"Our timekeeping is accurate," Vend said. "As I explained to your friends earlier, we can ascertain by the level in our wells that the process of creating water ended more than ten generations ago."
"A fact verified by the program files," Rodney confirmed.
For a time, the two scientists worked in silence, accessing the files left by the researchers. As was so often the case with Ancient records, the problem was having too much data rather than too little. Sifting through file after file for relevant information was, to put it politely, an exercise in patience.
"I have found a diagnostic program," Radek announced some time later. "It should confirm the status of the terraforming process."
"And?"
Adjusting his glasses, he fixed Rodney with an irritated look. "The program requires input from sensors all over the planet and has not been accessed in quite some time. Pestering it or me will not make it go faster." No sooner had he finished complaining, though, than a completion message flashed on the screen.
Rodney went to stand at Radek's shoulder. "I repeat: And?"
"Diagnostic confirms it. Atlas's machine was never used, and the original process is complete. The force fields surrounding the reservoirs have been set to manual release. We need only shut down the shield generators."
"Yes, we've been through that, thanks." Ignoring Radek's rolled eyes, Rodney added, "It's the order of operations that requires careful handling."
"Which will not be a trivial task." Radek pointed to the geological data of the ZPM located nearby.
While the lab was situated on solid rock, the structure housing the ZPM and shield generators was not so well placed. "Okay, that presents a minor obstacle. We're being a bit ambitious in our aims here, attempting to drown the Wraith hive ship and yet prevent the ZPMs from washing away in the planetary flood."
Sheppard didn't appear concerned about the details. "But you can do it?"
"Of course I can do it." Rodney reached over Radek's shoulder to type in a command. "I'm just submitting advance warning that there'll be an optimal sequence for shutting down the force fields, and it may take a while to figure that out."
"Duly noted."
The next order of business was to pinpoint the locations of the eleven remaining force fields and their associated ZPMs. If the tedium of the search was getting on the scientists' nerves, Rodney could at least take comfort in the fact that their military counterparts were even more restless. Sheppard and Ronon looked about ready to climb the walls, taking turns wandering the room and pretending they weren't in fact pacing. Vend and Shira eyed them with curiosity and a hint of bemusement, while Rodney mostly tried to block their antics from his mind.
At last, he stretched his arms up over his head and cracked his back. "All right, we've got the ZPM locations mapped out. The topography's well marked in the database, so we ought to be able to run some simulations on our own computers and determine which force fields should be released first" He stood and went across to his laptop. "The possible combinations are minimal, so it shouldn't take long. Meanwhile, I'll enter the data on the material components of exogenesis machine and resume our treasure hunt using the scanners."
Ronon glanced up from the knife he'd been sharpening rather obsessively. "What about the hive ship?"
"What about it? Based on previous experience, it's big and bad and we hope it doesn't somehow float."
"I think he wants to know if your sensors picked it up," the Colonel suggested helpfully.
"The sensors were only intended to monitor the terraforming. Wraith detection wasn't included in the design, which, I admit, was yet one more oversight on the part of a supposedly enlightened race. We're not going to locate anything other than the ZPMs and the shield generation equipment-and presumably, once I enter the data, the exogenesis machine."
Sheppard turned to Vene. "How confident are you about where this hive ship is?"
"I can show you the general location." The Elder approached the Ancient computer screen and studied the map Rodney had called up. With a callused hand, he indicated one of the deepest areas in a pre-oceanic basin on the opposite side of the planet.
Ronon tucked the small blade back into his hair-which raised no shortage of logistical questions all by itself-and folded his arms. "We need to be more certain than that."
"And more precise." Indicating the placement of two adjacent ZPMs with his finger, Rodney said, "That canyon could be flooded one of three ways, and if we don't pin down the Wraith's exact location, the wrong sequence could give them enough time to get the whole ship powered up"
He'd nearly forgotten that Shira was present until she spoke up. "There was once a small settlement not far from the ship. It was destroyed many years ago, but a few of its people still live in our village. I have heard an old man speak of what he saw there-something that looked like a hill, until the Darts emerged from it and flew off to begin raiding."
