did it as well with interest. Malcolm said a paper briefing with more detail was to be given to them after they left the lecture hall and he was just going to give the cliff notes on it. A complex gear system came on the large screen showing heat waves moving towards it, which he called a heat sink system, was designed to draw heat from the environment around it.
"Where does all that heat go you ask? Well, my friends, that is the hard part. I give you, the Tunney Space Time Bridge." Malcolm said with a wave of his hand.
People started to clap when a loud shout made everyone turn as a particular persons name was called out.
"What? I didn't do anything!" Rodney exclaimed. "I didn't even say…"
"How in the hell did this project get restarted?" Ford exclaimed while waving at the screen as he sat in the seat.
"Don't look at me! I didn't give him the idea!" Rodney stated seeing even Sam was upset. And afraid like Ford was.
"Excuse me. Who are you people?" Malcolm asked. "And why are you interrupting my presentation?"
"General Carter, United States Air Force." Ford said standing. "And what you are presenting was tried a few years ago in a classified location. The same bridge was created with the intent of drawing energy from another space time, and we barely shut it off before it went out of control. Had we failed, Earth wouldn't even be here. How in the hell did you get hold of the technology behind this? As cliché as this is going to sound, this failure was classified above top secret."
"An Air Force General? The government sticking their noses where it doesn't belong once again I see. This is why private companies aren't really allowed to make it big unless the government or military has a hand in it as well." Malcolm said to everyone else making them laugh. "Can you prove you did create a bridge like mine? Oh wait, that would mean talking about a classified project, so you can't talk."
"Actually I can." Ford said making Malcolm stop laughing. "Doctor Rodney McKay was the head of the project."
"Oh, Rodney McKay. Why am I not surprised. You're here to blame me for stealing yet another one of your projects." Malcolm said condescendingly.
"No, I mean yes." Rodney said standing. "Look, the experiment failed. We barely shut it down in time. Exotic particles made it unstable and we were unable to gain control."
"Exotic particles? Well, I can see you have some understanding of what this is then. However, whatever you and the government lackey's did, you apparently had something wrong. This facility which runs this system has been going for months on and off has yet to have any problems. A electromagnetic field is keeping the heat sink from taking any heat from the outside world and only drawing it from what is in the field, specifically the building and all the heat inside. Now, unless either of you two can provide papers or proof that you really understand how my device functions, I suggest you sit down before you make a fool out of yourselves any further. And if you want to continue to interrupt, I'll have security escort you out." Malcolm stated.
"What do we do General?" Rodney whispered even though everyone heard it.
"We wait. Once this blows up in his face, we'll shut it down before anyone gets killed, though highly possible since our project was a smaller version, have him arrested for stealing classified information, then bring in people to fix the mess." Ford said as he sat down.
"But this could blow up in our face?" Rodney said.
"And we'll be safe because I brought you know what." Ford said.
"Is it close by?" Rodney asked.
"Duh." Ford said with a roll of his eyes.
Rodney shrugged but was still worried as he sat down with Jennifer shaking her head.
"Okay, now that that problem is dealt with." Malcolm said rubbing his hands. "Don't worry folks. We've run a lot of test and nothing has went wrong. And I did say we've been running it on and off for a few months now. Obviously, my people and I have been able to solve whatever problems they had, if we accept what they said it true. So, my demonstration today will show you how it works by dropping the temperature in here from the 74 it is, down to 64 within a few moments. And, it won't be with the air conditioning which has been off for some hours now."
A lady at a laptop near his feet on the floor pushed a few buttons and then nodded to him.
"See, we are now up and running. So, let's all go out to the lobby, where hot cocoa will be being served, and I will answer all your questions after you've read the brief. Well, answer some peoples questions." Malcolm said giving four people a stare.
While everyone else was mingling or talking to themselves in groups, the four were near a standee of Malcolm that had a digital thermometer that read 73. Keller didn't have one of the briefs given out, but the other three did. Most people gave them wide berths or strange looks, and no one talked to them.
"I can't believe this. This is the same work that my sister and I did." Rodney said while looking it over.
"I've noticed. K-9's looked over the brief that we sent to him and was scanned into the computer. Other than a few changes, it is basically the same bridge. And even I, in another universe, couldn't get it to work even with the ideas that other me had." Carter said. "This place is a ticking time bomb."
"Are you three really sure that he…" Keller began asking when all three answered yes. "Okay, what do we do?"
"Not sure yet. I should call Jack and have this placed stormed. But that electromagnetic shield is in place, so storming in would cause more problems." Ford said.
"Something tells me, other than us forcing our way in and shutting it off ourselves, this Malcolm guy is going to keep it running no matter what we say." Carter said. "We don't have any weapons and trying anything with the security we've seen wouldn't get us anywhere. Okay, I take that back, one of us has weapons, but the three of us don't. And we really don't need the Air Force looking bad."
"Let's go look at his computer. Or at least find a computer. I can hack in and find out what else we don't know about." Rodney said.
