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Myths of Reality	By : Vorador Category: Stargate: SG-1 > Stargate Atlantis Views: 1917 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 4: Panopticon

Security, the fourth myth of reality;
those who let their guard down are
on the shortest route to the grave!

The nature of reality, Gith database

�Are you completely CRAZY?� McKay asked, �How can you even consider allying with them? They will lead us into a suicide mission and even if we succeed � what is incredibly unlikely � they�ll never let us go! We can as well try to find another way out of this cursed city!�

�We have no choice, Rodney, and if you would think about our position for only a few seconds, you would realize that!� John replied testily, �Besides we haven�t even heard their plan so you have no way of knowing whether this will be a suicide mission or not!�

�McKay got a point!� Ford stated, �How do we know that they won�t try to lock us up again once we have helped them? After all it was Belbe who has brought us here in the first place!�

�I only hunted you because Gix ordered it,� the bounty hunter stated matter-of-factly, �Once we have gotten rid of the Wraith there is no reason for me to keep you imprisoned anymore. Perhaps we might even become allies and purge the galaxy from the Wraith together!�
�We�re wasting time!� Veldrin interrupted, � John noted with interest that he didn�t seem to share his companion�s enthusiasm about forming an alliance � �They have no other option than helping us! Now, explain you plan so we can get started!�

Though Ford and McKay didn�t look convinced, John gave Belbe a reassuring nod while considering the offer the Necroshade had just made. He didn�t like working with the Gith and didn�t trust them but maybe they could become valuable allies once this was over. Elizabeth would want him to at least try to work with them.

�The Wraith control a small but important part of the City of Traitors,� Belbe explained, �Their headquarter is within the orbital fortress Panopticon which floats above the city. Panopticon is equipped with the Gith Ray Cannon, an experimental weapon that was designed to protect Shakuars from the Wraith. As far as I know it could obliterate a whole Wraith fleet with one shot but it wasn�t completed in time to stop the Wraith from reaching the planet. If we manage to take control of Panopticon the Wraith will never be able to attack us again!�

�And how are we supposed to do this?� McKay asked, putting an obscene amount of sarcasm into his voice, �Simply fly up there and ask the Wraith whether they have any objections to us taking control of one of the most powerful weapons ever built?�

�We won�t fly up there,� Veldrin said, ignoring McKay�s sarcasm, �The Wraith have restricted great part of our database, including the part that deals with building space ships. Since all our ships have been destroyed in the war, the only way to reach Panopticon from here is the Door to Nothingness, a highly efficient transporter that will teleport us up there. With your help we should be able to take out the Lifestealers who guard the Door and to enter Panopticon without raising alarm. Some of us will remain at the transporter to secure our retreat while the others search for the Seal of Dominion, a token that will grant its bearer full access to Panopticon�s systems. Once we have found it no one will be able to stop us and a new glorious empire will be born!� �

�If the whole thing is so easy why haven�t you rebelled against the Wraith much sooner?� John inquired, suspecting that Veldrin told only part of the truth, �It�s hard to believe that the Wraith would make an overthrow this easy!�

�I�ve told you everything you need to know!� the Highexecutor said with one of the coldest smiles John had ever seen, �Any further details are irrelevant for all you need to do is to follow orders. Now, follow me, it will take some time to reach the Door to Nothingness and I guess we�re all eager to write history!�

Every concern John had about allying with Veldrin increased after this statement, concerns obviously shared by his teammates who didn�t seem to be eager to follow the Gith. John hated to be left in the dark by anyone � especially by possible allies � but he had no choice but to accept their secrecy and tried to ignore the voices of logic and experience who told him that that kind of alliance usually ended in disaster. After having silenced McKay � who had been eager to continue their earlier discussion as well as voicing his concern about this bargain � again, he told the others to follow Veldrin while he would guard their six, a task that was probably live-saving in a city that was by definition filled with traitors.

To his surprise Belbe, who had been the first to follow the Highexecutor, suddenly appeared to his left and flash him some signs that probably meant: �Shut up and fall back�. Interested in what the bounty hunter might have to say, he obeyed her command, waiting till the others were out of earshot before whispering: �What do you want?�

�Telling you what really awaits you within Panopticon,� she replied, keeping her voice equally low, �Veldrin is keeping important information from you, endangering the whole operation in the process!�

�Yeah, I figured that out,� the Colonel stated, �But why is he so keen on leaving us in the dark?�

�I�m not sure,� Belbe admitted, �Veldrin is one of the few persons that aren�t clear as glass to me but I suspect that he expects you to betray us and wants to have an advantage should this happen. However, I won�t let his paranoia spoil my plans so I offer you a deal. I�ll tell you all I know if you answer my questions about a certain Lieutenant.�

Though he had no idea � except some really naughty and indecent ones that shouldn�t be thought until 2300 � why she was so interested in Ford he decided to play along and to take advantage of the disagreement between his � well, whatever Belbe and Veldrin were at the moment �, hoping to finally get the information he wanted.

