Lightning Strikes, part 30 - Final Chapter
Part 30
AN: Contains mention of events from “Screw ups”. Thanks again to BMick and JoeyLuv for their suggestions concerning Ferrin.
With the city safely on Lantana, it was time for the senior staff to take care of a few problems. Kavanagh was so ecstatic that he was finally going to get to do his survey on M7R-673 that he arrived in the Gate Room two hours early. Per standard procedure, a MALP was sent through. Unfortunately for Kavanagh, the impact from a meteor had set off a nearby volcano, choking the atmosphere with ash.
Since they would be unable to send their troublemakers out of the city for a time, other arrangements had to be made. During a meeting to address the situation, Jack suggested that the troublemakers be given the choice of receiving probation or being sent back to Earth. Ronon thought they should tar and feather them like they did the two fools that had tried to poison John a few years ago.
Richard Woolsey tapped his papers on the table to start the meeting. “Gentlemen and ladies, we are here to decide on the appropriate disposition for several members of our science community.”
Ronon shocked everyone by being first to offer a suggestion. “Why not just feather them like those two fools that poisoned Sheppard a few years ago?”
Wolsey cleared his throat. “While that was an excellent example of retributive justice through the use of an alternate punishment, I hardly feel that it is fitting in these circumstances.”
“Well, I think we should give most of them a choice.” Jack piped up from the other end of the table. “They can either serve a probationary period here or they can go back to Earth and take their chances with a review board.”
John swiveled slightly in his chair. “What’s the review board likely to do to them, sir?”
Jack shifted slightly to see both John and Woolsey. “Most of them will get their security clearances downgraded and they’ll end up working on low level teams or their clearances will be revoked and they’ll get kicked out of the Stargate Program altogether.”
John nodded. “That would be fitting for most of them, but what about Doctors Stanley, James and Ferrin?”
Woolsey shuffled his papers. “Since the charges against them are more serious, they would go before a judicial review board. Doctor Stanley tried to run an unauthorized experiment by attempting to place a dangerous Ancient artifact in Colonel Sheppard’s office. Doctor James was caught running a dangerous and unauthorized experiment while the city was in hyperspace. Doctor Ferrin was caught with an illegal line tap into Atlantis’ security system as well as having run an unauthorized experiment using unwilling subjects which caused grievous harm to one of the subjects.”
John winced slightly as his wrist twinged with remembered pain at Woolsey’s mention of Ferrin’s experiment. Teyla noticed and reached out to him, placing her hand on his arm and gently stroking back and forth to soothe him. Appreciative of her effort, John gave her a small smile.
Jack leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “So what kind of punishment are we talking?”
“All three will probably lose their security clearances and be expelled from the Program.” Woolsey predicted from his past experiences. “In addition, Doctors James and Ferrin will most likely receive rather lengthy prison sentences.” He glanced around, noting the looks on some of the assemblage. “I know this feels like they are being given a free pass, but rest assured, the judicial review board will not go easy on them. Many of its members have sat in judgement at The Hague and they do not look fondly upon this type of activity.”
Deciding that there was no time like the present, all of the scientists on their list of troublemakers were escorted by unsmiling Marines to the conference room. One by one, they were taken before the assembled senior staff and given a choice - stay in Atlantis on probation, which meant that they would only work on supervised projects and would have to attend mandatory counseling sessions with Dr. Johnson, or they could return to Earth, where they would be evaluated for fitness in order to stay in the Stargate Program.
Of the seven troublemakers, three elected to stay while the rest chose to return to Earth.
Those that remained were fitted with the Ancient equivalent of tracking anklets. They could only be operated by a gene carrier. Rodney had found them in a store room near the holding cells and took great pleasure in fastening them onto each of the troublemakers.
The four that were leaving were escorted to their quarters and placed under house arrest. John accompanied the scientists and their Marine escorts. After each scientist entered their quarters, John locked the doors and set them to only open from the outside except in cases of extreme emergency.
