Ace In The Hole
Chapter 29
"Spiders" Sheppard just shakes his head looking amused.
"Apparently so" Cam grins "You've apparently seen these Poolaroo spiders on loads of planets"
"Poolaroo's you kiddin me... they're all over the place... about the size of a trash can lid... taste like chicken" Sheppard shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly.
"You've eaten em?" Cam winces at the thought of eating a huge spider.
"First year cut off from Earth the Athosians showed us all kinds of things" Sheppard chuckles before taking a swig of his coffee "We had to survive after all" Sheppard smiles "So what's the Poolaroo's gotta do with getting some Ancient power crystal?
"Seems the Ancients tinkered with they're genes on this one particular planet... they some how grow these crystals"
"How the hell can a spider grow a crystal?"
"They don't... not exactly" Says Rodney, Sheppard looks up to see him and Carson walking towards them each holding a coffee each as they join them.
"We've had a look over the Ancients research" Carson says taking a seat next too Sheppard "They created a genetic abnormality that causes the spider to store Naquadah"
"Naquadah?" why would they do that and where in the hell the spiders getting Naquadah from?
"The planet they are on has Naquadah in the topsoil making it fertile a bit like on Sarisia... the spiders eat smaller bugs that have in turn eaten plants rich in Naquadah... the spiders store the Naquadah in a special gland that somehow crystallises it... once the crystal grows too the correct size it somehow switches off the gene responsible for the abnormality" Carson explains glancing at his data pad.
"Tell them the cool bit" Rodney says excitedly
"Doc?"
"Deactivation of the gene causes a change in the spiders behaviour... the Ancients installed twelve machines around the planet that emit a low level ultrasonic sound... the younger spiders were repelled by it but the mature fully grown ones come like moths too a flame..." Carson says looking slightly squeamish all of a sudden.
"They get roasted" Rodney grins causing Carson to scowl at him and both Sheppard and Mitchell too grin "They're bugs Carson"
"Arachnids actually" Carson sighs before continuing "The genetic changes made them inedible so the machine vaporises the mature spider leaving the crystal to drop into a tank below... the Ancients merely emptied it periodically"
"There could be tons of them by now" Sheppard says suddenly excited.
"Apparently Alex says the twelve machines spread around the planet each harvested around twenty-five spiders a year on average...the machines ran on geothermal power so so long as they haven't been damaged... " Rodney grins.
"That could be millions of crystals by now" Sheppard's eyes widen as he says the figure out loud.
"Precisely" Rodney smiles.
"How's fatherhood?" Teyla asks smiling serenely
"Great... they are doing well in school thanks to Larins assistance... yeh... they really are taking things in their stride" Evan says whilst glancing across the mess hall at Sheppard who's deep in conversation at the moment with Mitchell, McKaye and Carson.
"And how is it living with the Colonel?" Asks Jennifer with the beginnings of a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Hard!" Evan glares at the two women who have both started laughing "No... not that..." Teyla and Jennifer just smile at him innocently "It's tough being so close and yet not being able to do anything... stupid rules!"
"Lt. Colonel Evan Lorne are you actually saying that the air force has a rule you do not like" Jennifer says mocking him slightly.
"I know he wants me... hell the kids memories are built out of his god damn fantasies" Evan sighs frustrated "He knows I want him... hell its kinda obvious by now"
"He may do but his duty to Atlantis comes first you know that Evan" Teyla says diplomatically.
"Its torture that's what this is you know... and with this stupid Gathering thing getting stronger I can even feel it" Evan once more glances over at Sheppard who just happens to catch him looking and smiles at him. "See torture" Evan sighs.
"Evan!" Jennifer snaps making him suddenly turn his attention to her "So far we have managed to keep things quiet about the whole Coudunatio thing... even Woolsey hasn't been made aware of it yet!"
"I thought that you and Dr Beckett had made progress on your research into the subject" Teyla asks suddenly concerned.