�Ok, we have a deal,� he said, �Now, tell me what Veldrin did leave out during his report!�

�Usually I would demand a payback first but today is your lucky day so I�ll give you some information before forcing you to fulfill your part of the bargain,� she stated, smiling her mischievous smile, �First of all we have no idea where exactly the Seal of Dominion is hidden or how it is guarded�.�

* * * * *

Panopticon

Evincar Crovax stood at a massive window which offered a spectacular view onto Shakuras, his kingdom, toying with the token that marked his as the undisputed lord of the City of Traitors. The Seal of Dominion that was a beautiful amulet crafted out of a silvery metal which, despite its considerable age, was still bright and unscratched. It depicted a phoenix surrounded by flames, probably to symbolize power as well as eternal and unquestioned leadership. Ironically, up to now the reign of its bearers had been far from eternal or undisputed and had often found a very sudden and violent end.

The first Non-Ancient who had laid hand on the precious token � and on Panopticon as well � had been Davvol, the Wraith general who had commanded the siege � if you can call the short skirmish that predated the Gith�s surrender a siege � of the City of Traitors. After the Extinction and the first siege of Atlantis, Davvol had made Shakuras his personal feeding ground, hibernating within Panopticon and culling the planet from time to time. He had had no interest what-so-ever in interfering into the civil war that was ravaging the planet and probably never thought of using the Gith as something else than a snack. Crovax shook his head at so much incompetence and regretted for about the thousand time not having lived these days. It would have been so much fun to kill Davvol slowly and with pleasure, replacing him as Evincar of Shakuras once the fun was over. But life simply wasn�t fair so it had taken almost 10000 years until had been able to claim the throne, giving the city the competent ruler it deserved.
�What�s eating you, Crovax?� Tichondrius� voice asked, interrupting his pleasant thoughts, �You shouldn�t think so much, it simply doesn�t suit you!�

�I was thinking about how incompetent my predecessors were,� the Evincar replied, a sneer on his face, �They wasted valuable time with culling the city or puny little experiments, eating or studying the Gith instead of using their talents of intrigue and manipulation. It�s tragic that the most important positions are often given to the most incompetent and foolish beings!�

�Yes, Davvol was a terrible ruler,� Tichondrius stated, �He totally neglected his duties and we were lucky that the Gith were to busy with killing each other to take advantage of this lack of vigilance. Fortunately, me and my �puny little experiments� put an end on this, restricting great parts of the Gith database and confiscating all technology that could have been a threat to our position. Unlike you, I didn�t need to surround myself with roughnecks or lunatics to maintain my rule and could focus on more important things than plotting against the other Wraith! Besides, my experiments would have been successful if you hadn�t interrupted my short reign 152 years ago!�

Corvax snorted: �Oh sure you were a wonderful Evincar. Let me some up your �short� rule to refresh your obvious damaged memory. After slaying Davvol, a fitting end after 8352 years of incompetence, you replaced him as lord of Shakuras, intending to find a way to make Lantean technology useful for our kind. It took you 500 years to find out that a gene controls their technology and an additional 250 years to realize that there is no way to bypass this security measure!�

�You forget that I found a way to work around the problem,� Tichondrius snapped, an almost childish defiance in his voice, �I tried to adapt the gene in order to integrate it into Wraith DNA and if that little putsch of yours hadn�t spoiled everything, I would have succeeded by now! You should know best that the results were very promising!�

�Tiny islands of success within an ocean of failure!� the current Evincar said dismissively, �In the end your reign was exactly as Davvol�s � a big waste of time � and I have no time to discuss the qualities that make a good ruler with you so shut up and let me do my work!�

Tichondrius muttered something about ignorant savages before falling silent probably silently cursing the other Evincar. Crovax turned back towards to window and resumed the inspection of his kingdom, pleased to have stifled his bothersome old rival. He basked in the pleasant memories of how enjoyable it had been to overthrow the Wraith scientist for a moment before concentrating on the sight before him again.

Even after so many years and without killing someone in the process � which was in Crovax�s opinion not only highly entertaining and wonderful to witness but also the only true form of art � Shakuras always managed to impress him with its wild and foreboding beauty. From his vantage point he could see both the Null Moon, the lesser of Shakura�s two moons which was named after its faint, silvery light and its bigger twin, the Jade moon, a rare and beautiful view. The fact that he ruled about this beauty lifted his mood even higher and purged the irritation Tichondrius had caused from his mind.

However, something was missing these days and it took the Evincar only a few seconds to realize what it was: Predator. Although he commanded one of the most powerful weapons ever built, he always felt insecure when Predator wasn�t around to defend Panopticon. He constantly feared that the other Wraith might conspire against him and the discord that had taken hold of the Wraith Empire lately had increased this worry tremendously.

Of course, this new disorder also held enormous potential, a potential he was determined to tap. While the other Wraith were scrambling for feeding grounds he would use his loyal Lifestealers to set up an enormous army, an army that would make him eventually to the undisputed ruler of the Pegasus Galaxy!

A knock on his door interrupted this pleasant train of thought, causing Crovax to frown in irritation. Whoever dared to interrupt him now would regret it! Smiling, he moved towards his throne and bade the visitor to enter, wondering what would be the best way to dispatch the insolent fool.

* * * * *

Shakuras, the Door to Nothingness

Instead of calming his nerves, Belbe�s report had increased John�s worries tenfold and had left the Colonel unsure whether the decision to find out more about the plan had been a wise one. Of course everything could work out perfectly and they could be home before breakfast but there were just too many stray factors and unknowns in it for his taste. First, they had to seize control of the Door to Nothingness, a task that involved fighting at least half a dozen Lifestealers � which, according to the Necroshade, were extremely capable and loyal fighters � and once they had teleported into the orbital fortress things would get even worse for they had almost no reliable information about the security measures inside Panopticon.

