Ace In The Hole
Chapter 43
"Have you been avoiding me?" Alex asks with a sigh causing Dr Cairns to almost drop the data pad and cup of coffee he was currently trying to carry.
"No... I've just been busy Lieutenant" David snorts slightly and looks to the ceiling before levelling his glare upon him "You know what... OK... yes I have been avoiding you!"
"Look... I'm sorry... Sheppard wanted I kept secret and..." Alex tries to calm the annoyed scientist down.
"I'm not pissed off at that... I totally understand why you kept your real identity secret heck I may have even agreed... I mean yeh that was a shock n all but it isn't what's bothering me" Cairns sighs causing Alex to suddenly frown in confusion "You have been feeding me bits of information for ages... the disrupter weapon... using the satellites to patch up the 304's shields... those ideas all came from you"
Alex raises his eyebrows slightly taken aback at the scientist temper "David..."
"Don't try to deny it!"
"I'm not..." Alex sighs but David just crosses his arms and glares at him defiantly waiting for an explanation "David you are a brilliant scientist but... unlike Rodney or even Zalenka to a degree you don't have a huge ego that usually accompanies it... its actually been refreshing to see someone with as sharp a mind as yours that is actually willing to listen to others..." Alex shrugs.
"Oh" David says surprised at Alex's honesty
"Its what made me want to help you" David's temper starts to drain away and a slight blush begins creeping up his neck.
"I like you..." Alex says with an honest smile "You are smart , witty, caring,thoughtful... you are good company and nice to be around... should I continue?" Alex blushes deeply.
Cairns looks at him blushing and just smiles "You're as bad at this as I am... aren't you supposed to be like Buddha type wise" Cairns says causing Alex to grin broadly.
"In some things... yes... but most scientists kind of lack in the social skills department" Alex just smiles.
"I guess I understand that" Cairns nod just as his stomach rumbles loudly "Sorry"
"S'OK" Alex just continues to smile "Wanna go get a bite to eat?..."
"I'd like that"
"Ladon" Sheppard nod's as the Gennii leader steps through the gate.
"Colonel..." Ladon merely returns the nod with his usual smirk "Am I the last?"
Sheppard's eyes twinkle with humour "For once... No" As he speaks the gate once more begins dialling in "But he is" Sheppard grins as Ford steps through the gate.
"Sir" Aiden grins.
"I'm not your boss any more Ford... its just Sheppard... or John" Aiden shakes his hand before nodding.
"That's going to be harder than it sounds Si..." he stops himself and grins wildly "Sheppard"
"One of your men is a representative for another world?" Ladon says annoyance on his face.
"Galdora... actually" Ford glares at Ladon contemptuously.
"Something I've missed?" Sheppard asks frowning at the sudden tension between the two men.
"It will keep" Ladon growls as he hurries off towards the briefing room without them.
"What the hell was that all about?" Sheppard asks causing Ford to look sheepish all of a sudden.
"Sorry Si... Sheppard" he smiles weakly but he can tell from the Colonels expression he's not going to be fobbed off "The Gennii raided one of our trading partners a few weeks back... Ladon denies it but I know the scum bags involved"
"If he was... we'll find out" Sheppard smiles "Come on... there's lots to go over"
The two men walk slowly to the briefing room where delegates from over thirty worlds are all sat around a huge ring of tables, from the noise as they approach Sheppard can already tell that half of them were arguing with each other and the other half simply ignoring each other.
"Can I have your attention" Sheppard says with a sigh as he takes his seat, though a few like Halling, Larin and Ford sit quietly waiting for everyone to settle down.
"QUIET!" Sheppard shouts causing everyone in the room to stop and stare, except the afore mentioned Ford and Larin who are now openly grinning.
"I believe there is much to discus" Halling says bringing the room to order.
"I have asked you all here as representatives of your respective worlds so that we can begin coordinating things properly" but Sheppard is cut off before he can continue.