Having seen the immense crater left by the first hive ship they'd encountered, Rodney had no trouble believing that, even without a sprinkling of trees, a few sandstorms would help the hill camouflage succeed on Polrusso.
"Can we talk to this old man?" asked Sheppard.
"I will take you to him." Vene moved toward the door leading to the village, and Sheppard and Ronon started to follow.
"Whoa, hold up." Rodney scrambled to find a datapad compatible with the computer. "You need an accurate map, or all you'll get is story time at the nursing home." Uploading the map to the datapad, he thrust it into Sheppard's hands. "We'll stay here and get started on the simulations."
Once the others had left, he bent over the computer again, wondering idly if he'd restocked his ibuprofen bottle. Not only was the Ancient lab bench ergonomically deficient, but there had to be some fine particulates in the air, irritating the exposed nerve in his aching tooth.
"So," Radek began. "In an ideal reality, we will do what? Release each force field and fly in to extract each ZPM as soon it powers down? Hoping, of course, that the water does not move quickly enough to require either of us to engage in another undersea jumper ride."
"And I'd been doing so well at avoiding that thought until now-thanks ever so much. At least, if we do this right, we shouldn't have to worry about the Wraith at that point."
"By all means, then." Radek smiled. "Let us do it right."
The complexities of the terraforming program were undeniably intriguing. However, Rodney found himself more fascinated by the physical reality of what they were about to set in motion. It presented a bit of a perspective shift for him. For most of his life, it had been the purely theoretical nature of research that held his interest. Now, the practical applications of that research felt more immediate and more important. Samantha Carter's influence, he suspected.
For some reason, she'd been on his mind a lot lately, mostly after having been trapped underwater with her-or rather some manifestation of her in his head. Very strange. At least, as strange as having an attractive woman on the brain could be.
He was also starting to understand why Atlas had worked to accelerate the process by creating the exogenesis machine. It was heady stuff, the idea of flipping a switch and turning a planet from a barren dustbowl into a Garden of Eden. The science behind it could have innumerable uses elsewhere. Properly calibrated, it could reverse decades of environmental damage on Earth or create new homes for races devastated by battles with the Goa'uld and Ori.
So much could be learned, if they could only find the machine that Atlas had left on Polrusso. "Did you input the data on Ea's machine yet?"
"I do not have it "
"What?" A familiar flash of annoyance jerked Rodney back to the here and now.
"You had it on your computer on Atlantis " Radek's forehead crinkled. "I reminded you of this."
"I told you to bring it!"
Pushing himself back from the bench, Radek threw his hands in the air in defeat. "Fine! I will go back for it."
"And waste valuable time in the pro
cess." Rodney scrubbed at his eyes and decided that ibuprofen was sounding better and better. "All you had to do was burn it to a DVD."
With a jaundiced look, Radek shook his head. "Yes, it will waste all of ten minutes. Disastrous. The 'gate is just outside the door. As I have clearly failed you by not reading your mind, I will go." He rose from his stool and started toward the exit, favoring his twisted ankle.
"Oh, for crying out loud." Rodney rolled his eyes skyward. "I'll go. You set up the water-release simulation matrix and make sure the computer doesn't choke on this new diagnostic." Tapping his radio, he hailed their team leader. "Colonel, if you and Ronon are okay where you are, I'm going to briefly head home to pick up some necessary data."
Sheppard replied immediately. "You want me to go? We're only a few minutes away."
"No, you're better off getting the location of the hive ship. I'm waiting for a diagnostic to finish here. Besides, I have my doubts that you could successfully identify anything in my lab without a yellow sticky note on it, much less download something from my computer."
"Don't knock the sticky notes. They got me through college."
"I'm sure. I'll be back in a few minutes." He rubbed his face. The broken tooth was beginning to feel like a spear through his skull.
