><><
Suspicion Cont.
><><
"Can you please do that somewhere else?" John asked in disgust as McKay continued to massage his socked foot on top of the conference table. McKay hadn't been out of the infirmary 5 minutes before Weir called the meeting. John would never admit it, but he was glad Rodney had recovered enough to be so annoying. If the Wraith hadn't been using stunners McKay would have been a goner and it would have been his fault. He should have noticed the pattern before Weir, but they had no way of knowing how prevalent the Wraith were in this galaxy.
"My foot is still numb, if you don't mind," McKay whined.
John flashed him a sarcastic smile. "At least your mouth still works fine."
Ford coughed to hide his laugh. Rodney shot a look at the lieutenant but the young man hide his grin behind his hand.
Bates and Weir stepped into the room together and the atmosphere immediately shifted. "All right, let's get started," Weir said and the doors closed behind them.
The grin fell from Ford's face as he looked around in confusion. "Shouldn't we wait for Teyla?" he asked and his eyes landed on the Major. John didn't have an answer for the kid and looked pointedly at Weir, lifting his brows.
Weir cleared her throat, drawing the rooms attention back to her. Her face was determined but she couldn't quite seem to meet John's eye. "Teyla wasn't invited," she said briskly.
John frowned leaning forward in his chair. "She's a member of my team."
Bates narrowed his eyes at Major Sheppard. "She's also an Athosian sir."
"So? Last time I checked you were from New York. I don't hold that against you."
Bates flashed a glare towards his commanding office. "If we've been compromised, and every indication suggests that we have, it's almost certain that one of them is responsible."
John scoffed. "We're talking about Teyla here." He would be more likely to believe Rodney or Weir herself had betrayed them over Teyla. She was a loyal member of his team and in the three months they had known each other John had learned to trust her. She was good in a fight and a compassionate leader of her people.
"I don't like it either Major," Weir agreed grimly.
John shot Bates an immature look of triumph. "Good, then get her in here so we can-"
"But," Weir cut him off. "The safety of this base and its personnel are my main concern right now, as it should be yours."
Sheppard narrowed his eyes at the Weir's cutting words. It wasn't like her to pin him to the wall like that especially in front of so many people. What was happening had her spooked. It was something that needed to be dealt with, sure, but John would prefer to deal with it his way.
Weir shifted the mission report files in front of her. "The Wraith have shown up on five of the last nine planets your team has visited and given that two of those worlds were unpopulated...you can pretty much assume that they have been made aware by someone on this base."
Rodney leaned back in his chair, a doubtful expression on his face. "If someone on this base is communicating with the wraith then why hasn't Atlantis been attacked?"
John nodded smugly pointing at Rodney. "Good point Rodney," he congratulated.
Rodney looked smug for a moment before he frowned at Sheppard. He wasn't following what it was that was going on here or why Weir and Sheppard seemed to be on different pages. Weir was technically his boss but Sheppard had saved his ass off-world on more than one occasion. Not to mention the collective asses of everyone on the base. Rodney dealt better with things that were quantifiable, so he trusted the Major's instincts on stuff like this.
Bates sighed. "Maybe we should just stop using the Stargate indefinitely."
"We can't do that," Sheppard said dismissively.
"Why not?" Bates demanded.
"Because we need ZPMs to power this place."
Bates scoffed. "They seem to be running fine right now."
Sheppard scowled at the junior officer. "Okay, when the wraith do show up, how do we defend ourselves?"
Rodeny leaned forward as well, sensing where this conversation was going. "For that matter how do we ever get back to earth?"
Weir was growing weary of their bickering "This is the only Stargate in the Pegasus galaxy that can even reach earth, and if it comes to that we are going to use a self destruct before the Wraith take the city."
"Bottom line," Sheppard continued. "We need to use the gate."
Bates sucked in a breath and nodded sharply before looking down at the papers in front of him. He had planned for this eventuality. He was beginning to understand his superior and was able to anticipate his reactions. Major Sheppard was a soldier through and through, but he liked being on the front lines. He reacted to what was in front of him. Bates knew what made him a good soldier didn't make him a good leader. He couldn't make the hard calls. He spent too much time wanting to be liked. Especially by the beautiful Athosian leader. "Then we gotta find out who is responsible ASAP. I suggest we start by confining all non-base personnel to the south side of the complex."
"Are you kidding?" Sheppard asked in disbelief.