The fact that at least three of his companions were far from reliable at the moment worried Sheppard even more than the lack of information or the prospect of fighting elite Gith soldiers. Sure, Belbe had given him the details Veldrin had tried to keep from him and seemed quite eager to allying but the fact that she had demanded information about Ford as a trade-off made him wondering if she had a plan up her sleeve and if her helpfulness was just a double fake-out to get what she wanted. Of course, it was also possible that she was just curious and that he was getting paranoid after being trapped in the City of Traitors for hours.

Then there was the trouble with Ford who was still mentally unstable and could change from reliable Lieutenant to paranoid maniac and back within seconds. Though he seemed almost normal at the moment � to name a planet �Pool Planet� sounded much like the Aiden Ford he knew � John had no idea how the Lieutenant would react once they were about to leave this thrice accursed planet of shadows and mistrust. Would he accompany them willingly or would they have to knock him out and drag him back to Atlantis? Anyway, Sheppard was determined not to let him escape again even if that meant bringing him back in pieces � after all Beckett was pretty good in patching up people and John had a crack for puzzles, so they should be able to get Ford back into shape one way or the other.

As if all this wasn�t bad enough already, fate has also made sure that one crucial member of the mission, Highexecutor Veldrin, considered the Lanteans as expandable tools that would be discarded as soon as they failed to function as expected. For the thousands time this day, John cursed the streak of bad luck that had gotten him into this situation and made a mental note to tell Elisabeth that he wanted much more than just friendship from her as soon as he returned to Atlantis, provided that he made it back alive. He guessed that he should have told her sooner but he somehow never found the right occasion to do so. Even to him this �finding-the-right-moment� thing sounded like a pathetic excuse for there had been several such occasions � for example after that � bug had almost killed him � and John hadn�t used any of them.

Truth be told, the real reason was that he was afraid of her reaction; afraid to completely mess up their already complicated relationship. Besides, an affair with her could be seriously dangerous for both of them after all that would be just the excuse Caldwell needed to get a least one of them out of the picture and John didn�t want to imagine how Atlantis would be like with this narrow-minded jerk as military commander. The Colonel snapped out of his thoughts when the voice of the former second-in-command broke the silence.

�I don�t like the look of this!� Ford stated, referring to Belbe and Veldrin who had spent the last 15 minutes in a silent but � judging from their angry expressions and the urgency of the gestures they used to communicate � heated debate, �They�re up to something, it just can�t take that long to determine the best way to strike!�

John could understand the Lieutenant�s jumpiness for the circumstances of this discussion were far from reassuring. After using about 100 different shortcuts and transporters they had finally reached the complex that housed the Door to Nothingness without raising alarm � what had been more than just a little difficult �, only to be stopped by some dispute between their allies that was officially nothing more than a last minute strategy discussion. Apart from the conspiratorial nature of this argument, the fact that they waited within an enormous temple- like room that offered no cover at all was unsettling.

�I don�t like it either but there�s nothing we can do against it,� the Colonel replied, �At least McKay seems to have fun!�

The scientist was so fascinated by the enormous room � John guessed that the Gate room back in Atlantis would fit at least ten times into this hall � that he probably hadn�t even noticed the reason for their stay. True, the former temple was unusual for, unlike every other building on Shakuras he had seen, it was in a state of decay and seemed to be the victim of deliberate destruction, but Sheppard just couldn�t understand why the ruined building was so damn interesting. At the moment McKay was busy studying the only intact part of the room, six ornate pillars that were covered with Ancient-like runes, constantly muttering to himself and oblivious to everything around him.

Ford snorted: �That�s McKay, nothing short of a full-fledged Wraith attack can get his attention when he has found a new toy to play with! Speaking of toys, why did you bring one of those CMGs with you?�

�Belbe told me that I�ll need one soon and its original owner didn�t need it anymore,� John replied, moving the weapon from his back to his hands, �She said that CMG stands for compressed matter gun and that it�s projectiles slam right through these annoying Gith shields so I guess that it could become very useful when we have reached Panopticon.�

�Probably it works much like the rail guns Colonel Everett used during the siege,� McKay said, apparently having lost interest in the pillars, �Given enough acceleration even a small projectile can be remarkably effective in penetrating all kind of armors. I would love to examine it once were back in Atlantis, it�s about 100 times more interesting that these graffiti�s over there!�

�GRAFFITI?� Veldrin roared, having finished his dispute with Belbe, �These �graffiti� are the six myths of reality, the basic principles of our society, so watch your insolent tongue or you soon will have to live without it!�

�Trust me, McKay is more useful with his tongue still in place though he can be a bit tactless sometimes,� Sheppard said, shooting the astrophysicist a think-twice-before-you-say-something-like-that look, �Now, tell us what we are supposed to do next!�

�You stay put and leave the initial fighting to us!� the Highexecutor explained, �Once we have launched the first strike you join us and eliminate the remaining Lifestealers. Afterwards we activate the teleporter and enter Panopticon. Just make sure that you survive the firefight for we might need you later! Now Belbe, let�s go and kill some Wraith-lovers!�

Without waiting for anyone to respond he moved straight toward one of the ornate walls of the temple, followed by Belbe who was using her amulet to become invisible once again. Veldrin reached into his cloak and produced a fist sized signet which was adorned with the omnipresent eclipse symbol and placed it against the wall. The token lit up and the apparently solid wall vanished, revealing a vast, circular room behind it that was probably the location of the Door to Nothingness for it was guarded by several Gith dressed in Wraith-like armor, which was adorned with the image of a claw dripping blood instead of the more common eclipse, and even the small part John could see from his hiding place was cramped with various consoles. The Lifestealers seemed more than a little surprised by the Highexecutor�s sudden arrival and nervously fingered with their weapons � Wraith stunners and CMGs � while their leader approached Veldrin.

