Sha’re spun as she heard the Gate shut down. Seeing the final individual who had fallen through the wormhole Sha’re felt tears fill her eyes.
“Dan’iel,” she cried, not caring how weak she sounded as she launched herself into her husband’s arms.
Daniel hugged her tightly, “I told you I’d make it.”
Sha’re took several deep breaths as she buried her face against his neck before she managed to regain her composure, “We have some more problems, Dan’iel. Come with me.”
Taking his hand, Sha’re led him past the small groups of refugees that were huddled around the room and up the stairs to where Rodney and Jeannie were working.
“You made it,” Rodney sighed, “Good. I need you to translate this; I think it might be useful.”
Biting back a sarcastic comment Daniel moved to the computer, aware that his wife was still gripping his hand. He scanned through the entries quickly as Rodney explained what was going on to him.
“What about the failsafe?” Daniel asked, turning to the man at his side.
“Failsafe?” Rodney demanded.
“According to this,” Daniel pointed to the part of the text he was reading, “It’s set so that the moment the power is about to fail the city will rise.”
“That’s great,” Rodney exclaimed, “So all we have to do is lower the power being emitted, but doing it from here might be hard.
“What about doing it at the actual ZPM power grid?” Jeannie suggested, “If we do it means we also have a working one to keep the shield powered when we need it.”
“Sha’re?” Daniel turned to his wife.
His wife stared at him a little confused as she recognised the tone but didn’t get a chance to ask what he was doing.
“It’s your call,” Daniel told her.
Sha’re nodded, “Do it. Take John with you, Jeannie can monitor your progress from here.”
“Make sure you get everyone to hold on,” Rodney told her, “When this city raises itself off the ocean floor it’s going to be bumpy.”
-
“I need to be able to talk to everyone,” Sha’re noted to Jeannie, “But it is exceedingly noisy.”
Jeannie smiled at her before she moved to the balcony and let out a long shrill whistle, every one turned to look up at them.
“Try now,” Jeannie smiled before returning to her computer.
Sha’re stared at her slightly shocked before turning back to the crowd all watching her confused.
“I need everyone to listen to me,” Sha’re said as loud as she could without shouting, “This city is under the ocean and the power that holds the ocean back from crushing us is failing,” she saw people start to panic, “LISTEN TO ME,” she yelled, making everyone stop and turn back to her, “We have discovered a failsafe that means once we disconnect the power then the city shall rise to the surface but when that happens the city will shake violently. Everyone needs to ensure they hold on and anything that could possibly be loosened when shaken around is secured.”
Once she finished speaking those that were once military started carrying out her orders as Sha’re turned back to Jeannie.
“Where are they?” she asked.
Jeannie pulled up a map of the city and showed her three lights moving through corridors, “Almost there I’d say.”
“Good,” Sha’re murmured, “Good.”
-
Rodney winced every time lights came on as they stepped into a corridor, each time that happened they were using more power and if the power failed before they could reach the room with the ZPM’s then they could kiss a shield to protect them goodbye.
John was walking in front of him while Daniel was behind, both armed as Rodney wished he’d learned how to use a gun when Laura had offered.
“We should be there by now,” Rodney told them, “I think it should be just along the next hall on the right.”
“Good,” Daniel murmured, “This place is creepy.”
“Abandoned for a couple of thousand years,” John added, “Anyone else going over every horror movie they’ve ever seen?”
“Not until you said,” Rodney snapped, he stopped as he found himself in front of door to the ZPM control room.
Cautiously John opened the door, readying for anything that might attack but as they found an empty room Rodney squeezed past before quickly scanning over the systems and finding what he needed.
“Here we go,” he told the two men waiting.
“Sha’re,” Daniel called over his radio, “Rodney’s about to disconnect the ZPM, make sure everyone’s holding on.”
“Of course, Dan’iel,” she replied softly, “We are ready.”
Daniel turned to Rodney and nodded. Taking a deep breath Rodney slowly lowered the power being emitted from the ZPM grabbing the control as the city started to shake.
*********************************************
Daniel stood on the balcony staring out across the horizon; they’d spent the past few hours setting up the city. Sha’re refused to allow people to wander around and find places to stay before they’d been secured meaning there’d been a lot of annoyed refugees sitting and waiting in the few large spaces they’d found but Sha’re had spoken to them and promised that everyone would be housed as soon as possible. Daniel smiled as he realised just how influential his wife could be.
