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Chapter 4
Sheppard's eyes burned as he listened. If anyone had asked him, he would have said that he knew McKay well but he had never dreamed of this. The feelings that were normally hidden behind the scientists abrasive personality were laid bare in his music.
Seamlessly intertwined with the story of the expedition were the people that embodied it. There were individual refrains for everyone McKay had spent any significant time with - even Kavanagh and Cadman were there. Each was uniquely suited to the person it represented, building their characters with a mixture of obvious traits and subtle details that Sheppard sensed more than understood.
Teyla: calm, affectionate and capable. Torn between her new people and her old and wounded by the betrayal of her own DNA.
Ronon: strong, hot tempered and often single-minded. Immensely loyal and still learning to trust, rebuilding a life that was destroyed.
Beckett: caring, compassionate and stubborn. Often torn by the decisions he had to make and wounded by each death and perceived failure.
Elizabeth: diplomatic, isolated, afraid to lose control. Caring but reluctant to show it because she felt it weakened her.
And himself. It took a while for Sheppard to recognise his own theme, rich and complicated, entwined throughout the city and yet somehow slightly apart from the themes of the others, although at times it blended and merged with the rest of his team into something new, something richer. McKay's vision of him was playful, unpredictable and strangely vulnerable but with a core of steel and darkness that allowed him to do what he must to protect his team and his city. He had never realised that, beneath his bluster, McKay saw and understood so much and he felt raw and exposed, his usual shields stripped away. He wondered fleetingly if the others felt the same, wondered if they could see how much of him has been revealed and wondered how much of them he had missed in the music.
McKay himself did not have a theme, the whole piece was his story and he was there in every note of impatience and affection, panic and peace. He was both an observer, lonely and isolated, and a part of the city and its people, so closely entwined that they were inseparable.
Sheppard sometimes shivered at the anguish that was laid bare, the pain of every failure, every loss, revealed to the world. But pain was only a small part of what he heard and at other times a smile tugged uncontrollably at his lips as he listened to McKay's joy in Atlantis; in the discoveries he made, the problems he had solved and the friends he had found. He almost laughed aloud the first time he heard McKay berating the intelligence of others in music, ranting without words about incompetence and stupidity.
Time moved strangely while he listened and when McKay fell silent it felt like it has been both an eternity and an instant since he began. Sheppard was exhausted and exhilarated by the journey he has just taken and a glance at Teyla and Ronon told him that they felt the same way.
There was another flash of white light and suddenly the projection of McKay was replaced by the genuine article. The team moved instinctively to his side, Sheppard's hand coming to rest rest gently on the scientists slumped shoulder. McKay startled at the touch and looked up, relief filling his expression at the sight of his team-mates surrounding him.
"Are you alright?" he asked anxiously, leaping to his feet as he looked the others over carefully, checking for injuries.
"Thanks to you, we're fine."
He opened his mouth to ask another question and then his eyes widened as he became aware of the silent crowd. They bowed as he turned to look at them, the movement rippling back through the crowd like a wave.
He took a step back, bumping into Ronon as he did so. "What the hell...?"
His voice trailed off as Keevan approached, his face shining with awe, and bowed from the waist before him. "You are truly blessed soul, it has been many generations since the light of harmony has shone."
Sheppard shifted uneasily and glanced at the not-piano, which had glowed steadily brighter as McKay played and the light was slowly fading now he had moved away. Based on past experience, when people looked at McKay like that it was only a matter of time before they decided to keep him. A quick glance at Teyla and Ronon told him that they shared his concern and the three of them moved slightly closer to their baffled team mate as Keevan continued to speak.
"My people and I thank you for the gift you have bestowed upon us." he was saying earnestly, "Your harmony has brought us great joy."
"Wait, what?" McKay paled, his expression going from confused to sick, "you were listening? You were all listening?" His frantic gaze darted from Keevan to Sheppard and then on to Teyla and Ronon, growing more distressed each time as he read their confirmation in their faces, until it finally dropped away, refusing to meet their eyes as his shoulders hunched inwards defensively.
"Indeed, yes" Keevan stated joyfully, "Your harmony was heard by all and it will lead us closer to enlightenment as we learn its deeper meaning."
