Ace In The Hole
Chapter 23
"You said a few days Rodney!" McKaye hardly even bothers looks up as Sheppard waltzes into his lab with Richard Woolsey hot on his heels behind him "A few has always meant three days... four at best... not a month" Sheppard continues undeterred.
"This isn't something I can rush you know... the science behind this thing is way beyond even me... and yes!... I did admit too that before you even bother too gloat" McKaye sighs dramatically before he stops what he's doing and looks up at Sheppard.
"Rodney sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and turn the damn thing on... having the ZPM machine up and running could come in real useful sometime soon" Sheppard sits next too his best friend and smiles at his slightly confused look.
"What's going on?"
"We had a scheduled dial-in with the SGC today Doctor" Woolsey states with a somewhat tight smile gracing his lips.
"What have they said now?" McKaye stops typing and stares at Sheppard expectantly.
"Oh...nothing too serious... they are refitting the Daedalus and the Odyssey with drones now that the interface is working thanks to Chen-Lu... Hammond and the Apollo will be next I guess" Sheppard says.
"Area 51 is working on the shield disruptor weapon that Dr Cairns found in the database" Woolsey adds as Sheppard rubs his chin slowly gathering his thoughts "Oh yes there was that message from the President."
"What?... President Hayes sent you a message?"
"Actually the message was for you it would seem" Sheppard finally grins.
"What?" panic flares in Rodney's eyes as a thousand and one reasons that the U.S. President might want him for cascades through his mind... "What could he want to say to me?"
"It seems that back home they're seeing this machine as some sort of trump card for going public... you know clean limitless power... end the reliance on oil... save the planet...you know the usual" Sheppard smirks as Rodney falls silent.
"The IOA are of the opinion that this may help their plans for planet wide disclosure of the Stargate program... of course they would not want to put any pressure on you to hurry up your experimentation but they are insistent on making you aware of what is at stake."
"No pressure..." Rodney sighs
"Come on McKaye how hard can it be? The Ancients tended to make operating this kinda stuff easy." Sheppard cracks a grin at Rodney's glare.
"I could have turned it on three weeks ago!" Rodney huffs exasperatingly.
"Then why the wait doctor?" Woolsey asks looking slightly confused.
"Time!" Rodney sighs looking slightly lost and almost vulnerable.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asks Sheppard now looking as confused as Woolsey.
"Black holes affect time... its an inescapable fact, and according to what I have managed to decipher so far...although the machine only maintains a connection for 0.034 seconds the lensing effect of the 12 micro gates means almost three months will pass outside the field... there is no way around it... its like some big joke... you could send a team to fully charge 100 ZPM's in less than a couple of hours but they wouldn't get back for..."
"Twenty-five years" Sheppard sighs rubbing his forehead.
"And there is no way around this I take it" Woolsey also sighs finally seeing the problem.
"No... I have tried everything I can think from shields to an Asgard time dilation field running backward its just too dangerous and unpredictable" McKaye shrugs his shoulders and finally smiles slightly "Guess Alex was right as usual"
"Right about what?" Woolsey asks finally taking a seat at the desk next to Rodney's
"He said that the Ancients always did things slow and methodical... taking a year out of your life to charge a few ZPM's would have been acceptable option to them."
"He should know I guess" Sheppard nods "Still that's four ZPM's a year Rodney... its still gonna be enough to change the world"
"Yes... but who's gonna be the five people too operate it?... your talking one way time travel... I know we have done some crazy things over the years but its gonna be a tall order for anyone that does it... I mean sure I wanna be there for the first time but after that there is no way..." Rodney shakes his head adamant in his resolution.
"Why?"... Woolsey looks confused once more but Sheppard's keen mind has already done the math.
"Rodney could be gone less than half an hour but his wife would be without her husband for years" Sheppard explains as McKaye nods emphatically.
"There are probably quite a few people that would jump at the chance... Dr Kavanah is one that would relish watching us all whither and age but most like him don't have the ATA gene that is required." Rodney shrugs and pulls a face at the very idea of Kavanah having the ATA gene.
"I have the gene" Alex says announcing his presence as he enters the room, Sheppard nods to the cities avatar who merely smiles before he sits on the edge of the desk that Woolsey is sat at.
"Unfortunately Lieutenant there is only one of you and you are needed here" Woolsey says with a deflated sigh.
"Mr Woolsey... you seem to forget one important fact... I am Atlantis... and if there is one thing I was born too do it is too serve and protect those in my care" Alex smiles before nodding towards the door... as five identical copies of himself saunter into the room in a very Sheppard like way all smiling at the three stunned men.
"There are six of you now?" Lorne asks with a comical grin.
"I know my solution is a little unorthodox... but it was honestly the best idea I could think of to solve Rodney's dilemma" Alex sighs
"No... its not that... its just" Lorne grins has Alex plonk's himself down on the bottom of Evans bed staring at the Lt. Colonel who momentarily stops painting to look at him "I just meant... well one of you is kinda hot but the idea of six of you... well that's my fantasies fixed for the next few months" Lorne grins as Alex blushes furiously before both burst out laughing.
"You!... are getting worse... that was just wrong" Alex chuckles as Lorne suddenly looks serious.
"How are we gonna explain this to the other people in the city?... I've heard of identical twins and even identical triplets but never identical sextuplets"
"The Colonel has decided that we will cross that bridge if and when we have too" Alex shrugs looking less concerned.
"So..." Evan once more picks up his paint brush and turns his attention back too his painting "What happened with Larin?"
"She was just flirting with me too get me to butter the Colonel up... it seems someone told her that I was some kinda expert on the city... a few of her people may of overheard me telling McKaye what some of the less well known labs were used for" Alex chuckles causing Lorne once more glance up at him.