"That's the absolute minimum we should do. If Colonel Sumner was still here-"
This had gone on long enough. John shoved himself to his feet, slamming his palms against the table loud enough Weir and Rodney jumped.
"He's not," John's voice rose into the hard tone of command. Generally speaking he was a pretty laid back CO. He didn't see a reason to constantly exert his authority over his men. He felt teams worked better if there was a sense of comradery. Bates however, was trying his patience. "I am," John growled. He stared down at the other man waiting until Bates looked away and submitted. There was only room for one alpha in this room, and it wasn't the sergeant.
Bates went very still. He recognized he had pushed Major Sheppard too far. "Yes sir," he responded tightly lowering his eyes to the table top.
Weir leaned forward. "We're not going to start treating anyone like prisoners."
Sheppard snorted humorlessly as he finally tore his gaze away from the other man, "Well that's good."
"That being said, steps should be taken to safeguard the most sensitive areas of this facility. It's only reasonable."
Bates just couldn't help himself. "I recommend No-Go zones start with Stargate operations, the labs, power generation and the jumper bay."
Weir nodded in agreement. "I'd like to interview all the Athosian's we have on base. They've been here three months and I only know a handful by name."
"I can start setting up the interviews," Bates supplied helpfully.
"In the meantime," Weir said turning her attention back to the Major. "All gate travel is suspended until further notice."
John leaned forward his irritation showed in the lines around his mouth. they needed food and supplies, the longer this went on the more trouble they were going to be in.
"Interviews...And what about Zian huh? She's the newest addition," Sheppard challenged, remembering seeing the strange young woman working in the control room just that morning.
"Zian is cleared," Bates reported back as he flipped through his list of names.
"Cleared?" John snapped in surprise. "The hell she is. Just because-"
Bates lowered his papers and laid is palms over the top of them. "I have had Kai Zian under observation since her arrival," he reported.
Sheppard frowned. "You've been spying on her for a month?"
"Monitoring her." Bates responded unapologetically. "Ever since she came here on my recommendation. I take my responsibilities seriously." His implication made it clear what he thought of Sheppard's command.
Sheppard shoved himself to his feet once more.
"Gentlemen." Weir interrupted. "We will be adding Zian to the interview list." She said looking back and forth between the two men. She wondered idly what would happen if she just put them in a room and let them fight it out. She glanced back and forth and decided she would put her money on Sheppard.
"Good." Sheppard agreed. "I want to be there for that one."
"If we're all in agreement, I think that's it," Weir said. "Dismissed."
The meeting broke up after that. Sheppard spotted Teyla on the stairs leading up to the control room, already the soldiers Bates had left on the stairs had stopped the Athosian leader, refusing to allow her access. Sheppard quickly stepped in, gripping Teyla's arm and leading her away from prying ears so they could discuss what was happening.
Kai was laying on the ground half under the control console while Zelenka stood over her when Bates approached them.
"Zian," he called sharply.
Zelenka didn't bother looking up from his tablet as he tapped away. "Good and then move circuit four-seven-A to site five-nine-seven-H. Hello Sergeant."
"Zian," Bates repeated, this time with more force.
"We are nearly finished," Zelenka assured him.
Kai however recognized the tone in Sergeant Bates' voice and slid out from under the console slowly. "I think I'm done here Doctor Zelenka."
Zelenka looked back and forth between Kai and Sergeant Bates. Bates had his hand resting on the P90 strapped across his chest. Zelenka frowned, stepping between the two of them protectively. "What seems to be the problem, Sergeant?"
"Zian I'm going to need you to step back away from the console," Bates said gruffly.
Kai stepped slowly away from the console. She kept her hands loose at her side and no where near any of the tools in her tool belt. Bates could get a little jumpy at times and she didn't want him to think she was giving him any reason to doubt she was doing as he asked.
"Is there a problem Sergeant Bates?" Kai asked in a low voice.
"What is going on here?" Zelenka demanded. "We are in the middle of a repair, we require another couple hours perhaps," the Czech explained.
"I'm afraid stargate operation is currently a No-Go area for all non-personnel."
"We are working," Zelenka started to argue. "We-"
Kai looked down at her tools and then back to Sergeant Bates. "He means me Doctor Zelenka," she explained gently. "I'm not from earth," she reminded him.
"Just the same she is a member of my team," Doctor Zelenka started to argue.
"Doctor Zelenka," Kai said gently. "It's okay."
Zelenka turned his angry eyes to Sergeant Bates. "I'll be speaking with Doctor Weir about this you can be sure."