Finally, after what had to be the longest six hours Daniel could remember John had managed to find everyone a room of some kind, some were much too small for those with families but Sha’re had promised those affected that as soon as John managed to find rooms bigger then they would be moved first.
Now though the sun was setting on their first day and Daniel was having a few moments of peace where he could finally grieve. He closed his eyes as he remembered hearing the sound of the knife slicing through Jack’s flesh, he didn’t want to know where exactly because all he knew was that he was the last one. SG1 was gone, destroyed by one of its own members. Tears filled his eyes and Daniel slammed his hands against the wall.
“You will hurt yourself,” Sha’re’s soft voice made him turn.
“I don’t care,” Daniel snapped; he went to punch the wall before he turned and slid down it to sit dejectedly, “He’s gone.”
Sha’re moved to him and knelt at his side, “Oh, my Dan’iel,” she whispered, taking his hands in hers; “I wish I could find something to say to stop this hurting. All I have to say is I am with you.”
Daniel wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him, “That makes it slightly better,” he breathed.
Sha’re kissed him, “Come and get something to eat.”
Wiping his eyes and whispering goodbye to his friend, Daniel stood and linked hands with his wife as they walked slowly along the corridors.
-
John continued on what had to be his hundredth circuit on another new level, Feretti and Lorne were with him as they explored a little deeper into the city. Sha’re was being exceedingly cautious but John could understand why considering where they’d come from. Their next item on the agenda for space was Janet and Carson needed an infirmary, especially considering they had a few injuries from their escape. They so far had got rooms of some kind for everyone, which had been an amazing thing to do. Rodney had excitedly called over the radio just to let them know that he’d discovered a shield for the Stargate, meaning there would be no uninvited guests. Zelenka and a scientist called Grodin who had come with a contingent from the UK were helping him and Jeannie work out the controls for the city. John stretched his neck and winced as he heard a crack, he really needed some sleep. As they entered the next room the three of them stopped and stared around.
“Janet,” John called over his radio, “You’re going to love what we just got you.”
Ferretti laughed as the three men took in the large room with the beds spaced around and equipment sitting waiting to be used.
*********************************************
Rodney felt someone shake his shoulder and waved them away from him, the irritant continued to shake him and suddenly a voice called his name.
“Rodney?”
Confused Rodney sat up, realising that he’d fallen asleep at his computer in the control room, and stared surprised to find Katie Brown standing there holding a plate of pancakes.
“Katie?” he rubbed his hand across his eyes, “What are you doing?”
“I thought you might want some breakfast since you were working all night,” she smiled at him, waving the plate under his nose, “And I was able to make you a few pancakes.”
“Really?” Rodney asked astonished, “That’s really...eh...nice of you.”
Katie gave him another smile as she shrugged, “I like to cook.”
“Well,” Rodney beamed back as he took the plate, “I like to eat.”
Katie pulled a seat over to his side as he ate and simply watched him with a bright smile. Neither noticed Laura Cadman as she watched them from across the room, sadness in her eyes.
-
Sha’re sat in what had somehow become her office, going through lists of people as she made notes. She had scheduled a meeting in less than an hour and wanted to be ready for it but it felt like she’d taken on a mammoth task she had no business attempting. It was only because Daniel had forced her out of the office and to the room set aside for them that she’d slept the previous night, the first night in their new home.
She heard the alarm she’d set on her watch go off and sighed, she’d hoped she’d have this ready for her meeting but there was no more time to work on it. With a sigh she stood and found her husband standing in the doorway.
“I am coming,” Sha’re told him with an annoyed pout.
Daniel laughed and kissed her quickly, “I just thought you’d like an escort.”
“Whenever you wish, my husband,” Sha’re told him as she took a deep breath and walked with him to the conference room.
-
Rodney sat beside his sister while John was on her other side; Janet and Carson were next to the three of them deep in discussion. Zelenka, Grodin, Laura, Ferretti and Lorne made up the rest of the group. Daniel and Sha’re walked in and took the final two seats at the table.
“I apologise that I am taking you all away from work,” Sha’re started, “But for some reason you have placed me in charge for now.”
“It was actually Jack’s decision,” John reminded her.
“However,” Sha’re threw him a frown, “I know we have a great deal of work to do so I shall speak briefly. I have been going through the lists each group gave us and there are too many people here who do not know us.”
“What do you want to do?” Rodney demanded, “Go say hi to them all.”
“Of course not,” Sha’re replied with a hint of a smile, “Twelve other groups came with us so I am going to form a council. The leader of each group will take place upon the council so that there is someone that each person in the city has someone they trust to speak to. Louis, Radek, this includes both of you.”