�Greetings, Highexecutor,� the Gith said smoothly, bowing low, �What is the reason for your unexpected visit?�

�Actually I�m here to enter Panopticon, to steal the Seal of Dominion and to become the new ruler of Shakuras,� Veldrin replied with a wolfish smile, �But I think I�ll start with plunging a dagger through your spine!�

The Lifestealer never had a chance for his opponent vanished with a flash of blue light and reappeared directly behind him, burying to daggers in the other Gith�s spine. Almost instantly another guard let out a gurgled cry and dropped dead, his throat cut by a formerly invisible enemy. After their spectacular first strike both Belbe and Veldrin took cover behind the consoles, just in time to doge the various stunners and CMG bullets the other Lifestealers let loose.

John gave the signal and rushed towards his new allies, firing on one of the guards in the process. His target tried to use its gauntlets to deflect the attack but as promised the CMG projectile slammed right through the energy field and pierced the Gith�s right shoulder, causing him to stumble backwards. Ford�s and Teyla�s attempts were not quite as successful for both the Lieutenant�s Wraith stunner and the Athosian�s P90 failed to penetrate the energy shields the Lifestealers hid behind. Dropping to his knees next to Veldrin, John was glad that McKay apparently followed the orders he had given him and remained out of sight until the fight was over for the last thing he needed now was a geek to save.

�Be careful with those,� the Highexecutor warned, �If you damage the transporter we�ll all be stuck here!�

�So you expect me to give up the only tactical advantage I have just because there�s the possibility I damage something in the process?� Sheppard asked, shaking his head, �Our friends over there probably won�t be as careful and simply shoot right thorough the controls if that�s the only way to hit us!�

�They may do this but if their careless actions damage the Door to Nothingness the Evincar will flay them alive!� Veldrin replied, clearly enjoying the fantasy, �So leave the thinking to those who are used to it and simply follow my orders!�

John chose to ignore the last comment and got an overview of their tactical situation instead: He and his fellow conspirators formed a rough semi circle while the remaining six guards had taken cover on the opposite side of the room, launching a flurry of stunners into their direction. Though they seemed to act exactly as Veldrin had predicted and were hesitant to use their CMGs but the rapid fire rate of their stunners and their shield gauntlets made it dangerous and almost pointless to return fire.

�Why don�t you just teleport to them like you did earlier?� he asked the Highexecutor, �Otherwise it will take ages to subdue them and possibly we�ll have to face even more of them!�

�I won�t justify my strategy to an insolent upstart like you!� Veldrin growled, �But I�ll enlighten you simply to shut you up: The device I need in order to teleport needs some time to recharge and it would probably burn out if I used it before the recharge is completed! Such trinkets are hard to come by and I certainly won�t risk destroying that one simply because you want me to. Besides, they can�t call for reinforcements for the console we�re hiding behind is the one which is responsible for communication so quit asking stupid questions and. . . HEADS UP!�

Veldrin�s shout was accompanied by the sound of several grenade-like objects hitting the ground, one right next to John. The Colonel cursed and tried to get away from the explosive while Veldrin used his device to teleport out of danger. Before Sheppard could search for the Highexecutor or take cover the bomb detonated and he fell to the ground, alive and apparently unhurt but unable to move.

He guessed that some kind of grenade Wraith stunner had laid him low but other than its firearms kin this version left its victim conscious yet completely helpless. He had no idea how the others were faring for at the moment he was lying face down on the cold stone floor but all his worries were confirmed a few seconds later when he was roughly turned around and looked into the fact of a Lifestealer who wore one of the most arrogant smiles he had ever seen.

�As helpless as a newborn kitten!� the Gith taunted, �I�m sure the Evincar will be pleased to have some new toys to play with! A pity that we can�t feed on you like he can but I�m sure that we�ll find a way to have some fun before delivering you to him!�

From his new position John could see that luck still hadn�t returned to them for everyone except Veldrin � who was nowhere to be found � was in a similar situation like he was. Most of the Lifestealers had abandoned their former positions and were now busy with disarming their apparently helpless victims. However, the one trying to strip Ford of his weapons soon realized that the Lieutenant was by no means helpless when a stunner hit him straight in the chest. Sheppard wondered whether this had been a wise idea because even though the feint had been quite impressive, Ford now had to fight the other five guards on his own, odds not even a massive dose of Wraith enzyme couldn�t fix.

