Lorne looked around the corner, he could see everyone laying on the floor unconscious. Argrose was standing next to a console. Lorne pulled out his 9 mil, best to shoot the one man responsible before that number changed. Lorne hesitated, had they gotten the code? Lorne put that question away for later, he wouldn't shoot to kill. Argrose turned rapidly and fired his stunner, Lorne only just managed to back behind the corner. Lorne pressed down his irritation, there went the element of surprise.

John sat up, another wraith holding cell. "Wonderful."

"I didn't know you liked it so much." Atlantis was sitting up as well.

"Oh, you know me, always one for getting captured." John quipped.

"I had not noticed." Atlantis said dryly.

"How come the stunners worked on you?" John changed the subject.

"I told you this is all as real as the time you were on the Aurora." Atlantis repeated her earlier statement.

"I know, but you're just a computer, no offense." John added the last two words thinking that it sounded a little harsh.

"Not so, I am here the exact same way as you... I was once a flesh and blood Ancient."

"Really?" John turned to look at her, thoroughly surprised.

"Yes, that was a very long time ago when we were first building the city. Since the city was going to be very complex and one of our greatest works we thought we would give it artificial intelligence. I didn't have any family left because my parents and older brother had been taken by the plague. I also had it and what better opportunity to escape death than to become part of our greatest work."

"You wanted to live forever?" John said after a moment.

"For a twenty year-old about to die of a plague being able become part of a computer and have a city named after you sounded like a much better option." Atlantis said reasonably.

"Fair enough." John said, intrigued by the idea of it but forced himself to think about survival, escape, and the like. "So can you still get out of in and out of here?"

At this Atlantis frowned. "I have been trying but something has been preventing me."

"Okay, not good."

"Yes, not good. It could be a virus, Argrose did add to the system."

"Wonderful." John repeated.

Lorne picked up a few magazines and stuffed them into his vest. He was about to leave when the feeling that he couldn't concentrate on anything for more than a half-minute returned. He sighed wondering why this could possibly be happening to him at that particular moment. One thing he'd learned about the Pegasus Galaxy was that there were next to no coincidences. Lorne leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. If he couldn't concentrate on anything he wouldn't concentrate on anything. A minute or so passed while Lorne seriously considered the possibility of falling asleep.

Major.

Lorne jerked forward, there was no one around and no one on the radio. Nonononono, I can't be losing my mind now!

I assure you Major, you are not losing your mind.

"Uhhh... Hello." Lorne began hesitantly.

You will not have to speak aloud, I can hear your thoughts.

For reasons beyond Lorne's comprehension, he felt like the speaker was smiling.

Okaaay.

You are much like Colonel Sheppard.

Amused is how Lorne would describe that.

Not sure I have his suicide mission tendencies. Lorne joked.

No, but he only does that to save lives. I'm sure given no other choice you would do the same.

As much as I'm enjoying this mental conversation. And the compliments... Lorne trailed off.

I know. I am here to help you.

Who are you?

I am Atlantis.

The city?

Correct.

I've been living in a sentient city for the past year and a half?

Yes.

Oh, that's kinda cool... Can you get Colonel Sheppard out of the... Whatever it is?

No, Argrose has prevented me from doing so. I am in the program right now helping him but unless you can defeat Argrose it won't do him much good.

If Colonel Sheppard couldn't do it how am I supposed to?

Colonel Sheppard was caught off his guard. In all fairness he did cause Argrose plenty of trouble.

Well, Argrose is causing us plenty trouble now so, any ideas?

Argrose has called together a group of mercenaries from various planets to help him take over the city. He isn't having trouble finding volunteers.

So it'd be best if I took him out before then?

That would be prudent.

Alrighty then, just curious though, how is Colonel Sheppard doing?

There was a moments hesitation that screamed 'not good.'

Not well.

John had known the wraith form of torture was to feed on you and give your life back over and over again. He had also known that this was a computer program and that it wouldn't actually be happening to him. That didn't stop it from feeling the same way it had the first time. If anything it felt worse. Right now he was laying on the floor ten years older than he'd been when he had left. The wraith queen had asked questions he had no idea what the answers to were. The only one he had really known was the city's 'Gate address. The rest had to do with Ancient codes, other things that maybe the average ancient knew, but your average John Sheppard didn't. He hadn't been paying the computer-generated wraith much attention anyway.

"Come on John."

John felt Atlantis help him sit up. All John could think about for a moment was how real the pain felt.

"You ready to leave?" Atlantis questioned.

"Sure, why not?" John stood, That wasn't to terrible. He turned to the door, or rather, what was left of it. It looked like Atlantis had been busy. The floor was littered with broken pieces of the door and rubbery skin. "I don't think I want to know how long that took."

"Not very long." Atlantis pulled John all the way to his feet, and took the lead through the opening.

Lorne reached the Stargate in time to see the symbols light up. Glancing up, he saw the Argrose was not standing next to the DHD, which meant it was an incoming wormhole. Lorne slowly backed down the hallway connecting to the 'Gate room. The fact the the shield wasn't coming up could mean only two things. Either the shield was damaged or Argrose wanted the people coming through to come through.

So, shoot them and reveal my position or let them come through and have to deal with them later? Lorne had thought this to himself and almost jumped at the foreign thoughts and feelings that replied.

If you go ahead and destroy them you'll have to go quickly to reach the transporter and escape.

Yes, I know that. Thank you. Lorne answered, watching the event horizon explode and settle. A rough looking group of people started arriving through the Stargate one by one. Lorne counted thirty. Not wanting to have to take care of that many he checked to make sure he had a full magazine. Lorne aimed carefully at the group, and then let the P-90 go on automatic and concentrated one getting at least one bullet into as many people as he could. By the time they got their own guns out to fight Lorne had already sprinted down the hallway and made it to the nearest transporter.