Ace In The Hole
Chapter 19
"So have you missed him" Teyla smirks teasingly at Evan as they walk down the steps towards the newly formed incoming wormhole.
"They were only back on Earth two days Teyla... I managed to cope" Evan grins
"So you did miss him then..." She nods triumphantly before smiling warmly to Colonel Sheppard and Mr Woolsey as they appear through the incoming wormhole "Colonel... Mr Woolsey it is good to see you both... I hope your trip was... painless" Both men can't help but smile at Teyla's choice of words.
"Exhausting but considering what we had to report I guess it went as well as can be expected" Woolsey answers with a sigh.
"Speak for your self... I have been in meeting after meeting for the whole two days if I had to debrief one more over paid bureaucrat I swear I was gonna shoot someone" Sheppard drawls as he saunters off up to the control room "Any problems while we were gone?" he asks Lorne casually.
"No... everything is quiet at the moment I have arranged a meeting for 08:00 tomorrow to get you up to speed but nothing major to report Sir" Lorne nods with a smile.
"Well.. if there are no immediate problems I bid you all goodnight" Woolsey yawns and heads off to his quarters.
"So... Where's McKaye?" Sheppard asks realising he's not in the control room
"Ah... well to be honest Sir... he's on leave"
"What?"
In all the time Sheppard had known Rodney he had never seen him take a break, sure there had been times he couldn't work but those times had usually involved a hospital bed or near death experience so for Rodney to take three whole days off work there had too be a big reason, deciding that his friend might need him he quickly drops his bag in his quarters and heads off to Rodney and Jennifers place but by the time he gets there he is a little hesitant to ring the bell, taking a deep breath he swipes his hand across the sensor chiming the Ancient bell.
In seconds the door opens and Sheppard can hear Rodney shouting "Who is it?"
"McKaye?" Sheppard replies hesitantly entering his friends quarters.
"Sheppard... that you... God...that went quick... oh right... out here" he can hear Rodney shout from out on the balcony, Sheppard follows his friend's voice out side where the warm afternoon sun is still shining down, Rodney is sat on a comfortable chair reading a book looking like he hasn't got a care in the world.
"Hey... good trip?" Rodney asks with a smile taking off his sunglasses to look at the Colonel.
"What ya doin?" Sheppard asks with a slight confused frown.
"What do you mean? What am I doing. What's it look like I am doing?" Rodney frowns looking slightly ruffled by his friends now obvious confusion.
"Well it looks like my workaholic friend is sitting in the sun reading a book... so I ask again... what's going on?"
"Actually... I've have managed to read a few books but what do you mean what's going on?"
"Have I crossed into some weird parallel world?... The Rodney McKaye I know does not just drop what he's doing to sit and read" Sheppard takes the book out of Rodney's hands to glance at the cover "Harry Potter?" Sheppard sneers jokingly as Rodney just shrugs his shoulders "What the hell's going on?"
"You wanna know why I am here... then go talk to a certain Lieutenant..." Rodney sighs has he returns to his book "I only have a few chapters left and Jen's due back soon... so unless you want anything in particular I will see you tomorrow?... 08:00 I believe?" Rodney smiles then returns too his book.
"OK... I'll guess I'll leave you to it then... Later" Sheppard turns and slowly leaves Rodney too finish his book in peace, but now he is even more confused to what is going on... he walks towards his office and decides he needs answers.
"Sheppard to Lt. Weir"
[Weir here... how may I help you Sir?] Sheppard can almost hear the smile on Alex's face over the radio as he heads to his office.
"Can I see you in my offi..." Shepard stops as he enters his office to find Alex already standing there waiting for him. He can't help but notice the grin on the young man's face.
"You wished to see me Sir?"
"Sit down Lieutenant" Sheppard gestures to the chair opposite as he slumps into his own seat "What have you done to Rodney" he asks with a sigh has he runs his hand through his hair in frustration.