"Check in when you get back. Sheppard out."
Once outside, Rodney found himself caught up in the crush of people hanging around the 'gate, joined now by their recently returned friends. As before, they wasted no time in cheerfully getting inside his personal space, which had the added bonus of aggravating his headache.
"You are returning to your home?"
"Temporarily." Rodney shook his arm loose from a child's enthusiastic grip. "Just need to go get something."
"We could wait for you if you wish."
Wonderful. A fan club. "No need. You'll have plenty more opportunities to smother me later."
"Please allow me to help," offered an eager young man hovering by the DHD. "It would be an honor to open the 'gate for you."
If Rodney had learned one thing from their various meet-andgreets gone wrong, it was to never let strangers see his home's address. "That's all right. It's, um, enough that you were here to greet me. But you've got lots of work to do before the big move, I'm sure, so go on. Take care."
Starting to dial a false address, he turned to the crowd and gave a jerky wave, hoping they'd get the hint. They did, waving back and calling out their thanks as they departed. Rodney waited until they were a reasonable distance away before redialing the correct address. A round-trip 'gate transit for a damned DVD with a smidgeon of data. Embarrassing.
"Hey, honey, we're home," John announced as he entered the lab. It occurred to him a moment later that, since his current companions were a Czech and a Satedan, neither of them were likely to find his comment the least bit funny. It didn't bother him; he was used to his jokes bombing. "What's for dinner?"
"Torture bars, if you ask Rodney." Radek either understood the reference or ignored it, his attention focused on the computer screen in front of him. "He is still rather irate that a power bar caused him dental distress. Legal action has been mentioned."
Typical. John hopped up to sit on an unused lab bench. "He's not back yet? It's been two hours."
"Perhaps the dentist made him wait." Radek sounded a little too amused by that notion. "Do you have the location?"
Ronon pulled the datapad out of his pocket and handed it to the scientist. "The old man was pretty specific about where the ship is."
Studying the map for a moment, Radek nodded, satisfied. "Jo. DobFe. This will work. In fact, it is a good place to begin the water release. Flood this location first, and pressure will be relieved in the adjoining areas. This will allow us to collect the ZPMs in an orderly manner."
"All of them?" Once again the phrase `too good to be true' sprang to mind. "Aren't there twelve of the things?"
Radek shrugged. "It is possible that we may lose one or two, but with several jumpers participating, I do not foresee a problem retrieving them."
John glanced over at Ronon, who looked just as surprised. "Sounds like we caught a break for once"
Their radios signaled simultaneously. "Sheppard, McKay. I'm coming back through."
"How's the tooth, Rodney?"
They heard a huff of indignation from the other end. "Excruciating, thank you, but that had absolutely nothing to do with the delay. If people would just respect the workspaces of others, we wouldn't have these problems. Someone made a unilateral decision that my computer had to be evacuated to the Alpha site, and consequently I wasted far too much time-"
There was a break in the transmission as Rodney presumably entered the wormhole. "Calm before storm," muttered Radek.
Then Rodney's voice returned. "-could have ...Ow! What ... Um, got a slight problem out here, guys. Except-no, not slight at all. Massive problem."
John vaulted off the bench and ran to the exit. The inner doors obligingly opened, but the outer set refused to budge. "Rodney? What's going on out there?"
Something pounded on the door. Rodney's urgent "For God's sake, let me in!" was immediately followed by cry of agony unlike any John had ever heard. "It's burning me! I can't see-it's in my eyes..."
A surge of horror-fueled adrenaline raced through John's veins. He turned around and yelled, "Radek! Open the doors!"
Color fled from Radek's features, and his fingers flew madly across the keyboard. "I can't. The system will not allow me!" He leaped from his chair and hurried to the control panel by the doors, calling, "Rodney! The jumper-you must get inside!"
Fists banged ineffectually at the closed doors. "I can't see... Someone help me! Please!"
The words ended in a choking scream that tore through John like a knife. "Rodney! Dammit -get to the jumper!"