Fortunately for the Lieutenant, Veldrin chose this moment to reappear behind one of the Lifestealers and immediately dispatched his opponent with a few quick dagger thrusts. Within moments the fight became a chaotic grand melee for the stun grenade�s effects were beginning to wear of, enabling the would-be prisoners to rejoin the battle, while the Wraith-loyal Gith were trying but failing miserably to reorganize their defense. John swatted the arrogant Lifestealer�s leg away and used the chance to disarm his foe who was struggling to get back on his feet.

However, before the Colonel had the chance to use the acquired Wraith stunner his opponent recovered and landed a vicious uppercut followed by several weaker blows, bypassing Sheppard�s defense and knocking the wind out of him. Almost casually, the Gith snatched the stunner and tossed it aside, obviously convinced that he wouldn�t need the weapon to defeat John and probably intending to give him the beating of his life.

At first John believed that luck had finally returned to his side, giving him an opponent that was too full of himself to press a tactical advantage, but it took the Lifestealer only seconds to crush this belief for he simply sidestepped or blocked every blow the Colonel aimed at him and answered with startling strong counters that found aim much too often. Soon Sheppard found himself pinned to the ground beneath his tough opponent and was once again completely unable to defend himself.

�Without your weapons you are even more pathetic!� the Gith taunted, raising his fist for another strike, �I will�.�

�You won�t do anything once I�m finished with you!� Belbe stated before grabbing his arm and yanking it backwards violently. The Lifestealer managed to wiggle out of her grasp just in time to avoid breaking his arm and abandoned the Colonel to confront his new opponent. Unlike Sheppard though, Belbe could match with the superhuman strength of the other Gith, parrying his attacks with ease and eventually knocking him out with a quick and vicious backhand swing.

�Lifestealers!� she spat, helping John back to his feet, �Strong but much too arrogant for their own sake. Are you okay?�

Sheppard nodded and noticed with surprise that they had actually won the battle while he had been busy playing Mortal Kombat with the Lifestealer. Apparently, Veldrin�s sudden appearance and Ford�s feint had turned the tide, confusing and disordering the guards who had believed that the fight was already over. Now, their unconscious and dead forms roamed the floor of the Door to Nothingness, a macabre reminder not to be too secure of victory and never to underestimate the dangerous mind that was behind this.

�They have acted exactly as I predicted, Necroshade,� Veldrin stated, tucking his two daggers back into his clothes, �Lifestealers are dangerous foes but they have the notion of underestimating their enemies! Make them think that they have won and they will fall into any trap you set for them!�

�So you knew that they would use these stun grenades and decided to use us as bait?� Sheppard asked rhetorically, cold fury in his voice, �I bet you never even considered that you could get us killed with this strategy! Start treating us as allies and not as pawns on your chessboard or this alliance will be over!�

�Empty threats!� Veldrin stated, completely unbothered by the Colonel�s anger, �You still have no other option than to help us if you want to leave Shakuras alive. Besides I didn�t plan to exploit their weakness in the first place; I just saw an opportunity and used it. If you�re that hesitant in taking necessary risks it�s a miracle that you�re still alive. Now, let�s stop wasting time and continue our mission!�

Sheppard gritted his teeth but decided not to argue with the Highexecutor, simply because he was right about their lack of options and because they still needed him to get back to Atlantis. The cause of his anger was currently busy fumbling with the consoles, frowning in irritation.

�That could be more difficult than I thought,� he stated after a few tries, �Without proper authorization I have to hack the computer in order to get the transporter working and the security algorithm is much more complicated than expected!�

�Let me have a look,� McKay volunteered, sounding intrigued, �Hacking is one of my many talents and as long as there isn�t a Wraith out there who is as brilliant as Rodney McKay I should be able to disable this one in no time!�

Veldrin frowned so much that his eyebrows almost vanished in his hairline but moved aside and let McKay do his work. After a few minutes over concentrated working � which included mumbling to himself and cursing as well as hitting the console � the astrophysicist let out a triumphant scream and announced that the transporter was active now.

�Excellent!� Veldrin said, �You will get three of us up there while the rest stays here and secures our return. Belbe, I want you to remain here and have an eye on our allies!�

�Teyla and I will come with you,� Sheppard said, convinced that he needed at least one reliable ally in Panopticon, �Ford, I want you to stay put and make sure that Rodney is still here when we return!�

�But sir, I�� Ford began only to be interrupted by his former CO:

�No buts, Lieutenant! See it as the perfect opportunity to prove that you�re okay!�

Ford shot him a murderous look but nodded nevertheless while McKay looked outright shocked by the prospect of being guarded by the renegade Lieutenant and a Gith bounty hunter. John shot him a don�t-even-think-of-arguing-now look for he had the nagging suspicion that the scientist would be one thousand times safer with Ford and Belbe than he or Teyla would be with Veldrin. McKay apparently got the message for he didn�t comment on the decision and ordered them into the center of the room.

Taking position between Teyla and the Highexecutor, John noted that the floor in this part of the room was inlaid with crystals which lit up and emitted the familiar white light as soon as Rodney activated the Door to Nothingness.

John could only hope that reaching this room had been the difficult part.

