CHAPTER 14 – RODNEY'S THEORY

"Colonel Sheppard! Just the man I need to see..."

Rodney's usual effusive mannerism ran itself up and down John's mental chalkboard like the proverbial fingernail, and he found himself wincing slightly as he entered Rodney's lab. Most times he was happy to spend time with the scientist, finding his sarcasm and unusual mannerisms a challenge, and one he rose to more than adequately on most occasions. But not today. Sometimes? Rodney could be a right royal pain in the ass. Bluntly put, you simply had to be 'in the mood' to be around him.

"Great, Rodney. And you're just the man I need to be around right now..."

Fortunately sarcasm often rode right over Rodney's head and today was no exception. Caught up in his own world of giant egolomania and in the possession of a brain capacity that much larger than everyone elses, mostly he was content with his own company and his own intellect. However, for some unknown reason, he tolerated John Sheppard, in fact might even go as far as liking the man.

"I've been working on a few theories. As to why and how Nicole came to be in Atlantis. Ok, so we know that she was pushed off that boat deliberately by someone who wanted her here. By someone who knew about the stargate programme and knowing she was a journalist, a photographer – wanted her here to do her job. Exposing something. Am I right so far?"

Waiting only briefly to see John nod, he rubbed his hands together.

"You can work on the who. I'm interested in the how. How did she get here? What sort of device brought her here? She arrived through our stargate, which would imply that she began her journey through a stargate. Relativity laws... what goes in, must come out. Works in reverse. What came out, must have gone in. With me so far?"

Not even waiting for John's nod, Rodney simply ploughed on in his usual dictatorial fashion, now on a verbal roll and really needing no audience.

"We know that there are only two gates on earth. The working gate at the SGC and the second gate in Antarctica. There are no other, and it is easy enough to track them. They provide an energy signature that is quite specific whenever they are activated, and I have run the energy spikes through my programme, and had them do the same thing at the SGC. No gate on earth was activated at the time that Nicole supposedly fell into that water. So? She did not enter through a gate of any kind. Not a traditional gate anyway."

He paused to take a deep breath and John could not resist the small smile that came to him. Rodney was a force of one.

"You no doubt have a theory that you're about to share with me Rodney? I'm guessing that is what you are leading up to..." John murmured this, settling himself down onto one of the chairs in Rodney's lab.

"Nice to know that you do have some faith in me, John. Yes. I do have a theory and if I do say so myself? It is the only logical one given the information that we have. The Bermuda Triangle is the key. And I think this might help you a little with the 'who'. She was sent there to do an assignment? I know she is a freelancer, but by her own admission, she was contracted to do this particular assignment. Find out who hired her, and that'll begin your trail to the 'who'. I've already told you about the general theories, supposed properties of the Triangle. Giant wormhole, energy vortex – over the years the list has grown and the theories have run from the downright bizare to the simply ridiculous. One however, has scientific properties that I can attribute merit to. Something along the lines of Stongehenge. A ley line or sorts or more scientifically – a vortice."

John put a hand up to interupt him. "Ley lines, Rodney? Come on... you're trying to tell me that some 'ley line' brought her here, somehow connected her to our stargate?"

"Ah John, how can you be so narrow minded. Vortices are high energy spots on the Earth. Earth energy is due to its electromagnetic field. NASA research has proved that the human energy field is tuned in to certain 'Earth Waves'. The joining on the surface of the Earth are 'hot spots' of energy focus which we know as the vortices of the Earth, these are linked by ley lines. A Ley line is simply an energy line, some being of more importance than others. Some of the major vortex areas on Earth are well documented and not be confused with ancient sites such as Stonehenge in the UK or the pyramids of Egypt and Yucatan, Mexico etc. These are known to be places of magnetic and spiritual power - not all necessarily vortices. Vortices are not necessarily of the same structure, size or disposition. They can be volcanoes, high mountains, hot springs, mineral deposits, beneath the ocean, deep gorges, rock outcroppings, and even in deserts like the Sinai and Namib."

Rodney's excitabilty factor was escalating up a notch or two and John felt the vague stirrings of a headache coming on. Rodney's brand of personality was certainly an acquired taste. He did not appear, however, to notice John's somewhat flagging enthusiasm, and continued with his diatribe.

Accompanied by gestures his voice was almost relentless.

"It has been stated by several sources, that crystals were directed during Atlantean times at balancing the ley lines of the Earth's plane, and maintaining stability of Earth. The Earth was moving on its axis with respect to the magnetic poles, just as it still does to this day. However, thousands of years ago it moved to a larger degree which some say contributed to the destruction of what was known as Atlantis. And while we now know a more factual story as to the supposed demise of Atlantis it is known that crystals were also important to maintain a balance between other planets in the Universe, because of the importance of the vibration of planet Earth in relation to the sun and moon."

Rodney paused briefly, his enthusiasm radiating out of him.

"Large vortices may appear like wheels with the spokes emanating from them being ley lines. Some of these spokes are more powerful than others, just as there seems to be different degrees of strength to the vortices. Energy may whirl through the spokes from the vortices, at different frequencies."

In spite of himself and his growing headache, John was fascinated. "So the Bermuda Triangle could be one of these vortices? But how would that connect with our stargate here?"

"Simple, yet not... Using the premise that it is an astromonical anomaly, someone had to have done their research and knew that at a given time with the configuration of the stars, then this particular vortice located supposedly over the Triangle would open. Remember John, one of the prevailing theories about Atlantis, is that it's disappearance was somehow connected to the Triangle. Ok, so never proven or disproven obviously, but what if, there is some credence to this theory. Something to do with the fact that when the vortice is open and receptive, then if you have the required ATA gene for example, there is a direct pathway from there – to here!"

Triumphant now, he gestured a little theatrically with his hands and John ran a hand over his eyes.

"If your theory is right Rodney, and right now – hell, it's the only one we have... that means that this whole thing has been carefully orchestrated. By someone who has been studying these theories for a long time, and by someone who knew that Nicole had the gene."

"The gene thing, John? Not so difficult really. Blood samples are held by many agencies for many things and it would have been an easy matter to get a sample of her blood to test for the gene. I suspect she was handpicked for the job some time ago and she has been carefully groomed by this particular group."

"I'd say that was a given Rodney... damn. This is gonna come as one almighty shock to her. Especially so given that she is a freelancer and so damn set on her constitutional rights. This one pretty much overwrites all freewill plus everything in between. She is going to be devastated. Man!"

He pushed himself out of his seat and paced around the room, coming to a halt in front of Rodney.

"You've spoken to Sam about this?"

"This morning, John. She agrees with me, said it seems a logical assumption given what little facts we have as to how she came here. I'll do some more checking, of course. There's a couple of people I want to touch base with back on Earth, discreetly of course, but if I'm right? And I have no reason to think that I'm not... this will be a huge find – scientifically. And as usual... guess what? I can't publish a damm thing..."

"Kinda sucks, huh Rodney?"

"Sarcasm, Colonel Sheppard. Not your best side."