Chapter 7: Looking for answers.

Rodney let out a huge sigh of contentment, this morning's breakfast had been surprisingly tasty and filling. When Voth had left them alone in a small dining room, he had been shocked to see the variety of food that had been supplied for them. There had been bacon and eggs, pancakes with some kind of syrup, a selection of fruit juices and this planet's version of coffee, which was remarkably good. Although he felt satisfied after his breakfast the fact that they were still prisoners and Sheppard was still missing weighed heavily on his mind.

Voth had been rather pleasant since they had left their accommodations from the night before and Rodney wanted nothing more than to wipe the smug smile off his face.

The voice of his friend cut through his contemplations and as usual Carson sounded worried.

"How are you feeling Rodney?"

"I'm feeling remarkably well considering how I felt this morning. I just hope that there will be plenty of food throughout the day."

"I'm glad you're feeling better Rodney, but I'm still worried about General Sheppard. In fact, I'm going to demand that we see him as soon as Voth comes in the room."

"You try that Carson, "he said a little too sarcastically, "I doubt you'll get a straight answer from that piece of slime."

"I have to try. I know that there's something wrong, otherwise, they'd let us see him."

Before Rodney had a chance to continue further, the door opened, and Voth walked into the room. For some reason, his brown hair seemed even more immaculate than it had done earlier.

"Gentlemen, I promised you a tour of the labs today, so how about you follow me, and we'll start with the science labs."

The smile on Voth's face was disconcerting and there was no warmth in his dark brown eyes.

Rodney shuddered and clearly, Voth took that to mean that he was cold, "would you like an extra coat, Dr McKay? It is quite cold this morning after all."

"No, I'm fine thanks."

Voth looked as if he was about to walk out of the room when Carson spoke up, "and will we be able to see John today?"

For a moment Rodney detected anger in Voth's face, but in an instant, it was gone, and the fake smile was plastered on his face again.

"When you have finished your tour, you may see him, and then I will show you to your accommodations."

Now it was his turn to put a fake smile on his face, "and will those accommodations be better than the place we spent last night."

He expected the bracelet on his arm to be activated for that comment, so he braced himself for a surge of electricity.

Instead, Voth looked at him and smiled, "I assure you that you will be well looked after from now on Dr McKay."

With that Voth turned around and left the room, so he looked at Carson and shrugged his shoulders before following the man.

Rodney had no idea what the man was up to, but he sensed duplicity in him, so he knew that he needed to be on high alert because anything could happen at any time.

Ten minutes later after walking through miles of boring corridors they came to some kind of science lab and what shocked him the most was that many ancient objects were lying around and others were plugged into what appeared to be power outlets. Rodney was intrigued by this but before he had a chance to ask any questions one of the scientists approached them.

"Minister Voth sir, efficiency in our testing has increased tenfold in the last twenty-four hours."

Voth merely nodded at the scientist and turned to face him, "what do you think Dr McKay this is where we test the ancestor devices that we discover in the ancestor's city?"

He looked at the computers and saw the readouts from the devices being tested, the only problem was no one was touching them."

"Umm…that's great, but in my experience, someone with a certain gene has to be touching them to make them work."

Voth's smile was almost malicious as he answered him, "we have many people who carry the ancestor gene in our city and most of them are willing to help us test the artifacts, but instead of using their hands they use their minds. They are in another room being monitored as they work."

Rodney didn't like the sound of that, and he had so many questions to ask, but before he had a chance to ask anything Carson entered the conversation.

"Sounds uncomfortable, are these people asleep while this is happening?"

"I assure you that they are in no pain and each of them is given a choice as to whether they help us or not. Believe me when I say that they are monitored closely and if they need medical assistance, it is provided immediately."

Somehow Rodney didn't believe the man and although he felt like making some sarcastic comment, he knew that he had to keep his cool if he was going to find Sheppard.

Carson obviously had suspicions too because when he spoke next, he asked the question that was on the tip of his tongue.