No one noticed as they walked over the small rubber rails and go through a door near a staircase. Entering a office that was dark, they went over to a laptop that was on.
"Watch the door for us Jennifer." Rodney said.
"Why me?" Keller asked.
"Because you can't understand what we'll be reading or even what to look for." Rodney said.
"Be nice Rodney." Ford stated while smacking his arm lightly.
"Sorry, sorry. We just need time to look for something." Rodney said.
"That's better, even though I did understand what you meant the first time." Keller said glancing out the door. "Try to make it quick okay?"
"Any idea what his password…" Rodney asked when Carter put her Sonic Screwdriver over the keyboard making the screen move rapidly through screens before getting in after a two seconds. "Wow, that's works. I really wish I could have one…"
They had been in there for less than ten minutes, still looking up things as Ford had a special flash chip in the side of a USB that was sending the data to the X-wing. Out in the lobby area where everyone was, the temperature turned to 64, making many people cheer and applaud. Malcolm waved off the applauses and said thank you before talking to various people and asking questions.
"Dr. Tunny sir, can I have a word?" a lady said as she walked up.
"Sure. Excuse me a moment." Malcolm said to the people as he moved away to talk to the lady that turned on the system.
"You said to turn off the system after the temperature reached 64 degrees." the lady said.
"Yes, you can shut if off now." Malcolm said.
"That's just it sir, we can't. We've tried everything, it won't shut off no matter what we do." she said worried.
His smile faded as he looked over seeing the temperature drop to 63, which began his worrying. Moving out of the room, though trying not to leave as to alert anyone, he went down to the command center and started working on the system. Terrance told him to shut off power to the facility which Malcolm said was pointless since the machine ran off itself. After an explanation to Terrance that was over his head, he asked how bad things were going to get, which after hearing what Malcolm said, realized the place would be below freezing in less than an hour since it only took then minutes to drop ten degrees. More arguments arose between the two before Tunny exclaimed that the system had been tampered with.
The four had been done for a few minutes and noticed it had dropped to 60 degrees. Bill Nye came up to them as they were talking at one of the small tables.
"Rodney, I know you have problems, but interrupting…" Bill began.
"I admit I was going to interrupt him, because he did steal my work, but he beat me to it!" Rodney said pointing at Ford.
"Yeah, like the government…." Nye began asking.
"Did you know that time travel is completely possible and it has been done?" Ford blurted out shocking the three and Bill.
"What the hell are you doing?" Carter hissed.
"Giving proof of my I.Q. for one thing. Or my scientific prowess and ability I should say. I know you don't believe me and since I can't go into details, that makes it more unbelievable, but it is possible. It was done with a car, special programming and, for the most part, parts you can buy in computer stores or Radio Shack, and one plutonium rod." Ford stated.
"Time travel is not possible. You need…" Nye began.
"A lot more I.Q. than you have Bill." Ford said very condescendingly. "That is the reason why all these people here aren't employed by the government like Rodney here is. We pick people who have the potential to look beyond what shouldn't and couldn't be and make it possible. Think outside the box and believe anything is possible. Just like Spock's half brother in Star Trek V said about all the things that couldn't be broken and eventually were, the same is happening here. Trust me, we have the technology to blow this planet apart with the nuclear bombs we've built over the last decade alone. And many of those can fit in suitcases."
"That may be true…." Bill started.
"Help me out here Sam." Ford said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Okay, um…ah, we have lasers, mostly used in medical needs, such as eye surgery." Carter said. "A lot of technology has been being created base on things seen in Star Trek. Flip open cellular phones is one example. Stephen Hawking is working on trying to create transporters and warp drive. One of the things we are working on is making a phaser. Within a year or so, we'll have them too. A phaser is just a modified laser and we've already made significant progress. I assume you saw that presentation the two of us did with that energy weapon during our holographic presentation."
"Besides that, the government had a working laser that could fit in a car back in the eighties." Ford stated.
"So, time travel is possible and you're breaching what has to be some serious confidentially laws telling me this?" Bill said not really believing it was true.
"Who's going to believe you? And even if they did, it wouldn't matter. Yeah, I'll admit it is possible and I've done it. Am I going to tell you how or show you, not a chance in hell. Very few people get to know how it is possible, and even fewer get to actually do it." Ford said. "Rodney was there a few times during, the test."
"And if I decide to tell everyone here?" Bill asked.
"Please do. They'll either think you are crazy, or that we are crazy for telling you something that is not possible by the standards of the normal scientific community, and still think you crazy for talking to us and believing it, so. And even if they believe it and ask us, I'm not going to tell how it is possible." Ford said. "It's a catch 22. And I swear on my life, my wife's and children that it has been done."
Bill walked off confused as Carter shook her head.
"If I wasn't married to you and knew how your mind works, I'd swear you were looking to get in trouble for speaking of things you shouldn't." Carter said while crossing her arms.