John returned to the conference room in time to grab a quick meal. Woolsey was using the time to review the actions of the remaining three scientists. Once John finished eating, and the debris had been cleared away, Doctors James and Stanley were escorted in.
Woolsey held the center seat, with John, Rodney and Carson to one side, Jack, Sam and Radek to the other. Clearing his throat, Woolsey turned on his tablet and looked up at the two men. “Dr. Matt James, Dr. Paul Stanley, you are here today to answer charges of gross negligence. How do you plea?”
James drew himself straight, glaring down his nose at the assembly. “I refuse to answer to you. I am not an American citizen and am not answerable to your laws.”
Woolsey shook his head sadly. “Unfortunately, you are incorrect. The Atlantis Expedition and the SGC operate under the aegis of the United States military, which does put you under U.S. law. We have the security footage, and unlike many security systems, the cameras here take very good pictures. It clearly shows you running the unauthorized experiment with timestamp that shows the city was in flight. We also have the email you sent acknowledging the suspension of testing. That you refuse to speak is irrelevant. Under the circumstances, your security clearance has been revoked and you will be sent back to Earth.” Woolsey looked at the rest of the personnel. “Colonel Sheppard, Dr. McKay, General O’Neill, Colonel Carter, Dr. Beckett, Dr. Zelenka, do you concur?”
A chorus of ‘yeses’ greeted the question.
“Very well. Dr. James, you are confined to quarters until the next dial out to Earth.” Woolsey turned to the other scientist. “Dr. Paul Stanley, you are accused of breaking the regulations concerning unauthorized testing and mishandling of Ancient devices. How do you plea?”
Dr. Stanley drew himself up in the same manner as Dr. James had before him, puffing his chest out in indignation. “Your so-called rules don’t scare me. They only exist to hamper our ability to fully test Ancient devices. Why don’t you have Dr. McKay up here? He seems to have your precious Colonel testing items for him constantly.”
John and Carson both placed restraining hands on Rodney, who wisely chose to stay quiet even as Woolsey rebutted the man’s accusation.
“Dr. McKay is not here because,” and Woolsey paused, managing to look down his nose at Dr. Stanley even though the other man was standing, “he does follow the rules. He does research items ahead of time and does test them in appropriate circumstances. He does not take them to someone’s office and attempt to leave them there so that they can be activated the next time that person enters their office.”
Woolsey made some notes on the tablet before him. “It is obvious that you feel yourself above the rules that you agreed to before you came here.” He cleared his throat. “Dr. Paul Stanley, your clearance is also revoked. You are remanded to quarters until the next dial out to Earth.”
Their Marine escorts ushered the two scientists out of the conference room and back to the holding cells. As soon as they were gone, Woolsey leaned back and let out a sigh.
“It’s never easy, is it, Richard?” Sam asked.
“No, it’s not.” He turned towards her. “Did you ever have this problem?”
Sam shook her head. “No, but I think some of them believe that John’s increased abilities are an invitation to them.”
Jack leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Tell them that Sheppard’s abilities were only increased temporarily. He’s so private that he makes a locked diary seem open, so he won’t go around advertising them.”
John nodded. “He’s right, Woolsey. Everything I’ve done can be explained away through other means.”
Woolsey turned to Radek. “Dr. Zelenka, can you see to this?”
Radek nodded. “Yes, most certainly. Consider it done.”
After another short break, Dr. Ferrin was brought before the assemblage. Standing before them dressed in a prisoner’s jumpsuit, he tried to wrap himself with all the arrogance he could muster, tilting his head back slightly to stare down his nose at the personages before him. Unfortunately for him, the seven persons before him had more degrees than he did and had faced down opponents that would have made him crap his pants in fear. “So, it is to be an inquisition, yes?”
Woolsey shook his head. “No, this is a hearing. Dr. Ferrin, you are charged with misuse of Ancient technology, illegal hacking into a secured system, illegal surveillance, and unlawful human experimentation. How do you plea?”