McKay's face was pale and he looked increasingly unhappy as Keevan spoke but before he could think of a response there was a soft chime from the not-piano and a previously invisible slot opened, revealing a data crystal. Keevan removed the crystal and, apparently oblivious to the other man's discomfort, bowed again as he tried to hand it to McKay.
"Please," Keevan said after an awkward pause during which McKay made no move to accept the crystal, "take it. We would not take this from you, only share in the joy you bring."
McKay scowled at this and, even before he opened his mouth, Sheppard was able to hear the scathing diatribe that the self-serving, hypocritical statement would unleash upon the unsuspecting Keevan. Recognising the same warning signs, Teyla quickly stepped forwards, performing introductions and holding out her hand to accept the crystal, diplomatically excusing McKay from doing so by explaining that it would take him some time to rejoin the mundane world after the heights he had just reached with his music.
Keevan accepted the explanation without question, although he appeared disappointed when she went on to inform him that they needed to return to their home immediately.
Sheppard frowned thoughtfully and then interrupted the conversation to ask, "How do we get back to the Stargate? There was no sign of any of this," his gesture encompassed the stage, the city and the mountains just visible in the background, "on the planet when we arrived."
"We will return you to the Stargate." Keevan assured them, and then turned to McKay again and added, "but please know that you and your people are welcome to return here at any time."
"And will they also be 'tested'?" Teyla asked cautiously.
"Only if they so choose. Maestro McKay has already proved that you walk with Apollyon and are therefore welcome here. We will give you the Sign of Apollyon. If others come in your place, simply give the Sign to one of their party and we will know that they are trusted by Maestro McKay and we will honour them."
"Apollyon?" Asked Ronon, suspiciously.
"Our protector." Keevan explained, "Apollyon has sheltered us here, away from the Wraith, for countless generations. It was he who built this city and gifted us with Harmony. Just before he left us for the last time, he instructed us that enlightenment could be found through music and to share his legacy with all those that Harmony found worthy."
As he spoke, he signalled to one of the other white-robed priests, who stepped forwards holding cushion, on which rested a small, intricately carved box, carefully in both hands. "There is usually a gifting ceremony," Keevan explained, sounding apologetic, "but it lasts for two days so, as you say you must leave us, we must choose between abiding by ritual or fulfilling the wishes of Apollyon." He paused, clearly hoping that they would change their minds and volunteer to stay for the ritual. When they remained silent, he turned and bowed to the other priest before taking the box and turning back to bow reverently before McKay. As he did so, the other priests began to sing a soft, wordless harmony.
"You have been tested and found worthy, Maestro McKay. We therefore entrust you with the legacy of Apollyon, in accordance with his command. It has been foretold that, one day, One will come who can hear the music of the universe and that he will be the true heir to Apollyon and bring hope to the battle against the Wraith. Perhaps you will prove to be the One."
McKay blinked and hesitantly took the box, briefly examining the carvings before opening it to display about a dozen neatly arranged Ancient data crystals. He looked at them for a moment and then snapped the box closed again, tucking it safely into one of the many pockets in his tac vest. He looked up briefly and gave a belated 'Thank you', when Sheppard gave him a gentle nudge with his elbow, but otherwise didn't speak and as the silence lengthened, his gaze flickered towards Sheppard, almost desperately, before skittering away without quite making eye-contact.
The sight of McKay, the sheer wrongness of seeing him so unnaturally quite and clearly distressed, made an aching knot form in Sheppard's chest and he stepped forwards, shielding him slightly with his body and gesturing for Teyla to hasten their departure. As before, she drew Keevan's attention and managed to persuade him to guide them back to the Stargate, while at the same time assuring him that another team would return soon to discuss a possible trade alliance and exchange of culture and information.
Keevan was clearly puzzled by McKay's behaviour but he was willing to accommodate their need to leave and showed the team to an empty room, much like the one Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon had been trapped in. He pressed the Mark of Apollyon, which proved to be a metal disc with Ancient symbols on each side, into McKay's hand and then repeated his assurance that they were welcome to return to Capella at any time. As soon as he left the room, there was a flash of white light and when their eyes cleared they were back in the building near the Stargate and the door was once again open.
... ... ...
TBC...