It was less than thirty feet away, but in a sandstorm, just as in an Antarctic blizzard, that might as well have been thirty miles.
Radek shouted in triumph. John dimly heard a warning yell from Ronon, but then the doors abruptly opened, and a blast of blood-red sand flung John back.
Instinctively, he turned his head as he fell, fiery pain spraying against the side of his face. Before he could get his bearings, a force field snapped into existence across the outer doorway, sealing them off from the raging storm. Where the hell was Rodney?
"...located DHD-I'm...dial by feel!"
"Airlock has a failsafe," Radek realized, his eyes wide with shock. "It must have detected the sand."
"There has to be a way around the failsafe. Find it!"
Behind the force field, a dark red rain of grit whipped past. Scrambling to his knees, John stumbled back inside the lab, and noticed that Shira and Vend had arrived. He wouldn't make it through the sand unprotected, but with some help, maybe... "Uene, give me your robe!" He pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the acid sand that stung his hands.
Next to him, Ronon was slamming his fist into a large window, but nothing was happening. Furious, he kept striking it, then drew his weapon. Radek shouted, "No! It is protected by the same force field. The entire laboratory is sealed. You shoot in here and-"
Face contorted in rage, Ronon jammed his weapon back into its holster.
"Give me your damned robe!" John yelled at Vend again, taking a step towards him. The Polrusson stood frozen with shock and sorrow.
Radek grabbed John's arm with a surprisingly fierce grip. "You cannot get out; Rodney cannot get in. The lab is sealed!"
Over the screech of the wind, Rodney's voice was weakening. "God, it's pulling the skin off my fingers! I can't feel the symbols..."
Damn it, he couldn't listen to this and not do something. His throat constricting, John turned a desperate gaze to Radek. "Get us out there!"
The scientist only shook his head, as helpless as the rest of them. "I cannot."
"Perhaps this way?" Shira suggested, running to the doors that would lead them back to the village.
John knew that it would take at lea
st twenty minutes to reach the 'gate by that route, but he had to try. He bolted to the door, only to stop when the signal from Rodney was abruptly cut off. Even the hiss of the storm no longer reached them. Afraid to do much more than breathe, John reached for his radio and turned back into the lab. With his view obscured by the wall of sand beyond the force field, he couldn't even verify that the 'gate had opened. "Control, do you read?"
"Reading you fine, Colonel," a tech's voice replied promptly. "Did you dial in?"
Thank God. Some of his tension ebbed away, but it didn't stray far. "No, McKay did. When he gets to you, he's going to need a medical team ASAP."
"Sir, we haven't received his IDC."
"What? Lower the shield! McKay's already inbound."
"I'm sorry, sir, without an IDC-"
"Lower the damned shield!"
There was a disturbingly long pause before the tech replied, "Sir, I've had to override the inbuilt safety protocols... 'gate shield down."
"Clear everyone out of the control room and get essential personnel into HAZMAT gear. The sand here is a killer."
"Yes, sir. We're getting some coming through already. No sign of Dr. McKay yet"
The next few seconds stretched intolerably. In a subdued voice, Radek said, "The sand will keep the 'gate open. The particles have sufficient size and momentum to be detected by the system."
Spinning around, John speared Vend with his stare. "Why didn't you warn us?"
His lips trembling in obvious distress, the Polrusson replied, "I...came to do just that, to warn you not to leave. The storm came upon us suddenly. We did not know your friend had not yet returned!"
A yell issued from the tech. "Sir, we still don't have Dr. McKay, and sand is blasting through the 'gate! People are getting hit-" The man's pained scream melted into a cacophony of cries from the Atlantis personnel.
"Colonel!" Dr. Weir's voice joined the bedlam. "I just got to the control room. What's going on?"
"McKay arrived back here in a sandstorm, and the lab locked him out," John said tersely, clutching at a few last threads of hope. "You have to give him more time. He can't see-"
Exogenesis Page 15