* * * * *

Ford was fuming: Why for heaven�s sake was the best fighter of the team reduced to simple guard duty? After all the enzyme granted him superhuman strength, speed and made him immune against Wraith stunners so he was the perfect fit for an attack on Panopticon not a babysitter for arrogant geeks! As usual Sheppard gave him only the most mundane and boring tasks and the fact that he had to guard a certain bothersome astrophysicist made the duty also annoying. Aiden didn�t know why but since he had started to take the enzyme McKay�s antics had become even harder to bear and he cursed himself for not having told Sheppard to take care of his precious scientist himself.

Because second thoughts weren�t helpful at all, the Lieutenant decided to concentrate on the reward the Colonel had offered him instead. If this duty would convince everyone on Atlantis that he was not crazy and that the enzyme was the key to defeat the Wraith, it was a small price to pay even though McKay did his best to make it as annoying as possible. At the moment the scientist was fumbling with the consoles, trying to disable the remaining security systems in order to get access to further programs, muttering and cursing under his breath all the time.

Aiden was wondering whether the astrophysicist was able to work without driving everyone within a ten miles radius mad with his constant babbling when slim but strong arms grabbed him, spun him around and drew him into a passionate kiss. It took the surprised Lieutenant a few moments to realize who was kissing him and was both relieved and shocked when he recognized Belbe. Before he could ask the bounty hunter what she was doing, McKay broke the silence, sounding both outraged and livid:

�That�s simply unbelievable!� the scientist snapped, �Your task is to protect me but apparently you�re all busy with screwing her again! Just in case you have managed to miss the blindingly obvious she is the reason why we�re in this mess and if you would stop thinking with your dick for a few seconds you would realize that flirting with her is a very, very bad idea!�

�Shut up McKay, fiddle with your toys and leave the thoughts about sex life to those who have one!� Ford replied hotly, finally losing his temper with the bothersome astrophysicist.

�What makes you believe that I don�t have a sex live?� McKay replied as thought the very idea was ridiculous.

�You�re the genius here so I�m sure that you�ll figure this out without help!� Aiden stated before tuning out the scientist�s angry retort � he wasn�t sure what exactly McKay said but a part of his reply sounded like �cheeky little bugger� � and concentrating back on the reason of the argument, �What was this for?�

�Just wanted to make sure that I�ve got your whole and undivided attention,� Belbe said, looking quite pleased with herself, �Besides I enjoy kissing you and doing so seemed like a good introduction because I want to talk about us!�

� Us? What makes you believe that there is an us?� the Lieutenant asked, more than a little surprised about this, �We hardly know each other and you have lied to me, dragged me here and forced me to join a rebellion � that�s not the way I usually start a relationship!�

�I expected you to react this way,� Belbe replied, a hint of sorrow in her voice, �But there are a few things you just got wrong. First of all I never lied to you; I just didn�t tell you the whole truth. Second, I already told you that Gix forced me to go after you and you would have ended as his dinner if I hadn�t helped you. Everything I have done might have seemed manipulative and cruel but I did it to save both your life and mine! You don�t hate me for saving you life, do you?�

For a moment Aiden was convinced that the bounty hunter was pulling his leg but when he saw the worried look in her eyes he realized that she was dead-serious about this and that she actually valued his opinion, a realization that was both flattering and disturbing.

�Of course, I don�t hate you,� he answered, �Your constant scheming is unsettling and I�m not sure if I can trust you but your one of the most fascinating persons I have ever met. But there�s one thing I still don�t understand: Why did you risk so much to save me? After all I was just some random guy you spent a night with!�

�You certainly aren�t just a random guy and my feelings to you are much..,� Belbe started before stopping suddenly and turning slightly red, �Uhm�let�s just say that I care for you and would hate to see that gorgeous body of yours damaged!�

It was Aiden�s turn to blush and the Necroshade took advantage of his embarrassment by pulling him into another kiss. This time she broke the kiss after a few seconds but only to let her lips wander down over his neck, making him squirm when she found and caressed an extremely sensitive spot.

�Mhmm,� he purred, all concern purged from his mind, �I love it when you do this!�

�I know,� she replied before breaking the contact, �But unfortunately we have other things to do and there�s one more thing I want to tell you: Be careful whom you trust and always read between the lines. It might sound paranoid but this skill kept me alive for more than 20 years and it�s better to trust too rarely than to trust too often!�

Before he could find an answer to this, Belbe turned around and resumed her position on the other side of room. Her advice had brought back the old insecurity whether to return to Atlantis or not in full strength and Ford was sure that he couldn�t postpone a decision any longer for if Belbe�s plan succeeded they would soon be on their way back to his old home. The problem was that he wasn�t sure if he was still welcome there, if they would see the benefits of the enzyme or if they would try to lock him up and to strip him of his newfound power.

Even if his team members trusted him � something he had yet to achieve �, he had no idea how Dr. Weir or whoever ran the expedition right now would react. If Colonel Everett still used strong-arm tactics to keep her down, Aiden would probably end up in a military prison as soon as he crossed the event horizon, a thought that wasn�t appealing at all.

He decided that he needed more reliable information about the situation in Atlantis before he could find an answer to this question and wondered what would be the best way to get them.
He needed someone who knew enough of Atlantis and who could be motivated to tell him what he needed to know without lying or trying to deceive him.

A sly smile found his way to his features when his gaze fell on McKay � who was so absorbed in his work that he probably had not even realized that Belbe had talked to the Lieutenant � and he decided to have a friendly chat about Atlantis with the scientist as soon as possible. He wondered whether the astrophysicist would enjoy being part of his plans more than the last time.