"I would be interested to see how these gene carriers manage to activate the devices with their minds. Is it from a distance, because I don't see anyone here asleep or in a trance testing the devices?"

"Perhaps later in the day, when the carriers have finished their work," Voth suggested, "in the meantime would you like to see our medical lab where we carry out a lot of our genetic research."

Rodney had to wonder what kind of genetic research they were doing and whether they torturing ancient gene carriers to carry it out.

"I would like to see that," Carson said using his most charming voice.

"Right this way then gentlemen," Voth instructed as he walked past them and through another door.

For the next hour, Voth showed them many things, and although Rodney was amazed by a lot of things that went on there, he also suspected that somewhere some poor soul was suffering to make things happen. The research they were carrying out seemed benign enough as the scientists seemed to be studying stem cells from ancient gene carriers. When Carson had asked them where they got the samples from, Voth had stated that those with the ancestor gene gave samples voluntarily. They also give permission for the cells to be harvested from their children at birth. Carson had merely nodded, but Rodney could see that he didn't believe a word the man said.

He was beginning to develop a theory and he needed to speak with Carson as soon as possible. Looking at his watch he realised that it was probably time for him to eat lunch. He was about to suggest this to Voth and Carson when a small blonde woman – well she was small for a Hilaring – approached them.

She really was quite beautiful with her long blonde hair that fell about her shoulders in ringlets and her eyes were the brightest blue. Rodney had to wonder why she was heading directly for him.

"Ah Sofia," Voth stated intercepting her, "I would like you to meet Dr Carson Beckett and Dr Rodney McKay. They have come to our city to trade with us and tour our facilities."

"Hello Dr McKay, "she said shaking his hand, "my name is Dr Sofia Jalousie and I'm pleased to meet you."

Rodney felt something in his hand, and he had a strong suspicion that it was an answer to the questions that he and Carson were looking for.

"Ummm…lovely to meet you," he said putting his hand in his pocket to hide the piece of paper.

She went on to introduce herself to Carson before turning to Voth, "can I see you in my lab a little later."

"How about I show Dr McKay and Dr Beckett their accommodations and then I will come and see you."

"That would be great Minister Voth."

Sofia winked at him as she turned and walked away.

Rodney was grateful that they were going to lunch because he desperately needed to look at the paper that Sofia had given him – he only hoped that they weren't being watched while they ate.

He suspected that Sofia knew where Sheppard was and what was happening to him. He only hoped that Sheppard wouldn't need Carson's services when they found him. But given the theory that he was beginning to form in his head, he had a bad feeling that Sheppard would be in a bad way by the time they found him.

Sending up a prayer to whoever would listen Rodney prayed that Sheppard would be alright when they found him. He was a man of science and certainly didn't consider himself a religious man, but at times like this it never hurt to pray.

oOo

Sheppard found himself standing on the bridge of the ship that had destroyed New Lantia, and he had no idea why he was there again.

He knew this was a dream, but he didn't want to be here. If he was going to die, he wanted his last thoughts and dreams to be of Teyla and their children. Hell, he'd rather dream about Rodney than this.

The ship he was on, was pursuing Atlantes across the Pegasus galaxy and it was heading towards a nebula – just as Atlantis seemed to be.

Suddenly they came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the Nebula, and he listened intently as the Hilarings discussed their plan of attack.

"Shall we follow them, great leader?" One of the minions asked.

The man in the centre of the bridge sat in a large chair that looked like a throne, so John automatically assumed that he was the leader of these people.

When the man turned around and looked at his minion, he got the shock of his life as this man looked a lot like Voth.

"No, we'll leave them, since they should come out eventually."

John knew that Atlantis was never coming out of that nebula because it was about to be sucked into a strange anomaly. The only question was, how the hell did these guys land ten thousand years before them and more to the point how the hell did Ronon and Amelia turn up at the same time as Atlantis did, so many questions that he needed answers to.