"No one believes it. That's what makes it so possible. If I were to tell him aliens exist and then the theory behind time travel, he'd believe the alien thing first because it is possible." Ford said.
"How does that car work anyway? You showed us once, but since going anywhere was a bad idea because you end up in the same place, but different time, you didn't demonstrate it. I only got part of what this flux capacitor had to do with it since you didn't give me enough to figure out the rest." Rodney said. "And I never got the chance to see the car thing out on the pier during that bad situation."
"Fine. Even if you build the device, I doubt you'd be stupid enough to try time traveling since you could screw it up and make yourself never exist. You're self preservation is so high that I am sure you'd never try to actually build it. The power from the plutonium is sent through the body, but has to go through the flux capacitor first to enable…" Ford began as it was obvious Rodney was putting two and two together rather fast.
"Sir's, ladies, Mr. Tunny would like to speak to you." a short man in a suit said beside their table.
"Considering the temperature has been dropping, I guess he wants out help because the machine isn't shutting off." Rodney said. "What do you know? We had the same problem. But we weren't trying to affect the temperature."
They were left in a room that had a few soft leather chairs, some paintings and a table with nice leather desk chairs on either side of it. Rodney and Keller sat in the two comfy chairs while Sam sat back on the couch as Ford paced while running his Sonic Screwdriver in the air.
"What are you doing?" Keller asked.
"We've still got some time before this asinine system goes critical. We should be able to shut it down if that idiot gets in here soon. Otherwise, we may have to evacuate." Ford said still holding it up. "Plus, it's creating a white noise so we can talk without being overheard or watched."
"How do we do that?" Jennifer asked. "Save everyone I mean?"
"The X-wing is nearby keeping watch. We'd just load everyone into it and use whatever we could to shut this place down." Carter said.
"But that would mean revealing the existence of the SGC and Atlantis." Keller said.
"Torchwood, which is a nice show by the way. Off shoot of the Doctor Who universe." Rodney said. "They have this pill, which can vary on how far it effects someone. Once taken, they loose their memories up to a certain point. Say an hour back or more. They don't know what happened and will always have a blank spot for that time."
"A pill?" Jennifer asked.
"I was able to get some from Jack Harkness when we were in the Doctor Who universe. Easy to create actually. Have had to use them on and off. We'd just spike everyone's drinks, say it was a precaution needed to ensure that their bodies could withstand the environment change or some other lie that would be believable." Ford said.
"Oh. That's handy." Keller said. "Won't have to worry about security breaches or secrets being revealed."
"Plus cuts out the paperwork of having them sign the non disclosure forms." Carter said. "Many of the people here didn't pass the exam to even try being recruited, and the rest are brilliant enough."
"Why is it that Rodney isn't able to have one of those?" Keller asked. "I know he is smart enough to use it. Even I am, but K-911 is better help for me."
"I asked that too once, and while I understand why, I still don't like it. I can't have one because there is basically a 100 percent chance someone from Earth, more than likely from the I.O.A., would come and threaten me to teach them how to make one and use it, which I am damned sure would be used against us and for other evil things, including against Sam and Ford." Rodney said.
"Oh, that makes sense. I should have realized that." Keller said. "Wait, why haven't they tried to come get my K-9 unit then, since she can access the T.A.R.D.I.S.?"
"Because K-911 doesn't have certain protocols and other programs needed to access the T.A.R.D.I.S. like K-9 can. The basic plans for a K-9 unit are in the SGC, but our K-9 is unique from it and yours, making it quite pointless to come after K-911. We told the I.O.A. and several others, plus giving the plans for K-911 to the SGC, so they and anyone who wanted to try something, knew it would be impossible to get to us." Carter said.
"Oh. Glad to know K-911 is safe and so is everyone else from a problem." Keller said.
"Ah, some one is coming." Ford said shutting of his Sonic device and putting it away.
An elderly gentleman and Malcolm came in, sitting down on the other side of the table as Ford and Rodney took the other chairs.
"I hope you are not here to gloat and possibly apologize…" Rodney began.
"I don't have to apologize for anything. Actually, you three should be apologizing." Malcolm stated.
"Since when?" Rodney exclaimed.
"I don't know who these people are or what they even claim to be or how in the hell you even got on the invitation list." Malcolm said looking at the Carters.
"We know people." Carter said with a shrug.
"This is going too far Rodney. I invited you out here as a courtesy…" Malcolm began.
"Before you three get into a big argument and start throwing punches, I'd like to know what the hell you did?" the elderly man asked.
"Did what?" Rodney asked confused as Ford even shrugged.
"The machine won't shut off." Malcolm said.
"Well, well, well. Color us surprised." Carter said sarcastically as she ignored the glares.
"We were trying to tell you not to turn the damned thing on to begin with! Because it is unstable, almost impossible to control and a real pain in the ass at shutting down!" Rodney exclaimed. "But you turned it on anyway despite our advice!"