* * * * *

Panopticon

John and Teyla followed the Highexecutor through the empty corridors of Panopticon, nervously checking their surroundings for further threats. Belbe had told him that the assault on Panopticon was the critical part of the plan for their information about the security measures up here were very limited. Up to now, they hadn�t encountered any resistance but in Sheppard�s opinion this was bound to change for they were heading towards the private chambers of the Evincar, a strategy which sounded much like suicide to the Colonel. Of course, Veldrin had ignored his complains, arguing that the ruler of Shakuras would probably keep the Seal of Dominion close to himself and that most of the guards were currently on a mission together with Commander Gix, so overpowering the Evincar should be fairly easy.

Though the Highexecutor�s argumentation sounded valid, John had the distinct feeling that things wouldn�t run that smoothly simply because nothing had worked out as planned today and because they knew virtually nothing about their foe. The only thing Belbe had been able to tell him was that the ruler�s name was Crovax and that he had replaced the former Evincar Tichondrius 152 years ago, simply by killing him. Apparently Evincar of Shakuras wasn�t a very stable position and whoever occupied the throne probably knew how to defend himself, another point in Sheppard�s why-things-will-soon-get-pretty-ugly list. Veldrin interrupted the Colonel�s dark musing at this point:

�Quiet now,� he whispered, �We�re close to Crovax� private chambers and I don�t want to attract his attention before we know what we�re dealing with!�

John noticed that the architecture was different in this part of the orbital fortress as if the building wanted to match the sinister nature of its occupant. While the rest of Panopticon was a perfect example of the Ancient�s graceful style � made out of a bright, silvery metal that reflected the light, filling the corridors with a soft glow and chasing the shadows away � this inner sanctum was made out of black marble and dimly lit, a black pearl within a white oyster. The shadows seemed to close in on the visitors and a sense of impending disaster hung in the air, even stronger than in the City of Traitors itself.

Suddenly the corridor widened into a huge, completely round chamber that was unlike every other they had encountered for it was occupied by more than shadows. In the center of the room was a throne that resembled a Control Chair or at least a more sinister variety made out of the same black stone as the floor and adorned with spikes. Within the massive chair sat a short, stocky man with ebony colored skin who was dressed in a much finer version of the Lifestealers� armor and had a murderous expression on his face. In front of him kneeled a Gith, a Lifestealer by the look of his armor, who was shaking with fear and looked like he had taken several savage beatings. The lights were dimmed and the massive window on the other side did little to illuminate the room, leaving only the throne visible while the rest was cloaked in shadows, a perfect fit for three conspirators who didn�t want to be seen.

�Is this the Evincar?� Sheppard whispered, surprised to find such an important position occupied by a human.

�It seems like it,� Veldrin mouthed, �Though I have no idea why the Wraith tolerate a human as Evincar of Shakuras. Let�s wait to see what happens before we strike, more information about Crovax could come in handy!�

�Please Evincar,� the kneeling Lifestealer said, �Spare my life! I haven�t done anything wrong!�

�You should know that pleading only motivates me further to end you pitiful existence!� Crovax sneered, exposing triangular, shark-like teeth, �If you hadn�t interrupted my highly important thoughts you wouldn�t be in this situation now!�

�But Commander Gix ordered me to deliever a highly important message to you!� the Gith cried, despair in his voice, �It was my duty to interrupt��

�Your duty is to serve me not this insolent would-be bounty hunter!� the Lord of Shakuras snapped, �But wait, I think Tichondrius has something so say in this matter!�

Crovax reached out towards a cushion that lay on the floor next to the throne and produced something that looked remarkably like a Wraith skull which he lifted on eye level. A few moments he locked eyes with empty sockets before addressing the Lifestealer again, an irritated frown on his face.

�Seems like being dead for so long has made Tichondrius soft!� Crovax stated, sounding rather disappointed, �He actually wants me to let you go, claiming that I shouldn�t punish you for following orders! I always knew that he hadn�t the guts to be a good ruler!�

�This is mad!� Teyla whispered, �We should interfere before he kills an innocent simply to have fun!�

�We certainly won�t do this!� Veldrin whispered furiously, �Striking now would mean giving up a tactical advantage! Everything we can learn about the Evincar could be useful when battling him and a confrontation between him and a Lifestealer could be a unique chance to observe his fighting skills and to learn what we�re dealing with!�

Teyla�s angry retort was stifled by the sound of the Lifestealer�s voice which sounded a lot more hopeful than before:

�Shall I return to my duties than, my Lord?� he asked, obviously wanting to get away from Crovax as fast as possible.

�What makes you believe that I would let you go?� Crovax inquired mildly, rising from his throne, �Do you really think that the opinion of my dead predecessor would be of any importance for me?�

The Lifestealer tried to run for it but his tormentor grabbed him and pinned him to the ground with almost no effort. A diabolic grin on his face, the Evincar lifted on of his hands � which looked remarkably like Wraith claws to John, perhaps due to the diffuse light � clearly intending to bury it in the other Gith�s chest. However, the execution was cut short by Teyla who abandoned her cover and hit Crovax with a torrent of bullets. While the Lord of Shakuras slumped into his throne, his prisoner ran towards the door, probably convinced that he would be safer out there.