"On our return voyage from 9YU, Dr. McKaye asked me if I would help him with his research into the Z.P.M. machine as he called it... I agreed to help but with three conditions" Alex smiles as Sheppard simply nods to continue "Firstly I will go over his research and say if he is right or wrong but I am not going to give him the answers"
"Thought you wanted to help?" Sheppard asks on reflex
"Up until now ZPM's are a rare and valuable commodity and though your people have proved to be more than capable of handling technology years ahead of you having the ability to mass produce ZPM's is..."
"Your worried that we might become careless and miss use them..." Sheppard nods and winces slightly at Alex's serious tone.
"Your world is still fractured and although things are improving if a rouge nation were to ever detonate a ZPM on Earth it would... not only destroy the planet but most likely the entire solar system... the Ancients got careless with ZPM's and it allowed the wraith to explode in number..." Alex sighs "This is one bit of technology that needs to be treated with respect and trepidation"
"OK... I get your point... so what was the second condition?"
"Delegate some of his other problems and responsibilities... Rodney is surrounded by some of the best and the brightest of your world and although I know he likes to do it all himself he needs to realise that there are others here that he can rely on" Sheppard grins to Alex knowingly.
"I'm guessing this one was tough to persuade him on... he hates putting his fate in someone else's hands"
"Dr Cairns is more than capable than sorting out the problem with the 304's shields and Dr Chen-lu is more than qualified to take over the drone interface for the 304's, in fact he is already interfacing it with the Sun Tzu's targeting systems and I believe he has scheduled a test firing by midday tomorrow, Dr Zelenka is taking over the Renatus drone work freeing Rodney to study the ZPM machine"
"He agreed to all this?" Sheppard's eyes widen in astonishment.
"Not at first but I gave him little choice because of my third and final condition" Alex smiles "Three days off!... no laptop no research just three days complete relaxation... he has worked his ass off and kept me in one piece for the past 6 years... he is safe in a fully powered and fully armed city with 12 Lagrangian point satellites in orbit and a network of Sentinel satellites covering this entire region of space... time to take a few days off and unwind I thought" Both Shepard and Alex chuckle both knowing Rodney would have still tried to argue. "He tried to argue but I had a secret weapon..."
"Would that be Mrs McKaye?" Sheppard grinned
"She was most helpful in showing Rodney the upside to my argument thankfully" Alex smiled
"OK... I see where you are coming from and god knows McKaye deserves a rest but... the problems with the 304's shields …. think Dr Cairns is up to it?"
"John... trust me on this one" Sheppard is a little surprised at the use of his first name then suddenly Chaya's advice flashes in his mind (The charming young man you see is just a front…. He is the wisest of all…. 5 million years old…. that is over 50,000 of your lifetimes of knowledge and understanding wrapped up in that young man) Sheppard nods and stands to leave.
"Thank You" Sheppard offers sincerely
"What for?" Alex asks suddenly slightly confused
"For taking care of our family... for being here for us... I kinda suck when it comes to... you know...?"
"Then if I am part of the family could I be candid and offer a little advise to you?" Alex grins as Sheppard nods hesitantly "Time you got back out there!"
"Through the gate?" Sheppard frowns in confusion
"No... on a date... its about time we found you a Mrs Right or Mr Right... either way... you have been alone far to long... its not good for you" Alex chuckles as he puts his arm around Sheppard's shoulder playfully.
"I think I will pass on that one thank you Lieutenant" Sheppard grimaces as they leave his office walking slowly towards his quarters.
"Oh... no sorry Sir... wrong answer... like I said to Dr McKaye... its not a suggestion... you need to have someone in your life and I know deep down you want someone in your life" Alex stops and turns to look a slightly shaken Sheppard in the eyes "Its time for you to let go of the past John"
Sheppard's mouth suddenly feels dry and his heart begins to race in a slight panic as he glances into Alex's knowing eyes, tears begin to well as he stares helplessly and silently at his feet suddenly at a loss for words.