"And look, just like I said, it was going to blow up in your face. Now we just need to help shut the damned thing off, find out how you even learned about this technological blunder…." Ford said.
"Blunder? It's because you people messed with…" Malcolm said.
"We haven't mess with anything!" Rodney said. "You turned it on and have incompetent people like you trying to run something you don't understand!"
"Enough! I want you four to tell us what you did so we can fix this and maybe I won't press charges." Terrance said.
"Press charges? We'll be the one's pressing charges! We have the military backing us, not to mention, proof of the experiment we did that failed just like this one is, and it was done years ago. You are dealing with a system that does, not, work." Ford stated firmly as he poked the table with a finger.
"We have way better computers and staff that you can't even begin to believe, trust me, we know what we are talking about." Rodney stated.
"What about this?" Malcolm said pushing a button on a small screen nearby.
It came up showing the four in the office and working on the computer as Keller watched the door. Not a lot of talking took place other than scientific words and mutterings.
"So, what did you three do, hmm? And what was it you hooked up to that computer and what the hell was that blue flashing thing?" Malcolm asked.
"It was helping in a search for certain words, phrases and programs. Plus transmitting data to an outside source. Our personal computer actually." Ford said. "As for the blue thingy, classified."
"But we did find something that explains everything here." Rodney said whirling his finger in the air. "You started this place, off a paper I wrote over two years ago. I found it in the computer, buried pretty deep, but there nonetheless."
"You haven't wrote anything lately, much less the last two years." Malcolm stated.
"I created a space matter bridge two years ago, but it was highly unstable because of the exotic particles. How you got my paper is beyond me, but you looked at, thought of a new idea on the same principle, and created this disaster waiting to happen. Transferring heat, instead of matter, you probably thought there would be no adverse effects. The space time bridge is a failure. And you stole the idea from me because that paper is in your computers and I can read it word for word without even looking at it." Rodney stated as he poked the table top.
"That's impossible, Malcolm has been working in this project for years." Terrance said.
"I wrote that paper Malcolm and you know it. And I didn't stand up in front of everyone to make a fool of myself and neither did the General here. We were doing it to stop this situation from happening." Rodney said.
"We're going to need their help Terrance." Malcolm said reluctantly.
Taking them down a few levels to the control room, the three with the scientific background quickly looked over the systems and computers.
"This is very bad." Rodney muttered while looking at the computer screens on the wall.
"Very bad? This is about near disastrous!" Ford exclaimed while waving a hand at a readout. "Look at these levels. If this place was being monitored, we'd already be overrun with a mass of troops and god only knows what else."
"And the first people to get the blame would be us." Carter muttered while looking at a readout on a screen at the computer console in front of her.
"You people sabotaged this…" Terrance began.
"Yeah, we sabotaged this project out of spite and decided to stay here while it blows up in our face as well." Rodney said very sarcastically. "After doing the same sort of project once before and having it fail, we thought it would be a huge blast to go through that headache all over again."
"You said…" Terrance began.
"I made an error in judgment." Malcolm stated while worried as he wrung his hands together.
"Error my ass." Ford stated venomously.
"There was a reason that file, however you managed to see it, was marked as top secret and a total failure." Carter said. "I tried something similar once, on a much smaller scale and was lucky to live."
Malcolm only groaned as he looked away.
"Can you people actually shut down this system?" Terrance asked.
"The reason why we gave up this research was because matter bridges are the definition of unpredictable." Rodney said. "We shut down the last one, hopefully, we can do so again."
"We have little choice anyway." Ford said pushing a button on one of the screens on the wall making it scroll to another page. "If we don't shut it down, it will run ramped and eventually take out the planet."
"Did you turn up the heat?" Rodney asked.
"Yes." Malcolm said.
"Did you notice this?" Rodney asked pointing at one screen.
"Yes." Malcolm said.
"What it is?" Keller asked.
"The bridge isn't drawing a consistent load from the heat sink like it should. Instead, it is wavering." Rodney said.
"And that is bad?" Keller asked.
"Very. Might as well be roller skating with nitroglycerin in your hand. One wrong shake or hard bounce and, boom." Ford muttered.
"It's not that bad." Malcolm said.
"Damn near close. All this has to do is move the wrong direction and we'll never be able to stop the destruction that is sure to happen in time because there would be a very good chance we'd all be dead by or before then." Carter said pointing at the screen in question.
"A regular bridge would be drawing same consistent energy reading at all times, but this one is fluctuating greatly." Rodney muttered while thinking as he chewed on his thumb. "Wait, I think we can use that to shut it off."
"How?" Malcolm asked.
"I think I know what you're thinking McKay. We overload it once the levels peak and it should cause the system to crash." Carter said.
"That would work, are only problem is when it will happen. We wait too long and everyone here will have frozen to death." Ford said.
"Even with the heater's on, I can tell it is getting colder." Keller said rubbing her bare arms. "I should have brought a coat."