Both men grimaced but didn’t say a word so Sha’re continued.
“We need to have a definitive list of what everyone in the city can do,” Sha’re told them, “All their strengths, all their skills because we will need them.”
“What about the military?” John asked, “We have a few people with training but...”
“Of course,” Sha’re took up as he trailed off, “Before we had no need of a proper chain of command but now we do. I know that Louis holds the highest rank so you need to discover the ranks of all those who were once military and create the hierarchy. Once we have this then we can start training new recruits.”
She stopped for a moment and took a drink of water, “Rodney, I need you to take control of all those with a scientific background, Dr Zelenka will work with you as will Jeannie. Dr... Grodin?”
Grodin nodded before adding, “Peter.”
“You have been working on the Stargate controls?” Sha’re questioned.
“Yes,” Peter replied in a soft English accent, “It is not too complicated but there are a few things that I want to study further.”
“Continue,” Sha’re ordered, “Once you have it worked out then you will need to teach several more people. It will mean you are not doing a twenty four hour shift.”
A small chuckle rippled around the room.
“I have one point left,” Sha’re told them, “We have many children here so I believe setting up a school will be beneficial. I overheard that there may be a teacher within our group so Dan’iel will set that up.”
“Thanks,” came the wry reply at her side.
Sha’re looked at the others, “Does anyone have anything else?”
*********************************************
Laura walked through the corridors John at her side lost in thought. She’d not had much of a chance to focus on what she’d seen earlier that day but now she did.
Her feelings for Rodney were a little bizarre; they’d spent so much time together from the moment she’d helped him escape from Carter, and she was the one who’d stepped back to sort out her own feelings but she hadn’t expected him to start up with the first woman who batted her eyes at him.
“Laura,” John tapped her shoulder, “Want to focus here?”
“Sorry, sir,” she replied automatically.
John sighed, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” came the automatic reply.
Shaking his head, John stopped walking, “Laura, I am not the best person to play agony aunt but if you need to talk about something...”
“I’ll talk with Sha’re or Janet,” Laura retorted, “I’m fine, John. Just Rodney.”
John frowned, “I thought since he had the thing removed you guys were no longer glued at the hip,” he stared at her as she sighed, “Or are you mad he no longer needs you?”
“I’m annoyed that he replaced me with the first bimbo to come his way,” Laura snapped, turning to continue their search of the area they were in.
“You know she’s Dr Brown,” John noted, wincing at the scathing look sent his way, “But bimbo it is.”
Laura turned and walked to the door in front of them, “Ready?”
As she opened the door John stared before a grin slowly slid over his face, “Jackpot.”
-
Sha’re stared in astonishment, “Ships?”
“And lots of them,” John grinned, bouncing enthusiastically around what he’d already claimed as his, “Just need Rodney here to help work out how they work and then...”
Sha’re smiled at his enthusiasm, he reminded her of a puppy she’d seen on the street outside Daniel’s apartment a few days before they left to Abydos. Turning to where Laura stood she could see the other woman was just as amused.
“What the hell is wrong now?” Rodney marched in, “I do actually have things to do that...” he trailed off and stared, “Ships. Gateships.”
“Puddle Jumpers,” John replied nonchalantly as though he’d actually looked it up.
“But...” Rodney started only to be silenced by a look from Sha’re.
“Can you get inside it?” John demanded, a little petulantly as Rodney wasn’t opening up his new toy.
“Hmm,” Rodney mused, he moved to the hatch and after a few seconds found the release. He stepped back as the hatch slowly moved down to the ground and the other three joined him to look inside.
John stepped inside, surprised as lights came on around him, “It seems to work.”
Rodney moved to the front of the newly christened Jumper but there was no reaction to his touch.
“Why do the systems work for you but not for Rodney?” Sha’re asked John.
“Who knows,” John replied as he drew his hand reverently across the control panel, “But you know what this means?”
Sha’re smiled, “We have ships. We have a lot of ships.”
“Now we need to work out how to control them,” Rodney reminded them.
Heliopolis Main Archive
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Cuckoo In The Nest
by LE McMurrayKapitel Bemerkung:
Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.I’m not too sure about this chapter but it’s one of those that had to be written before I could move on.
Thanks to everyone who’s read and reviewed this story, it’s good to know people are enjoying this. Next chapter is in progress, so enjoy. Slightly updated thanks to Duchess 67 noticing a slight technical problem.
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