"What was she after?"
"Residential space... specifically somewhere for their larger families to live... can't say I blame them I have plenty of room available." Lorne smiles at the almost pouting look Alex is currently sporting.
"We are still getting to know most of them... Lexy... how do we know they aren't just gonna turn on us and try to steal the city from us like the Genni did..." Lorne once more puts his paint brush down waiting for a response.
"Evan... I am the city... things would be a little different than when the Genni invaded... do you really think I would allow it to happen?" Alex sighs starring at Lorne in disbelief.
"Maybe... maybe not but its better to be safe than sorry" Lorne smiles weakly trying to appease his friend.
"Military types!" Alex shakes his head "From what I have seen of the travellers so far they see your people as the saviours of this galaxy and more importantly the rightful heirs to this city... the fact you brought me back too Pegasus has shown them how committed you are to the people of this galaxy... and they are not alone... even the Genni are now willingly following your lead... the whole galaxy is slowly turning a corner thanks to your people... besides I think I may have planted a small seed that is finally starting to grow" Alex just smiles cryptically at the slightly confused looking Lt. Colonel.
"Mr Woolsey... I was wondering if you had come to a decision yet" Richard Woolsey jumps slightly at the sound of Larin's voice behind him but he quickly turns and offers the young women a genuine smile.
"We have gone over your request but there is just one thing I wanted to know before I make my final decision..." Richard waits for Larin to nod in agreement before continuing "Why?... after all you said it yourself... you are first and foremost travellers... so why do some of your people want to settle in the city... the truth?" Larin smiles at the man in front of her.
"Too my people the most important thing is education... our children have to learn how to maintain, repair and operate our ship's... as a space faring race we have had to maintain and pass on our knowledge base" Woolsey nods for her to continue "Each ship has an academy... children are taught from the age of 5 to 16 and in that time they have to learn everything from hand to hand combat, up to 9 different languages for trade, advanced math and science, engineering and so on."
"I have too say that is an impressive undertaking especially considering your cramped living conditions" Woolsey says urging her to continue once more.
"The elders amongst my people are the teachers and it seems they have over heard some of our youngsters saying they want too be Lantian" Larin blushes slightly has Woolsey's eyes widen slightly, "One of your Lieutenants apparently taught a small group of them on hand to hand tactics a few weeks ago" Woolsey simply nods guessing instantly to which lieutenant she was referring "I have no idea what he has said... but the younger children right down to four and five year olds are suddenly coming out with things like 'We are stronger as one' and 'Together we can win' it seems that they are already thinking of themselves as Lantian... and now they are continually asking their parents and teachers when... not if they can live in the city"
"What about the disruption to the parents?"
"A centralised school would be easier to run and the council of captains can think of no where safer for our children to be... in the past when we have lost a ship in battle... you have too remember its whole families that have been wiped out... from babes in arms to great grandparents the loss is huge"
"Richard can see a haunted look in the young women's eyes" and understands that she is speaking from personal experience, he decides to try to steer the conversation gently in a lighter direction.
"Thank you for being honest... the truth is I have already agreed to opening up parts of the city for your people and hopefully more of ours in the near future...in fact... It seems that most of the larger residential towers are on a separate transport system to the rest of the city" Woolsey says as he turns to head towards his office whilst indicating for Larin too walk with him.
"Why would the Ancestors do that?"
"Well I can only guess that they too had children that they wanted too keep out of the more sensitive and dangerous areas"
"So by putting the residential towers on a separate system kids could go play with friends get to school..."
"Without being able too get to dangerous labs or machines" Woolsey finishes with a slight knowing grin.
"They liked too cover their bases it would seem" Larin finally grins back as they enter the transporter to the gate room.
[Dr Keller-McKaye to Colonel Sheppard]
[Sheppard here... Keller-McKaye?]
[Colonel!... The Asgard's awake]
[On my way]
Less than two minutes later Sheppard comes sprinting into the infirmary with Ronon hot on his heels
"Has he said anything?..."
"Only that its imperative he speaks with you sir... he said that the galaxy is at stake" Jennifer says leading Sheppard and Ronon into the small side room.
"The galaxies always at stake..." Sheppard sighs before stepping quietly into the room, he's a little thrown to see the Asgard still looking so injured with bruises clearly visible all down his slender neck and arm.
"Colonel John Sheppard... military commander of Atlantis" the Asgard opens his eyes to look at him wearily.
"Hello... I am Kasius of the Vanir... the youngling's?... the two I was found with are they safe?" the Asgard can barely keep his eyes open.
"They are in the next room in some sort of coma" Sheppard states bluntly and slightly irritated "Why are your people helping the Wraith?"
"To insure the younglings survival... there is a small device hidden by the dialing device of the planet you found us on... you must retrieve it... only some one like you can use it" The Asgard implores his breathing suddenly becoming ragged.
"You mean someone with the gene?"
" I have left an encoded message for you with the device explaining why we have been forced down this path... we had no choice..." Suddenly alarms on the monitors next to the bed start going off and Jennifer and a nurse come running in.
"Colonel... I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
"Wake the young...s …..watch...forgive ….." More alarms sound as the Asgard slips away, Jennifer tries valiantly too revive the small alien but its all to soon apparent that he is gone. Jennifer comes out of the Asgard's room throwing her disposable gloves forcefully in the bin next to the door.
"Damn it!"
"You did all you could Doc" Sheppard says trying too console the young physician.
"When he woke I thought there was a chance that he might just pull through" Her shoulders slump slightly in defeat "did you get your answer?"
"Not yet... but I may get it soon"