Ferrin shook his head. “I refuse to enter a plea. This ‘hearing’ is a mockery of justice. You have already found me guilty before you brought me in here. You sit there with trained murderers at your side and accuse me of crimes. What hold do they have over you? Money, information or,“ Ferrin’s expression grew sly, “or is there something more? Are you all possibly more than co-workers or friends?”
Woolsey shook his head in denial, and Jack started to speak, but it was John that got his say in. “I suggest you not go any further.” He stood, facing Ferrin, green eyes so dark with anger that they were almost black. “If you finish that thought, I will turn my back and allow Ronon to do what he wanted to weeks ago, which was to gut you like a pig then make you eat your own intestines.” His eyes narrowed. “Or we could go with my favorite, which was to gift wrap you and send you to Todd in lieu of a fruit basket.”
“I like the fruit basket option, Sheppard.” Jack quipped. “Todd’s a great guy - for a Wraith.”
Ferrin blanched. “You…you wouldn’t!”
John’s green eyes flashed like emeralds in the sun. “Try me.” While Ferrin was contemplating his mortality, Rodney dug in his pocket. Finding what he was searching for, he hurried around the table and slipped the item onto Ferrin’s hand. There was a small flash and Ferrin let out an exclamation of pain at the shock he received.
He tugged at the ring then held up his hand. “What is this? I demand you remove it!”
Rodney shook his head. “Not gonna happen. I found that with the tracking anklets. It allows the wearer to experience the emotions of those around him. It was only used with those that felt they were above the law in hopes that it would make them better persons. There are only three ways that ring can be removed. The first is if an authorized user removes it. The second is if the person changes their ways. The third is death.”
Woolsey cleared his throat. “For the record, Dr. McKay, who are the authorized users?”
Rodney shot Ferrin a nasty smile he’d picked up from John and Ronon. “Myself, Colonel Sheppard, General O’Neill and Major Lorne.”
Ferrin looked at the assemblage, his eyes searching for a chink in their united front. Finding none, he decided a retreat was in order. “Very well. I plead guilty and demand to be sent back to Earth.”
Woolsey nodded. “You will be going back at the next scheduled dial out. You are hereby remanded to quarters until that time.” He looked towards the door where the Marine escort waited. “Gentlemen, escort Dr. Ferrin to his quarters and make sure he is not disturbed.”
John rose as the Marines formed up and followed them out. Arriving at Ferrin’s quarters, John thought the door open. He felt the ping of Ancient technology through the open door and stepped inside, quickly locating the items. “Planning to take a nest egg home?”
“Give those back! They are mine.”
John shook his head, the items loosely held in one hand. “Nope. They belong here and here’s where they will stay. This one, “ he held up a box that flashed different colors, “is a diagnostic tool for the control crystals, and this one,” this time he held up a crystal compass, “is a tracker for the jumpers which will come in very handy when we find the rest. Now, have fun for the next few days. You’ll be leaving with General O’Neill.” John stepped out into the hallway. “Oh, and don’t think you can release yourself. Your computer has been locked out of the network and McKay and Zelenka assured me that any attempts by you to access it will be rather … spectacular.” With that parting sally, John turned towards the Gate Room, the door closing and locking behind him.
A week later, Jack Gated back to the SGC. The exiled scientists and several Marines that were being rotated back to Earth accompanied him. Hidden in his luggage were a handful of ZPMs, one of which was for the Apollo.
The same day, Sam headed back in the Hammond to begin a shakedown cruise for the new ZPM. It rested in a cradle in the Hammond’s engineering section, modeled from the one aboard the Daedalus. It had passed the stress tests and now they had to see what the ship could do with its extra juice.
With the city on Lantana and their guests gone, life returned to normal - or at least what passed for normal.
A week after Sam and Jack left, John’s team went out on a mission, their first since John was struck by the lightning bolt. They returned ahead of schedule, but not because of unfriendlies. Rodney came first through the Gate, Teyla close behind with Ronon and a limping John bringing up the rear. After one look at the Prime team, Woolsey just waved them on to the infirmary.