He stood and waited anxiously to see what happened next and within a small amount of time everything started to fade to black…

He found himself falling forward and then strong arms were lifting him and carrying him. Starting to panic, he tried to call out, but nothing came out of his mouth. He was trembling all over and everything was still completely dark. The pain in his head was unrelenting and he felt incredibly hot. Suddenly he heard a loud moan, and it didn't take him long to realise that it was him.

A voice came to him out of the darkness, and it was a voice that he instantly recognised, "don't worry John, we are just taking you out of the chamber for a rest."

It was definitely Sofia talking to him, but who was carrying him, he shuddered thinking of who it may be. Even though his eyes didn't work he was fairly sure that his legs were fine, so he started to struggle. Unfortunately, that sent an intense spike of pain through his head which left him whimpering.

It wasn't long before whoever was carrying him put him on a soft bed – although they weren't too gentle about it.

He instantly recognised the man who spoke next, "What is it you want to talk to me about Sofia? Do we need to go someplace different so that Sheppard doesn't hear?"

"No Voth!" She answered forcefully. "What I need to say concerns him, so I would like him to hear it."

Great! He thought they want to chat about me in front of me so this must be really bad. Although I could do with some pain meds before we begin.

He let out a moan again, hoping that someone would get the message that his head was about to split in two.

Unfortunately, they just ignored him and carried on with their conversation.

"His brain levels are off the chart. Whatever is happening in that chamber is activating parts of his brain that we have never seen in other carriers. The only problem is that it's killing him. I know that the carriers eventually die when they're put in the chamber, but it appears to be killing him quicker than any of the others."

"Why didn't you work this out sooner Sofia?"

"Because until the fever started and his temperature rose, there was nothing unusual about his brain activity. Initially, I thought that the fever was caused by the infection, but when I did a brain scan, I found out that his brain activity was increasing."

There was silence for a few minutes, and he wondered if they had left – or worse still were they going to put him in the chamber again and kill him off?

Finally, Voth spoke, "what was wrong with that woman who died the other day? Was her brain activity the same?"

"No unfortunately she had a weak heart, and it couldn't stand the strain of being in the chamber."

John listened intently despite the pounding in his head and the fact that his body was trembling all over. He was exhausted and wanted nothing better than to sleep, but he knew that he needed to stay awake if he were to find out what was to become of him.

"So, Sofia, what's happened to her kid? I haven't seen her around the city for a few days."

"I have no idea Voth perhaps she has found somewhere to mourn her mother."

"I suppose, perhaps you can go and look for her once you've finished here?"

"Maybe I will minister Voth, but I would like to keep this man out of the chamber, and I recommend that we use him in the breeding program. I'd certainly be interested in mating with him, so I'm sure there would be others."

Again, what's with the breeding program? I'm not a dog, or a cat either for that matter, John's garbled mind thought.

"Permission denied put him back in the chamber and study him further. We seem to be getting a lot more work done in our testing labs with him in the chamber as well."

"You're willing to kill him, just like Toth is? I thought you had a bit more compassion for the gene carriers than the first minister does?"

There was silence again and all John could do was stare into the darkness and wonder what was going to happen next.

Suddenly Voth shouted and it made him jump and he literally fell out of the narrow bed.

"You will do as I say if you ever want to see your daughter again!"

He barely heard her when she answered, "yes sir, but can I please give him a few hours rest before I put him in the chamber again?"

John shuddered at the coldness of Voth's reply.

"You have one hour."

He heard footsteps fading away and then a door slammed. What was going to happen next? He sure hoped that his friends would find him in the next hour because he had a bad feeling that if he stepped foot in that chamber again it would kill him.

Sofia's gentle touch startled him, he knew that she was still there, but he had no idea that she had been standing so close to him, "Come on let's get you back into the bed."

He managed to struggle to his feet, but not before an intense wave of pain shot through his head. He was positive that if Sofia hadn't been holding him, he would have fallen flat on his face.

