“Returning to us so soon?” Saul raised an eyebrow. “I’d assumed that Mara would be giving you an… extended tour.”
“You have a beautiful city,” Sheppard said, struggling to keep his anger in check. “She took me to the observatory — the view was…overwhelming.”
Saul’s jaw stiffened, and then his smile returned. Clearly caught by surprise, he didn’t seem perturbed. “Startling view isn’t it?”
“Eye opening,” Sheppard agreed.
Ronon, Teyla, and the others stared at him but Sheppard kept his expression neutral. He was about to speak again, when Saul stood and clapped his hands. The crowd grew silent, chairs shuffled, and a whispered murmur fluttered across the room.
The chamber grew lighter gradually as lamps were lit along its walls, and a group of men emerged from the shadows and began to slide tables together near the center of the room. It all took place in a matter of moments — obviously a well-practiced ritual. Sheppard and his team stood, watching in silence and waiting to see what new surprise Saul had in store.
“As it turns out,” Saul said, “you’ve returned just in time for dinner, Colonel.”
He turned to Teyla and offered his arm. She stared at it as if it might be poisonous and glanced at Sheppard. Though he longed to throttle the truth from Saul’s lips now was hardly the time, so he nodded to Teyla and she reached out and took Saul’s arm.
Turning away from the bar, Saul smiled and made his way down the dinner tables.
The rest of the team followed and Sheppard dropped back, falling in step beside Rodney.
“Listen up,” he whispered, keeping his eye on Saul. “You’re going to love this.”
Rodney cocked his head, clearly trying to appear inconspicuous, but only succeeding in looking supremely suspicious and uncomfortable. Stealth was not among his talents.
“There is no storm, you were right. Mara says there’s a protocol in place that prevents the gate from connecting to the same address twice. Once someone comes through from one gate, they can’t return to where they came from and no one else can come through from there.”
“But — ”
“Just listen. I need you to figure out how they could do that — and then disable the protocol. Otherwise we’re not getting home before we’re all deep fried.”
“There’s a surprise,” Rodney said through gritted teeth. “Whatever we do let’s not get into a situation where Rodney has plenty of time to save the day. In fact, let’s see if we can’t complicate it hopelessly, encrypt it using Ancient code, and — oh, yeah — why not make sure it only involves equipment we’ve never seen?”
Sheppard looked at him. “Just do it Rodney.”
* * *
Saul seated Teyla near the head of the dining table. He leaned close to one of the men hovering nearby — it was hard to tell if they were servants, or guards, or just used to doing what Saul told them. The man asked something, Saul answered, and the other nodded. He broke off from the group he’d been conversing with and approached Sheppard.
“We have taken the liberty of assigning you seating,” the man said. “Many of our people have voiced an interest in meeting you, so we’ve done what we can to spread you out and give everyone the chance to entertain you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine,” Sheppard said.
“If you will follow me then?”
Before Sheppard could do so, a hand fell on his shoulder. Mara was standing beside him, smiling tentatively. Teyla wondered what had occurred between them during their absence, but could not read the truth on Colonel Sheppard’s face.
“If you don’t mind,” Mara said, “you could sit with me?”
“Of course,” Sheppard said smoothly, breaking free of the pack and taking her arm. “I was hoping you’d catch up.”
The man who was guiding them seemed irritated by the interruption, but he shrugged it off as Sheppard turned to follow Mara down the table and away. He led the rest on down the table and, within a few moments, Rodney had been deposited between two women who eyed him with interest, and Cumby had been escorted down to an oddly dressed group of diners near the far end of the table.
Ronon was the last to be seated. He found himself placed between a pair of elderly men who didn’t speak to him at all. They studied him up and down, and cast glances back and forth. When one of them winked, he leaned forward, very close, and scowled. The man scuttled back and Ronon turned away to hide his grin.
* * *
As soon as everyone was seated, a round of appetizers was served. There were small platters stacked with warm, fresh bread, fried vegetables and fish of some sort, and more of the wine they’d been served in the bar. Next they brought out the main course, which was a smorgasbord of scent, color, and style. There were roasts of various types, large bowls of vegetables, exotic fruit, soups and breads and cheese. No matter how many times the wine glasses were filled more appeared as if by magic. It was the sort of feast that Sheppard imagined was usually reserved for royalty, but the citizens of Admah seemed unimpressed.
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble,” he said, leaning closer to Mara. “Or do you eat this way all the time?”
“We always dine at this time,” Mara said simply. “Remember, we are a people who have dedicated ourselves to excess. Saul goes to a lot of trouble to keep us happy and we have become accustomed to our pleasures. It’s the curse of living too long in isolation. When your options are limited, you spice them up.”
“There’s a question for you,” Sheppard said. “You live in this place, the surface of the moon you’ve attached your city to is barren, and yet you can provide a meal like this? Where does it all come from? Does Saul send teams through the gate to forage? Does he have a way to override the protocols that lock gates out after one dial-in?”