"Keep yours Rodney, she can have mine. Cold doesn't effect me like it used to." Ford said taking off his suit coat to give to her. "Besides, we don't need you complaining about it freezing if we haven't stopped this by then."
"Ford…" Keller said.
"Yeah Jennifer, oh, thanks." Ford said taking the Sonic Screwdriver from her and putting in his pants pocket.
Up in the lobby area, people were talking and walking around or huddled together in groups as they were freezing since the temperature was now in the fifties. Bill complained about the coldness and backed up to a table behind him just as a large bolt of white light came across his path and hit some bald man near the food table where he was drinking.
"What the hell was that?" Bill exclaimed.
People were frightened and backed off as Malcolm and the four people came in moments later to see what had happened. The man was now lying on the floor, still half frozen and dead as Keller was looking at him with Bill nearby. Ford was looking up as he used his Sonic Screwdriver, ignoring the looks and questions, as he scanned the area. Carter was running hers over the dead man as Malcolm and Rodney were talking.
"This was a sudden and dramatic cooling beam…." Rodney said. "The irregular power pull from the bridge…"
"Oh, so when there was a sudden demand on the heat sink…" Malcolm said.
"The heat sink reacts by drawing on a single localized place within the containment field…." Rodney said.
"And that beam would freeze anything within its path." Malcolm said.
"Yes, and guess what, it's only going to get worse. As this place freezes more, the less heat there will be in certain areas until the only place with heat will be people, making them targets." Ford stated. "And from the scans I just got, there has been three other freeze blast in this place. Seeing as everyone seems to be here, I'm guessing it happened in other parts of this building. Got a serious water line rupture in a hallway…"
"How did you…" Malcolm began.
"Don't ask questions you won't get answers to." Ford warned with a pointed finger. "That blonde lady with glasses came up to you earlier when we were in the control room, what did she say?"
"That one of the heater ducks was shut down in the eastern part of this facility. People were sent to check on it but I haven't heard anything yet as to why." Malcolm said.
"Must have been one of these flash burst." Rodney said.
"His entire left side is almost totally frozen. He was probably alive for a few moments after being hit, but his heart gave out after some point." Keller said.
"This is only going to get worse." Carter said with worry. "We need to shut this down before everyone in here is turned into ice statues."
Back in the control room, they were going over data, talking out variables and other ideas as they continued to figure out ways to shut it down.
"Can't you two call in some help, like from you know who or you know what?" Keller asked after the four had been going at it for ten minutes. "You did mention that pill thing."
"Pill thing?" Malcolm asked and was ignored.
"Because of what the space time bridge is doing and with the electromagnetic field, we can't do much other than do a data transfer and scans since they are causing interference with getting positive locks." Carter said. "Even if we wanted to use it to get everyone out of here, that would mean shutting down the field, which can't be done without making the problem even worse."
"What are you two talking about?" Malcolm asked.
"Is the military watching us?" Terrance asked.
"You got two prominent, respected and extremely important retired General's here. Of course this place is being watched." Ford stated with a wave of his hand. "The only reason no one has stormed the place is because doing so would only cause much more trouble since we advised them to stay back."
"The land lines are cut and cell phone reception is current blocked." Terrance said.
"Even if you had some sort of high tech transmitters on you, there is no way they'd be able to get through the interference." Malcolm said.
"Do you actually believe that the government doesn't have better technology they don't talk about? Take what is happening here already as an example of that. We tried this, it failed, and the machinery we used was smaller than what you're using." Ford stated. "So small it was on a standard table."
"I don't understand what any of you have been saying and won't even pretend to, but unless you have anything to go on, I suggest you start talking to the people out there for help." Keller said pointing behind herself. "They aren't as smart as you four are, but they may come up with something you four obviously haven't been able to come up with yourselves."
"Considering our track record with Jack and Mitchell, she has a point." Carter said.
"Sometime the less intelligent find the obvious solutions." Ford said. "Wish Jack was here. He'd probably point out something we are missing and this would be over."
Going out, they got everyone together as they stood on a landing above the group that was easy to reach by stairs nearby. It only took a couple of minutes to tell them what was happening and what needed to be done. Several dry eraser boards were brought out and within several minutes, the lobby was buzzing with activity and animated voices rather quickly. Ideas flew back and forth along with arguments as the boards were filled with notes, math equations and other formulas only to be added to or taken away quickly within a few seconds. Keller only stayed back near the group that was around Rodney seeing as she couldn't help and only be a spectator. So far, even though there had been a few more flash lightning's, no one had been hit again thankfully.
"What happens when the shield or whatever it is around this place fails? Do we evacuate everyone and blast the place with the beam weapons from the X-wing?" Keller asked quietly.
"Can't do that." Carter muttered. "Blowing up the system could cause a massive rupture in space time resulting in a rip in subspace that would end up destroying the Earth and who knows what else. Our best bet would be to have the X-wing come over the facility, transfer all power to the shields and activate them while the T.A.R.D.I.S. shields protect the ship from damage. K-9 says that would be the best plan considering the data at hand. When the field falls, the heat sink would draw from not only the area around this place, but from the planet causing massive mega-storms, tornadoes and a bunch of other weather related troubles that wouldn't go unnoticed by the weather satellites. In short, it would only accelerate the process of the eventual collapse that would destroy everything if we don't figure out how to shut it down."