"We have but because its slowly becoming more pronounced its becoming harder to hide... we just want to make sure we have all the facts so that we have enough information to give the SGC and IOA when we have to" Jennifer takes a swig of her tea before continuing "Last thing we want is for the SGC to think there's a problem or worse that we have all been compromised"
"Sorry" Evan grimaces "Its just... the other day when Grainger came taking to me... my first thought was 'oh god no he wants to get back together' but no soon as he sat down I knew there was no longer anything romantic between us"
"You knew as in could tell?" Jennifer asks frowning slightly
"No... I mean I knew... I could feel nothing but friendship coming from him... feel... as in tangible feel... I relaxed instantly knowing he was just being a friend" Evan explains before smiling.
"Its no wonder the Ancients progressed as a society" Jennifer grins.
"It would also have caused many awkward situations though... we are not always honest... even with those we are closest too" Teyla says looking slightly put out.
"You still stressing over Kanaan's little fishing trip?" Evan grins much to Teyla's annoyance.
"He should have at least asked before he agreed" Teyla huffs causing Evan to laugh out loud.
"I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that one..." Evan grins "You, Kanaan, Torren and Dr Boyd going fishing for three days"
"Boyd as in" Jennifers eyes twinkle barley suppressing laughter.
"Oh yes" Evan chuckles "Boyd as in Dr. B.O. Oyd"
"You know Woolsey actually gave him a bar of soap for Christmas" Jennifer chuckles "Of course body odour can be caused by numerous medical conditions... but I have too admit he has none of them"
"He's just too lazy to bathe... there is really no excuse" Lorne shudders.
"Apparently he just gets distracted by his important research" Teyla says mild amusement flickering behind her diplomatic eyes.
"Bull!" Lorne laughs "He's just to lazy"
"No wonder you're pissed at Kanaan why in hell did he agree to go fishing with him?" Jennifer asks
"Because he's kind and sweet and sees the good in everyone" Teyla says with a smile tugging at her lips
"No... as Matthew would say... he's a sap!" All three laugh out loud nodding in agreement.
Later that day Cam is feeling the beginnings of a headache on the horizon... a headache in the form of one doctor...
"McKaye!" Cam pinches the bridge of his nose trying too calm himself down.
"Jeez Colonel... I do have other duties too attend to you know... The city comes first" Alex who is standing on the balcony looking down merely grins at Mitchell causing both Teyla and Ronon to laugh.
"It's good that you care Rodney but I am sure the city will survive while you are gone" Alex says diplomatically edging the scientist towards the Jumper bay.
"Thank you Lieutenant..." Mitchell grins before bounding off up the stairs towards the bay.
"I think I should be the one to fly..." Rodney says following behind Vala, Teal'c and Ronon.
"I do not believe the Colonel will let you Rodney" Teyla just smiles at Rodney.
"He only had the gene therapy this morning and Sheppard only took him out for an hour long training flight... if that" Rodney says looking increasingly anxious.
"The Colonel is a pilot is he not?" Teyla says placing a calming hand on her friends shoulder.
"With only an hours training!" Rodney says eyes going wide.
"I am sure we will be fine Rodney" Teyla says pushing him gently up the stairs.
"Wishing you could go with them?" Sheppard is jolted out of his day dream.
"What?"
"I said... I bet you are wishing that you could go with them" Lorne grins.
"Nope... Mitchell will do fine" Sheppard stretches out lazily on the sofa whilst watching Lorne who is attempting too prepare dinner. "You know if you want me to take over..." Sheppard just smiles at Lornes glare.
"I'm fine... my cooking is not that bad"
"Mark told Matthew something about... it being safer eating in the mess hall tonight" Lorne throws a tomato at Sheppard who merely catches it with a grin.
"That is because he's a smart ass... I wonder where he gets that from?" Lorne smirks
"Has to be you... I'm such an innocent" Sheppard just returns to his dozing.
"Yeah right" Lorne just shakes his head "Anyway I wanted to run something past you... while its just us"
Sheppard once more looks up in amusement "While we are under investigation... Lt Colonel I'm shocked"
"Funny..." Lorne rolls his eyes before continuing "Rumour has it the IOA is considering sending us more people... they are not happy that there are so many off worlders in the city"
"How could you possibly know that?" Sheppard asks sitting up with a sigh.
"Alex over heard Vala and Jennifer talking so he did a little digging... seems that Coolidge has not given up on his ambitions towards the city"
"How could Alex know?" Sheppard frowns slightly.