“I’m afraid not,” Mara replied. “I know what that would mean to you, but we have extensive gardens in the lower levels of the city. We raise the animals, grow the vegetables and fruits. It’s become an art form, much like everything else remotely associated with pleasure and entertainment.”
She reached out and trailed her fingers down his arm. “I have to admit though, that while the meal is nothing special, you make a rather pleasant spice.”
Sheppard forced a smile and glanced down the table toward McKay. Rodney had magicked his computer out of nowhere and it was open on the table in front of him. A woman with long platinum blonde hair and green eyeliner leaned over his shoulder on his left, trying to whisper in his ear as he worked. Whatever it was she was saying, he did his best to ignore her, but she was persistent. She ran her index finger up and down his throat, teasing his earlobe and laughing softly. Eventually, Rodney drew back, exasperated.
Across the table and farther down, Teyla had engaged Saul in conversation. He was smiling and speaking expansively while she pretended to sip at her wine and nibbled the food. Sheppard saw that she kept a close eye on those near her, and he smiled. He didn’t have to worry about Teyla letting her guard down, and if anyone could get something useful out of Saul, it was her.
Cumby was talking to a thin woman with so much hair piled on her head that it stretched a foot above her head. He kept glancing up at it, as if afraid it might topple into his food, or fall across his face and smother him. Under different circumstances, it would have been funny.
When Sheppard turned to Ronon he caught the big man’s eyes. Ronon was eating. Of them all, he probably had the most common sense in situations like these. His plate was piled high with a little bit of everything available. He leaned over the table, his elbows planted firmly on either side of his plate, creating as threatening a countenance as possible. He shoveled the food in quickly, using his fingers when possible, and from time to time he glanced in irritation, or distrust, at one or other of the old men beside him. When he saw Sheppard looking at him he nodded toward the hallway leading to their rooms. His eyes were desperate.
At that moment, one of the old men reached out and squeeze
d Ronon’s bicep. The big man shied away, turning toward the offender and scooping up another bite of the stew he was gulping down.
“I don’t like being separated from my people,” Sheppard said, turning back to Mara. “It makes me nervous.”
“Please,” Mara said, her voice low. “Eat. Later there will be an entertainment. I will see to it that you and your friends are seated together and, when there is more noise to cover our words, we will talk.”
Sheppard met her gaze for a moment and then nodded. He had no choice but to trust her — she was the only one who had told them the truth, and that had to count for something. He turned to his plate and began to eat, keeping one eye on what happened up and down the table as he did so.
Chapter Fourteen
When the meal was over the lights were dimmed. Chairs slid back from the tables and the murmur of voices rose, then stilled. Near one end of the room another set of lights grew brighter. Saul stood, and those up and down the length of the table did likewise. They moved in a ripple of sound and shadow until everyone was standing, and then there was silence.
“What is it?” Sheppard whispered. “What’s happening?”
He glanced up and down the table, but with the lights dimmed he couldn’t be certain he was seeing the others. He saw silhouettes and shadows. He was pretty certain he saw Ronon, towering over everyone near him.
“It’s time for the entertainment,” Mara replied. “This is the moment Saul has been working up to all day. I’ll be right back. I’m going to make certain Saul seats you in a group. I did promise.”
She slipped away down the length of the table. Sheppard watched her go, and then studied the dimly lit group moving slowly toward the lighted exit. He was determined not to let the citizens of Admah make off with any of his team in the confusion. Mara had said to wait, but after only a few moments, he started off toward where Saul and Teyla had been seated. When he reached them he found Mara there ahead of him.
Saul turned, saw him approaching, and smiled, though there was little humor in the expression.
“Mara has volunteered to escort you and your team to your seats,” Saul said. “She will be your guide for the evening. If you have any further questions, she’ll answer them to the best of her ability. The entertainments are self-explanatory, but there may be aspects that will confuse you. I will walk with you as far as I can, but there are details to which I must attend. I have my own part to play in what is to come and there are preparations that must be made. I will rejoin you, if I can, before the finale.”
Teyla folded her arms in a gesture Shepard knew well. “What sort of ‘entertainment’ are we in for?”
“All things in their time, my dear,” Saul said. “Are all the people in Atlantis so impatient? There is no reason to hurry — and all will be answered very soon. I can tell you this…you will not be bored.”
Just then, a commotion arose off to one side and Sheppard turned to see Rodney and the others pushing their way through the crowd. They seemed relieved to see him and he smiled, though he didn’t have much to put behind it.
“Speaking of answers,” Rodney said, stepping up beside Saul, “I want some.”
Sheppard tried to wave him to silence, but Rodney cocked his head, set his jaw, and plowed on. He had something to say and nothing on the planet was going to prevent him. Sheppard sighed.
“I want to know why you’ve prevented communication in and out of this city,” Rodney said. “I want to know what possible reason you could have for sabotaging the DHD and the gate. I want to know why we’re headed straight into the sun, and I want to know what you plan to do about it. All of this,” he waved his arms to encompass the huge hall, “is ridiculous! You all go on eating and drinking and dancing and singing as if nothing has changed, but you know it’s not true — right? You all know?” He turned to stare out into the crowd. “You all know he’s aimed you into the heart of a sun, that death by fire is neither noble nor pleasant?”