"You two are much smarter then Rodney, though I won't say it to his face. Why haven't you figure out a solution already considering everything you two have done and still do?" Keller asked.
"We weren't there on Atlantis when Rodney and Jeannie did that bridge. We've only read the reports and saw the data. For us, this is new." Carter said as Jennifer gave her a look. "Sort of. What my counterpart was working on was a bit different and a lot smaller."
Half and hour later, the four plus Terrance, Keller and Bill Nye were in the control room again going over the best idea they had. Which was overwhelming the bridge until it collapsed. There was bad side effects, which where more freeze lightening strikes. Another problem arose dealing with the fact that the heaters in the facility had died because they were running at 120 percent and finally failed from overuse, which was now resulting in the temperature dropping much quicker.
"Mr. Kramer, go out and tell everyone to get down on the floor and stay there. It may not make a difference, but it might keep people from getting hit by the increased freezing bolts that will take place soon. So far, we've only seen them strike above a couple of feet or more." Ford said.
"So you're saying that anyone below a few feet has a better chance at avoiding getting hit?" Terrance asked.
"Yes." Malcolm said. "When we start this, there is going to be several or more freeze lightening strikes right away. It's unavoidable but a side effect we can't control with this plan."
"Alright, just wait until I radio back that everyone is down." Terrance said walking out with a CB.
"We're not going to be able to wait for this system to peak. We have to increase the heat sink now before things get more out of control." Carter said. "We've already got enough power problems with the land lines and several other systems damaged because of the freeze lightening strikes."
"Not to mention the fact a few of the electromagnetic field emitters are beginning to fail. And once they go down, the heat from outside will increase the system and make a storm over this place that could quickly destroy everything and kill us all before we know what hit us." Bill said while rubbing his arms.
"Everyone has gotten the message doctors." Terrance said over the CB they had. "We're ready to go."
"What should I do?" Keller asked while rubbing her arms.
"Stay in the corner there and in this chair." Rodney said as he rolled over a chair. "You should be out of the way, hopefully."
"Alright, we're all ready here to dial up the power." Carter said pushing a few keys.
"Let's get this over with." Rodney said.
Several lightening strikes ran through various parts of the facility, thankfully with no one getting hit. Power fluctuated in areas as critical and other systems were hit with blast, literally freezing the electronics and shutting them down. The containment field began flickering as power to it started to drop rapidly. Keller jumped in her seat as a couple bolts of the freeze lightening blasted through the control room, but thankfully not hitting anything important.
"We need to shut this down! It's not working!" Malcolm shouted.
"No, we just need to give it a little more time. It's close to peaking out!" Rodney said.
"We have no other ideas to go on and have little choice in doing anything else. This is our best shot at shutting this down while we still can and hopefully keep as many people alive as possible." Carter stated.
"But it is not working! The heat sink isn't peaking and is still fluctuating too much." Bill said.
The system suddenly groaned and beeped at them as the power levels dropped drastically.
"What the hell happened? What did you do?" Rodney asked turning around to see Malcolm at a computer nearby.
"I turned it down. It was too dangerous to keep it going." Malcolm said.
"Why in the hell did you do that? The system was peaking out. We almost had the thing shut down!" Rodney yelled.
"Yeah, and it was going to get us all killed. We're going to have to come up with something else." Malcolm said. "Hey, where did your girlfriend go?"
Bill and Malcolm both were shocked and rather terrified as they looked with the other two seeing Keller kneeling down by a chest and right arm frozen Ford on the ground near the wall that also had a large frozen section on it, larger than him.
"Oh god. Is he…" Malcolm began with his hand over his mouth.
"Things just got a lot worse than before." Bill muttered as they saw Keller shake her head.
"Look, we need to concentrate on the problem at the moment. More people are going to get hit if we don't come up with another idea real quick. And if we're not careful, one or all of us could be next." Rodney said quickly.
"We just lost an important military officer….." Malcolm began as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"And more will die like I just said if we don't fix this. Now get your minds back on the problem here. I'd like to say I can figure this out without help, but that isn't the case." Carter stated.
"You seem rather calm for someone who just lost their husband." Malcolm said as they noticed her typing a way at the keyboard.
"Um, how can I put this?" Carter said while still typing. "I can't explain what happened, but try not to be shocked when he suddenly gets up. A side effect of an experiment, made his physiology change….um…"
"Short of having his head cut off or something extremely fatal, um….such as major blood loss and a few other things Well, the best way to say this…um, as unbelievable as it is going to sound, um….his body suddenly restarts his heart." Keller said as she wrung her hands in agitation while trying to come up with something believable.