"So we can do as we are told to do you mean!" Ladon stretches in his chair never taking his eyes off Sheppard "The Gennii will not be Earth's puppets"
"Shows what you know" Larin scoffs causing Ladons scowl to turn into mild confusion, Sheppard picks up on it instantly.
"You mean your spies missed that little morsel?" Sheppard grins at Ladon's obvious frown "Earth has given the city its independence" Sheppard gloats seeing Ladons obvious shock but the moment is fleeting as he see the cogs turning in the devious Gennii's mind.
"Then as the strongest force remaining in Pegasus you will turn over control of this city immediately to the Coalition" Ladon can't contain the glee on his face.
"The Coalition?... you are kidding me right?" Larin actually starts laughing at him causing a few others around the table to join in "The Coalition is nothing... the Gennii may have wielded that sort of fear before"
"But those days are gone" Tamar says anger and annoyance tingeing the words "Sarisia has had little dealings with Gennii over the years and even we have heard the Coalition is nothing more than your attempt to wrestle the city away from the Earthlings" Ladon glares at Tamar but looks away sheepishly as the huge man straightens in his chair.
"Look... it may not be working right at the moment... but the coalition itself is a good idea" Sheppard says jumping to his feet "You need to start working together... co-ordinating efforts to confound the Wraith... helping each others worlds... the Gennii may be self righteous dicks... but they're way of hiding works" Sheppard smirks at Ladon.
"Hide... the Wraith find us where ever we hide..." The Huzoan representative says with a sadness in her voice "Not every world has caves like Sarisia and we have been unable to build strong underground bunkers like the Gennii"
"I have to admit Sheppard... even though we have strong bunkers we are limited by how many they can hold... Galdora has had to put limits on its population" Ford looks sad for a few moments "The Tupla moss can't work miracles... any more kids and people would suffocate rather than survive"
"What if we could remedy that?" Sheppard smiles.
"How?" Ford asks frowning until he sees Sheppard pull a small blue crystal out of his pocket with a grin "Is that?" Sheppard just nods causing Aiden to also grin.
"Colonel" Halling asks frowning "What is it?"
"A gift from the Tok'ra" Sheppard sees the frowns on the delegates faces "The Tok'ra are one of Earth's allies... and... well the details are unimportant" Sheppard smirks "These crystals are used to literally grow tunnels"
"Really!" Ladon snorts derisively.
"Really!" Aiden glares "The Tok'ra were hunted by their enemies the Goa'uld for thousands of years... they survived by building their bases deep underground... they never! Found them"
"How do they work?" Larin says suddenly interested.
"Technically? Haven't got the foggiest that's not my area of expertise" Sheppard smirks "All I do know is that with a set of eight" Sheppard pulls a box out and places it on the table open in front of him "You can build a base to what ever configuration you want almost as deep as you want"
"Eight crystals... How?" Even Ladon is suddenly seeing their worth and Sheppard just smiles at him causing him to glare in return.
"Each one is programmed to do a specific task" He picks them up in order "Downward slope 100ft long dropping at 30', Room 20ft x20ft, Straight section 100ft long, of course it also depend how you uses them" Sheppard grins.
"What do you mean Colonel?" Halling asks with a frown.
"Well this straight section for instance... jab it into a rock or wall that way and you'll get a nice flat tunnel" Sheppard grins as he shows everyone "But stick in the ground... as see what happens"
"It grows straight down?" Larin says answering her own question with a smile "What happens when they are used?"
"They're never used" Aiden says gaining everyone's attention
"The tunnel grows and you just find the same crystal there at the other end... you could literally carve through a mountain with a single crystal... the tunnels strong, they're luminescent so you don't need lights, they maintain a constant comfortable temperature and most importantly they leech out Oxygen to breath..." Eyebrows raise around the room.
"And these Tok'ra just gave you this technology?" Ladon stutters slightly.
"Friends and Allies help each other" Sheppard smirks.
"How is the summit going?" Evan can see the obvious tension in Sheppard shoulders.
