FIC: Devil Inside - Chapter 3

[x_erikah_x]

DEVIL INSIDE By ErikaHK

Title: Devil Inside - Ch. 3/14

Word count: 1.127
Rating: PG
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Elizabeth Weir, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex, Carson Beckett
Genre: Drama, Angst, H/C, Suspense, Gen
Disclaimer: Stargate and all related characters are the property of MGM Television Entertainment. Not done for profit, just for fun.

Summary: A mysterious entity takes over the bodies of the members of the Atlantis Expedition. Season 3 pre-Sunday. No spoilers.

Special thanks to my beta lauriel01 !

Chapter 3

Rodney insisted on bringing him personally to Atlantis. John insisted he didn’t need a babysitter, but the scientist wouldn’t take no for an answer. Rodney was a real pain. John couldn’t blame him for worrying, though. He was freaked out by this too. Blacking out for a whole day couldn’t be good stuff. That energy blast did something to his head and he wasn’t comfortable with the stares of Lorne and the other marines when they’d figured out he didn’t remember anything about sitting the whole day looking at the sky. He didn’t like making his men nervous, wondering if their CO had lost it.

He wasn’t nuts. He was sure of that. Just because he did stuff he couldn’t remember didn’t necessarily mean that he was crazy, only forgetful - which is a little better than complete craziness.

Dr. Beckett ran a MRI of his brain, took samples of his blood and happily poked him with sharp objects for one hour. Insisting that he was okay now had no effect on the good doctor and Rodney simply stood by the doorway staring at him with a stupid silly face that was beginning to annoy him. It looked like Rodney actually liked John’s position. And the strangest thing was that Rodney didn’t say one word since Carson begun his exam.

“Everything seems normal, Colonel.” Carson looked down at his chart. “At least on the results we have so far.”

“You sure?” John thought missing a day was far from normal.

“Maybe the effect was temporary. Didn’t you say it could be a defense mechanism, Rodney?” The doctor directed his eyes at the unusually quiet scientist.

“Yeah. Defense mechanism. Sounds reasonable to me.”

“I would like to keep you on Atlantis for observation, though. If it happens again call me straight away, hear me lad?” Carson directed him a look that could make anyone feel guilty.

“Right, doc. If I black out again you’ll be the first one to know.” Sheppard got up and promptly went to the door.

“Okay, you can go to your usual business, but stay away from the stargate.” Carson ordered, gathering the samples to take to the lab’

“I’ll just be going back now.” Rodney spoke, touching Carson’s shoulder as he passed by him. He looked at the doctor with a blank face and stared back at John confused. “What happened?”

“What do you mean?” John noticed that Rodney’s expression deepened.

“We were just on the planet talking about you blacking out, and now I’m here.” He paused. “I think I blacked out too.”

“That could the effect of the energy beam, Rodney. We discussed it.” Carson said. “Maybe it would be better if you both stayed for observation. Just report to me if it happens again.”

“Shouldn’t you be collecting samples and taking MRIs from us?”

“I already took the ones from Sheppard, Rodney. Scans were normal.”

“What about me? What if I forget vital information for the correct operation of the city?” Rodney desperately moved his hands around.

“Somehow I doubt that Rodney, but if makes you more comfortable.” Carson indicated the table John had just vacated.

…

“This is just great!” Rodney was still complaining about the medical leave Carson ordered for them both.

John and Rodney were both in the empty mess hall having a very late dinner. They had to break into the kitchen to grab what was available for consumption. All they could find were a couple of sandwiches of mayonnaise and ham. Hardly the usual combination, but it wasn’t bad.

“You were the one that told me not to touch it. ‘Leave it for professionals’. I believe that’s what you usually tell us.”

“That’s not the point. I know how to touch strange objects. It was running out of power. It must’ve been a programmed response when the power levels reach critical levels. A fail safe.” Rodney explained with a mouth full of food.

John, unlike his present company, was actually polite and waited until he swallowed before speaking. “Fail safe for what?”

“I think it was keeping something inside. It opened briefly before the blast. The fail safe would let whatever was inside escape instead of being trapped inside the box without life support.” Rodney waved the sandwich around while he spoke.

“And you know this how?”

“Just a theory I’ve been cooking for the last hour. It makes perfect sense. That beam of light must’ve been an indication of whatever was inside. Maybe a defense mechanism to protect the exit, you know? Back away whoever’s close.”

“So the blast was some kind of attack?”

“Maybe.”

“What has escaped? If it’s dangerous and it’s still on the planet-”

“The others could be in danger.” Rodney completed Sheppard’s thought with a frown.

“We should warn them.” John got up.

“You mean now? It’s one in the morning!” Rodney remained seated.

“Yeah, if it’s dangerous to the point of attacking us both, it could attack them while they’re asleep.”

John’s explanation made Rodney promptly stand and they both hurried out of the mess hall.

…

“Couldn’t you both be overreacting?” Elizabeth stood at the doorway of her quarters in her night robes. “Calling off the science team before we have any indication that they are really in danger seems harsh. It is night on that planet too, isn’t it?”

“It may be, but I think it’s better to be safe than sorry. If this theory is correct, and I’m sure it is,” Rodney smirked “than they could be in danger. If the ancients were keeping something trapped there, after ten thousand years I think it would be really upset. You remember the last time, don’t you Elizabeth?” Rodney remembered the occasion in which he had to be the bait to get the being out of the city.

“It attacked us.” Sheppard helpfully added.

“You can’t be sure it was an attack. For all we know it could have been a malfunction due the lack of power or the damage suffered in the earthquakes.”

“Malfunctions don’t direct their energy beams into precise targets. If it was random it would hit the wall, or something.” A little robot inside him screamed ‘Danger Will Robinson!’

“It can wait ‘till morning. If nothing happens during the night, then we’ll have no reason to overreact. The team stays for the night.” She gave her final word and Rodney knew better than to try to change her mind.

Rodney looked at Sheppard, expecting him to use his magical charm to make her change her position, but regardless of his effort in making the pleading eyes, she appeared to be immune. Finally they both sighed.

“Fine. We contact them in the morning.” Sheppard agreed and both left to their respective quarters.

…

TBC…

( Chapter 1 ) | (  Chapter 2 ) | ( Chapter 4 )