"If you want to keep from having the military and the government on your asses more that it is going to be, assuming we get this figured out before we get killed, I seriously suggest you don't talk, think, or even ask about him and what just happened." Carter said. "Oh no. The containment field is about to fail in less than a minute."
"What about that idea you spoke of earlier Sam?" Keller asked.
"We haven't a choice. Rodney, take care of things here if you can." Carter said as she rushed to the door. "Jennifer and I are going to see what we can do with you know what."
"Okay, just be careful. We'll keep a watch on him." Rodney said as the two left.
"Where the hell are those two going? There is nothing to go to and leaving the facility is suicide." Malcolm said.
"It's classified Malcolm. Don't ask. Now, we need to figure out another way to shut this down since you screwed up the original plan." Rodney said very sarcastically and in a demeaning tone.
"Field failure in ten seconds." Bill said as the system beeped at them.
They knew the field failed as the building started to shake.
"Winds are gaining in strength quickly. We'll have tornadoes on us in less than a minute at this rate." Bill said nervously.
"Wonderful. Come on Sam, why haven't you got your plan going yet?" Rodney muttered with extreme worry as the room shook again and then suddenly stopped to a small vibration but they heard a roaring that was slowly getting louder.
"What the hell is going on? What sort of technology do you work with anyway to generate a electromagnetic field stronger than the one I had going?" Malcolm asked very seriously as he saw readings he shouldn't be. "There is no way for any of you to have anticipated what I had going on here otherwise you would have stopped me before this all took place."
"How many times do I have to say I can't talk about it? Do I need to write it in stone or staple a memo to your forehead so it gets through that thick skull? If you were suddenly hit by one of these freeze lightening strikes and dying, then maybe I would tell you, but otherwise, stop asking!" Rodney exclaimed.
"You're dealing with alien technology." Bill practically shouted. "That's the only way…"
"Yeah, we work with alien technology and with aliens on a regular basis." Rodney said in a very condescending tone. "Do you know how stupid that sounds? And besides that, if we were working with aliens and had been the first time we tried this sort of thing and failed then, don't you think those aliens would see what is happening now and help stop this or had came before hand and stopped it? Think a little harder next time before you ask a stupid question like that."
Keller was really impressed that Rodney came up with that on the fly, as did so well enough that they seemed to believe it. If not for the fact she knew the truth, she'd believe what he said.
"Rodney, we have the area contained for the moment, but with the winds and freeze lightening strikes out here, we're not going to be able to hold this for long." Carter said over the CB which crackled slightly.
"Seriously, how in the hell did you people have something here already?" Malcolm asked. "I don't care if I go to prison for life. I want to know what's going on."
"Look, those two, like me and Doctor Keller are important people that aren't really able to just drop off the map if we want to. Even if we quit our jobs, we'd be watched constantly. Once you announced what you were doing here in that lecture hall, the General had called certain people to be on standby near here because of the trouble we had with our project. That's why another containment field is in place protecting the planet from this bridge you've opened in hopes we can shut it down before their field fails." Rodney stated.
"But we are in a secret location…" Malcolm said.
"Are you stupid? Even though Doctor Keller and I had no idea of where we were, those two did. Arizona is big and can hide quiet a lot, but Area 51 and a few other military places knew about this place the moment they arrived here." Rodney stated.
"Area 51 is real?" Bill asked.
"Yes it is real. Top secret research goes on there all the time. The alien thing it is associated with is to keep people away and other crap and myths like that. The light shows people see at night are prototype planes that are tested amongst a bunch of other things I can't talk about." Rodney said.
"I take it that Sam had to go out and activate the secondary field system." Ford said as he tried to brush off the ice on him and ignored the gasp of surprise and shock from the two. "Damn that is cold. Glad it hit me higher than lower. This is going to take awhile to recover from."
"That's not possible…" Malcolm muttered.
"I thought she was joking because of shock…" Bill said. "How…"
"What part of classified do I have to keep explaining?" Ford asked as he got up slowly while holding his chest.
"Here, sit down." Rodney said bringing a chair to him and then muttering quietly. "Nice acting."
"Yeah. Hope I can keep it up." Ford said grunting as Rodney moved him to the controls. "So, I guess the first idea failed. What's the next idea?"
"Um, well…not sure yet." Malcolm said slowly. "Is any test…."
"Look, quit asking. We really don't understand why I have this incredible healing ability that can bring me back from the dead. Basically, I don't really die, my body just slows to an extreme crawl that is barely registered." Ford said through gritted teeth as though he was in some pain as he came up with hopefully a good lie on the fly. "One day, we might be able to make others have this strange mutation. At the moment, not happening. Rodney, give me some news because I am tired of explaining things."
"Okay. The way I understand it, this device generates it's own power, right Malcolm?" Rodney asked while giving the man a look to start talking and quit thinking of things other then the project.
"Yeah. A small percentage of the power we transfer is used to generate the power needed to keep the device running." Malcolm said rubbing his arms as he shifted back and forth on his feet like the other two were doing. "Which is when it is running, it is self sustaining."