"Please do," Bates said gesturing towards Doctor Weir's office.
Kai packed up her things and was swiftly escorted away from the gate room.
"You're to remain on the south side of the complex," Bates informed her.
Kai stopped and turned back to Sergeant Bates. "I have more work to do in the jumper bay."
"Until this threat has been neutralized all non-expedition personnel-"
"Are confined to quarters?" Kai supplied briskly.
Bates nodded grimly. "It is not a punishment. It is simply for the security of everyone on the base."
"I understand Sergeant," Kai said, though inside her heart was pounding in her chest.
"Doctor Weir will be conducting interviews. Once you have passed that, you will be free to return to your work."
Kai nodded respectfully and went to her quarters. She was still a stranger, and in truth always would be, so she was naturally a suspect. They were conducting interviews to find someone with a secret, and she had a big one. Her first instinct was to run, as always, but with the stargate operations suspended there was no way off Atlantis. She was trapped.
><><
It was two days before she was brought in for an interview. By the end of the first day Kai was starting to go stir crazy in her room. The gym was on the other side of the complex and with limited space she wasn't able to run as she had started doing every morning before work. So instead she trained her body. Moving and honing as she hadn't since before the wraith. She ran through all the body weight drills she could in the limited space.
Sweat was dripping down her temples when there was a knock at her door. She stood and quickly snatched up a long sleeved shirt to pull over her sports bra. She waved her hand in front of the door scanner to reveal Sergeant Bates.
Kai nodded her head respectfully. "What can I do for you Sergeant?"
"Doctor Weir is ready for your interview," Bates said motioning to the hallway behind him.
"Great," she said with a smile. She turned back to the room and picked up her scarf off of the bed. She wrapped it around her hair twice and tied it in a low knot low against the base of her skull.
She followed Bates through the hallways. The two walked in silence to the conference room off the side of the control room.
"Kai," Elizabeth greeted. "Please have a seat."
Kai bowed her head respectfully before she took her seat at one end of the table. Opposite her sat Doctor Weir and Major Sheppard. Bates moved to a chair beside Doctor Weir. Elizabeth looked tired, Bates was attentive behind his computer, and the Major looked frustrated.
Kai set her hands in her lap and waited for one of them to begin. She had been interrogated plenty of times before. This would be nothing new.
"So Kai," Weir said in a warm tone. "You've been here for about a month. How are you liking Atlantis?"
Kai's eyes flickered over the other men as though their presence made her nervous. John tightened his jaw. She was acting nervous, keeping her shoulders hunched forward and fidgeting with her hands, but she had scanned the room with the efficiency of a high trained soldier the moment she stepped inside.
"I like it a lot," Kai said. "I enjoy working with Doctor Zelenka and his team."
"You've made yourself quite useful," Weir said.
Bates opened the folder in front of him. "Since you've been here on Atlantis you've been off world twice."
Kai nodded. "Yes," she replied. "Both times with your team."
Bates nodded. "You've also had access to the control room on and off for the last few weeks."
"That's correct, always accompanied by Doctor Zelenka." Kai glanced over all their faces as she spoke. "Like all my work."
"Except for when we found you alone in the jumper bay," John pointed out. He leaned forward in his seat, narrowing his eyes as he watched her reactions.
There was none. Her eyes were dead calm.
"I was just running diagnostics," Kai said resting her hands in her lap. "Trying to figure out what happened to the jumper."
"It was your day off," John said.
Bates perked up as though he were a dog who caught a scent. "Do you frequently go to sensitive areas of the city unaccompanied?"
Elizabeth was scowling as she looked back and forth between the two men in disbelief as they attacked Kai. She opened her mouth to defend Kai but she didn't look frazzled at all by their badgering.
"I was doing my job, you can track every repair and command I implemented if you're concerned," she replied in a low tone, she lifted her eyes to meet the major's intense gaze. "And I was there because I don't enjoy down time."
"I'm sorry Kai, the last two days must have been difficult for you," Weir apologized.
John watched as Kai looked down at her hands and he thought that maybe he was seeing on the first sincere emotions from her since she came here. "It's fine," she replied with a tense smile.
"According to the log you spend most of your free time in the gym," Bates reported looking over his papers.
It was no surprise to Kai to find out her movements had been monitored. Between the cameras and security teams it wouldn't be hard to log her movements. She cocked her head as though she were confused. "I'm sorry, I thought the running track was available for all residents."