"Not to sure on that one... come to think on it he was rather evasive... when I asked how he knew what was happening on Earth he just said he was Atlantis and made an excuse to be elsewhere"
"Why am I not happy with that" Sheppard sighs before picking up his radio "Sheppard to Lt. Weir"
[Yes sir?]
"Could you please come to my quarters right away"
[Is something wrong sir?]
"No... I just need to clear something up that's all"
[I am with Dr Jackson at the moment Sir]
"That's OK... Bring Daniel along... it is me and Lorne that he is supposed to be snooping on after all" Sheppard can hear Lorne splutter.
[We will be there shortly] the flash of an Asgard beam deposits Alex and Daniel in the middle of the room.
"You are abusing that technology you know" Lorne grins at his team mate.
"Oh come on its just so cool... even the Ancients couldn't perfect site to site transport..." Alex smiles walking over to look at what Evan is preparing for dinner "Eating out tonight I see Sir" Alex says to Sheppard with a cheeky grin causing both Sheppard and Daniel to laugh out loud.
"Funny... Lexy... real funny" Lorne huffs.
"Lieutenant... Daniel please take a seat" Sheppard says pointing to the comfy looking sofa's arranged in a large U shape.
"What can I do for you sir?" Alex asks whilst trying to get comfortable.
"I just wanted too know how it is that you know what is happening back on Earth when we are in another galaxy" Sheppard says with a look that clearly says he wants the truth and no evasive stalling.
"Oh..." Alex just grins sheepishly "I am At.."
"Atlantis I know... come on Lieutenant... spill!"
"Well... the thing is...the gate network is much more connected than you all currently realise...all star gates have a battery of sensors and they are constantly relaying that information back to any City ships on the network via subspace" Alex explains with a slight grimace.
"What kind of sensors?" Daniel asks
"The usual... atmospheric, seismic, life signs... camera"
"How in the hell didn't the SGC discover that one?" Sheppard asks Daniel.
"Sam has always said that the gate sends out tonnes of data each time its used... but she was basically told too get the gate too connect and ignore all the clutter" Daniel shrugs "Guess the base dialling computer just couldn't understand all the information it was receiving"
"But what about here?" Sheppard frowns "I mean surely McKaye would have understood all the data coming from the gate... wouldn't he?"
"In Rodney's defence Sir, why would he even bother to look for it?... the system the SGC had put in place worked... send a probe check viability and go... tried and tested" Alex says with a weak smile.
"That still doesn't explain how you know what is happening on Earth?" Lorne says from over in the kitchen, a guilty look suddenly forms on Alex's face causing Sheppard to merely raise an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"Well... I sort of tapped into the Earth's new guardian satellite system via the gates subspace link" Sheppard just nods for him to continue but Daniel beats him too it.
"The sensors on the Guardian system are a direct copy of yours aren't they?" Daniel just sits open mouthed momentarily
"Are you saying that you are gathering Intel on Earth?" Sheppard asks looking slightly concerned.
"No... Not gathering intel as such... but once I knew Mr Coolidge was up to something I had no choice... I put him under surveillance... after that I couldn't resist temptation... I began monitoring all IOA members then expanded that to all the unstable governments around the world..." Alex is on a roll "Then when I saw some of the problems on your world... I... well I kind of began tapping into your social networking sites causing people to rise up and demand freedom... it wasn't long before brutal regimes began falling... people under the grip of the Iron fist suddenly began standing up for their rights"
"You have no right to do that Lexy... you are trying to micro manage a whole world... our world!" Lorne shakes his head staring across the room "Earth has so many religious and political problems that no one person not even you could sort out alone" Lorne says walking over finally abandoning the cooking.
"Do you realise how many people have died in the middle eastern uprising's... how many more are going too die" Daniel says suddenly horrified.
"Yes of course people have died... and it is tragic... but I have merely planted the idea of freedom in their minds Daniel... you and your team have fought so hard for freedom throughout the galaxy yet even you yourself have been willing to turn a blind eye to what happens on Earth."
"You have to stop now Lieutenant!" Sheppard barks clearly annoyed "Do you realise that what you are doing would probably be considered as an act of war by the IOA and the SGC"
"That is ridiculous... for the first time in your planets history there is not a single nation at war... That is because of me!"