Veldrin and his daggers were already waiting for him, ending his life with a few well placed cuts. The Highexecutor looked angry enough to murder Teyla, an expression that was mirrored on John�s fact though his anger had a different target.

�What the hell are you doing?� he asked, his voice dripping with hatred, �Teyla saved his life and all you do is to kill him just for the fun of it! Bet you would have loved to see Crovax tearing him into pieces, you sadistic bastard!�

�Watch you tongue Sheppard if you don�t want to share his fate!� the Highexecutor snapped, contempt in his voice, �Your friend�s nobility was a grave tactical mistake that endangered both the mission and our lives. If you were a true tactician, you would realize that and you would also know that letting the Lifestealer escape would have been suicide! It would have taken only a few minutes until the whole remaining population of Panopticon would have known about our presence! Now, quit bothering me with your petty morals and search the Seal of Dominion!�

McKay�s voice interrupted the argument at this point, causing the Colonel�s attention to wander from Veldrin to the Gith communicator Belbe had given him earlier this day because normal radios didn�t work over such a distance.

�What is it Rodney?� he asked, hoping for some good news.

�Oh thank goodness you�re still alive,� the scientist replied, sounding relieved, �I have managed to gain access to the Gith database and have found something that�s both fascinating and disturbing. According to the research notes of the former Evincar Tichondrius, the current Evincar Crovax is a human with a great amount of Wraith DNA in his system, so be careful when you confront him!�

�You mean he had similar abilities like Teyla?� John asked, wondering if Crovax obvious madness had been caused by a connection to the Wraith�s telepathic network.

�Perhaps but the modification probably also enhances his physical abilities,� McKay replied, �I haven�t read the full reports but it seems possible that he can even feed on humans like a Wraith. But wait, why did you use the word �had�? Have you already met him?�

�Yes and we have already shot him,� Sheppard replied, �Teyla and Veldrin are searching the throne room right now, looking for the seal we need to get out of here so your concern about my safety is touching but unnecessary.�

�Are you sure that he is dead?� McKay inquired, concern in his voice, �There is no way to be sure but it is possible that he also has the Wraith�s ability to regenerate and is only playing dead!�

John whirled around to face the throne again, expecting to find Crovax� body still lying on it but found nothing but cold stone. Teyla and Veldrin were nowhere to be found, probably busy searching the enormous throne room and oblivious to their enemy�s possible resurrection. Before the Colonel could shout them a warning a strong fist connected with his right temple, causing him to stagger to the ground. Suddenly he found himself pinned to the ground beneath the living and seriously angry Crovax who seemed quite determined to return the favor in equal kind.

�Now,� the Evincar whispered, �You will see what happens to those who dare to defy me!�

* * * * *

The Door to Nothingness

�Colonel? COLONEL!� McKay shouted into the communicator after Sheppard had failed to answer him for a few seconds, �Oh no, Crovax must have ambushed them! We must go up there and help them!�

Belbe was quite surprised by the scientist�s concern for she had always considered McKay as one of the most self-centered persons she had ever met and was surprised the he was willing to risk everything in order to save his friends. Though a part of her actually valued bravery the bigger, rational part of her mind stayed in control and told her to stop the fool before he did something stupid.

�That would be outrageously foolish!� she stated, �We have no idea what exactly happens up there and running there without thinking is the last thing we should do now! I�m quite sure that Veldrin will be able to deal with Crovax for the Evincar isn�t the only Gith who has been improved by Tichondrius!�

�You mean Veldrin is also partly Wraith?� Aiden asked, looking quite troubled by the revelation.

�Many of us, including myself, carry the Dark Gift,� the bounty hunter explained, �though few are as radically altered as Crovax seems to be. Usually the effects of Tichondrius� experiments improve the physical abilities of the test subjects and their descendants but there are also some who develop telepathic abilities.�

�And you are fine with this?� Aiden inquired, �I don�t know exactly why but such a connection to the Wraith would make me feel kinda less human!�

�It makes me stronger and there�s nothing I could do against it even if it troubled me!� Belbe replied, feeling strangely touched by Aiden�s concern, �The only thing the makes me feel uncomfortable is that I have no idea why Tichondrius modified us in the first place. Did he try to make us to better servants or were there other reasons to start such an exhausting and possibly dangerous experiment?�

�The gene!� McKay said, �He wanted to integrate the ATA gene into the Wraith organism so the Wraith could use Ancient technology. According to his notes, he tried this for some time before realizing that it wasn�t possible. Perhaps he thought that integrating Wraith DNA into your bodies would somehow alter the gene, eventually overcoming the natural difference between your DNA and his. Of course, I�m only speculating right now and biology was never my best subject but it makes sense and��

�Hate to interrupt you, doc, but I think you should have a look at this!� Aiden said, pointing to a holographic image of Shakuras which had appeared a few seconds ago, �If it my eyes or is this a Wraith ship coming here?�

�Predator!� Belbe gasped, �That�s not possible! Gix said it would take him about 36 hours to get here!�

Suddenly the Door to Nothingness activated and three Lifestealers as well as a certain Wraith materialized, fully armed and not at all surprised to find the room filled with dead Gith.

�Hello, Necroshade,� Gix said, triumph in his voice, �I guess it�s time to end this little rebellion of yours!�

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Myths of Reality