Within minutes Alex has manoeuvred Sheppard into a transporter and moments later they enters the main chair control room, Sheppard can't help but look sheepish as Alex gently but firmly urges him to sit in the chair.
"John... trust me this is important" Alex says with a tender smile, Sheppard slowly relaxes into the chair as he lets out a long sigh.
When he finally opens his eyes he is momentarily confused at what he is seeing... he is standing in the gate room in front of the gate but no one is around... suddenly Alex is by his side smiling warmly.
"Where are we?"
"Technically you are still sitting in the control chair but I thought that this is one conversation you would feel better kept private between us" Alex smiles
"I really have nothing to say... and I have had a long day already... so I think I'll go to bed instead thanks anyway... Lieutenant!"
"Nice try... but do you really think I am going let you off that easy... since you found out that I was sentient you have avoided being alone with me why do you think you have done that?" Alex grins slightly.
"I have not avoided you as such... distanced maybe" Sheppard protest's.
"Why?... I'm asking because even though I know the answer I am wondering if you yourself even know"
"Because..." John almost whispers "Because you know me!" he offers with sudden conviction "Because I have some god damn super gene that means you know your way around in here as well as I know my way round your systems" Sheppard taps his head weakly.
"OK... firstly there is no such thing as a super gene or gene strength for that matter... where do you guys get these ideas" Alex sighs and shakes his head at Sheppard's confusion "The gene is either there or its not it has no strength in it self... its how your mind interacts with the technology that determines how Ancient tech works... you have an amazing mind... the way you process mathematical code on an almost subconscious level means you can slip in and out of the Ancient systems effortlessly"
"So not the gene?" John frowns
"Its how an individuals mind works that determines how proficiently they can use the technology... the gene is merely the key" Alex explains "Even though others like Rodney may have brilliant minds they fight the system on a subconscious level trying to force it the way they think it should go...its sad, but with practice they will learn to get better" Alex shrugs "But you and a few others are operating and interfacing on a level that is closer to that of the Ancients"
"OK... so you want me to let go of the past and move on because?..." Sheppard can't help sound annoyed and confused
"You have an emotional block that is going to become a big issue for you soon" Alex sighs confusing Sheppard even further
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sheppard's patience is drawing thin.
"OK... do you recognise this?" A screen appears in front of them showing an EEG reading that Sheppard recognises immediately.
"Yes... every person involved in the stargate program knows it... its a required part of basic gate training... that EEG reading was found in both General O'Neill whilst he had access to the Ancient repository of knowledge and An Ancient we discovered frozen on Earth standard protocol says a medical team must investigate anyone that has that reading immediately.
"That is my EEG..." suddenly a second almost identical EEG appears next to it "That is currently your EEG" another appears "Lornes" and another "Beckett" and almost identical reading after reading appears "Kusinagi... Wentworth... Miller... McKaye.."
"What the hell's happening" Sheppard stares at the readings in front of him before turning to Alex.
"The Ancients called it Coadunatio... A gathering together... Everyone within the city especially those with the gene have been operating the Ancient tech for a while now your minds have begun to get better and better with practice... throw in the fact that my consciousness is now fully awake and..."
"We're becoming Ancients?" Sheppard asks hesitantly
"No" Alex grins "But this was a big first step in their development as a truely advanced society, as your minds go through the gathering you will become more aware of each other"
"Telepathy!" Sheppard almost stammers horrified at the thought.
"More like Empathic... the Ancients could pick up on each others emotions... feelings... they knew if someone was lying or hiding something... A society that can no longer lie or hide things means crime and deceit becomes impossible" Sheppard stares on bewildered "To be honest I never thought that humans would react this way... and I know you are probably feeling terrified right now at the thought of someone knowing what's going on in your head...which is why we are here"
"Don't... Please I can't" Sheppard stammers weakly tears welling in his eyes once more
"You can do this... And I promise I'll be right beside you"