"So, pulling the plug isn't going to work. But it is only capable of powering itself to a certain extent right? It does have a finite amount of power it uses to generate its own energy." Rodney said.
"Yeah." Malcolm said nodding.
"I think I know where you are going with this." Ford said as he knocked more ice off himself and was moving his hand and arm slowly act like he was getting circulation back. "We can't give it more power because there is a great chance of getting everyone killed before it overloads. However if we look at this like it is a fuel injected engine, adding more gas will cause it to stall and shut down."
"Right. That's it exactly." Rodney said snapping his fingers.
"That's a lot of power needed to generate to stall it out. I don't think we can generate enough to do that." Malcolm said.
"Guys, you need to hurry. The field isn't going to last much longer at this rate." Carter said over the CB.
"We have an idea that should work. We're going to make the system stall itself out." Ford said.
"Glad to hear you're finally up again Ford. Are you okay?" Carter asked with concern that only he and Rodney, plus Keller knew was mostly faked.
"Some pain I can bare for the moment. Still a little cold. A few days bed rest, plus you and Keller looking over me will help improve my condition." Ford said through gritted teeth.
"Why would I look over him?" Keller muttered quietly.
"It's part of an act to make the other two think he's not as immortal as he seems." Carter said quietly.
"How do you know that?" Keller asked.
"I can tell what he is thinking, plus the entire conversation is on this screen here that we've been picking up from the com in his watch." Carter said pointing at the small screen on the T.A.R.D.I.S. console.
"Ingenious." Keller said impressed.
"Rodney, the only way I can think of stalling the bridge is…" Carter began over the CB.
"By creating another one making the first one stall out. I know. I did create the one we had before." Rodney said.
"That's going to take more time than we possibly have." Malcolm said. "That's a lot of programming to do, plus…"
"Doing the impossible is where I excel at." Rodney stated as he began typing away. "Back where I work, they call me the 'Impossible Breaker.'"
"Is he kidding?" Malcolm asked quietly.
"No." Ford said with a grunt. "At least on the work part of doing the impossible. As for the name, I've never heard it myself."
Just over a minute went by when the building shook enough the roof cracked, the lights blinked and sparks shot out of the various computers.
"Rodney, you better make this quick." Carter said.
"Yeah, I'm trying." Rodney muttered.
"Sam, what's going on?" Ford said pulling his cell and rolling a few feet away to talk quietly after he called her.
"The T.A.R.D.I.S. shield is keeping the ship protected as I use the ship's shield to contain the system to this area. However, since the ships thrusters are keeping her from moving and stable, the strong winds and flash lightening are making it a little difficult to keep her steady. We just grazed the top of the building with the ships shields. There is a F-4 tornado out here about to turn into a F-5 and go beyond that in less than ten minutes." Carter said.
"How large is the ships shield set at?" Ford asked.
"Quarter of a mile. It's putting a serious strain on the systems though. I couldn't confine it any further without causing the flash lightening and other problems to be centered on the facility." Carter said. "There is quite a lot of desert out here that is starting to look like the arctic circle."
"How close are you to us?" Ford asked as the building rumbled again.
"Just about ten feet above you. Why?" Carter asked.
"That explains the rumbling noise." Ford said.
"Well, having the ship over the facility keeps the F-4 tornado from hitting the facility at full force." Carter said.
"I think I got it. Here we go." Rodney said.
The room shook slightly as different computers and monitors overloaded and blew sparks everywhere. Rodney and the other two backed off and got down as the long computer console burst in a shower of sparks as well along with a few small fires. Things got quiet quickly as they heard a powering down noise and the rumbling outside go away.
"Congratulations McKay, you saved the day once again." Carter said over the CB.
"Good work Rodney." Keller's voice said.
"Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you." Rodney said.
"I didn't do anything though." Keller said as she realized he didn't mean Carter.
"Just being here was enough." Rodney said.
"Let's go Rodney. I may need help getting outside." Ford said getting up very slowly. "Let's get you back with her while a clean up crew gets in here and deals with this."
No one saw the massive ship that was visible over the facility for the time the trouble took place. No one questioned what Rodney did or how two retired General's helped save the day with Doctor McKay in some way they couldn't and wouldn't explain. The N.I.D. and some people from the SGC came in to do the clean up and make up a good cover story for the two General's and what Rodney did, mostly by saying classified a lot. The X-wing was relatively in good shape and the T.A.R.D.I.S. was unaffected. Though given the choice to go back with them, Keller said she wanted to go on the plane ride back because it was something she never got to experience before and really enjoyed it, plus saying something to Sam that no one else heard. Rodney didn't complain and said he was fine with it so the two wished them good luck and went on their way. A few hours later and the sun beginning to set outside the window, Keller told Rodney she was in love with him and like him had been for awhile. He was extremely surprised when one thing led to another moments later, but had no complaints whatsoever.