"A few awkward moments but on the whole... good... the tunnelling crystals should really help... your buddy seemed to like them that's for sure" Sheppard smiles at Evans frown "Tamar?" Evans face brightens up upon hearing his name causing Sheppard to frown "Anything you want to tell me?"
"Such as?"
"Well he is certainly butch and burly... didn't think he would be your type" Sheppard grins but Evan can sense a wave of jealousy radiating off of him, but bites his tongue deciding not to call him on it.
"We are friends... actually more like family... besides I tend to go for the more athletic types" Evan grins causing Sheppard to flounder slightly taken aback.
"Yes well... they have asked me to leave the room while they discuss things... which is ridiculous really I could just ask Alex what they've said" Sheppard says nonchalantly.
"But you won't" Evan grins and Sheppard is once more taken aback by how well Evan is starting to get to know him.
"No... they asked me to leave for a reason... I respect that... and... I... well we have enough friends in there that I know they won't fall for any on Ladons bullshit" Sheppard says with a smile.
"So why are you worrying?" Sheppard just stares at Evan slightly open mouthed.
"I'm not..." Sheppard sighs when he sees Evan raise his eyebrows questioningly "This is!... Pegasus" Evan nods and smiles finally understanding.
"You are not seriously going to believe him?" Ladon growls.
"Ladon... the Gennii have proven themselves time and time again untrustworthy" Larin glares across the tables at him contemptuously "Tell me one world your people haven't screwed over at some point!"
"I will not follow him like some little lap dog!"
"I must admit as much as I like the Colonel he is a soldier not a leader... we must be fair and united on this" Halling says with a sigh.
"After everything he did for your people" Ford glares at Halling angrily.
"You are bound to follow him Lieutenant Ford" Halling says almost sadly.
"I haven't been a Lieutenant for a good many years Halling... and I'm not saying we should follow Sheppard out of some twisted sense of loyalty" Ladon snorts causing Aiden to glare at him.
"Of course not" Ladon smirks clearly thinking he has gained the upper hand.
"He's the right man to lead the fight!" Aiden almost shouts.
"I agree" a voice says from a shaded area in corner of the room, Alex slowly stands and walks out of the shadows and over to the group of delegates smiling warmly at Aiden before rounding upon Ladon. "I will say this once and once only... the Gennii will Never!... Ever!... be allowed control over this city" Ladon is red with rage at the impudence of the young military officer stood before him.
"Who the hell do you think you are to make that decision!" Ladon barks jumping up from his seat to face off to Alex.
Alex just glances at Aiden and roles his eyes ignoring Ladon, turning his back on the man entirely.
"Ladon sit down... before he makes you" Aiden says with a chuckle but Ladons temper is to far gone and he swings a punch for the back of Alex's head, Alex reacts with lightning speed spinning around catching Ladons fist in his hand.
Ladon winces in pain has Alex just holds his struggling hand almost effortlessly "I have told you to sit!" Alex pushes the man with such force he sails back through the air almost twenty feet landing hard on his backside behind his chair.
"The Gennii will never control this city!" Alex glances at Ladon who has struggled to his feet and is rubbing his back whilst glaring across the room at him.
"At the end of the day... no one controls! The city... the city decides who it should follow... and it follows Sheppard... of course who's lead Sheppard would follow... well that's not for me to say" Alex smiles and walks out of the room, casting a final glare at Ladon on the way.
"He's dead!" Ladon growls causing Aiden to actually laugh.
"What's so funny?" Larin asks completely confused at what she had seen, in all her dealings with Lt. Weir he had been nothing but pleasant and easy going.
"He is... he's a fricking idiot" Aiden points at Ladon and bursts out laughing again.
"I tell you that lieutenant will be dead after this!"
"Ladon shut the fuck up!" Aiden barks glaring at his surprised face "You still don't understand do you?"
"Understand what Aiden" Tamar says calmly
"He told you himself... No one controls Atlantis" he grins "The city decides who to follow..." Aiden rolls his eyes at the thirty plus representatives all staring at him in confusion "Alex is Atlantis you dick!" he says to Ladon with a venomous grin.