For the next few minutes, she helped him get as comfortable as he could on the bed. When she pulled a blanket over him, he immediately pushed it away, "please don't I'm way too hot for a blanket right now?"

He felt her breath on his cheek as she whispered in his ear, "I have got a message to your friends, I hope that they can find you before it's too late."

"Why…don't…you…help…me…yourself?" He asked through gritted teeth as a wave of pain shot through his temple.

Still close to his ear she whispered the answer, "because everything we do is being monitored by security cameras. Sometimes they are off, and I can speak a little louder, but they're never off for long. At the moment we're being monitored, that is why I'm whispering in your ear."

He slowly nodded his head, wondering what the people on the security cameras would be thinking about their close proximity to each other at this moment.

She must have read his mind, because she kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear again, "I told them that I'm in love with you. That is why I'm constantly getting close to you. They seemed to buy that explanation."

He was horrified at the thought because he was married to the love of his life and they had two children together, so he certainly had no interest in someone he'd never seen.

Again, she must have read his mind, "don't worry I'm married, and I have a child remember."

The next time she spoke it was from a distance, "I need to leave you now, but I will give you something for the pain and fever."

Suddenly he felt an intense pain in his neck, and it wasn't long before his head began to feel fuzzy, unconsciousness was calling him and given the circumstances he found himself in, he was more than happy to let it claim him.

oOo

It was close to lunchtime by the time they finally set out from the tiny cabin, heading for the underground passages that would lead them to the city. From what Ronon could ascertain from his conversations with Sharnie, it would take them around three hours of earth time to reach the entrance to the underground tunnels that she escaped through. Jonan had insisted that there were tunnels closer that led directly into the labs, but Sharnie had pointed out that her tunnels went straight into the area of the city where the ancestor gene carriers were held – apparently, no one else went to that area. Except for one or two scientists or medical personnel.

Despite being upset this morning, Sharnie seemed to be in a remarkably good mood. Ronon wondered how she could be so cheerful considering her mother had died a few days ago and had supposedly been killed by the people in the city. But he wasn't comfortable broaching the subject with her – that was more Amelia's thing. Perhaps when this was all over, he'd take Sharnie to meet his wife and then maybe she could talk to her about her feelings.

The sun was out, and the day was warm, but they had plenty of water and food stored in their packs. The path they were walking along was narrow and the trees whipped about his face and arms. Lorne was ahead of him, and Jonan insisted on coming up behind with Hannan. Ronon wasn't comfortable with that arrangement, but since Sharnie didn't want to let go of his hand, it was probably for the best.

A little voice from beside him interrupted his thoughts, "Ronon is it true that you come from the city of the ancestors? I would love to go there; would you be able to take me there?"

"Yes, it's true that I lived on Atlantis for many years, and I'm sure that I could take you there, but I'd probably have to ask General Sheppard first. I'm sure that he'd be okay with it though."

"Who's that?" Sharnie asked pulling at his hand and stopping in the middle of the path.

There was a fallen log up ahead and it was probably time for a break anyway. By this time Lorne had turned around and Jonan and Hannan had stopped behind him, "I think it's time for a break," he suggested.

"Right then Sharnie come and sit on that log with me and have a rest."

Once Sharnie had sat on the log, he handed her his canteen and sat down next to her, "I'm going to tell you about General Sheppard, but when we start walking again, I need to be quiet and walk as quickly as you can."

Ronon took a good look at her before he began. Her hair was freshly washed and someone had platted it, her blue eyes shone – again he wondered why she wasn't more upset by her mother's death. She had the cutest pair of overalls on made of a material similar to blue denim and she had a small pink t-shirt underneath. There were also black boots for her feet. Johan's daughter was a similar size and age, so he was able to find her some clothes. He was definitely hoping that Amelia would have a little girl and then he could dress her like that.

Lorne and the others were a little way down the path, and he sensed that they were giving him and Sharnie a bit of privacy.