Saul stood very still. His expression was grim. A man behind him stepped forward and moved toward Rodney, but Saul held out a hand and prevented him. Ronon stepped up beside Rodney, hand on the butt of his gun.
“You are a very difficult and persistent man, Dr. McKay. I owe you no explanation. The affairs of my city and my people are not yours to question. No one invited you or your team through that gate, but I’m afraid it was the last such trip you are likely to take. Long ago, before you were born, and likely before your parents, or even their parents were born, we made a decision.
“Our ways were not the ways of others of our kind. Those in cities like Atlantis concerned themselves with spiritual growth and ascension. We chose a different path. When it became clear that the differences between our cultures had become irreconcilable, we devised a plan. We sat on that plan for a very long time, working it out and refining it. We waited for the right moment and when the Wraith arose — we acted.
“Our city is protected. The gate is still active, but there have been modifications. It is possible to dial the coordinates to or from this gate one time from any other active gate. Once that has happened, a sequence of signals is initiated. Any further attempts by that particular gate to reach this one pass through a series of phase shifts that change the coordinates presented and prevent connection. There is no way to detect the frequency of this shift; it appears only as a failed address. Eventually, whoever is at the far end of that gate realizes that they are never going to make the connection again, and they give up.”
“And you keep whoever came through here as prisoners?”
“Guests,” Saul said. “They become our long term guests. We are not monsters here, Dr. McKay, but we have our laws and we have our security protocols, much as I suppose your own people do. We do not bend or break those laws — they have kept us safe for many, many years. There are those who would say too many.”
“You have already broken those laws,” Rodney said. “You turned off the shields. You opened up this world to long range scans and invited us here. If you’d left them in place, we would never have detected you, and we wouldn’t be here, plunging to our deaths. There has to be a way to reverse — ”
Sheppard grabbed Rodney by the arm and propelled him toward the lights and the door at the rear of the hall.
“What are you doing?” Rodney spluttered. “You heard him. He’s holding us prisoner here, preventing us from reaching Atlantis, preventing Atlantis from reaching us. We have to — ”
“What, Rodney?” Sheppard said softly. “Yell him into submission? You might have noticed that we’re outnumbered and surrounded. We can keep arguing with the man, and end up locked away in some cell, or we can go along for the moment and find a way to get you logged into their system. Saul created the protocol, Mara told me as much up in the observatory, and he doesn’t strike me as an insurmountable genius. How about you?”
“Of course not, but this can’t be our plan?” Rodney said. “We just go along with them, eat drink and be merry, and hope we find a way to break into their system and escape?”
“You have a better one?”
Rodney glanced down at the floor and closed his eyes.
“John Sheppard,” Mara said, stepping up beside them, “the entertainment is about to begin. I don’t mean to interrupt, but we need to get to our seats. If you’ll follow me?”
Rodney started to speak, thought better of it, and turned away. Sheppard held out his arm and Mara took it, smiling up at him. Ronon stared at the two of them and then fell in behind Cumby. Teyla started after them, but Saul grabbed her arm.
“I would be honored if you would sit with me. I’ll be busy much of the time, but I do have a spectacular view.”
“I would prefer to stay with my team.”
“Of course.” Saul let her go, reluctantly. “I will try to join you before the finale.”
Teyla smiled thinly and turned away. She had no illusions about the man’s intentions. He was attracted to her, and he was used to getting what he want
ed. There was a confrontation in her future, but for the moment she’d avoided it. She hurried her steps and caught up with the others just as they reached a well lit exit, leading into a passageway beyond. This hall was only dimly lit, lined with more of the colorful posters, but these were newer. They were framed in brilliant moving tubes of multicolored light.
“It’s like walking into a casino,” Sheppard commented.
At the far end of the passageway they entered a large, round room. There were sealed doors all around it with keypad locks. Sheppard stared at them, started to ask what their purpose was, and then thought better of it. On the far side of the chamber, a large set of double doors stood open. Mara led Sheppard ahead of the others, and they walked through into much brighter light and a dull roar of sound.
Sheppard stopped, and the others were forced to wait as he took in the scene before him. They stood on a ledge that led off to the right and to the left, circling around and rising up and back in tiered seating. At intervals around the huge circular chamber there were blocks of more private seating, sealed off from the larger areas by clear walls.
“Come,” Mara said. She tugged on Sheppard’s arm, and he followed her around the circle.
The others followed slowly, taking in the glass-walled chamber. Below them was a large space that resembled a stone bowl. The walls were painted in bright colors, murals circling the room, and thick barred doors were scattered around the perimeter. It was dark on that lower level, and it was difficult to make out what might be down there.
“What is it?” Rodney said uneasily. “Some sort of theater?”
“Not exactly.”
Mara led them around the first group of open seats and into the terrace below. Inside were two rows of more comfortable seats fronted by low-slung acrylic tables. “This is where we will sit,” she said. “The entertainment will start soon.”
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