"It is," John said shifting his eyes to Bates. He wanted answers as much as the other man, but he was turning this interview into a full on interrogation. If Kai was innocent, which in this case was starting to look more likely, the goal wasn't to scare her.
"Then I'm afraid I don't understand," Kai said innocently.
"You were there alone is my point," Bates responded and Kai frowned.
"Yes, but to my knowledge the gym lacks the necessary equipment to build a sub space communications device."
"Okay. I think that's enough," Elizabeth interrupted. I think everything is fine. Thank you Kai," Doctor Weir said standing. "I know you are anxious to get back to your work. And Doctor Zelenka has been pushing for me to clear you so you can help him with some of the command structure he has found in a couple of the jumpers. You are cleared to return to work, provided you are escorted by Doctor Zelenka or another head of department in the limited access zones."
Kai smiled. "Thank you Doctor Weir," she said and she reached out to shake the other woman's hand.
"We're very happy to have you here with us," Doctor Weir said. "I'm sorry that this was necessary."
"There's no reason to apologize. Security is important." Kai turned to Sergeant Bates. "Thank you Sergeant Bates," she extended her hand.
Bates shook it.
Kai turned to Major Sheppard. The Major was staring at her thoughtfully. She lifted her chin and extended her hand regardless. Sheppard waited the longest possible time that could be considered polite before he took Kai's hand. Her grip was firm and dry and she held his gaze when even Bates couldn't.
"Thank you Major."
><><
John was in a foul mood. The meeting hadn't gone well. An interview with the three of them and somehow they knew nothing more about Kai than they had before. Despite not getting to finish his list of interrogation questions Bates had been smug when Elizabeth cleared Kai without hesitation.
Rationally he knew she was right. Kai had been running from the Wraith for months when they found her. She wasn't likely to be helping them any more than Teyla. They all had reason to hate the Wraith.
"Sir!" a voice called from behind him.
John glanced over his shoulder to see the young lieutenant trotting to catch up to him. "Ford," he greeted. "What can I do for you?"
Ford was smiling. "I heard they got the sunroof open on the jumper bay," he said eagerly.
"Yep," John replied briskly, his thoughts still on the meeting.
Ford was undeterred. "Also heard you planned to take a jumper out."
"Well, I figure that's what the door on the roof is for," even walking seemed to help dissipate some of John's built up tension from earlier.
"Anyone else call shotgun?" the young man asked with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
John shrugged casually. "I was just going to drive around the planet, check it out"
"Oh you're just going to check out the planet?" Ford asked. "That's cool then, I got better things to do than cruise around the planet in a space ship," he reasoned.
John turned around on the stairs, a smile stretching across his face as he chuckled at the lieutenants antics. "You're like a kid you know that?"
Ford's smile was radiant. "Yes sir, I even brought along something to eat for the ride." He said holding up a paper bag enticingly.
"What's that?" John asked, he had been resolute to go alone, but he felt himself wavering in the face of the kids enthusiasm.
"How about a nice Turkey sandwich?" Ford tempted.
John shook his head, snorting. "Let's go," he finally agreed and the two of them walked together down to the jumper bay.
When the doors slid open one of the jumpers was hovering in the air above them. It shifted sideways and was set down to park. The flying was precise and smooth. John hadn't seen anyone else in this place able to fly as well as him. It set down with hardly a jolt and the back hatch opened. He and Ford looked at each other before walking around to see Zelenka sitting in the back with his tablet plugged in and Kai behind the controls.
"Systems seem to be holding," Zelenka replied.
"Hey Doc," John called.
Both Zelenka and Kai turned to see the two soldiers.
"Zian," John greeted. "Looks like the Doc didn't waste any time getting you back to work."
Kai nodded. "As I told you, we have a lot to do."
John nodded uncomfortably. "So, I take it Jumper One is still down?" he asked looking over all their diagnostic equipment.
"Yes, Jumper Three is prepped and ready," Kai called to him without taking her eyes off the controls.
John's eyes flashed to Zelenka who hadn't looked up yet. "Okay then, thanks," and the two of them headed to Jumper Three.
When the rear hatch closed Ford leaned forward to peer out the windshield. "She weirds me out," Ford said shaking his head.
"Is that so?" John asked carefully. He was pretty good at not spouting off in front of junior officers and he hadn't thought he had been obvious when it came to his feelings about Kai. Unless Rodney or Teyla had told Ford.
"Yeah, there is something weird about her, I just don't know what it is...don't you think?"
"Well," he said shrugging. "She is a little peculiar."
><><