After having a drink from the canteen, he took a deep breath before starting, "General Sheppard is the leader of Atlantis and as close to me as a brother…"

Before he had a chance to say much else Sharnie interrupted, "Why isn't he here with you?"

"If you'd let me finish, I'll tell you."

When she nodded her head he continued, "anyway Sheppard has the strongest ancestor gene ever detected in one of his kind, so I'm guessing that the people in the city have kidnapped him and are using him for something and I'm convinced that it's not good."

The look on Sharnie's face could only be described as one of terror and her voice trembled as she spoke, "we have to get going then, if they killed my mom, they would probably end up doing the same to him."

Tears were brimming in her eyes and the last thing that he needed right now was for her to start crying, as he had no idea how to deal with an emotional child. When Torren was upset or emotional, he could always give him back to Sheppard or Teyla to deal with. And when he had his own children, he would hand them to Amelia to deal with if they were upset.

Taking a deep breath, he shook himself out of his contemplations and turned to Sharnie, "So do you think you can keep going without asking any more questions?"

When she nodded, he called to Lorne and the others and suggested that it was time to keep going and hopefully within the next hour they should reach the tunnels.

oOo

By the time they reached their accommodations, Carson was exhausted and he hoped that lunch would be as satisfying as breakfast had been. He knew that Sofia had given Rodney something and he suspected that it may be a clue to General Sheppard's whereabouts. But he also knew that if the room they were in was being monitored they wouldn't stand a chance of finding out.

In the end, one of the other ministers had shown them their accommodations and he didn't trust him any more than he did Toth or Voth.

The apartment was small with one living/dining area and two tiny bedrooms. There was a bathroom to the side next to a small kitchen. Lunch had been provided for them, but in the future, it was expected that they would begin to cook their own meals – not that he had any intention of staying here long enough to make use of the place.

Once he had finished their meal consisting of sandwiches and water, he turned to look at Rodney who was still stuffing food into his mouth, "Right then Rodney, what did the letter say."

Rather than Rodney reading it out, he just handed it to him, and he knew that he should try and be as discrete as possible while reading it.

It read,

First of all, I need you to be aware of what has been going on in this city for Millenia on and off. The ancestor gene carriers have been used to power our city and test out the ancestor devices that we come across in our city from time to time.

Every child in the city is told that these people do it willingly and these people come to no harm. The truth is these people usually die a slow painful death.

For the majority of our history, these people have been put into a breeding program to try and create a person with a stronger more effective gene. I think that it is Toth's intention to include the two of you in his breeding program.

The truth is Toth, Voth - and the other ministers have no regard for the lives of these people - although I sense compassion in Voth. Their only desire is to stay in control of the city and they're willing to torture innocent people to achieve it.

At the moment they have your friend powering the city and unfortunately it is slowly killing him.

Anyway, I am trying to do everything I can for him, but these men have my daughter and I have no idea where she is. They are dangerous and unless I do what they ask I fear that my Lalla will come to harm.

I have included a map of some underground tunnels that lead to the lab. I assume you have been given accommodations in the part of the city where the Ancestor gene carriers live. Look for a man named Logo, he is one of my closest friends and one of the few people who know what is going on in the city – some don't want to know what's happening and some are oblivious. I'm sure that Logo knows of those that are willing to help you.

I'm sorry that I can't be of more help. I will continue to help your friend for as long as I can, but you'd better hurry.

Sofia.

There was certainly a lot going on in this city and from what Sofia was saying Sheppard was in big trouble.

Turning to Rodney he took a deep breath before asking him the obvious question, "what the hell are we supposed to do now since I have no intention of entering their breeding program?" Carson stopped and thought for a moment before continuing, "I wonder if they realise your gene is artificial?"

"I have no idea what they know of my gene, but one thing I do know is, We do what we always do, come up with a plan and look for this Logo guy or anyone else who can help us," Rodney replied softly.

"Aye lad I guess you're right."

TBC…