In the infirmary, Rodney perched on an exam table, impatiently awaiting his post-mission check. Teyla was curled on the next one over, breathing heavily and fighting nausea. John was on the other side of her, lying flat on his back with his head turned towards her. Ronon leaned against the bed on the other side of John, arms crossed and valiantly holding back a grin.
Carson entered the area and just stopped, planting his hands on his hips as he looked at the team. “Ach, what happened? Colonel, Teyla?”
John shifted his focus to Carson. “Teyla started not feeling well, so we were headed back. We were walking along a trail between some woods and a deep stream bed when a big squirrel-thing came bounding out of the brush at McKay’s feet.” He shot a glare at Rodney before continuing. “He jumped back, screaming like a little girl, knocking me off the trail and into the stream bed.”
Rodney stiffened in protest. “Hey, I did not scream like a little girl! I… I merely yelped in manly fear!” He waved his hands in the air. “Besides, the creature was the size of a border collie and it moved really fast and I thought it was trying to attack me! I was merely making a … a … what do you call it?” He snapped his fingers three times in rapid succession. “A strategic retreat, yeah, I was making a strategic retreat!”
John raised his voice a bit. “Fortunately, I didn’t end up in the water. Unfortunately, I landed on a slab of granite - back first.”
Carson stifled a smile. “Well, I’ll get you sorted out right quick.” He turned to the nurses that had entered behind him. “Melissa, please get the blood samples. Marie, if you would, go ahead and get Ronon’s check done.” He turned back, deciding to get the hard part done first. “Colonel, we have a date with the scanner. Teyla, after the blood is drawn I’ll get you somethin’ for yer nausea.”
John quirked a brow at him. “Gee, Doc, I don’t know about that. I’m not into threesomes.”
Carson groaned. “Just behave, you cheeky bugger or I’ll drag out the big needles to give you the muscle relaxers for your back.”
John held up his hands in a soothing gesture. “Okay, Doc, I’ll behave.”
After the scanner confirmed that John’s back was just badly bruised, Carson gave him the promised muscle relaxer and a mild pain killer. He performed Teyla’s check followed by Rodney’s while they waited on the results from Teyla’s exam. John, Rodney and Ronon’s blood tests came back clean. Teyla’s was taking longer because they wanted to find out why she was sick. Having passed their check-ups, Ronon and Rodney were kicked out and told to go eat and get some rest. After patting John on the leg, Ronon pushed Rodney ahead of him and the two left.
John fell asleep while they waited on Teyla’s test results. When the results arrived, Carson gently woke him after scanning the tablet Melissa had handed him. “Teyla, your test shows elevated levels of a few hormones, but nothing abnormal.”
“What do you mean, ‘nothing abnormal’?” John said, perplexed, as he slowly sat up. “She doesn’t get sick.”
“Carson, how could this be normal?” Teyla’s voice conveyed her confusion.
While Carson paused to answer a question for one of the nurses, John was putting a few pieces together in his fuzzy brain. “Teyla, Carson said a few of your hormones are elevated and that it’s normal.”
Teyla took a moment to digest what John was telling her, and then a look of comprehension showed on her face.
John looked at Teyla, his eyes bright green. “Is he saying that you’re…?”
Teyla nodded; a happy smile on her face. “I believe so.”
As Carson returned his focus to them, a look of hope crossed John’s face. “Does that mean she’s…?”
Carson smiled, his dimples big enough to swallow a Jumper. “Yes, Colonel, Torren is going to have a sibling soon.”
Teyla reached down, placing her hands on her abdomen. “Thank you, Carson. How far along am I?”
Carson checked the tablet, “About three weeks.”
John carefully slid from the gurney, crossing the intervening space. Gingerly sitting on the edge of Teyla’s bed, he took her hands in his as they leaned towards each other. A warm, loving smile graced his face, lighting up his eyes as he looked into hers and said, “We’re having a baby!”
-- And life goes on --