STARGATE ATLANTIS Exogenesis by Exogenesis (SGA-5)

Author:Exogenesis (SGA-5) [Retail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fandemonium Books
Published: 2020-06-29T20:36:54+00:00

Chapter twelve

Conflicting instincts warred in John’s mind as Elizabeth asked and Caldwell commanded Jumper One to return. Learning that Rodney had been taken by a Wraith beam changed the picture considerably, in spite of what Vené had said about his condition. As badly as John wanted to stay on Polrusso and search for Rodney, Teyla was in just as much danger on the mainland. With two missing teammates pulling him in different directions, he decided to head for Atlantis. They needed Radek there, and John could return to Polrusso and begin the search after getting up to speed on the situation back home. The jumper’s dialer would allow him to establish an outgoing wormhole without need for the main computer.

Assuming, of course, that he could still fly at that point. Although sitting down seemed to improve matters, his balance was off and getting worse. He’d never been prone to vertigo, but his ear was aching mercilessly, and he was beginning to suspect that the sand was somehow to blame.

On the other side of the event horizon everything seemed to tilt, and he drew in a sharp breath, grateful for the jumper’s ’gate-linked autopilot. When he managed to focus again he saw that the control room doors to the balcony were open and giant fans had been set up to remove the sand. A half-dozen personnel in HAZMAT suits wandered through the contaminated area, working on the controls.

While the autopilot smoothly lifted them into the jumper bay, John shut his eyes, gathering himself for a moment before selecting a berth for Jumper One. The bay had remained relatively sand-free, and so Elizabeth was waiting for them, surrounded by a throng of scientists.

“I believe this is my cue.” Radek stood up from the copilot’s seat, his eyes narrowing worriedly when John didn’t follow.

John turned in his seat, but indicated he should leave first. “Be there in a minute.”

The moment the hatch opened, Radek got mobbed. Ronon stood back, one eyebrow cocked at the free-for-all. The Czech couldn’t even finish answering a question before someone else broke in with what John supposed was a more urgent request. Even through an ear that felt stuffed with steel wool, he could hear enough of the various subjects to know that they’d get nothing accomplished this way.

At last, Radek had had enough. “Ticho, debilové! Quiet! No wonder Rodney rails at you so!”

The effect was instantaneous. Silence fell, and John, who had by now carefully made his way to the rear of the jumper, realized just how much losing Rodney had shaken them all. Present tense, he noted. Did Radek believe Rodney might still be alive, too? Or was John reading way too much into one word?

Elizabeth, who was hovering by the rear hatch, took the opportunity to restore order. “There are a lot of important issues to deal with, everyone. I trust Dr. Zelenka to assign the appropriate priority to each of them. Please get him up to speed — one person at a time.”

The jumper bay doors opened to admit Colonel Caldwell.

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